Stephen Kempster Whelpdale Thomas

Listen, said my mother. We’ll be here when you get back.

Listen, said my father. It won’t take long.

Listen, said my mother. You have your whole life ahead of you. There’s nothing to worry about.

Listen, said my father, then. You’re young now but you won’t always be, and when you’re older, when we’re gone, you’ll be better off if you learn to take care of yourself while you’re young.

Listen, said my mother. We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to be around for a long, long time to come.

Listen, Nick, said my father. If anyone approaches you, if anyone tries anything... you shout as loud as you can. Can I hear your shout?

Listen, said my mother. No one will try anything. It’s a safe part of town and a friend of ours, her name’s Christie, is going to meet you very soon, but she has to take a ferry. We’d just feel better if we could hear you scream.

Listen, said my father. Remember what I said about violence?

Okay, listen, said my mother. Here’s the address we’ll be staying at, and the phone number, and here’s Uncle Patrick’s phone number, and this is the Davidsons’, and this is John and Brenda in Ottawa, and this is Carly, who you can always call, at any time, no matter what, okay?

Goddammit, said my father, and turned and walked a few steps up the path.

Ed, said my mother, then turned back to me and lifted my chin with her hand. He’s concerned, Nicky. He’s not angry.

Listen, said my father. If anyone says anything to you.

Don’t, Ed, said my mother.

If anyone tries anything, said my father.

They won’t though, said my mother. Just don’t give them any reason to, okay?

Do you or don’t you remember what we talked about? my father said. Not everyone is like us. Don’t be afraid to knee someone’s groin as hard as you can. Do whatever you have to.

Listen, said my mother. I know you don’t want to, but we would both feel a lot better leaving you out here if we could hear you scream. Could you do that for us?

As loud as you can, said my father.

Just as loud as you can muster, said my mother.

Don’t be afraid, said my father. Look around. No one will hear you.