Free Candy by Kevin Brooks

people are sick or not. And if they are sick, I’m supposed to look after them—”
    “You would be looking after me.”
    “No, I wouldn’t. I just told you, I have to go to work. I can’t stay at home all day looking after you—”
    “Yeah, but that’s the whole point. You don’t have to stay home and look after me.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I’m not ill, am I? And I won’t be here, anyway—I’ll be in London.”
    Gina stared at me for a moment, trying to make sense of what I’d just said and wondering if it was worth arguing about. Then she glanced at the clock and let out a sigh. “All right,” she said, reaching for the phone. “But you owe me big-time for this—OK? And when Dad finds out…”
    When Dad finds out…
    Yeah, she was right—he would find out. He always did. Then I’d get into trouble and Gina would have to lie for me again and Dad would get all huffy and puffy for acouple of weeks, lecturing me all the time, going on and on about careers and responsibility and trust and God-knows-what-else…
    But that was for another day.
    It wasn’t for now.
    Now was just now. Just walking the sun-drenched streets, looking around at the regal white houses and the lush green spread of the park, and the calming waters of the canal, and the little stone bridges, and the barges, and the ducks, and the distant sounds of the zoo, drifting in the air, the faint cries of the birds, the monkeys, the sea lions…
    Animal sounds.
    The way they mixed weirdly with the sounds of the city reminded me of long-forgotten family outings, when I was just a kid and Gina used to hold my hand and lead me around the zoo, pointing out the animals and telling me what they were, while Mum and Dad strolled along behind us, arm in arm, lost in their own little world…
    “Joe!”
    I looked up at the sound of Candy’s voice and realized I was approaching the main entrance of the zoo. There were quite a few people milling around—groups of tourists, schoolkids, bus tours—but I couldn’t see Candy anywhere. I looked around, scanning the entrance area, craning my neck to see through the crowds, and then I heard her voice again—“Here…I’m over here…”—and I turned to the left, but I still couldn’t see her. All I could see was a nice young girl in jeans and a turquoise sweater, leaning against the wall, waving at someone behind me. I looked around to see who she was waving at, expecting to see her family,her mum and dad, or maybe her friend from school…and then Candy’s voice cut through the air again.
    “Joe…for Christ’s sake. What are you doing? It’s me. ”
    When I turned around again, the girl in the turquoise sweater was walking toward me, smiling that smile, and I couldn’t believe I’d mistaken her for someone else. She was Candy all over—the face, the smile, the walk, the body…the lingering looks from everyone around her.
    “What are you doing?” she said, coming up to me. “Are you trying to avoid me or something?”
    “Sorry,” I said, “I didn’t recognize you. You look different.”
    She stopped in front of me, striking a pose—chin out, head back, hands in her back pockets. “D’you like it?”
    The jeans were tight, and so was the sweater—tight and short, drawing my eyes to her midriff, just like before. Her hair was pinned back with clips and baubles and tied at the back in a ponytail. Although she was still wearing makeup, it wasn’t as obvious as it was before. Her face seemed younger and fresher. But no less stunning.
    “Very nice,” I said, tearing my eyes away.
    “Thanks…you look pretty good yourself.”
    I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just stood there, looking stupid. Candy smiled brightly at me for a moment, then she took her hands from her pockets and moved toward me, and before I knew it she’d stepped up and kissed me on the cheek.
    It was only a peck…a friendly little kiss…
    A brush of her lips…
    Barely a touch…
    And it wasn’t as