Free The Moon King by Siobhan Parkinson Page A

clenched teeth.
    ‘I don’t see why I should shut up. I haven’t done anything wrong. I just asked the nice lady to come and take this nasty little boy away. That’s perfectly reasonable.’
    ‘You’re nuts,’ said Rosheen. ‘If you think we’re going to believe you did that, you really are nuts. You’re just saying it to frighten Ricky. You hate it when new people come, don’t you? Even Billy, little Billy – you were jealous of him when he came. You think your mother belongs to you, don’t you? I think it’s time you grew up and started to act your age. So just give it a rest, would you, and leave Ricky alone.’
    ‘“Leave Ricky alone”,’ repeated Helen in her put-on sing-song, high-pitched voice. ‘Poor Ricky, he can’t answer back, so everyone has to talk for him. I don’t see why he can’t speak up for himself anyway. All this no-talking business, it’s pure affectation, that’s what it is, pure affectation. He’s well able to talk if he wants to.’
    Affek-tay-shun. Ricky wondered what it meant. Affek-tay-shun.
    ‘Three miles,’ said Fergal, mysteriously. ‘I’ve just cycled three miles.’
    ‘Don’t be silly,’ said Helen, ‘you haven’t moved.’
    ‘The equivalent of three miles, then,’ said Fergal. ‘Who else wants a go now? You could do with a bit of exercise, Helen. You only ever walk from the fridge to the telly and back.’
    Ricky slid down from the windowseat and slipped out of the room while the other three were arguing about the exercise bike. He took the stairs two at a time, his heart thumping against his ribs as he climbed swiftly up and up, staircase by staircase. He was on the half-landing where the bird-mobile swung silently above the rocking- chair when he heard the ding-dong of the doorbell. He didn’t stop to hear if it was answered. On he climbed, up and up to the moon-chair room.
    Wish Spiderboy had crack to hide in. Scuttle, scuttle. Hide! Hide! Lipstick Woman coming, take Spiderboy away. Spiderboy don’t want go home. Ed still there. Mam, oh Mam! Spiderboy want stay here. Spiderboy want stay in this house. Nice people. Mother-person nice, fun. Santy-man big and strong but nice to Spiderboy. Rosheen your good friend. Oh, moon chair. You are the … No! No! No more moon king! Just Spiderboy. No moon chair. No moon king. Aaagh! Aaagh!
    Ricky gave way to tears. He didn’t understand what was happening. All he wanted was to be left alone. He didn’t want to fight with Helen. And he didn’t want to gohome, not if Ed was still there. He wanted to see his mother, but he didn’t ever want to see Ed again, and if Ed was at home, he didn’t want to be there. Ed would beat him again, especially if his mam was still away in the hospital. He beat him even when she was at home, but it would be much worse if she was away. No, he couldn’t go home, he just couldn’t. He had to hide. He had to avoid being sent home. He had to. Somehow. But where could he hide? Where would he be safe?

CHAPTER 17
Where’s Ricky?
    Mammy Kelly burst into the front room, skirts swishing, bracelets jangling, Billy bouncing in her arms. Billy put his arms out when he saw Rosheen and said, ‘Wo-wo!’
    â€˜Rosheen!’ exclaimed Rosheen. ‘Did you hear that? He said “Rosheen”.’
    â€˜That’s not “Rosheen”,’ said Helen scathingly. ‘That’s “water”.’
    â€˜Wo-wo!’ Billy declaimed again, waving his little starfish hands at Rosheen and leaning out towards her.
    Mammy Kelly thrust Billy at Rosheen who gathered him delightedly into her arms.
    â€˜Where’s Ricky?’ Mammy Kelly asked, looking from child to child.
    Fergal looked at Rosheen. Rosheen looked at Helen. Helen looked at Fergal.
    â€˜He was here a minute ago,’ Rosheen said. ‘I didn’t notice him leaving the room. Did you, Ferg, Helly?’
    â€˜Don’t call me that!’ snapped Helen. ‘It’s a stupid