Free Only Strange People Go to Church by Laura Marney

arm around him,
    ‘Hey, bit a respect, eh?’ says Ray gently.
    ‘Aye, man. You’ve taken that too far,’ agrees Gerry.
    Bob nods.
    Aldo either pretends not to know what he means or is too thick to understand, so Ray elucidates.
    ‘The thing is, Aldo, Alice is one of my mates. I’ve known her longer than I’ve known you so if I have to choose, I’d choose her. Don’t make me do that, Aldo.’
    ‘I’m no making you do anything!’ says Aldo in a thin scared voice.
    ‘Well, see, if you give Alice, or any of my pals, any bother? See that two by two?’
    Still with his arm softly around Aldo’s shoulders Ray indicates a long narrow piece of wood propped against the wall.
    ‘I’ll have to shove that so far up your arse you’ll be using the splinters as a toothpick. D’you get me, Aldo? See where I’m coming from, man?’
    Aldo doesn’t speak, he seems unable to speak, but he nods his head. ‘Well, that’s us sorted then,’ says Ray with a satisfied smile.
    He gives Aldo a gentle pat on the back.
    ‘Right, Alice, you sit down, hen, and give us your patter, Aldo here’ll stick the kettle on. Milk and two for me please Aldo, and Alice as well, she’s the same as me.’

Chapter 15
    So far the show is turning out to be top-heavy with singers. They’re good but too much of the same thing will be boring. For the last four weeks, Blue Group has been role-playing a familiar scenario in their Wednesday afternoon drama workshop. This has potential as a sketch sandwiched between other acts. If they can get it right it’ll give Maria’s clients a prominent profile in the show. But this is going to require stamina and zen-like patience of everyone. She is confident they can do it, much more confident than they are.
    Clients at the centre are aware that they’re different, that other people are smarter, but although there is often frustration, this isn’t generally a cause for sadness or inferiority. Maria has learned a lot about dignity and humility from her clients.
    When she first got this job she called her girlfriends and told them how proud she was of the work she was doing now. At last she had found her vocation. At the time they were all supportive but last year in Inverness Anna said things, horrible things, that have haunted Maria ever since.
    They’d got together for Bethan’s hen night. Colette and Anna were already married by then, Colette to a merchant banker and Anna to a television executive producer. Bethan’s wedding, to the modest forestry worker Craig, was to be a milestone. There was already a long list of them: their housewarming party in the Kelvin Street flat where Bethan met Craig, Anna’s engagement party, Colette’s wedding, Anna’s wedding, Colette’s baby’s christening. But for Maria, Bethan getting married would be the most significant milestone so far. She’d be the only one left of the Kelvin Street Kidswho could be described with so many ‘un’ words: unaccompanied, unattached, unwed.
    She tried to stay positive, enthusiastically telling the girls about a new art class she had initiated at the centre. Colette was pregnant again at the time and therefore off the sauce but Anna was hammering it and it was beginning to show.
    ‘My cousin George goes to one of those places you work in,’ said Anna. ‘It’s a shame.’
    ‘Is it? Why’s that then, Anna?’ Maria let a reproving tone creep into her voice.
    ‘What I mean is it’s a shame that those places are all the provision there is. Short classes and long tea breaks, it’s hardly a stimulating or meaningful way for anyone to spend their lives, is it?’
    Anna has changed since Kelvin Street. Now she’s a big shot publicity guru in London. She’s used to speaking her mind and getting her own way.
    ‘Leave it Anna,’ said Colette.
    ‘No Colette,’ said Maria, quite capable of holding her ground. ‘I’m interested in Anna’s perspective. I’m keen to find out what Anna actually knows about caring for