One Saturday, I’m down there with the gang. They can all skate circles around me because I’m only just learning and they’ve been skating since they were three days old or something. But I don’t care.

  Anyway, I’m shuffling along, more on my ankles than anything else, while the others play tag, when suddenly I look up and see Natasha Lavender and Mr. Dance. They’re skating arm in arm.

  I shout and almost fall down. They skate over. Natasha even does a little twirl. She looks extra specially beautiful with her cheeks all rosy.

  It turns out Larry moved west, out to Alberta, where there are lots of jobs. He and Natasha are getting a divorce. She doesn’t mind waiting, she says, and Mr. Dance gives her a hug.

  She gives me a kiss on the cheek and they skate off, turning to wave – twice – before they disappear into the crowd.

  The kiss feels cool on my cheek. I touch it, except you can’t really touch a kiss. It’s there and then it’s gone.

  “Hey, Rex, come on!” It’s James. He points towards the stand where they sell hot cinnamon rolls.

  I wave and shuffle along to catch up – shaky, but learning fast.

 

 

  Tim Wynne-Jones, Rex Zero, King of Nothing

 

 

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