,BOOK #c1 ,*APT] #h 
,CORN]$ 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,C,O,R,N,],$ 

TO JUDGE1 ?AT'S :AT KEEPS GO+ R\ND & R\ND ) ME WELL ,I SUPPOSE Y\ C\LD SAY ,I BELIEVE ?AT EV]YONE %\LD HAVE ! B5EFIT ( :AT'S ! PHRASE1 ,I WORRY SOMETIMES :5 ,I CAN'T REMEMB] ?+S1 B5EFIT ( ! D\BT1 !RE1 EV]YONE %\LD HAVE IT WELL NOT EV]YBODY OBVI\SLY NOT SOME ( !M R\ND H]E1 ) !M :AT !Y %\LD HAVE IT'S MORE D\BT ( ! B5EFIT 9 MY OP9ION Y\ TAKE H]1 ! ONE ) /RIPY HAIR ,BA? ,/REET ,/4 ,PET]'S ,H\SE ,I ?9K %E LIVES Y\ SEE H] ON ,CRANE ,HILL UP FROM ! ,SUP] ,SAUSAGE BLACK GIRL WELL NOT BLACK MIX$ RACE1 FROM :AT ,I HE> %E'S ON ! LOT ! B5EFITS ! CRACK ! GAME P>T ( ! POND-LIFE ! ,MONK'S ,POND-LIFE ,I %\LD SAY ,I MEAN IT'S NOT H] FAULT UP TO A PO9T & IF Y\'RE FROM A DISADVANTAG$ BACKGR\ND !N /ATI/ICALLY IT'S LIKE PR$E/9ATION H[ Y\ 5D UP BUT ,I /ILL ?9K & P]HAPS ,I'M JU/ OLD FA%ION$ BUT ,I /ILL ?9K EV]YBODY HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY = !IR BEHAVIOR OBVI\SLY SOMETIMES !RE'S EXT5UAT+ CIRCUM/ANCES WE'VE ALL DONE ?+S ?AT WE DIDN'T WANT TO :5 !RE WASN'T ANY O!R *OICE AL?\< SOME PEOPLE ,I'M NOT SAY+ IT'S !IR FAULT BUT !Y DON'T TRY TO HELP !MSELVES !Y JU/ BIODEGRADE UNTIL !Y 5D UP LIKE OLD BUBBLEGUM ?AT'S ON ! PAVEM5T YE> 9 YE> \T 9 ! 5D Y\ B>ELY NOTICE IT'S ANO!R SOCIAL RESIDUE P>T ( A NATURAL PROCESS PEOPLE LIKE ?AT & ,I DON'T MEAN ORD9>Y DEC5T WORK+ PEOPLE1 PEOPLE LIKE ! ,SUP] ,SAUSAGE GIRL >E UNAVOIDABLE BACT]IA & IF Y\ LIKE ! /REET'S A GUT IT CLEANS ITSELF1 ! LIFE/YLE1 IT GETS RID ( !M EV5TUALLY :]E WAS ,I 

OH B5EFIT ( ! D\BT YES ,I REMEMB] IT %\LD BE EXT5D$1 ,I ?9K1 TO ?OSE ( A C]TA9 ,I DON'T WANT TO SAY CLASS ?AT'S NOT ME & ANYWAY ?AT'S BE5 MADE 9TO SU* A LOAD$ T]M1 BUT ( A C]TA9 /&+ 9 ! T[N LET'S SAY A K9D ( PUBLIC FIGURE ,I SUPPOSE Y\'D CALL IT1 GETT+ ?+S DONE NE>LY =TY YE>S & ALWAYS ALWAYS ON ! PEOPLE'S SIDE IT COMES ) BE+ FROM A ,LABOR BACKGR\ND & ,I'VE NEV] BE5 A *AMPAGNE SOCIALI/ A ,MATEUS ,ROSE SOCIALI/ AT ONE TIME POSSIBLY1 ?AT ,I'LL ADMIT TO1 ?\< ,I'VE ALWAYS HAD A COMMON T\* AT LEA/ ?AT'S :AT ! WIFE SAYS NO ,I'M ONLY JOK+ :AT ,I'M SAY+ IS1 ,I'M P>T ( ?IS COMMUNITY BE5 LIV+ D[N H]E ALL !SE YE>S BIT ( A LOCAL L&M>K Y\ MI<T SAY CLOSE TO HIS ROOTS & ,I ?9K PEOPLE MO/ PEOPLE RESPECT ?AT :5 ,I'M SE5 \T & AB\T LIKE N[ !Y SMILE & NOD & RECOGNIZE ME FROM ! PAP] & ,I ?9K ,I'M G5]ALLY APPRECIAT$ BUT ( C\RSE !RE'S ALWAYS ONE OR TWO 

IT'S QUITE A NICE NI<T NOT :AT Y\'D CALL SUMM]Y BUT BETT] ?AN IT HAS BE5 ,M&Y'S \T WALK+ ! ?9 BLUE L9E ) H] POLICE FRI5DS :AT ) ONE ?+ & ANO!R IT'S NOT (T5 !SE DAYS ?AT WE'RE HOME AT ! SAME TIME ,I (T5 SAY WE'RE LIKE ?OSE C\PLES ?AT Y\ US$ TO GET 9 WEA!R H\SES ?OSE OLD NOVELTY B>OMET]S WE HAD ONE UP 9 ,SCOTL& :5 ,I WAS A SCRUFFY LITTLE MUPPET AL?\< NO D\BT !RE'D BE ?OSE AMONG ! WOR?Y OPPOSITION OR 9 MY [N P>TY = ?AT MATT] :O'D SAY ?AT WAS /ILL ! CASE1 NO ) H] BE+ \T ,I DIDN'T FANCY RATTL+ R\ND ! PLACE AS IF ,I WAS A DRI$ PEA 9 A COCOA-T9 & S9CE ,I /OOD D[N FROM ! C\NCIL :AT ?REE YE>S AGO TO AS ,I PUT IT SP5D MORE TIME AT HOME ) ,M&Y !RE'S NOT BE5 SO MU* TO DO ,I ?\<T ,I MI<T AS WELL GO = A TURN >\ND ! BLOCK P]HAPS CALL 9 & HAVE A SWIFT HALF SOME:]E BE=E W5D+ MY WAY BACK IT'S BE5 A FEW YE>S S9CE ,I DID ?AT ON A ,FRIDAY NI<T AL?\< AT ONE PO9T IT WAS EV]Y WEEK WE *ANGE AS WE GET OLD] 9 :AT WE CAN /OMA* & ( C\RSE A ,FRIDAY NI<T 9 T[N !SE DAYS IS ASK+ = IT REALLY ) ! WAY IT'S GONE !SE SIXTE5-YE>-OLD NUMPTIES1 HALF A DOZ5 !ME PUBS EV]Y /REET IT'S LIKE ?AT ,5O* ,P[ELL SPEE* ONLY RIV]S FULL ( VOMIT & NOT BLOOD AL?\< Y\ GET A FAIR AM\NT ( ?AT AS WELL D[N AT ! ,A@&,E IT'S DEF9ITELY A DECL9E ,I BLAME BAD GOV]NM5T & YES TO SOME EXT5T PEOPLE !MSELVES !Y HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY = :AT !Y'VE DONE BUT IT'S TOO EASY ,I ?9K SAY+ EV]Y?+'S ! C\NCIL'S FAULT :AT PEOPLE FAIL TO UND]/& IS ?AT \R H&S >E (T5 TI$ BUT ANYWAY 

9 ,*ALK ,LANE !RE'S A MOD]ATE BREEZE BUT NOT SO AS Y\'D NOTICE REALLY LEFT OR RI<T H]E %\LD ,I GO UPHILL OR D[N A LEFT WILL TAKE ME UP 9TO ! ,BOR\<S & ?AT CAN BE WELL NOT DANG]\S BUT ON A ,FRIDAY NI<T & ALL ( ! REMA9+ PUBS >E EI!R DEAD OR FULL ( PEOPLE ?AT Y\ W\LDN'T WANT TO SP5D A LOT ( TIME )1 RI<T IT IS !N & SO 9TO ,M>EFAIR1 GO+ D[NHILL1 FOLL[+ ! PA? ( LEA/ RESI/ANCE 

JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD !RE ! ,BLACK ,LION LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON ! WAY \T ,I CAN REMEMB] :5 IT WAS ALL BIK]S NOT :AT Y\'D CALL ?REAT5+ BUT ?+S C\LD BE UNPLEASANT >\ND *UCK+-\T TIME ) ! NOISE & EV]Y?+ IT'S NOT FAIR ON ! RESID5TS A LOAD ( HALF-BAK$ PIS%EADS REVV+ UP %\T+ ! ODDS BUT ANYWAY !Y'RE GONE N[ LONG GONE & WE'RE RID ( ONE MORE OB/ACLE /OOD 9 ! WAY ( ,CA/LE ,W>D GETT+ ! NEW DEVELOPM5T & ,I SUPPOSE Y\ C\LD SAY ! NEW PEOPLE ?AT IT NE$S TO BE A DIFF]5T PLACE A DEC5T NEI<BORHOOD TO MOVE UP 9 ! WORLD NOT ?AT WE'D EV] SELL ?AT'S NOT :AT IT'S AB\T IT'S AN ATTA*M5T TO ! DI/RICT1 NOT = H[ IT IS BUT H[ IT C\LD BE LIV+ D[N H]E ALL !SE YE>S ( C\RSE IT'S NOT \R ONLY PROP]TY BUT IT'S ! ONE ?AT WE'RE ID5TIFI$ ) P>T ( \R BR& IF Y\ LIKE ,I MEAN ! OLDE/ MO/ HI/ORIC P>T ( T[N WE'D LIV$ H]E YE>S BE=E ,I'D HE>D MORE ?AN ! B>E/ \TL9E1 TO BE HONE/ ,I WAS NEV] ALL ?AT 9T]E/$ BUT :5 Y\ F9D \T AB\T SOME ( IT WELL IT'S FASC9AT+ Y\ TAKE ,PET]'S ,*UR* ACROSS ! ROAD !RE PUT UP 9 ! FIR/ PLACE BY ,K+ ,(FA AS A *APEL = HIS SONS AT !IR B>ONIAL HALL 9 ,M>EFAIR !N IT'S REBUILT BY ! ,NORMANS 9 ELEV5 SOME?+ & HOLD ON :AT'S ?AT 

A TE5AGE BOY IT LOOKS LIKE FLOPPY BR[N HAIR JEANS & TRA9]S ) AN ,F,C,U,K %IRT ON ?AT'S TOO BIG = HIM A LANKY /REAK ( PISS HE'S 9 ,/4 ,PET]'S DOORWAY UND]NEA? ! PORTICO & %OVEL+ SOME?+ UP 9TO HIS >MS AS IF HE'S 9 A HURRY IT'S A SLEEP+ BAG1 HE'S DOSS+ AT ! *UR* ! MANGY LITTLE TWAT ,I'LL HAVE A WORD ) ,M&Y :5 ,I SEE H] NEXT OH HEY UP H]E HE COMES /UMBL+ ALONG ! PA? BETWE5 ! FL[]B$S \T ! *UR* GATE ) HIS BAG LIKE AN 5ORM\S BONELESS BABY CLUT*$ AGA9/ HIS SCRAWNY *E/ & SCUTTL+ ACROSS ! /REET HE'S 9 A RU% ALRI<T AL?\< ,I CAN'T IMAG9E :]E HE'S GOT TO GO 

0,GOOD EV5+40 

NOT A WORD /RAI<T PA/ ME & AWAY UP ,PIKE ,LANE ,PIKEY ,LANE SOMEBODY'S *ANG$ IT TO & FRANKLY Y\ CAN SEE :Y ?\< ,I'VE NEV] LIK$ ! T]M MYSELF WELL IT'S D]OGATORY ISN'T IT1 Y\ KN[ SOME?+ AB\T ! WAY HE RAN AT ME ACROSS ,M>EFAIR LIKE ?AT ,I FELT A BIT WEIRD = A SECOND NOT QUITE DEJA VU BUT IT REM9D$ ME ( SOME?+ ?\< ,I DON'T KN[ :AT IT CAN HAVE BE5 DID SOMEONE RUN AT ME LIKE ?AT ACROSS A /REET BE=E OR OH WAIT ,I KN[ :AT IT WAS IT WAS ?AT DREAM ,I HAD ,I PUT IT D[N TO DODGY SEAFOOD AT ! TIME :5 WAS IT EI<TE5 MON?S1 TWO YE>S AGO1 ,I WAS 9 ,M>EFAIR 9 ! DREAM AS WELL BUT IT WAS NI<T ,I C\LDN'T F9D MY %IRT OR TR\S]S & HAD ,I GONE \TSIDE 9 MY PANTS & VE/ TO LOOK = !M ,I CAN'T REMEMB] BUT ,I KN[ ! /REET LOOK$ DIFF]5T 9 ! MOONLI<T WAS !RE ANY MOON ! DREAMLI<T ANYWAY !RE W]E ALL BUILD+S FROM ! PRES5T JUMBL$ UP ) PLACES ?AT W]E KNOCK$ D[N YE>S AGO & !RE WAS ?AT DAMP CREEPY ATMOSPH]E ! ,BOR\<S SEEM$ TO HAVE :5 WE W]E FIR/ MOV$ 9 & 9 ! DREAM ,I WAS JU/ />T+ TO FEEL A BIT ANXI\S & SELF-CONSCI\S AB\T BE+ \T 9 JU/ MY UND]WE> :5 ,I SAW SOMEBODY ACROSS ! /REET ?IS OLD *AP ) A TRILBY COV]+ HIS BALD HEAD & HE RAN1 HE RAN AT ME ACROSS ! ROAD EXACTLY LIKE ?AT BOY JU/ N[ BUT HE'D GOT IT WAS HORRIBLE HE'D GOT DOZ5S ( >MS & :]E HIS FACE WAS IT WAS JU/ A LOT ( EYES & M\?S ALL SCREAM+ AT ME SCREAM+ LIKE HE HAT$ ME ,I DON'T KN[ :AT ,I'D DONE TO MAKE HIM HATE ME LIKE ?AT BUT ,I WOKE UP 9 A SWEAT ) MY HE>T GO+ & !RE WASN'T ANYBODY !RE IT'S JU/ ?IS PLACE ) NI<TM>ES 9 ITS TIMB]S LIKE OLD F>TS TRAPP$ UND] B$%EETS 9 MY BONES ,I'M /ILL A ,M>XI/ TO ! CORE ,I DON'T BELIEVE 9 <O/S 

& ANYWAY ?AT'S JU/ ! SORT ( FRI<T Y\ GIVE Y\RSELF :5 IT'S ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T BUT Y\ LOOK AT ! PLACE N[ ON A NICE ,SPR+ EV5+ Y\ SEE :AT IT C\LD BE1 !RE'S ,/4 ,PET]'S ) ! LONG LI<T ON ITS LIME/ONE & !N H]E JU/ UP ! ROAD ,HAZELRIGG ,H\SE :]E ,CROMWELL BUNK$ D[N BE=E HIS DEM&+ DAY AT ,NASEBY :5 Y\ ?9K AB\T IT FRANKLY IT'S A M>VEL1 ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* JU/ UP ,PIKE ,LANE BACK !RE ACROSS ! YE>S PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT MU/ BE AWFUL LIV+ 9 A T9Y NEI<BORHOOD LIKE ?AT BUT HONE/LY IT'S NOT IT DOES US ANYWAY A BIT ( SM>T5+ UP WE C\LD BE HAPPY H]E & IF ! DI/RICT'S SMALL WELL !N SO :AT ,I'M NOT A BIG *AP 9 ! HEI<T DEP>TM5T SO IT'S BIG 5\< = ME IT'S LIKE ! ,B>D SAID :AT WAS IT ,I C\LD BE B\ND$ 9 A NUT%ELL & YET C\NT MYSELF K+ ( 9F9ITE SPACE W]E IT NOT ?AT ,I 

SOME?+ LIKE ?AT ANYWAY NO IT'S A LOVELY NI<T ,I'M GLAD ,I CAME \T = A WALK ,I'M GLAD ?AT ,I'M NOT 9 MY VE/ & UND]PANTS !RE'S NO D5Y+ ?AT IT'S *ANG$1 ! NEI<BORHOOD1 *ANG$ S9CE WE FIR/ MOV$ 9 WAS IT 9 'SIXTY-EI<T >\ND ?AT TIME ,I MEAN ! S\? SIDE ( ,M>EFAIR WELL ?AT'S /ILL PRETTY MU* ! SAME AT LEA/ ! UP/AIRS BUT ) DIFF]5T BUS9ESSES MOV$ 9 BEL[ KEBAB %OPS TAKEAWAYS :AT HAVE Y\ & ! RO(TOPS >E ALL L>GELY H[ !Y'VE ALWAYS BE5 ACROSS ! /REET ?\< ON ! NOR? SIDE IT'S A DIFF]5T /ORY !RE'S ! IBIS OBVI\SLY ,SOL ,C5TRAL ! :OLE COMPLEX :5 !Y PUT IT UP IT LOOK$ LIKE SOME?+ \T ( ! FIR/ ,BATMAN FILM BUT N[ ,I DON'T KN[ ON A ,SATURDAY OR ,FRIDAY NI<T Y\ T5D TO SEE A LOT ( C\PLES *ECK+ 9 :O DON'T LOOK LIKE !Y'VE KN[N EA* O!R LONG DRUNK BLOKES ) H>D-FAC$ Y\NG] WOM5 OR SOMETIMES ) SPOTTY LADS ( C\RSE IT'S NOT MY BUS9ESS ,I ?9K EV]YONE %\LD HAVE ! B5EFIT ( ! OLD D\BT BUT :5 Y\ ?9K AB\T IT YOBBOS =NICAT+ RI<T :]E A ,SAXON B>ONIAL HALL ONE /OOD & AFT] ?AT ! ,B>CLAYC>D HEADQU>T]S IT /ILL DOESN'T SEEM RI<T ALMO/ SACRILEGI\S1 H]E WE >E1 ! CROSSROADS UP ! HILL DIRECTLY OPPOSITE !RE'S ,GOLD ,/REET & ALREADY ,I CAN SEE :]E FUR!R ON T[>DS T[N C5T] !RE'S ! USUAL MUPPETS W&]+ 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! ROAD GIRLS ) !IR ASS-CRACKS %[+ & IT'S ONLY JU/ GONE SEV5 

ON ! O!R H& !RE'S H>DLY ANYONE AB\T 9 ,HORSE%OE ,/REET D[NHILL ONE ( ?OSE R&OM LULLS 9 FOOT OR VEHICLE TRAFFIC :]E ALL ( A SUDD5 IT GOES SIL5T LIKE A ,WE/]N MA9-/REET JU/ BE=E A %OOT-\T !RE WAS ONCE A TIME ,I MI<T HAVE W&]$ D[N ?AT WAY & HAD A PLEASANT EV5+ \T1 ALL ( ! PUBS !RE US$ TO BE ! ,%AKESPE>E AT ! TOP H]E & ! ,H>BOR ,LI<TS ANO!R BIK] HANG\T 9 ! ',SEV5TIES ,I ALWAYS US$ TO WOND] :Y !Y'D CALL$ IT ?AT :5 WE'RE ! FUR!/ PO9T 9L& BUT ,I SUPPOSE IT'S JU/ ANO!R WI/FUL EVOCATION ( ! SEA ! WAY ?AT ,T]RY ,WOGAN CALL$ ! ,EXPRESS ,LIFT T[] ! ,NOR?AMPTON LI<?\SE ANYWAY ! ,H>BOR ,LI<TS ! BUILD+'S /ILL !RE BUT !Y'VE *ANG$ ! NAME ! ,JOLLY ,WANK]1 WELL !RE'S A BIG LETT] ,W & !N AN AN*OR BUT IT'S OBVI\S :AT IT'S SAY+ N[ ,I'M ALL = FREE SPEE* BUT ,I DON'T AGREE ) ?AT ,I DON'T SEE ANY NE$ Y\ W\LDN'T CAT* ME DR9K+ 9 !RE ANYWAY ,I'VE TOO MU* SELF RESPECT BESIDES ! :OLE /REET LOOKS LIKE IT'S UNRAVEL+ 

,I WOND] H[ MU* LONG] ! ,VICTORIAN GAS-HOLD]'S GO+ TO BE !RE IT WAS TALK$ AB\T A FEW TIMES :5 ,I WAS /ILL ON ! C\NCIL1 C\NCIL LEAD] A GOOD MANY YE>S & 9 ! 5D Y\ HAVE TO BALANCE PRACTICALITY AGA9/ NO/ALGIA WELL ?AT'S ALL IT IS :5 IT COMES D[N TO IT NO/ALGIA = A PLACE OR ?+ ?AT NO ONE REALLY GAVE A FUCK AB\T TO />T ) BUT BECAUSE !Y HAPP5$ TO GR[ UP 9 SU* & SU* A /REET !Y DON'T WANT ANY?+ TO *ANGE :I* IS TO MY M9D UNREALI/IC NO?+ /AYS ! SAME =EV] EV]Y?+ IS GO+ D[NHILL PLACES PEOPLE WE ALL MAKE ADJU/M5TS WE ALL />T \T AS IDEALI/S OR AT ANY RATE AS SOME?+ PASS+ = IDEALI/S BUT ?AT'S NOT ! REAL WORLD 9 ! REAL WORLD EV]Y?+ & EV]YBODY 5DS UP AS A ,JOLLY ,WANK] & ?AT'S !IR FAULT IT'S NOT WAIT A M9UTE !RE'S SOMEBODY DO ,I KN[ HIM SOMEONE /&+ HALFWAY D[N ! HILL ON ?IS SIDE ( ! DUAL C>RIAGEWAY ,I'M SURE ,I'VE SE5 HIS FACE JU/ /&+ !RE & />+ AT ! BILLI>D HALL ACROSS ! /REET BLACK LEA!R JACKET ON HE LOOKS LIKE A REAL VILLA9 OH HE'S TURN$ HIS HEAD HE'S LOOK+ UP ! HILL T[>DS ME BETT] LOOK AWAY 

P]HAPS IF ,I W5T UPHILL UP ,HORSEM>KET ,I C\LD /OP 9 AT ! ,BIRD 9 ,H& :ATEV] IT'S CALL$ N[ ! PLACE ON ,REG5T ,SQU>E UP ,%EEP ,/REET JU/ TO SAY ,I'D HAD ONE JU/ TO SAY ,I'VE GOT A SOCIAL LIFE EV5 :5 ,I'M ! ONLY ONE AT HOME ?AT MAN ?\< ,I WON'T TURN >\ND 9 CASE HE'S LOOK+ ,I KN[ HIM FROM SOME:]E ,I'M CONV9C$ ( IT A FACE LIKE ?AT Y\ DON'T =GET IT 9 A HURRY ) ?AT BIG HOOK NOSE HIS EYES AT DIFF]5T LEVELS DIFF]5T ANGLES TO EA* O!R HONE/LY HIS FACE1 IT LOOK$ LIKE A COLLAGE IT LOOK$ LIKE ?AT OLD <O/'S FACE :5 IT RUNS ACROSS ! ROAD T[>DS ME 9 MY NI<TM>E EV]Y O!R WEEK P]HAPS HE LIVES R\ND !SE P>TS ONE ( ! M5AG]IE LIKE ?AT *AP ?AT Y\ SEE WALK+ HIS F]RETS AL?\< N[ ,I COME TO ?9K WAS IT ON TELLY ?AT ,I SAW HIM 9 A FILM AN ADV]T SOME?+ ( ?AT NATURE HORROR /ORY ,I %\LD ?9K FROM H[ HE LOOKS BUT ON ! O!R H& H[ LIKELY IS IT SOMEBODY FROM TELLY BE+ 9 ! ,BOR\<S IT'S MORE PROBABLE ,I KN[ HIS FACE FROM ,M&Y'S WORK ) ! POLICE Y\ KN[ ! EV5+ SUN1 ,HORSEM>KET ON !SE L[] SLOPES1 IT LOOKS QUITE NICE 

A RE/AURANT AN ,ITALIAN PLACE ACROSS ! /REET DON'T LIKE ! LETT]+ 

BLACK MOVEM5T ON ! PAV+ NOT A HE>T ATTACK ! %AD[ ( A BIRD ?AT'S A RELIEF 

SOME GIRL Y\NG WOMAN %E'S QUITE PRETTY LOVELY EYES A HAJIB %E'S ,SOMALI 

IT'S FRU/RAT+ EV5 TWO YE>S LAT] ! ,IRAQ W> ,I OPPOS$ IT OBVI\SLY MADE A FEW /ATEM5TS TO ! PAP] & YES ,I SUPPOSE ?AT /EPP+ D[N FROM C\NCIL ?AT SAME YE> TO SOME IT MI<T HAVE LOOK$ AS IF ,I'D MADE A /& ON PR9CIPLE AL?\< ,I NEV] SAID ?AT 9 AS MANY WORDS NO TO BE HONE/ IT WAS MORE A LEGAL TE*NICALITY SO ?AT ,I C\LD PURSUE MY BUS9ESS 9T]E/S )\T A BREA* ( REGULATIONS & ,I DON'T SEE ?AT !RE'S ANY CONTRADICTION 9 A /AUN* OPPON5T ( ! W> PLANN+ A TRIP TO ,BASRA ,ANGLICOM WE CALL$ ! COMPANY ANYWAY ?AT'S NEI!R H]E NOR !RE1 AS ,I SAID AT ! TIME ?AT'S HI/ORY :AT'S DONE IS DONE YES ,I OPPOS$ ! W> BUT :5 IT'S HAPP5$ !N ?AT'S ! REALITY ?AT'S :AT Y\'VE GOT TO WORK ) & ,I ?9K ?AT SETTL+ DEALS TO HELP ! RE/ORATION ( ,IRAQ IT'S P>T ( A HUMANIT>IAN EF=T :5 Y\ /OP TO ?9K AB\T IT & ,I DON'T SEE1 ,I DON'T SEE :5 !RE'S A PIE ?AT BIG TO BE DIVID$ UP :Y IT %\LD BE Y\R ,HALLIBURTONS GETT+ ALL ! CONTRACTS :]E'S ! H>M 9 /&+ UP = ,BRITI% COMPANIES ME & ,COL9 HE'S MY P>TN] BUS9ESS P>TN] ,I %\LD SAY Y\ HAVE TO BE SO C>EFUL ) Y\R LANGUAGE !SE DAYS DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET ! WRONG IMPRESSION ME & ,COL9 W]E ALL SET TO FLY TO ,BASRA1 #b#d1 ,I MEAN !Y SAID ! AIR/RIP WAS SECUR$ IT WAS ALL OV] OR AT LEA/ UP 9 ! NOR?1 !RE WAS ?AT BLOKE ! S\RCE ( ALL ! ,W,M,D REPORTS :AT WAS HIS NAME & !Y W]E GO+ TO P>A*UTE HIM 9TO GOV]NM5T ALL DONE & DU/$ SO !Y SAID1 WE'D BOOK$ ! FLI<TS ANN\NC$ IT 9 ! ,*RONICLE @& ,E*O EV]Y?+ & !N IT ALL KICK$ (F CONTRACTORS TAK5 HO/AGE EV]Y O!R DAY A C> BOMB !RE'S BEHEAD+ FOOTAGE PO/$ ON ! 9T]NET WE CALL$ IT (F WELL WE ANN\NC$ ?AT WE'D PO/PON$ IT ?9K+ ,I DON'T KN[ !RE'D BE A DROP-(F 9 ! VIOL5CE SOME?+ LIKE ?AT BUT IT'S NEV] GO+ TO HAPP5 IS IT LOOK AT IT ! ,MIDDLE ,EA/ IT'S HOPELESS IT'S ALL FUCK$ IT'S 

BLOODY HELL ,I'M MAK+ H>D WORK ( ?IS SLOPE ,I %\LD SIGN UP D[N AT ! GYM BUT 

,M>Y'S ,/REET BACK ( ! IBIS RE> DELIV]Y Y>DS ! FIRE CAME D[N H]E ONCE 

! SUNSET ON ! W9D[S ( ! FLATS \R BUS9ESS 9 ,IRAQ IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE 

SOMETIMES1 SOMETIMES ,I WOND] IF ! ?+S 9 LIFE >5'T ALL LAID \T FROM ! BEG9N+ LIKE T[N PLANN+1 !RE'S A GOOD EXAMPLE1 IF !RE'S ONLY ONE WAY ?+S >E GO+ TO GO = SAY A DI/RICT OR A NEI<BORHOOD IT'S ALL ALREADY BE5 DECID$ BUT ! PEOPLE LIV+ !RE DON'T HAVE A CLUE :AT'S GO+ TO HAPP5 9 !IR FUTURE !RE'S BE5 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ONLY NONE ( !M HAVE HE>D AB\T IT !Y ALL ?9K !Y'VE GOT A SAY 9 H[ LIFE'S GO+ TO GO = !M !Y ?9K ?AT !IR DECISIONS MATT] BUT !Y DON'T IT'S ALL A DONE DEAL FROM ! />T :E!R !Y HAVE A JOB OR NOT & :]E !Y 5D UP LIV+ :]E !IR KIDS >E S5T TO S*OOL & H[ !Y'RE LIKELY TO GR[ UP AS A RESULT ,I MEAN ,I'M TALK+ N[ AB\T ! WORSE (F OBVI\SLY BUT :AT IF ?AT WAS TRUE = EV]Y?+ ?AT EV]Y?+ WAS PLANN$ \T FROM ! KICK(F & AL?\< WE ALL ?9K WE'RE ! MA/]S ( \R LIVES & FREE TO MAKE \R [N DECISIONS ?AT'S JU/ AN ILLUSION 9 REALITY WE ONLY MAKE ! *OICES WE'RE ALL[$ TO MAKE ALREADY SET \T = US 9 ! PLANN+ DOCUM5TS !RE'S NO EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION PROCESS H[ MU* ( A *OICE HAVE ANY ( US REALLY GOT IT'S LIKE ,I MADE A CONSCI\S *OICE TO NOT GO LEFT & UP ,*ALK ,LANE NOT GO UP ,GOLD ,/REET 9TO ! T[N C5T] BUT IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE ,I'VE >RIV$ AT MY DECISION ONLY AFT] ,I'VE ALREADY />T$ DO+ :AT ,I'M GO+ TO DO1 AS IF MAK+ A *OICE IS ALL AFT] ! FACT IS ALL JU/IFICATION = ?+S ?AT W]E ALWAYS GO+ TO HAPP5 :5 Y\ LOOK BACK AT Y\R LIFE SOME ( ! ?+S Y\'VE DONE ?AT Y\ WELL NOT REGRET EXACTLY LET'S SAY ]RORS ?AT Y\'VE MADE ]RORS ( JUDGM5T :]E Y\ G5U9ELY TRI$ TO DO ! RI<T ?+ BUT :5 Y\ LOOK BACK IT'S AS ?\< CIRCUM/ANCE CONSPIR$ AGA9/ Y\ :]E TEMPTATIONS W]E SO HUGE ?AT NOBODY W\LD /& A *ANCE :]E LIT]ALLY Y\'D HAVE TO BE A SA9T AN ANGEL IT FEELS LIKE !RE'S SOME?+ NUDG+ Y\1 MAK+ Y\ GO ! WAY IT WANTS & :5 Y\ LOOK AT IT LIKE ?AT !N :O'S TO BLAME = ANY?+ 

AL?\< 

AL?\< !RE'S OBVI\SLY !RE'S P$OPHILES S]IAL MURD]]S W> CRIM9ALS !RE'S OBVI\SLY EXCEPTIONS Y\ CAN TAKE ALL ?IS PR$E/9ATION BUS9ESS TOO F> & IF NO?+'S ANYBODY'S FAULT IF EV]YBODY'S ONLY DO+ :AT ! WORLD IS =C+ !M TO DO ALL JU/ OBEY+ ORD]S !N :AT >E WE MEANT TO ?9K AB\T MORALITY ,I MEAN Y\'D HAVE TO SAY ?AT ,MYRA ,H9DLEY ,ADOLF ,HITL] ,F]D ,WE/ !RE'S ! #g_/#g BOMB]S EV]YBODY'S 9NOC5T Y\'D HAVE TO LET !M GO Y\'D HAVE TO ?R[ AWAY ! :OLE IDEA ( S9 ( PUNI%M5T IT'S NOT ?AT ,I'M RELIGI\S NOT ESPECIALLY BUT Y\'D BE SAY+ 9 EFFECT !RE WAS NO RI<T OR WRONG & ?AT'S JU/ WRONG IT /&S TO REASON O!RWISE !RE'D BE NO BASIS = ! LAW ALL ,M&Y'S WORK ) ! POLICE IT W\LD BE /OOD ON NO?+ H[ W\LD Y\ JUDGE ANYBODY !RE'D BE NO ONE TO CONDEMN = ANY?+ &1 &1 & !RE'S ANO!R SIDE 

IF NO ONE'S EVIL H[ CAN ANYONE BE GOOD H[ IS !RE SU* A ?+ AS VIRTUE OR A VIRTU\S ACT IF EV]Y?+ WE DO IS PREORDA9$ JU/ AS Y\ C\LDN'T JUDGE ! GUILTY !RE'D BE NO WAY Y\ C\LD EV5 RECOGNIZE A SA9T A DEC5T P]SON NO WAY ?AT WE C\LD REW>D SOMEBODY = \T/&+ WORK BY GIV+ !M A M$AL1 SAY1 OR MAK+ !M AN ALD]MAN ,I'M ONLY US+ ?AT AS AN EXAMPLE BUT ,I MEAN Y\'D HAVE TO ?R[ AWAY ,MO!R ,!RESA ,JESUS ,<&I ,PR9CESS ,DI NOT ?AT ,I EV] ?\<T ?AT MU* ( H] TO BE QUITE HONE/1 CLE>LY !RE W]E ?OSE :O DID1 !RE'D BE NO H]OES H]O9ES NO VILLA9S & :AT K9D ( /ORY W\LD ?AT LEAVE US ) WE'D HAVE NO WAY ( %AP+ A SOCIETY ,I CAN'T IMAG9E ONE H[ C\LD WE IMPOSE ANY SORT ( PATT]N ANY SORT ( MEAN+ ON \R LIVES H[ C\LD WE TELL \RSELVES WE W]E GOOD PEOPLE NO1 NO IT'S RIDICUL\S !RE HAS TO BE FREE WILL OR ALL ( ?IS IS JU/ A /ORY JU/ A PANTOMIME ) ALL ! WORLD A /AGE & ALL ! M5 & WOM5 M]ELY PLAY]S IT'S FREE WILL OR FREE ,WILL ,%AKESPE>E ?AT'S QUITE GOOD ?AT ,I'LL P]HAPS REMEMB] IT & PUT IT 9 ! COLUMN NO IT'S LIKE ,I'VE ALWAYS SAID H[ EV]YONE'S RESPONSIBLE = :AT !Y DO & H[ !Y ACT AL?\< 9 C]TA9 CIRCUM/ANCES1 ,I'M NOT SAY+ M9E1 !RE MI<T BE /RONG EXT5UAT+ REASONS :Y !Y FEEL !Y %\LD DO ONE ?+ RA!R ?AN ANO!R FREE WILL IT'S A COMPLICAT$ ISSUE 

,KA!R9E'S ,G>D5S JU/ ACROSS ! DUAL C>RIAGEWAY ,G>D5 ( ,RE/ !Y US$ TO CALL IT :5 ! ,MIT] WAS /ILL /&+ UP 9 ,K+ ,/REET JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD FROM ! ,CRIT]ION !RE US$ TO BE ?AT /ATUE !RE ! ,LADY & ! ,FI% %E HAD !SE H>D /ONE TITS IT WAS LIKE AN ]OTIC IDOL /&+ AT ! G>D5 5TRANCE ,I ?9K LAT] SOMEONE KNOCK$ ! HEAD (F SO !Y MOV$ IT \T TO ,DELAPRE & ALL ! GIRLS ! PRO/ITUTES !Y'D EI!R HAVE ! CAB FIRM NEXT DOOR TO ! ,MIT] RUN !M TO !IR FLATS 9 ,BA? ,/REET OR !Y'D HAVE A QUICK KNEE-TREMBL] 9 ! BU%ES ! POLICE W\LD TURN A BL9D EYE = A H& JOB M9D Y\ ALL ! TRADE'S MOV$ D[N TO ! ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD !SE DAYS BETWE5 ! /ATION & ! ,SUP] ,SAUSAGE ,QUORN ,WAY ALL UP ?AT 5D :]E ,I SAW ! /RIPY-HAIR$ GIRL ?AT TIME O!RWISE ! ,BOR\<S IS JU/ H[ IT ALWAYS WAS ,I MEAN WE PUT ! CONCRETE BOLL>DS UP BLOCK+ ! /REETS FROM ,M>EFAIR ALL ! WAY TO ,SEMILONG WE ?\<T IT MI<T DISC\RAGE ! CURB-CRAWL]S BUT IT'S NOT MADE ANY DIFF]5CE ALL IT'S DONE IS MAKE IT H>D] = ! AMBULANCES OR ! 5G9ES TO GET 9 IF !RE'S A FIRE SAY 9 ,/4 ,KA!R9E'S ,H\SE :]E ALL ! DREGS ALL ( !SE KIDS /RAI<T \T ( C>E GET PLAC$ ! T[] BLOCK WELL ! FIRE S]VICES CONDEMN$ IT & YET !RE'S /ILL PEOPLE BE+ PUT !RE SO ,GOD HELP :OEV]'S C\NCIL LEAD] IF IT ALL GOES UP 9 FLAMES Y\ KN[ ,I MISS IT SOMETIMES BUT ,I'M WELL (F \T ( ALL ( ?AT ! /RESS IT PUTS UPON Y\ KN[+ ?+S LIKE ?AT ! WORRY+ 9 CASE SOMEBODY F9DS \T1 ALL ?AT ON Y\R M9D & OBVI\SLY ! PEOPLE 9 ! FLATS Y\ WORRY = !M TOO & IT W\LD BE A DREADFUL ?+ IF ?AT %\LD HAPP5 RI<T !RE :]E ! ,GREAT ,FIRE BROKE \T 9 ! #a#f#gS :5EV] BUT !N ON ! O!R H& A LOT ( ! PLANN$ *ANGES TO ! >EA C\LD GO AHEAD SO IT'S AN ILL W9D & ALL ?AT AL?\< ( C\RSE NO ONE WANTS ?AT TO HAPP5 ,I'M JU/ SAY+ IF IT DID 

( C\RSE ?IS ?+ AB\T !RE BE+ NO FREE WILL !N JU/ BECAUSE WE MI<T NOT LIKE IT OR WE MI<T HAVE TO SURR5D] ?+S ?AT WE REG>D AS MORAL C]TA9TIES ?AT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T TRUE 

! G>D5S AT ! BACK ( ,PET]'S ,H\SE 9 ,BA? ,/REET ON MY LEFT N[ EV]Y?+ LOOKS GRAY & ?READB>E LITT] ALL ! USUAL IT'S DEPRESS+ & ACROSS ! /REET Y\'VE GOT ! ,SAXON ! HOTEL ! ,MOAT ,H\SE /ICK+ UP D[N AT ! FOOT ( ,SILV] ,/REET ) ALL ! SCALLOP$ FRILLS ! PA/EL COLORS IT REM9DS ME ( AN ORNAM5T Y\ MI<T /ICK 9 A FI% TANK ?\< ,I DON'T KN[ :Y1 AT LEA/ IT'S BETT] LOOK+ ?AN ,/4 ,PET]'S ,H\SE ,I ?9K ,I CAN REMEMB] :5 !Y PUT ! ,SAXON UP 9 #aig ,I ?9K IT WAS :]EAS ! ,BA? ,/REET FLATS !Y'RE #a#i#bS #a#i#cS & !Y %[ !IR AGE ! FANCY BRICKWORK ?AT'S GOT CRACKS & FISSURES SPR\T+ TUFTS ( YELL[ GRASS ( C\RSE :5 !Y W5T UP SAME AS A NUMB] ( ! FLATS >\ND ! ,BOR\<S !Y W]5'T MEANT TO LA/ ?IS LONG !Y W]E 9T5D$ AS A TEMPOR>Y MEASURE BUT ) NO:]E ELSE TO PUT ! PEOPLE ,I IMAG9E ?AT !Y'LL BE !RE EI!R TILL !Y DIE OR TILL !IR HOMES JU/ CRUMBLE D[N TO DU/ >\ND !M :AT WAS H]E 9 ,HORSEM>KET BE=E ! FLATS ,I WOND] ,I SUPPOSE ! CLUE'S MO/ LIKELY 9 ! NAME HORSE-TRAD]S WASN'T IT OR DID ,I HE> IT WAS HORSE-BUT*]S !RE WAS ONCE A KNACK]'S Y>D ,I ?9K D[N NE> ,FOOT ,MEAD[ SO P]HAPS OH ,GOD ?AT'S BROKE MY DREAM MY O!R DREAM ,I HAD IT JU/ LA/ NI<T OH ,GOD 

,I WAS :]E WAS ,I1 ,I WAS 9 MY VE/ & UND]PANTS AGA9 & ,I WAS ,I KN[ :]E ,I WAS IT WAS A CELL> A ,NOR?AMPTON CELL> 9 ! DREAM = SOME REASON ,I ?9K ( IT AS BE+ ,WATK9 ,T]RACE ,COLWYN ,ROAD ONE ( !M UP !RE BY ! ,RACEC\RSE BUT ! ATMOSPH]E IT HAD IT FELT LIKE SOME:]E FROM ! ,BOR\<S SOME:]E REALLY OLD & ,I REMEMB] N[1 BE=E ?AT 9 ! DREAM ,I'D BE5 JU/ WALK+ 9 ?OSE BIG GRASS WA/EL&S ) ! FLOOD$ E>?WORKS GIANT DISUS$ RAILWAY BRIDGES & JU/ S+LE R$ BRICK BUILD+S /ICK+ UP1 MIDDLE ( NO:]E UND] HEAVY SKIES A BIT LIKE ?AT ONE H\SE /ILL /&+ AT ! BOTTOM 5D ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET BUT IT'S WEIRD] IT'S A PLACE ,I'M SURE ,I'VE DREAM$ AB\T BE=E P]HAPS S9CE ,I WAS LITTLE BUT IT'S H>D TO TELL ,I'D SOMEH[ GOT 9SIDE ?IS H\SE AT FIR/ !RE MI<T HAVE BE5 SOMEBODY ) ME BUT ,I LO/ !M & ! ONLY WAY ?AT ,I C\LD GET TO :]E ,I ?\<T !Y MI<T BE IT WAS ?R\< ?IS SORT ( GRANITE %[]-BLOCK :]E ! LI<TS W]E \T & !RE W]E ALL !SE TOILETS )\T PROP] CUBICLES >\ND !M & !Y ALL HAD !IR SEATS MISS+ OR W]E OV]FL[+ ALL OV] ! FLOOR & ,I W5T ON & D[N !SE /AIRS1 /ONE /AIRS & !N ,I W5T ! WRONG WAY & ,I F\ND MYSELF 9 !SE !Y W]E LIKE CELL>S & !Y W]E ALL LIT UP AS IF BY ELECTRIC LI<T AL?\< ,I DON'T REMEMB] SEE+ ANY BULBS OR LAMPS & ON ! FLOOR ! R\< /ONE FLOOR IT WAS LIKE /RAW & SAWDU/ HORRIBLE MIX$ 9 ) IT !RE WAS A LOT ( BLOOD & %IT Y\ DIDN'T KN[ IF IT WAS ANIMAL OR HUMAN & !RE WAS IT LOOK$ LIKE FI% 9N>DS & SK9S & /R+S ( MEAT ALL ROTT5 9 ! CORN]S & ,I MU/ HAVE GONE FROM ONE P>T ( ! CELL> TO ANO!R TRY+ TO F9D MY WAY \T & SUDD5LY !RE'S ! MAD POET BLOKE ! ONE :O'S ALWAYS PISS$ ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT HE'S LIV$ D[N ! ,BOR\<S YE>S EV]YONE KN[S HIM ?\< ,I'VE NEV] HAD A LOT TO DO ) HIM MYSELF HE'S /&+ WAIT+ = ME 9 ?IS CELL> SMELLS ( FRI<T5$ ANIMALS LIKE 9 A SLAU<T]H\SE ,I'M GETT+ N]V\S ,I EXPLA9 ,I'M LO/ & ASK HIM H[ ,I CAN GET \T & HE DOES ?IS PECULI> HI<-PIT*$ LAU< & SAYS HE'S TRY+ TO GET FUR!R 9 & ,I WAKE UP ) ! OLD HE>T GO+ AT N9ETE5 TO ! DOZ5 ,I KN[ ?AT IT DOESN'T S\ND MU* BUT ! ATMOSPH]E IT WAS ?AT ATMOSPH]E ?AT HANGS >\ND ! ,BOR\<S & IT ALWAYS PUTS ! %ITS UP ME IT'S ,I DON'T KN[ IT'S ANCI5T1 /9KS1 IT ISN'T CIVILIZ$ OLD] ?AN ?AT ) ITS COLLAPS+ BUILD+S PEOPLE ITS COLLAPS+ PA/ IT'S LIKE A ,FRANK5/E9 ?+ /IT*$ TOGE!R FROM DEAD BITS ( SOCIAL 5G9E]+ IT'S A MON/] FROM ANO!R C5TURY RES5TFUL 9 ITS OM9\S REPROA*FUL SIL5CE ,I CAN TELL ?AT ,I'VE DONE SOME?+ TO (F5D IT ?AT IT DOESN'T LIKE ME BUT ,I DON'T KN[ :Y TIME & AGA9 ,I WAKE UP SWEAT+ H]E WE >E ! ,MAYORHOLD ,M]RULD ! OLD DE>S D[N H]E PRON\NCE IT1 MAKES !M S\ND HALF-%>P 

GLANC+ D[N ,BA? ,/REET & ACROSS ! TRA9-TRACK$ VALLEY AS ! LI<T GOES 

UP ! O!R WAY A WID5$ ,SILV] ,/REET UNRECOGNIZABLE ! ?UGGI% MULTI/ORY C> P>K ?AT'S GOT ,BE>W>D ,/REET & ,BULLHEAD ,LANE ,GOD ONLY KN[S :AT ELSE B5EA? IT SOME:]E LOOK+ \T ACROSS ! GRIM SPRAWL ( ! TRAFFIC JUNCTION ) ITS LI<TS & COLORS BRI<T] 9 ! FALL+ TWILI<T ALMO/ MAGICAL IT'S FUNNY :5 Y\ ?9K ?AT ?IS :]E IT />T$ ! :OLE CIVIC PROCESS 9 ,NOR?AMPTON :5 ! ,BOR\<S WAS ! :OLE T[N & ?IS WAS ! T[N SQU>E SO ,I'M TOLD ) ! FIR/ GUILDHALL ! ,GILHALDA WASN'T IT UP AT ! TOP ( ,T[] ,/REET H]E IT US$ TO BE ! TOP ( ,SC>LETWELL BE=E ,BEAUMONT & ,CL>EMONT ,C\RTS W5T UP 9 ! LATE 'SIXTIES & !RE 

!RE !Y >E 

! HI<-RISE FLATS ! TWO GIANT F+]S RAIS$ AS IF TO SAY FUCK (F 

:O TO ?\< IS IT !M TO US OR US TO !M ,I DON'T KN[ :AT ,I EV5 MEAN BY ?AT 

A W9D[ LIT UP H]E & !RE LI<T ?R\< *EAP CURTA9S COLOR$ SQU>ES ON ! D>K BLOCKS D>K] AGA9/ ! LA/ REMA9S ( DAY OV] ! RAILWAY Y>DS ! DIMM+ WE/ ! TOPS ( HI<] BUILD+S LA/ TO CAT* ! SUN & Y\ CAN /ILL MAKE \T ! SIDEWAYS METAL ,N 9 ,N,E,W,L,I,F,E ) ! LETT]+ RUNN+ D[N ! SIDE ,I ?\<T ?AT LOOK$ QUITE SM>T1 NO1 :AT IT WAS :5 ,I WAS C\NCIL LEAD] SOMEONE MADE \T !Y W]E EYESORES TWO MON/ROSITIES ?AT %\LDN'T HAVE BE5 PUT UP 9 ! FIR/ PLACE & PROPOS$ WE PULL !M D[N BUT ,I SAID NO ?AT'S NOT ! WAY TO GO = ONE ?+ SOCIAL H\S+ 9 ! ,BOR\<S PEOPLE HAV5'T GOT A CLUE JU/ H[ PREC>I\S IT IS ?OSE T[]S !Y H\SE A LOT ( PEOPLE & DON'T ?9K ?AT :5 !Y'RE PULL$ D[N !RE'LL BE ANY:]E TO PUT ! T5ANTS OR !RE'LL BE NEW H\S+ BUILT DREAM ON ?AT ISN'T H[ IT WORKS ?OSE T[]S >E ALL Y\'RE GO+ TO GET & :5 !Y'RE GONE !Y'RE GONE1 NO1 :AT ,I SAID1 WE \<T TO DO !M UP REFURBI% !M SO ?AT !Y'RE FIT TO LIVE 9 & OKAY Y\ MAY SAY :]E'S ! MONEY GO+ TO COME FROM BUT :AT ,I SUGGE/$ WAS WE SELL ! FLATS = NEXT TO NO?+ A H\S+ ASSOCIATION ?AT ,I KNEW WAS 9T]E/$ AT LEA/ ?AT WAY ! C\NCIL'S SP>$ ! CO/S ( DEMOLITION NOT TO M5TION ALL ! HEADA*E ( REH\S+ SO IT W5T AHEAD & ,B$=D ,H\S+ PICK$ !M UP AT FIFTY PEE APIECE ,I KN[ ?AT !RE W]E PEOPLE AT ! TIME & S9CE :O QUE/ION$ ?AT BUT !Y DON'T UND]/& H[ MU* ! PEOPLE H]E HAVE B5EFIT$ :5 Y\ ?9K ( ! ALT]NATIVE HAVE G5U9ELY B5EFIT$ & ALRI<T ?AT WAS 9 #bc :5 ,I /OOD D[N FROM C\NCIL AFT] SPEAK+ \T AGA9/ ! SITUATION 9 ,IRAQ NOT ?AT ! TWO ?+S W]E CONNECT$ IT WAS MORE ?AT BE+ ON ! C\NCIL /OPP$ ME FROM PURSU+ O!R V5TURES %ALL WE SAY ,I MEAN H[ MANY COMPANIES IS IT :]E ,I'M SECRET>Y OR DIRECTOR T5 SOME?+ LIKE ?AT SO IT WAS PROP] ,I %\LD /& D[N O!RWISE IT MI<T HAVE LOOK$ AS IF ,I'D GOT A VE/$ 9T]E/ & Y\ KN[ H[ CYNICAL IT IS !SE DAYS ! VIEW ! PUBLIC HAVE ( ANYONE 9 POLITICS1 NO1 ,I /OOD D[N SO ?AT ,I C\LD TAKE C>E ( ,ANGLICOM 9 ,BASRA ME & ,COL9 ?\< ?AT DIDN'T WORK \T OBVI\SLY BUT ALSO AFT] /EPP+ D[N ?AT LEFT ME FREE TO TAKE UP MY POSITION ON ! BO>D ( ,B$=D ,H\S+ WELL IF SOMEONE'S GO+ TO MAKE A PR(IT FROM IT !N Y\ TELL ME :Y IT %\LDN'T BE A ,BOR\<S RESID5T ?AT'S BETT] SURELY ?AN IT GO+ TO SOMEONE \TSIDE ! >EA & ANYWAY IT'S DONE1 IT'S HI/ORY1 ! O!R OPTIONS W]E MU* WORSE ,I TALK$ IT ?R\< ) ,M&Y & ,I DON'T SEE :Y ,I NE$ TO JU/IFY MYSELF 

ALONG ! WALKWAY ON ! WE/ SIDE ( ! ,MAYORHOLD MAK+ = ! CROSS+S ?AT WILL GET ME OV] TO ! ,ROADM5D] 9 TWO OR ?REE HOPS :5 ! LI<TS >E RI<T IT'S LIKE A GAME ( ,FROGG] & D[N ON ! LEFT !RE'S ,T[] ,/REET & ! ,N,E,W,L,I,F,E BUILD+S & PA/ ?AT Y\ CAN /ILL JU/ AB\T MAKE \T ! S*OOL ,SPR+ ,LANE ?OSE YE>S ,I WAS A TEA*] !RE BACK :5 Y\ C\LDN'T LIVE ON :AT Y\ MADE AS C\NCILOR ,I MEAN SOME ( ! KIDS SOME ( ! FAMILIES !Y W]E BEYOND HELP SOME ( !M IT WAS HORRIFIC SOMETIMES FRANKLY & ?AT'S REALLY ,I SUPPOSE :]E ,I FIR/ GOT A PEEP 9TO ! WAY !SE PEOPLE'S LIVES WORK IF !Y WORK AT ALL & ?9K+ BACK ?AT'S PROBABLY :5 ,I FIR/ GOT ! HORRORS JU/ A %UDD] EV]Y N[ & !N AB\T ! >EA & :AT WAS GO+ ON BEH9D ALL ! NET CURTA9S HONE/LY Y\ %\LD HAVE HE>D SOME ( ! /ORIES AL?\< BY & L>GE ! KIDS W]E NICE ,I LIK$ !M !Y RESPECT$ ME ,I ?9K ,I HAD A REPUTATION AS A DEC5T BLOKE A DEC5T TEA*] ?AT WAS :O ,I WAS ?AT'S H[ ,I SAW MYSELF & ,I WAS HAPPI] !N ,I ?9K ,I DON'T KN[1 CAN ,I SAY ?AT1 !RE'S A LOT ( B5EFITS TO BE+ :O ,I AM TODAY BUT EV5 SO P]HAPS Y\ C\LD SAY ,I WAS HAPPI] 9 MYSELF ,I ?9K ,I ?\<T MORE ( MYSELF & EV]Y?+ WAS MORE /RAI<T=W>D EV]Y?+ WAS SIMPL] !N NOT SU* A MORAL MAZE ,I ?9K ?AT WAS A PROGRAM ON ! TELEVISION OR ! RADIO !Y ASK$ ,CAT ,/EV5S ,YUSUF ,ISLAM OR :ATEV] HE'S CALL$ N[ IF HE W\LD P]SONALLY C>RY \T ! FATWA AGA9/ ,SALMAN ,RU%DIE & ,I ?9K HE SAID HE W\LDN'T BUT HE'D PHONE ! ,AYATOLLAH :AT'S HIS NAME ,KHOME9I ANYWAY :5 Y\'RE A TEA*] !RE'S ! SATISFACTION :5 Y\ FEEL Y\'VE MADE A DIFF]5CE H[ CAN ,I DESCRIBE IT IT'S LIKE :5 Y\ FEEL AS IF Y\'RE A GOOD P]SON DEEP 9SIDE B5EA? IT ALL1 IT'S NOT LIKE POLITICS IT'S ! REV]SE IT'S ! EXACT REV]SE ( ?AT NOBODY TRU/S Y\ !Y'RE PREP>$ TO ?9K ! WOR/ ( Y\ !Y HATE Y\ EV]YBODY HATES Y\R GUTS & ! ABUSE ! P]SONAL ABUSE Y\ GET IS IT A WOND] IF IT GETS TO Y\ AFFECTS Y\R SELF E/EEM ,I DON'T MEAN ME SPECIFICALLY JU/ PUBLIC FIGURES1 POLITICAL TYPES 9 G5]AL :AT IT IS IT'S HURTFUL & IT MAKES Y\R BLOOD BOIL Y\ F9D ?AT Y\'RE MUTT]+ TO Y\RSELF SETTL+ IMAG9>Y SCORES IT WE>S Y\ \T & IT 

CROSS+ ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET SO ?AT ,I CAN CROSS ,BROAD ,/REET MAKES ME ?9K ( ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON :O ,I ?9K LIV$ R\ND H]E UNTIL REC5TLY ,I W\LD SEE QUITE A BIT ( HIM BACK 9 HIS UNION DAYS :5 WE W]E BO? ON ! SAME SIDE WELL NOM9ALLY ANYWAY & EV5 MORE ( HIM :5 ,I WAS ON ! C\NCIL HIS ,T5ANT'S ,ASSOCIATION BOLLIX HE CALL$ ME A WANK] ONCE RI<T TO MY FACE HE SAID ,I'D ALWAYS BE5 A WANK] & ?AT DIDN'T MAKE ME V]Y JOLLY ,I CAN TELL Y\ FUCK+ MILITANTS ! FUCK+ PICKAX-H&LE T5D5CY ) !IR MORE-SOCIALI/-?AN-?\ !Y DON'T SEE ?AT ! K9D ( SOCIALISM !Y BELIEVE 9 !Y'RE ANA*RONISMS ALL ?AT'S DEAD ?AT WAS ! '#gS & ,M>G>ET ,?AT*] SMA% ! ,NATIONAL ,FRONT & WE W]E \T ( (FICE ! BE/ P>T ( TW5TY YE>S IT WAS DEMORALIZ+ ALL ! SPLITS & S*ISMS 9 ! P>TY IT WAS CUNTS LIKE ,?OMPSON RADICALS TO BLAME = ALL ( ?AT /UCK 9 ! '#fS & REFUS+ TO ACCEPT ?AT TIMES *ANGE & ! ,LABOR ,P>TY IF IT WANTS TO BE ELECTABLE IT *ANGES ) !M N[ ,I'M NOT ! BIGGE/ FAN ( ,TONY ,BLAIR ,I ?9K ?AT ,I CAN SAFELY SAY ?AT N[ BUT :AT HE DID :I*EV] WAY Y\ LOOK AT IT HE GOT US BACK 9 GOV]NM5T HE MOD]NIZ$ ! P>TY HE'D LE>N$ LESSONS FROM :AT ,?AT*] DID & IT WAS NECESS>Y R$EF9+ ,LABOR VALUES & ! ,TORIES HAD A W9N+ =MULA Y\ HAVE TO DEAL ) ! REALITY IT'S NO GOOD BE+ (F 9 SOME IDEALI/ NEV]-NEV] L& AFT] ! REVOLUTION NO Y\ HAVE TO WORK ) :AT Y\'VE GOT ADJU/ TO DIFF]5T WAYS ( ?9K+ DIFF]5T WAYS ( DO+ ?+S & ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON CALL+ ME A WANK] ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON1 PEOPLE LIKE ?AT1 ,M>XI/ ?R[BACKS !Y DON'T UND]/& REAL POLITICS ! COMPROMISES & NEGOTIATIONS ?AT Y\ HAVE TO MAKE !Y'RE NOT PREP>$ TO GIVE Y\ IT1 B5EFIT ( ! D\BT1 !Y'RE READY TO BELIEVE ! WOR/ ( Y\ A WANK] HE'S ! FUCK+ WANK] & IT'S ?AT IT'S ! ABUSE Y\ GET ,I %\LDN'T ?9K AB\T IT1 MORE /RESS ON ! HE>T1 :AT DOES HE MATT] ANYWAY HE'S 

TODDL+ OV] ,BROAD ,/REET ) ! GRE5 LI<T & ! ,ROADM5D] !RE ON ! CORN] :ITE 9 ! DESC5D+ GLOOM ! FRONT P>T R\ND$ TALL SMOK$ W9D[S UP BEH9D ITS RAIL+ T5 OR FIFTE5 FEET ABOVE ! /REET IT'S LIKE A PR[ IT'S LIKE A %IP A L9] BEA*$ H]E AT ! FUR!/ 9L& PO9T LUR$ BY ! FALSE BEAM ( ! ,EXPRESS ,LIFTS T[] & ! EMPTY PROMISE ( ! ,H>BOR ,LI<TS !Y HAD HI< HOPES = ! PLACE ONCE ALL ! WELL-MEAN+ ,*RI/IAN TYPES :O F\ND$ IT AS A Y\? C5T] SAID ?AT IT WAS GO+ TO 0M5D ! ROAD0 ! ROAD ?R\< LIFE ?AT DISADVANTAG$ Y\NG/]S FAC$ ,I MEAN AS AN IDEA IT'S WELL 9T5TION$ LIKE ,I SAY BUT IT'S NOT AG$ WELL !SE DAYS Y\'RE NOT GO+ TO M5D ! ROAD Y\'VE V]Y LITTLE *ANCE ( EV5 F9D+ IT & 9 ! MEANTIME WELL IT'S LEFT US ) A BUILD+ TO MA9TA9 & NO WAY ?AT ! SPACE WILL EV] TURN A PR(IT WE'VE TRI$ EV]Y?+ !Y'VE PUT SOME B&S ON BIG NAMES SOME COM$IANS BUT ) ?AT SORT ( AUDI5CE !Y'RE /UD5TS MO/LY !Y'RE NOT GO+ TO SP5D MU* EV5 IF Y\ PACK ! PLACE \T EV]Y NI<T IT ISN'T GO+ TO WORK FROM :AT ,I HE> IT'S GOT SIX MON?S LEFT POSSIBLY A YE> OH FUCK ANO!R HILL 

AT ?IS AGE Y\ DON'T KN[ Y\ NEV] KN[ Y\ NEV] HE> ! ONE ?AT HITS Y\ 

WAS IT H]E P]HAPS :]E ,BULLHEAD ,LANE WAS1 ! /EEP CLIMB TO ,%EEP ,/REET 

JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD ! MULTI/ORY ) DEAD SOCKET-SPACES />+ FROM BETWE5 ITS PILL>S !RE'S A SCRAP ( MITIGAT+ VEGETATION H]E & !RE HALF-HE>T$ V]GES AS 9ADEQUATE RESPITE FROM ALL ?AT CONCRETE BUT IT'S ALL HALF-DEAD IT COV]S NO?+ UP & ONLY MAKES ! RE/ ( IT LOOK WORSE A DIAMANTE ,G-/R+ ON AN UGLY /RIPP] 

:5 Y\'RE CLOS] TO ! TOP Y\ SEE ! BUS /ATION MO/ GRUESOME BUILD+ 9 ! C\NTRY SO !Y RECKON ) ITS EMPTY UPP] SPACES GAZ+ M5AC+LY AT ! C> P>K'S BRUTAL BULK ACROSS ! 9T]V5+ GRASSY WA/E :]E ?AT ,SALVATION ,>MY =T ONCE /OOD AS IF IT SEES IT AS A RIVAL 9 SOME FUCK-FAC$ COMPETITION AL?\< :5 Y\ ?9K AB\T IT ) ! FLATS ! C> P>K ! BUS /ATION & ! RE/ ( ! UNSI<TLY HULKS ?AT SEEM TO CONGREGATE D[N H]E IT ISN'T ANY WOND] ?AT ! PEOPLE FEEL SO S+L$ \T = PUNI%M5T Y\ HAVE TO ASK Y\RSELF IF ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON & ! AWKW>D SQUAD MI<T NOT BE RI<T AT LEA/ ON ?AT ONE1 ON ?AT S+LE ISSUE OBVI\SLY & NOT ON EV]Y?+ NOT AFT] :AT HE CALL$ ME :AT HE SAID TO ME & ,LADY'S ,LANE IT YAWNS AWAY T[>DS ! ,M\NTS ! ASS-5D ( ! BUS /ATION ON ONE SIDE ) ! LAW C\RTS ON ! O!R !RE'S ?AT SORT ( GIBBET-%APE ?AT'S E*O$ 9 ! >*ITECTURE & Y\ GET ! FEEL+ ?AT ! :OLE PLACE IS CONDEMN$ :I*EV] WAY Y\ LOOK AT IT ! SWA!S ( EMPTY GRASS UP ?IS 5D IF Y\ ASK ME IT'S NOT ! OLD CREEPY H\SES IT'S ! PAT*ES ( B>E GR\ND ?AT SEEM MO/ HAUNT$ 

TURN LEFT 9TO ,%EEP ,/REET & IT'S NOT A HAUNT+ LIKE Y\ SEE 9 FILMS OR :5 Y\ READ A <O/ /ORY 9 MANY WAYS IT'S LIKE ! OPPOSITE ( ?AT IT'S NOT AB\T MY/]I\S PRES5CES IT'S MORE AB\T ! ABS5CES NOT H[ ! PA/ 5DURES BUT H[ IT DOESN'T 

BACK AT ,SPR+ ,LANE S*OOL SOMETIMES AT ,*RI/MAS ,I REMEMB] H[ ,I'D READ A <O/LY TALE OR TWO Y\ KN[ SOME?+ TRADITIONAL !Y US$ TO LOVE IT NO?+ REALLY FRI<T5+ ,I'D READ ,A ,*RI/MAS ,C>OL NOT ,! ,SIGNALMAN1 ,CANT]VILLE ,<O/ P]HAPS BUT NOT ,LO/ ,HE>TS1 ! ,5GLI% <O/ /ORY IT'S M>VEL\S ONE ( ! ?+S ?AT CAN MAKE TEA*+ ,5GLI% SU* A PLEASURE JU/ ! WAY ! MA/]S ( ! =M CAN SET ! SC5E & /RUCTURE ?+S !Y MO/LY SEEM TO TAKE A LOT ( TIME E/ABLI%+ A SITUATION ?AT'S BELIEVABLE & QUITE A LOT ( !M LIKE ,M4,R4 ,JAMES !Y BASE ! /ORIES SOLIDLY UPON A REAL LOCATION SO Y\ GET ! :AT'S ! WORD ,I HATE IT :5 ,I CAN'T REMEMB] ?+S IT WORRIES ME V]ISIMILITUDE & !RE'S ! MORAL ASPECT ( A <O/ Y>N ?AT'S QUITE 9T]E/+ ! WAY ?AT SOMETIMES LIKE ) ,SCROOGE ! <O/S >E ACTUALLY A MORAL =CE & HE'S DONE SOME?+ TO DES]VE A VISIT FROM !M :]EAS TO MY M9D ! O!R TYPE ( /ORY1 ?AT'S MORE FRI<T5+1 :]E <O/S DESC5D ON SOMEBODY BECAUSE !Y'RE 9 ! WRONG PLACE AT ! WRONG TIME :]E ! VICTIM IS SOMEBODY 9NOC5T SOMEONE :O DOESN'T KN[ :AT HE'S DONE TO DES]VE IT ,I SUPPOSE ?AT ! ABID+ FE> 9 ALL !SE /ORIES IS ! WORLD WE LIVE 9 COMFY & PR$ICTABLE IT MI<T ALL ( A SUDD5 *ANGE & LET 9 ?+S ?AT WE CAN'T UND]/& OR H&LE ?AT'S ! UND]LY+ T]ROR1 ?AT ?+S MI<T NOT BE ! WAY WE ?9K !Y >E IT'S ALMO/ D>K N[ ALL ! /REETLAMPS HAVE COME ON 

! ABS5CES T5D TO ACCUMULATE UP ?IS 5D1 ,%EEP ,/REET1 !RE'S ! Y>D ?AT BEE* TREE /OOD 9 EI<T HUNDR$ YE>S OLD ,I ?9K !Y SAID IT WAS BE=E IT PASS$ AWAY ( NATURAL CAUSES ?AT'S A EUPHEMISM WE ALL KN[ P]FECTLY WELL :O POISON$ IT SOMEBODY HI<LY PLAC$ AT ONE ( ! ADJAC5T BUS9ESSES :O WANT$ TO EXT5D ! P>K+ >EA BUT OBVI\SLY !RE'S NO?+ CAN BE DONE Y\'D HAVE A H>D TIME PROV+ IT = ONE ?+ & :5 Y\ CONSID] ALL ! UPSET IT W\LD CAUSE ,I MEAN IT W\LDN'T BR+ ! TREE BACK W\LD IT NO :AT'S DONE IS DONE IT'S BETT] TO ACCEPT IT & MOVE ON ?AT'S ! MATURE ! PRACTICAL APPROA* ?AT'S POLITICS LIKE IT OR LUMP IT NO USE CRY+ OV] SPILL$ MILK :5 ! HORSE HAS BOLT$ JU/ ACROSS ! ROAD ! ,*9ESE RE/AURANT1 BE5 !RE YE>S *ANG$ H&S ( C\RSE & NAMES ,I ?9K ?AT ME & ,M&Y W5T !RE ONCE OR TWICE BE=E WE W]E 9 A POSITION TO GO FUR!R & HAVE BETT] NO ! FOOD WAS V]Y NICE AS ,I REMEMB] IT LOB/] ,I ?9K ,I HAD 

& !RE'S ! ,HOLY ,SEPUL*] ! R\ND *UR* BULG+ \T 9TO ! DUSK PREGNANT ) GUILTY SECRETS FAT ) MEMORY ,I %\LDN'T WOND] 

! KNI<TS ,TEMPL> US$ TO WOR%IP 9 IT DON'T !Y SAY WE HAD A LOT ( !M R\ND !SE P>TS AFT] ! ,CRUSADES SOMEBODY \<T TO WRITE A NOVEL A ,DA ,V9CI ,CODE OR SOME?+ ,I SUPPOSE ,NOR?AMPTON'S SE5 A FAIR BIT ( RELIGI\S /UFF ACROSS ! YE>S EXTREMISM Y\'D HAVE TO CALL IT !RE W]E ALL ! WEIRDO GR\PS 9 ,CROMWELL'S TIME ! ,LEVEL]S & ,RANT]S & :AT HAVE Y\ ! T[N DRAWS !M LIKE A MAGNET ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE HE'S ANO!R ONE ,?OMAS A ,BECKET RUNN+ = IT 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T IT'S LIKE ,I SAY !RE'S PL5TY ( RELIGI\S HI/ORY BUT NONE ( IT'S EXACTLY :AT Y\ MI<T CALL NORMAL IT'S FANATICAL OR ELSE IT'S HAV+ VISIONS & IT'S SEE+ ?+S DIDN'T !Y BURN ! WIT*ES JU/ A LITTLE FUR!R UP1 ON ,REG5T ,SQU>E ,I ?9K ,I CAN REMEMB] SOMEONE TELL+ ME 

CROSS TO ! *UR* SIDE ( ! /REET !RE'S NO?+ COM+ AT ! MOM5T AL?\< UP ! 5D !RE ON ! SQU>E ITSELF ! TRAFFIC'S BUN*+ AT ! LI<TS AS ALWAYS 

& IT'S FUNNY 

Y\ LOOK FROM ! R\ND *UR* TO ! JUNCTION UP AHEAD & !RE'S A SORT ( :OL5ESS A SIMPLICITY AB\T ! PA/ & !N ON ,REG5T ,SQU>E ! PRES5T ALL ! C>S ! SIGNALS *ANG+ COLOR IT'S MORE LIKE A JIGSAW ?AT'S BE5 FLUNG ACROSS ! ROOM 

& SET ON FIRE 

! PRES5T SMA%$ & SET ON FIRE ,I ?9K AB\T ,IRAQ ,I'M BLOODY GLAD ?AT WE CALL$ (F ?AT TRIP ,I MEAN ,IRAQ'S AN OBVI\S EXAMPLE BUT IT'S EV]Y:]E ! FRAGM5TATION & ! FABRIC1 WAT*+ :ILE IT COMES TO BITS1 IT'S EV]Y:]E OH ,GOD IMAG9E ?AT IMAG9E BE+ MADE TO KNEEL & HAVE Y\R HEAD CUT (F ON CAM]A IT'S HANG ON ?IS IS :]E ! NOR? GATE WAS UP ?IS 5D ( ,%EEP ,/REET ?IS IS :]E WE PUT ! HEADS ON SPIKES ! ,DANI% RAID]S ?AT WE'D CAPTUR$ !RE W]5'T CAM]AS !N BUT HEADS ON SPIKES IT'S ! SAME ?+ IT'S ! D>K AGE EQUIVAL5T IT'S A DISPLAY MEANT TO DET] ! 5EMY NOT ?AT IF ,I'D HAVE GONE TO ,BASRA ,I'D HAVE BE5 AN 5EMY ,I SAID IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP A W>-TORN NATION & ITS PEOPLE & IF ,ANGLICOM GOT SOME?+ \T ( IT WELL :]E'S ! H>M 9 ?AT ,I'M NOT AN 5EMY BUT !N Y\ C\LD SAY ?AT'S NAIVE ?AT'S NOT ! WAY IT WORKS IT'S H[ !Y SEE US ISN'T IT NOT H[ WE SEE \RSELVES ,I MEAN !Y SAY Y\ %\LD BE C>EFUL H[ Y\ *OOSE Y\R 5EMIES BUT Y\ DON'T GET A SAY 9 H[ Y\R 5EMIES *OOSE Y\ LIKE FUCK+ ,ROMAN FUCK+ ,?OMPSON CALL+ ME A WANK] MAK+ \T ?AT ,I'M ! VILLA9 :5 ,I'M NOT ,I'M ONE ( ! LA/ H]OES /&+ UP AGA9/ ! VILLA9S & ( C\RSE SOMETIMES !RE'S COMPROMISES BUT !RE'S WORSE ?AN ME A LOT WORSE ,I DES]VE SOME CR$IT SOME RESPECT & IF !RE'S ANY D\BT !N ,I %\LD HAVE ! B5EFIT ( IT & ,%EEP ,/REET OP5S UP 9TO ! SME>Y PA9TBOX ( ! SQU>E & H]E WE >E ! ,BIRD 9 ,H& 

ON ,REG5T ,SQU>E ! GL>E ! ,FRIDAY ATMOSPH]E AS IF IT'S WAIT+ = SOME ,I DON'T KN[ SOME UGLY BUS9ESS TO KICK (F P]HAPS IT'S ME1 MY AGE1 Y\ HE> SO MANY /ORIES IS IT ANY WOND] ?AT D[NT[N AT NI<T WELL IT'S 5\< TO MAKE ANYONE N]V\S WELL NOT N]V\S LET'S SAY W>Y & ,I'M NOT A BIG MAN BUT Y\'VE GOT TO DO IT GOT TO GO \T N[ & !N P]HAPS /OP AT ! PUB & HAVE A DR9K PROVE TO Y\RSELF ?AT Y\ /ILL CAN ?AT Y\'RE NOT FRI<T5$1 :5 Y\ />T TO ?9K LIKE ?AT Y\'RE BEAT51 ?AT !RE'S NOT ?IS S5SE ( IT ALL CAT*+ UP ) Y\ ! DOOR IS BRASS & GLASS1 NET CURTA9S ON ! O!R SIDE ,I GET ! S5SE IT MI<T HAVE LOOK$ JU/ LIKE ?IS 9 ! #a#i#eS GIVES AN ELD]LY & :E$L+ SQUEAL MORE ( A :EEZE ! H+ES AS ,I PU% IT OP5 9TO 

HUMAN BODY HEAT A WALL ( IT ! SMELL ( FAGS & LAG] BREA? NOT ! W>M BE] SMELL ,I REMEMB] !RE'S A FUZZY BACKGR\ND C>PET+ ( CLATT] MUMBLE GIGGL+ GIRLS SQUEL*Y GLISS&OS FROM ! FRUIT MA*9E ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P L[ CEIL+ KEEP+ ALL ! SC5T & S\ND PRESS$ D[N !RE'S NOT ?AT MANY PEOPLE 9 IT JU/ SEEMS LIKE IT AFT] COM+ FROM AN EMPTY /REET BUT !N ! NI<T'S /ILL Y\NG ,I DON'T ?9K ?AT !RE'S ANYBODY H]E ,I KN[ QUICK P9T1 !N1 P9T ( BITT] /&+ UP AGA9/ ! B> & TRY+ TO CAT* ! B>MAN'S EYE OH FUCK ,I'VE PUT MY ELB[ 9 ! SPILLAGE NEV] M9D ,I'LL SPONGE IT D[N :5 ,I GET HOME IS HE DELIB]ATELY IGNOR+ ME HE'S1 NO1 NO HE'S JU/ S]V+ SOMEONE FUR!R D[N ! B> & WAIT A M9UTE ?AT BLOKE SITT+ AT ! TABLE 9 ! CORN] !RE ,I'M SURE ,I KN[ HIS FACE FROM SOME:]E IT'S OH %IT HE'S SE5 ME LOOK+ AT HIM MIM$ HELLO HE OBVI\SLY KN[S ME ,I'M MORE OR LESS =C$1 OBLIG$1 TO GIVE A BIG SMILE 9 RESPONSE /ILL CAN'T REMEMB] :O IT IS ,I'VE SE5 HIM REC5TLY ,I'M SURE BUT IF HE TURNS \T TO BE SOMEONE ,I %\LD PAY ATT5TION TO SOMEBODY :O KN[S ,M&Y POSSIBLY BUT H[ HE'S DRESS$ ,I CAN'T IMAG9E ?AT IT W\LD BE :AT'S HE OH HE'S HOLD+ UP HIS EMPTY GLASS HE WANTS A DR9K & BE=E ,I CAN /OP MYSELF ,I'M NODD+ BUT ?AT MEANS ,I'LL HAVE TO SIT ) HIM PRET5D ?AT ,I REMEMB] :O HE IS & OH ,GOD IT'S ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT BUT ?AT'S NO IT'S TOO WEIRD IT'S 

IT'S A CO9CID5CE IT'S NO?+ /RANGE NOT IF Y\ UND]/& MA!MATICS PROP]LY IT'S NOT AS IF 

,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P 

IT'S NOT AS IF IT'S ?AT REM>KABLE WE DREAM AB\T ALL SORTS ( PEOPLE & !N SEE !M BUT ,I MEAN ,I'M MORE ANNOY$ ?AN ANY?+ ,I'M MORE OR LESS OBLIG$ TO HAVE A DR9K ) HIM IF ONLY ,I'D NOT LOOK$ AT HIM AS IF HE WAS A LONG-LO/ FRI5D1 IT'S JU/ A HABIT FROM ! JOB ALL ( ?OSE YE>S1 IF ,I'D JU/ RECOGNIZ$ HIM SOON] BUT OH H]E'S ! B>MAN 

0,CAN ,I HAVE TWO P9TS ( BITT]1 MATE80 

:Y DID ,I CALL HIM MATE HE'S NOT MY MATE OH WELL IT'S JU/ A P9T ,I'LL HAVE IT D[N ME 9 A QU>T] ( AN H\R AT MO/ !N TELL HIM ,I'VE GOT BUS9ESS SOME:]E ELSE A QU>T] ( AN H\R H[ H>D CAN ?AT BE BUT HANG ON :AT'S ?AT HE'S DO+ IS HE IT LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT ( PANTOMIME HE'S PO9T+ AT ME & !N TURN+ R\ND T[>DS ! EMPTY /OOL BESIDE HIM & !N LIFT+ UP HIS H& TO %IELD HIS M\? AS IF HE'S SAY+ SOME?+ N[ HE'S LAU<+ :AT'S ! MATT] ) HIM IT'S AS IF HE'S ACT+ \T SOME SORT ( JOKE OR SOME?+ ?AT HE ?9KS ,I'M 9 ON ,I CAN HE> HIM LAU<+ RI<T ACROSS ! ROOM HE'S LIKE A HORSE ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P 0,AHAHAHA60 ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P IS HE TAK+ ! PISS :AT'S GO+ ON OH H]E'S ! B>MAN ) ! P9TS 

0,*E]S1 MATE40 

>RRRH ,*RI/ LET ME /OP SAY+ ?AT PAY HIM1 A FIV]1 TAKE ! *ANGE !RE'S NOT MU* & !N NAVIGAT+ P9T 9 EA* H& ,I CAN'T /& ?IS BIT IT MAKES ME T5SE Y\ CAN'T SEE Y\R [N FEET OR :]E Y\'RE PUTT+ !M & ALL !SE PEOPLE !Y'RE LIKE BUMP]S ON A P9BALL TABLE & Y\ KN[ Y\'RE GO+ TO 5D UP SPILL+ IT ALL D[N Y\RSELF OR WORSE ALL D[N SOMEBODY ELSE & !N !Y PUN* Y\R LI<TS \T IT'S LIKE TRY+ TO /E] A %IP TO DOCK OR WELL ) ME IT'S MORE A TUGBOAT NOS+ 9 AMONG A LOAD ( HULK+ C>GO VESSELS & JU/ LOOK AT HIM JU/ H>K AT HIM MUGG+ & LAU<+ & PRET5D+ ?AT HE'S :ISP]+ AB\T ME LIKE AN ASIDE TO AN AUDI5CE ?AT ISN'T !RE IS HE LIKE ?IS ) EV]YBODY = FUCK'S SAKE :AT HAVE ,I GOT MYSELF HOOK$ UP 9 N[ OH WELL IT'S TOO LATE 

0,HELLO1 ,B5$ICT4 ,H[ >E Y\ KEEP+8 ,I GOT Y\ A P9T ( BITT]1 HOPE ?AT'S ALRI<T40 

( C\RSE IT'S ALRI<T !RE'S NO NE$ TO S\ND SO APOLOGETIC IT'S HIM CADG+ DR9KS (F Y\ IT'S HIM :O %\LD APOLOGIZE IF ANYBODY Y\ DON'T NE$ TO ALWAYS MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION WELL NOT ) JU/ ANYBODY NOT ) SOMEBODY LIKE HIM HE'S 

0,C\NCILOR1 Y\ MU/ BE A CLAIRVOYANT4 ,AHAHA4 ,Y\ READ ME M9D40 

OH BLOODY HELL ,I HOPE NOT IF ,I READ Y\R M9D !N ,I'LL BET ,M4,R4 ,JAMES HE W\LDN'T BE A PAT* ON Y\ ,I %\LDN'T SLEEP = WEEKS ,I %\LDN'T EV5 

0,OH1 NO4 ,NO1 ,I'M NO CLAIRVOYANT4 ,?IS LA/ ?REE YE> ,I'VE NOT EV5 BE5 A C\NCILOR S9CE ,I /EPP$ D[N4 #bc ?AT WAS4 ,?AT'S :5 BLOODY ,TONY ,BLAIR 9VOLV$ US 9 ,IRAQ40 

N[ TE*NICALLY ?AT'S TRUE ,I HAV5'T SAID ! TWO FACTS W]E CONNECT$ SO 9 FACT ,I HAV5'T 

0,AHAHAHA6 ,YISS Y\ >E1 Y\'RE A CLAIRVOYANT6 ,FR$DY MADE \T AS Y\ HADN'T GOT ! GIFT1 BUT ,I HAD FAI? 9 Y\R PSY*IC ABILITIES4 ,I'M A BELIEV]1 C\NCILOR4 ,AHAHAHA4 ,*E]S60 

0,BUT ,I'M NOT A 4440 

FUCK+ HELL LOOK AT ?AT P9T GO D[N ?AT ,ADAM'S APPLE WORK+ LIKE HE'S GOT A PI/ON >M 9 !RE :O'S ,FR$DY & ?AT ACC5T 0,YISS0 Y\ US$ TO HE> IT ALL ! TIME D[N H]E OLD LADIES MO/LY ! REAL /RONG ,NOR?AMPTON ACC5T ,I'D =GOTT5 :5 WE FIR/ MOV$ 9 WE US$ TO LAU< AB\T IT ME & ,M&Y DO IMPRESSIONS !N IT GETS ?AT Y\ DON'T NOTICE IT & !N NEXT ?+ Y\ KN[ IT'S ALL BUT GONE :5 WAS ! LA/ TIME ,I 

0,SO1 DID Y\ GET \T ( ?AT CELL> 9 ! 5D8 ,AHAHAHA40 

:AT CELL> :AT'S HE TALK+ AB\T :AT 

0,:AT CELL>'S ?AT8 ,I'M SORRY1 BUT Y\'VE LO/ ME40 

!RE1 AGA91 APOLOGIZ+ :AT %\LD Y\ BE SORRY = IT'S HIM :O'S TALK+ RUBBI% HE'S 

0,! CELL> 9 ! DREAM4 ,AHAHAHA6 ,Y\ DIDN'T LIKE IT MU*40 

! 

BUT 

:AT :AT IS HE OH NO OH ,GOD NO ?AT'S NO ?AT'S ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P NO 

0,:AT DO Y\ M 444 H[ DO Y\ KN[ AB\T 4440 

IS ?IS A DREAM1 ?IS N[1 IS ?IS ! SAME DREAM HAVE ,I NOT YET WOK5 UP OR 

0,AHAHA6 ,IT WAS JU/ LIKE \R GR&DAD'S %OP 9 ,HORSEM>KET4 ,IT WAS 444 YISS4 ,YISS1 ?AT'S RI<T4 ,! ,%]IFF4 ,AHAHA4 ,SAT 9 'IS :EELB>R] UP ON ! ,M]RULD40 

BUT H[ CAN HE KN[ AB\T HANG ON ,I'M MISS+ SOME?+ H]E ! LA/ HALF ( ?AT S5T5CE HE'S JU/ TURN$ HIS HEAD & LOOK$ AWAY FROM ME IS HE DELIB]ATELY SNUBB+ ME OR ,I DON'T KN[ BUT :AT HE SAID ! DREAM H[ CAN HE KN[ AB\T MY DREAM OR H[ CAN ,I KN[ HIS :I*EV] WAY >\ND IT IS ?AT ISN'T H[ IT WORKS ?AT'S WRONG IT HAS TO BE SOME ,I DON'T KN[ SOME FLUKE ( PROBABILITY1 MA!MATICS1 A CO9CID5CE ,I MEAN TWO PEOPLE HAV+ ! EXACT SAME DREAM ON ! SAME NI<T !N MEET+ ! NEXT DAY ,I'LL GRANT Y\ IT MU/ BE FANTA/IC ODDS AGA9/ IT BUT IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE IT DOESN'T MEAN HOLD ON HE'S TURN+ BACK TO FACE ME 

0,FR$DY WAS JU/ SAY+ ?AT Y\ \<T TO *ANGE Y] UND]PANTS4 ,I'D TOLD 'IM E>LI] :AT Y\'D GOT ON & 'E SAID Y\ WAS WE>+ ! SAME ?+ ! TIME 'E SE5 Y]4 ,AHAHA40 

HE'S 

HE'S OH FUCK HE'S TALK+ TO ! EMPTY SEAT ! O!R SIDE ( HIM SOMEBODY TOLD ME ,I REMEMB] N[ SOMEBODY SAID !Y'D SE5 HIM DO+ ?AT1 SOME O!R PUB1 ! ,FI% ,I ?9K1 IT MU/ BE ALL ! DR9K S5T HIM LIKE ?AT AL?\< !N !RE'S ! POETRY AS WELL WASN'T IT HIM =EV] GO+ ON AB\T ,JOHN ,CL>E & EV]YBODY KN[S :]E ,JOHN ,CL>E F9I%$ UP H[ DID HE KN[ AB\T MY DREAM ! UND]PANTS & ,I'M NOT LIK+ ?IS H[ DID ,I 5D UP WALK+ 9TO ?IS ,I DON'T DES]VE ?IS & 

0,:O'S ,FR$DY8 ,I DON'T 4440 

LAU<+ ?R[+ BACK HIS HEAD ,I CAN SEE EV]Y PORE 9 HIS BIG NOSE !RE'S NO?+ FUNNY AB\T ?IS1 ?IS IS ?AT ?+ ! ATMOSPH]E >\ND ! ,BOR\<S ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P >E !Y ALL MAD >E !Y ALL !SE PEOPLE >E !Y ALL 9BR$ & MAD OR 

0,FR$DY ,ALL56 ,AHAHA6 ,OLD ,FR$DY ,ALL56 ',E SAYS AS 'E SAW Y] W&]9' UP ,M>EFAIR 9 ! MIDDLE O' ! NI<T WI' JU/ Y] VE/ & PANTS ON4 ,AHAHA4 ',E SAYS 'E RUN ACROSS ! ROAD TO SEE IF 'E C\LD PUT ! W9D UP Y]4 ,FROM :AT 'E'S TELL9' ME1 Y\ LOOK$ AS ?\< Y\'D DONE IT 9 Y] PANTS4 ,?AT'S :Y 'E ?\<T Y\ \<T] *ANGE 'UM4 ,AHAHAHAHA60 

GULP+ MY P9T N[ TRY+ TO %UT HIM \T ?IS ISN'T HAPP5+ ,I'M MI%E>+ HIM ALL ( ?IS :AT ) ! BACKGR\ND NOISE HE ISN'T SAY+ :AT ,I ?9K HE'S SAY+ %\LD ,I JU/ GET UP & LEAVE SAY ,I'M NOT FEEL+ WELL IT'S TRUE 5\< OH ,*RI/ ,I WANT TO BOLT BUT ,I'M /UCK UP ! CORN] ( ! B> H]E ) HIM !RE'S SO MANY /OOLS & TABLES BETWE5 ME & ! PUB DOOR & ALL !SE PEOPLE ,FRIDAY NI<T IT'S FILL+ UP ,I DON'T KN[ :AT TO DO ,I DON'T KN[ :AT TO SAY !RE'S TOO MU* GO+ ON ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P & FROM ! CORN] ( MY EYE OH ,GOD :AT'S ?AT IT'S NO IT'S NO?+ CIG>ETTE SMOKE HANG+ 9 A WOBBLY FLY+ C>PET MADE ( GRAY WOOL JU/ ABOVE ! PICTURE-RAIL ,I ?\<T ?AT IT WAS ,I DON'T KN[ A RU% ( SOME?+ DU/-BALLS BIG AS %EEP /AMP$+ AT \R TABLE BUT IT'S ONLY SMOKE ,I'M JU/ ?AT RATTL$ OH PLEASE /OP HIM LAU<+ IT'S 

0,AHAHAHA6 ,DID Y\ SEE ?AT8 ',E JU/ /OOD UP LIKE 'E'D GOT PILES4 ',E'S CROSS BECAUSE A LOAD O' LITTLE BLI<T]S JU/ COME 940 

:AT N[ OH ,JESUS GET ME \T ( H]E HE'S GOT ME /UCK H]E UP ?IS CORN] & HE'S :AT'S HE DO+ N[ HE ISN'T LOOK+ AT ! /OOL BESIDE HIM & HE'S NOT LOOK+ AT ME HE'S GIGGL+ 9TO ! SMOKE OH FUCK H[ MANY >5'T !RE H]E ?AT ,I DON'T KN[ AB\T IT'S NOT 

0,Y\ CAN'T COME 96 ,Y] UND] AGE6 ,:AT IF ! L&LORD ASKS TO SEE Y] DEA? C]TIFICATES8 ,AHAHAHA60 

LAU<+ HIS HEAD (F %\T+ AT ?ICK AIR NOBODY PAY+ HIM ! LEA/ BIT ( ATT5TION CAN'T !Y HE> :AT'S GO+ ON !Y MU/ BE US$ TO HIM A REGUL> OR !Y CAN'T HE> ABOVE ! ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,I DON'T KN[ :AT'S GO+ ON MYSELF & = A MOM5T ,I LOOK (F 9 ! DIRECTION ?AT HE'S />+ BUT !RE'S NO?+ !RE'S JU/ SOME BLOKE'S ASS & ALL ! SMOKE & ,I LOOK BACK AT HIM & EV]Y?+ AB\T ! ,BOR\<S ?AT CAN MAKE Y\R SK9 CRAWL IT'S !RE 9 HIS VOICE HIS LAU< HIS EYES Y\ CAN'T TELL IF HE'S SAD OR HAPPY ,I'M JU/ GAP+ AT HIM ,I'M JU/ 

0,I DON'T UND]/& ?IS4 ,I DON'T UND]/& Y\ PEOPLE40 

LI/5 TO Y\RSELF 0Y\ PEOPLE0 !RE'S NOBODY H]E BUT HIM Y\ S\ND AS CRACK$ AS HE DOES OH ,GOD :5 HE SAID ?AT BIT1 RUNN+ ACROSS ,M>EFAIR TO PUT ! W9D UP ME HE CAN'T HAVE MEANT NO ?AT'S JU/ BOLLIX NO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE EA* O!R'S DREAMS ,I'M NOT ,I CAN'T ,I JU/ CAN'T ?9K AB\T IT N[ ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT LOOK AT HIM CRAN+ HIS NECK & LAU<+ HOLD+ ONE H& TO HIS E> LIKE HE'S PRET5D+ ?AT HE'S EAVESDROPP+ ON SOMEONE OR P]HAPS HE'S 

0,I CAN'T 'E> 'UM4 ,EV5 :5 !Y'RE RI<T UP NEXT TO Y] !Y S\ND FA9T1 'AVE Y] NOTIC$8 ,AHAHA40 

IT'S 

IT'S ONLY ?IS MOM5T JU/ OCCURR$ TO ME ?AT ?IS IS JU/ :AT IT W\LD BE LIKE ?IS IS :AT <O/ /ORIES LOOK LIKE 9 REAL LIFE ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P 9 REAL LIFE !RE >5'T ANY <O/S & IT'S JU/ SOMEBODY :O'S MAD1 & ,I MEAN ?AT'S UPSETT+ 9 ITSELF1 IT'S SOMEBODY :O'S MAD & O!RWISE !RE'S NO?+ NO ONE !RE & !RE'S NO <O/S !RE'S NOBODY !RE'S NO?+ BUT AN 

ABS5CE 

AN ACCUS+ ABS5CE1 AS IF 

LET ME \T OH ,JESUS LET ME \T ( H]E ?IS PUB ?IS CORN] ?IS PISS$ LUNATIC TONI<T H[ HAS IT GONE SO WRONG SO HORRIBLE SO FA/ ,I'M SWALL[+ MY P9T D[N NECK+ IT & NEXT TO ME HE'S LAU<+ FIT TO BU/ HIS ?ROAT'S A LIFT-CAGE GO+ UP & D[N /UCK BETWE5 FLOORS :Y DID ,I COME 9 H]E IT'S LIKE ,I DIDN'T HAVE A *OICE ,I DIDN'T HAVE A *ANCE & NEXT TO ME1 :AT N[1 HE'S PO9T+ ?R\< ! HANG+ SMOKE T[>DS ! DOOR HE'S 

0,!RE !Y GOO6 ,AHAHAHA6 ,ALL AYT ! DOOR LIKE A%ES UP ! *IMNEY40 

BUT ! DOOR'S NOT MOV$ ! DOOR'S NOT OP5 :AT'S HE SEE+ :AT'S HE SEE+ 9 HIS S*IZOPHR5IC SEIZURE ?AT ,I'M NOT F9I% MY P9T & CL9K ! EMPTY GLASS D[N ON ! TABLE 

0,B5$ICT1 ,I'M 4440 

0,AHAHA6 ,I KN[6 ,Y] LOOK9' F] A WAY \T1 BUT !RE'S NOT ONE4 ,WE'RE ALL /UCK ']E WI' NO 5D 9 SI<T4 ,BLOOD ON ! /RAW & FI% GUTS UP ! CORN]4 ,I'M /ILL TRY9' T'GET FUR!R 94 ,AHAHAHA60 

/& UP ,I CAN'T SAY ANY?+ CAN'T EV5 SAY GOODBYE :AT CAN Y\ SAY1 A SITUATION LIKE ?IS1 AS IF !RE WAS SU* A ?+ AS IF !RE WAS A SITUATION LIKE ?IS /RUGGL+ >\ND ! TABLE ) ITS H>D $GE JUDD]+ AGA9/ MY ?I<S !RE ISN'T ANY SPACE TO MOVE !RE ISN'T ANY WIGGLE-ROOM & ALL !SE PEOPLE PACK+ \T ! PLACE ,I DIDN'T NOTICE !M COME 9 0,EXCUSE ME 444 CAN ,I JU/ COME ?R\<1 YEAH1 *E]S 444 EXCUSE ME 444 SORRY MATE0 /OP SAY+ ?AT /OP CALL+ PEOPLE MATE !Y'RE NOT Y\R MATES !RE'S NO ONE D[N H]E :O'S Y\R MATE & ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P ,B,W,O,I,P & BEH9D ME ,I CAN HE> HIM LAU<+ :9NY+ LIKE A C>?ORSE ) ! B>N ON FIRE ,I /UMBLE OV] SOMEONE'S FEET & HE> ! WORD CUNT BUBBL+ FROM ! AC\/IC BLUR BUT !N ,I'M F9ALLY ,I'M BY ! DOOR & PU%+ AT ! H>D GLASS ?R\< ITS USELESS LITTLE SKIRT ( LACE & !N ! AIR \TSIDE IT'S COLD & CLEAN & BIG ! AIR \TSIDE 9 ,REG5T ,SQU>E ! NI<T SLAMS 9TO ME & !RE ,I'M FREE ,I GOT AWAY FROM HIM ,I GOT AWAY FROM IT ,I GOT 

:AT 

:AT WAS ?AT1 ?AT 

/UFF1 ?AT ATMOSPH]E IT'S GONE IT ISN'T H]E N[ & ?AT'S H[ ,I KN[ IT WAS H]E LIKE A NOISE ?AT Y\ DON'T NOTICE TILL IT /OPS ! SUDD5 SIL5CE :AT JU/ HAPP5$ :AT JU/ HAPP5$ TO ME NO?+ NO?+ HAPP5$ Y\ JU/ IT'S JU/ M5TAL ILLNESS Y\ JU/ HAD A RUN 9 ) IT OBVI\SLY IT'S DI/URB+ BUT !RE WASN'T ANY NE$ TO PANIC NOT TO RUN \T ( ! PUB LIKE ?AT ,I MU/ HAVE LOOK$ A PROP] WALLY NO?+ HAPP5$ CALM D[N NO?+ HAPP5$ EV]Y?+'S ALRI<T EV]Y?+'S NORMAL = A M9UTE ! OLD HE>T WAS BANG+ LIKE A DU/B9 LID BUT ,I CAN SEE N[ ,I WAS BE+ /UPID LETT+ IT ALL GET TO ME LIKE ?AT ,I DON'T KN[ ,I DON'T KN[ :AT ,I WAS ?9K+1 ?AT ! WORLD1 REALITY1 IT HAD JU/ ,I DON'T KN[ JU/ BROK5 & ,I FELT LIKE ,I WAS FALL+ D[N ! CRACKS BUT LOOK AT IT ,I MEAN IT'S F9E ITS ,REG5T ,SQU>E ITS ,FRIDAY EV]Y?+'S OKAY !RE'S 

TRAFFIC LI<TS LIKE FRE%LY SUCK$ FRUIT PA/ILLES & 

AN ICE MOSQUITO BIT+ ON MY NECK ! ?REAT ( RA9 ) 

C\PLES Y\NG *APS /RID+ & NOT /AGG]+ IT'S E>LY YET ,I'M 

WALK+ 9 A DAZE T[>DS ! CROSS+ ?AT WILL TAKE ME OV] TO ! TOP ( ,GRAFTON ,/REET ! D>K SLUICE RUNN+ D[N 9TO ! VALLEY !RE ?AT'S :AT ,I MEAN IT'S NOT LIKE ,I MADE A DECISION OR AT LEA/ NOT CONSCI\SLY YET H]E ,I AM ,I'M TODDL+ ACROSS ! ROAD ! PELICAN TWEETS *IVY+ ) ITS EM]ALD W9K AS IF ,I'VE *OS5 TO GO HOME ?IS WAY & NOT UP ,%EEP ,/REET BACK ! WAY ,I CAME ,I DON'T REMEMB] *OOS+ ANY?+ IT'S JU/ MY FEET ,I'M AT ! O!R SIDE N[ & !Y'RE TAK+ ME ALONG :AT'S LEFT ( ,BROAD ,/REET ONE BR[N %OE & !N ! O!R & IT'S NOT ( MY OH FUCK ME :AT'S ! WORD VOLITION NOT ( MY VOLITION IT'S LIKE EV]Y /EP'S ALREADY SET 9 /ONE & NO?+ ,I CAN DO AB\T IT LIKE IT'S ALL PR$E/9$ BUT !N !RE'D BE NO SU* ?+ AS OH WAT* \T ,I NE>LY SW]V$ & FELL 9TO ! ROAD CAS9O LI<TS UP ON MY RI<T ,I'M WALK+ LIKE ,I'M DRUNK BUT H[ CAN ?AT BE :5 ,I ONLY HAD A P9T A P9T UP AT ! ,BIRD 9 ,H& !RE ) 

,B5$ICT ,P]RIT 

FUCK ?AT MU/ BE IT ,I MU/ BE /ILL 9 %OCK BUT ?AT'S RIDICUL\S IT ISN'T LIKE HE 

RA9+ A BIT H>D] N[ & ,I'M NOT REALLY DRESS$ = IT Y\ KN[ IT WAS SO NICE :5 ,I CAME \T ,I'M GO+ TO GET SOAK$ ?R\< IF ,I'M NOT C>EFUL = ?AT MATT] ,I'LL GET SOAK$ ?R\< IF ,I AM1 ANO!R BLOODY /UPID SAY+ ALL ?AT BUS9ESS 9 ! PUB NO1 NO ,I'M BETT] (F NOT DWELL+ ON IT ONE BR[N %OE & !N ! O!R SLAPP+ ON ! %9Y PAVEM5T WET N[ PUDDLES GA!R+ :]E ! REFLECTIONS ( ! SODIUM LAMPS P]=M A YELL[ %IMMY ONE BR[N %OE & !N ! O!R NOT ( MY VOLITION BUT !N !RE'D BE NO SU* ?+ AS FREE WILL !RE'D HOLD ON :AT WAS IT ,I ?\<T E>LI] IT WAS QUITE FUNNY ,I WAS GO+ TO PUT IT 9 ! COLUMN IT WAS OH YEAH ,I REMEMB] IT'S FREE WILL OR FREE ,WILL ,%AKESPE>E NO ON SECOND ?\<TS IT DOESN'T S\ND AS FUNNY N[ TOO DIFFICULT EXPLA9+ IT ! PO9T /ILL /&S ?\<1 IF ?IS WAS ALL SCRIPT$ 9 ADVANCE & = ALL ?AT ,I KN[ IT MI<T BE !N WE'D ALL BE ACTORS NO ONE W\LD BE 9NOC5T OR GUILTY & WELL ,I SUPPOSE ?AT IF ?AT WAS ! WAY ?AT ?+S TURN$ \T TO BE WE'D ALL GET US$ TO IT 9 MANY WAYS IT MI<T BE A MU* NIC] WORLD ) NO ONE QUE/ION+ Y\R E?ICS ALL ! TIME NO REASON TO FEEL ROTT5 OV] ANY?+ Y\ MI<T HAVE DONE SOME BAD DECISIONS ?AT Y\ MI<T HAVE MADE SOME TIME AGO A :ILE BACK A LONG :ILE BACK ,I'M NOT TALK+ AB\T ME N[ OBVI\SLY BUT !RE'S PEOPLE :O >E S5SITIVE :O >E 9 TORM5T OV] ?+S !Y'VE DONE & IF !RE'S NO FREE WILL WELL Y\ CAN SEE H[ SOME ( US1 PEOPLE LIKE ?AT1 IT W\LD BE LIKE ! SLATE WIP$ CLEAN & NO MORE BAD DREAMS NO MORE SLEEPLESS NI<TS OV] ! O!R SIDE ( ,BROAD ,/REET ! DUAL C>RIAGEWAY !RE'S JU/ ! TOP BIT ( ! OLD ,SALVATION ,>MY =T ! O!R ONE ! ONE ?AT HASN'T BE5 PULL$ D[N YET ACTUALLY ,I ?9K IT'S LI/$ JU/ ! TOP BIT ( IT Y\ CAN SEE :]E IT POKES UP ABOVE ! F5C+ UPP] W9D[S LIKE IT'S LOOK+ AT Y\ TREES & UND]GR[? >\ND IT LOOK+ AT Y\ FROM ACROSS ! F5CE AS IF IT'S AN OLD DOG P5N$ UP & LEFT TO DIE IT DOESN'T UND]/& IT DOESN'T KN[ :AT'S HAPP5+ H]E'S ! ,MAYORHOLD COM+ UP IT'S 

PISS+ D[N LIT]ALLY SPATT]+ ON ! C>RIAGEWAY ! PAV+ SLABS ON ME 0,I'M GUNNA CAT* ME DEA?0 ?AT'S :AT !Y US$ TO SAY D[N H]E ?AT ACC5T LIKE 

,B5$ICT ,P]RIT 

TALK+ TO ?9 AIR LAU<+ AT NO?+ NO?+'S ! LA/ ?+ Y\ WANT TO LAU< AT NO?+'S ! MO/ DREADFUL ?+ ( ALL AFT] Y\'VE GONE ,I'M 9 MY SIXTIES N[ ,I DON'T BELIEVE 9 HELL OR ALL ! RE/ ( IT ,I MEAN IT'S JU/ ! 5D DEA? ISN'T IT ?AT'S H[ A GR[N-UP LOOKS AT IT BUT !N ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT 9 ! ,BIRD 9 ,H& ! CACKL+ & HIS PA9FUL EYES & ALL ! PEOPLE ?AT W]E ONLY !RE TO HIM & YET 

& YET ,I MEAN ! <O/S EV5 IF ONLY HE C\LD SEE !M 9 A WAY !Y'RE /ILL !RE >5'T !Y EV5 IF HE'S MAD !N !Y'RE <O/S ?AT >E 9 HIS M9D ALL ( HIS MEMORIES ( ! NEI<BORHOOD DEAD PEOPLE ALL ( IT <O/S ?AT >E RUNN+ ?R\< HIS M9D & IF Y\'RE SITT+ !RE UP ! PUB CORN] NEXT TO HIM Y\ CAN'T HELP ALMO/ SEE+ :AT HE'S SEE+ WELL NOT SEE+ <O/S BUT SEE+ H[ HE SEES ! WORLD SO ?AT IT ALMO/ MAKES IT REAL TO Y\ AS WELL JU/ = A MOM5T ,I ?9K ?AT'S HIS H\SE BEL[ ME ON ! RI<T ONE ( ! ONES 9 ,T[] ,/REET ,I DON'T KN[ :I* ONE IT ALMO/ MAKES IT REAL TO Y\ AS WELL1 ! <O/S & EV]Y?+1 SO ?AT Y\ FEEL AS IF IT'S Y\ AS IF IT'S ME :O'S BE+ HAUNT$ & NOT HIM AS IF ! DI/RICT & ! DEAD W]E TALK+ ?R\< HIM TO ME PASS+ ON A MESSAGE :Y DO ,I KEEP FEEL+ AS ?\< ?IS PLACE HATES ME AFT] ALL ,I'VE DONE = IT H[ DID HE KN[ MY DREAMS ?AT AWFUL CELL> & ) NO WAY \T UP ON MY LEFT ! ,MAYORHOLD'S KNOTT$ GUTS >E GR[L+ ) NOCTURNAL TRAFFIC1 ) /RANGL$ MONOXIDE F>TS AHEAD ( ME D[N ,HORSEM>KET !RE'S NOISE ONE ( ?OSE H[L] MONKEY CONV]SATIONS Y\NG BLOKES :O DON'T KN[ DON'T C>E H[ L\D !Y'RE TALK+ LIKE !Y'VE GOT !IR HEADPHONES LAG] HEADPHONES ON ,I ?9K ,I'LL TAKE A RI<T D[N ,BA? ,/REET CUT UP ?R\< ! FLATS & ?AT WAY IT LOOKS QUIET 5\< NO ONE AB\T H[ DID HE KN[ MY DREAMS 

& ?AT'S ANO!R ?+ ISN'T IT IF !RE'S NO FREE WILL !N :Y HAS ?IS PLACE GOT IT 9 = ME GIV+ ME NI<TM>ES GIV+ ME ,B5$ICT = FUCK'S SAKE ,P]RIT ,I'VE DONE NO?+ WRONG Y\ NAME ME ONE ?+ ,I'VE DONE WRONG & IF !RE'S NO FREE WILL !N !RE'S NO WRONG NO RI<T NO S9 NO VIRTUE NO?+ EV]YBODY'S (F ! HOOK AWAY & ON ! RI<T ?AT PLACE IT US$ TO BE ! DRILL HALL = ! ,BOY'S ,BRIGADE ,I WOND] ,BA? ,/REET'S DEAD TONI<T ,I WOND] IF !RE'S /ILL A ,BOY'S ,BRIGADE NO BUT ! FREE WILL BUS9ESS IF NOBODY'S DONE ANY?+ WRONG !N :Y %\LD ANYONE FEEL GUILTY :5 NOBODY HAD A *OICE & IF !RE'S NO FREE WILL !N WE'RE ALL REALLY FREE & BY ?AT ,I MEAN FREE ( FEEL+ BAD & FREE ( DREAMS & DRUNKS & MADM5 Y\ C\LD SMELL <O/S ON HIS BREA? WE'VE NONE ( US DONE ANY WRONG & ?AT'S OBJECTIVE FACT OBJECTIVE SCI5TIFIC FACT EXCEPT 

= IT TO BE OBJECTIVE FACT !RE'D HAVE TO BE SOME SORT ( \TSIDE SOME SORT ( OBS]V] & 

!RE ISN'T ONE !RE'S ONLY US JU/ US SEE+ IT ALL SUBJECTIVELY & 

SO 

TO US 

TO US !RE'S WRONG WE ?9K WE'VE GOT FREE WILL WE ?9K WE'RE DO+ WRONG SO ! MORALITY ,I MEAN ?AT'S JU/ ! SAME FREE WILL OR NOT WE ?9K WE'RE DO+ WRONG & WE CAN'T GET AWAY FROM ?AT BUT ?AT'S WORSE ISN'T IT ! WOR/ ( BO? WORLDS NO FREE WILL BUT !RE'S /ILL S9 !RE'S S9 TO US & WE'RE ! ONLY ONES IT MATT]S TO :AT'S ?AT ! ,MUSLIMS SAY IT'S SOME?+ LIKE 0A SA9T MAY SLAY A MILLION 5EMIES & BE )\T S9 UNLESS HE REGRET BUT ONE0 IT'S ?AT IT'S ! REGRET FREE WILL OR NOT ?AT DOESN'T GO AWAY WE'RE TRAPP$ !N >5'T WE ALL ( US TRAPP$ 9 \R LIVES TRAPP$ 9 ALL ?IS 9 ,BA? ,/REET 9 ! WORLD ! ,BOR\<S EV]Y?+ IT ISN'T FAIR IT'S 

SOMEONE GUNS HIS 5G9E TAKES (F ) A SCREE* D[N 9 ! D>K AHEAD ( ME S\NDS LIKE HE'S 9 A HURRY & ! RA9'S NOT LETT+ UP ACROSS ! /REET (F ALONG ,SIMONS ,WALK SOMEBODY PLAY+ WELL ,I W\LDN'T SAY ?AT IT WAS MUSIC PLAY+ SOME?+ ANYWAY H[ DID HE KN[ MY DREAMS & !N Y\'VE GOT ! LITTLE POCKET P>K !RE LONELY & DES]T$ 9 ! NI<T & HULK+ OV] IT ! T[]S & LIKE ,I SAY AT LEA/ ?AT'S SPACE = SOCIAL H\S+ ,I WAS ABLE TO PRES]VE IF SOMEONE MAKES A PR(IT ?AT'S JU/ BUS9ESS ?AT'S H[ BUS9ESS WORKS DUH1 :AT1 W\LD IT BE BETT] IF NOBODY MADE A PR(IT & !Y'D PULL$ !M D[N & WE'D HAD ?AT MANY MORE HOMELESS ON ! /REETS OH ,I DON'T ?9K SO ,I'D LIKE TO SEE ,ROMAN ,?OMPSON JU/IFY ?AT >GUM5T :O'D BE ! WANK] !N IT'S LIKE ,IRAQ SOMEBODY HAS TO BE PREP>$ TO %RUG (F ALL ! LIB]AL BLEAT+ & DO SOME?+ PR(TICAL NO PRACTICAL TO HELP ALL !SE POOR PEOPLE SOMEONE HAS TO BE PREP>$ TO GET /UCK 9 SOMEONE :O ISN'T FUSSY AB\T GETT+ !IR H&S 

DIRTY 

TURN LEFT UP ! WALKWAY ( ,/4 ,PET]'S ,H\SE ! ,BA? ,/REET FLATS !RE'S NOBODY AB\T TONI<T BUT SOMETIMES WELL Y\ HAVE TO WAT* Y\RSELF IT'S LIT UP ) ! LI<TS UND] ! BALCONIES SO Y\ CAN SEE :AT'S :AT SOMEBODY TOLD ME ?AT ! KIDS ! RAP KIDS COME D[N H]E & DO ! HIP-HOP ALL ( ?AT TO TELL ! TRU? ,I'M NOT MU* BO!R$ ONE WAY OR ! O!R ,I MEAN ALL ! DREGS ?AT HAVE BE5 /UCK D[N H]E OV] ! YE>S ,I DON'T SEE H[ SOME FUCK+ KIDS :O TALK TOO FA/ TO UND]/& >E GO+ TO MAKE MU* DIFF]5CE FRANKLY CRACKHEADS M5TAL CASES PROSSIES ?AT ONE ) ! /RIPY HAIR ,I'M SURE %E LIVES D[N H]E :AT W\LD IT BE NOT ?AT ,I EV] W\LD :AT W\LD IT BE LIKE ,I BET !Y'D DO ANY?+1 IT BE LIKE DO+ IT ) SOMEBODY LIKE1 ANYWAY1 ! RA9 FEELS LIKE IT'S LETT+ UP A BIT N[ ?AT ,I'M NE>LY HOME W\LDN'T Y\ KN[ IT & ! GRAVEL PA?'S ALL %9Y LIKE ! %+LE AT ! SEASIDE & :AT'S ?AT IT'S U< IT'S DOG%IT PEOPLE %\LDN'T HAVE DOGS IF !Y CAN'T CLE> UP BEH9D !M LOOK AT ?AT FUCK+ DISGU/+ IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY'S /EPP$ 9 IT ALREADY GLAD IT WASN'T ME LOOK !RE'S ! GRID ( SOMEONE'S TRA9]-SOLE PRESS$ 9TO IT IT'S LIKE A LITTLE MODEL ( ,NEW ,YORK MADE \T ( %IT & 9 ! RA9 & ! ELECTRIC LI<T IT'S WET & GLI/5+ IT LOOKS FRE% OH ,GOD ?AT TURNS MY /OMA* %IT ,I HATE IT ,I SUPPOSE ,I'VE GOT A ?+ AB\T IT IF ,I HADN'T SPOTT$ IT 9 TIME IF ,I'D JU/ PUT MY FOOT 9 IT Y\ TRACK IT EV]Y:]E Y\ GO & IT /AYS ) Y\1 EV]Y:]E Y\ GO Y\'RE ?9K+ :AT'S ?AT SMELL & !RE'S Y\R %ITTY FOOTPR9TS OV] EV]Y?+ Y\ BR+ IT HOME ) Y\ Y\ GET IT EV]Y:]E ALL OV] EV]Y?+ ,I'M 

LABOR+ UP ! RAMP TO LAMP-LIT ,CA/LE ,/REET !RE'S SIR5S SOME:]E ,I EXPECT T[N C5T]'S KICK+ (F IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD JOB ,I'M HOME E>LY BE=E ANY TR\BLE />TS BUT :AT WAS ?AT !N 9 ! ,BIRD 9 ,H& :AT WAS IT IF IT WASN'T TR\BLE ,I DON'T KN[ ,I DON'T KN[ :AT IT WAS IT WAS A FLUKE A MEAN+LESS FLUKE 9CID5T =GET AB\T IT PUT IT FROM Y\R M9D ?9K AB\T SOME?+ ELSE LOOK AT ! BRICKWORK ON !SE WALLS !Y PUT !SE FLATS UP NE>LY EI<TY YE>S AGO SAID !Y W]E TEMPOR>Y H\S+ :5 !Y BUILT !M ,I MEAN TE*NICALLY A WORD LIKE TEMPOR>Y JU/ MEANS 0= A P]IOD ( TIME0 BUT ,I'D HAVE ?\<T ?AT EI<TY YE>S WAS PU%+ IT ,I MEAN CONSID]$ UP AGA9/ ! LIFESPAN ( ! UNIV]SE ! SUN IS TEMPOR>Y EV]Y?+'S TEMPOR>Y ,/4 ,KA!R9E'S ,H\SE ACROSS ! ROAD !RE ?AT'S AS TEMPOR>Y AS FUCK ONE KIT*5 FIRE ONE ,B@&,H DROPP$ D[N ! BACK ( ! SETTEE ! FIRE S]VICES CONDEMN$ IT BUT WE1 !Y1 !Y /ILL /ICK PEOPLE !RE & IF !RE WAS A FIRE ,I MEAN !Y BUILT T[] BLOCKS LIKE ?IS ALL UP & D[N ! C\NTRY 9 ! '#fS & IF !RE'S A FIRE ! C5TRAL /AIRWELL ALL !SE FLATS !SE TYPE ( FLATS IT'S LIKE A *IMNEY PEOPLE TRY+ TO GET D[N :ILE ALL ! SMOKE & FLAMES >E GO+ UP ,I %\LDN'T SAY ?IS BUT ,I HOPE ?AT ,LABOR'S \T ( (FICE IF WELL MORE LIKE :5 !RE IS A FIRE ! PEOPLE ?AT !Y /ICK D[N H]E ,I MEAN !Y'RE AT RISK EV5 IF ! PLACE !Y LIVE 9 ISN'T BURN+ D[N TE5AG]S FRE% FROM C>E HOMES M5TAL DIFFICULTIES EV]Y?+ Y\ NAME IT !RE W]E ?OSE TWO OLD DE>S ?AT ,I SAW A WEEK OR TWO AGO1 WELL1 ,I PRESUME !Y LIVE !RE !Y W]E /&+ 9 ! =EC\RT ( ,/4 ,KA!R9E'S JU/ LOOK+ UP AT IT RUBB+ !IR H&S & CACKL+ MO/ LIKELY !Y W]E C>E 9 ! COMMUNITY Y\ GET !M ALL D[N H]E ALL ! ABNORMALS & FROM :AT ,I HE> IT'S ALWAYS BE5 LIKE ?AT ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT ALL ( !M H[ DOES ?IS DI/RICT TURN !M \T IT MU/ BE SOME?+ 9 ! WAT] SOME?+ 9 ! SOIL & D[NHILL TO ,*ALK ,LANE ! RA9'S /OPP$ 

ON ! CORN] !RE ! LITTLE NURS]Y SOME?+ 9 ! W9D[ PO/] ( SOME SORT OH ,I REMEMB] ,ALMA ,W>R5 SOMEONE SAID ?AT %E WAS GO+ TO HAVE AN EXHIBITION D[N H]E JU/ A ONE DAY ?+ A ,SATURDAY ,I ?9K !Y SAID ,I'D ?\<T IT W\LD BE 9 A WEEK OR TWO BUT :O KN[S IT MI<T EV5 BE TOMORR[ ,ALMA ,W>R5 !RE'S ANO!R ONE ANO!R FREAK %[ BOIL$ UP FROM ! ,BOR\<S WASN'T %E 9 ! SAME CLASS AS HIM AT S*OOL ,B5$ICT ,P]RIT ,I'VE MADE OV]TURES TRI$ TO BE FRI5DLY BUT ,I JU/ GET ! COLD %\LD] ,I DON'T ?9K %E LIKES ME ACTS LIKE %E'S A LAW UNTO H]SELF AS IF %E'S NOT ON ! SAME WORLD AS EV]YBODY ELSE ,I ?9K %E'S VA9 ?9KS %E'S SUP]IOR MORALLY SUP]IOR TO EV]YBODY ELSE %E'S GOT SOME SORT ( COMPLEX Y\ CAN SEE IT 9 H] EYES & :5 %E'S TALK+ !N %E'S SMIL+ & %E'S SAY+ FUNNY ?+S & BE+ LIKABLE IT'S ALL AN ACT %E'S SMIL+ & H] SPID]Y EYES >E TW9KL+ BUT IT'S LIKE %E'S TRY+ TO DISGUISE ! FACT %E WANTS TO EAT Y\ IT'S AN ACT IT'S A P]=MANCE IF %E'S SO FOND ( ! ,BOR\<S WELL !N :Y DOESN'T %E LIVE D[N H]E LIKE ,I DO ,I HATE PEOPLE LIKE ?AT PEOPLE :O PRET5D TO BE /RAI<T=W>D :5 Y\ KN[ Y\ KN[ ?AT EV]YONE'S GOT SECRETS EV]YONE'S PRET5D+ SOME?+ IT'S AN ACT NOT LIKE ) ME ) ME IT'S :AT Y\ SEE IS :AT Y\ GET ,I'M SORRY BUT ?AT'S H[ ,I AM :Y DON'T !SE PEOPLE LIKE ME :Y DON'T :Y ! FUCK %\LD Y\ C>E :Y ! FUCK %\LD Y\ C>E IF A LOAD ( *AVS & DEAD-5D CASES LIKE Y\ OR NOT Y\'RE ! ALD]MAN ! ONE ) ! ACCOMPLI%M5TS ! ONE ) ! ,C,V :Y DO Y\ ALWAYS COME BACK TO !SE SAME ?+S !SE SAME ?\<TS Y\'RE LIKE A HAM/] 9 A :EEL JU/ R\ND & R\ND = FUCK'S SAKE JU/ GET OV] IT :AT EV]YBODY ELSE ?9KS DOESN'T MATT] BUT 

IT'S /ILL MEAN-SPIRIT$ ! WAY !Y ALWAYS ?9K ! WOR/ ( SOMEONE OR AT LEA/ !Y SEEM TO ?9K ! WOR/ ( ME IT'S HURTFUL SOMETIMES & ACROSS ! WAY !RE ,DODDRIDGE ,*UR* ,I'VE (T5 WOND]$ :AT ?AT LITTLE DOOR'S = HALFWAY UP ! WALL ,I'LL BET !Y US$ TO SPREAD !IR NA/Y LITTLE RUMORS AB\T ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE CALL+ HIM A WANK] CALL+ HIM A CUNT :5 HE WAS PRACTICALLY A SA9T A MAN :O REALLY C>$ AB\T ! NEI<BORHOOD NOT ?AT ,I'M TRY+ TO MAKE COMP>ISONS BUT ,I MEAN Y\ CAN SEE ! SIMIL>ITIES ,I FEEL GOOD ,I FEEL GOOD AB\T MYSELF & IF !RE'S PEOPLE :O JU/ WANT TO ?9K ! WOR/ :O WON'T GIVE ANYONE ! OLD B5EFIT ( ! D\BT !N ?AT'S !IR PROBLEM ROLL+ D[NHILL NE>LY HOME N[ C> P>K ON ! RI<T ,I ?9K !Y PUT PLAGUE VICTIMS !RE & ON ! LEFT ANO!R C> P>K ! OLD ,DODDRIDGE BURIAL GR\ND DEAD PEOPLE EV]Y:]E WE'RE TEMPOR>Y WE'RE NOT =EV] ,I SUPPOSE ?AT IT'S A BLESS+ 9 A WAY FREE WILL OR NOT :ATEV] WE'VE DONE WRONG :ATEV] WE'VE SUPPOS$LY DONE WRONG TIME WIPES IT ALL AWAY EV5TUALLY & NOBODY REMEMB]S & ! LITTLE ?+S DON'T MATT] EV]Y?+'S =GIV5 :5 IT'S GONE ! DEBTS >E CANCEL$ & !RE'S NO P]MAN5T RECORD BECAUSE NO?+'S P]MAN5T ! :OLE WORLD'S TEMPOR>Y & ?AT'S \R :AT'S IT CALL$ /ATUTE ( LIMITATIONS \R GET \T ( JAIL C>D AH N[ H]E WE >E ,BLACK ,LION JU/ OV] ! O!R SIDE ( ,M>EFAIR AT ! BOTTOM IT LOOKS DEAD BE LUCKY IF IT'S /ILL H]E COME NEXT YE> :5 WE MOV$ 9 WE HAD A LITTLE NEWSAG5TS D[N AT ! BOTTOM CORN] ( ,*ALK ,LANE JU/ OPPOSITE !RE WAS A BALD+ BLOKE :O RAN IT ,PETE ,PETE SOME?+ & VE] TO ! RI<T >\ND ! CORN] ON \R LITTLE WALKWAY Y\ CAN 

SEE ! VALLEY FLOOR ! /ATION & ! TRAFFIC JUNCTION AT ! CROSSROADS ALL ! LI<TS ,I 

DIDN'T HAVE A *OICE 9 BE+ :O ,I AM OV] ,F> ,COTTON ,JIMMY'S ,5D !RE'S 

NO <O/S NO?+ !RE & NO?+'S HAUNT$ ?REE DOORS D[N ,I F9D MY KEY & !RE SAFE SANCTU>Y HOME AT LA/ & NONE ( IT ! ,BOR\<S IT CAN'T GET Y\ N[ ,I FLICK ! LI<T ON 9 ! HALL & PEEL MY JACKET (F IT'S WR++ WET IT'S GLI/5+ LOOKS LIKE A DEAD SEAL HUNG !RE DRIPP+ FROM ! COAT-HOOK DO Y\ KN[ ,I'M SUDD5LY EXHAU/$ ,I'M COMPLETELY KNACK]$ ,I SUPPOSE ,I'VE JU/ DONE NE>LY A FULL CIRCUIT ( ! DI/RICT & IT'S NOT LIKE ,I'M A WALK] 9 ! G5]AL RUN ( ?+S ( C\RSE !RE WAS ?AT BUS9ESS AT ! ,BIRD 9 ,H& ,I CAN'T BELIEVE IT N[ /OOD H]E AT HOME ,I CAN'T BELIEVE ,I RAN \T ( ! PUB LIT]ALLY RAN & ?AT1 ALL ! ADR5AL9E1 ?AT'S PROBABLY ANO!R REASON :Y Y\ FEEL WORN \T ?R\< 9 ! LIV+ ROOM ,I FLUMP D[N 9 ! >M*AIR & U< FUCK MY TR\S]S COLD & SOAK+ WET AGA9/ MY LEGS MY ASS :]E !Y'VE BE5 RA9$ ON ?IS IS FUCK+ HORRIBLE IT'S NOT MU* AFT] N9E BUT ,I DON'T KN[ ,I MI<T AS WELL JU/ GO TO B$ IT'S LEFT ME 9 A FUNNY MOOD ?IS EV5+ HAS ,I MI<T AS WELL JU/ GO TO B$ & SLEEP IT (F FEEL BETT] 9 ! MORN+ ,I KN[ ONE ?+ = A C]TA9TY IF ,I DON'T GET !SE TR\S]S (F !N IT'S PNEUMONIA & ,I SUPPOSE ,I'M FEEL+ A BIT LONELY ,I WI% ,M&Y WAS AT HOME BUT EV5 !N 

/& UP & EV5 ?AT'S AN EF=T PUT ! LI<TS (F D[N/AIRS & CREAK UP TO B$ ! BA?ROOM'S A BIT DAZZL+ ,I TAKE MY %IRT & TR\S]S (F MY %OES & SOCKS ! %IRT IS ABSOLUTELY SOPP+ ITS GONE ALL TRANSP>5T !RE'S A WET1 P9K-T9T$ OVAL :]E IT'S /ICK+ TO MY /OMA* = A SECOND ,I ?\<T ,I WAS BLE$+ LEAVE ! WET ?+S DRAP$ OV] ! BA?'S RIM TILL ! MORN+ ,I SUPPOSE MY UND]PANTS & VE/ FEEL A BIT DAMP BUT NO !Y'LL JU/ DRY NATURALLY ,I TAKE MY PILLS ?REE ( !M EV]Y NI<T IT'S A PALAV] Y\ DON'T ?9K AB\T IT :5 Y\'RE Y\NG SQU9T ?R\< ! COND5SATION ON ! MIRROR :ILE ,I BRU% MY TEE? LOOK AT ! /ATE ( ME ,I'M LIKE A G>D5 GNOME A /EPP$-ON ,DAVID ,BELLAMY A HOBBIT /UCK 9 QU>ANT9E ) SPE>M9T RABIES DRIPP+ (F MY *9 ,I'M SICK ( LOOK+ AT MYSELF PAD OV] TO ! TOILET B>E FEET ON ! *ILLY TILES LIFT UP ! SEAT SO ?AT IT ISN'T SPLA%$ & AFT] A FEW MOM5TS' WAIT+ :ILE MY KNOB DECIDES ON :AT IT WANTS TO DO !RE'S A PALE GOLD5 ROPE ( PISS UNRAVEL+ 9TO ! T9KL+ B[L IT'S FUNNY /&+ LOOK+ D[N WE'VE GOT TWO ROLLS ( TOILET PAP] /&+ ON ! CI/]N LID & LOOK+ D[N B5EA? ?AT !RE'S ! LIFT$ SEAT & LID & !N ! GAP+ B[L IT LOOKS LIKE A :ITE C>TOON FROG LIKE AN ALB9O ,K]MIT FROM ! ,MUPPETS />+ AT ME BOGGLE-EY$ ) AN 9DIGNANT & BETRAY$ LOOK :ILE ,I /& H]E PISS+ D[N HIS ?ROAT EV5 ! TOILET BLAM+ ME = SOME?+ !RE'S A ?+ Y\ HAVE TO DO Y\ HAVE TO PRESS ! LEV] D[N TWO OR ?REE TIMES BE=E IT FLU%ES :ILE ITS G>GL+ ,I YANK ! /R+ TO KILL ! BA?ROOM LI<T & ,I'M ALONG ! L&+ & 9 B$ BE=E ! CI/]N NOISE HAS DI$ AWAY TO HISSES DRIPS & PIDDLES IT'S A SORT ( PRIVATE SUP]/ITION ,I SUPPOSE ,I DON'T KN[ :AT ,I ?9K W\LD HAPP5 IF ,I DIDN'T MAKE IT 9TO B$ BE=E ! NOISES /OPP$ IT'S MORE A SORT ( GAME A SORT ( HABIT ,I'VE GOT NO IDEA :Y ,I DO IT OH ?AT'S 

NICE ! MATTRESS CREAKS ,I CAN FEEL ALL ! A*E & T5SION SOAK+ \T ( ME ,I RUB MY FEET TOGE!R & !Y'RE DRY & COLD BUT W>M+ ) ! FRICTION & ?AT'S GOOD HOPEFULLY ,I'LL SLEEP ?R\< TONI<T NO DREAMS NO CELL>S NO?+ RUNN+ AT ME ) ITS FACE UNFOLD+ SAFE N[ SAFE H]E 9 \R LITTLE H\SE \R LITTLE CORN] ( ! ,BOR\<S OPPOSITE ! /ATION T5 YE>S & ,I'M HOP+ ?AT ?IS PLACE WILL BE UNRECOGNIZABLE A BIG DEVELOPM5T EXPLOD+ UP FROM :]E ! /ATION IS & MO/ ( ?IS1 ?IS PLACE1 MO/ ( IT CLEAN$ UP MOVE ! SOCIAL /RAGGL]S \T MO/ ( IT SWEPT AWAY ?AT'S IF ! MONEY LA/S ! BOOM ! MONEY ?AT !Y NE$ TO DO IT NO ! L& D[N H]E ! PROP]TY IT C\LD BE REALLY NICE IT C\LD BE REALLY VALUABLE NOT ?AT WE'D EV] SELL P>T ( ! NEI<BORHOOD ?AT'S US P>T ( ! FURNITURE ROLL OV] ON MY SIDE & DRAG A TUCK ( DUVET UP BETWE5 MY KNEES TO /OP !M KNOBBL+ AGA9/ EA* O!R AHH ?AT'S NICE ?AT'S 

,I SUPPOSE ! PEOPLE D[N H]E 9 ! MA9 !Y'RE NOT ?AT BAD IT'S REALLY 9 ! PUBS Y\ SEE !M AT !IR WOR/ & LET !M TAKE ! PISS \T ( ME IF !Y'VE GOT A M9D TO ,I'LL /ILL BE ON TOP ( ?+S :5 !Y'RE ALL GONE SO LET !M HAVE !IR BIT ( FUN IT'S NOT !IR FAULT !Y'RE HOPELESS1 LIV+ 9 A HOPELESS PLACE1 !Y'RE & ,I'M SPEAK+ AS A ,M>XI/ N[ MODIFI$ ,M>XI/ !Y'RE JU/ VICTIMS !Y'RE ! 5D RESULT 9EVITABLY ( HI/ORICAL & ECONOMIC PROCESSES BUT !N ,I MEAN Y\ LOOK AT !M DRUNK ALL DAY IT'S ! KIDS :O BE> ! BRUNT ( IT A LOT ( !M ! P>5TS !Y DON'T WANT JOBS NOT PREP>$ TO WORK !Y'RE NOT 

IT'S LIKE A FLOOD$ E>?WORKS DID ,I COME H]E AS A BOY :AT :AT :]E WAS ,I 

NOT PREP>$ TO WORK ?AT'S RI<T BLAME EV]YBODY ELSE = !IR [N PROBLEMS BLAME ! C\NCIL BLAME ! SY/EM BLAME ME WE'RE ALL DO+ :AT WE HAVE TO DO & SOME ( !M D[N H]E ,I MEAN !Y KNOCK !IR WIVES AB\T !Y SAY IT'S ! FRU/RATION IT'S ! POV]TY BUT !N :Y DO !Y HAVE SO MANY KIDS ) KIDS TO HOLD Y\ BACK H[ >E Y\ EV] GO+ TO MAKE IT1 GET TO :]E Y\ WANT TO BE 9 LIFE TAKE ME & ,M&Y *ILDR5 W\LD HAVE JU/ GOT 9 ! WAY ( \R C>E]S & LOOK AT US WE'RE HAPPY V]Y HAPPY BUT SOME PEOPLE !Y'RE JU/ HUMAN RUBBI% !Y'RE JU/ 

SCALLOP$ CLIFFS ( MUD A LONG WAY (F ACROSS ! GRASS & DI/ANT R$ BRICK RAILWAY >*ES ,I'VE BE5 H]E BE=E LOOK !RE'S A TOY A PLA/IC ELEPHANT DROPP$ 9 A PUDDLE IT'S ,I'M SURE IT ONCE BELONG$ TO ME ! LA/ TIME ,I WAS H]E & ISN'T SOME:]E NE> A H\SE AN OLD :AT :AT DID ,I 

ALL ( ! R\<S ! SCRUFFS ! T\< & RUMBLE ( !M ALL !IR KIDS ALL VIOL5T DO+ DRUGS ,I US$ TO READ !M <O/ /ORIES AT ,*RI/MAS MO!RS WE>+ %ORT SKIRTS FI%NET TI<TS EFF+ & BL9D+ Y\ %\LD HE> !M NOT BR\<T UP !Y'RE DRAGG$ UP IT'S A %I?OLE FULL ( %ITS !RE'S P$OPHILES D[N H]E !RE'S SEX (F5D]S WELL !Y'VE GOT TO PUT !M SOME:]E CRACKHEADS & IT'S ALL !IR [N FAULT IT'S NOT \RS NOT M9E !Y \<T TO PULL !IR SOCKS UP BUT !N 

!RE'S ?AT OLD WELL SC>LET H\SE ?AT /&S UP FROM ! WA/EL& ON ITS [N ! GRAY SKY OV]HEAD & 9 MY PANTS 9 MY GRAY PANTS & VE/ ,I WALK T[>DS IT ?R\< ! WE$S ,I NE$ ! TOILET W]5'T !RE LAVATORIES D[N 9 ! CELL> ( ?AT BUILD+ IF ,I CAN REMEMB] H[ TO F9D !M IF !Y'RE NOT ALL CRACK$ & FULL ( BACK$ UP 

BUT !N :O AM ,I 

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