An English Boy in New York by T. S. Easton Read Free Book Online

Jamaican–Pakistani thing going on most of the time.’
    â€˜I can do English,’ he said, sniffing.
    â€˜You mean, that accent you do that sounds like the Queen in drag?’ I said. ‘Best not to try too hard, mate. You know, don’t overdo it.’
    Nothing it seemed was going to dampen Gex’s spirits today, though.
    â€˜Hey, I have a second cousin in Brooklyn!’ he said. ‘I’m going to go and visit him.’
    â€˜You have an American relative?’
    â€˜Yeah, Dad’s sister’s kid, innit.’
    â€˜So this guy in Brooklyn is your father’s sister’s son?’
    Gex nodded.
    â€˜So, he’s actually your cousin. Not your second cousin. Your second cousin would be your –’
    â€˜Yeah, whatever.’ Gex looked impatient now. ‘Don’t go off on one, you’re harshing my vibe, blud.’
    â€˜OK. Anyway  …  I’ll probably be busy for a day or two with PR stuff, so that would be a good opportunity for you to catch up with your family.’
    Gex grinned. ‘He has a “Family” all right.’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    â€˜He’s in a gang, innit.’
    â€˜How do you know that?’
    â€˜Everyone in the family knows.’
    â€˜You mean the family, or the Family?’
    â€˜The FAMILY,’ he said, tapping the side of his nose. ‘
Capiche?
’
    I regarded him dubiously. ‘Gex, maybe it’s not such a good idea for you to get involved with organised crime.’
    â€˜I can handle myself,’ he said.
    â€˜I don’t care. I’m still on probation, remember,’ I said. ‘Ms Gunter had to pull a lot of strings to get me permission to go. You can’t screw up, you’ll bring me down as well.’
    â€˜Look, man, be cool. I’m not going to get involved. It takes years to get accepted into a gang, anyways.’
    â€˜Glad to hear it.’
    â€˜And you have to cap three people before they let you in.’
    â€˜And we’re only there a week,’ I reminded him.
    â€˜Though, a lot can happen in a week.’ Gex nodded sagely. ‘Know what I mean?’
    â€˜Unfortunately, Gex,’ I said despairingly, ‘I know exactly what you mean.’
    Thursday 9 th May
    7.38pm
    So I saw Megan at college today, in the common room, for the last time before I leave for New York. It didn’t go quite as I’d anticipated. Megan seemed disappointingly cheerful.
    â€˜You’re going to have such a great time,’ she said. ‘I’m so jealous.’
    â€˜Well, you could have come,’ I reminded her. ‘I’d rather be sat next to you than Gex.’
    â€˜I’m glad to hear it,’ she said. ‘But you know why I couldn’t come.’
    I wasn’t sure I did, really.
    â€˜I’ll miss you,’ I said.
    â€˜It’s only a week.’
    â€˜So you won’t miss me?’
    â€˜Of course. But we can skype?’
    I nodded. Another person to remember to skype.
    â€˜Central Park should be pretty this time of year,’ Megan went on brightly.
    â€˜Goodbye, Megan,’ I said.
    â€˜Why are you saying goodbye?’ she asked. ‘We’re going to the same class.’
    I’d forgotten that.
    â€˜Yes but  …  I have to go to the toilet,’ I said.
    â€˜OK, knock yourself out,’ she said, raising an eyebrow.
    I could have handled that better.
    Friday 10 th May
    10.34pm
    My anxiety/mild OCD issues have kicked in big time. Can’t sleep, so I did a dummy pack, made a list, unpacked in order to check everything off against the said list, then repacked. I keep getting up and staring at my luggage – and wondering if I’ve missed anything  … 
    This is proper girl behaviour. It has to stop.
    The other thing I am worrying about is obviously Gex. Not just because he is Gex, and that means all manner of ill-advised, uncouth and possibly