Head of the River

Head of the River by Pip Harry Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Head of the River by Pip Harry Read Free Book Online
Authors: Pip Harry
stuff. Second – he looks a mess and there’s blood on his T-shirt. I’ve never seen Adam without product in his hair and matching clothes, even on the riverbank. Even when we are alone together.
    â€˜I’ll let you in,’ I whisper.
    I turn the front door latch gently and push him into my bedroom, closing the door behind us.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’
    Adam sits down on the bed. He puts his arms around his body and silently howls, like that painting we studied in school, The Scream . I hug him awkwardly. He’s cold and shaking.
    â€˜Adam, are you okay?’ I ask. It seems inadequate.
    â€˜Yes … no. I don’t know.’
    I peel his palm away from his forehead. He has a small gash above his eyebrow and a shiny lump.
    I know a bit about head injuries from the time Cristian blacked out during a rugby tackle, got concussion and had to sit out for three weeks.
    â€˜Are you dizzy? Do you feel sick? Maybe we should go to emergency.’
    â€˜No. I’m not going to the hospital,’ says Adam.
    â€˜Just to get it looked at, make sure it’s not serious.’
    â€˜It was my fault. I got kicked out of the firsts. Westie’s doing a cull. First Cristian, now me. I’m not strong enough. Not tough enough.’
    â€˜There’s no one tougher than you,’ I say. Adam will row until he vomits. In the rain, cold, rough water, forty-degree heat. He never complains.
    â€˜Can I have a better look?’ I say.
    I turn my bedside lamp onto his wound. It’s not too bad but it might need stitches.
    â€˜What happened?’
    â€˜My brothers rowed in the firsts, Dad, Granddad. I can’t row in the seconds. Not this year. Do you know how many boats my father has bought the school? Do you know what they cost ?’
    I feel sick to my stomach.
    â€˜Who did this to you?’ I ask, thinking the worst.
    â€˜I did,’ Adam whispers.
    â€˜Why?’ I feel confused and upset. Why would anyone do this to themselves? Especially not Adam. He always seems so together. So dependable.
    â€˜I was fighting with Dad and he was calling me a pathetic loser and making me feel like nothing. Like I didn’t matter. I got so angry I banged my head against the table. He made me feel so bad about myself; it actually felt better to do this instead. I ran away and came here. I didn’t know what else to do.’
    â€˜The glass table? In the living room?’ I picture the designer table with its thick, square edges, magazines stacked artfully on the surface.
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Adam. You could have knocked yourself out.’
    â€˜That was the idea, Leni. At least it shut him up. I couldn’t stand it anymore. He is always, always down on me. Something snapped. Haven’t you ever snapped?’
    I think about it. He wants something from me that I can’t give. I’ve never felt out of control.
    â€˜Not like this. You don’t want to give yourself brain damage because you’re not in the firsts.’
    â€˜It’s okay for you, you’re never going to get chucked out of your crew.’
    â€˜How do you know that? Promise me you won’t do anything like this again.’ I grab his hands and squeeze them.
    â€˜I don’t think I will,’ says Adam.
    â€˜Let’s wake Mum up. She can take a look.’
    â€˜Don’t worry about it, Leni. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll go home.’
    He gets up to leave and I pull him back. He won’t look me in the eye.
    â€˜Adam. Stay.’
    Adam looks pale. ‘I have a headache.’
    â€˜I gotta wake Mum,’ I say. Her home medical kit should sort out a cut like this.
    â€˜Don’t tell them it was me. Make something up. Tell them my dad’s away. Overseas.’
    â€˜Okay,’ I agree. He lets my fingers slip away.
    I wait at the door of my parents’ room for a moment, thinking how with one knock, everything would change. I’d be

Similar Books

Powder Keg

Ed Gorman

Wild and Wonderful

Janet Dailey

The Night Mayor

Kim Newman

Trail of Lies

Margaret Daley

Surviving Scotland

Kristin Vayden

Judgement Call

Nick Oldham

Man of Wax

Robert Swartwood

Wolf Line

Vivian Arend