Abomination by Robert Swindells

Dead tactful. I shook my head and he said, ‘What, then?’
    ‘Abomination. I expect you heard Abomination, Scott. Somebody was bound to, eventually. His voice is getting stronger, you see.’
    He looked at me. ‘Abomination? What is that – some sort of name? Is it a dog, or what?’
    I shook my head. ‘No Scott, it isn’t a dog. Look – if I tell you, you mustn’t tell anyone else, not even your mum. D’you promise?’
    ‘I . . . I dunno.’ He shook his head. ‘Depends what it is, Martha. I can’t promise to keep quiet about something when I don’t know what it’s going to be, can I?’
    I didn’t answer straight away. A struggle was going on inside me because this wasn’t really about me. It was their secret, not mine. Can you give something away that’s not yours? Scott put his hand on my arm. ‘Listen,’ he murmured, ‘if it’s something private – something that’s nobody else’s business, I won’t tell.’
    I nodded. ‘It’s private all right. A family thing, only . . .’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Only I’m not sure it ought to be, Scott. I’ve thought loads of times about telling someone: a teacher or a woman called Doris or even the police, only I couldn’t stand it if Mother and Father got into trouble. They think it’s the right thing, you see. They wouldn’t do it otherwise. They’ll have prayed about it. Listened for the still, small voice. Oh I know they’re weird, Scott, but they’re good people. Good people. They do what they think’s best. What they believe God wants.’ I broke off, shaking my head.
    He squeezed my arm. ‘Share it, Martha. Tell me, then we can both decide. It might be easier, two thinking about it instead of one.’
    I looked down, biting my lip. It was so hard after all this time to let the words out. If Scott and I had been on the phone I think I’d have hung up. I stared at the pavement. Cars swished by. After a while I took a deep breath and murmured, ‘Abomination’s a boy, Scott. A little boy. He lives in the cellar, in a cage.’ I looked up, my tears making a blur of his shocked face. ‘I’m his auntie,’ I choked.

41. Scott
     
    I didn’t say anything, just stood there waiting for it to sink in. Martha was crying into a tissue I handed her. People were passing but nobody took any notice. If you don’t look, you don’t have to get involved. After a bit she looked up and said, ‘Say something, like what you think. I don’t care.’
    I shook my head. ‘I don’t know what to say, Martha. It’s too much. A shock.’ I think she sort of laughed but she was blowing her nose at the same time so it was hard to tell.
    ‘A shock. Yes. You won’t want to be my friend now, I bet.’
    ‘Yes, course I will, but that’s not what matters, is it?’
    ‘What does matter, Scott? I need somebody to tell me because I’m sick of keeping it to myself. What am I supposed to do ?’
    I pulled a face. ‘God, Martha, don’t ask me. It needs someone older. An adult. We have to talk to somebody.’
    ‘Not the police!’ Her voice was suddenly shrill. ‘You promised, Scott. Father and Mother mustn’t get in trouble, I told you that.’
    ‘I know , but . . .’
    ‘You promised.’
    ‘No, I didn’t , Martha. Only if it was nobody else’s business.’
    ‘Well it isn’t anyone else’s business. It’s family. My family. I shouldn’t have told you.’
    ‘Yes, you should. I mean, you were right to tell, only I don’t know how to help. This kid – who’s his mum?’
    She laughed. No doubt this time. ‘Who d’you think, if I’m his auntie?’
    ‘Mary? He’s Mary’s ?’
    ‘Yes, of course, you plank.’
    ‘But you said . . . I thought Mary was – you know – nice .’
    ‘She is . She’s terrific. She’s the best sister in the world.’
    ‘And she lets her kid live in a cage ? I wouldn’t call that being nice, Martha. I’d call that . . .’
    ‘SHE DOESN’T KNOW!’ That got people looking, I can tell you. Her shout. I never