Lanny

by Max Porter

I have a drawing by Lanny stuck above my desk. It’s me in a cape, flying above a skyline and it says, ‘Where does Dad go every day? Nobody knows.’

DEAD PAPA TOOTHWORT He has some rules, like never trust cats, never kiss a badger, always lick a new flavour pesticide, only eat what yields to a twist, and always make sure at the summer fête to get amongst the folk who dress up as Toothwort.

always lick a new flavour pesticide

Find. My. Son. Swap my husband for my son, take him, get him out of my sight, get everyone out of my sight. I will close my eyes and draw Lanny on the inside of my eyelids in detail only I am capable of and when I open them I want to see him.

‘Now, Robert Lloyd,’ says sexy Toothwort.