Shuggie Bain

by Douglas Stuart

He felt something was wrong. Something inside him felt put together incorrectly. It was like they could all see it, but he was the only one who could not say what it was. It was just different, and so it was just wrong.

anything to make her happy again.

It was getting harder to deny she was like them.

The bad things better left untold made her throat feel choked. It called out for a drink.

She’d looked as happy as he could ever remember, and he was surprised how this hurt. It was all for the red-headed man. He had done what Shuggie had been unable to do.

“What’s wrong with me, Mammy?”

:(

I just want to be with you. I want to take you away somewhere we can be brand-new.”

She was no use at maths homework, and some days you could starve rather than get a hot meal from her, but Shuggie looked at her now and understood this was where she excelled. Everyday with the make-up on and her hair done, she climbed out of her grave and held her head high. When she had disgraced herself with drink, she got up the next day, put on her best coat, and faced the world. When her belly was empty and her weans were hungry, she did her hair and let the world think otherwise.

<3

the fight was boring even for bored children.

xDD

“No. I know my mammy. I think she will go mental when she sees Leek has taped balloons to her good cabinets. That tape will take the veneer right off.”

I'm so sure agnes is my mother

“There she is. The love of my life.”

Motherfucker i hate this man

As Shuggie helped her bring in the washing from the back line she asked him whether nuclear fallout might actually help get out stubborn stains. The boy shook his head; no, it wouldn’t be like a bleach.

Im so sure agnes is my mother

But there, in the close heat of the fire, Shuggie dreamt of how he never wanted this burning rain to end. How it would be better if they were stuck inside alone, where he could keep her safe forever.

:"(

To spite him, Agnes and Shuggie had made a grand gesture of delivering all the Special Brew to Jinty.

Yes girl dont drink that shit

The two different worlds didn’t like to look on each other.

And such is the world

“But maybe ye wouldnae.”

Wtf this man is doing? Shut up

“Eugene, you don’t have to get me drunk to have your wicked way with me.”

THIS! i think he wants her to start drinking again so he has an excuse to run away. Typical man move

“Because . . . Because it’s what normal people do.”

Shut the f up

She was scared; she was terrified even, but she wouldn’t let him see. She lifted the crystal glass to her mouth, and a small mouthful ran down her throat.

:c

he was hitting Eugene square in his thick neck with his fists.

Deserved

His face was wet with disappointment. The front of his pyjamas was dark through with piss.

:c

“Why can’t I be enough?”

:c

I just have to try harder to help her. Be good to her. Keep myself tidy. I can make her better.”

:(

There was an emptiness in his belly. It was below his stomach; it went deeper than hunger. He sat at her feet and quietly started to talk to her. “I love you, Mammy. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you last night.”

:(