you the one getting followed around by that asshole?’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yeah. Let’s start right away.’
‘Now?’
‘It’s never too late to learn how to hit someone who tried to force you to give him a blowjob.’
‘Fine. Let me go tell my grandma I’m with you.’
‘Just give me time to shower, OK?’
Penny nodded. She resisted the urge to beg him not to change, to remain just as he was, all sweaty and barbaric. She needed to look but not touch. Maybe if she repeated that enough times to herself she’d get it through her thick head.
Upstairs, Penny walked into the apartment, where Barbie was humming and busy making cookies.
‘Why don’t you go get some rest?’ Penny told her, because Barbie was scattering flour all over the place, pouring it into a sieve that she’d no doubt mistaken for a small bowl.
‘You know, I think I’ll do just that. I cooked and baked all day for those little ones, but they were driving me crazy. I’m tired now.’
Penny felt a lump in her throat but kept on smiling. ‘I’m going up to see Marcus for a few minutes,’ she explained, thinking maybe Barbie wouldn’t remember him, or that she’d mistake him for one of her class who’d been giving her a hard time maybe, but her grandma surprised her.
‘Oh, that handsome man of yours! He reminds me of when I was a girl. I’m glad he moved here and you two got together. So, when do you plan to get married?’
‘I don’t know yet. We need to get to know each other a little better first,’ Penny said, walking around the kitchen and tidying up along the way.
‘Take my advice: let him want you. No kisses until you have a ring.’
‘I promise.’
‘He seems so unhappy. Try to make him smile.’
‘Does he look unhappy?’
‘Oh yes, he has that look of someone who’s never really been shown love. You can do that part.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘I taught little ones for many years and I learned a few things in return. Some of the biggest bullies had eyes just like Marcus. I never mistreated them. I could always achieve so much more by showing them love and tenderness – and by giving them cookies, of course. All kids love cookies.’
‘I’ll fill him up with tenderness and sweet things then.’
‘That’s my girl! Now run along and take him some of the treats I baked today.’
Barbie made up a parcel of cookies and Penny was forced to leave the apartment with it to humour her. She made her grandma swear she would go to sleep, and Barbie promised, her face as innocent as a child’s.
At last, Penny climbed the twisting staircase up to the attic, so narrow with its low ceiling that she wondered how Marcus even managed to get up there. She knocked, excited beyond all reason. He opened after ten seconds, still wet but no longer sweaty. He smelled of soap, a light soap with a faint hint of mint and citrus. He was evidently in the habit of changing without towelling off, because his clean T-shirt clung to his body just like the one before had. He was wearing a different pair of sweatpants and was barefoot. This time, Penny commanded her tongue to remain in her mouth.
‘These are for you from my grandma, but don’t eat them. She put detergent in them, I think.’
Marcus made no comment and pointed to the single table that served for the kitchen, living room and study – the only table present in that tiny space, in fact. Marcus had moved the couch and laid out a rubber mat.
If Penny had been under any illusion that Marcus might have a secret motive in wanting to teach her self-defence, she would have been in for a harsh wake-up call. Fortunately, she hadn’t remotely entertained this possibility, and she trusted him. Somehow she trusted an ex-convict she’d known for less than two weeks, who could put her out of action with a mere snap of his fingers. She’d let him turn her upside down like a doll without fearing for a moment that he might harm her.
Penny listened to him carefully. She learned some basic moves – how to wriggle to loosen his grip, to aim for the eyes, nose, crotch or ankles of a potential attacker.
During one manoeuvre, she suddenly found herself lying on the rubber mat with Marcus on top of her. There were at least three inches between them, but he was closer than ever before to her, and