Page 3 (1/2)

Out of the flat, down three flights of stairs, taking the steps two at a tiht as I fly past Soo and I always slap it for good luck when I pass So it off but it’s hanging in there, faded but defiant I love graffiti If I could paint, I’d be out covering the walls of London every night

I land like a cat, cool inthrough them when they first cahtly, but I carefully went over everything with a heavy-duty Sharpie B S pawn!

It’s not yet six, plenty of daylight left I don’t knohat Mu about Even if zombies were real, and even if they did attack here, they wouldn’t show their faces for another hour, not if the news teaht

I check myself out in shop s Plain black T-shirt and jeans, no tags to shohat make they are, threadbare in places, but worn in naturally by ner wear and tear

I’m almost past Black Spot when I stop and backtrack Vinyl’s in there with his old man Black Spot is a retro freak’s paradise They only stock vinyl records, along with clothes, toys, hats, and other bits and pieces froes I even saw a video recorder in theonce

Vinyl’s dad loves all that twentieth-century crap He won’t let CDs or DVDs in his house, and as for downloads, forget it! They have a computer but all the music sites on it are blocked He says the crackle of old records is what real ital tracks don’t make the air throb

I lean close to theand tap on it softly Vinyl looks up and scowls He hates it e spot hiht - he does his own thing and doesn’tand dance about it - but he’s a weirdo I think Vinyl secretly likes the records that his dad makes him listen to but he never ad hi as we don’t take it too far I started tothe small holes that you find in the middle of records Vinyl very quietly told me to shut up He didn’t have to say any more I’m not afraid of Vinyl but I know he’d wipe the floor withif you don’t have to?

I er, then says so to his dad Old man Vinyl looks up, nods at me and so Vinyl co the door open with his head

"You’re so cool," I gush, squeezingdoe eyes at hirin and knock knuckles

"I like the hair," Vinyl says "Number 3?"

"Sod that Nuot long, curly hair He’d love to shave it but his mum would cry and he doesn’t want to upset her He’s a soft git, Vinyl But hard when he needs to be There aren’t et the better of him in a punch-up

"How’s the new school?" I ask

Vinyl rolls his eyes "I should have failed that bloody test"