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121 " My mammy had a good year once. It was lovely. "
― Douglas Stuart , Shuggie Bain
122 " Christ’s sake, Mungo. You must be steamin’. Have you forgotten what it’s like out there? If they knew, they would stab us! Rip us from balls to chin just for something to talk about down the pub. "
― Douglas Stuart , Young Mungo
123 " Donald Jnr didn’t have to pay digs in to his mother. He didn’t have to feel grateful or guilty for anything. "
124 " She’s no gonnae get any better, son. Come away from there.” Shuggie paused for a second, he looked over his narrow shoulder bone and shrugged. “But she might. "
125 " He let her cry, he let her talk, and he didn’t contradict her when she made him fine promises he knew she would be unable to keep. "
126 " Shuggie’s head pulled back on his neck in disgust. “Then who will look after her?” “Well. She’ll have to look after herself.” “Then how will she ever get better? "
127 " I love the Smiths. "
128 " Cheer up. I love you, Mungo Hamilton. "
129 " I do fight for her!” he said. “Mostly with herself, but it’s still a fight. "
130 " What kind of man are you going to be when you grow up?” “What do you want me to be?” Agnes thought for a moment. “Peaceful.” She pushed at his wet hair again. “Less worried-looking. "
131 " It was a fresh start, she had thought, and hopefully a better class of alcoholic. "
132 " even in the darkness there is still hope. "
133 " They were happy with her alone, with her sobriety and the peace it brought. "
134 " James sat forward and kissed him. It was all so familiar now. They had moved beyond the clumsy petting and munching. Mungo would stop frequently to apologize, he felt so inept, and James would cradle his face and guide Mungo’s lips back to his. Now their kisses were soft and tender and offered without the fear of refusal. A kiss lasted hours. They lay with their mouths together and Mungo cupped his nose in the divot of James’s cheek, and then they led each other in a silent ramble, one would change the direction and the other would follow, over and over until an arm went dead, or the microwave pinged. A hand might slip under a T-shirt but it never dared to do anything else. Mungo knew he wanted to spend his life doing this, just kissing this one boy. There was no need to rush. "
135 " those with least to give always gave the most. "
136 " Somebody here loved this other little boy. "
137 " As they looked at one another, Shuggie wondered whether he was lost or searching too. "
138 " Shuggie watched her and said under his breath, “Why can’t I be enough?” But she wasn’t listening. "
139 " they sat with their knees touching, deciding what versions of her to bring and what to leave behind. "
140 " Well, they’re aw at it. It’s what us boys do when we’re alone. A bit of fun. ’Asides, it’s like a tradition to some folk. You’re jist no supposed to mention it when you’re poor, but when ye’re rich, haw, haw, haw. It’s what all they posh boys do the gether. Oxford is full of it. Aw they boarding schools. They all love a bit o’ casual buggering down there. "