The Humiliations of Welton Blake

by Alex Wheatle

  Broxslater reeled away. He looked back at me and shook his head. He still couldn’t believe what had happened to him.

  When the security guard let go of me, I didn’t realise how exhausted I was. I nearly fell to the ground again. My hands throbbed. My face felt like a thousand Olympic ice-skaters had slid across it. Then I felt a softer touch. Three fingers. A hand. Carmella’s hand. She was touching my forehead. Her eyes looked enormous. I imagined diving into them. Carmella’s lips were only a few centimetres away from mine. I could smell her perfume. She dabbed my bruises and cuts with a pocket tissue. She gave me a small smile.

  “I think I should take you to the hospital,” she said.

  “No chance,” I replied. “I’ve waited ages for this date.”

  “You sure you’re all right?” Carmella asked.

  “Is Yoda a Jedi Master? I’ve never felt better!”

  Carmella helped me to my feet. We made it back up the steps to the cinema’s box office. She kissed me on the cheek as we paid for our tickets. I had never felt so much pain, but it was all worth it. No more humiliations for Welton Blake. This was definitely gonna be the best night of my life.

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