"So, Mara, what did you learn at school today?" Mum asks me, fixing her gaze and cold smile on me. She's trying the whole let's-pretend-we're-a-happy-family thing again. It worked a lot better when Dad was still here.
"Nothing," I say.
"You must have learned something," she says, and I can tell it's through gritted teeth. She's annoyed because Jake rattled off a whole bunch of stuff while we were eating dinner. Now that we're onto dessert, she's onto me.
"Well, there was one thing," I say around a mouthful of yoghurt. Strawberry. I'd rather have raspberry, but she doesn't listen to me.
She winces, like she wants to tell me not to talk with my mouth full but is too relieved that I'm talking at all to give me any kind of grief about it.
"They've invented this soft steel stuff."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm serious. It's steel, but soft."
Mum laughs, her tinkly little laugh. I'll give her credit for that at least, her fake laugh sounds just like her genuine one. Or maybe I've never heard her laugh for real.
"It's not funny," I tell her. "It's a real thing."
"Oh, pray tell, wise daughter of mine, what on earth would anybody use soft steel for?"
"I don't know," I say, and then an idea hits. I struggle to keep my face straight and wait for her
to take another spoonful of her own yoghurt. Low fat vanilla that says more about her than I ever could. "I guess you could use it for condoms."
Her jaw drops.
"And you really should keep your mouth shut when you're eating."
Showing posts with label Soft Steel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soft Steel. Show all posts
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Soft Steel by Emily Chadwick
“Once upon a time, there was an evil queen. She had raven-black hair and eyes like soft steel.”
“But, Dad, steel is a metal.”
“Metal can be soft. Like gold.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Okay, fine. The evil queen had raven-black hair and eyes like hard steel.”
“That’s better.”
“Are you going to be quiet and let me tell you the story or not?”
“Okay, I’ll be quiet.”
“But, Dad, steel is a metal.”
“Metal can be soft. Like gold.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Okay, fine. The evil queen had raven-black hair and eyes like hard steel.”
“That’s better.”
“Are you going to be quiet and let me tell you the story or not?”
“Okay, I’ll be quiet.”
Soft Steel by Sam Smith
‘Soft steel, what bloody use is that?’
‘It can be shaped into things I guess. What do you want to make?’
‘I don’t know. I’m still a bit sceptical about this whole thing.’
‘Look, there’s nothing to do worry about. I’ll make something.’
‘What are you making?’
‘Watch.’
‘It’s a boat.’
‘I hate boats.’
‘What’s wrong with boats?’
‘They’re bullshit.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Boats are stupid. Just use a plane you bloody idiot.’
‘Fine, hold on.’
‘Are you making a plane?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m scared of flying.’
‘Christ, what do you want me to make?’
‘Me.’
‘You?’
‘Me. Make a tiny steel me.’
‘Why?’
‘I want to be the strongest man.’
‘But it will be made of soft steel.’
‘Make it.’
‘Please let me sleep.’
‘No, you have to stay awake. Show me something else. I am bored of soft steel.’
‘Here is a small animal.’
‘Okay.’
‘It can be shaped into things I guess. What do you want to make?’
‘I don’t know. I’m still a bit sceptical about this whole thing.’
‘Look, there’s nothing to do worry about. I’ll make something.’
‘What are you making?’
‘Watch.’
‘It’s a boat.’
‘I hate boats.’
‘What’s wrong with boats?’
‘They’re bullshit.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Boats are stupid. Just use a plane you bloody idiot.’
‘Fine, hold on.’
‘Are you making a plane?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m scared of flying.’
‘Christ, what do you want me to make?’
‘Me.’
‘You?’
‘Me. Make a tiny steel me.’
‘Why?’
‘I want to be the strongest man.’
‘But it will be made of soft steel.’
‘Make it.’
‘Please let me sleep.’
‘No, you have to stay awake. Show me something else. I am bored of soft steel.’
‘Here is a small animal.’
‘Okay.’
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