The unfairness lodged like a weight in Cheryl’s chest, like a hand tight round her throat. She knew Vinia was right. Carlton and Sam were not to be messed with. She knew nothing, had seen nothing, would say nothing. It was a senseless tragedy. Everyone would suck their teeth at it, shed tears, keep quiet.
Cheryl’s phone went off. Nana.
‘The boy passed.’ Her voice sounded old, creaky. ‘The Lord has taken him.’
‘No,’ Cheryl moaned.
‘I’m going to stay with Rose.’
‘What can I do, Nana?’
‘Nothing, child.’
‘Some food, the casserole?’
‘You have that. The church will be bringing food for the set-up. Paulette is still at the hospital. You could get some flowers. There’s money in the ginger jar.’
‘Yes.’
‘Sign my name as well.’
‘Shall I bring them to Auntie Paulette’s?’
‘No. Leave them where he fell.’
‘Yes.’
‘God love you, child.’
Cheryl’s hand shook and her eyes stung as she ended the call. She sniffed hard. Turned to Vinia. ‘Danny died. I have to get flowers.’
‘I’ll come,’ Vinia said.
Cheryl felt trapped, wanting to shake free of her. ‘No need.’
‘I can’t go home.’
Vinia was scared, Cheryl saw, couldn’t face Carlton and his boys.
‘Okay.’
Cheryl bought the biggest bouquet she could with Nana’s £20 note. White and red: lilies and carnations, gypsy and ferns. Milo wanted to hold them but she was worried he would try eating them or crush the delicate blooms, so she bought him a piece of red ribbon from the woman and gave him that.
She had no idea what to write on the card. Everything was either tacky or pious: You are withthe angels now or At peace with the Lord. Vinia was no help at all: Rest in peace her only suggestion. Cheryl didn’t know any poems and there wasn’t much room on the card anyway.
She printed ForDanny. She thought of his music, his smile, the way he greeted Milo. Wrote A bright star. Pictured Auntie Paulette and Uncle Stephen, Nadine and Nana Rose without him. Added Beloved. Signed it Nana T., Cheryl and Milo.
Back at the rec, Cheryl made Vinia go on ahead and check there was nothing to upset Milo. Vinia came back, said it was all sectioned off. A tent up, you couldn’t see anything. Loads of police around. He lost a lot of blood, Vinia added. Cheryl didn’t want to think about that. Wished she hadn’t said that.
They didn’t know what to do with the flowers. There weren’t any others. They stood for a while until a policewoman came up. She took the flowers from them and put them by the lamp-post on the corner. Milo protested, held out his arms and kicked his legs, threw his piece of ribbon down.