Boys in the Trees Page #3

They're scared they'll jump.

Is this the thing you wanted to show me?

This is a thing I wanted to show you.

Sh*t. What's with all the birds?

They say animals know when they're gonna die.

So they come here for their final moments.

I like to keep them company.

Nobody should die alone.

When my dog died, he knew.

Went off behind the rubbish tip

at the back of the yard.

Took us, like, three days to find him.

My mum knew.

She was always worried, 'cause she had me

late, that she wouldn't always be around.

That's why she always used to tell stories

about fantasy lands where I'd be safe.

It's one way to survive, I guess.

Is that why she always played that song?

You remember that?

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high

You shouldn't sing.

It's bullshit, anyway.

"You'll never walk alone."

I'd rather be alone.

No one to rely on but yourself.

No one to drag you down.

Nobody to have your back either.

I remember this exhibition at the museum.

There was a quote.

"Man is by nature a social animal.

Anyone who does not partake of society...

...is either a beast...

...or a God."

Jango would say you're a little lamb.

At least I'm not a beast.

Can you say the same, dances with wolves?

If there's one thing I won't miss,

it's these corridors.

Feels like we should do a nudie run.

Or you too scared of security?

It's not security you need

to be worried about.

It's the wolves in the walls that'll get ya.

I hoped we were done with these stories.

This isn't a story.

Everyone notices different things.

Some notice the moment you change your hair.

Others always notice

what shoes you're wearing.

I noticed them change.

It was the smell I noticed first.

The stench of twisting, multiplying hormones.

It always preceded them.

No amount of cheap safeway

deodorant can cover that odor.

I saw skin disappear

beneath unwelcome hair...

...voices deepen into growls.

Like a virus, it spread.

And once that toxin poisons you...

...you're capable of doing things

you never thought you'd do...

...all in the name of survival.

No matter where you hide...

...they sniff you out.

And for those that didn't change...

...those that were left behind...

...those that didn't have

the taste for blood...

...there was only one thing you could do.

Jonah!

Jonah?

There's only one thing you can do.

Welcome to the library, the sanctuary

for geeks, freaks and outcasts.

Guess you're one of us now.

One of us! One of us!

- Why'd you disappear?

- To see how you liked it.

- I didn't.

- Well, color me surprised.

- Is there another way out of here?

- In a coffin?

You really are no help.

Well, I guess we're saved, then.

- Wait.

- What?

They're your friends.

What's the worst they could do?

How's this for a chaos theory, arsehole?

Yeah, Jango.

He decked you sober.

You don't want to see him pissed.

There you go.

- Cheers.

- Wear that.

He won't hurt me if he knows

I'm with you. Right?

You still don't want to be seen with me.

Nobody means anything to you, do they?

Shitty books that you love so much.

Shove these fireworks...

I've got an idea.

Shut up.

Did you hear something?

Wait, what?

Come out and play.

Where are you?

Thank you.

Do you know Laura Premble?

This place kinda reminds me of her.

This isn't one of those

"Penthouse forum" stories, is it?

Well... she was the first person

I, you know...

...fooled around with.

But no, a bunch of us

came here after year 11 formal.

I barely knew her, but...

everyone was pairing up.

I remember thinking...

"...jackpot!"

You liked her?

Yeah.

But, man, she could drink.

She drank so much.

She just got kinda quiet.

She just sat there staring off into the dark.

And she dropped a bottle. It smashed

on the concrete. She didn't even move.

It's like she wasn't really there.

It's not much of a story, I guess.

What'd you do after formal?

I didn't go.

Oh, well...

...I guess you didn't miss much.

Miss Susie had a steamboat,

the steamboat had a bell

Miss Susie went to heaven,

the steamboat went to...

Hello, operator, give me number nine

- If you disconnect me

- I'll chop off your...

Behind the refrigerator,

there was a piece of glass

Miss Susie sat upon it,

and broke her little...

Ask me no more questions,

tell me no more lies

The boys are in the bathroom

Zipping up their... flies are in the meadow

Bees are in the park

Miss Susie and her boyfriend

are kissing in the D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K, D-A-R-K...

You still hungry?

What the f***? It's just me.

I thought you hated Halloween.

Twick or tweat.

Here. You stink.

It's not my fault there's a heatwave.

It's the hole in the ozone layer.

Those spray cans don't help.

You know in some places

it snows on Halloween?

You like snow?

I've never seen it.

That's why I'm saving up all

my slave wage from this dump.

So I can fly away to Canada.

Get a log cabin.

It snows most of the year there.

The rivers are so frozen,

you can skate on them.

It snows quite a bit in New York too.

You're gonna go, aren't you?

Did you ever let down a friend?

Like stand someone up?

Sure. If I had a dollar

for every person I left waiting...

...under the clocks at Flinders Street...

...I'd have nine dollars.

No.

I mean...

...did you ever say that you'd be there

for someone no matter what...

...and then you weren't?

I had this one friend in primary school.

She even joined me at callispastics,

even though she was a total unco.

What happened to her?

Never really thought about it.

I went to a different high school...

...started hanging out with other girls.

The cool kids, you know.

I just couldn't keep playing

with my little ponies forever, right?

I guess I didn't notice when the gaps

between us got bigger and bigger.

I haven't seen her for years.

She was just a friend.

Why?

I guess sometimes you don't realize

who you've left behind.

Or who's right in front of you.

Yeah.

Maybe.

Or maybe you could get out

of your f***ing diapers for once.

You think you're frustrated here?

Try living in the same world in a skirt...

...surrounded by a bunch of babies

who don't even notice you.

Why can't you guys just grow up?

Girls do! We just stand here...

...waiting, while you guys are stuck

with your heads in the... trees.

Is this 'cause I didn't

thank you for the slurpee?

I don't under...

We do want to grow up.

There's just a part of us

that doesn't want to stop.

Stop?

Climbing trees.

Trick or treat!

Great.

Well! Ring-a-ding-ding, cozza.

You sly hound. Thought your head was hurting.

Turns out you were just hurting for head.

- Real smooth.

- Thank you.

So? Where have you been?

- Looking everywhere for you.

- Don't tell me you were getting bored?

Hey, Bobby. Want to go for a ride?

Hey.

You're not...

...pissed about before, are ya?

I mean, any hole's a goal, you know.

Maybe you shouldn't talk about her like that.

Is this true love? It is, isn't it?

Anyway, we're not done yet.

The night's not over. Copies ready?

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