Pyro & Scamp

Did I tell ya the one about me Da?

You're gonna have to narrow it down, hen. I've heard many a story about your Da. And with each story, I think to meself, what a cunt. And then another one comes, and I think, ahh, the cunt has more depth. Mixing me metaphors, I know. Barrels and a cunt, but you get me drift, don't ya?

Aye. I get it.

So, go on. Tell me about your Da. What did he do this time?

He wanted to send me away. To a camp.

A camp?

To reform me. Us.

What kind of camp?

One that was meant to ... fix us. People like us. The ones he thinks are broken. In the head.

But you ain't broken. None of you is. I mean, yeah, you have damage, but what person don't in this Burning Hellscape?

He seems to think we is. He suggested it to Ma. And Ma told me, if we do go to this camp, he'll consider paying for us to go private with our transition.

Strings.

Huh?

Strings. He pays for private health care, in exchange for sending you away to what...? Convert you? Pray the DID away? It fucking sick, that's what it is.

... ... ...

Have you spoken to him about it?

No... Ma was messenger. Then got upset when we didn't speak to her for three days. And wrote her an angry letter, telling her where she can stick her camp. She said she didn't know who she lived with. And, yeah, well...

So send the Dissociating System to a camp that may or may not exist.

When I've told this to professionals, they don't think these camps exist.

Well, why would they? The whole concept sounds as laughable as it does fucking stupid.

I didn't find it funny.

I bet.

And he ain't apologised. He just said, “Go to therapy. Do not pass go, do not collect £200”.

And is he paying for therapy?

He offered. Transferred us some money. Then got pissy when the therapist said, I can't with you'se. Not while you're in that home. It's like putting a plaster on a limb that's been amputated. I wish I was bloody amputated from me Da.

And your Ma?

Things are... slow. She at least seemed contrite. Not 'bout sending us to the camp, but she does ask whose fronting from time to time. When she remembers too. And no longer visibly bristles or gets uppety with a little traumatised... Little. And at least she didn't call said Little a Fuckwit for switching during Deadpool and Wolverine. Unlike Da.

Cunt.

He didn't apologise for that either. Said can't spend life living like a traumatised 8-year-old.

How is the Littlen?

He's well. We think he is growing. Showing signs of development he hasn't done since I was ... since he first ... you know.

Oh, that's good.

He's even developed... crushes. On Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser.

Who let him watch The Mummy?

Who'd ya think?

Typical.

Well, it's not the worst horror film. It has enough for him to enjoy... and he did. A lot. He had difficult and big feelings. He was scared, bless him. He's never experienced those.

And yet...?

He ain't ashamed. He thinks he's bi.

Sounds like a classic Bi-awakening. Did you follow it up with Pirates?

Nah. Lord of the Rings. He likes Eowen, Arwen, Faramir, and Aragon.

You showed him Return of the King?

The Coronation scene, aye. Well, that and "I am no man." He took that in his stride. He’s quoting that now every other day. He even scrawled it on the cover of his diary.

Because it's a fine quote or...

He ... may ... be a Demi-boy.

Ohh. Big feelings indeed.

He's a little shy.

Yeah? The conundrum of the little scamp. He is so proud and totally great talking to people, yet also fears them at the same time.

I just ... this world has already hurt him enough---

And hurt you.

... ... ... Ma. Da. He was non-verbal for two years. He needs his space. His time. It's funny. Da hasn't messaged. We learned through Ma that he is "struggling" to deal with this. With us... And last time he met us, it was the Little Scamp himself who fronted. Well, Da's face was a picture. He didn't know where to look. Not at us. Over our shoulder, to see if people were watching. Well... I didn't want him coming 'round our flat. Not when he basically implied, on the first day, before we'd even settled in, it was a shit hole that didn't look as like the pictures. Guess exercising his guarantor privileges.

Again... cunt.

W...what ... what is a ... c..cunt?

It's a naughty word, Scamp. Saved for people like your Da.

Ah... Okay. Mmm. Hi!

Hi ya. You enjoying your day out?

Yeah! You?

Hmm. I am.

I ... Would it be bad if I cut ties o...off with Dad?

No, Scamp. Not at all. Is that what you want?

I... um... I um... don't ... know... Ma...Maybe... yeah. That is how it feels. Like he already has. So... we... don't, um, message. Mmm. Um. Yeah. Even th...though he t...talks about family values. And you only have one brother. And mother. And ...f... fath...er.

Yeah? Then maybe he shouldn't act like such a cunt. Then he might actually have a child wanting to spend time with him. Child? Yeah?

Um... We... guess... Yeah! Mmm! I'm a demi-boy. So, um, son or ... child.

Got it.

T...thank you.

No problem, Scamp.

S... sounds like we k... kind of ans... wered Big Question.

Yeah. Sounds like you have. Are you okay?

Yeah. I am... Mmm. I am.