“No, I’m not coming back. I’ll stay in the country the whole summer. It’s just great there, way better than here, no contest.”
I noticed that my words had hurt Matish, even the shiner around his eye kind of grew lighter with surprise.
“And what about Altynai?”
“Will you just shut about about Altynai? I don’t need her!” I shouted, desperately.
He got up and proceeded to shake the dust off his clothes.
“I’ll kick a football around with the other kids, and when it gets too hot, we’ll go swim in the river. I’m going home.”
“Just make sure that your mum doesn’t notice anything, or you know what’ll come next. My father always has his belt ready. Pull your cap down a bit.”
“She won’t notice. And you really think you look normal! Get out of here… you better wash your nose again!”
Matish di
