*************

Act two
Chapter thirteen

Maxie & Macker

-‘You’re the magic boy I found on my doorstep..’-

Macker narrating

I was listening to falling water, golden and gurgling, then changing slowly into real happy baby sounds, waking me slowly from my groggy dream.
Now suddenly I was wide awake. Finding myself clean and bandaged, lying naked under a clean sheet, with an orange light glowing through it. I pulled back the sheet, blinking into the low bright sun. Was it morning or evening?
-‘Ma ma pa tu me?’- came a baby voice.
-‘Oh! Hello. I can see you.’-
A little girl with curly red hair and freckles was peeping out at me from a bedside cot. She ducked out of sight. I stretched my nude body luxuriously against the sheet and yawned, pushing back a horrible half memory that my father was dead.
I glanced round the long attic room. The big roof window with the sun flooding in. Wonderful. But where on earth was I?..
Yes yes, the booze robbery, the dressing up party, the swing in Mart Street Flats. Then I’d crashed out, and a woman had rescued me in Little Agnes Street.
-‘My name is Maxie Moon.’- she had said. -‘You’re welcome here.’-
-‘How lucky! How good..’- I thought.
I’d been taken in by people from Ragwort Pool. I’d been in a fever, and couldn’t remember it all… Then I smelt her again. Her salty sexy smell on the sheets. And saw her half lifting me up the steps. I sniffed the pillow, sucked air and chuckled.
It was Maxie had taken care of me, how good!

-‘Wan out wan down.’- The little girl was standing. About to fall out of the cot.
-‘Hang on baby.’-
I swung out nimbly, caught her up and whirled her round. Then sat down, suddenly dizzy, on the rush matting. Maybe I wasn’t really recovered.
The bed was a big mattress on pallets cut to size, the tables scrap wood. There were two doors, a sink, a large wardrobe and a wood stove with a black kettle. A high platform with a low table and a lamp, and another little window shafting in the sun. The rafters were packed tight with stacks of cardboard. I could hear the low moaning of the wind, the sun was going in and out of clouds. But I was warm, and I liked this place, the giant poster of an elephant on the other wooden wall.
-‘Cuman play.’- The little girl was pinching my arm.
-‘What’s your name? I’m Macker, Macker, me.’- I got a whiff of a shitty bottom. -‘You, what’s your name?’-
-‘Moobee.. Lookat Macka.’- She was pushing up the lid of a wicker trunk and trying to drag out a cuddly giraffe.
-‘And the giraffe’s name?’- I was up and helping her.
-‘She’s Cooty.’-
I caught sight of myself, nude in the wardrobe mirror, all scratched and bruised.
But I was clean. My cuts were bandaged. And I smelt good… And what the hell had they done to my hair? I glanced about for my pants, embarrassed at being undressed. There were girly clothes and clean baby things on a rack by the stove, but no sign of my stuff, my little rucksack, yes, but no clothes in it.
I took out a few leftover silk hankies, for ‘Moobee’ and her giraffe, bits of confetti fluttering out. Then I pegged a hand towel round myself, took a cotton nappy and picked up the child and Cooty.
-‘Where’s the bathroom Moobee?’- I asked. –‘I badly need a wee wee.’-…

-‘Mackamackamacka.’- Moonbeam was bouncing on the bed, pointing up at a near empty baby
bottle on the wide shelf above. I bounced up beside her, then settled with her in the bed to let her drink.
-’I’m bleeding starving myself.’- I thought, now remembering Maxie trying to feed me soup. I was eyeing a bowl of fruit on the table, when suddenly the sun went in, and was replaced by that weird greenish glow. I jumped up to the big window, with Moonbeam, peering out.
The first things we saw were windmills, whizzing silently, five, six, seven at least along the back lane, and a big mural of a cow shitting, proclaiming –‘Don’t Shit-On me!’-
-‘Moo ooo, look at the cow.’-
-‘Moo moo ploppy poo poo.’- She was nearly finished the milk already.

The whole of their back yard was a greenhouse, with a bright green fishing net suspended over it, reflecting green everywhere, like living in an aquarium. A couple of roof tiles were lodged in it, rising in the breeze. –‘Wind protection, of course.’- I thought.
A bush was waving nervously, right by the window. A roof garden? The other door, of course, I went and tugged it, Moonbeam in one arm, she with the bottle. But it was as tight as a millionaire’s arsehole. Then it opened suddenly and the wind rushed in. There was a little walled-in roof terrace, lined with big pots, overflowing spring flowers and lettuces. Plus a crate of seedlings, a sun-bed and a scrap-wood seat. The sun reappeared between two little black clouds, but I was shivering, and we ducked out of the wind, onto the sunny bench.
Peering over we could see out the front, busy Little Agnes Street. An old woman was waving her walking stick as she passed. Then yunkers with files, on a De–School project, yellow head scarves flying, with Clan Earth clothes, cool cut-offs and shredded denims. A cleanairbus was hooting to get through, bicycles came wobbling in the breeze. Now a gang of smaller kids, all holding hands.
-‘Nomor Macka..’- Moonbeam announced, and went to drop the bottle from the third floor balcony. I just about caught it, remembering the unfortunate incident with the wig.
-‘Oh no you don’t. We need that bottle.’- But Moonie began to moan.
-‘Hey Moony don’t cry let’s go in and play with Cutie. Let’s eat some fruit okay?’- We went in out of the wind,
-‘Wanna milk wanna milk.’-
I walked her about, singing above her rising wails.
-‘You are my sun shine
My only sun shine
You make me happy
On the cold dark day….’-
Then I heard boots, pounding nearer on the stairs, and seeing as I was only wearing a hand towel, I slipped back into the bed.

*************

Maxie narrating

Course I remember, I’d nursed him thru his fever, then he slept for a whole day solid.
I was downstairs working when Moonie’s baby alarm started singing.
-’You are my sun shine. My only sun shine..’ That was weird coz I’d been caring for him like a big baby who’d suddenly turned into a crackly singer.
I bounded up the stairs. Half tripping on the door step and falling in on my knees.
-‘Ow, ow! That step!.. Hey Macker! You’re better. I heard you singing.’-
He looked stunned. Mouth open and peering up at me. Moonie stopped whinging when she saw me and held out her arms.
I was yeowing and beaming at the same time. But holding back, surprised to be shy of him. Panting from running up stairs.
-‘Are you, um, okay, er, better?’- I asked, dumbly.
I’d cooled his funny face when he was feverish, and tended his cuts. I’d sponged his filthy arms, shyly, but he didn’t wake, then little by little I knew his whole body. Then I’d slept beside him in my big bed that night.
But I hadn’t talked with him, and I was shy!
-‘You’re Maxie?’- he asked.
-‘You gave her the bottle. Good good. Macker she likes you!’- I bounced on the bed, and started kissing Moonbeam in his arms. -‘Sure she needs a nappy but.’-
-‘I ch-changed her. But, how could you hear me singing?’-
I slapped what he’d thought was just a clock.
-‘Baby alarm, I was working downstairs.’-
-‘Thanks a lot Mrs., er, Max, or Maxie, really, thanks for saving me and, taking care of me and um, washing me and…’- He was actually blushing.
-‘Shhh’- I put my finger on his mouth, then kissed his cheek, feeling his warm breath on mine. –‘I enjoyed it a lot to tell you the truth, having a big sick baby to myself.’-
I never intended to get off with Macker. I had a phobia for men, and my pathetic love life consisted of flirting with Barney.
-‘Maxie wanna tee tee.’-
I’d lifted Moonbeam from his arms, but she was whimpering again.
-‘She needs more milk. Have you got some?’- Macker asked. Picking up and animating the giraffe. -‘Cutie wants to tickle you…. Stop it Cutie!’-
-‘Fraid not.’- I said, laughing -‘But she’ll be here in a minute.’-
-‘I thought of the fruit.’-
But Moonbeam was tugging open my blouse.
-‘Wanna teetee wanna teetee!’- she yelled non stop.
-‘Not now Moonbeam.’- But she was nuzzling in her head. -‘Oh well what the hell.’-
My body was hot, I knew I was going light pink. I turned aside and let her suckle my nipple. Macker licked his lips, staring at me very rudely.
-‘I, um, I let her suck and she’s happy for a while.’ I said.
-‘Oh.. Um. Why not?’-
-‘Maggie will be here in a minute with the real thing.’-
-‘Maggie? Who’s Maggie then?’- He really didn’t know.
-‘Moonbeam’s mother of course. You met her yesterday.’-
-‘Yesterday? But I thought she was your baby!’-
-‘You thought…’- I let out a nervous titter -‘That’s a good one. No no. I mind her when Maggie’s out working.’-
-‘You’re not her mother?’- He raised his eyebrows.
-‘I like to share her, Maggie is Moonbeam’s mama and Barney Maguire is her father. He lives here as well, but Maggie and Barney are, er, just good friends. See, um, Maggie is pretty gay. And pretty pretty too… And I fancy her mucho mucho’.-
I took a deep breath, stretched, and tried to explain..
-‘We’re not the typical family, like. Really, Barney’s my friend as well but we’re not together either. Well we work together and sometimes er, never mind. And Bernie is Josie’s mother, but there’s no father, don’t ask about him. Jerry ran away from home like me. Then my brother Danny does be round a lot, and Peter, and Maggie’s mum, and who else.. And you of course.. ‘-
Macker was shaking his head, big eyed and obviously confused. I went on.
-‘You’re the magic boy I found on my doorstep and, and, well I’d like you to be my friend as well but…’-
I wanted to say how I liked him, but my throat was closing up, suddenly like I would start with my stupid panic attack.
-‘I’d love to be your friend, er, your family sounds a bit complicated to me.’-
Our eyes met and locked for some seconds. Somehow cutting my breath.
-‘But that’s not all.’- I said in a burst. -‘See Maggie is my semi legal foster mother so Moonbeam’s my kind of half sister!’-
-‘Sorry you lost me somewhere back there.’- Both of us looked away.
-‘Don’t worry. I like you Macker, but I’m n’ nervous.’-
He didn’t react, staring at Moonie, so I dared to smooth back his hair, plucked a bit of fluff.
-‘You were really sick you know. The student doctors were here.’-
-‘I’m fine now.. I really thought Moonbeam was your baby.’-
There was a silence, we were both looking at Moonie, gurgling with her head in my shirt.
He was leaning closer.. I felt my hair prickle and the air shimmer. I could feel his breathing, goose bumps were blimping on my arms, but now I was losing my breath and afraid to look at him.
I flashed him a glance. He was looking lost, I licked my lips slowly, looked into his sad eyes, and mouthed a kiss.
-‘What happened to you Macker, you’re all beat up?’- I asked in a breathless voice..
-‘Yeah well.. ‘-
He looked back down his lips quivering. He didn’t hardly know me after all. Cradling Moonie between us.
-‘You can tell me. I won’t repeat anything.’- I promised.
-‘Today I found out..’- he began.
-‘You’ve been here a day and a half Macker.’- I squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.
-‘Have I? Well, um. I need to find my brother and sister.’-
-‘You’ve lost them? And your mother and..?’-
-‘She died last winter, well, more than a year ago.’- he said, almost inaudibly.
-‘Oh Macker how terrible.. And, and your dad?’-
-‘I just found out, I, I’m sure he’s dead as well.’-
He caught his breath and went to pull back, but I had leaned forward first, and he was crying helplessly on my shoulder.
Meanwhile Moonbeam had sat up and started crying as well. So I just rocked and patted the two of them, sniffling in sympathy myself.
And all three of us were blubbering merrily, when Maggie came striding in.
Tossing her long red hair, freckled and frolicky.
-‘Mama Mama Mama.’- Moonbeam shouted.
-‘Hi Maxie, hello Macker.’-
She was up on the bed, lifting and kissing lucky Moonie and swinging out a heavy breast, nearly clobbering me.
-‘And look what I’ve got for you Pinky Poo!’-
I ducked out of the way and Maggie plumped down between me and Macker.
-‘Something sad happen to you kids.’- she observed.
-‘Just now she got hungry.’- I said. -‘Macker changed her and gave her the milk and sang and..’-
-‘Macker! You’re domesticated!’-
-‘Hello Maggie, I think I met you in a fever yesterday. I hope I wasn’t, er, I didn’t.. ‘-
-‘You were lovely. You’re a lovely fella.’- She put her arm round his skinny waist and kissed him. –‘I’m glad you’re better at last. Are you better?’-
-‘Um, Luckily I am.’- he said.-‘ We were just talking about my family so..’-
-‘It’s all very sad.’- I said.
-‘Well, uh, well you’re always welcome here.’-
There was silence. We could just hear the wind, and a little sound of Moonie suckling. Maggie groaned and yawned.
-‘So what about your sister and brother?’- I asked him.
-‘I don’t know, I lost them, er. We were living in Walkin Street, the three of us in a flat, after my mum died. My father wasn’t too well at the time but… But we were okay, they even went to school. Then the cops came with the Social Worker and took them, um I ran. I ran away and escaped and used to do my show and, uh, I got sick… ‘-
-‘A Social Worker!’- Maggie interjected. –‘I bet I can find out where they are in about five minutes.’-
-‘You can? I really need to see them again.’- said Macker. –‘Tessa’s thirteen I think. But Damo’s only twelve.’-
-‘What did he look like, the social worker?’- she asked.
-‘Er, a bit bald with a ginger mustache.’-
-‘Must be Bryan Gouled. A born again bigot.’-
Maggie had plucked a phone from the little side drawer, and was tapping a number.
-‘We’re in luck … Hello Georgina darling it’s me…’- she said.
-‘I’ll have to go downstairs and work.’- I whispered as she spoke -‘We’re doing a video meeting tonight.’-
-‘When were they taken?’- Maggie asked Macker.
-‘About, er, twenty days ago.’- Then he whispered to me. -‘Can I help you Maxie?’-
-‘Yes yes help me.’- I said, delighted and excited.
-‘Tessa, and ..what’s the boy’s name?..Damien … Yes I know.. yes..‘- said Maggie on the phone.
-‘I can’t find my clothes.’- Macker whispered.
-‘Drying downstairs… Wear mine.‘- I said in his ear, brushing my cheek on his and giggling, I really fancied him.
-‘Okay great, thanks and bye for now. Big kiss.’- Maggie put back the phone.
-‘Georgina will find out and call us back, she’s super busy as usual.’-
-‘Thank you, thank you thank you.’- said Macker. Sitting up in the bed.
Moonbeam had fallen asleep, after all that, and Maggie pulled her off, with a tiny pop.
-‘Ow that hurts’- she made a face. Passing Moonbeam gently to the high cot. -‘I’ve got too much milk and it hurts.’-
-‘I’m always available.’- I said, smacking my lips. How I love her to baby me.
-‘Not in front of our guest please. You may be my adopted daughter but..’-
-‘Don’t mind me.’- said Macker, looking meek. -‘I’m just happy to be in off the street.’-
-‘Well okay then, I should’ve had twins at this rate.’- she squeezed and squirted warm milk in my mouth. -‘Oh yes mmm. That’s better.’-
I went into baby mode, my eyeballs were rolling up, my anxiety dying.
-‘I think you’re a goody Macker. Just very beat up. You look like you really need a mama as well.’-
She pulled him close to me.
Gazed in his watery eyes, then hugged us cheek to cheek…
-‘Meet super mama, kids.. Trumpets. Orchestra please!’-
-‘Mmm, smooth and sweet. Where’s the cocoa powder!’- he said.
Maggie stretched up her arms and fingers. Swinging her long red hair over us like a screen…
Then the phone was buzzing and she took it.
-‘Hello. No it’s for me Jerry… Hello gorgeous Georgina. No no, I’m just, er, feeding.’-
Suddenly I was serious, and shaking awake.
Macker was already sitting up, blinking and biting his lips and trying to hear.
-‘Yes, yes okay that’s good. Oh dear, yes… how awful… really?….yes I’ll wait.’-
There was a pause, Maggie took Macker’s hand in hers.
-‘And, would custody be at all a possibility… no no… an elder brother… How old are you Macker?’-
-‘Nearly, um, I’m sixteen I think, I could lie… ‘-
-‘Yes, okay, to my email.. I’ll talk to them then.. Yes.. yes.. right.. oh yes..’-

There was an ominous silence that grew much too long. Maggie was nodding with false grins and nibbling her nails.
My eyes met Macker’s again. He looked terrified, lifting his eyebrows and I shrugged.
-‘Thanks a lot then I won’t keep you.’- says she at last. -‘See you then for sure.. Bye bye then.’-
She looked down at our expectant faces, hooking on her lacy orange spoon-bra. Macker was sitting very straight. Staring blankly at her wet brown nipples. I gripped his other trembling hand.
-‘She located a report all right.’- she said. -‘Your sister and brother are both in the Youth Detention Center in Glenbay.’-
-‘That’s not far!’- he exclaimed.
‘Seems they haven’t been put up for foster parents yet. They’re classed as violent for some reason. Er, Damien has had punishments, Tessa was hospitalized briefly, also punished. We can check all this out.’-
-‘Sounds really bad. It’s a disgrace I mean, these are entirely innocent kids.’- I said hotly.
-‘Could I visit them in there?’- Macker asked?
-‘You’re on the run, remember.’- said Maggie
-‘But I could go in disguise, this is great news! I have to go and see them.’-
-‘Well, maybe Barney can fix it up.‘- I added.
-‘I asked about custody, uh getting to look after them. She thinks that’s not on..’-
-‘Why not? I looked after them before. They’re almost grown up.’- He waved his arms.
-‘If you weren’t wanted, or had foster parents yourself. If you had money and work or were even a legal adult. If Bryan Gouled wasn’t on the case, if…’-
-‘Could I telephone them? Maybe I could rescue them!’-
-‘Sure we can phone them.’- I said. -‘Barney knows kids in there, and he’s often chatting with them. And a load of screws are in the Pools by now..’-
-‘That’s great! Let’s phone right now!’- He couldn’t wait.
-‘Oof.. You’ll have to ask Barney how to do it. He’ll be in the Assembly this evening.’- Maggie explained.
-‘Couldn’t we rescue them.. I mean…-‘ he insisted.
-‘Wasn’t there an escape from Glenbay, recently?’- I said.
Macker suddenly rolled out of the bed. Then remembering he had no clothes on, he padded over to the clothes horse, to borrow some pants.
-‘Oooee nice bottom!’- I said, and nudged Maggie’s arm. But it was an inappropriate moment.
-‘Did she say anything about my father?’- he finally asked it.
There was a silent pause.
-‘She did, yes.’- said Maggie seriously.
-‘What? What, um, he’s dead I know…’- He was crying already.

I jumped off the bed and went over to him. Waiting as he struggled with my green tracksuit. It was much too big on the waist.
-‘Yes I’m sorry. She said he’s gone.’- Maggie said.
-‘Did he.. Oh shit. How did he die?’- he asked. Holding up the trousers.
-‘You need to know really?’-
-‘Yes Maggie, just, just tell me what she said.’-
-‘Last month he escaped during a cell transfer at the Mount Alton Asylum secure unit F. Somehow he got onto the roof. When the screws tried to get him down he..’- She looked into Macker’s eyes.
-‘He dived?’- Macker blurted.
-‘Yes, he did a, a swallow dive into the yard.’-
-‘Oh my God.’- I said, putting my arms round him.
-‘And what did he say? What did he shout?’- he sobbed.
-‘That’s all I know. Sorry.. I don’t know any more. The report will arrive, on the computer, um… She’s sending us the report today.’-

Macker was shaking his head, vaguely waving his arms, streaming tears but not bawling.
I was holding him and patting his head. Crying myself and not knowing how to console him.

-‘I knew it, I knew it he’s dead.’- he said. -‘But Patcheen went really well..’-

*************

Act two Chapter fourteen

The Ragwort Free

-‘Then I find Maxie has you captured in her bed!’-

-‘You should’ve woke me up.’- said Macker.
-‘Don’t worry. They’ll still be eating.‘- Maxie was leading him by the hand. –‘You can have your chat with Barney and maybe stay for the first bit of the meeting.. This is the eating and sitting room here. Just relax, it only seems like chaos.’-

A big white room, a wall-full of posters and notices, a door through to the kitchen, a wide plywood table.
But the supper was finishing. Jerry and Jackie were collecting pots and plates. Bernie was reading out the house-meeting agenda.
-‘And that must be Barney.’- Macker thought.. Tapping at a keyboard, headphones in his bushy hair with mike attached, like an office on legs. -‘Anything else.’- Bernie was shouting. –‘We have.. the roof, cleaning, the elections tomorrow, short items, visitors, Maggie’s birthday.. Come on let’s do it fast….’-
-‘Cakes for the Fair.’- said Maxie, sitting down..
-‘The Greenhouse repairs.’-
-‘The w-windmill.’- Jerry added.
-‘Hello Maxie. Hello Macker..’- said Maggie. -‘Everyone this is Macker the Magician. He’s better.. You’re better aren’t you?’-
-‘Um, yeah, uh okay.’-
-‘Howaya Macker I’m Bernie, um, Josie’s mother. I left your food on the kitchen table.’-
-‘Hey Macker I’m Danny, remember me, from Burndon? I’m Maxie’s brother.’-
-‘Howaya doing?’- They slapped hands.
-‘Anything else for the agenda?’-
-‘The Mexicans haven’t arrived. We need a translator at eleven.’- Maggie yelled from the kitchen.
-‘I’m after ringing the docks again.’- said Barney -‘They’re finally free and on their way up here.. At last.’-
-‘Good. Good.’-
Macker had picked up dirty plates, on the way to the kitchen. Barney rolled his eyes and grinned at him. But he was busy.
-‘MackaMackaMacka.’- Moonbeam was standing in her high chair. Waving her spoon in the air.
-‘Hey Moonie baby, is this food for me? Nyum nyum!’- He had swiped her plate, steadying her elbow.
-‘S’mine no no… ‘-
-‘Okay let’s sit down and eat. That’s it. In you get.’-

-‘Oh good Macker.’- It was Bernie at the door –‘That’s your food there and that’s for Josie she should be here any minute.’-
-‘Can I eat out here with the kids? um, I…’-
-‘Okay better, I’ll go in then.’- -‘No no don’t eat me. Naughty Moonie!’-
Macker was happier in the kitchen with Moonbeam. Stacking dinner things at the sink, and diving into his Spanish rice with a spoon.

The door opened. Barney came in, sat down quietly and took Moonbeam on his knee.
-‘They let me escape.’- he said –‘While they’re talking about all the things we have to vote on.’-
-‘Aren’t they important?’-
-‘We do them every Saturday now. By computer… Don’t tear it!’- He had a kid’s book out and was showing Moonie. -‘Can I get you a beer or something?’-
-‘No thanks. Uh, you came to talk to me.’- said Macker.
-‘Yeah that’s right, I’m very sorry to hear about your Dad. Must be a terrible shock for you.’- He was biting his thumb.
-‘Yes well um, I knew already really I just…..’-
-‘Maxie filled me in.. Seems like he done a brave thing.’-
Macker felt himself bursting into tears, held them back. Patcheen’s trick was working.
-‘I’m p-proud of him for diving.’- he declared.
-‘A grand brave man alright… Funny thing is I was trying to find you last week.’-
-‘How so?’- Macker was sniffing, but wouldn’t wipe his tears.
-‘Some friends are after you to do shows, but I couldn’t track you down. I was told it’s easier to locate the last Polar Bear… Then I find Maxie has you captured in her bed!’-

He laughed and Macker joined in, nervously.
-‘Look there’s Cutie blowing bubbles.’- he pointed at the book.
-‘Cooty’s not a nerafunt, silly. She’s Quirty’-
-‘You’re right of course, that’s Squirty. How silly of me.. Listen I’ve got an idea. You wanna do shows with us?’-
-‘Yeah okay, but I got them big piggy-wiggy problems you know.’-
Now he was juggling the apples.
-‘That’s the deal, like, I’m in this group that gets yunkers out of legal trouble.’-
-‘I got a hundred mile of robbing to my name.’-
Barney winked at him, Produced some stapled papers from the elephant book, as Moonbeam slid down on the floor.
-‘Summary of your police file. Thirty two robberies I think they got you down for. Look here.’-
-‘I’m innocent honestly.’- Macker put on his sincere face. -‘I was in bed with the doctor at the time.’-
-‘Very good. Listen this is the idea see we do all this paperwork like and these kids get let off in the care of different Pools and CLANS. Like. Probation without screws.. Because the youth prison is bursting anyway. We’ve a sheaf of cases to go in next week and I could squeeze you in as well.’-
-‘What do I have to do for you?’- Macker looked resigned.
Then he was crawling under the table after the child.
-‘Nothing.. well you get the chance to work with us if you want. You’re a genius Macker. We need your style, we need your buzz, to make these projects click!.’-
-‘You’re not jealous then?… I’m gonna catch you loony Moonie.’-
-‘About Maxie? Well, er, sure I’m a bit jealous but, I don’t wanna be with her anyway and, um. I’m much too old for her so.’-
Macker’s head had appeared from under the hemp tablecloth and Barney put his hand on it. As if he would give him his blessing.
-‘I’ll be delighted if you’re going to be with Maxie okay.’-
-‘I’ve no idea if I will or I won’t.’- He slyly grinned his gap toothed grin. -‘Listen I’ll take your deal okay, but what I need, like really, is my brother and sister, like. They’re locked up, um, for nothing at all. Can’t you get them out as well? Seeing as you’re so pally with the coppers, like?’-

Barney took the phone from his top pocket. Unplugged the earphones and put it under a chair cushion.
-‘Maggie just told me about Damien and Tessa. That’s different cops and we can’t wangle anything but..’- He had lowered his voice conspiratorially. -‘All those kids should be coming out soon. One way or another.’-
-‘When is soon? .. And how ? They need to come out today!’-
Moonbeam started to squeal, as Macker pretended to pursue her through the chair legs. He popped up to hear Barney’s whisper.
-‘We been wanting prisons closed for years. It’s a project I’m in myself, like. We got good infiltration.. A good plan. ‘-
-‘Maybe I could help, if you need help?’- Macker offered.
-‘Yeah okay. We know more or less how, see. Different families and Pools and Projects agreed to adopt an escaped youth, er yunker. It’s just we need everyone to agree and that’s tricky because it’s secret. You can’t tell anyone okay. But now with these Free Unions taking off maybe the youth prisons will, like, just fall into our area anyway. If you see what I mean…’-
-‘How much do I have to work for you?’- he broke in.
-‘You don’t have to..only if you want..the new scheme here two or three days a week. Then you have your own stuff on the side, and you should do Free-Uni. But if you’re doing magic shows you’d hardly be, er, working as well I mean.. That’s worth so much more.’-
-‘Two or three days. And what’s the pay, or do we work for the bleeding community?’-
-‘Just now we’re all getting credit cards, from the Credit Union, I ordered you one.’- Now he was crawling after Moonbeam himself.

-‘A credit card for me! I’m a credit to the CoOp.’- He was swinging Moonie up into his arms.
-‘You can use all Pools goods and services, money-free. Your account is just in wurts, their program works out prices based on a balance of scarcity, what people want and need. Ecology cost and so on, using the surveys we do. We don’t actually pay, er….’- [ref.7 and ref.16 money free]
-‘Maxie told me something… Just what I need, a Pooler credit card!’-
-‘Everyone will want you Macker, in their CLAN parties, in their gigs, on their TV shows. And now they started going out all over with Net TV. I seen you in action. I saw you turn a thousand kids into one big, er, happy family, like. With just some bin bags and a broken trumpet… ‘-
-‘I’ve lost my trumpet as well.’-
Just then the side door opened. A small girl in green plastic overalls, Earth style, came in, and she dripping. Swung off a shoulder bag and ran straight for Barney.
It was Josie, Bernie’s daughter.
-‘Hey Barney Tammy wants to come round and watch cartoons in the play-den can she come can she come oh please please…?’-

-‘Whoa whoa.’- He was tugging off her sopping top. -‘You haven’t eaten anything yet, here’s your yummy food.’-‘
-‘Can she come please Barney can you ring her now?’-
-‘Maybe for an hour just, I’ll ask Bernie. Sit down here, it’s late already you know, and I’m in a meeting.’-
-‘Oh good goody good..’-
-‘Wait and see. This is Macker the magician.’- And he went in, closing the door.

-‘Howaya Josie. Well you must be my sister Tessa’s age. Hey Moonie you wanna drink?’-
-‘I’m nine.’-
Josie was wearing Earth gear, but in pink. Denim shorts, calf and armbands, a half length waistcoat. With beads and bangles, looking really cute.
-‘Only nine, you look like eleven. Tessa’s much older. But she’s locked up in prison now.’-
-‘What did she do? Can I have apple juice as well?’-
-‘Of course… She done nothing. Just coz we lost our Mum, they took her and Damo.’-
-‘That’s not fair.’-
-‘Maybe Barney will get her back. Oh Josie, can me and Moonbeam watch cartoons with you as well?’-

-‘Um. Yeah okay.’- She was gobbling her food. -‘But they’re big kids cartoons.’-
-‘Mackamacka wanup wanup.’– Macker left the plates and lifted her onto his knee.
-‘You got CLAN hair, looks like Clan Orca.’-
-‘And you’re Clan Earth right, how cool. Maggie trimmed my hair. Bet you’re.. bet you’re in Baygirls or…. ‘-
-‘How did you know? I bet Barney told you.’-

He had disappeared again under the table agaa. Then he popped out.
-‘Ummm um umm umm.’-
Rolling his eyes, cheeks puffed up, squatting and hopping in front of Josie and Moonbeam. Indicating he looked like a chicken.
Flapping his elbows.
Slowly he twisted one ear and slowly with much eye rolling, a brown egg was appearing from his mouth.
Gesturing wildly to Josie who just barely succeeded in catching it.
-‘Coz I’m the magic man. Yes I’m the magic man.’- he sang. Repeatedly. –‘Will I lay a few more for breakfast?’-
-‘Cheater beater pumpkin eater.’- said Josie, hopping with glee.
Barney stuck his head around the door.
-‘Yeah Tammy’s coming over but just for an hour, she’ll go straight up to the play-den.’-
-‘Macker and Moonbeam are coming too.’- said Josie.
-‘Oh really? Okay great. Finish your dinner but..’-
-‘I’m finished already let’s go.’-
-‘Come on now wash your plate now and your fork.’-

************

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