Hiding in the hay br me a terrified little boy br & my uncle like a terrified little boy br br the voices in his head br telling him to be afraid br of all strangers...changes. br br He’s been like this br since the day his Dad(my unknown grandfather) br died. br br My Aunt’s voice br searching for us...searching us out. br br Her shouts like bloodhounds br hunting us down br br her words angry & cruel. br br Her angry voice br slurring us into: br br “DonallSeanie! ” br br as if we had fused into one being br a metamorphosis of us. br br The hay cooks us br and we swelter in our hidey hole br br A chicken sits on top br of my uncle’s cap br br as if his mind had br materialised into this shape. br br He rocks himself br and rocks me. br br “Shhhh...boy...shhhh! ” br comforting both him & me. br br “Don’t leave me! ” br he clucks br br the words scattered around him br like newly laid eggs. br br I settle into his silence. br br My Aunt’s threats br freezing us br in this terrible heat. br br His chest hair br tickles my nose. br br The cut on my left big toe br throbs through the open sandal. br br My uncle cries in fear. br br I wipe away the tear br with the dirty edge of my sleeve. br br We escape to br the West field br br me riding his shoulders br br transformed into br a legendary creature br br that only exists br in myths br br fleeing from the realness br br ...of reality.