The anarchist

a stubborn flea behind a dog’s ear.

“And what’s this one about?” asked The Mother.

“There’s so bloody many I can’t keep up anymore,” said The Father.

“It’s about free bus fare, for everyone, but mainly for the poor.”

“Free bus fare? For the poor?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Rubbish,” he said.

“Oh, typical.”

“Boy, you’re combing the hairs on your arse into a fine moustache.”

“What?”

“Eunice,” said The Father.

“Yes sir” she replied, sneaking from her room, outside of the kitchen and around the corner from the laundry, right next to where they kept the old detergent and the kitty litter trays.

“Who pays for your bus fare Eunice?”

“You do sir,” she said.

“So you don’t pay a cent?”

“No Sir” “Why is that?”

“Is this a test sir?”

“Just answer the bloody question, Eunice.”

“I am registered sir. It’s my right, isn’t it?”

“Yes it is Eunice, yes it is. So Eunice, if these young men win you free bus fare, will it make a lick of difference, considering you don’t even pay for your bus fare yourself ? Well?”

“I suppose not sir but….”

“That’s okay Eunice, you can go.”

“But sir, if the bus is free, will you still pay me my allowance?

You see, I walk very far to come to work every day. The money, it is small but small money goes a long way in my house. My boys and my husband, they can’t find work so the money you give me for the bus, it helps us to pay for milk and for school books, for my 22