“Oh, but what were you going to tell us?” she continues. “About the West End musical posters? It’s a sign, you said?”

I nod at her. No way am I going to tell them now. Not now the frigging penguins have got in there first. This was my thing. Now it’s theirs. And it’d be weird. The penguins are gay. I’m gay. It’s too much gay. “Uh-huh. It’s a sign … a sign … that I may want to consider a posteighteen musical theatre course, I dunno. Maybe.”

Dad frowns. “You were talking about Law yesterday.”

“Yeah.” I tip the soil into his hands instead. “It was just a thought. I guess I’m at that age.”

I hurry out of the front door with Luis and Molly in tow, furious that my chance has been ruined.

Wanker penguins.

*

I’ve never seen the zoo so busy. There was an actual queue of people at the ticket desk, and the crowd around the penguin enclosure is at least five deep. Everyone’s got their phones out, filming the ten penguins that are waddling around inside.

“Which ones are the gay ones?” Luis asks me.

“How should I know?”

Luis tuts. “Why are you being moody? You should be happy for them!”

“Why?”

“Love, innit?” He smiles. “It’s sweet.”

“It is quite sweet, Cam,” Molly adds. “I think it’s great that they’ve felt able to come out.”

“Uh-huh?” I nod. “You think the penguins have felt empowered by society’s acceptance of the LGBTQ plus community?”

“Hush up,” Luis tells me. “There’s Femi!”

He cocks his head towards a girl in a zoo uniform, who has just walked into the enclosure with a bucket along with a lad called Aaron, who’s also in my year. Aaron’s nice. Nice in an ‘ohmygodIreallyfancyyou’ sort of way. So, naturally, I’ve always done a good job of pretending I have no interest in him.

Luis makes a little groaning noise and thrusts his hands into the pockets of his board shorts. “She is so fine.”

“Please don’t groan like that,” Molly says.

“Yeah, it’s gross,” I add.

But he’s oblivious to us both. “Oi! Femi!” he shouts across the enclosure, apparently also oblivious to the crowds of people now staring at him as he hollers away at the girl he likes. “Which ones are Kippie and Jingles?”

Femi rolls her eyes and sighs. “These two,” she says, throwing a couple of small fish from the bucket towards two penguins sitting by the entrance to the igloo.

The crowd makes an ‘awww’ noise. Someone says ‘Cute!’ I’m not sure I understand the fuss. No one would care if they were straight.

“Thanks, Femi!” Luis shouts, flashing her the smile that usually gets him extra chips in the canteen.

She shakes her head and throws more fish for the penguins.

“Do you think she’ll come to the prom with me?” Luis asks.

“How could she refuse?” I tell him, trying not to sound too sarcastic. “You’re like catnip for girls.”