‘Timmy and me were an item. I knew that once he walked out of this nick I’d be gone from his mind, and I accepted that. But while we was together I had a bit of protection. You’d be surprised at the blokes who come on to me, you really would, Georgio. Some of the biggest queer-baiters in here have tried to get it on with me. Last year a known face raped me with two of his mates when I was on a work detail. A bastard screw set it up and watched the whole time. I never told Timmy but he guessed, bless him. The three ponces who done it wore condoms, can you believe that?’

Sadie shook his head in bewilderment.

‘They hate queers, blame us for the spread of AIDs, but after a few years banged up they’re not averse to holding you down and raiding your arse. But they’re not arsehole bandits, oh, no!’ His voice was bitter.

‘No, they’re just having a laugh. Now it’s a strange thing, Georgio, but the Greeks revered pooftas. Did you know that? I think that most men, no matter how homo-phobic, will eventually turn to another geezer if women aren’t available to them. Any port in a storm, if you’ll excuse the pun. Those blokes who raped me did it because they thought it would be the macho way to get my arse. They couldn’t approach me nicely, like, and negotiate because that would have made them shirtlifters, see? And they’re not, are they? What they are, are macho men who raped a queerboy. It was just a laugh, see.’

He paused, and wiped a finger across his eyes to stem his tears.

‘And they say I’m mixed up. One of the best arguments for conjugal visits is the amount of male rape that goes on in nicks.’

Georgio was moved by the boy’s words. Before he could answer, Timmy slipped into the kitchen.

‘All right, Sade?’

Sadie smiled at him. ‘Hello, Timmy love. I’ve done a bit extra for you. After I’ve served me and Lewis, you come in and get yours out of the oven, all right?’

Timmy beamed with pleasure at the thought of his dinner.

Watching them, Georgio sighed.

‘All right, Georgio? How you getting on with Chopper?’

He held out his arms. ‘How do you think?’

Timmy nodded. ‘That Lewis wants to watch himself. They all want to watch themselves.’

Sadie stopped cutting carrots and said to Timmy in exasperation, ‘Please, Timmy. He’ll get fed up with me soon enough and then we can all get back to normal. Be patient.’

Timmy shook his head, his heavy-jowled face shaking with the force of his emotions.

‘I mean it, Sade. I ain’t swallowing this, girl. He’s made me look a right fucking Herbert.’