"My brothers, yeah. Younger brothers. I got a whole mess of siblings. I had a younger sister but she turned 16 and when that happens, they leave you. You gotta get married at 16. That's the way." And yet, Jonathan had avoided it. His refusal mixed with his absent father and new duties made it easy for him to keep avoiding the topic but he knew that Alfie wouldn't let it be ignored for long. "You're supposed to. He and the eldest, we're breaking tradition. He's a manslut and I'm a queer."

Jonathan laughed and grinned at Edward, pulling him along by his hand before letting go. The two of them kept walking but now the ground seemed mostly even and a bit less damp. "I guess our generation really is ruining society."