The Childhood of Jesus

I can swim anywhere. I told you, I am an escape artist.

I am not the kind of person who suffers from memories

And why is he continually asking himself questions instead of just living, like everyone else?

From goodwill come friendship and happiness, come companionable picnics in the parklands or companionable afternoons strolling in the forest. Whereas from love, or at least from longing in its more urgent manifestations, come frustration and doubt and heartsore. It is as simple as that.

‘That’s nonsense. How can a big boy like you fall down a little crack like that?’
‘Not that crack. Another crack.’
‘Which crack? Point to the crack.’
‘I don’t know! I don’t know which crack. Nobody knows.’
‘Nobody knows because nobody can fall through a crack in the paving. Now hurry up.’
‘I can! You can! Anyone can! You don’t know!’

What if he has a heart attack? What an embarrassment that will be!

He does not feel old, just as he does not feel young.