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Anon
He’s the kind of person who manages to be mysterious in broad daylight. Like the sun, warm enough that when you have his attention you feel close to him, but at the same time you’re fully aware he’s 93 million miles away.
Rosie Bekker
Childhood friend – Johannesburg, South Africa – ages 6-11“I swear If you asked me what my old primary school classrooms looked like, or how old I was when my family took me to Greece, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. But Baggy? God I’ve remembered the adventures we had like they were yesterday. Totally fearless. He wouldn’t say ‘no’ to anyone… it was like a compulsion. And we
owned the streets. There were a few of us who ran together, but we weren’t exclusive or anything. I guarantee that every kid who asked to join in would first get at a full dose of Baggy staring them down - judging them silently, you know, for a good 10 seconds. If they could stand the heat, he’d break out into this giant grin and welcome them with open arms! And then we’d all have a new best friend! Like I said – he never said ‘no’ to anyone.
…
"Is this him now?”
[she gestures to the proffered photo marked ‘Jordan Michaels’. He’s jokingly catwalk-spinning at the end of a pier before diving (rather ungracefully) into the water]“God he used to be so skinny. Look at him now! You could ski down those biceps! Haha! I hate that we stopped speaking so suddenly…
“I mean, he used to disappear for months at a time – never said goodbye or anything, but would make a point of apologising for it when he came back. He never told me where he went but I get the feeling he preferred to pretend he’d never left in the first place. When he left, I just always assumed he’d be back again. I’m glad he’s ok.”
Liam Millard
Sudden Impact Kickboxing club – Sydney, Australia – ages 10 -16“About Baggy? Well, when he trained with us, he was a really tough win - really tough!… but I don’t think he cared too much about the winning or losing – he’d just draw it out as long as he could. I sparred with him once or twice, but he always preferred the taller boys; the ones he knew would be a challenge. Eyes bigger than his fists sometimes, but always up for the fight. He only joined up late but he must have trained somewhere else before he started showing up. I remember hearing some of the other kids saying he’d been left for months at a camp in Thailand when he was younger. That they took him in and taught him muay thai before his… parents, I guess?… came through and picked him up again.
“Anyway we didn’t ever see him outside the ring. No idea where he went to school or anything...”
Momo Said
Alchemy tutor – Uagadou, Mountains of the Moon – ages 14 -16“A good mind, surely, but invariably antagonistic when given permission. Actually - antagonistic even when not given permission. He did pay attention, however. Always had an answer for everything, and another question when there were no answers to give.
“We were not told he would be leaving the school until early last week - has he transferred somewhere?”
“Duke” King
School friend - Uagadou, Mountains of the Moon - ages 11-16“Yeah, he mentioned that he would be leaving the school. He said he’d try and stay in touch but the thing about Baggy is that if he’s orf the grid, he’s orf the grid, y’know? It came in useful once, but ah get the feeling it’ll be a bitch from now on.
“You wanna know about Baggy, though, right? Wha’daya wanna know?
…
“Haha! Wouldn’t we all like to know that, eh? Look. Baggy’s a good bloke. But he’s a bit of a lone wolf. He had family over that way ah think - but ah’ve got no idea how he got there or where exactly it was that he went.
…
“No, ah swear - ah never once went with him. No idea if it was even the same place each time. Ah knew him well enough to ask him, but not to get a solid answer, y’know?
…
“Nah mate, like ah said. No idea... Look. Ah’m feelin’ sorta sick. Ah’d go talk to Ama if you wanna know any more. She used to have his full attention at least twice a week… Ah reckon she had him longer than that too if ya know what ah mean.”
[he winks and flashes a cheeky, regal grin]Amahle Nkosi
Quidditch Captain - Uagadou, Mountains of the Moon - ages 12-16“LOSING BAGGY?! Why? Where is he going? No one ran this past me. Veto! I veto!
[she rushes towards me from where the rest of the team is training, eyes flashing]...!!...
“- no, I do understand - I won’t shoot the messenger. Who told you?
…
“Yes. Fine. But trust me, I’ll be taking it up with the principal. They can’t do this just before the season starts. How the hell are we meant to find another beater and train them in 3 fucking weeks?
…
“Sorry, yeah. Baggy. He’s our… was… our best beater. He was made to fly. I mean his animagus is a damn eagle. The junior league is going to be less a fair few bruises and broken bones with him leaving. I reckon he could have played on the national junior team in a year or two. I hope wherever he goes, their team appreciates him as much as we’re going to miss him - and if we ever come up against him on the field, you’d better believe we’re going to pummel him for this.
…
“What, me and Baggy? Pfft. No. Never. Not that I…
wouldn’t... but no.”
Sisi Antwi
Ghanaian Centre of Youth for Equality, Ghana - unknown ages“You mean Jordan? He’s a kind soul. We did not see nearly enough of him - he'd come in maybe once or twice a month, but whenever he visited, he was always willing to help. Most of the kids here are here by choice, and they visit when they choose. I had the feeling Jordan would have chosen to be here more often than he was able to be.
...
"No, I'm afraid he never mentioned leaving.
...
"Yes, if I see him, I'll be sure to get in touch. I hope he is safe."
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