Disinfected Youth

a nanonovel

It had come to that time in Alex’s life when Dettol was the only recourse.

Taking a lump of cottonwool from his mother’s washbag, he tipped the bottle and swabbed his body from head to toe, taking special care with the bendy, folding bits.

He combed his hair into an unusually neat side parting. Then he plugged his ears, nose and other breaches, and dressed in a long, white gown, eschewing underwear for greater comfort.

Then he lay down, for what seemed like an eternity.