**And Life Passed By**
“Aunt Zoe, where’s Mikey?”
“What do you want with him?”
“We were supposed to go berry picking this morning.”
“Hes goneran off with the lads.”
“Gone?” The girls lips trembled. “But he promised…”
“Listen, Tammy, why dyou keep clinging to that boy, eh? Youll be chasing men soon enough, and here you are, stuck on a lad half your age. Go play with the girls and leave Mikey bebe reasonable.”
Zoe couldnt stand this snub-nosed, wide-mouthed Tammy, all legs like a heron in the marsh. Just the sight of the girl twisted her stomach. *A child, yet so wretchedly unpleasant.*
Tammys lips quivered, tears welling in her round eyes.
*Ugh, what a nuisance.* Zoe shrugged and strode deeper into the yard. *Wont give the lad a moments peace.*
Just then, her son Mikey darted from the shed.
“Where to?”
“The woods.”
“Fed the pigs?”
“Done, Mum.”
“Straw for the hens?”
“All sorted.”
“Mum, Ive been up since dawnits my holiday! The lads are waiting!”
“Which lads?”
“Blimey, Mum! Just the usualTommy, Ritchie, Stevie, Pete, and Gary.”
“That snub-nosed girlshe tagging along too? A lass with a pack of boys?”
“Mum, enough! Whats Tammy ever done? Shes my friend.”
“Friend?” Zoe grabbed his shoulder, hissing in his ear. “Dont let her wrap you round her finger, son. Youll regret it. Listen to me.”
“Whatre you on about?” The boy wrenched free and bolted, leaping onto his bike without a glance back.
“Tammy! Tammy!” Zoe heard his bright voice call. She sank down and wept. *Whats she want with him? In a few years, theyll be sweetheartsthen hell drag that snub-nosed waif home, saying, Mum, Dad, love her like me. Over my dead body.*
Wiping her tears, Zoe marched to the gate. She paused, as if weighing her decision, then strode down the lane.
By the fence, children played in a heap of yellow sand. Zoe beckoned a tousle-haired lad.
“Andy, is your mum home?”
“Aye,” he mumbled, digging a hole.
“Fetch her.”
“MUMMM!” he bellowed.
*Couldnt even run insidejust yells. Chip off the old block.*
From behind the fence came a voice. “Coming!”
Out swayed Annie, Andy and Tammys motherfreckled, wide-mouthed, and just as long-legged as her daughter.
“Annie, a word.”
“Well, well, Mrs. Smith. Trouble? The kids alright?” Annie wiped floury hands on her apron.
“None yetbut mark my words, rein in that girl of yours. Chasing after ladsmy Mikeys besotted.”
“Have you eaten something foul? Theyre children! Off picking berries, mushrooms, pulling weedssame as we did!”
“Not me,” Zoe snapped.
“Ha! Who trailed after my brother Jack? Who got whipped off our porch by your mum? I rememberfour years younger, but not blind. Sneaking fags behind the shed, gigglin at dirty pictures, fishing trips, kisses by the barndont deny it!”
“Keep your girl in check, or shell come home with a bun in the oven.”
“Like you did? Or is my Jack little Pauls dad?”
“Fool! My kids are my husbands. Yours? Who knows?”
“Drivel! My mans trueloves me proper. Yours? Stuck out of fear. Jack dumped youno one elsed have a nag like you.”
Zoe knew Annies tongue was sharpmost women avoided her. But she was no pushover herself.
Meanwhile, the children, berry pails full, dashed to the brook. Stripping as they ran, they splashed in, whooping, indistinguishableboys, girls, just children, innocent, unashamed.
Later, sprawled on the sand, sunning their backsides, they chattered.
“Whatll you be, Pete?”
“Like my dadtractor driver.”
“Tammy? A singer?”
“Why a singer?”
“All girls wanna be famous*five minutes, five minutes*!” Gary mocked.
Tammy snorted. “You do that. Ill fly planes or study science.”
“Girls dont do that,” Gary scoffed.
“They do,” Stevie said quietly.
Zoe fought to pry Mikey from that snub-nosed brat. She sighed in relief when he left for the army. Shed cross the street to avoid Tammy.
Once, the girl came crying. “Aunt Zoe, no letter from Mikey?”
“Had one yesterdaySally the postwoman brought it.”
“None for me?” Tammys lips shook.
“Maybe he doesnt want to write to you.”
“But he always did… Has he… someone else there?”
Zoe watched her slump away. *Good riddance.*
At Gennies weddingMikeys mate, Tammys new husbandZoe rejoiced. *Finally free of her.*
Mikey wrote home, asking why Tammy never replied. Zoe lied: *Shes finejust not writing.*
She knew why.
Sally the postwoman owed Zoebig time. So she intercepted Tammys letters to Mikey and his to her, handing them to Zoe instead. *A mother knows best. Boys are fools.*
When Mikey returned, Tammy was gone. Married Gennie, moved to the city.
Zoe had a nice city girl in mindNadias daughter, Lucy. *Wealthy family. Her stepdads a factory managerhell set you up.*
“Mum… I dont love her.”
“Pah! Love? Whered that get you?”
At Mikeys wedding, he sat like a statue. *Never mindhell grow to love her. Fancy house, her dads connections… All grist to the mill.*
Years passed.
They say time heals. It doesntit numbs, piles on chores, dulls the ache.
A decade flew like a day.
Mikey visited with his family; Tammy and Gennie with theirs. They met by chance, exchanged stiff greetings.
Evening came.
“Off for a smokesee Stevie,” Mikey said.
“Not a chance,” Zoe blocked the door.
“Mum”
“Lucy, go with him.”
“Why? Hes seeing a friend.”
“To *her*? That moon-eyed hussy?”
“Move, Mum.”
His feet carried him to the brook. Next night too. On the third, as he turned to leave, a silhouette appeared.
She came.
Under their old cherry tree, they stoodloving, wretched, clinging. Even the moon hid behind clouds, sparing their stolen moment.
Ten more years. Then twenty.
Never once did they cross the line.
Was it love? It wasand duty to those beside them. Mikeys wife, Tammys husband, their children, then grandchildrennone deserved the fallout.
Now, widowed three years, Mikey visits his parents. His mother confesses allhow she tore him from Tammy. He forgives. The ache remains.
“Mike?”
He turns. Tammy stands therethin, a scarf at her throat, still the girl from the brook.
They sit on a bench, talking.
“Lifes gone by, Mike.”
“Past us.”
“Not past. Meant to be… Dont blame Gennie. He pulled me from despairand I… grew to love him.”
“Out of gratitude?” Mike smirks.
“No. For his gentle soul. All he endured… I loved you, Mike. But years side by side… Be kind to him, for me.”
She leaves.
That evening, Mike gets a call.
“Hello?”
“Mike… shes gone.”
“Gennie? Crying?”
“Tammy… shes…”
“Im coming. Hold on.”
Two old friends sit shoulder to shoulder.
“Shed been ill… didnt want anyone to know. Your wife?”
“Gone three years… hurts.”
“Aye. Lifes short… Whos left of our lot?”
“Stevie and Tony.”
“Good. Well stick together.”
*Was Mum right?* Mike wonders. *Too late now.*
Lifes no stroll in the park
Full of climbs and falls,
Missteps like stumbling blocks,
Heavy as stone walls.
(Nadia Bliss)
Good day, my dears. Sending warmth and light your way. Always yours.
