“Auntie Joan, wheres Mikey?”
“What dyou want him for?”
“We were supposed to go berry-picking this morning.”
“Hes gone off with the lads.”
“Gone?” The girls lips trembled. “But he promised”
“Listen, Tammy, why dyou cling to that boy, eh? Youll be chasing lads soon enough yourself, and here you are pestering a child. Go onspend time with the girls. Leave Mikey alone, for goodness sake.”
Joan couldnt stand this gap-toothed, long-legged, gawky Tammy. Just looking at the girl made her bristle. Shes just a kid, Joan thought, but somehow so grating.
Tammys lips quivered, tears welling in her round eyes.
Ugh, what a disaster of a girl, Joan shrugged and marched into the yard. Persistent little thing. Wont give the lad a moments peace.
Just then, her son Mikey darted out from behind the shed.
“Where dyou think youre off to?”
“The woods.”
“Did you muck out the pigs?”
“Did it, Mum.”
“Straw laid down?”
“Done.”
“The chickens need”
“Mum, Ive been working all morning. Its my summer break! We were supposed to go to the woodsthats why I got up early. The lads are waiting.”
“Which lads?”
“Mum, what? The usual lotTommy, Ricky, Stevie, Pete, and Geoff.”
“Forgotten anyone?”
“No, Mum. Ive got to go.”
“And what about that gap-toothed one? A girl tagging along with a pack of boys?”
“Mum, give it a rest, will you? Whats Tammy ever done to you? Shes my friend.”
“Friend? Dont be daft, Mikey.” Joan grabbed his shoulder and hissed in his ear, “Dont mix with her, son. Shell wrap you round her little finger, mark my words. Just listen to me.”
“Mum, whatre you on about?” The boy wrenched free, leapt onto his bike, and pedalled off without a backward glance.
“Tammy! Tammy!” His cheerful voice floated back. Joan sank onto the step andto her own surpriseburst into tears.
Whys she latched onto him, eh? Whats she after? A couple more years and theyll start courting proper, and then hell drag this gap-toothed nuisance home, saying, “Mum, Dad, this is the onelove her like you love me.” Over my dead body.
Joan wiped her eyes, stood up sharply, and marched to the gate. She hesitated, as if reconsidering her plan, then strode purposefully down the lane.
Near the fence, a gaggle of kids played in a heap of sand. Joan called over a tousle-haired lad.
“Andy, your mum home?”
“Yep,” the boy mumbled, absorbed in digging.
“Fetch her.”
“MUM!” he bellowed.
Blimey, Joan thought, hoped hed run, but nojust shouts. The whole familys loudmouthed.
From behind the fence came a cheerful, “Oy!”
“Come here! Auntie Joan wants you!”
Out waltzed AnnAndys mum and Tammys mothera freckled, sharp-tongued woman with the same gangly legs as her daughter.
“Annie, come here.”
“Well, if it isnt Joan. Whats happened? Kids alright?” Ann wiped her hands on her apron, eyes wide with concern.
“Nothings happened, dont jinx it. But it might. Rein in that girl of yours. Shes a proper tomboy”
“What?”
“Traipsing after the lads, wont leave my Mikey alone.”
“Joan, have you been at the cooking sherry? Theyre just kids! Running about, playingremember when we were their age? Off picking mushrooms, berries, fetching corn from the fields”
“You mightve done. I didnt.”
“Oh, listen to you! Who was it chasing my brother Jack, eh? Your mum had to chase you off our porch with a broom! I might be four years younger, but I remember. How you both learnt to smoke behind the shed, giggling over those naughty postcards, sneaking off fishingdont tell me it never happened!”
“Ive said my piece. Keep that girl in check, or shell end up in trouble.”
“And did you? Or is my Jack Pauls real dad?”
“Dont be daft! Why would I want your lots blood? My kids are my husbands. But yourswho knows what youve dragged in?”
“Me? Whatre you on about? My man loves me, thank you very much. Were happy. Yours only stays cause hes scared to leave. You grabbed the first bloke whod have you after Jack dumped youno one else wanted a nag like you!”
Joan knew Tammys mum had a tongue like a razor. Most women avoided crossing her. But Joan wasnt some shrinking violet either.
Meanwhile, the kids, berry buckets full, dashed to the stream. Stripping off clothes, they splashed into the water, shrieking, laughingno cares, no shame, just joy. Children dont carry grown-up dirt. Theyre pure, till life shapes them.
Now they sprawl on the sand, bellies up, dreaming aloud.
“Pete, whatll you be when you grow up?”
“Like my dada mechanic.”
“Tammy? A singer, I bet.”
“Why a singer?”
“All girls want to be famous. ‘Five minutes, five minutes!'” Geoff warbled.
Tammy snorted. “You do it, then. Im going to be a pilot. Or a scientist.”
“Ha! They dont take girls.”
“They do,” Stevie said quietly.
Joan fought to pry Mikey from that gap-toothed girl. She sighed in relief when he joined the army. Shed turn away whenever she saw Tammy.
Once, Tammy came to her in tears.
“Auntie Joan, has Mikey written?”
“Of course. Gail brought a letter yesterday.”
“Not to me.” Tammys lips trembled.
“Well, he mustnt want to write to you.”
“But he always did! Unless”
“What dyou want from me?”
The girl shuffled off, hunched.
“Probably found someone else,” Joan called after her.
Wedding bells! GeoffMikeys and Tammys old friendgrinned ear to ear. Hed never dreamed Tammy would run to him in tears, proposing marriageon one condition: theyd move to the city after.
For Tammy, Geoff wouldve agreed to anything. Shed never noticed him beforealways trailing after Mikey. When Mikey left for the army, shed wept for days. Geoff, rejected for service due to some health hiccup, stayed by her side.
Joan rejoiced. Finally, her boy would be free.
Mikey wrote home, asking why Tammy had gone quiet. Joan replied she saw her dailyperfectly fine. Why wasnt she writing? Who knew? Best not pry.
Joan knew why.
Tammy was writing.
But Gail the postwoman owed Joanbig time. So, for partial repayment, Gail intercepted letters between Mikey and Tammy, handing Tammys to Joan instead. A mother knows best, doesnt she? Boys are foolish.
Mikey returned from service. No Tammy.
“Gone where?”
“Married Geoff. Moved to the city.”
Joan had a nice local girl in mindNadias daughter, Sophie. Good family. Nadias husband managed a factorycould set Mikey up nicely.
“Mum I dont love her.”
“Pfftlove. Look where that got you last time.”
Another wedding. Guests merry, groom glum.
Never mind, Joan thought. Hell adjust. And what a house theyll have! Nadias husband will provide. Itll all work out.
Time passes. They say it heals.
Noit numbs. Life piles on chores, pushing old pains aside.
Ten years flashed by.
Mikey visited with his family. Tammy and Geoff came home too. They met by chance, exchanged stiff hellos, but couldnt quite walk away.
That evening, Mikey stood. “Off for a smoke. Might pop round Stevies.”
Joan blocked the door. “Oh no, youre not.”
“Mum, what?”
“Sophie, go with him. No man should wander alone.”
“Dont be silly, Joan. Let him go.”
“To her? That doe-eyed”
“Mum, move.”
His feet carried him to the riverbank. Next night too. And the next. As he turned to leave, a silhouette appeared.
She came.
No accusations. No explanations. Just two souls, still in love, holding each other under their childhood cherry tree. Even the moon hid behind cloudsnot to intrude.
Ten more years passed. Then twenty.
Tammy and Mikey never crossed that line.
Call it not love if you like. But it was. And so was dutyto spouses, children, grandchildren.
Now, widowed three years, Mikey stands at his wifes grave. Hes visited his parents. His mother confessed everythinghow she tore him from Tammy. He forgave her. The pain dulled long ago. Only an ache remains.
“Mike?”
He turns. Tammy stands therestill slight, still that girl from the stream, a scarf at her neck. She sits beside him on the bench. They talk of nothing and everything.
“Well, Mike thats life, isnt it?”
“Life that passed us by, Tam.”
“Passed? Just cause we werent together? Maybe it was meant this way. Dont blame Geoffhe pulled me from despair. And then I grew to love him.”
“Out of gratitude?” Mike smiled sadly.
“No. For his gentle soul. For loving me through everything. Mike I did love you. But years side by side with him” She stood. “One last favourdont hold it against him. Be there for him. I must go. Goodbye, Mike.”
“Be there how, Tam?”
But she was already walking away.
That evening, Mikes son called him to the phone.
“Hello?”
“Mate its me.”
“Geoff? You crying?”
“Tams gone.”
“Where?” Mike understood. “Im coming. Hang in there.”
“Cheers mate.”
Two old friends sit shoulder to shoulder, lives spent, losses shared.
“Shed been poorly. Didnt want anyone told. Your wife?”
“Three years now.”
“Rough.”
“Yeah. A lifetime together.”
“Suppose wed best stick together now. Whos left from our lot?”
“Just Stevie and Tony.”
“Right then.”
“Life flashes by, doesnt it? Feels like yesterday we were knee-high, splashing in that stream. Now look at us.”
“Same here, mate.”
Maybe Mum sensed something all along, Mike thinks. No use wondering now.
Lifes no stroll through a meadow
Full of climbs and stumbles,
Regrets like stones in your path,
Yet you press on.
(Nellie Bright)
There we are, my dears. Sending warm hugs and sunshine your way. Always here for you.
