**A Special Bond**
I knew I was in for itnot from the local troublemaker, Gaz, but from my own mum.
I whistled as I walked home, but my chest tightened. I was done for. Auntie Mae, Mums friend, had seen me with a fag. I couldve lied, said someone handed it to me, but Auntie Mae saw it *in* my mouth. What was I supposed to sayforced me to puff it?
I pretended not to notice her. Lucky for me, she didnt shout or clip me round the earjust gave me a long look and walked off. But I wasnt daft. Shed already told Mum, and Mum would be waiting with the belt. I was on my third lap around the block when Nan appeared.
Blimey, the heavy artillery. Now shed startthe tears, the guilt. *I taught hundreds of children, but my own grandson* How ashamed Grandad would be, rolling in his grave, along with every ancestor back to the Stone Age.
When I was little, that bit terrified me. I imagined the earth shifting as they tossed and turned down there. Then one day, when Nan started on about them again, I said, *Good. Stops them getting bedsores, like Gazs nan.*
Nan clutched her chest. Mum howled with laughter, forgetting the beltthen got a smack with a tea towel for it.
Now Nan hurried toward me, eyes darting like *she* was the one caught smoking. *What are you doing out here?* she demanded. *Fallen out with your mum?*
*Nah I aint been home yet.*
*What dyou mean? Whereve you been?*
*School, then football, then walking.*
*Right* Here it comes. *Whyre your hands red? Where are your gloves?*
*Left em at home.*
*And your mum didnt notice?* She yanked my trouser leg up. *Where are your thermals? And your scarf?*
Mortified, I spotted Gaz watching from the alley, his stupid red beanie poking out. Bloody Nanwho asked her? Had she lost the plot?
*Nan whats five times five?*
*Twenty-five,* she said, puzzled.
*Whats the square of the hypotenuse?*
*Sum of the squares of the other two sides Victor? Did you not do your homework? She didnt even check?* She grabbed my hand. *Come on. Look at the state of youleft to run wild!*
Wait was Nan on *my* side? Had I slipped into some parallel world?
*Nan, which side was my appendix scar on?*
*You never had it out.*
Right. Still Nan, then.
She dragged me home, huffing. Mum was in the kitchen, smelling of roast. Dressed up, curls done, new earringsand *high heels* indoors?
*Vic, love!* She hugged me. *Wash up, dinners nearly ready. Mum, you staying?*
*Whys the boy roaming the streets? Too scared to come home?* Nan jabbed a finger. *Youve ruined him, chasing after thatwhere are his gloves? Its freezing!*
*Mum, stop.*
*No! Im done here. Victor, pack your things. Youre coming with me.*
*What? No!* The thought of Nans nagging made me sweat.
*Hes staying here,* Mum snapped.
*With you? While you*
*Enough!* Mum shoved Nan onto the landing and slammed the door.
Nan screeched about calling the police, demanding custody, yelling about some *convict*. Mum hauled me into the loungewhere a bloke sat, tense.
*Vic this is your dad.*
I recoiled. *You said he was dead!*
*Annie* The manmy *father*looked gutted.
*That was Nan. She thought itd be easier.*
The doorbell rang. Police. Nan wailed outside.
*Annie, maybe I should go.*
*No. Were done hiding.* Mum cupped my face. *Vic, well explain*
I bolted. Grabbed my coat, my shoes, and ran. Cried like a kid. Who do you trust when your own family lies?
*Vic!* Mums voice faded. I ran barefoot, clutching my clothes.
*Oi, mate.* Gaz caught my arm. *Whos after ya?*
*No one. Piss off.*
*Its brass monkeys out here. Youll catch your death.* He shrugged. *Come to mine. Me mums on shift.*
His flat was bare but clean. Band postersThe Clash, Oasis, Bowieplastered the walls. A *guitar* leaned in the corner.
*Fancy a brew?*
I nodded. Stomach growled. Shouldve eaten first.
*Hungry? Fancy some pasta n sardines?*
He boiled the pasta, fried onions, chucked in a tin of fish. Never tasted anything so good. We drank tea from chipped mugs, sugar lumps with train logos.
*So whyd they call you Gaz?*
*Dunno. Stuck, innit?* He grinned. *Wanna hear a tune?*
He played*properly*. Sang *Wonderwall*, voice rough but sweet.
*Youre decent.*
*Cheers. These lotlegends.* He pointed to the posters.
*That ones not English.*
*So? Musics music.*
*Mum wont let me put posters up.*
*Sod that. Your room, your rules.*
He was right. About everything. *Your dads alive. Thats *massive*. Mines goneMum says hes an astronaut.* He snorted. *Bollocks. Shes a train guard. Raised me alone.*
I hugged him. *Ta, Gaz.*
*For what?*
*Just ta.*
He walked me back. The whole street was searchingMum, Nan, neighbours, even the copper. And *him*. My *dad*.
They explained later. How Nan never wanted Mum with him. How shed written to him, pretending Mum had moved on. How hed married someone else, then left when he couldnt lie anymore. Theyd been writing again for years.
*Why?* I asked Nan.
*I wanted the best for you.*
*What about what *I* wanted?*
She cried. I forgave her.
On my birthday, Gaz gave me a Bowie poster. Mum let me hang it.
Gaz became family. Nan fed him pies, helped with his maths. Were still mates nowsinging *Wonderwall* at his dodgy barbecues, eating sardine pasta like its gourmet.
And Dad? Weve got our own thing. A special bond.
**Lesson:** Families mess up. But sometimes, the mess leads you where youre meant to be.
