A Special Bond
Jamie was certain he was in for a right telling-offnot from the school bully, Mason, but from his own mum.
He whistled as he walked home, but his stomach twisted. He was about to get it, no doubt.
Auntie Liz, his mums best mate, had seen him with a ciggie. He couldve lied, said someone had just handed it to him, butno chance. Auntie Liz had seen him puffing away. What was he supposed to tell his mum? That someone had shoved it in his mouth? «Here, have a drag, mate?»
Jamie pretended not to spot Auntie Liz, and thankfully, she didnt yell or clip him round the earjust gave him a long look before carrying on.
But Jamie wasnt thick. He knew Auntie Liz wouldve already dobbed him in, and his mum would be waiting with her slipper. He was on his third lap around the block when he saw Nan.
Right. Heavy artillery. Banned move. Now Nan would starttears, the whole bit about how shed raised hundreds of kids as a respected teacher, but her own grandson? A failure. How ashamed she was, how his granddad must be spinning in his grave, along with all their ancestors.
When Jamie was little, that bit terrified him. He imagined the ground heaving as they turned over. Then one day, when Nan started on about ancestors, he blurted out, «At least theyre not getting bedsores like Masons nan!»
Nan clutched her chest. His mum nearly wet herself laughing, forgetting to wallop himand got a tea towel thrown at her by Nan for it.
Now, Jamie watched Nan hurry toward him.
«Whatre you doing out here? Why arent you home?» Nans eyes darted like she was the one caught smoking. «Had a row with your mum?»
«N-no I havent even been home yet.»
«What dyou mean? Whereve you been all this time?»
«School, then football, and now walking.»
«Lets see» Jamie braced. Here it comes. «Whats this? Your hands are red! Where are your gloves? Where?»
«Forgot em at home, Nan.»
«At home? Whats your mum playing at, then? Not keeping an eye on you? Show me your ankles.»
Nan yanked up his trouser leg and gasped.
«Whats this?»
«What, Nan?» Jamie gulped.
«Look at this! Why are your ankles red? Where are your thermals? And wheres your scarf?»
Jamie burned with shame. Then he spotted Mason watching from the alley, his stupid red beanie poking out. Brilliant. Thanks, Nan. Who asked her? Was she losing it?
«Nan whats five times five?»
«Twenty-five,» she said, puzzled.
«Whats the Pythagorean theorem?»
«Sum of the squares on the legs equals the square on the hypotenuse James? Have you not done your homework? She didnt even check? I wont stand for this. Look at the state of you! Come on, now.»
Waitwas Nan on his side? Could he dodge his mums lecture? Had he slipped into some parallel universe? Was Nan even Nan?
«Nan, which sides my appendix scar on?»
«Right. What scar? You never had it out.»
Okay, she was still Nan.
She dragged him home by the wrist, huffing all the way.
Mum was in the kitchen, something delicious cooking. She wore her nice dress, curls done, new earringsand heels indoors? Since when?
«Jamie, love!» She hugged him, ruffling his hair. «Wash up, dinners nearly ready. Mum, you staying?»
«Whys my grandson wandering the streets? Doesnt want to come home, does he? Well done, well done. Trading your own child forwhere are his gloves? His thermals? Its freezing! But no, you dont care»
«Mum, please. Stop. Are you eating with us or not?»
«No! Im done here. And you know what?» She turned to Jamie. «Pack your things, love. Youre coming with me.»
«Why, Nan?»
«To live with me, Jamie. Come on.»
«I dont wanna»
Jamie pictured Nan nagging him nonstop. No thanks.
«James is staying here, in his home, with his family,» Mum said firmly.
«Wheres his home? You threw it all away! James, get your things.»
«Mum, if you dont stop, IllIll have to»
«What? What? Kick your own mother out?»
«Yes!»
«You ungratefulafter all Ive done! And you»
Mum didnt let her finish. Jamies jaw dropped as she grabbed Nan and practically shoved her onto the landing, slamming the door.
Nan screeched about calling the police, demanding Jamie be handed over, something about a convict.
Mum yanked Jamie into the living roomwhere some bloke sat, eyeing him warily.
«Jamie no point lying. This is your dad.»
Nan wailed outside. Mum stood frozen. The man rosetall, thin, with Jamies eyes. He hesitantly held out a hand.
«Hello son.»
Jamie recoiled, backing into the door.
«But you said he died!»
«Sarah» The man looked at Mum, pained.
«Not me, Dave. Mum told you that. Said it was better you thought that than than know the truth.»
Someone hammered on the door.
«Police! Open up!»
«Sarah, maybe I should go»
«No. Enough hiding. Jamie, well explain. Just waitdont be scared»
Mum opened the door. Nan, a copper, and nosy neighbours flooded in.
«Whats going on here? A disturbance reported»
«Nothing. Just family dinner. My husbands back from up north. This is our son.»
«But your mother»
«Hes an escaped convict! Arrest him! Jamie, come here»
«Nan, stop it!»
«Lets see your ID,» the officer said.
«Course.»
«Any convictions?»
«No. Worked up north for years, left right after school»
«Sorry to bother you»
«Arrest him! He ruined my daughters life! She couldve had anyone»
«Mum, shut it! The shows over!»
Mum shut the door.
His dad? He had a dad? Jamie had lived eleven years without himwhy now? He had Mum, Nan and a deadbeat thief, Nan said. Died in a drunken brawl. A secret shame.
Turns out theyd all lied.
«Jamie» Mum reached for him, but he boltedgrabbing his coat, shoes, and sprinting out barefoot.
He ran, crying. Who could he trust?
«Jamie!» Mum shouted after him. He didnt stop.
«Oi, kid» Masons voice. Jamie ignored him.
«Wait upwhos after ya?» Mason grabbed his arm.
«No one. Piss off.»
«Its freezing. Youll catch your death. I was in hospital last yearate like a king. But youre too soft for that. Come mine.»
«Yours?»
«Yeah. Mums on a train shift. Shes a conductor.»
«You live alone?»
«Yep.»
Masons flat was clean but worn.
«Keep your shoes on. This way.»
Posters covered his wallsBowie, The Clash, The Smiths. Jamie only knew a few. His mum wouldnt let him put posters uphed traded six holographic stickers for a Spice Girls one once.
A guitar leaned in the corner.
«Yours?»
«Yeh.»
«Tea?»
Jamie nodded, suddenly starving.
«Fancy some pasta n sardines?»
Jamie shrugged. Never tried it.
Mason boiled pasta, fried onions, tossed in a tin of sardines in tomato sauce. Mixed it all up.
Best thing Jamie ever tasted.
They drank tea from chipped mugs, sugar cubes with train prints.
«Sorry whats your real name?»
Mason laughed. «Callum. Callum Shaw.»
«Why Mason?»
«Dunno. Stuck.»
«Youre dead good at guitar.»
Callum playedThe Smiths, The Clash. Jamie only knew a few.
«Youll have to go home. Theyll have the cops out.»
Jamie scowled.
«What?»
So he told him.
«Dont be daft. A dads proper mint. I aint got one.»
«Wheres yours?»
«Dunno. Mum says hes an astronaut.»
«Wow.»
«Bollocks. She picked me up on a train shift. No family, just us. But she kept me. Ill do right by her. Dont muck it up, Jamie. Sort it. Grown-ups mess, innit?»
«Cheers, Callum.»
«For what?»
«Everything.» Jamie hugged him tight.
Callum was right. He walked Jamie home.
Everyone was searchingMum, Nan, neighbours, police and that bloke. His dad.
They explained laterhow Mum got pregnant, how Nan didnt want her tied to Jamies dad. But theyd stayed together. Dad went up north for work, Mum stayed with Jamie. Then Nan wrote to Dad, pretending Mum had remarried, telling him to stay away. Dad sent a furious letter, then moved in with another woman. Mum found out, divorced him.
Theyd been writing again for three years. Dad lived alone nowcouldnt lie to that woman, said he loved someone else.
«Why?» Jamie asked Nan.
«I wanted happiness for my daughter. For you.»
«And what about my dad?»
«Forgive me.»
On Jamies birthday, he invited Callumhis best mate. Callum gave him a Bowie poster. Mum even let him put it up.
Jamie forgave them allNan, his parents.
«Grown-ups mess,» Callum had said.
When Nan found out Callum lived alone, she took him under her wingpies, stews, suddenly he was acing maths.
Jamie and Callum stayed mates for life, like brothers. At their cottage, theyd strum guitars, sing The Clashstuff their mums hated. Still ate pasta n sardines like it was gourmet.
Jamie loved his dad. He had half-siblings now, all got on. But with his dad it was different. A special bond.
