Auntie Zoe, 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, Lucy, why dyou keep clinging to that boy, eh? Youll be chasing after men soon enough, and here you are, stuck to a kid. Go on, play with the other girls, leave Mikey be, for goodness sake.»
Zoe couldnt stand this Lucythin-lipped, wide-mouthed, leggy as a heron. Just looking at the girl made her stomach twist. A child, sure, but so unpleasant.
Lucys lips quivered, tears welling in her round eyes. Zoe scoffed and walked off into the yard. Bloody nuisance, that one. Wont leave the lad alone.
Just then, Zoes son, Mikey, darted out from the shed.
«Where you off to?»
«The woods.»
«Done the pigs?»
«Done em, Mum.»
«Straw laid down?»
«Laid it.»
«The chickens»
«Mum, Ive been working since dawn! Its my holiday, and we planned this. The lads are waiting.»
«Which lads?»
«Mum, come onTommy, Billy, Stevie, Pete, and Gary.»
«Forgot anyone?»
«No, Mum. Gotta go.»
«And that wide-mouthed oneLucyshe tagging along? One girl with a pack of boys?»
«Mum, enough! Whats Lucy ever done? Shes my mate.»
«Mate?» Zoe grabbed his shoulder, hissing, «Dont you get tangled with her, son. Shell wrap you round her finger, mark my words.»
«Mum, whatre you on about?» He wrenched free, jumped on his bike, and pedalled off. «Lucy! Lucy!» His voice rang out. Zoe sank onto the step and wept.
A few years, and hed be courtingthen what? Dragging that wide-mouthed girl home, saying, «Were wed, Mum. Love her like your own.» Never. Never.
Wiping her tears, Zoe marched to the gate, hesitated, then strode down the lane. Kids played in a sandpile by the fence. She called to a scruffy, big-headed lad.
«Andy, your mum in?»
«Yeah,» he mumbled, digging.
«Fetch her.»
«Mum!» he bellowed.
Zoe scowled. Shouldve sent him running, but nohe just yells. Whole familys the same.
From behind the fence came a voice: «What?»
«Some auntie wants ya!»
Out waltzed Andys mum, freckled and long-legged like her daughter.
«Annie, over here.»
«Alright, Zoe? Whats happened? The kids?» She wiped floury hands on her apron.
«Nowts happened. But listenrein in that Lucy of yours. A girl her age, trailing after boys»
«What?»
«Shes glued to my Mikey. Put a stop to it.»
«Youve lost the plot, Zoe. Theyre kids! Running about, picking berries, helping outlike we did, eh? Or dont you remember?»
«I never ran wild like that.»
«Oh? Who was it chasing my brother Jack, then? Your mum had to drag you home with a switch! I rememberfour years younger, but I saw it all. Smoking behind the shed, sneaking off fishing, snoggingdeny it, go on.»
«Ive said my piece. Control your girl, or shell come home with a bun in the oven.»
«And did you? Or is my Paul really Jacks?»
«You daft cow! My kids are my husbands. Yours are the mongrels!»
«Got a husband, have you? A willing one? Mine chose me. Yours only stays cause hes scared to leave!»
Zoe knew Annie had a sharp tongue. The village women steered clear. But Zoe was no pushover.
Meanwhile, the kids, berry-pails full, raced to the stream, stripping as they ran. Splashing, laughingwho could tell boy from girl? Children held no filth like adults did. They were pure. That came later.
Now, they sprawled on the sand, bare-bottomed, dreaming, chatting.
«Whatll you be, Pete?»
«Like me dadtractor driver.»
«Lucy? Singer, eh?»
«Why singer?»
«All girls wanna be famous. Five minutes, five minutes»Gary mimicked a pop star.
Lucy snorted. «You do that. Ill fly planes or be a scientist.»
«Girls dont do that.»
«They do,» Stevie said quietly.
Zoe fought to pry Mikey from that wide-mouthed girl. Relief came when he left for the army. Shed turn away if she saw Lucy.
Once, Lucy came crying.
«Auntie Zoe, no letter from Mikey?»
«Had one yesterday. Postie brought it.»
«Not me.» Her lips shook.
«Well, he dont wanna write to you, does he?»
«But he always»
«What dyou want from me?»
Lucy trudged off. «Theres another girl,» Zoe called after her. «Out there, in the army.»
Wedding bells! Groomsmen danced, bridesmaids giggled. The groomGary, Mikeys matebeamed. Never thought Lucyd choose him. Shed come crying, said shed marry him if they moved to the city. Garyd do anything for her.
Zoe rejoiced. Finally, her boy was free.
Mikeys letters asked why Lucy never wrote. Zoe replied she saw her dailyfine, not ill. Why no letters? Who knew?
But Zoe knew.
Lucy wrote.
The postie, Gail, owed Zoe. So Gail intercepted their lettersMikeys to Lucy, Lucys to Mikeyhanding Lucys to Zoe. What of it? A mother knew best. Boys were foolish.
Mikey came home. No Lucy.
«Gone. Married Gary. Moved to the city.»
Zoe had a nice girl in mindNadias daughter, Claire. Good family. Nadias husband managed a factory. «Hell set you up proper,» Zoe said.
«Mum I dont love her.»
«Pfft. Love? Whered that get you last time?»
Another wedding. The groom stood stone-faced. Zoe thought, Hell adjust. Nice house, good prospectsfather-in-lawll provide. Grind it down, and itll be flour.
Years passed. They say time heals. Noit dulls pain, piles on chores, pushes things aside.
Ten years flew like a breath. Mikey visited with his family; Lucy and Gary came to hers. They met by chance, exchanged hellos, but couldnt walk away.
Evening. «Off for a smokesee Stevie,» Mikey said.
«Where?» Zoe blocked the door. «Youre not going.»
«Mum»
«Claire, go with him.»
«No, Zoe. Let him be.»
«To her? That owl-eyed tart? Watch yourself, Mikey.»
«Mum, move.»
His feet carried him to the riverbank. Next night too. On the third, as he turned to leave, he saw a silhouette.
She came.
No accusations. No words. Just them, under their cherry tree, holding each other. Even the moon hid behind clouds, sparing them its glare. The moon didnt care if this was wrong. Only that lovers stood together.
Another ten years. Twenty more.
Never crossed the line. Was it love? Yesand duty to those beside them. Mikeys wife, Lucys husband, their kids, grandkidsnone deserved pain.
Now, Mikey stood by his wifes grave. Three years a widower. Visited his parents. His mother confessedhow shed torn him from Lucy. He forgave her. The ache remained.
«Mikey?»
He turned. Lucy stood there, autumn around her, still slight as a girl, a scarf at her neck. She sat beside him on the bench. They talked.
«Lifes gone by, Mikey.»
«Gone past us, Lucy.»
«Past? Maybe thats how it was meant. Dont blame Garyhe pulled me from despair. Then I loved him.»
«Out of gratitude?» Mikey smirked.
«No. For his gentle soul. His love. What he endured from me. I loved you, Mikey. No one else. But years side by side» She stood. «Dont hold it against him. Be there for him. Goodbye, Mikey.»
«Be there how?»
But she was gone.
That evening, the phone rang.
«Gary? You crying?»
«Lucys gone.»
«Where?» Then he understood.
«Im coming. Hold on.»
Two old friends sat shoulder to shoulder.
«Shed been poorly. Told no one. Your wife?»
«Three years gone.»
«Hard.»
«A lifetime together.»
«Aye. Lets stick together. Whos left of our lot?»
«Stevie and Tony.»
«Right.»
A life gone like a day. Yet when you rememberno, not a day. Years. Just yesterday, we were bare-arsed kids splashing in the stream. Now look at us.
«Same here, mate.»
Maybe Mum knew something. Felt something. No use dwelling now.
Lifes no straight path
Its climbs and falls,
The weight of mistakes like stones,
Blocking the way.
(Nadia Happy)
Evening, loves. Sending hugs and sunshine your way. Always here.
