A Special Bond
Tommy knew he was in for itnot from the local troublemaker Jake, but from his own mum.
He walked home whistling, but his chest tightened. He was going to get it, no doubt.
Aunt Maggie, his mums friend, had seen him with a cigarette. He couldve lied, said someone had just handed it to him to hold, but noAunt Maggie had seen him *smoking* it. What was he supposed to tell his mum? That someone had shoved it in his mouth and told him to puff?
Tommy pretended not to see Aunt Maggie, and thankfully, she didnt shout or clip him round the earjust gave him a long look before walking off.
But Tommy wasnt fooled. He *knew* shed already told his mum, whod be waiting with a belt. He was on his third lap around the house when he spotted his nan.
Oh, great. Heavy artillery. This was a dirty trick. Now Nan would start upthe tears, the guilt, the whole bit about how she was an *award-winning teacher*, raised hundreds of kids, but failed her *one and only grandson*. How ashamed she was. How Grandpa would be *turning in his grave*along with all their ancestors.
When he was little, that bit terrified him. Hed imagine the ground shifting as the dead rolled over. Then, one day, hed had enough.
*»Good,»* hed said. *»Better they move aroundstops them getting bedsores, like Liams nan.»*
Nan clutched her chest. Mum burst out laughingso hard, she forgot to belt him. Then Nan smacked *her* with a tea towel.
Now, Nan was hurrying toward him.
*»Whatre you doing out here? Why arent you home?»* Her eyes darted like *she* was the one caught smoking. *»Had a row with your mum?»*
*»N-no I havent been home yet.»*
*»What dyou mean? Whereve you been all this time?»*
*»School, then footie, then just walking.»*
*»Right.»* Here it comes, Tommy thought. *»Hold upwhats *this*? Whyre your hands red? Wherere your gloves? EH?»*
*»Left em at home, Nan.»*
*»At *home*? On purpose? Why didnt your mother *check*? Whats *wrong* with her? Show me your legs.»*
She yanked up his trouser leg and gasped.
*»Whats *this*?»*
*»What?»* Tommy panicked.
*»Whyre your ankles red? Wherere your thermals? And your *scarf*?»*
Shame burned his cheeks. Then he saw Jake watching from the alleyway, his red cap sticking out. *Thanks, Nan. Really. Whats *wrong* with you?*
Maybe shed lost it. Gone senile. Shed always been sharp before.
*»Nan whats five times five?»*
*»Twenty-five?»* She blinked.
*»Whats the square of the hypotenuse?»*
*»Sum of the squares of the other two sides Tommy, love, did you *not* do your homework? She didnt even *check*? Oh, I wont stand for this. Come onlets go. Look at the state of you!»*
Waitwas Nan on *his* side? Maybe hed dodge Mums lecture. Had he slipped into another dimension? Was this some robot takeover? Was *Nan* even Nan?
*»Nan, which sides my appendix scar on?»*
*»You *dont* have one. Never had it out.»*
Okay, it was her.
She dragged him home, grip tight, huffing all the way.
Mum was there, cooking something that smelled amazing. She wore her good dress, curls done, new earringsand *heels* indoors. What was *that* about?
*»Tommy, love»* She hugged him. *»Wash up, dinners ready. Mum, you staying?»*
*»Whys this child wandering the streets? Doesnt *want* to come home, does he? Well done. *Well done.* Trading your own flesh and blood forwherere his *gloves*? His *thermals*? Its *freezing*. But no, *you* dont care»*
*»Mum. *Stop*. Are you eating with us or not?»*
*»NO. Im *done* here. And yknow what?»* She turned to Tommy. *»Pack your things, love. Youre coming with me.»*
*»What? *Why*?»*
*»To *live*, Tommy. With me.»*
*»No *way*»* The thought of Nans nagging made him shudder.
*»Mum, Tommys *staying* here. In *his* home. With *his* family.»*
*»What family? *YOU* threw it all awayTommy, *pack*.»*
*»Mum, if you dont stop, IllIll *have* to»*
*»What? *WHAT*? Kick your own mother out?»*
*»YES!»*
*»You *ungrateful*after all Ive»*
Mum didnt let her finish. She *grabbed* Nan and *shoved* her onto the landing, slamming the door.
Nan screeched about calling the *police*, that Mum had to hand Tommy over, something about a *convict*
Mum hauled Tommy into the lounge.
A *bloke* sat there, eyeing him warily.
*»Tommy no point lying. This is your dad.»*
Nan pounded the door. Mum stood frozen. The man*tall, thin, with Tommys eyes*stood, hesitant.
*»Hello son.»*
Tommy *flinched*, backing into the door.
*»Butyou *said* he was *dead*»*
*»Tina»* The man looked at Mum, pained.
*»That wasnt *me*, Dave. That was *Mum*. Said itd be easier than than knowing the truth.»*
The doorbell rang. *Persistent*.
*»Policeopen up.»*
*»Tina, maybe I should go»*
*»NO. No more hiding. Tommy, well explain*wait*»*
Mum opened the door.
Nan stormed in, wild-eyed, followed by a policeman and nosy neighbours.
*»Weve had reports of a disturbance»*
*»Nothings wrong. Just family dinner. My husbands back from Scotland. Our son.»*
*»But your *mother*»*
*»Hes an *escaped convict*! Arrest him! Tommy, *come here*he wont hurt you»*
*»Mum, *stop* the act.»*
*»ID, sir?»* the officer asked.
*»Course.»*
*»Any prior convictions?»*
*»None. Worked offshore for yearsleft right after school.»*
*»Apologies for the trouble.»*
*»ARREST HIM! He *ruined* my daughtershe couldve had *anyone*»*
*»Mum, *enough*»*
Mum shut the door.
A *dad*? He had a *dad*? Eleven years without onewhy *now*? He had Mum. Nan. And now a *living* father. But Nan said he was
Tommy had spent years ashamed of his *criminal* dad, supposedly *killed* in a drunken brawl.
Nans *secret*. So no one would *know the shame*.
But the truth? Hed been *lied to*. By *everyone*.
*»Tommy»* Mum reached for himbut he *bolted*, grabbing his coat and shoes, *barefoot* down the street.
He *ran*. Crying. Who to *trust*? If even *family* lied
*»TOMMY!»* Mum shouted after him. He didnt stop.
*»Oi, kid»* Jakes voice. Tommy ignored it. What *more* could go wrong?
*»Wait*whos* after you?»* Jake grabbed his arm.
*»No one. *Piss off*.»*
*»Its *freezing*. Youll catch your death. I was in hospital last yearate *like a king*but *you*? Nah, youre too *soft*.»*
*»And *youre* what? *Street*?»*
*»Suppose. Cmon. My place. Dont worryI like you, Tommy. Wish *I* had a brother like you.»*
*»Your mum?»*
*»Away. Works on the trains.»*
*»You live *alone*?»*
*»Yeah.»*
The flat was clean but *lived-in*.
*»Keep your shoes on. My room.»*
Posters covered the walls*The Clash, Queen, Oasis*. A *dream*. Mum never let him stick posters upjust one of *The Beatles*, swapped for six holographic stickers (*his* collection).
A *guitar*.
*»Yours?»*
*»Yep.»*
*»Tea?»*
Tommy nodded. Then his stomach *growled*.
*»Hungry? Fancy some pasta n sardines?»*
Tommy shrugged. Never had it.
Jake cooked *fast*boiled pasta, fried onions, mixed it with tinned sardines in tomato sauce.
Tommy *devoured* it.
Then they drank tea from mugs, sugar cubes wrapped in *train-printed* paper.
*»Uh whats your *real* name?»*
Jake *laughed*.
*»Jake. Jake Miller.»*
*»Why Jake?»*
*»Dunno. Stuck.»*
*»Play something?»*
*»Sure.»*
And Jake *played**sang**beautifully*.
*»Youre *amazing*. Whos this?»* Tommy pointed at a poster.
*»Mate, thats *Queen*. *Legends*. Not *British*?»*
*»I know *The Beatles*»* Tommy hummed *Hey Jude*. Jake joined in on guitar.
*»You *gotta* go home. Theyll have the *police* out.»*
Tommy scowled.
*»Whats *up*?»*
So he told him.
*»Dont be *daft*. A *dad*? Thats *brilliant*. Mines *gone*.»*
*»Where?»*
*»Dunno. *Mum* says hes an astronaut.»*
*»Oh.»*
*»Shes *lying*. Had me *on a train*. But she *kept* meraised me *alone*. Listensort it. *Talk*. This is *their* mess, not *yours*.»*
*»Cheers, Jake.»*
*»For *what*?»*
*»Everything.»* Tommy *hugged* him.
Jake walked him home.
They *were* searchingMum, Nan, neighbours, police and *him*. The *dad*.
They explained. How Mum got pregnant. How Nan *hated* the idea of them together.
How they *stayed* together.
Then Dad left for work. Mum stayed with Tommy.
Nan *wrote* to Dad*lied*said Mum had *moved on*.
Dad wrote back*furious*.
Then he *married* someone elsejust *lived* with her. Mum found out. Divorced him.
Theyd been writing *three years*. Dad lived alonecouldnt lie to that woman, said he *loved someone else*.
*»Why?»* Tommy asked Nan.
*»I wanted the *best* for you.»*
*»And *Dad*?»*
*»Forgive me.»*
On his birthday, Tommy invited Jake.
Jake gave him a *Queen* poster.
Mum *let* him hang it.
Not Jake. The *poster*.
Tommy *forgave* them. Nan. His parents.
*»Their mess,»* Jake had said.
Nan, hearing Jake lived alone, *adopted* himfed him *roasts*, *apple crumble*. He *aced* maths.
Now, at weekends, they *sang**played*ate *pasta n sardines* like it was *gold*.
And Dad?
Tommy *loved* him.
He had *siblings* nowhalf-brothers, a sister.
But with *Dad*?
That was *their* thing.
A *special bond*.
