**Diary Entry**
Saturday morning, and the peace of a perfect summers dawn is shattered by the roar of a motorbike.
«Ellie! Ellie!»
«Bloody hooligan,» a woman yells from an upstairs window.
«Let us sleep!»
«Keep it down!»
«Ellieee… Im not shouting at you, go back to sleep, its Saturday, for heavens sake!»
The same rickety door, hanging loose on its hinges, creaks open, and out steps a girl into the morning sunlight.
«Hey. Sleep in?»
«Hey, nahmade us some sandwiches.»
«Could you keep it down?» comes a voice from above.
Tom hands Ellie a helmet. She pulls it on, swings onto the bike behind him, and wraps her arms around his waist.
«Disgraceful,» mutters a man with chronic insomnia from his window.
Tom revs the engine, shouts for everyone to go back to sleep, and they speed off.
They race through the village, onto the tarmac road, then down a dirt track.
«You alright back there? Not tired?»
«Nope,» Ellie shouts, pressing closer against his back.
The wind whips tears from her eyes, loose strands of hair fluttering wildly.
Tom kills the engine. Ellie hops off, stretching her stiff legs.
They collapse into the grass and stare at the sky.
«Look, Tomthat cloud, like two cats sitting together.»
«Yeah, and that ones a motorbike, see?»
«Fancy a swim?»
«Yeah…»
They swim, lie on the warm yellow sand, then kiss until theyre dizzy.
«Ellie…»
«Mhm?»
«Ive been called up. Army. Youll wait for me, wont you?»
«The army? When?»
«Tomorrow. Got the papers.»
«Youwhy didnt you say?»
«Didnt know,» he shrugs.
«Thats why you didnt apply to uni, isnt it?»
«Dont cry… Ellie, Ill go after, I swear. Then Ill marry you. Youre not gonna run off with Dave, are you? Ellie?»
***
Ellie stands on the platform, waiting.
The train disgorges a crowd of soldiers.
«Tom! Son!» A woman flings herself at a tall, lean figure, nearly collapsing. «Home, home at last.»
His father grips his hand. His little sister, tearful, jumps into his arms. Then, scanning the crowd, he spots the one hes looking for.
There she is, hands clasped to her chest. He pushes through the crowd to her.
«Ellie… whats this? Crying?»
«Happy tears, Tom.»
«Well… theres more happiness where that came from.»
Never mind his sisters pout, his mothers pursed lips, his fathers grumblingright now, hes with her. The one hes loved since childhood.
***
«Son, its too soonyouve just got back. What about uni? You wanted to go, didnt you?»
«Ive applied, Mum. And Im getting married.»
«Married? To thatno, youre too young. You should be out there, meeting girls, living a little!»
«Mum, shes nineteen. I dont want anyone else. Just her.»
«Tom, its too soon»
«Enough! You were desperate to tie me down when I got back, werent you? Before I went off the rails?»
«Me?»
«You and Nan both. Wanted to save me.»
Tom smiles, steps out, and quietly shuts the door.
***
«Its a boy! A son!» Tom bursts into his parents house, beaming. «MumDada boy!»
His mother cries happy tears. His father wipes his eyes.
«Ive got a nephew! A real, live nephew!» his sister squeals.
Five years later, a princess arrivestheir daughter.
***
«Son Dad says you quit? How will you manage?»
«Mum, Im done working for nothing. Weve got a plan.»
«And Ellie? She agreed to this madness? You had stability here.»
«Mum I want my family to live properly. I wont have my kids splitting a chocolate bar with a knife. I»
«Tom, love, we lived fine without fancy chocolates.»
«That was then. Well make it work.»
And they did.
Not straight away. There were ups, downs, moments when he wanted to scream, give upbut she was there. Ellie, calmly making sandwiches.
She hands him a guitar.
«Ellie, what?» He bites back a shout. Nows not the time for songs.
«Tom when things are bad, you sing. Bad things fade when you sing.»
So they sing, softly.
*»Ill ride my bicycle far*
*Through fields where the wildflowers are*
*Pick you a bouquet so sweet,*
*For the girl who makes my life complete.»*
Ellie cries when hes not looking. He knows, pretends not to see, and works harder.
They make it. Live like kings nowbig house, holidays abroad, kids set for life.
But lately, Toms restless. Lifes too still, like stagnant water.
An old mate invites him out.
«Sauna?»
«Yeah, come ontrust me, its not about the sauna.»
Should he go?
«Tom weve got theatre tickets.»
«Cant, Ellie. Work thing.»
First lie hes ever told. Feels like scum.
At the sauna, he sits glumly. A woman approachespolished, poised.
«Lets get out of here. I hate this place too.»
«Then why come?»
«Needs must.»
Outside, she explainsa young son, deadbeat ex, scraping by.
«Just saving up, then Im gone. Or maybe find someone decent like you.»
Smart, bold, honest. They walk all night, talking. He listens, entranced.
He meets her again. And again. Starts living for it.
A month passes. He comes home one daysilence.
Realises Ellies been gone for days.
Calls the kids, his parentsno ones seen her.
Meets the other woman one last time.
«Sorry. Ive loved my wife since we were kids. You were fresh air. But I cant.»
«Thank you, Tom. I realised this was a dead end. I envy your wife. Tell her the truthwe never even kissed.»
«I will.»
***
Ellie sits in her childhood kitchen. Fourth day here. Needs to think.
She makes sandwiches, slow and steady.
«Ellieee! Elliiiie!»
A motorbike roars outside.
«For Gods sake, let us sleep!»
«Ruddy nuisance!»
«Give it a rest!»
Then singing.
*»Ill ride my bicycle far*
*Through fields where the wildflowers are»*
The door bangs. Ellie steps out, takes the helmet, climbs on behind Tom, and holds tight.
They speed through the village, down dirt tracks, into fields ablaze with flowersjust like old times.
«Ellie, you tired?»
«Nope.»
They sprawl in the grass, arms wide.
«Lookthat clouds a ship.»
«Yeah, and thats an old couple having tea.»
«Ellie»
«Mhm?»
«Forgive me?»
«What for?»
«Nothing, really. But I hurt you. Im sorry.»
«Forgiven.»
«It wont happen again.»
«What wont?»
«You singing alone. You were singing, werent you?»
«Yeah.»
«Me too. Lets sing together.»
«Alright. *»Ill ride my bicycle far*
*Through fields where the wildflowers are*
*Pick you a bouquet so sweet,*
*For the girl who makes my life complete.»*
The sun dips low, painting the sky in gold and rose, and they lie there, hand in hand, singing softly into the gathering dusk.
