Aunt Zoe, wheres Mikey?
«What do you want with him?»
«We were supposed to go berry-picking this morning.»
«Hes gone. Went off with the lads.»
«Gone?» The girls lips trembled. «But he promised»
«Listen, Tammy, why dyou keep clinging to that boy, eh? Youll be chasing after men soon enough, and here you are, stuck on a lad half your age. Go find some girlfriends, leave Mikey alone. Be sensible.»
Zoe couldnt stand this snaggle-toothed, big-lipped, long-legged creaturelike a heron in the marsh. Just the sight of her made Zoes skin crawl. A child, yet so grating.
Tammys lips quivered. Tears welled in her round eyes.
Ugh. More trouble than shes worth. Zoe shrugged and strode deeper into the yard. That girl was a leech. Wouldnt give the lad a moments peace.
Just then, Zoes son, Mikey, darted from the shed.
«Where to?»
«The woods.»
«Did you muck out the pigs?»
«Did it, Mum.»
«Straw laid down?»
«Laid it.»
«The chickens need»
«Mum, Ive been working since dawn! Its my holiday, and we planned this trip. The lads are waiting.»
«Which lads?»
«Mum, whats got into you? The usual lotBilly, Tommy, Steve, Pete, and Greg.»
«Forgot no one?»
«No, Mum. Ive got to go.»
«And that snaggle-toothed oneshe tagging along? A girl with a pack of boys?»
«Mum, enough! Whats Tammy ever done? Shes my mate.»
«Mate? Shell wrap you round her finger, Mikey.» Zoe gripped his shoulder and hissed in his ear. «Dont mix with her, son. Shell lead you straight to trouble. Listen to me.»
«Mum, whatre you on about?» The boy twisted free and bolted, leaping onto his bike without a glance back.
«Tammy! Tammy!» Zoe heard his bright voice call. She sank onto the step and wept.
What did that girl want with him? In a few years, hed be courting, and then what? Hed drag home that snaggle-toothed wench, announce he was marrying her. No. Never.
Zoe wiped her eyes, stood firm, and marched to the gate. Hesitated, as if weighing her next move, then strode purposefully down the lane.
By the fence, kids played in a heap of golden sand. Zoe called to a tousle-haired lad.
«Andy, your mum home?»
«Aye,» the boy muttered, digging a hole.
«Fetch her.»
«Mum!» he bellowed.
Ugh. Couldve run inside, but nojust yells. Snaggle-toothed, the lot of them.
From behind the fence came a call.
«Coming!»
Out waddled Andy and Vickys mum, freckled, big-lipped, and long-legged like her daughter.
«Annie, over here.»
«Afternoon, Zoe. Whats happened? The kids all right?» She wiped her hands on her apron, nervous.
«Nothing. Dont jinx it. But mark my wordsrein in that girl of yours. Shes trailing after my Mikey like a lost pup.»
«What?»
«Shes throwing herself at the boys, clinging to my lad.»
«Zoe, have you lost the plot? Theyre kids! Running about, playingsame as we did. Picking berries, mushrooms, feeding rabbitsremember?»
«Maybe you did. I didnt.»
«Look at you! Who chased after my brother Jack, eh? Your own mum had to drag you home with a switch. I rememberfour years younger, but I saw it all. Smoking behind the shed, giggling over those dirty postcards, sneaking off fishing. And the kissing! Or are you denying it?»
«Ive said my piece. Control your girl, or shell come home with a bellyful.»
«Like you didnt? Or is Paul really Jacks?»
«You daft cow! My kids are my husbands. But your lot? Good bloods wasted on you.»
«Me? Whats wrong with my blood? Lost your mind, woman? Ive got a man who loves me, and were happy. Yours? Stays out of fear. You grabbed the first man whod have youbecause my Jack left you. No one else wanted a nag like you.»
Zoe knew Annie had a sharp tongue. Most women avoided her. But Zoe was no pushover.
Meanwhile, the kids, berries gathered, raced to the brook. Stripping as they ran, they splashed, shrieked, and laughed, kicking up spray. Bare-skinned, unashamedno dirt in their hearts yet. Just joy.
«Pete, whatll you be when you grow up?»
«Like my dadtractor driver.»
«Tammy? A singer?»
«Why a singer?»
«All girls wanna be famous. Five minutes, five minutes!» Greg mimicked.
Tammy snorted. «You do it, then. Ill be a pilot or a scientist.»
«Ha! They dont take girls.»
«They do,» said serious Steve.
Zoe fought to pull Mikey from that snaggle-toothed girl. She sighed in relief when he joined the army. If she spotted Tammy, shed turn away.
Once, Tammy came crying.
«Aunt Zoe, have you heard from Mikey?»
«Got a letter yesterday. Gail the postwoman brought it.»
«Not me.» Her lips trembled.
«Well, maybe he doesnt want to write to you.»
«But he always did! Why now?»
«What dyou want from me?»
Tammy hunched and left.
«Hes found someone else out there,» Zoe muttered after her.
The wedding was merry. Friends danced, the groom grinnedGreg, Mikeys mate, Tammys now-husband. Stunned at his luck when Tammy, weeping, proposedon condition theyd move to the city after. Greg wouldve agreed to anything.
Shed never noticed him beforealways trailing after Mikey. Sobbed for days when he left for the army. Greg, rejected for medical reasons, stayed.
Zoe rejoiced. Finally, her boy was free.
Mikey wrote home, asking why Tammy had gone silent. Zoe replied she saw her dailyfine, healthy. Why didnt she write? Who knew? Best not pry.
But Zoe knew.
Tammy did write.
Gail the postwoman owed Zoebig time. So Zoe had her intercept Tammys letters to Mikey, and his to her. Zoe took them instead. A mother knows best.
Mikey returned from the army. Tammy was gone.
«Gone how?»
«Married Greg. Moved somewhere. The city.»
Zoe had a girl in mindNadias daughter, Claire. «Good family. Dads a factory manager. Hell set you up.»
«Mum I dont love her.»
«Pfft. Love? Whered that get you last time?»
The wedding was bright. But the groom stood stiff, joyless.
Hed adjust. Love would come. A fine house, a doting father-in-lawitd all work out.
Time passed. They say it heals.
No. It dulls pain, piles on chores, pushes old hurts aside.
Ten years flew like a breath.
Mikey visited with his family; Tammy and Greg came home. They met by chance. Pleasantries exchanged, yet neither could walk away.
«Off for a smoke. Might see Steve,» Mikey said that evening.
«Where?» Zoe blocked the door. «Youre not going.»
«Mum, what?»
«Claire, go with him. No man should wander alone.»
«No, Zoe. Hes seeing a friend. Let him be.»
«To her? That moon-eyed tart? Watch yourself, Mikey.»
«Leave it, Mum.»
His feet led him to the brook. Next night, too. On the third, as he turned to leave, a figure appeared.
She came.
No blame, no questions. Just standing under the old cherry tree, holding each other, hearts sore. Even the moon hid behind clouds, sparing them its glare.
Twenty more years slipped by.
Tammy and Mikey never crossed the line. Not once.
Call it not love?
It was. And dutyto those beside them. Their spouses, children, grandchildrennone were to blame.
Now, Michael stood at his wifes grave. Three years a widower.
Visited his parents. His mother confessedhow shed torn him from Tammy. He forgave her. The ache remained.
«Mike?»
He turned. Tammy stood thereautumn around her, yet she looked unchanged. Thin, a scarf at her neck. She sat beside him on the bench.
They talked.
«Lifes gone by, Mike.»
«Gone past us, Tam.»
«Why past? Not being together maybe it was meant. Dont hold grudges against Greg. He pulled me from despair. And then I loved him.»
«Out of gratitude?» Mike smirked.
«No. For his gentle soul. His patience. Mike Ive a favour. Dont resent him. Be there for him.»
«Be there how?»
But Tammy was already gone.
That evening, his son called. «Phone for you.»
«Hello?»
«Mike its me.»
«Greg? You crying?»
«Tams gone.»
«Where?» He nearly said she wasnt with him. Then understood.
«Im coming. Hold on, mate.»
«Ta friend.»
Two old friends sat side by side, shoulders touching.
«Shed been poorly. Told no one Your wife?»
«Three years now.»
«Rough.»
«Aye. A lifetime together.»
«Lets stick close, eh? Whos left from our lot?»
«Steve. And Tony.»
«Good.»
«Life flashed by. Like a single day. Yet when I think back no. Years. Remember us, bare-arsed, splashing here? Now look at us.»
«Same here, mate.»
Maybe Mum knew something, felt something. No use dwelling now.
Lifes no stroll through a meadow
Full of climbs, pitfalls,
The weight of mistakes,
Stones laid in our path.
Good day, my dears.
Sending warmth and light.
Always yours.
