by Karen Woods
“Mam, chill out. I don’t think Stephen will be bothered what he drinks. He’s found his mother again, surely he won’t be mithered about which brand of coffee he is drinking.”
“Oh, please for once just do it. Hurry up though, I want everything in place for when he gets here. You’ll need a bath too. Look at the state of your hair.”
Melanie dragged her fingers through her knotty locks. “Wow, it’s not the queen who’s coming. I’ll have a bath when I get back if that makes you feel better.”
Melanie reached down and pulled her jeans onto the bed. She’d shove them on for now. She was going to the shop not on a fashion parade. Once she was ready she headed down the stairs. For once the house smelt fresh and clean, there were no stale smells. As she stepped into the kitchen she spotted sandwiches cut in nice neat triangles. She covered her mouth and tried not to laugh out loud. “Mam, can I have a butty to walk around to the shop with?”
Marion was in the kitchen in a flash. “No, keep your mucky hands off them. You can have one when he gets here. Grab a biscuit if you’re hungry.”
So much for a healthy breakfast then.
Marion always provided her children with a hot cup of tea and a packet of biscuits each morning for their breakfast, it was quick and easy and no messing about plus it was cheaper than Coco-pops or Frosties. Melanie rummaged in the cupboards and found a packet of Rich Tea biscuits. They weren’t her favourite and without a cup of tea to dunk them in they felt dry in her mouth. She just took one to get the morning breath taste from her mouth. Her favourite biscuits were chocolate digestives but they were reserved for special occasions; Christmas, birthdays and maybe events like today. Melanie was pushing her luck and shouted into the living room to her mother. “Should I get a packet of chocolate digestives for Stephen. He might want a few with his coffee.”
Marion was back at the kitchen door. She went inside her pinnie and pulled out a five- pound note. “Good thinking, yes, get a small packet. They cost a bleeding fortune.” What a result, chocolate biscuits in their house and it wasn’t even Christmas!
Melanie strolled through the estate, it seemed quieter than normal. But it was early in the day and most people were still in bed. As she passed the Two Hundred pub she could see several police cars parked up, she wondered what the problem was. It was probably a fight that broke out the previous night. It always kicked off in there when the men were playing cards. There were big kids and nobody took it well when their hard-earned cash was taken from them.
Melanie kept on walking and she bumped into Kelly Platt. Kelly was one of the biggest gossips on the estate, nothing got passed her, she was a right mighty mouth. If you ever wanted to know anything then this girl was the one to go to, she knew everybody’s business. “Fuck me, have you heard about what’s happened in the boozer last night?”
Melanie shrugged her shoulders. “No, I just seen the dibble there and I was wondering what had gone on.”
“Well, let me fill you in. My friend Jackie cleans at the pub and she heard everything. Two masked men stormed in last night and give the landlord and landlady a good hiding. The police are looking for John too because they took him with them. Jackie fears the worst, it’s not looking good.” Melanie swallowed hard. Her boyfriend was missing, and nobody had cared to inform her. She motored around to the shop and got the coffee and the biscuits. She stopped off at Diane’s on the way home and hammered on the front door in a distressed state.
Diane opened the door in a panic and when she saw Melanie fall to her knees, she knew this was serious. “What’s up, tell me what’s up!”
Melanie broke down crying. “They’ve taken John. They broke into the pub last night and took John.”
Diane was puzzled. She helped Melanie to her feet and brought her inside. “Sit down there and get your breath back and then tell me again because I’m not getting what you’re saying.”
Melanie was in a distressed state. “Some guys have taken John. They battered his mam and dad and took him.”
Diane started to breathe faster, her palms were sweaty and she was horrified. “Hold on, let me shout my mam. She can watch the baby and I’ll come with you to try and find him. Someone on the estate will know what’s happened.”
Diane and Melanie rushed about the estate but nobody was saying anything. Was this a code of silence? Melanie spotted Lenny Jackson and speeded towards him. He knew the crack and if anyone would know he would. “Hi Lenny, can I have a quick word with you?” Melanie asked.
He finished speaking with a lad he was talking to and moved to a quieter spot. This could be it, was she here to tell him that she fancied him and wanted to be in a relationship with him? He knew it was only a matter of time before she fell head over heels in love with him. He spotted Diane with Melanie and screwed his face up. Diane stayed well away from him, he always put the fear of God in her, her heart was beating like a speeding train. Melanie wasted no time in getting to the point. “Who’s taken John? You know so don’t lie to me.”
Lenny was deflated, so she didn’t want to declare her undying love after all. He smirked and made sure Diane couldn’t hear them. He was boasting now, bigging himself up. “Course I know, me and Donny took him. He’s a snidey fucker who pissed on his own doorstep.”
Melanie was distraught. “Tell me where he is, is he alright?”
Lenny seen his arse and hated that she still cared about John Pearson. He kicked at the ground and raised his voice. “Listen, he’s a silly cunt. He’ll be lucky to see the light of day if I have my way.”
Melanie knew she had to backtrack. “Lenny, I’m not arsed what he’s done or whether or not he’s had his head kicked in. Just send him home to his parents they’re worried sick about him.”
Lenny, started to mellow, her voice calmed him down and took away his anger. “I’ll see what I can do but it’s Donny’s shout. It was his drugs that he took, not mine. I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll do my best.”
Melanie had to up her game. She moved in closer to him and her fingertips glided slowly over his cheek bone. “Thanks Lenny. I knew you wouldn’t let me down. I owe you one.”
Lenny was on top of the world, she’d touched him, he had felt her flesh against his. He was love struck.
Melanie raced back to Diane. “Donny’s got him. I’ve had a word with Lenny and he’s going to do his best to get him back home.”
“Thank God for that. I mean, if anything happened to John…”
She stopped talking and realised what she was going to say. It was a good job Melanie wasn’t listening properly, otherwise she would have raised doubt in her friend’s head.
Melanie paused to think. What an arse-hole her boyfriend was. How on earth did he think he would get away with it? I bet he was sorry now, sorry his greed got the better of him.
Marion sat tall on her chair. She was like the Queen sat on her throne. She had her best dress on and her hair was neatly placed on the top of her head in a bun. She was fidgeting and anxious. Melanie sat watching TV, she had her own problems going on in her head, restless. This was partly her fault, if she hadn’t have taken the drugs in the first place he could have saved his neck and handed them back. But, it was too late now, the damage was done. She could never tell him she’d had anything to do with the missing drugs, no way in this world.
Marion’s voice was high pitched. “Bleeding hell he’s here, oh look at his big fancy car,” she said as she peered through the kitchen window.
Melanie snapped out of her mood and scurried to the window. “It’s a decent car that, mam. He must be wadded. Look at his wife, she looks like a super-model.”
Marion quickly moved from the window, she’d never admit that she was a curtain-twitcher in a million years. She ran a flat palm over her dress and made sure the creases were flattened. “Right you! Make sure you speak nicely and don’t do anything that will embarrass me.”
Arthur was sat nearby in his armchair and raised his head from the racing pages of his newspape
r. “Give me two minutes to write my bet out. These gee-gees are going to win me some money today.”
“Christ Arthur. I don’t want you sat there picking horses when he’s taken the time to come and visit us, it’s just ignorant.” The letter box rapped gently. “I’ll get it!”
Melanie sat on the sofa and kept her eyes firmly fixed on the door. She was going to meet her half-brother for the first time. Marion opened the front door and her voice was high-pitched. She was speaking like she did when she was meeting someone important, it was her telephone voice. “Oh, it’s so good to see you again. Come inside.”
Stephen pecked her on the cheek and introduced his family. “This is my wife Kim, and my children, Savannah and Harlo.” The two girls were perfect, big bright yellow ribbons in their hair and they were wearing lovely cotton dresses with white sandals.
“They’re both so pretty,” Marion smiled at Kim. “It’s lovely to meet you. Come on, let’s go inside.”
Stephen walked into the hallway and straight away he could tell his mother’s house was in need of some serious work. The walls were crumbling down and the carpet was filthy, deep ground in dirt. Kim pulled a sour face. This was a million miles away from her own life and seeing so much poverty unnerved her. Kim lived in a lovely four-bedroomed house in Cheshire. The garden was as big as this house. She itched her skin slightly as she entered the living room and held a sour expression.
Marion stood tall and looked over at her daughter. “Stephen, this is my daughter Melanie.” Melanie was bright red, this was like the TV show, This is your Life hosted by Eamon Andrews. She stood and smiled. Should she hug him? Run at him and swing around his neck? She wasn’t sure. Stephen made it easy for her, he walked towards her and kissed her on the cheek. She inhaled his aftershave. He smelt amazing. His wife was now introduced. There was no kiss from her though, she was stony-faced, and you could tell she didn’t really want to be there. She just about raised a smile. The children hung around their mother’s legs as they were introduced.
Melanie’s father tried tickling one of them on the waist, but she cringed and moved further into her mother’s legs. “Sit down, I’ll make us a drink. I’ve made some sandwiches, so I’ll bring them out too. Do you like cakes girls?” she asked.
Kim held her flat palm up. “Oh no, they don’t eat sugary snacks. They eat healthy food.”
Marion didn’t know what to say. Every kid deserved a treat in her eyes. If this would have been anyone else she would have told them to get their head out of their arse and let the child have a cake. “I’ve got apples if they want one of them. A man my Arthur knows grows them on his allotment, juicy they are.”
Kim was distraught. “The girls are fine. We are eating out tonight, so I don’t want them snacking before we go.”
Melanie could see her mother was struggling, she stood and held her hand out to the girls. “Do you want me to take you to see the pigeons in the garden. We have about four of them that sit on our fence every day. One of them is very friendly and if we are quiet it might let you touch its feathers.”
Kim couldn’t hold it in, she was at it again. This family was a bunch of hillbillies and she didn’t want her children anywhere near them. “Girls, don’t be touching any pigeons. They are full of germs and god knows what else.”
She’d said her piece now and she shot a look over at her husband, a “get me out of here” look. Marion disappeared into the kitchen and stood with her hand on her neck. Her temper was rising but she was doing her best to control it. Who the hell did Lady Muck think she was talking to? She took an instant dislike to her. Stephen looked over at Marion’s husband. “It’s a lovely day.”
“Yes, the forecast said sunshine all day. I’m just picking my horses for the day. Do you bet?”
Stephen chuckled. “No, but a few of my friends do. It’s not something that interests me. I play squash, that’s my passion.”
Kim patted his arm. “Gambling is for fools. Why would anyone throw their hard-earned money away?”
Stephen could see she’d offended him. “Everyone has their own passion, love. You can’t judge everyone because they like something that you don’t.”
Marion smiled as she came back into the room. “Here we go, a bite to eat for everyone. She held the plate over to her son and he took a sandwich. Kim shook her head. “I don’t eat bread. I’ve not eaten it for over two years now.”
Bloody hell there was no pleasing some people. Well, she could kiss her arse, it was sandwiches or nothing. Melanie come back inside with the girls. She pointed down at one of the girl’s dresses. “A bird pooped on her. I’ll get a cloth and clean her up.”
Kim sprang from her chair and gripped the child by her arm. “What did I tell you about going near those filthy things!” Savannah whinged as her mother’s fingers pressed deep into her skin.
Melanie shot a look at her mother. She had to say something she just couldn’t sit there. “It’s only a bit of poo. Like I said, it will clean up.”
Kim was stressing out. “Those dresses are Egyptian cotton. Not cheap ones from the market. I’ll have to have it dry cleaned now.” Kim snarled at her daughter and she knew when she got out of here she would be in deep trouble. Melanie was finding it hard to bite her lip. She took the child into the kitchen before she said something she’d regret to her mother.
Stephen was uncomfortable. “Kim, relax will you. Stop being so touchy. It’s only a dress for crying out loud.”
Marion listened to her son and she was relieved he’d finally found his balls and said something to this stuck up bitch. Kim folded her arms tightly around her body, her cheeks were bright red. “How long are we staying here because I have shopping to do?”
Marion couldn’t stand it any longer. She had always had a loose tongue and this moaning cow was getting told. “Kim, my son has come here today to see me and my family. From the minute you’ve walked through the door all you’ve done is moan. Maybe you should have stayed at home if you didn’t want to come.”
Stephen hung his head, he knew Marion was right. All hell broke loose as Kim saw her arse, “Are you going to just sit there and let her talk to me like that? I mean, you’re choosing a woman who gave you away at birth over your wife?”
Marion was champing at the bit now, she was ready to scratch this woman’s eyeballs out. “Listen, you stuck up cow. Take your posh arse out my house. I’ve been nothing but nice to you and all you have done is disrespect me. Stephen, I’m sorry but I am who I am and I will not sit back and watch her treat people like that.”
Kim bolted up from her seat. One hand was placed on her hip. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Stephen should never have come looking for you. I told him that. We have our own family and he doesn’t want to be any part of yours. Stephen,” she shot a look over at him, “tell her you won’t be visiting again.” Marion gulped, small balls of sweat forming on her forehead. They all looked at Stephen, waiting on his answer.
Marion’s husband piped in. “Now come on, bleeding hell. Can we all sit down and talk about this. It should be a happy day. Marion and Stephen have found each other again after all these years. Let’s just sort it out.”
Kim wasn’t letting up. “I said tell her!” she screeched.
Stephen dipped his head and for a split second it looked like he was going to leave with his wife. He stood and went nose to nose with Kim. “Go and wait in the car. How dare you speak to my mother like that! And, when we get home I’m packing my bags and moving out. Time after time I’ve had to listen to you and put up with your selfish ways and I’m not doing it any more.”
Kim was wide-eyed. He’d never spoken to her like this before. “So, your leaving me because I won’t mix with this lot of riff-raff?”
Marion was ready to punch her lights out but Stephen stepped in. “Leave the girls here and make your own way home. I can’t even look at you. Go on, get out!”
Melanie reached for the girls and sat them on the sofa with her. Kim picked up her Ch
anel handbag and stormed from the room. You could hear the front door slamming behind her. Stephen paused for a second before he spoke. “I’m so sorry about her. It’s about time I put her in her place anyway. She’s a brat, nothing will ever please her.”
Marion plonked down on the sofa. “I’m sorry but she’s rude. I held my tongue for a lot longer than I thought I would”.
Stephen smiled at his girls. “Can they have some of those cakes you mentioned?” The girls were cheering, at last sugar, something for them to get their teeth into. The family sat down together and there was laughter now, as stories were told and everyone was relaxed. Melanie looked at the clock on the wall and stood. “Stephen, I’m not being rude, but I have to go out. My friend’s just had a baby and I’m going to give her some help. She never gets a minute to herself.”
“Not to worry, it’s been lovely meeting you and hopefully we will see each other again.” She kissed him on the cheek and ran back to the girls and kissed them too before she left. “Mam, see you later. Dad, don’t forget to tape Dallas for me.”
Melanie hurried about the estate. She needed to find Lenny and see if John had been released. Maybe, she should go to the pub first and see if John was there. She stopped dead in her tracks, debating which way to go. She headed to the pub. Melanie walked into the vault and spotted John’s nanna, Flo. She was managing things tonight as her son and his wife were still in shock. It would be a while before they would be fit enough for work. “Flo, is John back home yet?”
