“No, I’ve got the basics covered, and I can hold my own.” He laughed as I blushed. “Umm, I’m liking how your mind works, yes I prefer you holding it too baby. No, I don’t really need to not now I have the girl I was trying to impress. I will be there later though as we have a few things we need to talk about.” I laughed at Sam.
“I think I’ve got some of it covered.” He raised his eyebrows and smiled. He kissed me goodnight. Hell, his kisses did stupid things to me. He walked off leaving me gawking in his direction. Waving as he rounded the corner, wow he’s all mine. I hugged myself, before I stumbled in to the front room mum was watching telly, dad was reading the paper.
“Can you please look at my ankle it’s as sore as holy hell.” Mum got up, took off the bandage and hummed, looked and then she went to the wall and hit it with her slipper, two seconds later Uncle Joe was in the front room.
“See what did I tell you leave of the hard stuff Michelle, it makes you wobbly or add a touch more water.” He ruffled my hair.
“When did you do this then?” I winced and told him about the kerb, as he moved it slowly around, two seconds later Aunty Liz arrived.
“That looks really sore Michelle, I have an ice pack thing I will get that, raise her foot Joe and I’ll get the pack and a new bandage, this one’s a little dirty.”
Dad declared he was up early to work and would be off to bed. Aunt Liz came back in with an icepack, painkillers new bandage. She did however suggest we hold off on the bandage until the morning to help it reduce the swelling with just the ice. Job done they disappeared next door. It was a God send them moving into Gina’s old house, my favourite aunt and uncle a brick wall away.
Back home and Jimmy was sat smiling in the chair, grinning and from the smell he had been drinking, he’d eaten the pizza and as I cleared around him he sneered, I just smiled thinking of what we had done tonight, wow.
“What’s tickled your fancy then? Her, your slapper?” He smiled, he was drunk and being nasty. “You think you… Got a prize… You’re not getting her prize Sam, and well you’re not… She’s sloppy seconds, Samuel… Others have been there and done that hahaha.” I laughed he was pissed and he’s not worth arguing with. I went to make a drink. He continued his rant about Michelle he wasn’t taking this well at all!
I felt sorry for him, yes, but I wasn’t for giving Michelle up just to make him feel better, he would move on as soon as the next girl caught his eye.
“She has had half of year five… And is really popular in college too… Sammy boy, who’s the mug now?” I ignore him I know she hasn’t been with anyone and I’m not giving him the satisfaction, because I knew better, nobody passes out as she did the first time or has to be shown how to wank your boyfriend off, if you’re not as pure as she is, erm or is that was? I laugh to myself and get a warm afterglow thinking of the more in Blackpool…
“Bed Jimmy and sleep the hangover off! You’re looking after Mum tomorrow, I have to go to work, and call Michelle again and the next time there will be a consequence Jimmy!” He went upstairs laughing.
“Stupid Sam… Sloppy seconds… Sam’s shagging the town bike… You’re a good match the stud and the whore…” I will allow him his minute of rubbing my supposed nose in it, but he is so wrong, on the Michelle front, so wrong. I wished I‘d fallen for a different Michelle, just so he didn’t hurt.
Tonight was wonderful and frightening, God my soldier was given a thorough workout and I enjoyed the whole experience and watching her as she moved me up and down in her sweet little hand.
Had she been as experienced as Jimmy reckoned, she would have known what to do! God she didn’t, because her face was a picture when she first grabbed him! I hope that she will do that again, I quite liked it and was she gentle and yet firm with him… Sleep beckons, up I go to bed to see to the idiot with the bucket in hand, aww bless the idiot… He’s sleeping…
“Morning Mum I’m at work today, Jimmy is here all day to look after you and I’m at Aunt Allison’s later, do you want me to get her to come for you?” She smiled.
“No I’m fine here Sam really I am and James will look after me.” I gave her a kiss, and money for James to get dinner for them. I headed to work making it in a little early. I caught upon a few of the projects I had on the go. I worked through dinner and worked a couple of hours late. I caught up and didn’t feel as bad having the time off. My boss, Mr Rawson laughed as we left together.
“Sam it was fine you needn’t have stopped back, you always put more than double the hours we pay you for! We can manage, but cheers lad.” I left and headed to Aunt Allison’s, it was nearly eight when I finally arrived at the hill at the beginning of Stockton Road and good, she’s met me there as arranged!
“Hello, fancy meeting you here, your place or mine, you know the deal right?”
“I do yes, mine Sam! Nice seeing you stranger, how’s it hanging…?”
I awoke in the morning to no bruises, no swelling and no pain, nothing yeah to Aunt Liz super doctor again, well super matron anyhow. Food prep today and it went quickly, I have had my hands in various fowl today, showing my tutor I know how to draw and dress the fowl I was presented with, and in number and variety, from pigeons to a great big turkey, such a glam life I lead, a day spent with my hands stuck up a birds arse, and nope it doesn’t get better the more you do it, but I did pass and I managed to do it quickly too.
I should thank old Marfa, can’t pronounce his welsh name so he answered to that for me, he is the farmer by Grams church with some seriously nice sons, phew they are not for me, but they are very popular indeed at the barn dances! Marfa taught me to do it a few summers back after he asked me did I want to ring a neck or two? Umm no thanks said I, but I did learn to dress them, another great oldie.
I went to Stockton Station to catch the bus to Grandad’s house, armed with a duck and a couple of exam passed pigeons for their tea, all prepared by my own hands. Usually I did this journey Sundays, so there weren’t as many people about, but I made it there in plenty of time, Grandad was waiting for me at the bus stop.
“We missed you on Sunday Michelle.” He gave me a hug and I gave him two bags of liquorish allsorts, his favourites this weeks and last weeks, he has a wicked sweet tooth my Grandad! We were soon in the house and a nice surprise awaited me. Aunt June and Uncle David and my dorky Cousin Tom, were sat talking about their latest Russian holiday, Tom regaling her in I think his stab at Russian? Nana hung on his every word and I just laughed at every word he said, as Grandad and I went to finish tea.
“As we didn’t do a roast Sunday, we’re having it now. Can we freeze the birds?”
“Yeah they will be fine they are fresh killed, done yesterday and I dressed them today for my exam, we had loads left so were allowed to fetch them home, I know you like pigeon, they are supposed to be good quality too. They went down well in the restaurant Grandad, but as Mum doesn’t like anything other than chicken, they’d be wasted on taking them home, that’s even if she did cook them properly.”
He laughed, knowing how useless his only daughter was at cooking, so he knew what I meant. I loved Nan’s Sunday Dinners and her Yorkshire puddings and her gravy was legendary, her children’s words not mine and I’d been making them with her for Lord only knows how long? I know when I started helping I had a stool to see on the counter, but learning, at the hands of a fantastic cook, what a joy! I’m damn lucky because, I am honoured that she taught me all I knew and all her secret recipes.
Our dinner was eaten and we’re now relaxing, as Tom carries on showboating, he hasn’t a clue what he’s saying, Lord bless the dork. Aunt June is so nice, she loved to sit and play with my hair. Funny how that, I’d never realised just how many of my relatives actually did the hair curl thing, until I noticed that Sam liked to do it too? At just before eight o’clock they decided it was time to go, but they would take me home first. Grandad didn’t want me on buses late at night. Hugs and squishes from Grandad and moan about my hair from Nana.
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“Is it all right if I bring someone to dinner on Sunday Grandad?” He smiled.
“We wondered when we’d get to meet him this chap of yours. Not a problem, we look forward to it.” With that Uncle David pulled away. I sat in the back with Tom. Who hadn’t mother told about Sam?
“Did you like your dinner Tom?” He nodded as Aunty June quizzed him.
“It was Nan’s usual excellent dinner.” Aunty June smiled.
“All cooked by Michelle. You’ll be excellent in the navy, Michelle you’ll have all those men eating out of your hands.”
“No I won’t Aunty June, they’re really posh now, and they use plates and stuff.” She laughed, but Tom didn’t get the joke and if you have to explain, it isn’t funny. I loved the thought of cooking for loads of people and until that moment, it hadn’t hit me before, all the males I’d be around. Argh I wonder if that was why Sam was upset?
As we arrived at the bottom of Stockton Road, I happened to look up and who did I see? Sam and he wasn’t with a mate, he was with another girl. I wanted to scream. 'Stop the car let me out,' why I didn’t, I don’t know, but the tears were now welling in my eyes, why did he lie? Who was the girl? Where, were they going? My eyes watched, as they disappeared from view, I was angry and sad and oh my, so bloody mad. I’d have a full day at college, before I could find out too I’m in the restaurant tomorrow, a full four hours of customers to endure, before I would be able to ask him. We pulled up outside home. Aunty June gave me a kiss and Uncle David ruffled my hair.
“You’re really going to have to stop doing that Uncle David, I’m not eight anymore.” He smiled.
“Do you want a sloppy kiss then?”
“Erg no, the head things fine then. Thank you for the lift home, homework and bed for me, see you Tom and goodbye in Russian is, ‘do svidaniya,’ and it actually means, until we meet again. You were actually telling the girl you met, that she looked like she had her mother's backside? She may not write to you cousin.” Aunty June laughed as he sulked, they pulled off, before anyone realized they were here. I just wanted to sort out who she was and why he had lied.
I didn’t sleep well that night, surprisingly… In fact I cried myself to sleep, then bad dreams about him and the stunning blonde woman. What is it with him and blondes? Getting up for college was the hardest slog of all. I just wanted to stay in bed, and die. However, that wouldn’t solve anything. Mum had bought yet another bra for me to try, hopefully this one would fit and it did like a glove, umm I’m a 34D? Nice to know the girls size at last! A clean shirt, skirt and my hair done, left wet and allowed to dry naturally, and off I went.
This was the last day, the Easter holidays started Monday. At the end of the college path stood the still apparently playing the field Sam! I wanted to run over smack his face and go home, but I’m Chef De Cuisine today, so had to be in the kitchens, you can’t run a kitchen without a head of kitchen, this Friday is my rotation day for the college kitchen and it’s my final kitchen pre exam prep class and all to be in French too, no worries there then! I have a feeling I’m going to be a mad chef today, Lord help them. Hope they can duck, as I throw stuff when angry, usually insults, but it has been known to be a pan or two…
“Hi, I missed you last night.” He came in for a kiss I ducked. “What’s the matter with you today?” He looked shocked.
“Three rules Sam. Lie, cheat or harm remember them? I actually saw you last night… I was being driven home, and saw you at the bottom of Stockton Road. Care to explain who the leggy blonde girl was draped all over you and the need for your arm to be around her waist, who was she? You looked quite the cosy couple.” He grabbed my hand and led me to a park bench, I was shocked as he pulled me along, I just wanted to smack him in the nuts and run.
“She was sorry, is my Cousin Kim, why didn’t you ask to stop the car? I would have loved to let you meet the normal side of my family. Michelle, baby really she is just my cousin.”
“I was too angry and pissed off with you, besides Uncle David wouldn’t have left me there with you because he’d promised Grandad to have me home.” The relief, I just wanted to collapse into his arms crying. “I’m such a cow! I was for kicking you in, your nether region and running back home to sulk.” He actually looked pleased at my jealousy, he really wouldn’t like a jealous me.
“I don’t think I’d have liked that Mi cielo? I usually go to see them Sunday, but being a little erm pre occupied for some wonderful reason, I missed our weekly road race challenge! So I arranged to meet up with Kimmy last night after we both finished work! I met up with Kimmy for our weekly run up Stockton Road, last one up has to prepare dinner for the family and yeah for me I won, wow she was a sore loser.
It’s something we’ve both done since I stopped going out on a Saturday, I was finally sober enough to take back the challenge and getting back to normal for the first time in a long time! Baby being normal again is the best feeling in the world. I usually meet her there at the bottom and the last one to Aunties makes the dinner, the first few weeks it was tough, she beat me every week, now she doesn’t!
Bad thing about it is when she loses dinners usually worse than Aunties massacre of the beef joint. Mines wonderful, I order from the restaurant, some Sundays I feel like losing just so we don’t have to eat their food! Aunty is a great accountant and business woman, but cooking isn’t her forte and it was a skill her daughter picked up on, but they try and I love them for it!” Wow she must be some kind of girl, the hippy chick I saw doesn’t look like a runner, is he kidding me, and is she his other girl friend?
Opps that looks there in the eyes, she really thinks Kimmy is my bit on the side? Sheisk when I find out who did this to her I will make them truly sorry, she has so many self-doubts and I’m adding to them, she’s so sweet, why does she not think she deserves to be loved and love her I do, I missed her last night really missed her too? I better explain quickly before those thoughts destroy her and us, this is going to be an ongoing fight, because she’s so damn insecure…
“I got my crap together pretty much that week I saw you dancing into my life baby, and Kimmy after that well she helped me to cope. The weekends out were like some kind of drug I thought I needed, but she showed me I didn’t, I just thought I did. I think you’re going to like her she has been waiting to see you for a long time. Don’t shout but I told them I’m taking you to see them on Sunday, they want to meet the girl I am so head over heels in love with!” I oh-ed!
“Sorry, you’re busy Sunday Lunch with Nana and Grandad, all cooked by my own fair hands. You can blame Mum and her gob again! We can, if you want to go after that’s if you still want?”
“You’re going to cook me Sunday Lunch? That’s no contest baby, besides I’m not sure you’ll survive their cooking and I know I can’t wait to try yours, how else am I going to see if the woman I want to spend the rest of my days with can feed me?”
“Tom ate my cooking last night, so it won’t do you any harm, erm I’m nearly a qualified chef, do you really think I can’t cook? Rest of days egh? Another slip of the tongue?”
“Who’s Tom? No it wasn’t a slip, we need to start doing some serious talking baby, this is really serious for me and I hope it is for you too?” I laughed, his face was a picture and it seems too we have the both of us, some serious jealousy issues!
“I like that I mean so much to you, and I like that it’s serious, and I love that you are jealous of my night spent with Tom, he’s just my annoying cousin! It seems we both spent the night with cousins then?” I felt such a great sense of relief that he hadn’t in fact met someone else, and we were serious…
“Do I get my kiss now?” I was only too happy to oblige.
“I’m sorry but I really thought you had another girl on the go, I was so angry and jealous Sam. It was awful seeing you with somebody else, it would break my heart if you cheated on me, please don’t?”
“Nice to know you care enough, but I’d never cheat on you ever. Yes after your grandpare
nts we go to my Aunty Allison, she’s my mum’s big sister. Sunday it is then, they can’t wait to meet you. Mum’s been singing your praises. How’s the ankle by the way?” I waggled it about.
“Fine thanks, Aunty Liz is wonderful, good job she lives next door, she’s the head matron at Stockton General, and I love her and Uncle Joe to bits!” He kissed me again and pulled me up. I was melting in his arms, his kisses warm against my lips his tongue invading. The needy kisses lasted forever and as he pulled away he kissed me on my head.
“Will I see you tonight? If so I’ll meet you there, if that’s ok? I don’t finish work until five; I had a late start so I could see you, because I missed you last night!” I smiled worry, and stress free again.
“I will see you later yes. Have I actually told you how much I... How much… I well? Oh hell how much I love you?” He blushed as I finally said those three little words out loud, and for the first ever time to a boy!
“No you haven’t, but I knew you did I just wasn’t going to push you into saying it. Nice to know and hear though. I love you too baby, and way more than you know, I love you and only you come here Missy.” He hugged me hard and kissed my head again. He smiled and left for work. Me? I was relieved I got to say the words out loud. The first time too that I have told anyone I loved them, and now I had done I was relieved and happy because he loved me too.
I was going to be late for the first ever time and I didn’t care. College was a blast. I have passed my Sommelier classes too, and I rocked my last assessment as Chef De Cuisine, not too many outbursts in French. I can now do wine waiting and progress on to the next wine course and learn more the art of being a posh wine waiter, yeah for me. The day went quickly and I rushed home. Had a bath, did my hair and went to get dressed. I grabbed my clothes for tonight. I need new clothes, I need girl clothes if I’m going to be with Sam and going out.
A Life Plan Without You. Page 20
