The Sting

by Kimberley Chambers

‘I know what you’re gonna say and I’m sorry,’ Scratch interrupted. ‘It was a spur-of-the-moment thing and I didn’t really mean it. Well, not in the way it came out anyway.’

  Tommy was more confused than ever now. ‘What you talking about?’

  Scratch rolled her eyes, before putting her hands over her face. ‘I didn’t mean to tell you I loved you. It was the booze talking. Speaking of booze, this party is well boring. Shall I pop to the offie and get us some vodka to pour in the orange juice?’

  Laughing, Tommy slung his arm around Scratch’s shoulder. ‘Great idea. And even though you might not love me, I’ll always love you, girl.’

  Scratch grinned like a Cheshire cat. Those were the words she’d been longing to hear.

  The rest of the day turned out far better than Tommy could have envisaged. It had been a wonderful moment when his sister Linda had turned up out of the blue with the Piper family. They’d only been able to stay for an hour. Apparently, Nanny Noreen wasn’t well and Alice Piper had told the old witch they were taking Linda to Petticoat Lane and wouldn’t be long.

  Dumbo turning up was another welcome surprise. He’d lost weight, looked like a beanpole, so no wonder he’d scoffed most of the cake. He clearly wasn’t coping well living alone and Tommy felt blessed yet again to be moving in with the Darlings.

  At 8 p.m. the younger children were told to go to bed and Connie ordered Benny to turn the music down.

  ‘Can I stay here tonight please, Connie?’ Dumbo asked. ‘I really miss you all.’

  ‘I’m afraid you can’t, my love. It’s against Maylands’ rules. You can visit us again soon though.’

  When Dumbo’s lip started trembling, Benny gave him a hug. Tommy walked over and put an arm around both his pals’ shoulders. He realized now it wasn’t their fault that Smiffy had died. There was only one person to blame and that was Wayne Bradley. ‘Keep your chin up, Dumbo. You’ll have me on the outside soon to look after ya. We can meet up and do stuff together.’

  ‘Really?’ Dumbo asked hopefully. ‘Do you promise?’

  ‘Yeah, course. I’ll visit you in the next couple of weeks. I’ll take you up the council, see if they’ll give you your own flat. I’ll do the talking. Leave it with me and I’ll get you out of that bedsit.’

  ‘Thank you, Tommy. You’re a true friend,’ Dumbo grinned.

  When Dumbo left, Benny offered to walk him back to the bus stop. Apart from Ginger Lorraine and Backward Paul, there was no one else present. Ray and Connie were in the kitchen tidying up.

  ‘Fancy a walk?’ Scratch asked. ‘We can meet Benny on his way back.’

  Tommy nodded and followed Scratch outside.

  There was an alleyway around the corner and as they approached it, Scratch grabbed Tommy’s hand and dragged him down it.

  Tommy was like a lamb to the slaughter once Scratch put her hand on his penis again. Within seconds, he’d rammed her against the wall and was up her like a rat up a drainpipe.

  The following morning, Tommy felt emotional as he put his bags next to the front door. Danny had been allowed to take the day off school. He and Ronnie were picking him up around noon.

  ‘Do you want some breakfast, Tommy?’ Connie asked.

  ‘No. I don’t feel very hungry, thanks.’

  Sensing the lad was having second thoughts about stepping out into the big wide world, Connie walked over to Tommy and gave him one of her special hugs.

  ‘Thanks for everything, Connie. You and Ray have been brilliant to me.’

  ‘You’re very welcome, my love. Scratch isn’t going to school today. She was ever so upset earlier, bless her. She’s really going to miss you. You will write to her, won’t you?’

  ‘Yeah. Course. I’ll write to Scratch every week and you and Ray. I swear I will. I’m gonna visit as often as possible too. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.’

  Connie smiled. ‘Lovely. Don’t you let me down.’

  ‘Never. I always keep to my word, Connie. Where is Scratch?’

  ‘In her room. Pop up and see her, Tommy.’

  Tommy made his way over the other side of the house and tapped on Scratch’s door. ‘It’s only me.’

  ‘Come in.’

  Scratch was sat on her bed, a forlorn figure, she’d clearly been crying her heart out. Tommy sat next to her. ‘Please don’t be sad. I want you to be happy for me.’

  ‘I am. But I can’t help feeling sad an’ all. I’m gonna miss you so much, Tommy.’

  Tommy held Scratch in his arms and kissed her forehead. ‘I’ll write, I’ll visit, and I’ll be waiting outside for you on your sixteenth birthday.’

  ‘I bet you don’t even remember when my birthday is.’

  ‘Yes, I do. July the fifth.’

  ‘Is that a promise?’

  Tommy did the sign of a crucifix. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

  Scratch put her arms around Tommy’s neck. ‘Shall we be naughty and do it one more time in my bed?’

  ‘Do what?’ Tommy chuckled.

  ‘Ya know. It.’

  Tommy put Scratch’s hand on his penis. ‘As always, your wish is my command.’

  ‘Ray, let’s give Tommy his present now,’ Connie bellowed.

  ‘I got you a present an’ all. Two in fact,’ Scratch grinned.

  Tommy chatting privately with Scratch in her room had worked wonders. Connie had been worried about the girl this morning, especially when she noticed fresh cuts on her arms, but she seemed in a much better frame of mind now, thankfully.

  ‘You give him yours first,’ Scratch urged.

  Tommy opened the small box Ray handed him. ‘I dunno what to say,’ Tommy stared at the cufflinks. ‘Erm, thanks ever so much. But you really shouldn’t have. You’ve done enough for me as it is,’ Tommy had never worn cufflinks in his life and doubted he ever would, but it was a nice gesture nevertheless.

  ‘Now open mine,’ Scratch urged. ‘Open the smaller one first.’

  Johnny Nash’s ‘Tears on My Pillow’ had been a massive hit last summer and Scratch had loved the record so much, Tommy had given her his copy. ‘Every time you play it, I want you to think of me and I’ll think of you when I play mine.’

  ‘Ahh, bless ’em,’ Connie whispered to Ray.

  ‘Open the other one now,’ Scratch ordered.

  Tommy felt choked up as he did so. It was a framed photo of himself, Smiffy, Scratch, Benny and Dumbo. They were sunbathing in the back garden and all looked so happy. Smiffy had two fingers stuck up behind Dumbo’s head and Benny was pulling one of his retarded faces. ‘This is ace. I love it.’

  ‘I took that,’ Connie chuckled.

  ‘Why is there black tape across the bottom?’ Tommy asked.

  Snatch grabbed hold of the frame and ripped the tape off to reveal the wording.

  Tommy’s eyes welled up as he read the print.

  FOREVER FRIENDS

  RIP SMIFFY

  SHITLANDS 1975

  Connie and Ray knew Tommy and his pals jokingly referred to Maylands as Shitlands and they didn’t mind. ‘That’s beautiful, Scratch. Can you get me a tissue, please Ray?’ Connie wept.

  Near to tears himself, Ray was glad of an excuse to leave the room.

  ‘I dunno what to say, apart from it’s beautiful. I will treasure it, I promise.’

  ‘All set, Tommy lad?’ Ronnie grinned. ‘Mother’s rolled out the red carpet for your arrival. Your room’s been decorated and she’s cooking some fancy meal tonight. Chicken something or other.’

  ‘Chasseur,’ Danny said.

  Tommy looked at him blankly. ‘What?’

  ‘Chicken Chasseur, that’s what muvver’s cooking. None of us have tasted it before.’

  Tommy laughed. ‘Come inside for a minute. There’s only Scratch, Ray and Connie in, all the other kids are at school.’

  Ronnie and Danny followed Tommy inside Maylands. ‘Nice to see you again, Ray, Connie. And I take it you’re the famous Scratch. Tommy speaks ever so highly of you,�
� Danny smiled.

  Scratch linked arms with Tommy, much to his embarrassment. ‘Erm, I need to start loading me stuff in the car now,’ Tommy mumbled. As much as he adored Scratch, he didn’t want his pals to know he’d had sex with her. She was a skinhead, after all.

  ‘I’m really going to miss him,’ Scratch announced.

  Danny smiled. ‘He talks about you all the time to me.’

  ‘We’ll look after him for ya, don’t you worry. Right, have all these bin bags gotta go in the car, Tom?’ asked Ronnie.

  ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Danny, help me with these while Tommy says goodbye to his friends,’ Ronnie said.

  Tommy gave both Ray and Connie a final hug, then turned to Scratch. ‘I’ll write to you in the next few days.’

  When Scratch draped her arms around Tommy’s neck, Ray and Connie glanced at one another, a worried expression on their faces. They’d been positive the children were just good friends and both silently prayed nothing untoward had happened between them.

  Tommy pecked Scratch on the lips, then tapped the left-hand side of his head. ‘Fifth of July. It’s imprinted in me brain.’

  Scratch smiled. ‘And so it should be. You better turn up; else you’ll be on my get-even list, Tommy Boyle.’

  PART THREE

  It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.

  William Shakespeare

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  5 July 1976. What a pivotal date that is in the whole story of my life.

  Scratch’s sixteenth birthday. The day I’d promised to return to Maylands. I’d sworn to collect her, having sorted her out somewhere decent to live.

  It was also the day I got hitched. I realize now I should have handled things differently. To cease all contact with Scratch, the lads, Connie and Ray without any explanation at all was a coward’s way out. But I was sixteen for Christ’s sake. A wet-behind-the-ears teenager, not a man.

  I recall my head being in the clouds during that long, hot summer. I’d made a new life for myself, felt part of a family once again. I was earning far more wonga than I could ever have dreamed of and I was also earning respect by the bucketload. Some days I had to pinch myself. Me, Tommy Boyle, hopelessly in love with a beautiful woman and a kiddie on the way. It was kind of surreal, one of the happiest times of my life.

  But happiness doesn’t always last and rash decision-making can backfire in an explosive manner. I know that now.

  5 July 1976. The date that would come back to haunt me …

  Tommy Boyle walked into the pub alongside Danny and was immediately taken aback by the massive cheer. ‘What’s going on, Dan?’ he asked innocently.

  Seconds later, all was revealed as Jack Darling fondly grabbed Tommy around the neck. ‘’Ere he is. The doomed one,’ Jack chuckled. ‘DJ – music,’ he bellowed.

  When the song ‘I’m Getting Married in the Morning’ blasted out of the DJ’s speakers, Tommy was gobsmacked.

  Ronnie put an arm around his shoulders and pointed to the banner on the wall.

  GOOD LUCK, TOMMY LAD –

  YOU’RE GONNA NEED IT!

  Tommy laughed and blushed at the same time. The boozer was packed with blokes and all eyes were on him. He’d told Jack he didn’t want a stag do, but now he’d got one, he felt a warmth inside. Like he belonged. The last proper party he had was when his mum held one indoors for his tenth birthday.

  ‘How you feeling about tomorrow? You bricking it?’ Ronnie asked, shoving a glass of bubbly in Tommy’s hand.

  ‘No. I feel good. Excited,’ Tommy grinned.

  ‘Well, you’re a braver bloke than I am. I’d be crapping meself,’ Ronnie joked.

  The stag bash was a great success, the DJ brilliant. But as the evening wore on, an inebriated Tommy couldn’t help feeling melancholy. Tomorrow, he would be marrying the girl of his dreams. How he wished his mum was still alive. She’d loved a wedding. Even Linda was unable to attend. She had to go to school and he still hadn’t heard a word from Hazel.

  ‘What you sitting alone in the corner for? You OK?’ Jack enquired.

  ‘Yeah. I just wish I had some family and friends coming tomorrow. I know you said not to invite anyone from Maylands, but can’t I invite Benny and Dumbo to the reception? I know it’s short notice, but I’m sure they’d love to come.’

  ‘You’ve moved on from your days at Maylands now, Tommy. You’re not damaged goods like them other lads. You’ve got everything going for you, including a nipper on the way. You need to forget about the past, concentrate on your future, lad.’ Jack grinned and took an envelope out of the inside pocket of his jacket. ‘Open it. Go on,’ he winked.

  Tommy could not believe his eyes. Inside the envelope was a birth certificate with the name Tommy Darling on it. ‘What’s this? I don’t understand.’

  Jack ruffled Tommy’s hair. ‘I got your name changed by deed poll as a surprise for you.’

  ‘What! But why?’

  ‘Because you’re family now, ain’t ya? One of us. You hated that bastard Alexander, so you don’t want to go through life with his surname, do you? He wasn’t even your real father.’

  For the second time that day, Tommy was completely taken aback. ‘I dunno what to say.’

  Jack smiled. ‘How about “thanks”. You’ll be amazed at how much more people respect you when you tell ’em you’re a Darling. You wait and see.’

  Tommy forced a smile. He didn’t want to come across as ungrateful. ‘Thanks, Jack. Means a lot.’

  Connie peered out of the games room window. Scratch was still sitting out front with only her radio for company, bless her.

  Connie sighed. She’d tried her best to warn the girl, let her down gently, but Scratch was still adamant Tommy would turn up today as he’d promised.

  After leaving Maylands in March Tommy had initially kept to his word. He’d written to herself, Ray and Scratch every week, and he’d turned up unexpectedly one Saturday to visit Scratch. Then, about six weeks ago, all contact had ceased. Scratch’s letters weren’t answered, neither were hers. Dumbo hadn’t heard from him either.

  At first Connie thought perhaps Tommy had met a new girl. Scratch had since admitted to her that she and Tommy were actually boyfriend and girlfriend. But having raised Tommy these past few years, Connie knew he was a decent lad with good morals. Now she was worried something bad had happened to him. Had he fallen out with the Darlings and was no longer living there? That would explain why he wasn’t replying to his mail. Or even worse, had he had an accident or got himself arrested? She’d tried to call the Darlings, but the number she had for them was now disconnected.

  Connie marched into the kitchen. ‘Ray, you need to drive over to the Darlings’ house, find out what is going on.’

  ‘I don’t know South London, Connie. I’ll never find where they live. Tommy’s sixteen years old. He’s probably just doing his own thing, love. I’ve already told you that.’

  ‘No. The more I think about it, the more I am concerned something is wrong. Scratch needs answers and so do I. Tommy could be in trouble for all we know.’

  ‘Benny hasn’t kept in touch like he promised either, Connie. It’s what young lads do. We nurture them, do our best. Then they venture into the big wide world and get on with their own lives.’

  ‘Tommy has a good heart, Ray. Even if he had met another girl, I’m positive he’d have called or written to me or you on the quiet to ask us to break the news to Scratch gently. That poor little mite is going to be heartbroken by this evening and I can’t allow her to move into a bedsit if she’s not in the right state of mind. Her arms are full of fresh cuts. I’m frightened she might do something stupid.’

  Ray sighed. When Connie got a bee in her bonnet, she always got her own way. ‘All right. Give me the Darlings’ address and I’ll see if I can find their bleedin’ house.’

  Confident she would get her own way, Connie had already written down the address. She handed it to Ray. ‘Please God, Tommy is OK.�
��

  ‘Happy birthday, Scratch. I got you a present.’ Dumbo handed Scratch a small box and then plonked himself next to her. ‘Has Tommy been in touch?’

  ‘No.’ Scratch opened the box. It contained a silver cross on a chain. ‘Thanks, Dumbo. I love it. Can you put it on for me?’

  ‘Course. I nicked it, like. But it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?’

  Scratch smiled. ‘Sure is. You gonna hang around a bit? Wait for Tommy?’

  ‘I don’t think Tommy’s gonna turn up.’

  ‘He will. He promised me.’

  ‘He promised me he would take me up the council, try and sort me a flat so I can get out of that shitty bedsit. Tommy’s a liar.’ Dumbo’s disappointment only made hers worse.

  As a car screeched around the corner, Scratch leapt up, her heart pounding.

  ‘Well?’ Dumbo asked.

  Deflated, Scratch sat back down. ‘No. It’s not Tommy.’

  *

  Standing at the front of the aisle, Tommy’s nerves were kicking in. His bride was late but he wasn’t unduly worried about that. It took her hours to get ready, even on a normal day. He was more on edge about giving his speech later. He’d written one out and lost the piece of paper.

  Danny put his arm around Tommy’s shoulders. It was an honour to be his best pal’s best man. ‘You all right, mate?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Tommy lied. The church was mobbed and, apart from Jack’s pals from the Lord Nelson, he barely recognized a soul.

  ‘The bride’s arrived,’ Eugene bellowed, seconds later.

  Tommy’s mouth dried up as the organist sprang into action. Apparently, some Catholic churches refused to play ‘Here Comes the Bride’, but Father Michael was a personal friend of the Darlings and he’d fallen over backwards to help them arrange the wedding at such short notice.

  Tommy glanced around and was temporarily left breathless. The dress was low-cut, sleeveless with a tight bodice and a massive silk train. Never had he seen anybody look so beautiful. She looked like a model out of one of the glossy magazines.

  As his bride walked towards him holding her father’s arm, she smiled at him. Tommy truly felt like the luckiest lad in the world. Donna Darling was about to become his wife, his life was surely made.