A Life Plan Without You. (27 page)

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Authors: Christine Wood

Tags: #bullying, #longing, #first love, #lonliness, #ballroom dancing, #insecurities, #age differences, #80s disco era, #family fudes

BOOK: A Life Plan Without You.
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“Umm, I’m not stopping, are you?” We carried on as the door
opened, bummer, I laughed! “Seems we are stopping, help me up
please?”

“Your
wish my lady!” He pulled me up and smiled as Jimmy came
in!

“Help yourself to pizza, I’m taking Michelle home and don’t
say a bloody word!” I shuffled on my foot to put the rubbish away
and as I came back Sam had my coat and my trainers in his hand, I
put on the one I could, I wasn’t walking home on that ankle I was
hopping! Jimmy came downstairs as we were leaving.

“Erm this is going to take forever, to get home! See you
tomorrow James and no more shit or my well foot will be looking for
a resting place, night, night, blabber mouth, you are without a
doubt a moron!” Sam smiled as I shuffled out of the front door,
before I hit Jimmy or gave him a chance to retaliate I was hopping
mad, and literally too, I wondered how long to home, just as he
swept me into his arms.

“I’m going to carry you home no weight on that foot. What are
we trying tomorrow night then?” I laughed, because picking me up he
smiled and kissed my neck as he walked. Heck, he smelt wonderful as
I clung on to his chest.

“I’m sorry angel, I’m at Nan and Grandad’s tomorrow, as I
didn’t go Sunday, so won’t be seeing you until Friday, is that ok?
We can do something more Friday if you feel up for it?”

“Not a problem, I said I’d go to my cousins anyhow. We’re
testing his new video game system, so it’s a bit of a lads night
in, and I’m up for anything I can with you baby, because wow your
good.” I was in for a knee trembler of a kiss.

“Umm Samuel, you’re a bad influence on me. Whilst we’re on the
subject, I need to tell you too, I’m away the first week at Easter
too, I leave Monday I have to go to see Gramps and Grams. I
normally go for all the holidays, but can only get one week off
from work. So sorry, there’s a week of not seeing you.”

“Again, it’s not a problem, we’re on a ‘Jolly-Boys-Outing’ to
Blackpool on Monday for a few days too, it’s been planned for ages
and I was wondering how to tell you too?” I looked at him and
worried, he was going on a lads holiday, that meant girls, I had
just found him, please don’t cheat, I prayed the concern wasn’t
written all over my face, I make light of my concerns, shit I’d
seen enough lads holidays there to know how these holidays panned
out!

“So Sam… We’re either in or near Blackpool, for a whole week…
You can come and see me?” He looked shocked, oh hell he wasn’t
expecting the girlfriend to tag along and be his minder,
shit…

“That’s a bloody coincidence, they live in Blackpool? So
Michelle I have a really good idea, say no if you want to, but if
you can, can you get to Blackpool because I have my own
room?”

“What are you saying Mr Todd, that you want your wicked way
with me?” He had a massive grin on his face. “It won’t be a problem
at all I’ll tell Grams, I’m going ice skating, I usually do with
Michelle from next door, and I think I know my way around the
ferry’s and trams of the Fylde Coast.”

“So, Michelle, it’s a date then?” I was nervous just thinking
about it, but I knew from day one that he was the one.

“Seems so, but are you sure, it’s what you want?”

“Never been so sure of anything, I love you so much,
Michelle.” Before I realized it we we’re home, and that Tilly was
having a rant at something, so alerted the whole house I was home.
Dad came to the door as Sam was putting me down, quick explanation
as to sore ankle and he buggered off back inside.

“So I’ll see you in Ridgley’s on Friday night then, are you
still having lessons?” He smiled as he held my face in his hands.
Kiss me kiss me please.

“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.

“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.

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