‘Look hen, this is no the same thing. Just leave it the noo, eh?’
‘But, Da …’
‘Anne Marie, ah said leave it.’
Ah wanted tae go on but ma daddy sounded mair weary than anythin so ah shut up. Anyway, there wisnae much point in arguin wi the lamas, they just kept smilin and clickin away at their prayer beads.
But ah couldnae let it go in ma heid. Ah knew it wisnae right and ah think in his hert ma daddy knew as well and that was how he wis quiet. Thon time wi the fitba team, ma da wis right behind us. He wis the wan that taught me tae play in the first place. Ah decided tae talk tae him on his ain, later.
THE GARDEN OF the cottage was a real suntrap. Never a breath of wind and a bench sat right where it caught the sun all day. We’ve been comin here the first week of July for years and always been dead lucky with the weather. Jimmy, Anne Marie and me always went abroad as well but Mammy doesnae like flyin and it’s a chance for her tae get a break.
Ah watched her carry the tray doon the stairs, concentratin on every step; there was a slight blur round her haund – wasnae sure if it was the sun playin tricks or if they really were shakin. Mammy’s only sixty-three and up till a few month ago was as fit as a flea, but she had a wee turn just in April there, and she’s no been hersel since.
She sat doon beside me on the bench and put the tray on the white plastic table.
‘This heat would melt ye.’
‘Well, it’s gonnae melt they chocolate biscuits in two seconds flat.’ Ah nodded at the plate piled high wi Jaffa Cakes. ‘How many are you plannin tae eat?’
‘Ach, ah was thinkin Jimmy and Anne Marie would be here.’
‘They’re still at the beach.’
Ah lifted the plate and took it inside tae the cool of the kitchen. The chocolate was startin tae melt already. Ah left three of the biscuits on the plate and put the rest in the biscuit tin. When ah went back ootside Mammy was flickin through a magazine.
‘Would you look at the price of that jumper?’ She pointed tae a multicoloured crocheted thing hingin aff the model’s shoulder. ‘Four hundred and eighty-five pound – and she’s layin aboot on a beach gettin it covered wi sand.’
‘Looks like wanny they cushion covers Auntie Betty used tae crochet. Pity she’s no still around – ah could of got her tae make me wan – be dead trendy on the beach.’ Auntie Betty was Mammy’s aulder sister – she’d passed away three year ago.
‘Aye, Betty was lovely at crochetin.’
‘Aye, Ma, pity she was colour-blind.’
Auntie Betty used tae make squares in hideous mismatched colours then sew them thegether intae cushion covers and blankets. Mammy’s hoose was full of them.
‘Aye, well, whoever crocheted thon jumper must of been colour-blind too – and look at the money they’re gettin for it.’
‘Suppose so. But it’s the designer that gets the money – the poor sods that make them probably get paid buttons.’
Mammy put the magazine on the bench and lifted the mug of tea tae her lips. Ah took a sip of mines but it was too hot for tea; ah felt as if it was stickin tae ma tongue. Ah picked up the magazine and turned tae an article aboot mobile phones.
Mammy looked over ma shoulder. ‘Thought you’d just bought a new wan?’
‘Ah did. But ah’m thinkin of gettin wan for Anne Marie. It’s only four weeks tae her birthday.’
‘A phone? At twelve?’
‘Ah know. At first when she asked me ah said no. But then ah thought it was actually a good idea. She’ll be at secondary next year – and if she’s got a phone at least ah’ll know she’s safe.’
‘Whit does Jimmy think?’
‘He thinks it’s daft but you know Jimmy – whatever Anne Marie wants she gets in the end.’
‘Aye, lassies can aye wind their daddies round their little fingers.’
‘And to be fair, Anne Marie doesnae really ask for much, no when you hear aboot some of them.’
‘Naw, she’s a good lassie.’
‘These pay as you go wans are dead cheap and you cannae run up bills on them. But don’t say anythin to her.’
‘Ah’ll no. It’s hard tae believe she’s twelve this year. It’s amazin how the time flies.’
‘You’re tellin me.’
Ah left Mammy at the hoose and went doon tae the beach. Jimmy had built an enormous sandcastle, wi turrets and a moat, and Anne Marie was decoratin it wi shells.
‘Yous’ve been busy.’
Ah started tae pick up shells, toty pale pink and lilac conches buried in the sand. ‘Here. How aboot these?’
‘Thanks, Mammy. Ah’ll put them round the turrets.’
‘When you’ve finished we’d better get up the road – remember we’re gaun oot for wer dinner the night.’
‘Plenty of time.’ Jimmy pulled aff his tee shirt. ‘C’mon, who’s fur a swim?’
‘Ah’ve no got ma swimsuit on.’
‘So whit? Race yous.’
He ran across the beach, Anne Marie and me followin, mair slowly; it’s too hard tae run on sand, the wee bits of shell and seaweed jag intae yer feet if you don’t take the time tae pick yer way between them. Ah stood at the edge of the water, dippin ma toes in the ripples, then Jimmy started tae splash me and ah splashed him back and the next thing ah knew ah was soaked tae the skin. Ah moved further intae the water; it was freezin and ma shorts and tee shirt felt heavy and clingin round me but the sun was burnin ma heid and ah could hear the seagulls cryin. The sand sloped away suddenly and ah stood waist high in water. Jimmy grabbed me, liftin me high oot the water then doon and ah caught ma breath for a minute and shut ma eyes, feelin the cauld water and the heat aff the sun and the nearness of him all at once. He jumped me again, pushin me high in the air then lettin me doon again, and the two of us stood there, just lookin at each other. Him silhouetted against the sun, his face dark and his hair glintin bright and he was laughin.
Ah peeled aff ma wet claes, chucked them intae the washin basket and jumped under the shower. It was roastin and ah turned the dial round tae make it even hotter, staundin there wi ma eyes shut, feelin the heat surround me. Ah could hear music – must be in the next room but it was muffled as if it was far away and ah could just make it oot. ‘Material Girl’. Anne Marie was obsessed wi Madonna.
Ah dried masel, wrapped ma dressin gown round me and opened the bathroom cabinet.
