He heard the front door open, then close. When she came back she looked at him questioningly. “Why?” he said.

“Because I’ve always wanted to. Remember when I stayed with you that night?” He nodded. “I wanted it to happen, but I didn’t know how to tell you. I expect you wanted to but thought it was wrong, what with my age and everything.”

“Not just that. I was completely unprepared. I never dreamed it could happen then. I was so stupid and naive.” He smiled. “Young love, eh?”

She smiled back at him, then held out her hand. He took it, then stood up and let her lead him to the bedroom. Before they went in, he said, “You know that, after today, we’ll never meet again? No letters, no cards, no visits?” She looked at him, still smiling, her eyes welling with tears, nodding slowly. She went into the bedroom and he followed.

* * * * * * * * *

Yes, he thought, as he sat on the top deck of the bus on the way back to Brixton tube station, that’s probably how things would have turned out. If I’d gone back, if she’d called out. Smiling sadly, he let the memories slip slowly away, soothing him like a long, hot bath. By the time he got on the tube, his thoughts had returned to the presentation that lay ahead.

* * * * * * * * *

She opened the door and saw a sad-looking Melissa staring up at her. A man was walking quickly to the end of the building. She stared for a moment, thinking that there was something about the way he moved that was familiar, before turning her attention to her daughter. “Are you alright love?”

“Yes. There was a man. He chased away those children who bully me. He was nice, not like someone who I should run away from. Look, he gave me these.” She held out the pear drops.

“Come in and tell me and your gran all about it.”

Melissa told them. Before she got to the end, her mum was crying gently and gran was comforting her. “What’s wrong, mum?” she said after she’d finished.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” her mother replied.

Return to stories