Life has a way of surprising you.
Tommy, sniffling in the cold, was dragging a dry pine log on a large sled. It had fallen right at the edge of the villagetechnically, he wasnt supposed to take it, but old Arthur, the local woodsman, had given him a nod. “Wait till dark,” hed said.
The boy strained against the weight, his breath fogging in the frosty air.
“Tommy! Tommy!” A voice called outsharp-eyed Lucy, his classmate, came bounding over.
“What dyou want?”
“Let me help.”
She was a live wire, that onewhere did a lass get such strength? Still, it was easier with two. They hitched themselves to the sled and hauled together.
“Whos watching the little ones, Tom?”
“Gran, who else? Mums at work.”
“Ah. I came by with your homework, but your door was locked. Andy told me through the window youd gone toward the woods. Said you told them to stay put.”
“Had to lock it”
“Is she still running off?”
“Aye, keeps trying to go back to England, to her own mum.”
“Oh, the poor dear. Hurts herself and you lot along with her.”
“Mmm.”
They dragged the log to Tommys house.
“Cheers, Luce.”
“Dont mention it. Get the sawwell chop it quick.”
“I can manage. Youve helped enough.”
“Oh, aye? You gonna nick at it with a handsaw, or shall we do it proper?”
Laughing, they took up the saw together, and soon neat firewood lay split on the ground.
Inside, little Andy and baby Annie pressed their faces to the window. Tommy hefted the axe and drove it clean into a log, splitting it with practiced ease. Lucy gathered the wood chips while he worked.
Once theyd stacked a pile, they carried it inside. Tommy stoked the stove, and soon warm light flickered across the ceiling.
The room grew cosy.
“Shall I make soup? Auntie Lizll be back lateone less thing for her to do.”
“Nah, were all right,” Tommy muttered, flushing. “Granll manage.”
“Oh, no, no, Tom,” Andy piped up. “Let Lucy do it! Remember last time Gran made that awful stew? Threw in cabbage, peas, even Mums dill seedsreckoned theyd help Annies cold! Couldnt eat it!”
“Ill cook,” Lucy said firmly. “Andy, help me.”
“Whore you, then?” A frail voice rasped from the stoveGran, wrapped in shawls and an old coat, peered at them.
“Gran, get down, its warm now.”
“Freezin, my Danny.”
“Danny? Its me, Tommy. Your grandson.”
“Oh? Wheres Danny gone?”
“Away hell be back soon.”
“Is she talking about Uncle Dan?” Lucy whispered.
Tommy shrugged. He hated this conversation.
Dan was his fatherMums husband. Hed run off to his fancy woman, left Gran with them, and just before winter, too, the rotten cheat. Slaughtered the pigs, took the meat, even led away their only cow and the heifer, Daisy. Mum had begged him”At least leave the heifer, well raise her for milk!”
But hed laughed. “What sort of man comes to his bride empty-handed?”
Tommy had hated him since.
Liz came home to find the children huddled by the stove. Andy whispered, “Mum, its warm! Tom got wood, him and Lucy chopped it, and she made soupproper good! Grans been wandering again. We caught her twice.”
Liz smiled faintly, ruffling Andys messy hair.
“Tom its too much for you.”
“Sall right, Mum.”
After supper, Liz mended clothes. A knock came at the window.
“Tom, see who it is.”
The door burst open, letting in a gust of icy airVal, bundled up, stamped snow off her boots.
“Blimey, its bitter! Gonna hit minus five tonight, mark my words. Liz, I brought cracklings and a bit of lardhere.”
“Val, you shouldnt”
“Rubbish! You got flour?”
“A bit.”
“Right, heres two pints of milkfroze it last winterand some eggs. Youll manage till spring, then gardens get planted, eh? Dont fret over seeds, John says well share ours. And listen” She leaned in, whispering.
Liz paled. “Val, what if they find out?”
“Who? You think folks are snooping? Our sows due any daydont fret. Well manage.”
Two nights later, Val slipped in with a piglet no bigger than a mitten.
“You sure?” Liz whispered.
“Course. Born weakthirteen in the litter, this ones the strongest.”
Next day, Liz was called to the farm office.
“Mum,” Tommy choked, “maybe itll be all right?”
“Dunno, love. Watch the little ones.”
The foremanDans old matewouldnt meet her eyes. “Take a piglet, Liz. Valll pick a good one. Maybe two?”
“Howll I feed them?”
“Youve milk now. Come April, the farmll give you a heifer.”
She nodded stiffly.
“Liz” he called as she left. “Im sorry. About Dan. Never thought hed well. If you need anythingwood, spudsjust ask.”
So Liz carried onkids, Gran losing her mind, Tommy shouldering too much, Lucy helping where she could. Even Andy pitched in.
They raised the pigletthen two more, tails curled, snouts rooting.
One evening, a neighbour called out.
“Liz, love! Let Tommy fix my roofIll pay in cracklings!”
“No, ta. Hes not working for scraps.”
“Suit yourself. Heard from my cousinsaw Dan with that tart of his, laughing on a sled. Kids near starving, and him? Couldnt care less.”
“Who says were starving?” Liz snapped, hurrying off.
She hid in the shed, sobbinguntil scratching at the door.
“Mum? You in there?”
“Liz Im a burden. I know it.”
Liz gasped. Gran clutched a rope.
“Whatre you doing? Give it here!” She snatched it away. “Why? What have I done?”
They wept togetherLiz holding Grans weathered face.
“Come inside. Well bake tarts tonight.”
By spring, Gran took to her bed, calling for Dan.
Liz refused to fetch him.
John went instead. Dan sent money”For the funeral”but didnt come.
The village judged him, of course. But what did he care?
Hed married Liz on a whimshed been assigned to the village, small, shy. Hed never seen a girl like her. Took what he wanted, and shed just cried.
Then she was pregnant. Well, he wasnt a monsterhe married her. Grew fond, even. Good wife, kept his mum happy.
Then he met Rubyfiery, intoxicating. Thought itd be a fling, but she coiled round him like ivy.
Left. Closed his eyes and jumped.
Kids? Hed grown up fine without a dad. Theyd manage. Ruby promised him more.
But seeing Tommy turn awayknife to the heart. The little ones barely remembered him.
Folks called him a devil. Maybe they were right.
At the fresh grave, Dan knelt.
“Forgive me, Mum.”
“She did, Dan. At the end, she knew.”
Liz stood behind him.
“You here?” he growled.
“Brought food. Christian custom.” She held out a flask. “Drink. Remember her.”
Silence.
“Ill go. You talk to her.”
“Will she hear?”
“She will. A mothers heart always does.” Liz sighed. “Lifes just like that, Dan. Twists you up and spins you blind. Dan uncorked the flask, hands trembling, and poured a drop onto the frost-stiffened earth. “Mum,” he whispered, “Im sorry.” The wind carried his words like smoke. Back at the house, Tommy stood in the doorway, watching the woods where the first light of spring was breaking through the pines. Lucy joined him, handing over a chipped mug of tea. “Shes gone,” he said. “Grans at peace.” Lucy nodded. “So are you.” Tommy looked at the horizon, where the sky softened from grey to gold, and for the first time in years, he breathed deepno weight, no hunger, just the quiet promise of days ahead. Inside, the stove hummed, the piglets squealed, and Annie laughed, reaching for the light.
