A Special Bond
Tommy was sure he was in for it nownot from the school bully, Jake, but from his own mum.
He whistled as he walked home, but his stomach churned. He was going to get it good this time.
Auntie Margaret, his mums friend, had seen him with a cigarette. He couldve lied, said someone handed it to him, but noshed seen him puffing away. What was he supposed to tell his mum? That someone shoved it in his mouth and said, “Here, have a drag”?
Tommy pretended not to notice Auntie Margaret, and luckily, she didnt shout or clip him round the earjust gave him a long, knowing look before walking off.
But Tommy wasnt fooled. He knew shed already told his mum, whod be waiting with the slipper. He was on his third lap around the block when he spotted Gran.
Oh no. Heavy artillery. The forbidden movenow Gran would start crying, going on about how shed raised hundreds of children as a respected schoolteacher, yet failed her own grandson. How ashamed she was, how his grandad must be turning in his grave, along with all their ancestors.
When Tommy was little, that bit terrified him. He imagined the ground shifting as the dead twisted in their graves. But one day, when Gran started up again, he shrugged and said, “Good, keeps em from getting bedsores like old Mrs. Jenkins down the road.”
Gran clutched her chest. Mum burst out laughing, forgetting to wallop himthen got a tea towel whipped at her by Gran for laughing.
Now, Gran hurried toward him.
“Whatre you doing out here? Why arent you home?” she demanded, eyes darting like she was the one caught smoking. “Fallen out with your mum?”
“N-no I havent even been home yet.”
“What dyou mean? Whereve you been all this time?”
“School, then football practice, then walking.”
Gran narrowed her eyes. “Whats this, then?” She grabbed his hands. “Red as lobsters! Where are your gloves? Eh?”
“Forgot em at home, Gran.”
“Forgot? What kind of excuse is that? And your mumwhy didnt she check? Whats she playing at?” She yanked up his trouser leg and gasped. “And no thermals? In this weather? And wheres your scarf?”
Tommy burned with shame, especially when he spotted Jake watching from the alley, his red baseball cap bobbing. Oh, Gran, whyd you have to do this? Was she losing it? Shed always been sharp as a tack before.
“Gran whats five times five?”
“Twenty-five,” she said, baffled.
“Whats the square of the hypotenuse?”
“The sum of the squares of the other two sides Tommy, whats got into you? Didnt you do your homework? She didnt even check? I wont stand for thiscome on, were going home. Look at the state of things!”
WaitGran was on *his* side? Maybe hed dodge Mums lecture after all. Had he slipped into a parallel universe? Was Gran even Gran?
“Gran which sides my appendix scar on?”
“Right side. What scar? You never had your appendix out.”
Okay, she was definitely Gran.
She dragged him home by the wrist, muttering under her breath.
Mum was in the kitchen, cooking something delicious. She wore her nice dress, curls pinned up, new earringsand *heels* at home? What was going on?
“Tommy, love!” She hugged him tight. “Get washed up, dinners nearly ready. Mum, you staying?”
“Whys the boy roaming the streets? Scared to come home, is he? Well done, well donetreating your own flesh and blood like this! Where are his gloves? His thermals? Its freezing! But no, you dont care, do you? Too busy with *him*”
“Mum, *stop*. Are you eating with us or not?”
“No! Im done here. And you know what?” She turned to Tommy. “Pack your things, love. Youre coming to live with me.”
“What? No!”
“Tommy stays here,” Mum said firmly. “With his family.”
“*What* family? You threw it all away! Tommy, get your stuff!”
Mum grabbed Grans arm and marched her out to the landing, slamming the door. Gran shrieked about calling the police, demanding custody, something about a convict.
Mum pulled Tommy into the living roomwhere a strange man sat, watching him warily.
“Tommy no point lying. This is your dad.”
Gran pounded on the door. Mum stood frozen. The mantall, thin, with Tommys eyesstood hesitantly.
“Hello son.”
Tommy recoiled.
“You said he was *dead*!”
“Annie” the man said weakly.
“*I* didnt, Tommy. *She* did,” Mum said, jerking her head toward the door. “Said it was better you thought that than knew the truth.”
The doorbell rang. Police.
“Annie, maybe I should go,” the man murmured.
“No. No more hiding. Tommy, well explain”
But Tommy snatched his jacket and bolted.
He ran blindly, tears blurring his vision. Who could he trust? His own family had lied to himbetrayed him.
“Oi, kid!” Jakes voice cut through the haze. Tommy ignored him, but Jake grabbed his arm. “Whos after you?”
“No one. Piss off.”
“Mate, its freezing. Youll catch your death. Come on, my place.”
Jakes flat smelled of stale takeaway, but it was clean. Posters of Oasis, Queen, and The Clash covered the wallsstuff Mum never let Tommy put up.
“Tea?” Jake asked.
Tommy nodded, stomach growling.
“Fancy some pasta n sardines?”
“Uh sure.”
Jake boiled the pasta, fried onions, then mixed in a tin of sardines. Tommy had never tasted anything so good.
They drank tea from chipped mugs, sugar cubes wrapped in little train-printed paper.
“Look, dunno your deal, but Im Jake. Jake Wilson.”
“Whyd they call you Jake the Snake?”
“Dunno. Just stuck.”
Jake played guitar, singing *Wonderwall*. Tommy joined in.
“Your lotll be going spare. Best get back.”
Tommy scowled.
Jake sighed. “Having a dads *boss*, mate. Mines goneMum says hes an astronaut.”
“Really?”
“Nah. Shes a flight attendantbrought me home from a trip. No family, just us. But shes kept me, yeah? Dont be daft, Tommy. Sort it out. Grown-ups mess up too.”
Tommy hugged him tight.
Back home, the truth spilled outhow Gran had lied, intercepted letters, how Dad had thought Mum remarried. How theyd reconnected years later.
“Why?” Tommy asked Gran.
“I wanted what was best for you.”
“What about *him*?”
Gran wept. “Forgive me.”
At Tommys birthday, Jake gave him a Queen posterMum even let him hang it.
He forgave them all. Like Jake saidgrown-up problems werent his.
Gran took Jake under her wing, feeding him roast dinners. He aced maths, of all things.
Years later, they still meet at the pub, singing *Dont Look Back in Anger*, eating sardine pasta like its gourmet.
And Dad? Tommy loves him. Theres half-siblings nowall get along. But with Dad, its different.
A special bond.
