MEETING MOTHER 1962
A Story by Terry Collett
A BOY AND GIRL AND THE MEETING OF HER MOTHER IN 1962.
Shoshana waits by the bus stop shed told her mother she was going to the
village shop and her mother said to get a small list of items which
were not too heavy but as she was going there she might as well get them
now she has to go to the shop and buy the items and get back to the bus
stop in time to see if Naaman actually does turn up as he said he would
at school the previous day the bus stop is by the village green where
in summer cricket matches are played and in winter football is played
between local teams Shoshana isnt over happy that Naaman is coming to
the village to see her not because she doesnt want to see him because
she does but because of the smallness of the village where everyone
knows each others business or tried to do and she knew that if she was
seen with a boy around the village it would be reported back to her
mother before the sunset but she didnt want to put Naaman off coming in
case he thought she didnt want to see him when she did and she didnt
want to try and explain about the nosiness of the village as it may have
appeared as small-mindedness- she stands at the bus stop with the small
bag of items at her feet looking in the direction the bus will come Mrs
Crabshaw was waiting there too her thin features and narrow eyes made
her witch-like despite the fact that her husband Mr Crabshaw is the
church warden Shoshana looks away from her and stares in the direction
of the hill where the bus will come going into town? Mrs Crabshaw asks
her no Im waiting for someone Shoshana says o I see Mrs Crabshaw says a
relative? no Shoshana says a friend of mine o thats good it is good to
have friends Mrs Crabshaw says the bus comes over the hill and Shoshana
is glad but also nervous as she will be seeing Naaman alone on her own
ground not at school not surrounded by other kids the bus draws up at
the stop and a few people get off the last one is Naaman who is dressed
in a blue tee shirt and blue jeans and black battered shoes hi Shoshana
he says she nods and smiles unsure what to say watching Mrs Crabshaws
beady eyes staring at Naaman as she got on the bus the bus drives off
and Mrs Crabshaw was gazing out of the back window of the bus so this is
your village Naaman says small and quaint isnt it she watches the bus
go out of sight yes it is a bit she says turning her gaze to Naaman he
is smiling that Elvis smile(other girls had told her at school) is there
a coffee bar we can go to? he asks no not a coffee shop but there is a
tea shop over the green but its a bit old fashion she says I see he says
looking around him I best take you home with me she says otherwise it
will be all around the village before my mum knows Ive been seeing you
ok if thats ok with you he says is she expecting me? not exactly but Im
sure shell be pleased to see you Shoshana says uncertain if her mother
will but knowing she must show him and explain or it will be worse if
her mother finds out by gossip they walk along a narrow road off from
the village green and she is silent not sure what to say he walks beside
her taking in the scenery you didnt mind me coming here did you? he
asks out of the blue no of course not its just that I havent mentioned
you yet to my parents and Im not sure quite what to say she says o I
see he says Im sure it will be ok parents are only concerned about their
childrens friends and welfare I guess so she says they come to the
cottages the left hand side where she lives with her parents and she
opens the gate and he follows her in and they come to the front door and
she opens up and go into the passageway Im back Shoshana says and I
have brought a friend with me she adds looking along the passage hoping
her mother will come out from the kitchen there is silence maybe shes
out Naaman says no she was here a while ago Shoshana says Naaman looks
around the passageway the door at the end opens and her mother comes in
from the garden o youre back then her mother says and who is this?
Shoshana blushes Im Naaman a friend of your daughter Naaman says nodding
and smiling o I see her mother says eyeing Naaman carefully then at her
daughter a school friend Shoshana says hes a boy her mother says yes he
is Shoshana says youve not mentioned a boy before her mother says not
known each other long Naaman says we share an interest in birds and
butterflies and such o I see Shoshanas mother says Shoshana feels ill at
ease I got the items from the shop you wanted she says put them in the
kitchen then her mother says eyeing her daughter you best come into the
kitchen Naaman her mother says cant have you standing in the passageway
all the time can we o no right Naaman says I like the colour of the
walls compared to the doors they have a good link to the eyes do they?
the mother says yes Naaman says have a homely feel relaxing kind of
thing the mother stares at her daughter I see the mother says tea? do
you drink tea? walking into the kitchen Shoshana puts the items on a
sideboard and sits at the table and Naaman sits opposite her I drink tea
he says but without sugar he adds looking at the mother and smiling
Shoshana feels unsure of how things are going but it is nice that at
last Naaman is there with her and only a few inches away from and now
her mother knows and that is just the beginning of matters after Naaman
has gone the interrogation will begin the questions will be asked and
needed to be answered and she knows her mother will tell her father and
they will say to her you are just a young girl of fourteen too soon to
be thinking of boys and why did he come here? now it will be all around
the village and you know how people will talk and so on and so the
mother makes tea in a teapot putting the items away in cupboards with
her back to them Naaman reaches across the table and holds her hand in
his then lifts her hand to his lips and kisses it gently and she blushes
and smiles and feels an opening up inside her and a new world begin
expand sensing the kiss on the back of her hand.
© 2015 Terry Collett
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Author
Terry CollettUnited Kingdom
About
Terry Collett has been writing since 1971 and published on and off since 1972. He has written poems, plays, and short stories. He is married with eight children and eight grandchildren. on January 27t.. more..
Writing
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