by Paul Jones.
David takes us into town after judo there’s a festival on bold street
why are we getting the bus
no parking
are you gonna have beer like last time dad
might have one
he says
he was drunk
no I wasn’t
he was he was slurring his words and falling all over the place
don’t exaggerate Emily
we carry on walking but she whispers dead loud
he was
if you say so
there’s stalls and there’s food and some actors in the street following people up and down walking right up behind them the same as what they do and when they turn round they stop doing it act normal David says
this used to be the cool street when I was a student drinking earl grey in the tabac and going all the clubs and the musicians used to hang out here and drink coffee in the afternoon
his dad was from Liverpool and that’s why he came Sophie’s at her Zumba class but said
I’ll come and meet you
David bumps into his mate john the art teacher got his little one on his shoulders and she’s pulling up his eyebrows and his glasses are round coming down on his nose got a beard
this is john
alright wee ones how yous doing
doesn’t look like a teacher he looks like a hippy
we’re fine
says Emily
thank you for asking
this is tommy
says David
shakes my hand and kneels down
this is Elizabeth
hiya
big smile I like his accent he sounds like David Tennant they’re talking for ages me and Emily get bored she takes hold of David’s hand and says
dad
he ignores her
dad
what darling we’re talking
we’re just going to look over there
don’t go far
we won’t I promise
stay where I can see you
we will
we will
we walk off to the stall with the masks it feels big full of lively walking off in the sunshine like we’re best friends forever and forever and we are cause we promised and that’s important.
Feel older like everyone’s looking
who’s that big lad dead handsome and cool looking after his sister
I walk up in front in case people bump into her if anyone hassles Emily I’ll batter them probably do some judo
and the winner is
lift my arm in the air boxing gloves red fingers pinch soft on my elbow eyes go
let’s check that out
papier mache masks that the women on the stall made
can we put them on
I ask Emily’s hand on her mouth
course you can
says the woman with the orange hair she comes round to the front got a stud in her nose and tattoos down her arm she’s dead friendly and lovely lifts up the head with the glasses and the freckles and the tongue sticking out
are you ready
I nod Emily’s smile goes all the way round the woman puts it down on my head soft and
There you go
but I feel it on my shoulders and it’s sweaty inside and my breathing’s all hot when I move my head sideways it stays where it is like ned Kelly what I saw with my grandy
go to bed
I’m alright
Go to bed lad
so I bring my face round to the front and look through were the eyes are my head it looks down Emily’s feet little converse only messing ones up to see David still talking far off and I turn back to Emily all the voices sound hidden lifts the mask off and the sunlight the noises
how was it
it was boss
would you like to try one lovely
try one Emily
nah
she says shakes her head like she’s shy
go on try one
I say
I’m okay thanks
okay then have a lovely day you two
thank you
nice to meet you
you too
we go walking downhill past the jugglers and a sweet stall loads of people got busy there’s drums banging knees smacking and a big load of clowns all come marching down Bold Street see the church in the distance bombed out different colours all yellow green orange and their playing kazoos banging drums slapping cymbals got banners and flags equal rights for clowns and
when do we want it now
what do we want
giant shoe shops
when do we
get out the way quick
now
stand in between a sausage stall and one with loads of badges blowing whistles party blowers going past us banging cymbals big red braces loads of make up this is boss me and Emily are laughing and the sausages smell lovely hear the onions frying pressed up in the corner
we should gets some
let’s find David
someone hits me on the backbone like a sharp pain like a knuckle.
What were you saying
Cully’s voice
gone cold inside
little prick think you’re funny
grabs hold of my hand and he squeezes my fingers all tight bones together
leave him
shut up ya little bitch
push Cully with my other hand the clowns going past us he grabs my wrist fast bends it backwards
get off him
look at him crying
says Smigger
no I’m not
yeah you are
Cully looks down and
fucking hell what are they
Smigger laughing and pointing at my trainees
who made them ya ma
she bought them for him actually
says Emily making it worse
what from her dole money
they’re laughing like they’re brilliant
his ma’s a scrubber me dad said
she fucking isnt
she fucking is
you saying his dad’s a liar
she’s a dirty little prozzy and she probably got the money from
what the bleeding hell’s going on here
there’s a man all skinny standing close right behind them ducks down between the stalls and grabs Cully’s arm pulls him off me
little bastard think you’re hard do ye
Cully and Smigger shit themselves I look up at the man my insides turn over I can feel my heart banging
when do we want it now
it’s me Tommy
what do we want
don’t you recognise me
giant shoe shops
I’m your dad.
Emily’s mouth like a tunnel tiny spit between her lips
I see you do that again
he says holding Cully by the scruff of the neck his hand looks massive Smigger’s crying on the pavement and squeezing into a doorway
I’ll knock ye into the middle of next week
Cully’s eyes are all big and there’s tears coming down see his bottom lip going and his leg’s going weird
don’t care how old you are
he lets go of Cully lets him drop on the floor Smigger squeezes out and grabs him tries to pulls him back but Cully won’t move when my dad turns round big issue on his bag Smigger clocks it see a smile disappear thoughts dive the man’s looking at me he’s got stubble and a badge
Emily
David’s voice
big issue
he sounds scared
Tommy
all the clowns have gone hear the drums beat down church street Cully runs off with Smigger towards central like a shithouse Emily screams after them
bye pumpkin
don’t Emily
why not
just don’t
my dad smiles teeth white and horsey 2 front ones from another mouth
emily
sees me looking at his badge and looks away towards the bombed out church Smigger saw it I know he did he’s going to tell everyone David moves between some women standing right up close now
is everything okay
Emily hugs him got her face in his belly says
Tommy’s dad saved us
what
two boys from Tommy’s school were being mean and they said nasty things and they swore
David offers up his hand and my dad the man shakes it
I’m David
Thomas
pleased to meet you
you too
his eyes look inside himself and tiptoe round his past
it was great to see you son
shakes my hand all dry and hard stiffens up like a soldier there’s a quiet bit when we’re all speaking without words
here
he says he pulls out some coins and gives us both a pound
what do you say kids
says David
thank you
thank you
no worries
I’d best be getting them back
says David
yeah
says the man I knew he was in the army I just knew it his back’s dead straight like on guard we start walking the coin feels all hot in my hand like a nugget he shouts over softly
can I see you again.
We stop in the street he’s still there on the pavement where we left him by the stall like he’s asking permission to come over but he can’t cause its me who decides but I don’t I look down at the streamers and the cobbles and my trainees David goes over talks for a minute their mobiles come out and shake hands and a smile David leaves him I wave just a little not a real one like a hello maybe see you feel the coin inside my pocket burning up like all my feelings it’s still hot just like his hand is don’t look back I keep on moving emily’s fingers brush my elbow paper cranes come flying down from the bombed out church they pass us landing gently in the gutters and the doorways.
(Author’s note: This extract is taken from chapter 9 of my novel, Patterdale. I’ve chosen it as it’s when Tommy’s dad, the elusive Thomas, reappears in Tommy’s life to stop him being bullied. Thomas is now homeless, and his intervention creates a mixture of pride and shame for Tommy.
Patterdale is based on my story of the same name. The novel picks up where the short story ends and follows Tommy as he tries to rebuild his relationship with his mum, adapt to life with his foster family, and deal with the return of his dad.)