M in the Middle by The Students of Limpsfield Grange School

Author:The Students of Limpsfield Grange School
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784502867
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published: 2016-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

And take the note out to the landing. Mum reads it and says,

“I just wish, wish, you could have done that earlier M. James’s mum should know where they are” and she walks downstairs making a call, and Dad says,

“If you’d have just said or written that two hours ago I wouldn’t have had to drive from The Oval and there would have been a lot less fuss and stress.”

Fuss, fuss, fuss and I’ve been told off. I did as they asked but still they told me off.

Broken promise.

* * *

I sit at the top of the stairs and listen to Mum and Dad.

“Yes, he’s at a hockey tournament. James’s mum said she’s arranged to drop him off…it’s a late one, apparently…”

“Didn’t you know?”

“Yes, well, now I remember, there’s a letter sent home…it’s in the drawer.”

MUM AND DAD SILENCE

“I think it needs to be a bit more organised here, Mandy.”

“Oh right, because you’re so organised? I couldn’t get in this room with your bloody guitars with no strings and albums strewn all over the floor. Do you really think you’ve a right to talk to me about organisation?”

“Always attacking, Amanda.”

MUM AND DAD SILENCE

“When did he start playing hockey?” asks Dad.

“He doesn’t. He’s volunteering to help with the team, on away matches. He doesn’t like being here very much.”

“It’s a bit of a mess Mandy.”

“Right, and you’ve got nothing to do with that?”

“At least when I lived here we knew where our kids were.”

“Oh Simon, can we just NOT argue again please. It’s just a bad evening. A very bad evening… Do you want a glass of wine?”

“I better not, I’m driving… Unless I stay?”

“I’ll make you a cup of tea.” And I hear Mum put the kettle on and SLAM cupboard doors and Dad asks,

“Do you think it would help…if…you know, I was here more?”

“What?”

“Sort a few things out in the house. Sort that cupboard door, that you’re always having to slam shut, and have you fixed the windscreen wiper on your car yet?”

“Not yet…I’m pretty busy, you know.”

“I was thinking maybe I could spend more time here.”

AND guitars and clutter and arguments zoom into my thoughts at 100 miles per hour! Broken guitar strings ping and shiny slippy album covers slide about in my head! Their voices go really quiet, so I have to go down a few more steps to hear them speak.

“Simon, are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“You never lifted a finger when you were here. And now you want to mend a cupboard door?”

“I knocked up a few meals.”

“About twice a year.”

“OK…so maybe I could have done more.”

“A lot more.”

“We were together a long time. I mean we have got two kids and maybe they deserve us to try a bit more and keep the family together.”

Then Mum’s voice gets really loud. I go back up a few steps.

“God! Were you so oblivious to how much I tried to keep this family together?”

“Yes, but M did put a strain on us at times.”

STRAIN STRAIN STRAIN

And Dad continues,

“And I’ve had

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