Me Mam. Me Dad. Me by Malcolm Duffy

Author:Malcolm Duffy [Duffy, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786697639
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Twenty-Six

• •

Closed me eyes, expecting the blow any second. But it never came. Stevie was still there, in front of me, but his arms were by his sides, and his hands were no longer fists.

‘I thought you were going to hit me.’

‘So did I,’ said Stevie. ‘So did I.’

‘I divvent want to go back to Gateshead.’

‘So you keep saying.’ He let out two big puffs of air from his nose. ‘I’m gonna let you stay.’

I didn’t think he’d ever change his mind, not in a million years. But sometimes the things in life you think won’t ever happen actually happen. Could hardly believe me lugs.

‘Honest?’

‘Honest.’

This is what is officially known as a miracle.

‘Listen, Danny. I have no idea why you came up here, and in four days’ time you are going back home. After that you will never, I mean never, try to contact me again, do you hear me?’

Nodded.

‘I’m sorry for what I did,’ he said.

‘You didn’t do anything.’

‘But I nearly did.’ He looked away. ‘I don’t hit kids.’ Did that mean he might hit men? ‘I’d never hurt you, Danny. Let’s just draw a line under it.’ Stevie looked dead sad. ‘I’ve been a total idiot. I should have told Megan. I mean, you could have turned up when we were married, you could have turned up any time. I just wish you’d told me you were coming.’ Then he looked me dead in the eyes. ‘In the few days we have left together let’s try not to wind each other up. Deal?’

‘Deal.’

Stevie put out his little hand. I shook it. Strong handshake for a skinny bloke.

Things were getting better and better. There was still a chance I could get what I came for.

‘So what do you want to do today?’

‘Have you got a football?’

‘No, but the shops have.’

We grabbed our coats and went to a sports shop in Stevie’s Mini. He went in and came back with a ball. Opened the car door and threw it to me. A white leather one, perfect.

‘Ta,’ I said, grinning.

Stevie drove to a park, and we walked across to a football pitch. Seeing as it was a school week there was nobody on it. Stevie grabbed the ball off me and kicked it a million miles up. I ran after it, got the ball at me feet. Game on. I looked back at Stevie, sitting on a bench. Game off.

I dribbled the ball over to him.

‘Not playing?’

‘No.’

Stevie knew how to punish me, buy a ball and then not kick it with me. I went over to the goal and practised penalties. Bit stupid doing that when there’s no goalie. Even stupider when the nets aren’t up. Took ages to get the ball back. Even with no goalie I still managed to miss a couple of spot kicks. How crap is that? Decided to practise corners. Again, a bit stupid with no one to aim at. I never get bored playing football, but I was getting bored now.

‘Call that an in-swinger?’

Turned round. It was Stevie.

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