Muscling Through by JL Merrow Read Free Book Online Page B

respect, Larry?”
    “Er, yes, I suppose so. Well, you know.” Larry looked a bit nervous.
    “I’m glad to hear it, love. Now, are we going to go have a cup of tea, or are we going to stand around nattering all afternoon? Don’t know about you, but I’m spitting feathers, as my old Nan used to say!”
    We had tea in the lounge bar. We had to walk through this circular room with the biggest chandelier I ever seen. “I’m glad I’m not having to sit underneath that thing!” Mum said. “I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera —I know them things aren’t safe!” She jabbed Larry in the ribs with her elbow, and he stumbled and nearly fell over a table. I probably should’ve warned him she does that. “Oops! Sorry, love! Don’t know my own strength sometimes!”
    Larry laughed, though, so it was all right. “Well, I think I know where Al gets his impressive physique from, at any rate,” he said in his smooth voice, the one he uses when he wants people to like him. He was rubbing his stomach a bit, but I don’t think he was really hurt or nothing.
    “You reckon? There’s nothing of me in that boy. Not a bleedin’ thing. When the midwife give him to me, I said ‘Take him back, I asked for a small one!’ And she goes ‘Sorry, love, round here all sales are final!’ and hands me a flippin’ elephant! Bleedin’ massive, he was. If it’d been up to me, I’d still’ve been on the gas and air three weeks later. He’s the spit of his father, though, bless him.”
    “Al never really talks about his father,” Larry said, looking at Mum all interested.
    “He was a boxer. He’d just got out the nick for GBH when I met him down the pub. I was a barmaid back in them days. He’d broke some copper’s nose—well, I ask you! Should of known, shouldn’t I? Bloke who goes round beating up coppers ain’t the sort you want to be settling down with. Poor sod didn’t have two brain cells to rub together, neither.”
    “Mum,” I said, ’cause I didn’t like her talking about my dad like that.
    She gave me a hug, and I felt better. “His heart was in the right place, that’s what I always say. He always came round on your birthdays if he remembered, din’t he, love? And give me money and stuff, when he had it, which wasn’t often, but not for want of trying, was it? Now, where do we sit? You two lovebirds go on the sofa. Cuddle up a bit, don’t mind me!”
    “Mum,” I said, ’cause I felt a bit funny cuddling up with Larry in public. It’s daft, ’cause I’m dead proud of him—I mean, he’s the one who ought not to want to be seen with me. I guess I’m just a bit shy. So we sat on the sofa but a bit apart, and Mum had the chair on the other side of the table.
    “So where is he now?” Larry asked. “Al?” I’d been looking at the windows, which had stained glass in them like a church, except just in little round panels in the middle, not the whole window, and was wondering how they stained the glass and whether I could have a go at it. I had to think about what Larry meant.
    Mum knew, though. “Alan’s dad? Gawd knows. Ain’t seen him in years.”
    “Oh? But what about Al’s nieces and nephews? Doesn’t he want to be involved with his grandchildren?”
    “Oh, Lauren’s kids ain’t nothing to do with him. I met her dad when Alan was a toddler, we got married and everything. He lives down in London these days—reckons the money’s better. He’s a plumber. Gave my pipes a good seeing to, didn’t he?” Mum laughed, and so did Larry. “Lazy bugger, but at least he always sent the Child Support regular. Now, are we having the works, or just tea and a slice of cake?”
    “Oh, I thought we’d go for the full afternoon tea, if that’s all right with you?” Larry said all polite like. “I’m sure Al can help us out if we have trouble finishing it all.”
    “Too bloody right! Et me out of house and home, this one did, didn’t you, love? I swear, the day he moved out, the Tesco’s down our