**Childhood Sweethearts**
*Diary Entry*
Mum, can I wear the blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?
The blue one? Whys that?
Because Katie Evans said it looks nice on meit matches my eyes!
Well, if Katie said so, of course you can wear it.
Alex, pleased with himself, ran off to play with his older brother, William, who had already started school. That evening, Mum told Dad about the blue shirt and how it suited Alexs eyes. Dad chuckled and ruffled his youngest sons hair.
So, son, do you like Katie?
Yeah. Im gonna marry her.
Is that so? Well, first youll need to finish school, maybe even university, *then* you can get married.
Thats ages away Alex frowned.
Dad, can I marry her tomorrow?
Tomorrow? Where would you live, son?
Here, obviously, Alex replied, confused.
Whose house? Katies?
No, Daddy! Alex blinked up at him. Katie would live at hers, and Id live here.
Doesnt work like that, lad. If you marry her, youd have to bring her home and live together. Youd have to work, and Katie would go to nursery, then school, then uni.
And me? Alexs eyes welled up.
Youd have to work, too, to take care of your family.
Whats wrong? Why are you crying? Mum knelt beside him.
Mummy, I *do* want to marry Katie, but I dont want to work yet! I want to go to nursery, then school and Dad said His little voice wobbled.
Then just wait till youre older, love. You can marry her then.
But what if someone else takes her before then?
Who would?
Dunno maybe Tommy or Jake.
Well, if shed go off with someone else, shes not worth it, is she?
The next morning, Alex marched straight up to Katiea girl in a red velvet dress, with a big bow in her long blonde hairtook her hand, and declared, Im going to marry you, Evans!
She studied him for a moment, then turned away. No.
Alex stomped his foot. I *said* Im marrying you! Just not yet, alright? He caught her hand again, peering into her eyes. Later. Promise?
Why not now? she asked. Tommy and Lily got married yesterday.
Thats pretend! Ours will be *real*.
Fine. She nodded, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.
At school, Alex demanded the teacher seat him next to Katie. She refused, placing Katie with another pupil instead. Undeterred, Alex plonked himself down beside her.
Im marrying Evans when I grow up.
The class erupted in giggles. Ooooh, lovey-dovey!
Quiet! the teacher snapped. And whats your name?
Alex.
Alex, youre far too young to be thinking about marriage. Go sit in your proper seat, please.
No! Katie, *tell* her Im marrying you.
Katie just smiled.
Well, Miss Evans? What do you say? the teacher asked.
Were getting *properly* married when were grown up. Not like Tommy and Lilytheirs was just nursery games.
The teacher sighed. Very well. Sit together.
Katie was the queen of his heart. He carried her bag, shielded her from dogs and bullies, even dragged her to the nurse when she scraped her knee. In secondary school, he confessed properly.
And Katie? She just smiled and walked away, chin high.
Im *still* marrying you, Evans! he shouted after her. Hear me?
Then Jake, a boxer with his own car, started hanging around Katie. Alex took bruises but never backed down. One day, three lads cornered him.
Oi, kid, one sneered. Come here.
If you want me, *you* come here.
Cheeky little”
Ive got a name, mate. Anyway, back off Katie. Shes *my* girl. He turned his back, expecting a blowbut suddenly, Katie was there, swinging a fence plank like a sword. His brother and mates came charging, called by Lily, Katies best friend.
That night, cleaned up under the tap, they slathered each other with antiseptic and laughed till it hurt. Walking her home, Katie stopped at her door.
Does it still hurt?
Nah. He grinned.
She kissed himtheir first real onewhile the lads tactfully looked away.
Sorry, Alex
For what? You were brilliant! Swinging that plank like Bruce Lee. Scares me, Evanshowm I meant to marry you if you fight like that?
She laughed.
Then came the army send-off. Katie didnt cling or cryjust stayed close.
Remember, Ill come back and marry you, yeah?
Yeah. For the first time since nursery, she said it. Alex? She blushed. Do you love me?
He scoffed. Evans, are you daft? Ive spent my *whole life* saying Ill marry you. Course I love you.
Letters flew back and forth, always ending with *love*. Then they stopped.
The telly showed boysdirty, ragged, but alive. Fighting.
Then three letters arrivedone for his parents, one for Katie, one for William. His was cheerful: hed been up north, seen penguins, told jokes. Mum and Katie laughed through tears.
That night, William cracked their childhood code. One wordjust onetold him where Alex *really* was. He cried, fists in his mouth, pillow muffling sobs. He wrote back, jokey as ever, ending with: *Dont forgetyouve still got to marry Evans. Or shell fetch that plank again.*
Then silence.
News footage showed soldiersboys, really.
Alex! Mum clutched her chest. Thats him! Hehe *smiled*!
The ambulance came for her. The doctor said, Hes alive. Wait for him.
Katie couldnt sleep. Dad smoked on the balcony with William.
You knew?
Yeah.
Good.
Katies dad rubbed his old bullet wound. Hold on, lad, he whispered. Youve still got to marry my girl.
He came home at dawn, sitting on the bench, listening to birds. William stepped onto the balcony.
Smokings bad for you, Alex called.
Sos being a smart-arse.
Hi.
Welcome back, little brother.
A few hours later, slightly tipsy on joy, Alex yelled up at Katies window: Evans! Im here to marry you!
No one told him off. The whole street knewtheir soldier was home.
Mum, Dad, can I *finally* get married? Alex spun before the mirror.
Get dressed, groom, they laughed. Before she changes her mind.
She wont. Ive waited *years* for this.
**
Mum, Im getting married.
Oh? When?
Tomorrow.
And whos the lucky lady, Michael?
Emily Evans. From my class.
Does Dad know?
Yeah. He said talk to Grandad first. So Im doing it tomorrow.
**
Well, Grandad? Did you talk to him? Mum laughed.
Aye. History repeats itselfanother Evans girl, stealing our boys hearts. Dad grinned.
Alexs dad, now Michaels grandad, shook his head. Those Evans women
