**A Child’s Love**
“Mum, can I wear the blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?”
“The blue one? Why that one?”
“Because Emily Carter said it looks nice on meit matches my eyes!”
“Well, if Emily says so, then of course you can wear it.”
Tommy, pleased, ran off to play with his older brother, James, who was already in school. That evening, Mum told Dad about the blue shirt and how it suited Tommys eyes. Dad chuckled and ruffled his youngest sons hair.
“So, lad, do you like Emily?”
“Yeah. Im gonna marry her.”
“Is that right? Well, youll need to finish school first, get an education, then think about marriage.”
“Blimey, thats ages away” Tommy frowned.
“Dad, can I marry Emily tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? Where would you two live, son?”
“Here, obviously,” Tommy replied, confused.
“Whose house? Emilys?”
“No, Dad!” Tommys eyes widened. “Emily stays at hers, and I stay at ours.”
“Thats not how it works, lad. If you marry her, you bring her home. Youd have to work, and shed go to nursery, then school, then university.”
“What about me?” Tommys eyes welled up.
“Youd have to work to support your family.”
“Whats wrong? Why are you crying?” Mum knelt beside him.
“Mummy, I want to marry Emily, but I dont want to work yet. I want to stay in nursery, then school and Dad said waaaah!”
“No need to cry. Youll grow up and marry her then.”
“But by then, someone else might take her!”
“Who would?”
“Dunno maybe Harry or Ben.”
“Well, if someone else can take her, maybe shes not the one for you.”
The next morning, Tommy marched up to the girl in the red velvet dress, her long blonde hair tied with a big bow. He took her hand solemnly.
“Im going to marry you, Carter!”
Emily studied him for a moment, then turned away. “No!”
Tommy stomped his foot. “I said Im marrying you! Not now, alright, Em? Later, yeah?” He peered into her eyes.
“Why not now?” she asked. “Harry and Lily got married now.”
“Thats pretend! Ours will be real!”
“Alright,” Emily nodded, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.
In school, Tommy insisted the teacher seat him next to Emily. She refused, placing Emily beside another pupil. Tommy stubbornly squeezed in anyway.
“Im marrying Carter when I grow up.”
The children giggled. “Tommy and Emily, sitting in a tree!”
“Quiet, class!” the teacher scolded. “Whats your name?”
“Tommy.”
“Tommy, youre too young for such thoughts. Back to your seat, please.”
“No! Emily, tell her Im marrying you.”
Emily sat quietly, smiling.
“Well, miss, what do you say?” the teacher asked.
“Were getting married properly when were older, not like Harry and Lilytheyre just playing.”
The teacher sighed. “Very well, sit together.”
Emily was the queen of his heart. He carried her bag, shielded her from dogs, bullies, even teachers. Once, she fell and scraped her kneehe hauled her to the nurses office. Years later, in secondary school, he confessed properly.
And Emily? She just smiled and walked away, chin high.
“Ill still marry you, Carter!” he shouted after her. “Hear me?”
Then Ben started hanging around Emilya rugby lad with his own car, studying mechanics. Tommy took his bruises but never backed down. One evening, three lads cornered him.
“Oi, kid,” one sneered. “Come here.”
“You want me, you come get me.”
“Cheeky little git.”
“Got a name, mate. Anyway, listenback off our mates girl.”
“Your mate can say it himself. Tell him if he doesnt leave my girl alone”Tommy stressed *my*”hell regret it.” He turned his back and walked off, feeling their anger like heat.
They jumped him another time, kicking while he was downuntil Emily came running, swinging a broken fence picket like a sword, screaming like a banshee. His brother and mates soon joined, called by Lily, Emilys best friend.
That night, cleaned up under the garden tap, Lily brought antiseptic, and they smeared it on with laughter. Tommys ribs ached, but he laughed loudest. Walking Emily home, she paused at her doorstep.
“Does it hurt?”
“Nah,” he grinned.
She kissed him then, quick and soft, while the lads tactfully looked away.
“Sorry, Tom.”
“For what? Youre my hero! Swinging that plank like Bruce Lee. Im scared of you, Carter.”
Emily giggled. “Oh, shut up.”
Then came the army send-off. No tears, no clinginessjust Emily beside him, steady as always.
“Remember, Ill marry you when Im back. Got it?”
“Yes.” For the first time since nursery, she said yes. “Tom?” She blushed. “Do you love me?”
“Are you daft? Ive spent my whole life saying Ill marry you! Course I do, you silly cow.”
Letters flew back and forth, each hiding *I love you*. Then they stopped.
News showed boysno, soldiersfilthy but alive, fighting somewhere far. Then three letters arrived at once: to his parents, Emily, and James. His words were cheerfulpenguins on assignment up north. Everyone laughed through tears.
That night, James found Emily. “Penguins dont live up north.” Their childhood code revealed one word: *Afghanistan*.
James cried into his pillow, fists clenched. He couldnt protect his little brother now.
Then the news broadcast grainy footage. Mum clutched her chest”Thats Tommy! My boy!”as he turned, grinning with those dimples.
Doctors calmed her. “Hes alive. Wait for your soldier.”
Tommy came home at dawn, slumped on a bench, listening to birdsong. James stepped onto the balcony, cigarette in hand.
“Smokings bad for you,” Tommy called.
“Sos being a smart-arse. Welcome back, little brother.”
A few hours later, slightly tipsy on joy, Tommy yelled up at Emilys window:
“Carter! Im here to marry you!”
No one scolded the soldier. Everyone knewhe was home. Alive.
“Mum, Dad, can I marry her now?” Tommy spun before the mirror.
“Get dressed, groom. Before she changes her mind.”
***
“Mum, Im getting married.”
“Oh? To whom?”
“Tomorrow. To Sophie Taylor.”
“Whos Sophie Taylor?”
“From nursery. Dad said talk to Grandad first, so Im marrying her tomorrow.”
***
“Well, Grandad? Talk to your grandson?” Mum laughed.
“Aye. History repeats. Another Taylor, stealing our boys hearts.” Dad grinnedTommy, now a father himself, watching his own sons story unfold.
