“Anthony, step in!” the foreman barked through the intercom.
Anthony knew another roasting was coming. He deserved it.
“There you are. Sit down, lad. Messed up the job again, formal warning. And I’ll have to dock your quarterly bonus; warned you enough times! What’s got into you? Promised your old man, and you’re letting me down, Anthony Miller!” Factory manager Gregory Wilson waved him off. “Get out of my sight, you’re a grown man! Think, Anthony, where are you headed? No family, no interests. How will you live?”
On the train home, bodies were packed like sardines. Anthony couldn’t even sit down.
His mates back at the factory bend had wives waiting, dinner on the table. Anthony’s place stood empty, just him. Only felt like sinking a pint lately and crashing out.
Used to be he’d go out with the lads after shift; girls fancied him then.
Now they’re all married. Became dull blokes with boring worries – kids and wives!
He barely squeezed out at his stop – an old dear blocked the doorway with her bags! Impossible to get past.
Down in the subway tunnel, folks shoved and cut ahead. Always rushing. Rushing where?
At twenty-five, Anthony rushed too. Girls loved him then. Why not? He had a flat already, a decent pay packet at the plant. Even bought himself a car, pre-owned, but his own!
Mum used to say, “Get married, son! Time flies, you’re wasting it on those painted dolls! My neighbour Julie, lovely lass, such a good girl! Young, home-loving! Helps her mum, training to be a nurse. Fancies you too, I can tell!”
But he’d say, “Don’t want that sort, your Julie. She’s not my type, not my taste!”
Well, he’d let that slip. Bet that Julie was frying chops and potatoes for her husband right now, slicing salad. Bet she was asking, “Mum, when’s Dad home?”
No one waited for him. Once, he liked that.
He never noticed when the moment came. The moment he was ready, tired of the carry-on, yet just carried on autopilot.
Reaching his landing, Anthony fished out his key, jammed it at the lock – stuck solid. Dratted thing! Jiggled it hard and… Someone opened the door from *inside*. It swung wide revealing… his mum in a floral housecoat, cheeks flushed.
“Son! Come straight from work, have you? Why didn’t you ring? Knackered, aren’t you? Look dead beat! We’re just sitting down. Come on, love, get your coat off, wash your hands! Edmund! Edmund, where are you? Come see your son, fiddling about again!”
Anthony froze, stunned.
Out came Edmund Miller. “Son! Thought you brought your girl to meet us at last. Won’t see grandchildren, will we? My fault, silly sod, didn’t marry till past forty. Your mum wasn’t young then. Don’t drag your heels, learn from my mistakes! Life’s timing matters! Got it?”
“Got it, Dad,” Anthony croaked, throat dry. “Dad… thanks. Both of you. For everything. Just… forgot something!” Anthony bolted down the stairs, out the entry, and ran.
Stopping breathless a distance away, he dared a slow look back. How had he walked right past his stop? Lost in thought, feet followed habit back to his childhood home, the home Anthony moved from when he got his own place. Automatically went up, tried the key… but it wasn’t that.
Anthony glanced around.
The old five-storey block wasn’t there.
Where it stood, lay a small park now…
Demolished three years back. His parents gone for five.
He’d sold the flat, cleared his mortgage, bought a car, placed headstones for them.
What just happened? Where *was* he? Suddenly, so vividly back home with Mum and Dad?
And them… just as before! Like… living?
Couldn’t be real?
Anthony reeled.
He got back to his own flat, stared long in the mirror. Had a shower, pulled on tracksuit and trainers, and headed out.
The old home was rubble; residents moved to a new build nearby. Ten minutes’ walk.
Unlikely he’d see her. Probably Julie married ages ago, younger than him though she was.
Suddenly he needed to find her. Confirm she had a husband, kids, a family… that he’d missed the boat. That nothing shone for him.
And if Julie was single… what then?
No answer yet.
From that evening, Anthony walked through Julie’s housing estate after work.
All for nothing. Likely she no longer lived there. Married, moved on. Asking felt pointless. Not meant to be.
Saturday, he bargained last walk past Julie’s. Stupid idea! Damn vision!
He walked along the estate. Mums with prams at the playground. No Julie. Though she could look different now.
Two girls chatted near the swings. One had a child. The other gathered her bag.
“Right, Marianne, ring you later!”
“Bye, Jools! Tyler, wave bye to Julie!”
Anthony squinted. Could it be? Yes! Smallish, curvy, not some leggy blonde with trout-pout and poker-straight hair. That used to be his type; seemed boring now. She looked… ordinary. Perfect.
Anthony stepped closer.
“Julie?”
She turned. Didn’t recognise him. Then her eyes warmed. “Anthony? What are you doing here?”
“Oh… live spitting distance. Passing. What you up to? Busy? Rushing to hubby?” He cut straight to it.
Julie beamed like a kid at Christmas. “No rush. No hubby yet. Why?”
Her voice brimmed with cheeky challenge. She was thrilled, really thrilled! He felt it too. A happy anticipation, sunshine breaking through.
No mistake.
Mum was right. Julie proved brilliant. Soon Anthony knew his bachelor days ended!
Anthony and Julie
Before the wedding, Anthony went to sort the grave bit – flowers, church service booking. Julie asked along; neighbour, remembered his folks.
They cleaned the headstones together, planted blooms.
They stood before the memorials for Edmund and Grace Miller.
“Right, Mum, Dad,” Anthony looked at the photos. They looked pleased. “This is my Julie.”
“Thanks, Mum. Thanks, Dad. I’m getting married!” Anthony glanced shyly at Julie.
She added, “Auntie Grace, Uncle Edmund, thank you for Anthony!”
Work turned brilliant too.
“There’s my old pal’s son! Won’t let Edmund down now! Good lad, Anthony!” Gregory Wilson clapped his shoulder approvingly.
Homewards, Anthony flew. Julie, Jools, Jules waited!
Mum and Dad would have approved. Definite.
Soon their son would arrive, yelling happily when *he* came home.
That strange moment? Anthony never forgot. Help sent from above. Showing him his path.
Seems crucial
Anthony now embraces each simple moment with Julia, cherishing the laughter and love that fills their home as they eagerly await their baby’s arrival.
I Don’t Need That Kind!
