To save face, she agreed to live with a hunched man… But when he whispered his request, she sank down to her knees.
Charlie, is that you, love?
Yes, Mum, its me! Sorry Im back so late
His mothers voice, weary and anxious, drifted out from the gloom of the hallway. She stood there wrapped in her tatty old dressing gown, torch in handlike shed been waiting her whole life for his return.
Charlie, my darling, where on earth have you been until this hour? The skys pitch black, stars sparkling like curious cats eyes
Mum, I was with Ben. School stuff, homework Lost track of time, thats all. Sorry for scaring you. I know you barely sleep at the best of times.
Or maybe youve been with a girl? she suddenly squinted, looking suspicious. Are you in love, Charlie?
Oh, Mum, dont be daft! Charlie chuckled, kicking off his boots. No ones waiting for me behind any garden gates. Whod want a hunched bloke with arms like an orangutan and a head like a dandelion?
But in her eyes flickered pain. She didnt say it, but to her he wasnt odd or uglyhe was her son, the one she raised through poverty, cold, and loneliness.
Charlie genuinely wasnt a looker. Barely over five foot, stooped, arms so long they nearly reached his knees, and an unruly head of curls that stuck up like a thistle. As a kid, hed been called monkey, forest sprite, freak of nature. But with the years, hed become something more than just different.
After Charlies dad landed in prison and his mum had been abandoned, the two of them fled the cityLiverpoolfor a fresh start in a little Cotswold village. All they had was each other. Two against the world.
That Charlie wont last long, the old Mrs. Taylor used to mutter, eyeing him as a sickly boy. Hell vanish without a trace by the time hes grown.
But Charlie held on, dug his heels in. He grew, he worked, he breathed on. His mumMargaret Brownwas a woman with a heart of steel and bakers hands, ruined by years of kneading dough for the whole village, ten hours a day, until she herself broke down.
When she became bedbound and never got up again, Charlie became son, daughter, nurse, and housekeeper all at once. He scrubbed the floors, cooked porridge, and read out loud from old magazines. When she diedso quietly, like a dawn breezehe stood by her coffin, fists clenched, silent. He was long out of tears.
But people didnt forget. Neighbours brought over food, warm jumpers. Then, slowly, folks began to look in on him. Boys first, eager to chat about radios. Charlie worked at the local community centre, fixing up old radios, tuning aerials, soldering wires. He had magic in his hands, even if they looked awkward.
Next, girls started dropping by. Beginning with tea and biscuits, and eventually staying longer. Laughing, chatting.
He soon realised that one of themEmilyalways seemed to be last to leave.
Not in a rush? he asked softly one evening after everyone else had gone.
Ive nothing to go home for, she whispered, staring at the floor. My stepmum hates me. My brothersrough as anything, always picking fights. Dad just drinks. Im a spare part. Been staying at my mates, but its not forever. Here, with you, its quiet. Feels safe. I dont feel so alone here.
Charlie looked at her and, for the first time in his life, thought maybejust maybesomeone needed him.
Stay here, he said simply. Mums rooms empty. You can have it. Be the lady of the house. I I wont ever ask for anything. No words, no glances. Just be here.
There was gossip, of course. Whispers behind hands:
Have you heard? The hunchback and the lovely girl? Ridiculous!
But time passed. Emily cooked, tidied, smiled. Charlie worked, listened, cared.
And when she had a baby boy, the world seemed to turn upside down.
Who does he look like? the neighbours asked. Who?
The little boy, Jamie, would grin at Charlie and call out, Dad!
And Charlie, whod never dreamt of having his own child, suddenly felt a warmth in his chestlike a small sun lighting up his life.
He taught Jamie to fix plugs, fish in the river, and sound out words. Emily watched them and said,
You ought to find a wife, Charlie. You dont have to be alone.
Youre like a sister to me, hed reply. Well find you a good, kind husband first. Then well see.
And they did find someonea hardworking young man from the next village over.
So, after the wedding, Emily moved out.
But one day Charlie met her by the lane and quietly asked,
I want to ask Please let Jamie stay with me.
What? she was startled. Why?
I know, Emily. Everything changes when you have a baby. But Jamie hes not really yours. Youll move on. But I I cant.
I cant give him up!
Im not taking him away, Charlie replied softly. Come visit whenever you want. Just let him live with me.
Emily thought for a moment, then called out,
Jamie! Come here! Tell mewho do you want to live withme or Dad?
Jamie ran over, his eyes shining:
Cant it be like before? Mum here, Dad here, together?
Emily shook her head sadly.
Then Ill stay with Dad! You come visit, Mum!
And so, thats how it was.
Jamie stayed. And for the first time, Charlie became a true father.
But then Emily came again:
Were moving back to London. Im taking Jamie.
The boy cried like a wounded animal and wrapped his arms round Charlie:
I wont go! Im staying with Dad! Please, let me stay!
Charlie Emily whispered, staring at her shoes. Hes not really yours, you know.
I know, Charlie replied. Ive always known.
Ill run away to Dad! I will! Jamie nearly choked on his tears.
And, honestly, he did run. Again and again.
Shed come to collect him; hed come back.
In the end, Emily gave up.
All right, she sighed. Its his choice.
Thats when a new chapter began.
Charlies neighbour, Mary, had just lost her husbandan awful man, always drunk, always angry. They never had childrenlove never found their doorstep.
Charlie started popping round for milk. Then to patch her fence, fix her leaky roof. Then just for a chat and a cup of tea.
They got close, slowly, and carefully. Both grown-ups, both cautious.
Emily wrote letters from the city. One day she wrote that Jamie had a new little sisterSophie.
Bring her down sometime, Charlie said. Family belongs together.
A year later, they did.
Jamie doted on his little sister. Cuddled her, sang lullabies, cheered as she took her first steps.
Come with us, sweetheart, Emily used to beg. In the city youd have theatres, good schools, chances youll never get here
No, Jamie shook his head firmly. I wont leave Dad. Besides, I already think of Auntie Mary as my real mum.
And then, of course, Jamie went off to school.
When the lads bragged about dads who were lorry drivers, soldiers, engineers, Jamie never felt second best.
My dad? hed say with pride. He can fix anything. He knows how the world works. He saved me. Hes my hero.
Years ticked on.
One evening, Mary and Charlie were sitting by the fireplace with Jamie.
Im going to have a baby, Mary said quietly. A little one.
Will you send me away? Jamie asked shyly.
Dont be silly! Mary exclaimed, hugging him tight. Youre as much my own as any child could be. Ive wished for a son like you my whole life.
Son, Charlie said, his voice warm. Dont ever doubt youre at the heart of my world.
In a few months, baby George was born.
Jamie cradled his new brother like the most precious treasure.
Ive got a sister now, he murmured. A brother. A dad. Auntie Mary.
Emily kept inviting him to London.
But Jamie always replied,
Im already home.
Years rolled on. People stopped noticing Jamie wasnt Charlies blood. The whispers faded away.
And when Jamie himself became a father, hed tell his children, and then his grandchildren, about the best dad anyone could ever hope for.
He wasnt handsome, Jamie would say. But he loved more fiercely and more truly than anyone Ive ever known.
Every year, on the anniversary of Charlies passing, their home would fill upMarys children, Emilys, grandkids, great-grandkids.
Theyd share tea, swap stories, laugh and remember.
We had the best dad, the grownups would proudly toast their mugs. The world needs more like him!
And, somewhere among the chatter and laughter, someone would always point upwardstowards the sky, the stars, or just a memory of a man who, despite everything, became a real father.
The one and only.
