Sometimes We Meet the Wrong People, and Marry the Wrong Ones
Walking life’s path isn’t easy, and you can’t escape your fate. Everyone has their own story, their own truth. Evelyn grew up in a household of women. Calling it a kingdom might be a stretchthey just lived in their own little house on the outskirts of a small English town: a vegetable patch, logs for the fire, water from the outside tap, and a never-ending list of chores.
Her grandmother, Edith, had lived there alone for years after her husband died young. Ediths daughter, Margaret, was also aloneher husband left her when Evelyn was just a toddler. So, their little trio made up their own sort of womens kingdom. From a young age, Evelyn could milk a cow, weed the garden, fetch water, and even cobble together simple meals.
One evening, Edith came back from her cleaning job at the local farm looking completely knackered and sighed:
Maggie, love, I am absolutely worn out…
Whats wrong, Mum? Margaret asked, and Evelyn darted over, curious.
Oh, its just all so much. The slog never endsthe muck, the back-breaking work. Don’t we deserve something a bit better? A different life? she said, resting her rough hands in her lap.
So what do you suggest, Mum?
Lets sell up. Move to the cityIve saved up a bit over the years. We could put that towards a little flat in town.
Im up for it, Gran! Evelyn shouted, bouncing with excitement. I want to live in the city so much!
So, thats what they did. Ediths older brother, George, had a place in London, so they landed on his doorstep for a bit.
You can have the spare room for now, Georges wife said warmly, and once you find your own place, youll settle in.
The extended family were patient and welcoming. Margaret started the flat hunt, and George chipped in as best he could. Eventually, they found a modest flat and moved in.
Really ought to do it up a bit, Edith mused, but we spent every last penny on buying the place. No matter, well sort it bit by bit.
Yes, Mum, Margaret replied. By the way, I found a job at the bakerystarting tomorrow. Evelyn needs enrolling in a new schoolsummer holidays are over in a month or so, and theres a school on my way to work.
All right, loveme and Evie will pop over to the school. Youre busy these days with work, promised Edith.
Evelyn got into Year 6 at the local school, which wasnt far from their flat. She was delighted. Gran, I really want to do well in school here. Ill work hard, I promise.
When Margaret got back from her first shift at the bakery, Edith had news:
Theyve taken me on as a cleaner at your school, Evie, so Ill work while I can. We need the money.
Mum, you should be taking it easy by now, youre getting your pension.
Nonsense, loveIm still sturdy. And Ill keep an eye on our Evie at school too, seeing as shes still new.
Time passed. Edith worked as a school cleanershe liked it, though it was tiring. Margaret worked too, Evelyn was a decent student.
After Year 8, Evelyn decided to leave school and help outshe knew the family needed every penny. She saw a sign outside a restaurant: Kitchen Assistant Wanted. She went in and got the job.
Evelyn worked hard washing dishes, helping in the kitchenpeeling potatoes or covering while the cook nipped out, making sure nothing burned. She made friends with the other girls, who soon coaxed her to join them at the local dance hall.
Mum, Im off to the club for a dance! shed call. Dont wait up!
Take care, Evie! Gran would call after. And keep your wits about youdont trust everything the lads say.
Its fine, Gran, Im not a kid anymore.
At a dance, Evelyn met Tommy. He asked her to dance and stuck by her for the rest of the night.
Ill walk you home tonight, he announced with confidence. She didnt argue.
They started seeing each other, and soon Tommy told her:
Ev, Im off to do my servicewill you wait for me? Ill write, you have to reply!
All right, I promise Ill write too, Evelyn agreed.
Evelyn saw Tommy off to service, wrote him detailed letters, always answering his. He promised to visit on leave in a year. She was buzzing when it finally happened.
Hi, Evie! You havent gone off and married someone else, have you? he joked.
I told you Id wait, and I have.
Hmm. No real delight in his voicehe barely met her eyes.
His leave flew by, and when he went back, the letters trickled downshorter, and then nothing.
The time came for Tommy to return, but he didnt even let Evelyn know. She waited for him at the dance hall, knowing roughly when he’d come back, but he never turned up.
One night, walking home from a dance, she said to her friends:
Somethings up with Tommy. He should be back, but I dont know where he livescouldve called if I did.
Yeah, right, her friend said sarcastically. Might as well visit his wife while youre at it! Dont be daft, Eviehe got married in the service and brought his wife back. Thats why you havent seen him. Let him go.
No way, Evelyn breathed, properly gutted. I was waiting for him.
You were waiting, but he wasnt.
A while later, Evelyn bumped into Tommy by accident in the park where they used to sit.
Hiya, Evie! he sprang up when he saw her.
She kept walking, but he tried to stop her.
Wait, Ev, Im sorry. I made a mistake. I keep thinking about youI dream about you. Im not in love with my wifeshes expecting, I had to marry her. But I need you.
Evelyn stopped and looked him straight in the eye.
And what do you want from me? To be your bit on the side while you play husband? Forget it. You lied to meyoure just not reliable. Stay with your wife and raise your child. But without me. Have a good life, Tommy. She tapped him on the shoulder and walked on.
Evelyn kept working at the restaurant. One day, the manager pulled her aside:
Evelyn, youre a natural in the kitchen. How about you go train as a chef and come back as our cook?
Thatd be brilliant! I do love cooking.
Soon after, Evelyn was standing on the train platform, dressed fashionably and looking bright, off to London for her cookery coursefirst trip out on her own. Some young lads passed by, someone strumming a guitar, off to see one of their mates come home from the service.
Out of the blue, one of thema soldierbroke off and jogged over.
Hi, mind if I join you? Im Jack. Whats your name?
Evelyn, she replied.
You waiting for the train? he asked. She nodded.
As the train arrived, Jack dashed off to catch up with his friends.
Well, that was odd, Evelyn thought. Why did he want my name?
She boarded towards the back and settled by the window. As the train picked up speed, she heard a voice by her ear:
Oh, there you are! It was Jack again, the soldier.
I went through half the train to find you! Listen, we dont have long. Im on leave from the forces and just heading home. But I liked you straight awayI had to come talk to you. Can we swap addresses? Maybe write while Im off serving again? Is that all right? Oh, and where are you off to?
Im starting cookery training, she answered.
She could tell he was dependablenot the type to tell fibs.
All the way, they chatted away, swapped addresses, said their goodbyes. Evelyn didnt really expect to hear from him againshed learned her lesson with Tommy. But Jack really was kind, never made grand promises. Writing a letter didnt bother her.
Gran always says, We meet the wrong people and marry the wrong ones, Evelyn mused, not expecting too much with Jack.
They wrote for nearly a year. Finally, Jack came home and showed up at her door, just as hed promised. She was off work, they were both so happy. Evelyn realised: this time, shed met someone reliable. He kept his word.
Time went by. Evelyn married Jack, carried on as a restaurant chef. Jack worked at the factory. Evelyn ran a tight shipeverything spick and span, organised just so, clothes clean and pressed, meals ready. Their twin boys went off to nursery, always clean and tidy.
Only Jack left chaos in his wake, dropping his things wherever he went. Evelyn nagged and picked up after him, but then she had an idea:
Maybe if Im gentle and clever about it, hell pick up the habit.
She softened her tone, won him over with kindness, and slowly he started leaving his oily work clothes in the porch, put his tools away neatly in the shed, swept up the garden, kept the garage tidy. Evelyn was chuffed.
In the end, I did find the right one, she thought, despite Grans words.
Evelyn and Jack lived happily together for years. Then, one day, Jack died suddenly, collapsing on his way home from work. His heart gave outthered been no sign beforehand. It devastated Evelyn.
She was left alone, just as her Gran Edith had finished her days alone, and her mother Margaret too. Now Evelyn lives on her own, though her children and grandchildren visit. You really cant escape your fate.
