We Meet the Wrong Ones, We Marry the Wrong Ones
The journey of life is no easy feat, and you cant escape your fate. Everyone has their own path, their own understanding of truth. Alice grows up in a family run by womena matriarchy, if you could even call it that, living on the outskirts of a small English town. They manage a modest plot of land: a vegetable garden, a woodpile, water from the well, chickens in the yard, and a never-ending list of chores.
Grandmother Edith has lived in the countryside for years, long since widowed. Her daughter, Margaret, is alone as wellher husband left when Alice was just two. And so, the women form their own little kingdom. From early on, Alice knows how to milk the cow, weed the allotment, and eventually, she learns to whip up simple suppers on her own.
Edith is well past fifty when one weary afternoon she returns from the nearby dairy, sighing deeply,
Maggie, my dear, Im just so tired of all this
Mum, whats wrong?asks Margaret, as Alice skips over.
Oh, its just so much drudgerycarting muck, working from dawn till dusk. Dont you think we deserve a different sort of life?she says, resting her tired, sinewy hands in her lap.
But what are you suggesting, Mother?
Lets move to town, sell up here. Ive saved some money over the years, enough for a small flat.
Grandma, I agree!cries Alice, jumping with excitement,I want to live in town, I really do!
So, just like that, their minds are made up. Ediths elder brother, George, lives in Manchester, so they go to stay with him for a while.
You can have the spare room for now,his wife says warmly.When you find your own place, youll get settled.
The family welcomes them with patience and care. Margaret is soon searching for a flat, with George lending a hand. Not long after, they find an affordable one and move in.
It could do with a bit of sprucing up,Edith observes,but we put all our savings into buying it. Well manage some improvements in time.
Yes, Mum,agrees Margaret.Besides, Ive just got a job at the local bakery, I start tomorrow. Alice will need to go to school; the summer holidays are over in a few weeks. Theres a good school on my way to work.
Alright, dear, Alice and I will pay them a visit while youre busy at work,says Edith.
Alice is accepted into the Year Six class at the nearby primary. Shes excited,
Grandma, I really want to go to school here in town. Ill work hard, I promise.
When Margaret returns from her first shift, her mother has news for her:
Theyve hired me as a cleaner at the school where Alice will study. Ill do what I can, we need the money.
Oh Mum, youve your pension now, you could rest.
No, love, while Im still able, Ill work. Besides, I can watch over Aliceshes new there, after all.
Time passes. Edith cleans at the school, she enjoys the work even though its hard. Margaret does her shifts at the bakery, Alice studies, her results average but steady.
After Year Eight, Alice decides not to continue school, choosing instead to help her mother and grandmother. She knows they need the help. Walking past a restaurant one morning, she spots a signdishwasher wanted. She walks in and takes the job on the spot.
Alice works hard, even helping in the kitchenpeeling spuds, covering for the chef when she nips out, stirring pots to keep them from burning. She makes friends among the girls, eventually joining them at the local dance club.
Mum, Im off to the dance club,she calls.Ill be home later.
Mind yourself, Alice,Grandma warns.Especially with the lads. Dont believe everything they sayuse your head.
Come on, Gran, Im not a child anymoreI know what Im doing.
Thats where she meets Tom. He asks her for a dance, then hardly leaves her side the rest of the evening.
Ill walk you home tonight,he says, and hes so sure of himself she cant refuse.
They start seeing each other, and soon after Tom announces:
Alice, Im off to the army. Will you wait for me? Ill write you, and you write back.
I will, I promise,she says.
She sees Tom off, writes faithfully to himeach letter gets a reply. He promises to visit for holiday leave in a year. Alice looks forward to it, thinking of little else. The day comes at last. They meet again.
Hey Alice, how are you? Not married yet, are you?Tom jokes.
I promised to wait, and here I am.
Hmm.His voice is oddly flat, he cant meet her gaze.
The holiday flies by, Tom leaves again. His letters grow shorter, less frequent, then stop arriving altogether.
Tom is due back from service. He returns but Alice hears nothing; there are no mobile phones. She waits by the dance hall but he never comes, though she knows roughly when hes home.
On her way back from town with friends, Alice says,
Girls, has something happened to Tom? He ought to be back by now, I dont know where his parents live; I could visit.
You could try,her friend snipes,and meet his wife while youre at it. Honestly Alice, youre so naïve Your Tom got married in the army, brought his wife back with him, now hes keeping his head down. Forget him and move on.
It cant be true, I waited for him,Alice is shocked and hurt.
You waited, he didnt.
Some time later, by chance, Alice bumps into Tom while walking through the park.
Hello, Alice,he leaps up from a bench.
Alice keeps walking, but Tom hurries after her,
Wait, Alice, Im sorry I made a mess of things. I keep thinking about you, dreaming about you, I dont love my wife. Shes having my baby, so I had to marry her. Alice, I miss you.
Alice stands and looks him in the eye,
What do you expect from me? You want me to see you on the side while you live with your wife? Absolutely not! You lied to me; you cant be trusted. Stay with who you chose, raise your familybut leave me out of it. I wish you well, Tom.She pats him on the shoulder and walks away.
Alice continues working at the restaurant, and her manager soon approaches her,
Alice, youre a natural in the kitchen. Ever thought of chef training? Theres a course in Birmingham, youd make a fine cook.
That sounds brilliant, Id love to learn more.
Soon Alice, nicely dressed and feeling rather grown-up, stands at the railway platform waiting for her train. Shes nervousits her first time going to a big city alone. A group of lads are about, singing to someone off to the army.
Suddenly, a fellow in military uniform breaks away from the group and approaches her.
Hello theremind if we introduce ourselves? My names Harry. Whats yours?
Alice,she replies out of habit.
Are you waiting for the train?he asks, and she nods.
The train rolls in and Harry hurries back to his mates.
Odd chap,Alice thinks,why did he want to know my name?
Alice settles into an empty seat. As the train picks up speed, she hears a familiar voice behind her:
There you are!Its the soldier, Harry.
I walked through half the carriages looking for you and here you are. Not much time to chat; Im on leave from the army. I couldnt let you go without talking to youfancy swapping addresses? We can write. What do you think? Oh, and where are you off to?
Im heading to a cookery course,she answers.
She feels she can rely on Harryhe seems honest. They chatter the whole way. They swap addresses and part ways. Alice doesnt set her heart on seeing Harry again. After all, her last sweetheart married someone else while away. But Harry seems genuinea cheerful, kind soulhe makes no wild promises. And letter writing is easy enough.
Gran Edith always says: we meet the wrong ones, marry the wrong ones,Alice reflects, doubting shell have luck with Harry.
They keep up correspondence for nearly a year. Finally, Harry comes home from the army and turns up at Alices flat right away. She just happens to have a day offtheyre both overjoyed by the reunion. Alice realises this is one man she really can trust.
Time passes. Alice and Harry marry. She works as a chef at the restaurant, he works at the local factory. Alice cares for the housethe place is spotless. Everything has its place, the laundrys always done, and the twinstwo lively sonsare clean and loved, off to nursery each morning.
But theres always a struggle with Harry. He leaves his things wherever he pleases. Alice scolds him, points out his mess and tidies after him. Eventually, she changes her strategy:
I need some charm and wisdom here,she tells herself.
With patience and kind encouragement, she coaxes him into good habits. Now, Harry leaves his oily work clothes out in the porch, keeps his tools in the shed, even helps sweep the garden and tidy the garage. Alice is delighted.
In the end, I did meet the right one and marry the right one, contrary to what Gran always said,she thinks.
Alice and Harry have many happy years together. But one evening, on his way home from his shift, Harry collapses and dies suddenlyhis heart gives out, without warning. Alice mourns deeply.
Alice is left alone, just as her grandmother Edith lived out her days alone, just as her mother Margaret had. Now Alice lives on her ownbut her children and grandchildren visit often. Theres no dodging destiny.
