We meet the wrong ones; we marry the wrong ones
Lifes journey isnt an easy road, and theres no dodging fate. Everyone has their own destiny, their own version of the truth. I grew up in a household ruled by women. Ruled is perhaps too grand a termwe simply had our own little home, really. A garden to tend, logs to chop, water to fetch from the well, animals to care for, and plenty to keep us busy.
My grandma, Ethel, had lived alone in a village for years, ever since she was widowed quite young. Her daughter, my mum, Margaret, was also on her ownmy dad walked out on us when I was just two. And so, there were the three of us, a patchwork kingdom run by women. By the time I was a child, I could already milk the cow and weed the vegetable patch, and soon enough, I could even whip up a simple meal on my own.
Ethel was well past fifty when one evening, she came in exhausted from working at the local dairy and sighed, Maggie, love, Im so tired of all this.
Whats wrong, Mum? asked Margaret, and I quickly came running, too.
Oh, nothing new, she said, resting her tough, sinewy hands on her lap. Im tired of slaving away. Shovelling out the muck, working from dawn till dusk. Dont you think we deserve more out of life?
And what do you propose, Mum? said Margaret.
Lets sell up and move to town. Ive saved a bitenough, I reckon, to buy us a flat in the city.
Oh, Gran, Id love that! I remember shrieking with excitement, jumping up and down. Please, lets go to town!
So thats just what we did. Grandma Ethels older brother, Albert, already lived in London, so we stayed with him for a little while.
Well set you up with a room for now, his wife fussed. Move out as soon as you find your own place.
The family was kind and good-humoured, patient with us newcomers. Margaret searched for a flat, and Albert helped as well. Eventually, they found us a little place of our own.
Could do with a bit of fixing up, said Ethel, examining the flat, but weve put every last penny into buying it. Never mind, well get it sorted in time.
Thats right, Mum, said Margaret. And I actually found a job at the bakeryIm starting tomorrow. Well have to get Lucy into a new school, too. Summers nearly over, so shell need a place soon. Theres one not far on my way to work.
No worries, said Ethel. Lucy and I will sort it. Youll be busy with work…
I was accepted into Year 6 at the school nearby, and the convenience delighted me.
Gran, I cant wait to go to school in the city. Ill really try my best! I promised.
After Mums first shift, Grandma Ethel made an announcement: Theyve taken me on as a cleaner at your school, Lucy. Ill work for as long as Im ablethe extra money will help.
Oh, Mum! You should take it easyyouve got your pension.
No, love. As long as Ive got the strength, Ill work. Besides, I can keep an eye on Lucy while she gets settled in
Time ticked on. Ethel kept on at the school, tough as old boots, but not complaining. Margaret worked hard at the bakery, and I, Lucy, did middling at my studies.
After Year 8, I gave up on school and decided to help Mum and Gran. I knew we needed every penny. Once, passing a local restaurant, I saw a sign in the window: Kitchen Help Needed. Without a second thought, I went in. I was hired on the spot.
I stuck to my work, even helping out in the kitchenpeeling potatoes, taking a turn at stirring the pots when the chef was busy. I made some friends, and soon enough, we all started going to the local village hall dances together.
Mum, Im off to the dance at the club, Id say. Ill be back later.
Mind youre careful with lads, Lucy, Gran would scold after me. Dont go trusting them right away, use your head.
Oh Gran, Im grown up nowI know what Im doing.
Thats how I met Tom. He asked me for a dance and never left my side the rest of the evening.
Ill walk you home tonight, he told me, and there was no talking him out of it.
We started seeing each other. Not long after, Tom told me, Lucy, Ive got to head off for my National Service soon. Wait for me, will you? Ill write, and you write back.
I will, I promise, I said, and I meant it.
I saw Tom off, and kept up a faithful correspondence, answering every letter. He said hed get leave in a year. And finally, that day came.
Hi Lucy, still here, not married off just yet? he teased.
I promised Id wait, didnt I?
He laughed, but something was missing in his voice. He barely met my eyes.
His leave came and went, and after he left, his replies grew shorter and less frequent, until they stopped altogether.
Time passed, and the day arrived for Tom to return. But he didnt write, didnt let me know. There were no mobile phones then, and he never showed up at the village hall for dances, even though I knew roughly when hed come home.
After one evenings dance, I confessed to my friends, Something must have happened with Tom? Hes due home, but I dont know where his family lives, otherwise Id check.
Go on, then, one friend sneered. Youll meet his wife, too, while youre at it. Oh, come on, Lucy! Your Tom got married while he was still in the armybrought his wife back with him. Hes not showing his face around town.
No, that cant be, I waited for him, I stammered, crestfallen.
You waited. He didnt.
Sometime after, I bumped into Tom in the park, sitting on a benchjust like old times.
Hello, Lucy, he called, leaping up.
I kept walking, but he tried to stop me. Wait, Luce, Im sorry. I made a mistake, and I still think about you. I I dont love my wife, but shes having my child. I miss you.
I stopped and looked him in the eye.
What do you want from me, Tom? To be your secret while you live with your wife? Absolutely not. You lied to me. You made your choicego live that life and raise your child but leave me out of it. I wish you happiness, Tom! I patted him on the shoulder and walked away.
I continued at the restaurant. One day, the manager pulled me aside.
Lucy, youve got a talent for cooking. How about going to culinary school here in the county? We need a chef.
Oh, Id love that! I really do enjoy cooking.
Soon enough, I was standing on the train platform, dressed smartly for the first time, waiting for the train, nervous but excited for my trip to Birmingham. A group of lads was on the platform, playing guitar and singing, sending off a mate who was coming back from service.
Suddenly, a young man in uniform came trotting over.
Hello there! Im Harry, whats your name?
Lucy, I replied, almost automatically.
You waiting for the train? He smiled and I nodded.
Right then, the train arrived, and he dashed off to catch up with his friends.
That was odd, I thought to myself. What was all that about?
I got on and found a seat. As the train gathered speed, I gazed out the windowwhen I heard a voice right next to me.
Ah, there you are, said the same young soldier.
I looked through half the carriages for you! Anyway, theres not much time. Ive been home on leave from the army, but as soon as I saw you, I couldnt just walk on by. Why dont we write to each other? Shall we? Where are you off to, by the way?
Im starting a coursetraining as a chef, I answered.
He seemed genuine, and I could see I could trust himhe wasnt stringing me along.
We chatted the whole ride, sharing stories, swapping addresses. When we parted, I didnt really expect anything to come of it. After Tom, who brought home a wife after his service, I wasnt hopeful. But Harry was differentkind, cheerful, made no empty promises. And writing a letter or two was no trouble for me.
Gran Ethel always says: we meet the wrong ones and marry the wrong ones, I mused, not daring to hope things with Harry would work out.
For nearly a year, we kept up our letters. Finally, Harry finished his service and found me at my address straight away. I was off work that day and delighted to see him. I realised then, at last, here was someone I could trustsomeone whod kept his word.
Time moved on. I married Harry. I worked as a chef in the restaurant; he worked at the local factory. I loved a tidy houseeverything in its place, always washed, ironed, and polished. Our twin boys went to nursery, always scrubbed and well-kept.
But home life wasnt simple. Harry left his tools, bits and bobs, everywhere. We argued about it, Id nag over socks or spanners strewn about, and ended up picking up after him. Eventually, it struck meId have to try a different approach. Maybe kindness and gentle encouragement.
Little by little, through gentle words and a smile, I showed him how to be tidier. Soon, Harry was leaving his oily overalls in the porch, putting his tools away, sweeping the drive, even keeping the shed and garage neat as a pin. It made me happy.
All this time, Gran was wrongI did meet the right one and marry him, I thought, grateful.
We lived happily for almost all our lives together. Then, one day, fate intervened and Harry never made it home from workhe died suddenly, right there on the spot. Heart failure, out of the blue. Nothing had warned us this was coming. I grieved deeply.
So, I ended up alonelike Grandma Ethel before me, like my mother Margaret too. Now, I carry on by myself, though the children and grandchildren visit often. You cant outrun fateno matter how hard you try.
