Wrappers
Well, arent you a bit of a wrapper, George! puffed old Mrs Sybil, spitting near her neighbours wellies and hobbling off on her dodgy leg. Id give you the spanking of your life if I could, but youre too old and I havent got the time! Youve reached your ripe years and still thick as two short planks!
Sybil had done her bit, as she saw itlet Georges conscience direct him from here. People couldnt talk sense into him, maybe fate would take a swing.
Imagine! Shipping off your own mother to a council home! What sort of son does that? Yes, Claudias bed-bound these days, but is he her son or just the postmans mate off the street? Sybils blood was boiling. If she were sprightlier, shed whisk her friend off home herself. As it was
Pity about Annie. A good lass, of course, but shes hardly a dray horse to carry the world. Stayed in the village for her mother and gran when her mum got illthough she did try to leave, went off to college for about five minutes before she scurried back. Couldnt leave her mum and Sybil alone. Not that Sybil was fit enough to chase after her daughter these days, what with her gammy leg that, after a break two years back, had gone completely irreparable. Getting around herself was a miracle most days.
Sybils younger daughter had offered to take her in, up to the city, but she declined. What for? A flat just about big enough to swing a cat, two kids already bouncing off the walls, and her son-in-lawa lovely chap, but as dynamic as a doorstop. Hed graft and graft for tuppence a week. Struggling to feed four, never mind bringing Sybil in for good measure. Years ago shed been a help, managing the veg patch and hens, but now? Useless lump, thats her. Annie gets snippy when Sybil says so, but whats the use denying it? Her healths gone, and the little energy she has leaks away somewhereshes grateful even to get out of bed of a morning, gathering herself up piece by piece. Up in a bunch, Sybil, up in a bunch. Right! Off we go!
Good thing Annies daughter, Lily, was as quick and light as a spring lamb. While Sybil creaked about, Lily would dash about the house, tend her mother, dash off to workalways on her toes! Always that way, right from infancy.
Sybil had her first daughter, Annies mother, late in life. Shed lost hope of becoming a mother altogether.
Her first husband never forgave the emptinessdid a runner. Sybil took it on the chin. She saw hed never truly loved her. Shed been all fire, he, a damp rag.
But oh, Sybil was a beauty in her dayprettiest in the whole county, like the sun rising on a Bank Holiday. Boys queued up for her out of school, but she kept her standards. Waited for real love. Thought, any day now, the one would arrive. Years went by. Her mothers nags got louder.
Stop being so fussy, youll die a spinster!
But how do you explain that the thought of some lads made her skin crawl?
And then one day, a fellow turned up from the armya stranger from the next village over. Why he returned to his grandparents rather than his parents, no one knew, and Sybil didnt poke her nose in.
She fell for him, Alex, head-over-heels, and he wasted no time eithersent his family for the formal proposal right away. Sybils mother was relieved; about time! echoed through the village.
The wedding was a knees-up, and Sybil could hardly contain her joy, though she sensed the whispers behind the congratulations. Her mother-in-law took her aside and pointed Sybil towards a pram next to a black-clad woman.
Inside was a childAlexs, as it turned out, with an old fiancée he had left behind before enlisting. He hadnt believed the timing, and by now it was all water under the bridgethe other woman refused to have anything to do with him, never forgave the betrayal. Her mother had brought the child to the wedding, saying only, So you know who youve married.
What was that supposed to achieve? As if anyones a saint in this world. She loved her husband; what came before, came before. She never forbade Alex from seeing his son, though he never seemed fussed. Quickly, Sybil realised Alex had love only for himselfthe rest of the family just a frame on the wall.
Couldn’t fault him otherwise: house was tidy, food on the table. But happiness always slipped away.
More than fifteen years together, and not a scrap of warmth from him. While she hoped for children, shed tell herself it was only temporary. Itd all melt away when he opened up.
But one day, as if discussing the weather, he told her she was barely a woman at all, since she couldnt give him children. Thats when she knewlife was pointlessly chugging along, and she was stuck.
They split up quietly, so quietly the village barely noticed. Alex moved on sharpish after the papers were done. Left Sybil the house, at least.
Dont hold it against me. Were both to blame, but I shouldve carried it.
Sybil never properly forgave him, but the hurt lessened. God blessed her with beauty, not luck.
She managed on her own for a couple of yearsworked, walked around the village chin up, ignored the gossips. Not like the old daysso what if her husband bailed? Could have been worse.
But her heart ached. She longed to come home to a warm voice.
Her second husband, Nick, she didnt rush into. Watched him a long whileboth of them older, set in their ways. A newcomer, he kept to himself and never traded in village gossip. Fixed up his grandfathers old house, set up a little farm. Helped others, but never asked for help.
He was a decent sortcalm and considerate. And unlike Alex, never showed up empty-handed. Always mended something, helped out, made himself useful. Sybil figured it wouldnt be worse than her first marriage, and shed howl at the moon from loneliness otherwise. So, why not? At least she wouldnt grow old alone.
She had no expectations for the marriage, but luck, out of nowhere, decided to finally have a chuckle and gave her a surprise.
First daughterSybil didnt even know she was expecting for nearly five months! Never had a regular cycle anyway, and the pregnancy went easy: none of that morning sickness.
It was Claudia, the neighbour, who noticed.
Youre carrying, Sybil! Claudia gasped one morning, seeing her glance away from the sun and sway.
Youre kidding! Me? Im empty as a dustbin!
My gran always said its not always a womans fault. Sometimes the fellas to blame, too. Maybe it was just Alexnever meant to be, Sybil. Get checked up in the city. Who knows?
Sybil came back from the hospital a changed woman. Glowing! People stared as she beamed through the village, smiling so it was clearher luck had turned.
One daughter, then another, and Sybil stood taller, no reason to hide her face nowshe was a mum at last.
She doted on her girls, dressed them up in frilly dresses and bows, even if theyd be clambering up trees and splashing through puddles within minutes. Shed never scold or spankjust get the washbasin out, dole out the soap, and show them how to scrub their socks. Tore a dress? Heres a needlelearn to mend it, love. If you dont know how, Ill show you.
Nick died when the younger daughter married. Hed gone to see her in the city and never came homecar crash on the motorway. Sybil was crushedif not for the children, shed have joined him. But she held fast. Then, a year later, Annie had Lily, and life returnedflowers bloomed, the world seemed brighter.
Sybil lived for her grandchildren. The younger daughter, far off in the city, only visited for holidays. But Lily was always just next door.
The girl grew upspitting image of her gran Sybil. Same beauty, same poise, but even firmer in character. Stubborn as a mule. Once shed set her mind, that was that.
Sybil was happy as long as it was about studies. But when Lily came into her own, she had her heart broken: the object of her affection was none other than the next-door neighbour, George. Five years older and a proper grown lad now, while Lily was barely sixteenwhat did she know about life? But oh, she was lovesicknothing would do but George.
George didnt care a hoot about Lily. She was just the neighbours kid, still wet behind the ears. He had his sights set on Lucy.
Lucy wasnt the prettiest in the village, but she knew how to turn heads, always decked in the latest on her dads moneyhis pride and joy, costing him a small fortune.
Didnt do Lucy much goodshe became ever so full of herself. If the lads didnt fawn over her, her whole day was ruined.
At the start, Lucy gave George the cold shoulder, sussing him out.
Then a scandalLucy had a boyfriend from the next village, another spoiled only child, hanging round for lack of anything better. He took her to a dance and then, somehow, things went wrongthey vanished for hours, and when Lucy came home near dawn, she was bruised, dress in tatters.
Nobody knew, except Sybil, whod spotted her skulking through the back gardens before sunrise. Lucy didnt even look at Sybil, just carried on.
A week laterthe village was abuzzLucys parents were hastily organizing a wedding.
George, over the moon; Claudia, his mum, not so much.
Sybil, its fishy, this is. How do I talk to him? He wont listen to reason. Their business, but if anything happened, it wasnt Lucys plan. Not for me to judge. But poor George. He thinks the world of her. Hes all worn out.
Sybil nodded, but didnt add her two pence. She didnt say shed seen Lucy that morning. Besides, drama at home was enough to keep her busy without having to meddle with the neighbours.
Lily went to pieces. Either shed plant herself at the window, sobbing her heart out for days, or lie face to the wall, wailing silently like someone had died.
Sybil did her best to console her. Promised everything under the sun if Lily would just go off to her aunts in London, finish her studies, marry a city lad, and never have to see George again. Even telling her the truth about Lucy wouldnt helpGeorge loved Lucy.
But Lily wouldnt listen to anyone. Her mum had passed away by then, and nobody else had the whip hand over her.
What was she waiting for? Who knows? But wait she did, all the way to Georges wedding day. She turned up with Sybil and her mum, dry-eyed for the first time in ages. She didnt join the festivities, just stood off to the side, then went straight home.
Her mum noticed Lilys absence at once and dashed after her, panickingwho knew what Lily might do?
Only to find Lily had packed her bags, hugged her mum and gran tightly, and boarded a coach to London. The rest had a good cry, crossed themselves, and waited. Time heals, they reckoned.
Time might have healed something, but Lily didnt get the chanceher mum landed in hospital in no time at all, and never came out on her own two feet.
Lily packed her bags once again. Gran Sybil couldnt care for a bed-bound patient alone. Nowhere else for Lily to go.
What Lily dreaded most was living next door to George and his missus. But fate took pityby the time she returned, George and wife had moved away.
Lily unpacked, tidied up, arranged her mother comfortably, then headed off to the local farm for workwhat else was there to do without a proper qualification? Not much employment in the village, and the farm always needed hands.
No stranger to a bit of elbow grease, Lily started up a smallholding. That was the way of things.
Meanwhile, she did what she could for Claudia. Ever since her husband died, Claudia was barely clinging on. Her son wrote infrequently and didnt say much. Just sent money transfers now and thenlittle else. Lucy, rumour had it, had two children in quick successiona boy and a girl. Yet Claudia never saw her grandkids. Whether Lucy refused to return or George was just too busy on long-haul repairs, it was anyones guess. She could read between the lineshe was struggling. He never complained outright, but mums always know when somethings wrong.
Maybe the worry over her son finally did Claudia inshe went down like a sack of spuds.
Lily sorted Claudia into the county hospital, visited when she could, and quietly sobbed on her way home. The doctors were grim about prospects.
Sybil wrote George immediately when Claudia was admitted. He didnt come. Maybe the letter got lost. She wrote again, then said to Lily:
He’s a wrapper, that one. A right shiny wrappernothing much inside. And to think I believed in him.
Gran! Wait up! Didnt you always say not to tar people until you know the full story? Let him figure it out himself.
I dont know, love. Never thought George would abandon his mother. Always such a soft lad, doted on Claudia. What happened?
Why do you call him a wrapper?
Theres a story. Thats why I never thought George would go bad.
What happened?
Well, when he was a lad, maybe six or seven, everyone went mad for sweet wrappershoarded them in old biscuit tins. Sweets were rarea treat for birthdays or Christmas. If it was a choice between sweets and new boots, you know how it went. Wrappers were currency. Everyone cherished their stash, and if you swapped, you swapped for keeps.
Now, Claudia had a couple of prized pedigree hensfluffy white, crowns of feathers, pretty little show-offs! Got them from somewhere mysterious. She doted on them. Then disasterGeorges mate brought his fancy pup round, some pedigree from the city. Supposed to be a proper hunting dog, but it just terrorized the placecouldnt let it off the lead. George invited the lad in, dog and all, and in two shakes, Feathers and Fluffy were gone.
Did Claudia scream and shout? Noshe just locked herself in, wouldnt speak to a soul. George, thoughyou know what he did?
What?
He gave away his whole prized wrapper collection to another friend, who, conveniently, had a dad always going up to town. George begged to go with them, emptied out his piggy bank, all his savings for a new bike, and came back with a new show-hen for his mum.
Good for him!
And thats what made Claudia the happiest. Not the henthe fact her son had done the right thing. But what now? How do people change, Lily?
A week later, Claudia was home from hospital. Lily had learnt to juggle two invalids: her mum first, then pop in to see Claudia. Sybil muttered about Lily exhausting herself, but how could she let the woman suffer? Not when she wasn’t a strangerGeorges mother, after all.
As she mopped up Claudias kitchen, a small boy dashed through, caked in mud, staring up at Lily.
Are you my mum? The question was so simple it threw hershe just stood there, mop in hand.
Im the neighbour, George said, steadying his daughter on his knee. Sorry to spring this on you. I should have come sooner. Max was ill in hospital, and I couldnt leave him. And theres little Milliecouldnt dump her anywhere.
And Lucy? the question slipped out before Lily could stop herself.
No more Lucy. She left us, ran off with her new bloke. Im on my own now.
You mean, on your own with the children. Suddenly Lily felt an odd calmgone was the awkwardness with this towering, solid man holding his little girl.
Youre right. Whats up with Mum? Asleep?” George asked, kneeling to remove muddy boots from his daughter.
“Shes resting. Doctors say it’s best for her now, just to take it easy, though she always hated sitting still.”
All those bedsores! Claudia piped up. Lily rushed to finish. Georges turn nowher time to head home.
She left a pot of fresh noodles and warm milk for the kids, then slipped away, forgetting to say goodbyeshe was shattered.
Lily thought her feelings for George had faded. Not soit terrified her now, because he was no longer the cheeky lad, yanking her plaits over the garden fence. Nor was she the bashful girl who blushed whenever he said hello. Theyd changedgrown older. Wiser? Maybe. Different? Absolutely.
A day later, Claudia confided in Sybil, whod limped round with a basket of sconesI want George to put me in a home, she whispered.
Sybil was apoplectic, stormed out, summoned George, spat near his boots, and stomped homenot a word to Lily.
Hes not fit to look after a goldfish! Ship his own mother off like the rubbish…I cant bear it. Sybil sobbed.
Lily, hair and slippers flying, raced out into the drizzle, across to Georges.
George! Where are you? she yelled through the doorfrizzy, furious, and gorgeous as spring itself. Whats this about, then? Youre not dumping Auntie Claudia anywhere! Not a chance! You can shove off back to your city job, well get on fine. If I can care for one, I can care for two. Ill wheel another bed in if I have to! Oh, youAnd to think I…
She stopped shortClaudia, tears wiped away, was laughing, George grinning like an idiot.
Settle, Lily! Claudia called out. He wasnt putting me anywhere. I asked him. Didnt want to be a burdenI told Sybil, but she didnt listen.
Im staying here, Lily. Where else would I go?
That so? Lily said, looking around and noticing Georges packed bag. Whats this, then?
I do still need to sort things upsettle things at work, clear the flat. The kidsll stay here, thoughIve asked Dr. Barnes to check in on Mum.
And Lilythe real Lilyappeared.
She stood right in front of George, eyeballing him.
Youre not lugging the kids aboutleave them. Ill mind them. And Ill wait for you. Understood?
Understood George seemed suddenly to see her, properly, for the first time. How did I miss you all these years?
Maybe get your eyes checked while youre in town. Make sure it doesnt happen again. Lily scooped up little Millie, who hugged her legs. Come onSybils baked pies. Who likes pies? Good! Lets go!
Some years later, George would wheel out Claudia and his now-mother-in-law onto the sun-warmed patio.
There you go, ladies! Lovely deck chairs, straight from the city!
Sit, lie, do as you pleasethe airs fresher out here, isnt it?
Hed help settle Claudia, then listen.
The little ones are up! And Lilys not back. Ill check on them.
Will Lily be back soon?
Her last exams today. Says shes going to be in the top five, so shell be home in a flash.
A car would pull up at the gate, and the kids, perched in the old cherry tree, would scramble down, buckets bursting with fruit for jam.
Mum! Mums home!
And Lily, an entirely different woman to the anxious girl she once was, would fling open her arms and catch her messy, joyful lot, winking at George: A first!
Of course, hed reply, and saunter back inside.
The twinsalways in a hurry, just like their dad.
Chips off the old wrapper, they were.
