**Childhood Love**
“Mum, can I wear the blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?”
“The blue one? Why that one?”
“Because Katie Evans said it suits my eyes!”
“Well, if Katie said so, of course you can wear the blue shirt.”
Little Alfie, pleased with himself, ran off to play with his older brother, William, who was already in school. That evening, their mother told their father about the blue shirt and how well it matched Alfies eyes. His dad chuckled and ruffled the boys hair.
“So, son, do you like Katie?”
“Yeah. Im gonna marry her.”
“Is that so? Well, first youll need to finish school, get an education, then think about marriage.”
“Blimey, thats ages away” Alfie frowned.
“Dad, can I marry her tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? Where would you two live, son?”
“At home,” Alfie replied, puzzled.
“Whose home?” his dad pressed. “Katies?”
“No, Dad!” The boy blinked in confusion. “Shed live at hers, and Id live at ours.”
“Thats not how it works, son. If you marry her, you take her home with you, get a job, and look after her while she goes to nursery, then school, then university.”
Alfies eyes welled up. “Butbut what about me?”
“Youd have to work, son. To take care of your family.”
“Whats wrong? Why are you crying?” Mum knelt in front of him.
“Mummy, I want to marry Katie, but I dont want to work yet! I want to go to nursery, then school! And Dad saidwaaah!”
“Now, now, theres no need for tears. Youll marry Katie when youre older.”
“But by then, someone else might take her!”
“Who would?”
“Dunno maybe Tommy or Billy.”
“Well, if shed go off with someone else, maybe shes not the one for you.”
The next morning, Alfie marched up to the girl in the red velvet dress, her long blonde hair tied with a big bow. He took her hand and declared, “Im gonna marry you, Evans!”
Katie studied him for a moment, then turned away. “No!”
Alfie stepped in front of her and stamped his foot. “I said Im marrying you! Justnot yet, alright? Later?” He squeezed her hand and peered into her eyes.
“Why not now?” she asked. “Tommy and Lizzie got married yesterday.”
“Thats pretend! Ours will be real!”
“Alright!” She nodded, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.
At school, Alfie demanded the teacher sit him next to Katie. She refused, placing Katie with another boy instead. Undeterred, Alfie plonked himself beside her.
“Im marrying Evans when I grow up.”
The children burst into laughter. “Alfie and Katie, sitting in a tree!”
“Quiet, class!” the teacher scolded. “Alfie, youre too young for such things. Go back to your seat.”
“No! Katie, tell her!”
Katie just smiled.
“Well, young lady? Whats your answer?” the teacher asked.
“Were getting married when were grown up. Not like Tommy and Lizzie in nurserytheyre just pretending.”
The teacher sighed. “Very well. Sit together.”
Katie was the queen of his heart. He carried her satchel, shielded her from dogs, bullies, even teachers. Once, when she scraped her knee, he hauled her to the nurses office. In secondary school, he confessed properly, earnestly.
And Katie? She just smiled and walked away, chin high.
“Im still marrying you, Evans!” he shouted after her. “Hear me?”
Then Tommya boxer, a lad with his own car, studying mechanicsstarted sniffing around. Alfie bore the bruises but never backed down. One evening, three lads cornered him. He braced himself.
“Oi, little man,” one sneered, peeling off the wall. “Come ere.”
“You want me, you come get me.”
“Cheeky, aint ya?”
“Ive got a name.”
“Listen, mate, back off the girl. Shes our mates.”
“Wheres this mate then? Too scared to say it himself? Tell him if he doesnt leave my girl alone”Alfie stressed the words”hell regret it.” He turned his back and walked off, sensing their anger but refusing to run.
They jumped him later, cowards that they were. Outnumbered, he curled upuntil a shriek split the air.
Katie charged in, wielding a fence plank with nails, swinging wildly. William and his mates came running, summoned by Lizzie, Katies friend.
That night, washed up under the street tap, the boys winced as Lizzie dabbed iodine on their cuts. But they laughed, Alfie loudest of all, though it hurt. Walking Katie home, she paused at her door.
“Does it hurt?”
“Nah.” He grinned.
She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. The lads tactfully looked away.
“Sorry, Alfie”
“For what? You saved me! Swinging that plank like Bruce Lee. Im scared of you, Evanshowll you be as a wife?”
“Oh, shut up!” She laughed.
Then came the army send-off. Katie didnt weep or clingjust stayed close.
“Remember, Ill marry you when Im back. Got it?”
“Yes.” For the first time since nursery, she said yes. “Alfie” She blushed. “Do you love me?”
“Katie, you daft thing! Ive been saying Ill marry you my whole lifewhat dyou think?”
Letters flew back and forth, each whispering *love*. Then they stopped.
No word for weeks. The telly showed boysdirty, ragged, but alivefighting far away. Then three letters arrived at once: to his parents, Katie, and William.
His parents and Katie got cheerful tales of penguins on assignment up north. They laughed through tears.
That night, Katies little brother asked, “Is Alfie in America?”
Her mum chuckled. “Dont be silly. Hes in the army.”
Later, William pulled Katie aside. “Penguins dont live up north. He told me where he really is.”
Their childhood code hid the truth in one worda word that stole sleep from mothers eyes.
William cried that night, biting his fist, helpless.
Then the news showed soldiersboys no longerbattle-hardened.
“Mum gasped. “Thats Alfie! Oh, my boy!”
He turned, as if hearing, and smiledwide, with dimples.
Paramedics came for his mother. “Hes alive,” the doctor soothed. “Wait. Hell come home.”
Katie couldnt sleep. Her mother gave her drops, taking some herself.
Alfies dad and William smoked on the balcony, silent.
“You knew?”
“Aye.”
“Right.”
Katies dad rubbed his old bullet wound, whispering, “Hold on, lad. Hold on.”
He came home at dawn, slumped on a bench, savouring the quiet.
William stepped onto the balcony, cigarette in hand.
“Smokings bad for you,” Alfie called up.
“Sos being a nuisance. Might get punched.”
“Missed you, brother.”
By midday, slightly tipsy on joy, Alfie shouted under Katies window:
“Evans! Im here to marry you!”
No one scolded the soldier. They knewhe was home. Alive.
“Mum, Dadcan I marry her now?” He spun before the mirror.
“Get dressed, groom,” they laughed. “Before she changes her mind!”
Years later:
“Mum, Im getting married.”
“Oh? When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Michael Alexander, who to?”
“Kate Evans. From my class.”
“Does Dad know?”
“Yeah. He said talk to Grandad first. So Im marrying her tomorrow.”
His parents chuckled.
“Did you talk sense into him, Grandad?”
“Aye. History repeats. Another Evans stealing our boys hearts.”
