**Childhood Sweethearts**
“Mum, can I wear my blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?”
“Blue? Why’s that?”
“Because Katie Evans said it suits my eyes!”
“Well, if Katie said so, of course you can wear it.”
Tommy, pleased, 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 it matched Tommys eyes. His father chuckled and ruffled the boys hair.
“So, son, do you like Katie, then?”
“Yeah! Im gonna marry her one day.”
“Oh? Well, first youll need to finish school, get an education, then think about marriage.”
“Blimey, thats ages away…” Tommy frowned.
“Dad, can I marry Katie tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? And where would you live, son?”
“Here, of course,” Tommy replied, puzzled.
“Whose house? Katies?”
“No, Dad!” The boys eyes widened. “Katie stays at hers, and I stay at ours.”
“Doesnt work like that, lad. If you marry her, shed come live with you. Youd have to work while she goes to nursery, then school, then university.”
“And me?” Tommys eyes welled up.
“Youd have to work, son, to take care of your family.”
“Whats wrong? Why are you crying?” His mother knelt beside him.
“Mum, I wanna marry Katie, but I dont wanna work now. I wanna go to nursery, then school, and Dad said” His voice wobbled.
“No need for tears. Youll marry Katie when youre older.”
“But what if someone else takes her before then?”
“Like who?”
“Dunno… maybe Charlie or Ben.”
“Well, if shes the sort to be stolen away, maybe shes not the one for you.”
The next morning, Tommy marched straight 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.”
Tommy darted in front of her and stamped his foot. “I said Im marrying you! Not now, alright? Later, yeah?” He peered into her eyes.
“Why not now?” she asked. “Charlie and Lucy got married today.”
“Their weddings pretend. Ours will be real!”
“Alright then,” Katie nodded, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.
At school, Tommy insisted the teacher seat him beside Katie. She refused, placing Katie next to another boy instead. Undeterred, Tommy plonked himself down beside her.
“Im marrying Evans when Im grown.”
The children snickered. “Tommy and Katie, sitting in a tree!”
“Quiet, class!” the teacher scolded. “Whats your name?”
“Tommy.”
“Tommy, youre too young for such thoughts. Go back to your seat.”
“No! Katie, tell her Im marrying you.”
Katie sat quietly, smiling.
“Well, Miss Evans? What do you say?” the teacher asked.
“Were getting married for real when we grow up. Not like Charlie and Lucytheirs is just pretend.”
The teacher paused, then sighed. “Very well. Sit together.”
Katie was the queen of his heart. He carried her satchel, shielded her from dogs and bullies, even hauled her to the nurse when she scraped her knee. Years later, in secondary school, he confessed properly.
And Katie? She smiled and walked away, chin high.
“Ill still marry you, Evans!” he called after her.
Then Ben, the schools boxing champ, started circling Katie. Tommy endured black eyes but never backed down. One evening, he spotted three lads lurking.
“Oi, kid,” one sneered, peeling off the wall. “Come ere.”
“You want me, you come get me.”
“Cheeky little sod.”
“Ive got a name, mate.”
“Listen, runtstay away from Bens girl.”
“Tell Ben if he doesnt leave my girl alone”Tommy stressed *my*”hell regret it.” He turned his back and walked off, feeling their glares.
Later, they ambushed him. Outnumbered, he curled upuntil a scream split the air. Katie charged in, swinging a fence picket, nails and all. His brother and a mate came running, summoned by Lucy, Katies friend. That night, after patching up, they laughed till their sides ached.
As they walked her home, Katie turned to him. “Hurt much?”
“Nah,” Tommy grinned.
She rose on tiptoes and kissed him. The lads tactfully looked away.
“Sorry, Tom.”
“For what? You were brilliant! Swinging that plank like Bruce Lee. Im scared of you, Evanshowll I marry a girl who fights like that?”
Katie laughed.
Then came his army send-off. Katie didnt cling or cryjust stayed close.
“Remember, Ill marry you when Im back, yeah?”
For the first time since nursery, she said, “Yes.” Then, shyly, “Tom… do you love me?”
“Are you daft? Ive spent my whole life saying Ill marry you. Course I do.”
Letters flew back and forth, each whispering *love*. Thensilence. The telly showed boys in dusty uniforms, laughing. Then three letters arrived at onceto his parents, Katie, and William. His were cheerful, full of tales about penguins on assignment up north. They laughed and cried reading them.
That night, William pulled Katie aside. Penguins didnt live up north. Their childhood code revealed the truth in one worda word that kept mothers awake. William bit his fist, weeping under his pillow.
Later, news footage showed soldiersboys hardened by battle.
“Tom!” His mother clutched her chest. “Thats him!”
As if hearing, he turned and smiledthat same wide grin. Paramedics came when she fainted. “Hes alive,” the doctor said. “Wait for him.”
Katie couldnt sleep. Her mother soothed her with drops, taking some herself. His father and brother smoked silently on the balcony.
“You knew?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright.”
Katies dad, a veteran, rubbed his old bullet wound. “Hold on, lad,” he whispered.
He came home at dawn, sitting on a bench, savouring the quiet. William stepped onto the balcony, lighting a fag.
“Smokings bad for you,” Tommy called up.
“Being annoyings worse. Might get punched.”
“Missed you, brother.”
Hours later, tipsy with joy, Tommy yelled under Katies window: “Evans! Im here to marry you!” No one scolded himhow could they? Their soldier was home.
“Mum, Dadcan I marry her now?” He spun before the mirror.
“Get dressed, groom,” they laughed. “Before she changes her mind.”
“Over my dead body!”
***
“Mum, Im getting married.”
“Oh? When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Really? And whos the lucky lady, Michael?”
“Lucy Evans. From my class.”
“Does Dad know?”
“Yeah. He said talk to Grandad first, so Im marrying her tomorrow.”
***
“So, Grandad, did you talk sense into him?” Tommys mother laughed.
“Aye. History repeatsanother Evans, stealing our boys hearts.” His father grinned. “Just like his old man.”
