**Childhood Love**
“Mum, can I wear my blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?”
“Blue? Whys that?”
“Because Katie Evans said it suits meit matches my eyes!”
“Well, if Katie said so, of course you can wear it.”
Little Tommy, pleased, ran off to play with his older brother, James, who was already in school. That evening, Mum told Dad about the blue shirt and how it brought out Tommys eyes. Dad chuckled and ruffled his youngest sons hair.
“So, lad, you fancy Katie, do you?”
“Yep. Im gonna marry her.”
“Is that so? Well, youll need to finish school first, get an education, then think about marriage.”
“Blimey, thats ages away” Tommy frowned.
“Dad, can I marry Katie tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? Where would you live, son?”
“At home, of course,” the boy replied, baffled.
“Whose home?” Dad pressed. “Katies?”
“No, Dad!” Tommys eyes widened. “Katie stays at her house, and I stay at ours.”
“No, son, thats not how it works. When you marry, you take your wife home with you. Youd have to work, and Katie would go to nursery, then school, then university.”
“And me?” Tommy asked, his eyes filling with tears.
“Youd work, son, to take care of your family.”
“Whats wrong? Why are you crying?” Mum knelt before him.
“Mum, I want to marry Katie, but I dont want to work yet. I want to go to nursery, then school. And Dad said waaah!”
“Theres no need for tears. Youll grow up and marry Katie then.”
“But what if someone else takes her before then?”
“Who would?”
“I dunno maybe Billy or Charlie.”
“Well, if that happens, she wasnt meant for you anyway.”
The next morning, Tommy marched up to the girl in the red velvet dress, her long blonde hair tied with a big bow. He took her hand and said solemnly, “Im going to marry you, Evans!”
Katie stared at him for a moment, then turned away. “No!”
Tommy stomped his foot. “I said Ill marry you! Just not right now, alright, Katie?” He peered into her eyes. “Later, yeah?”
“Why not now?” she asked, puzzled. “Billy and Lizzie got married already.”
“Thats pretend! Ours will be real!”
“Alright then!” Katie nodded, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.
At school, Tommy demanded the teacher seat him next to Katie. She refused, placing Katie with another boy instead. Undeterred, Tommy plonked himself beside her.
“Im marrying Evans when I grow up.”
The children giggled. “Tommy and Katie, sitting in a tree!”
“Quiet, class!” the teacher scolded. “Whats your name?”
“Tommy.”
“Youre too young to think about such things. Go back to your seat.”
“No! Katie, tell her Im marrying you.”
Katie sat quietly, smiling.
“Well, miss, what do you say?” the teacher asked.
“Were getting married properly when were grownnot like Billy and Lizzie. Theirs was just pretend.”
The teacher studied them thoughtfully. “Very well. Sit together.”
Katie was the queen of his heart. He carried her satchel, shielded her from dogs, bullies, and even teachers once. When she fell and scraped her knee, he hauled her all the way to the nurses office.
In secondary school, he confessed his love properly.
And Katie? She just smiled and walked away, head held high.
“Ill still marry you, Evans!” he shouted after her. “Hear me?”
Then came Jack, the boxer, who drove his own car and studied mechanics at college. Tommy endured bruises but never backed down.
One evening, three lads loomed in the alley.
“Oi, kid,” one sneered. “Come here.”
“You want me, you come get me.”
“Cheeky little git.”
“Names Tommy, actually.”
“Listen, matestay away from our mates girl, yeah?”
“Tell your mate if he doesnt leave my girl alone,” Tommy stressed the word my, “hell regret it.” He turned his back and walked off, feeling their anger but refusing to flinch.
Once, they jumped him from behind. Outnumbered, he heard a screamKatie, wielding a fence plank, barrelled into the lads, swinging wildly. His brother and a friend arrived, summoned by Lizzie.
That night, cleaned up under the street tap, they laughed despite the bruises. As they walked Katie home, she paused at her doorstep.
“Does it hurt?”
“Nah,” Tommy lied.
She stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
“Sorry, Tommy.”
“For what? Youre my hero! Im marrying a girl who fights like Bruce LeeI ought to be scared!”
Katie laughed.
Then came his army send-off. Katie didnt cling or crythey stood side by side.
“Remember, Ill serve, then marry you. Got it?”
“Yes.” For the first time since nursery, she said yes. “Tommy” She hesitated. “Do you love me?”
“Katie, you daft? Ive been planning to marry you my whole lifecourse I love you.”
Letters flew back and forth, each hiding those three words. Then they stopped.
News showed boysno, soldiersbattered but alive. One turned, grinningTommy.
Mum collapsed. The doctor soothed her. “Hes alive. Hell come home.”
And he did.
At dawn, a soldier sat on a bench, listening to birdsong. His brother stepped onto the balcony, smoking.
“Smokings bad for you.”
“Sos being a pain. Might get punched.”
“Hello, brother.”
“Welcome home.”
Hours later, slightly tipsy with joy, Tommy shouted up at Katies window. “Evans! Ive come to marry you!”
No one scolded him. They knewa soldier was home.
“Right, Mum, Dadcan I marry her now?”
“Get dressed, groom. Dont keep your bride waiting.”
“Ive waited long enough!”
***
“Mum, Im getting married.”
“Oh? When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Really? And whos the lucky girl?”
“Emily Evans.”
“Who?”
“From my nursery class.”
“Does Dad know?”
“Yeah. Said I should ask Grandad first, so Ill marry her tomorrow.”
***
“Well, Grandad, talked to your grandson?”
“Aye. History repeats. Another Evans, stealing our boys hearts.”
Tommys parents laughedjust as his grandparents had, years ago.
