Up Early Chatting With Mum

I met Pippa in the street. I was heading off to the milk bar to get cigarettes and OJ, early. It's nice to be up and enjoying the morning air. There is a certain smugness to be wandering around to the shop in my track suit pants as everyone else is running for the tram.

"I just want to say thanks."

I shook my head. "What for?"

"Tommy, he's a changed boy." She shrugged. "He's calmed down, he's not stomping around the house any more. He's... he's... his old self. New self. I don't know which self, but it's good."

What was I supposed to say? Jesus, I only had to blow him once? "That's good... to hear." I smiled, it felt kind of fake, as my cheeks pulled back. “Good for Tommy.”

She smiled.

What were we going to say next?

"So..." Pippa said. She smiled again.

I raised my eyebrows. What was she going to ask?

She smiled warmly. "I just wanted to thank you for taking an interest in him."

"Pippa..." What the hell was wrong with a little of the truth, we were both adults. "Tommy is gorgeous, it's my pleasure."

She touched my arm. "He really likes you, you know."

"I like him too."

She squeezed my arm and then turned and walked back across the road.

I headed to the milk bar wondering what I could do for the day.

Pippa called after me. “I feel like I’ve got my son back.” She touched her neck, running her hand down over her throat, pinching the skin at the base of her neck with her fingers. “The good one.” She did a thumbs up. She raised her hand to her mouth and blew me a kiss. She turned and went in her front gate.

It made me smile all the way to the shop.