Chapter 11½ - Some mothers….

“Hi, this is Nick, I can’t take your call right now but if you leave me a message I’ll ring you back. Bye”
“Oh, you’re not back. Christenings obviously go on a lot longer nowadays. I expect you’re all being terribly modern and celebrating down the pub. Hmm. Well, give me a ring when you get, but only if it’s not too late. And if you’re sober. Bye. Oh, it’s your mother.”



“Hello, is Dave there?”
“Hi Mrs Mack, no he’s not, he’s at the gym.”
“Hi Danny. At the gym again? He seems to live there lately! Is he ok?”
“Yes, he’s looking very well on it”
“Is he eating?”
“Oh yes, like a horse”
“That’s good. And how are things with you Danny?”
“Good thanks Mrs Mack.”
“I wish you’d call me Doreen - Mrs Mack sounds like my mother”
“Sorry, I’ll try”
“OK, well if my son ever comes home will you get him to give me a ring?”
“Of course I will”
“You still single Danny?”
“Hmmm, yes.”
“What a waste. It’s a pity my sons so stupid, you’d make a lovely couple”
Nervous laughter at the other end of the phone.
“Bye bye Danny!”
Bye …. Doreen.”


“Hello?”
“Jim! It’s your Mum”
“Hi Mum”
“Where’ve you been? We’ve been trying to get hold of you for days!”
“Is everything ok?”
“Yes, it’s just this blessed DVD player. Your father took it upon himself to move it and now it won’t work. I was hoping you might sort it out next time you were round.”
“OK Mum, although I’m not sure when that’ll be. Things have been a bit busy lately and I haven’t had much time to myself.”
“They working you too hard in that office still? No wonder you can’t get a girlfriend, she’d never see you.”
“It’s a good job Mum, I can’t let them down. And besides, I enjoy it.”
“I know you do love, but you always sound so tired and sad when I speak to you.”
“I’m not getting enough sleep, but I’m OK Mum.”
“I hope so love. Do you want a word with your father?”
“No Mum, I’m just on my way out. Tell him to check all his plugs, and if it still doesn’t work I’ll pop round in the week.”
“OK, come to tea, I bet you’re not eating properly. I’ll cook you a roast.”
“OK Mum, that’d be nice, I’ll ring you at let you now when I’m coming.
“OK love, bye bye.”
“Bye Mum.”


“Simon?”
“Hi Mum, you OK?”
“Have you spoken to Nick?”
“No, not lately, why?”
“He was going to that christening today and he’s still not home. I bet he’s out drinking with your father.”
“Dad might not have gone, they’ve probably just gone back to Emma’s for food or something.”
“He wouldn’t tell me if he had seen him.”
“No I don’t suppose he would, because you’d only get upset about it and shout at him.”
“Well, is it any surprise? Siding with the post mistress against me? What kind of son does he think he is?!”
“Calm down Mum, he’s probably just at the pub with his mates. If he phones I’ll tell him to give you a call.”
“Tell him not to bother, I’m all worked up now, he’s ruined my afternoon. How did I raise such a selfish son?”
Silence.
“Oh don’t you stick up for him ,you’re just as bad!”
“That’s not fair M….”
The phone is slammed down at the other end.