Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
THAT KID IS A LITTLE PRICK
Neve
4 years later
“Hope! Come on sweetie, you have to get to school,” I yell as I quickly down my coffee.
The past few years have been hard; really hard actually.
There have been times when I think I just can’t do it and there have been times that I have thought that I am the worst mother in the world.
But then there were the good days. They outweighed the bad and in all honesty, I’ve loved every minute of it.
Being a mum is a gift and watching my beautiful girl grow, I know I’m kind of good at being a mum.
I’m no mother of the year but she’s alive, she’s happy and she’s so much cuter than some other kids I’ve seen.
I mean a few needed a good splash of holy water or something because they were so damn ugly I almost had nightmares.
Bella moved out about three years ago with Doctor Phil, so it’s just been Hope and me ever since.
There are times I’ve felt lonely, especially when picking her up from pre-school and seeing loads of happily married couples.
Wankers, no, that’s wrong of me. I don’t mean that (I fucking do) but they don’t need to rub their happily married bliss in my face.
I mean who cares, I have a vibrator and it does the job just nicely without all the irritating shit that comes with having a man.
The farts, the itching of their crotch and smelling their fingers afterwards, the skid-stained boxers with holes in them.
Yeah you crack on there Shirley with your wonderfully supportive husband, it’s not like we don’t know that he secretly wanks to the double d’s Debbie and lip filler Linda.
Aka Vee and Judy, a lovely lesbian couple from preschool that have an only followers page – he is their no. 1 subscriber.
“Mummy, I don’t like my uniform.” Hope yawns as she comes into the kitchen.
I smile at her, she looks adorable. It’s her first day at primary school and she has to wear a grey pinafore, white shirt and her navy school blazer with yellow trim.
“Mummy, I said I don’t like it,” she states, yawning again.
I swear this kid would sleep all day if I let her.
I crouch down and cup her chubby little cheeks in my hands. “Sweet girl, you look beautiful and I know you may not like it, but it’s the rules at big girl school. Plus you’re so beautiful it actually makes the uniform look a million times better,” I state, placing a kiss on her button nose.
She scrunches up her face. “Mummy, you’re silly, but okay, if I have to wear it I will. Can I choose my socks though?” she asks.
“Of course.” She runs off into her room coming back with her stripey rainbow socks. “Put theses ones on please?” she asks sweetly.
I smile and take them from her. She is such a strong-willed madam that doesn’t like to be told what to do. I’ve learnt that bribery goes a long way in parenting, and that she may be four but she can out smart most adults.
After I’ve put her socks and shoes on I take endless amounts of photos until she begs me to stop. “Right, you ready?” I ask.
“Yes Mummy let’s go,” she says, holding out her hand for me.
As we walk down the street to her school, a car horn rings out over and over. We turn around and see Bella pull up next to us before she jumps out. “Happy first day Hope! Sorry I’m late, traffic was a nightmare,” she says locking the car.
“Um Bella, you’ll get clamped parking there,” I point out.
“Meh, my fella is a doctor. He loves me and will pay for it when I explain to him that it was an emergency. I couldn’t miss my girl’s first day of school.” She winks to Hope.
“Yay, Auntie Bella! Do you like my uniform?” Hope asks.
“Eww no, it’s fucking hideous,” Bella blurts out. I elbow her in the side for swearing but she doesn’t even flinch. “But it’s okay because you’re that beautiful you make it look good! Plus, I bloody love the socks!”
“That’s what Mummy said!” Hope laughs. “But without the naughty word,” she loudly whispers.
We carry on walking to school and once there we stand in the playground. Some kids are crying not wanting to leave their mums and others like Hope have lined up already waiting to go in. “Hold it together,” Bella whispers to me, knowing full well that I am about to burst into tears.
We watch as a boy pushes Hope and stands in front of her in the queue. “Oh hell no,” Bella mutters. I have to hold her back from going over there.
We watch as Hope taps him on the shoulder and gives him what for. “What is she saying to him?” I ask.
“I don’t know but whatever it is he looks like he is about to cry,” Bella mutters next to me.
“Oh crap.” The boy cries and moves to the back of the line. Hope looks to us smiling from ear to ear and holds up both thumbs being proud of herself.
“I bloody love that kid.” Bella laughs. “That’s my girl! You stand up for yourself,” Bella shouts across the playground to Hope.
“Yeah well, I’m guessing the mum won’t be inviting me round for a coffee morning any time soon,” I state as the mum comforts her now crying son, glaring daggers at me.
“Yeah well, she needs to teach her kids some manners, AND NOT TO PUSH GIRLS!” Bella says the last bit loud enough for the woman to hear while flipping her off.
“Bella,” I hiss. “I don’t need you making it worse.”
“Nonsense, everyone can see that kid’s a little prick and I’m guessing he gets that from his mother.” She shrugs.
I Ignore her and watch as the teacher leads them inside. Hope waves excitedly at me as she walks inside her classroom. I sniffle, wiping away my tears.
“Oh come on you fanny, let’s get you a coffee,” Bella says wrapping her arm around my shoulders.
We go to a local café, not the one I used to work at, I’ve since avoided that place.
Not because I got fired but I just don’t want to see that dogging couple ever again.
It may have been years and they may not remember me, but boy do I remember them and it’s an image I would rather erase from my memory.
We sit down drinking our coffee. “So I know you’re all emotional and shit, but I have something to tell you,” Bella states smiling.
“Oh fuck, you’re pregnant aren’t you?” I ask.
“God, no. I am not ready to push anything through my perfect vagina, Phil’s words fyi. No I need to ask you something, well actually, I’m not going to ask you because it shouldn’t be a question with you. I mean even if you declined, you don’t have a choice –”
“Oh my god Bella, get to the point,” I interrupt.
“Phil proposed last night and I said yes!” She smiles excitedly, showing me her hand with a big diamond on her finger. “Oh and you’re maid of honour,” she adds.
I jump up and lean over the table and hug her tightly. “You know I’m going to have to secretly hate you now.”
“I know, because you’re jealous of my super fantastic relationship,” she gloats. I laugh, sitting back down and I wipe my tears.
“Boy, you really are a fanny, aren’t you?” Bella snorts.
“Shut up. I’ve just dropped my daughter off for her first day of school and now, my best friend has told me she is getting married. Of course it’s going to be an emotional day,” I defend.
“So how is Hope? Have you managed to get her to the opticians yet?” she asks.
I shake my head. “Nope, she is still refusing, saying that pretty princesses never wear glasses so she isn’t going and I can’t make her.
” I laugh shaking my head. “She is stubborn. I have caught her over the last couple of months squinting and rubbing her eyes while watching TV. I took her to the opticians and the entire time she shut her eyes and refused anyone to look at them. No matter what the bribery was. Now she is squinting more and sleepy because she is over working her eyes. I have her booked in for next week and currently trying to figure out a way I can convince her to let them look at her.”
“What is that girl playing at? I’ve taught her better than that. Sod princesses, she knows that the real princesses are women like Charlotte Bronte, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy and Jennifer Aniston!” Bella states.
“Jennifer Aniston?” I ask smiling.
Bella leans across the table, lowering her voice in a threatening tone. “Hey, don’t dis Jennifer. She is a goddess and an international treasure.”
I smirk and sip my coffee. “You do know she is never going to get with David Schwimmer. Ross and Rachel aren’t real,” I point out.
She rolls her eyes. “I know, I know. I’m not stupid,” she defends.
“She isn’t getting back with Brad Pitt either. You need to accept that,” I add.
“Hey now, they still hold a very strong flame for each other. If that bitch Angelina hadn’t had meddled in, they would still be the cutest Hollywood couple.” She huffs angrily.
I laugh and shake my head. Bella has always been obsessed with the gossip of Hollywood. She was constantly buying those cheap, trashy magazines hoping to get the latest on which celebrity is getting together or breaking up. She lives for it.
Finishing our coffees, we go our separate ways.
Not surprisingly Bella’s car is clamped but she just shrugs it off and jumps on the tube.
I wander home taking my time, because apart from housework I’m not sure what to do with myself.
Pearl has given me the day off, so I don’t get emotional at work.
As in her words; “no one wants to see you crying while you’re washing their dirty knickers. ”