Let's All Make Believe - Oasis

Chapter 13

It was well into February. The weeks were just flying by now I was relaxing at home, enjoying the time Ste had left as an only child. It was like he was the only person in my world.

"D'you want to go into town?" George asked.

"Nah Ste's not dressed and I'd take ages to get ready." I made my excuses. "You go."

"I am, I need to go get some bits."

"Have fun." I waved her away.

"You sure you won't come?" she asked as she threw her bag on her shoulder. "We never do anything."

"You're only going to the shops, you don't need us trailing along."

I didn't want to go out but she just didn't get that. I didn't care if I was being boring or miserable or anything else she said, I wasn't going.

"Come on, it'll be good for ya. It's retail therapy."

"Go have fun then."

"I will!" she walked out the door thinking I couldn't hear her muttering about how I'd jump at the chance if it was Sinead and her bridesmaids asking.

I pretended I hadn't heard it too. I hadn't seen or heard from Sinead since the match. I didn't know when she was going to have us meet again, maybe they were meeting behind my back because I couldn't drink or anything.

There was no time to think about anyone but Ste and his upcoming little brother. I just needed him to know how much I loved him and nothing was going to change that. It was probably a bad idea to be spoiling him for attention just before the new baby arrives but I couldn't help it.

He gave me a book to read to him. I rolled my eyes and said "again?!" when I saw which one it was. I pulled him on the sofa and sat him by me.

"Big Brother." I read the title before flipping the page.

"Who's that?" He pointed at the main character.

"That's Tommy." I told him, sometimes I changed the name but this time I couldn't be arsed.

"Who's that?" He pointed at the mum.

"That's Tommy's mummy and that's his daddy." I told him before he could ask again so I could get on with the story. "Tommy is excited. His mummy and daddy say he's going to be a big brother."

I held the tab ready to pull it. "Mummy is having a baby. Tommy watches her tummy grow and grow."

The tab made the mummy's tummy grow big as it would go."Look at her tummy. Has my tummy gotten that big?"

"Yeah!"

"Cheeky!" I commented before reading again. "Mummy says "the baby is coming". Tommy goes to his grandparents' house while mummy and daddy go to the hospital. Where are you going when mummy goes to hospital, are you going to Jamie and Sinead's?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah." I repeated before continuing. "Tommy can't wait to meet the baby so they visit the hospital."

I flip the page and aww at the illustration of the mum with the new baby and the doting dad stood by their side. "Mummy says meet your new baby brother and Tommy greets his new little brother with a hug and a kiss."

I couldn't help thinking that this book really didn't cater to the nature of our family. There was no Mummy's girlfriend or daddy's wife or any of that. That would be too complicated and challenging of conventions for a kid's book.

"They bring the new baby home. Tommy can't wait to play with his brother but mummy and daddy say he's too young to play and they're too busy."

"Tommy thinks it's not fair. He..."