Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

‘You’re late, where have you been?’

‘Out…’

‘You’re twelve, I asked you to be in by nine…’

‘I know…’

‘I’m your mother…’

‘I know that too…’

‘So where have you been?’

‘Just out, mum…’

‘Is there some strange universe out there that you can’t speak about?’

‘No, mum. I’m just having fun. Why must I tell you everything?’

‘I need to know you’re safe…’

‘I am, mum. There’s nothing sinister going on. We just play music on the jukebox and I don’t want to be the first one to say I have to go home now. We like to walk home together, laughing about the boys.’

I hadn’t meant to say that last bit. Mum went quiet for a while. I guess she must be thinking about the boy thing I let slip out.

‘If I let you stay out until ten, I don’t expect you to take time and stretch it. No excuses, no being late, no telling me your watch stopped.’

Trying not to show my excitement, I said, Yes mum. Wondering why she had been so generous…

©anitadawes