A Life Plan Without You. (79 page)

She is a good friend to have and a bad enemy. Her kicks none
too shabby either, she warned you about your nuts being kicked and
she wasn’t messing! I bet Dad is nursing a swollen pair this
morning, if the two kicks he got yesterday were anything to go by.”
He laughed as I explained all about dad's sore nuts predicament; he
laughed and said he’d seen her in action before. I felt a little
better about getting his girl, just a bit. We laughed about it all
the way back to the hockey field.

CHAPTER
14

“Practice for the next game is very important, we cannot lose
the league, but, the double is yours for the taking, cup, and
league for both year four and year five, so today we will be
playing a match, we have my high school year four group here to
play.” I laughed I would be playing hockey against Becky. They and
the year five teams were about the only teams who could actually
beat us we are all as good as each other. Miss Wane. An ex England
hockey team member she was not only our coach, but we shared her
with my old high school we had an unfair advantage in
her.

The team coaches and captain, from Stockton Hockey Club, were
watching us play today. I always hoped to join the team, but alas,
I’m not good enough. We played a great game. Karen played well
eager to impress the coaches from Stockton, as did Leigh our team
captain; she already played for Stockton so they must have been
here watching her. I’d had a great game I didn’t let them score. I
hadn’t let many goals in this season either we only scored one, a
good goal from Mandy. I unpadded after the game and walked with
Mandy and Tasha to the dressing room.

“I didn’t even know we had a practice and as luck had it we
were here picking up Jimmy.” We were, approached by the coach along
with, Miss Wane.

“Michelle, can we have a word please?” The others left
me.

“We would like you to join, the goal keeping squad for winter
training, do you think you would be interested?” Oh, my God I had
been waiting for this for ages.

“You bet I am. When and where do I start, thank
you?”

“Miss Wane will give you the details we look forward to seeing
you.” He shook my hand and left.

“Thanks for that Miss Wane, and to think it as just by chance
I was in today.” She looked puzzled.

“Karen said she would be seeing you and would pass the message
on.” I laughed.

“That’s not her fault really I haven’t seen her, I’ve been
busy in the kitchens and those classes are in the Lower Stockton
buildings, I only come to her building for exams and she’s not in
any of my exam classes.” She smiled and left me to shower and
change. I waited for Jimmy and Sam they were loaded down with bags
when they arrived.

“Did you leave anything in the shop?” Jimmy was
grinning.

“Sam bought me a whole load of new stuff. He said that I’ve
needed new clothes for a while, I have always had their hand me
downs, not that they are shit or anything, but these are all mine,
I never asked before, because they gave Dennis so much just to keep
me from a battering, I didn’t like to ask. He’s spent a fortune on
me thanks Sam. Michelle did you have a good game?” I laughed he
does like to spend his money. However this time, I could see it
from a different side, he actually enjoys making people happy and
Jimmy was ecstatic with his new things. I told Sam and Jimmy of my
news, and they were as excited for me as I was at getting the news.
We arrived at Aunties. Zoë and Andy were already there.

“I’m doing tea, Lasagne for everyone I think, unless we have
any other requests?” No one spoke up so after looking in the food
cupboard, which was packed with food of every sort and from every
continent. I grabbed the things needed and set about making it,
Bolognese made, Béchamel sauce made, assembled, and then put in the
oven, garlic bread from freezer; I must remember to put that in
later.

I needed to get ready for my classes too. Jimmy I would get a
taxi after our tea and the rest would join us later. I went to
finish their tea, iron his and Jimmy’s stuff. I’d turned into a
bloody housewife this was definitely not my chosen path and not
part of my life plan, well not so soon. I called everyone down and
in to dinner. Everyone was in and eating.

“Are you all right Zoë? If you want something else, I can make
you it.” She hadn’t touched her dinner.

“No, this will be fine I think I’ll give it a try.” She shoved
her fork in and took a small amount I waited for the fall out… The
next fork full went in quicker.

“This is really good, it smells so nice, I’ve never had it
before, but now I’ve had it I love it, thanks Michelle, I’m a
really faddy eater sorry.” Seems not everyone has had lasagne
before. I rushed upstairs showered and put on my new dress. It
swished, when I danced. I was very pleased with this one simple but
so nice, Sam was right again. I'm back down stairs looking for my
damn bag.

“We have to be going as soon as you’ve changed Jimmy I have
your class, my nippers and my own lessons tonight, so get a wriggle
on please. When are you lot coming?” Kim answered.

“We want to see you dance. So we will be there at about eight
is that okay? Then a pub crawl I think, before we hit Heaven.” I
smiled.

“Fine, you’re more than welcome. Your quiet Sam do you not
like your tea?”

“No. It’s really nice sorry baby, I’m just in thinking mode
sorry. It’s just the last weeks been a bit, err hectic and well I
think it’s just hit home, how much things can change in such a
short time, nothing for you to worry about though baby.” I was sure
there was more to it but didn’t push it he would tell me
eventually, he always did. Jimmy was ready and he actually looked
nice and smart.

“Phone for a taxi please, I’ll be two seconds, I just need my
bloody bag, why do I keep losing stuff?” I ran upstairs followed by
Sam.

“I love you, you do know that don’t you?” He was worrying me
now because Sam wasn’t good when he went silent.

“Mum, well she found these this, and well you’ve not taken any
for the last couple of days, are you trying to get pregnant?” I
laughed.

“To do that angel, we need to actually do it first.” I smiled
again and opened my bag. I bloody found it hiding under the bed I
showed him the new packet.

“I couldn’t find them, so I started a new pack. Is that what’s
been worrying you all day? You thought I was after trapping you
into becoming a father you idiot? I take one every morning Sam,
because I don’t want children, not just yet anyway. I’ll have yours
later, after a couple of years of trying and practicing, we need to
perfect that first angel.” I smiled, and I grabbed my bag and gave
him a kiss. “The taxi’s here see you later, I love you, and waiting
for this from you is killing me Sam.” I had my hand over his
crotch. “I mean it Sam I want you soon, or I take things into my
own very capable hands.” I gave him a kiss and headed to the
waiting taxi. He was deep in thought when I left him.

“Come on then Jimmy, let me change shoes and we will wait for
the others downstairs.” I ran through the tango with him. Put the
music on and danced it with him.

“Jimmy, look up here into my eyes, stop looking at your feet
please.” The others started to arrive and joined in too.

“Ellie, you look very nice are you ready for later?” She
smiled.

“I can’t actually believe you talked Mum into this, she was
putty in your hands Michelle, she's said no so many times, you’d
think I was breaking the law, I was eighteen at Christmas and still
I have a curfew, she’s a nightmare.” She did, it has to be said
have a soft spot for me. Mainly because of the time spent, waiting
for Ellie to get ready, talking about Grams and Gramps, she went to
Grams churches and they were friends, so she trusted me to be
Ellie’s friend, she said she wasn’t sure about Karen, because there
was something odd about that one. I had to agree, yes there was
definitely something odd about her.

“I have the same problem with Dad, he’s a bloody nightmare, he
doesn’t allow me to drink, and until Sam asked if I was allowed out
he said no, mainly because, he knows most of the idiots out, and
has this big fear they will get at him through me, hence the boxing
lessons and self-defence lessons he made me take, so think yourself
lucky. I had to promise Nora you were to be driven home and you
didn't do any hanky-panky stuff, so don’t.” She blushed as did
Jimmy. I loved the look on their faces.

“We are doing the tango, can you please take over with Jimmy
for me.” I grabbed Stephen and Samantha was busy with Gary. They
were getting better, but only just, and the group now was now just
the three of them. The other Neanderthals had found that prissy
dancing didn't do it for them. The foxtrot they had managed to
learn eventually, same with the waltz. We would soon have them
dancing well, and my toes would be hopefully stood on
less.

“Right lads thanks for that, you’re coming on nicely. As usual
upstairs and keep it quiet, we still have our class and my nipper’s
class, see you up there.” That hour went quickly and with any luck
the next two hours would do too. I noticed Lee watching me, Sam and
the rest were here too, Lee took my hand, and walked me to the
middle of the floor.

“Dance the Slow Foxtrot with me please, babe.” I humoured him.
“Music if you wouldn’t mind Ellie please?” I did the rises the dips
the falls, arms perfect to the tune of A Town Without Pity the
haunting melody was perfect as he smiled he laughed.

“Come on fancy stuff now, like we practiced? Do the floor
filler next babe, the stripper routine we did?” I laughed as he
said it too.

“You sure your gay? I swear you love that.”

“Shimmy your arse and the arms, and see if you rock someone’s
world?” I broke away from him and did the fancy foot work, I turned
to do the shimmy with Lee and danced down his body, he laughed as I
bit my lip.

“Rock it girl, the audience loves this. I may turn straight
for you babe.” As the music finished, we span for the length of the
room and we really enjoyed it too. We’d moved around the whole of
the floor quite gracefully, with perfect timings. I looked over,
Kim was smiling and clapping and hugging Sam, Zoë looked like she
was catching flies and Sam well he was just grinning. That was a
really sexy routine we did for Warrens seventieth birthday, good
job Lee is gay or Sam would have flipped.

“You dance very well, Michelle, please will you consider doing
the teaching side of the training, you have such a good bond with
the pupils and you love dancing, and we are one teacher down, now
Cathy’s gone. Can I persuade you to do it for me?” I said yes
without even thinking about it, I wondered why he didn’t ask Ellie,
yes he asked me. “It means a mid-week, dance lesson with me though.
You need to be more, edgy with the male leads.” I was ecstatic two
dreams in one day. I had the, chance to play for Stockton, and be a
proper dance teacher what a result.

“I enjoyed that thank you babe.” The next record flicked on,
Night Fever, and umm yes too good to miss dancing with Lee on my
own.

“Can I have this dance Lee?” He smiled.

“Umm, shake your wonder stuff babes, 3, 2, 1…” We danced
covering the floor as the others watched. I loved doing this with
Lee, and as I danced Karen watched. We did the dance perfectly. I
was breathless, whilst Lee laughed.

“Love it come on bow and lessons.” The others clapped I took a
bow and went to start my lesson. The group had seen me dance too
they sat and had a drink as I did my lesson. Lee was taking our
lesson today.

“Miss M, you look very nice tonight. Rumba please Samantha.
Are you two going out later? You both look very nice. Well, the
cheerleaders are here. So let’s give them a show. Music please,
arms up a little more definition in their placement please, right
and hips perfect. Let’s run it once more from the top please.” We
danced perfectly in time both Ellie and I enjoying it.

The Samba next this dance we had just started, so we expected
a few flaws, but the number he found was unacceptable. Cue a
Missy-fit or three, I was angry, because we were cramming a new
dance in, in less than two weeks. Where had Cathy’s head been? Do
pregnant women really forget things, as she kept saying?

“Right, Michelle again from the top.” I couldn’t get the step
right and cussed a lot.

“Shit, no I suck at this… Argh.” A perfect
mini-Missy-fit.

“Right, again please Lee.” I buckled down and did it. I had a
major Missy-fit with myself, picked myself up, and did it again
until I got it right.

“Yes good, Sam swop with me please. I’ll run through it with
Ellie now.” She had the same problem as me, Lee laughed and said
we'd need more time, and a few more lessons to get it spot on, time
we didn't have.

“Jive next ladies now let’s see if the dress flings into
action, Missy.” I liked this dance, and yes, the dress did suit the
dance. Feet moving together, perfect Ellie and I were dancing it in
unison and laughing as we did it.

“Perfect girls perfect.” Paso double next, the one we knew and
actually, didn’t need correcting on any of the moves.