Ahead of his Time by Adrian Cousins (children's books read aloud .txt) 📕

expecting to be reprimanded for something. His head sagged, awaiting the bollocking or worse, probably expecting a pair of Marigolds and a toilet brush to be thrust into his hand.

“Well done with today’s lesson. That was some of your best work this year.”

His head shot up in surprise. “Oh, fanks, sir.” He performed an odd chicken-style movement as his head repeatedly enacted small nodding actions whilst he contemplated the compliment he’d just received.

“Was working with Sarah helpful?”

“Yeah, she’s really cleva. ’elped a lot.”

“Right, that’s good. So, working as a pair in the future should help you?”

He continued his chicken-style nodding. “Yep,” he over-pronounced the ‘p’, leaving his bottom lip slack. It wasn’t a good look.

“Great! Maybe you should catch up with Sarah and thank her for her help?” My plan to help the relationship along just got another nudge. Martin was unsure when his mother dated Carlton. But it was in her school years and, as this was her final year, it had to be soon. I felt Carlton had some serious shaping up to do if Sarah was to fall for his charms unless she had a thing about nodding chickens.

“Yeah, I will, sir. Cheers. Be good to have another gawp at her great tits as well.” With that, he sloped out of the lab and fell into the swim of students cruising down the corridors.

“Okay. Surely he’ll grow up soon?” I mumbled and shook my head in disbelief at his comment regarding Sarah’s anatomy. I did remind myself that I’d said a similar comment to my prospective ex-mother-in-law about Lisa’s chest at the age of twenty-six. Based on the fact Carlton was ten years younger than I was then – there was no hope.

The plan Martin and I’d conjured up involved him keeping away from any students during breaks, so to hide in the boiler house with his tools and only come out when classes were in full flow. This, we felt sure, would avoid him having any contact with his mother. I suggested he wasn’t to complete any jobs near the school gates as the students were piling out at the end of the day. Fully aware this severely reduced his chances of courting any more yummy mummies. Martin recognised the seriousness of the situation and would have to satisfy himself with Randy Mandy and Nursey Nicole for the time being – a real hardship, but I thought he could cope.

40

Twiggy

“It’s gonna get really tough for you. Don’t think because Patrick is the father that I won’t deal with you.” She leant in closer to her face. “Don’t underestimate me, girl; you should know better.”

Jess knew she was right. She was under no illusion that Patrick’s mother would make her life hell or worse if she chose to. Leaning with her back to the sink, she glanced from Shirley to Paul and back to Shirley again.

“Well? I’m waiting,” Shirley stabbed out, as she folded her arms across her tartan-checked coat with a cigarette poking out the side of her mouth. Paul moved closer, sliding his backside along the edge of the kitchen worktop. Although he had those evil eyes, it was clear to Jess who was in charge as Shirley unfolded her arms and slowly raised her right index finger. She continued to stare at Jess, but the raised finger was enough to stop Paul’s advance towards her.

“I told ’im, all I know,” Jess replied. Relieved the evil bastard hadn’t encroached any nearer. Jess knew if Shirley wanted to, she could click her fingers, and her well-trained pit-bull-son would rip her guts out.

“Hmmm. Well, tell me.”

“I was walking down the lane at the back. Y’know, Thetford Lane that goes around the field up by those trees.” Jess thumbed over her shoulder, indicating through the kitchen window behind her.

Shirley removed her cigarette from her mouth and flicked the ash to the kitchen floor. “Go on.”

I heard some shouting and, when I looked around, I could see some bloke hanging over the edge of the flats’ roof. I didn’t know then it was David. Some other bloke was hanging over the edge holding him. Another man was standing on the roof … he was … just standing there. Then the bloke hanging over the edge seemed to just let go, and I watched David fall to his death. As I said, I didn’t know it was David … well, not until I met up with Patrick later.”

“You said you saw this geezer throw him off the roof. You changing your story?” Paul asked, as he stepped closer but stopped as Shirley shot him a look.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Shirley asked, as she held her stare and again dashed the ash to the floor.

“This bitch needs sortin’ out!”

“SHUT UP!” she barked at her son without looking at him. Paul shrank back and moved a few steps away from Jess.

Jess knew why she’d said nothing. She remembered thinking at the time it was good riddance to that little perv. Knowing that David was Shirley’s favourite, she couldn’t say that without dire consequences. Nothing came to mind to what to say, so she just shrugged her shoulders.

“And this bloke, you saw him later?”

Jess nodded. “I was walking back from the shops about an hour or so later. I recognised the denim jacket he was wearing, and he looked about the same size as the man on the roof. He then jumped into a yellow Cortina and drove out of the estate.”

Shirley nodded. Dropped the cigarette to the lino and crushed it under the sole of her black knee-length boots. Jess looked down at Shirley's foot but said nothing. The burn hole would just mix in with all the other burn marks accumulated over the years across the orange-coloured lino.

“Well, girl. You’re carrying my grandchild. Patrick will want you looked after while he's away, so you don’t need to concern yourself with anything. You’re carrying a Colney; that alone will protect you. But let me be clear.” She stepped