The place i knew well
Now..
'Hang on a sec dad”. I said. “Aren't you going to have one last look around?"
"Get in the car: all of you”. Dad said. Raising his voice.
"No need to yell at them”. Mum said.
"I'm not: we need to go”. Dad replied.
"I know you're finding it hard to leave: it's the same for all of us". Mum said.
There's no more conversation for the next hour. It will take almost fours to arrive at their new house. Not even chatter box tommy: could find anything to say. Sally sat quietly listing to her favourite songs with earplugs: unaware of the silence.
Dad concentrated on the driving. Mum has her new women's day magazine on her lap looking at the pictures and reading an article.
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Earlier…
Tommy had woken that morning: earlier than he and his sister would have on any Christmas morning. The house had an eerie feel about it - lost and cold. Different from every other morning of the past eights years. All his favourite toys were missing from their place of honour - over his bed; he had packed them into boxes last night - spending lots of time deciding which toy went where.
The wardrobe was empty: the set of draws and his bed both wrapped in cardboard - ready for the moving truck.
He had a different feeling about that morning. It had no comparison to any Christmas day.
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Now…
Tommy finds new clothes: he dresses and folds his pyjamas - placing them in his suitcase. It's a surprise to Tommy to find he's not the first awake. In the kitchen, mum and dad there eating breakfast.
"Morning Tom”. said mum. Reaching for her coffee cup.
"Morning mum”. Tommy said.
"Morning dad”. Tommy said.
"Did you sleep well?”. Asked his dad.
“Yes” . replied Tommy.
There's no more conversation while they ate their breakfast: no-one could find anything to say.
Dad sat opposite Tommy reading what looked like legal stuff and mum was working at the sink. Sally joined them. She was still in her nightie.
Mum said. ”Once you have both had your breakfast and Sally you get dressed: go and say your goodbyes to John and Sharon.”
“OK”. said Sally.
“Make sure you’re home by 10.30 - no later”. Mum told Tommy.
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Later …
A large blue moving truck was in the driveway and men were loading furniture and stuff into it. Tommy saw the boxes of his toys stacked by the back door of the truck - ready to be loaded once all the large items had been secured. Dad had both pushbikes tied on the trailer along with mum's wheelbarrow and his saw bench.
Sally started crying. Her bedroom was empty and she was not sure what happened to the box of dolls she had promised to Sharon - and began crying louder.
The man from the moving company tried to find the box but could not.
“Be quiet Sally”. Dad yelled at her.
“Go sit in the car till it's time to go”. He told her.
"You can't tell her that”. Said mum.
"I just did”. Was dad’s reply.
"You can be so horrible, sometimes”. Cried Sally.
"Then you stop her crying”. dad told her.
There's no more conversation while the truck was being loaded. Not even chatterbox tommy - could find anything to say. Dad said nothing to Sally - even after he found the box with the dolls. Sally decided to keep the box for herself after all - and sat in the back seat.
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Now …
Tommy left the men and his dad to load the truck: he spent his time playing - driver of the truck - behind the steering wheel.
It was not until the house was empty and the truck had left: did Tommy's dad and mum walked around the house - there may had been a tear or two (but both neither notice)
"Go to the toilet, both of you”. Said mum.
"There's no toilet paper”. Sally told her mum.
"Yes there is”. Replied mum.
"Go now: or you will have to hang for two hours”. Mum’s voice was a little tense.
"I can't do that”. yelled Sally. Sally went to the toilet (there was paper).
Tommy peed on a tree - then got into the car and wiped his hand on the seat.
Funny how places, events and little things remain in your memory. They were the most important memories.
Yet over time become memories of the past and no longer important.
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