Brian had red hair when he was a baby. That dusting of hair Tommy has is a bit red, isn’t it?’
‘More like you. You’ve still a bit of auburn in your hair. I can see it when the sun shines on it. Brian’s hair is as black as soot and most likely always has been.’
‘Anyway, I stopped Mrs Plockton calling Tommy names. So I’m not as daft as you always make me out.’
‘Calling Tommy names?’
‘Yes, another wee Pinkie, she said, and when I objected, she patted his head and said, “Yes, maybe wee ginger nut would be better.” ’
‘The cow!’
‘I said very firmly, “His name is Tommy and he’ll be called nothing else.”You would have been proud of me, Mrs Mellors.’
‘Good for you, Jessie. But I was just thinking. Are you managing the stairs all right with the pram?’
‘You help me get it up and down.’
‘When I’m here, but that’s just at weekends. I still think you’d be much better in Vale of Lennox during the week. And I’m sure Brian will think the same. He likes the Campsie area, doesn’t he?’
‘Yes, he used to do a lot of hillwalking and climbing when he was young, he told me.’
‘There you are then.’
‘I’m fine just now. I’m managing the pram up and down the stairs.’ Her feelings about the flat and it being such an intimate part of the market hadn’t changed. She still loved it.
However, Brian agreed with Mrs Mellors after he came home and saw the struggle she must be having with the pram.
‘But I’m going to get one of those smaller buggies when the twins are a bit older, and better at sitting up.’
‘Yes, older and heavier, Jessica.’
‘But I can’t leave my flat. You know that.’
‘Just during the week. You can still be in your flat every weekend when Mrs Mellors would be there to help you with the pram.’
‘I bet she’s been on at you about the flats in Vale of Lennox.’
‘Yes. However, she also said you could stay with her in the cottage if you still don’t want to take on one of the flats there.’
Jessica tutted and shook her head.
‘I wish the pair of you would stop nagging at me.’
Brian enfolded her in his arms and kissed her brow, her cheeks, her lips.
‘Darling, I’m only thinking of what’s best for you. And I’m sure Mrs Mellors is too.’
‘OK. OK. I’ll think about it. I’ll just think about it. I’m not going to be rushed into anything.’
But she was still in the Calton flat when Brian came on his next leave. The children could toddle about by then. She could even take their hands and help them to climb the stairs, one on either side of her. Once in the flat, she’d stand them in their high-sided cots and then race back down for the buggy that had replaced the bigger pram. Several more leaves later, the twins were ready to go to the local primary school.
‘Talk about being spoiled at the Barras!’ Mrs Mellors said. ‘Now their daddy spoils them as well. If he brings them any more presents, you won’t have enough room in the flat for them all.’
Jessica laughed. ‘But they’re so adorable, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, I know, but it’s not good for them, Jessie. It might get them into trouble at school. Other kids might resent them and try to bully them. Even the teachers might not like spoiled kids.’
‘Now you’re worrying me.’
‘Just warning you.’
Jessica knew in her heart the truth of what Mrs Mellors was saying. What to do about it, that was the problem. By the time Tommy and Fiona were seven, Jessica could see that they were indeed being picked on. They were suffering fear and unhappiness. On more than one occasion, they had come home clinging to one another and weeping broken-heartedly. In much distress, Jessica had gone to the school to speak to the head teacher in an effort to find out exactly what was going on.
The head teacher had been polite but cool. She would look into the matter, of course, but she was sure, she said, that no bullying or wrongdoing could take place within
‘More like you. You’ve still a bit of auburn in your hair. I can see it when the sun shines on it. Brian’s hair is as black as soot and most likely always has been.’
‘Anyway, I stopped Mrs Plockton calling Tommy names. So I’m not as daft as you always make me out.’
‘Calling Tommy names?’
‘Yes, another wee Pinkie, she said, and when I objected, she patted his head and said, “Yes, maybe wee ginger nut would be better.” ’
‘The cow!’
‘I said very firmly, “His name is Tommy and he’ll be called nothing else.”You would have been proud of me, Mrs Mellors.’
‘Good for you, Jessie. But I was just thinking. Are you managing the stairs all right with the pram?’
‘You help me get it up and down.’
‘When I’m here, but that’s just at weekends. I still think you’d be much better in Vale of Lennox during the week. And I’m sure Brian will think the same. He likes the Campsie area, doesn’t he?’
‘Yes, he used to do a lot of hillwalking and climbing when he was young, he told me.’
‘There you are then.’
‘I’m fine just now. I’m managing the pram up and down the stairs.’ Her feelings about the flat and it being such an intimate part of the market hadn’t changed. She still loved it.
However, Brian agreed with Mrs Mellors after he came home and saw the struggle she must be having with the pram.
‘But I’m going to get one of those smaller buggies when the twins are a bit older, and better at sitting up.’
‘Yes, older and heavier, Jessica.’
‘But I can’t leave my flat. You know that.’
‘Just during the week. You can still be in your flat every weekend when Mrs Mellors would be there to help you with the pram.’
‘I bet she’s been on at you about the flats in Vale of Lennox.’
‘Yes. However, she also said you could stay with her in the cottage if you still don’t want to take on one of the flats there.’
Jessica tutted and shook her head.
‘I wish the pair of you would stop nagging at me.’
Brian enfolded her in his arms and kissed her brow, her cheeks, her lips.
‘Darling, I’m only thinking of what’s best for you. And I’m sure Mrs Mellors is too.’
‘OK. OK. I’ll think about it. I’ll just think about it. I’m not going to be rushed into anything.’
But she was still in the Calton flat when Brian came on his next leave. The children could toddle about by then. She could even take their hands and help them to climb the stairs, one on either side of her. Once in the flat, she’d stand them in their high-sided cots and then race back down for the buggy that had replaced the bigger pram. Several more leaves later, the twins were ready to go to the local primary school.
‘Talk about being spoiled at the Barras!’ Mrs Mellors said. ‘Now their daddy spoils them as well. If he brings them any more presents, you won’t have enough room in the flat for them all.’
Jessica laughed. ‘But they’re so adorable, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, I know, but it’s not good for them, Jessie. It might get them into trouble at school. Other kids might resent them and try to bully them. Even the teachers might not like spoiled kids.’
‘Now you’re worrying me.’
‘Just warning you.’
Jessica knew in her heart the truth of what Mrs Mellors was saying. What to do about it, that was the problem. By the time Tommy and Fiona were seven, Jessica could see that they were indeed being picked on. They were suffering fear and unhappiness. On more than one occasion, they had come home clinging to one another and weeping broken-heartedly. In much distress, Jessica had gone to the school to speak to the head teacher in an effort to find out exactly what was going on.
The head teacher had been polite but cool. She would look into the matter, of course, but she was sure, she said, that no bullying or wrongdoing could take place within
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