There was a stony silence, as everyone waited for George to respond.He ignored his mother, and sat down on the pavement, took a pebble out of his pocket and began to scratch a pattern with it on a paving slab.
‘Right, well… let’s all go inside, shall we?’said Leo.‘We’d better get going before Mrs Mad-Eye Crabtree sets her dog on us.I heard it barking earlier, must be at least a Doberman or an Alsatian.’
Mab giggled.Beattie did have rather crazy staring eyes.The laugh died on her lips when she remembered that she was going to have to face Beattie and Edward soon.They were bound to be worried that all these developments with the shop and Leo were going to affect their relationship with Mab, and maybe even cause problems with the agreement they had made.She remembered her vow of assertiveness and squared her shoulders.
‘Where shall I put all my stuff, Leo?’she asked.‘Shall I just pile it all up in a corner for now?So long as Maurice has got somewhere peaceful to settle into.I’ll leave him in his basket until later, though, because otherwise he’ll either escape or wee on all your favourite things.What about the old stock room downstairs?’
In ten minutes, everyone except Sophie had formed a human chain from the van to the stock room, and had stacked Mab’s worldly goods neatly in the room that was destined to eventually become the jacuzzi area, although even Leo had to admit that this part of the plan might have to wait until they’d earned some money.After quick mugs of tea, the gang started again, this time filling Leo, Harry and Kev’s vans with old carpets, furniture, and anything else that they could persuade Leo to get rid of.
Soon the flat and shop were looking much clearer, and several trips later, it was time to begin the serious work.The rooms looked pleasingly bare, swept clean by Mab and Jess.Sophie was taking a very long time messing around on her phone, allegedly researching chimney sweeps.She had perched herself on the only remaining piece of substantial furniture – the old dresser – looking unnervingly like an evil pixie, in Mab’s opinion.
‘Where’s George?’said Jess suddenly, looking around the flat.
‘It’s fine, he’s still drawing.He’s in the little bedroom, the one we thought could be his own.Are you really going to move in here tomorrow?’asked Mab.
‘It’ll probably be Monday before I can get transport organised.I think Mum’ll be glad to see the back of us.George smashed one of her favourite vases this morning before we left.Accidentally, he said.’
‘Oh, was that why he was in such a bad mood earlier?’
‘He wasn’t in a bad mood, that’s just his normal morning look.’
Mab glanced at her friend.Jess’s normally cheerful face was white and pinched, and she kept peering into the little bedroom, as if she expected George to escape, or go on a wrecking spree if she didn’t constantly watch him.Jess had always been fairly reticent about George’s at-home behaviour.His school life had previously taken up most of her worrying time.How were they all going to cope with twenty-four hours a day of George’s mood swings?Right on cue, George burst out of the little room, swinging his pencil case by the strap.
‘Where’s my black felt tip?’he hissed.‘Did you take it out, Dickhead?’
Mab gasped.‘You’re not going to let him say that to you, are you?’she whispered to Jess.
‘Oh, that’s just his little pet name for me.It’s a joke, isn’t it, Georgie?You know Mum never touches your things without asking, don’t you?’
George considered this for a moment, and then turned his back and went back into his room, calling over his shoulder, ‘You’d better find it, DH.I can’t do the trees without it.’
Mab and Jess looked at each other.Jess sighed.
‘I know what you’re thinking, Mab, but there’s no point in picking him up on every little thing.If I did that, I’d just spend all day shouting at him.’
‘But… but…’ Mab gave up as the gang returned, demanding more tea.She went into the now almost empty kitchen and began to rustle up a bacon sandwich mountain for them all, with Harry’s help.He was looking rather jaded, and Mab thought it was probably time to sideline him into something a bit less active.
The day went quickly after the lunch break, and it soon seemed time to pack up for the evening.Everyone – except Sophie, obviously – was covered in a thick layer of dirt and brick dust, but the flat was beginning to look rather good.The empty rooms had grace and height.The floors were now clean and bare, ready for sanding, and the large windows were gleaming.
‘I know there wasn’t much point in cleaning them at this stage,’ said Jess, giving one more polish to an already sparkling pane of glass, ‘but I just wanted to show you what it’ll look like when we’ve done.’Everyone paused for a moment and looked around.
‘See, I was right, it’s going to be sensational!’said Leo, eating a leftover piece of bacon that he’d found in the kitchen.‘You lot are amazing.I never thought that we’d be this organised today.’
Jess stood up.‘Well, I’d better get George home; it’s bath time.Come on, Georgie, let’s get going.We need to scrub off some of this charcoal and felt tip before Grandma sees you.’
‘No!I haven’t finished drawing, Dickhead.Not coming,’ shouted George, from the bedroom.
‘I don’t envy you bringing up that little horror, Jess,’ said Sophie, smiling as she filed her nails.There was a stunned silence.Stan stepped in quickly.
‘Right, George, me and Kev need your help, mate.The van’s got a funny rattle and you’re going to have to have a listen for us.We’ll give you a lift home if you help us out.Deal?’
Nothing happened for a moment, and then George emerged from his room, bag packed and ready.
‘Can I sit on the front seat, Stan?’he asked, hopefully.Everyone breathed again.
‘Course you can, mate, but we’d better get moving.My mum gets really mad if I’m late for tea.’
Jess pulled an apologetic face at Stan as they left, and Mab was reminded again of her brother’s talents.Maybe this was going to work after all.If George joined the crèche, Stan might be able to keep him under control if he had to have some time away from school.But long term, how was Jess going to manage?And thinking about it, if Georgewasin the crèche, there might be a distinct lack of other children wanting to be there, especially small ones.Mab’s stomach gave a sudden growl, and she realised she’d had no chocolate or cake during the afternoon, something that had never happened before her pregnancy.They’d all been so busy that no one had wanted to stop.George had eaten the contents of his carefully prepared snack box while the rest of them carried on, fuelled by endless mugs of tea and a few biscuits.Now Den stretched himself, and grabbed Mab’s hand, pulling her to her feet.
