‘Put your coat on, Jess, and let’s get moving before Edward decides to come looking for us.I’ve never seen him so angry.Anyway, where’s that Leo character?He comes in, wrecks the place, gives me a black eye, loses your job for you, and now he can’t even hang around to apologise.Let’s go to my flat and eat some chocolate.’
‘That’s not really Leo’s fault, is it?The job, I mean.’
‘Well, he didn’t help, knocking over the table, smashing the chair and distracting you so you didn’t have time to do the clearing up.’
‘It’s all going badly wrong,’ wailed Jess, as they began to head up the street.‘Here I am, jobless, halfway through a catering degree, and with no way to pay the next fees now.And worst of all, what about George?Who’s going to buy his new school shoes now?I can’t, that’s for sure.’
‘Join the club.I’ve got no money either and I’m stuck in a dead-end job.Where did we go wrong?When we left sixth form, we thought the world was our oyster.Now it just looks like a very small whelk.Although, actually, I was fine until the tour guide job fell apart.I really miss Portugal.’
‘Well, think yourself lucky.At least you got a decent tan out of it,andyou’ve only got yourself and Maurice to worry about,andyou’ve got your own place.I’ve a hungry eight-year-old to feed and I’m still living with my mum.’
Mab gave Jess some crumpled tissues that she’d found in her pocket.‘Used to have my own place.I need to talk to you about that… and other things.Come on, Jess, cheer up.We’ll think of something.I’m sure Edward can’t sack you for not tidying up.He’ll have forgotten about it by tomorrow.’
‘But it wasn’t just that.I’ve had a really bad week.I’ve missed quite a bit of work because I’ve been called into school three times to sort George out.They seem to phone me every five minutes these days.’
‘Oh, no, what’s happened this time?’
‘Well, on Monday he kicked a chair over because someone else tried to give out the pencils when it was his turn, then on Tuesday he punched his friend Jade in the stomach for taking his place at the front of the line.And yesterday he was trying to tidy up some jigsaws and the teacher came to help him to speed things up.’
‘And?’
‘Well, you know how he hates people interfering.She ended up having to “manoeuvre him out of the classroom”, and he somehow managed to bruise most of her ribs.And now he’s been banned from the trip to the lake tomorrow.’
‘Are they allowed to do that?It’s not fair to ban him from trips, surely?’
‘Wouldyoutake George pond-dipping?’
‘Oh, Jess.What are you going to do?’
‘The doctor and that consultant we saw last week want to put him on some sort of wonder drug, but I’m scared.They keep mentioning the “a” word.’
Mab felt as if she was floundering in unfamiliar water.‘The “a” word?’
Jess lowered her voice, as if she could hardly bear to say it.‘Autism.I mean, I knew that was where we were heading really, of course I did, but I didn’t want George to have to face being judged as being any more different than he already is.To me, he’s perfect.Quirky, hard work sometimes, but so, so lovable… anyway, it’s out in the open now and the school say they can’t cope unless he has one-to-one help, which they probably won’t get, because some of the time he’s fine.Government cuts, apparently.’
‘So, what happens next?’
‘They think he should go to that place in the city – you know the one – where they bus the kids in and they only have about six in each class?But Mab, I don’t want him to go to a special place.He’s already on his second school.The last one suggested I take him away after his first year.They said the other parents were threatening to move their kids if George stayed but I kept hoping he’d calm down as he matured.I told myself he was just a bit too lively.That school had talked about getting him assessed but it never happened.He was on a waiting list.This one’s put up with him really well so far.I want him to be here, near me.’
‘Have you told his dad?’
Jess laughed mirthlessly.‘Yes, I rang him yesterday, but since he’s been living down in Brighton, “finding himself”, he’s way too busy to care about George and he hardly ever answers his phone.That is, if he’s actually remembered to charge it.All Marcus said was that he’d been just the same himself when he was at school.He’s not that different now really, he can be seriously unpredictable too.He even times his teabag when he makes a mug of tea.Two minutes and ten seconds.And if you accidentally take it out sooner, he throws the whole lot away and starts again.’
Mab frowned.She’d never liked Marcus, even when they’d all three started school together at five years old.She hugged Jess hard.‘What we really need is a hero to sweep us off our feet.’
‘True.Make it two heroes though.I never share.’
As Jess spoke, they heard the throaty roar of an ancient engine, and out of the car park by the marketplace rolled a large red van.It was the rich colour of Merlot, with gold lettering.As it pulled alongside them, Mab read the words on the side of the van.
The Chocolate Cake Bookstore
Love looking, love learning, love luscious food, love life!
A Holistic Redding Experience
3
The van stopped next to Mab and Jess and through the open window, a familiar voice said, ‘Can I give you a lift, ladies?’
