Previously…

We were looking at an intricately patterned vase when the door opened with a ping from the bell over the door.

‘Sorry, we’re closed. We will be open the day after Boxing Day,’ said Auntie without looking up.

‘Well, this looks nice and cosy. Here are the two freaks together.‘

We turned around and there he was; a sneer on his unshaven face and a tyre lever in his hand.

‘I warned you not to get anywhere near Andy and here you are, together. You both need to be taught a lesson and I’m the one to do it.’

He came forward menacingly and the look in his eyes showed that he was not all there.

And now the story continues…

‘What do you want John,’ enquired Auntie Abby with an edge to her voice.

‘I see that you are still dressing as a woman. A freak like you should stay hidden like Andrew. You should have stayed a boy. You were born that way and no amount of cosmetic surgery is going to change that fact.’

He looked at a vase that was on a plinth. It was beautiful, aqua blue in colour and spotlighted from above. Without warning, he threw out his arm and with the tyre lever; he smashed it into thousands of pieces.

By this time, I was terrified. He was a big man and I had seen what he was capable of. Why had Mum married him? Was he nice to her or was it all an act?

‘Oop’s, silly me.’ he said with a sly grin.

‘Get out now.’ said my aunt with a calm voice that I could only marvel at.

He carried on as if she had not spoken.

‘So, Andrew ran to you, did he? I suppose that birds of a feather stick together. Did I ever tell you Andy that you look really silly in a dress?

‘My name is Amy and I am not Andy and if I do look silly in a dress, I would rather that than wear boys clothes and not be true to myself.’

‘”True to myself”’ mocked John. ‘Listen to you; the shrinks have brain washed you into believing that you are anything other than a boy. You have dick and balls, don’t you? You can’t have a baby, even if you have the fucking thing cut off. What’s the point eh? Now Andrew, you are coming with me and if you try and stop me Abby, I will make a mess of your perverted, painted face. Do you get me?’

All the time we had been backing up as he advanced, threateningly waving about the long metal bar. Auntie Abby had made sure that I was slightly behind her.

As he passed a shelf full of gaily painted pottery, He swept the tyre lever across the shelf and it all came crashing down on the polished wooden flooring, making a terrific noise.

‘Enough,’ shouted Auntie, ‘what the hell do you want?’

‘That’s a bit more reasonable,’ he said, ‘all I want is for Andy to come home and retract all the lies he has said about me.’

‘I’ve not told you any lies,’ I shouted.

‘I believe her,’ said Auntie.

‘Did Andy tell you that he hit his brother? Did he say that when I tried to restrain him, he got all stroppy and hit me too? Did he say that I cut his hair when he did it himself, just because he couldn’t get his way about dressing like a sissy fag?’

‘You liar!’ I screamed, ‘you did all this to me because I didn’t want to go along with you. I am a girl not a boy…’

‘Amy, be quiet,’ said Auntie Abby, ‘shouting will not help.’

She turned to John and said, ‘why do you want her to come back with you,’

‘What?’

‘You heard; why are you so keen for her to go back with you? You don’t love her or even like her, that’s obvious, so I repeat, why do you want her to come back with you?’

John still gripped the tyre lever and looked like he was dying to use it.

‘I want him back, because he belongs at home and I have parental responsibility for him. For too long he has got his own way and now he has to do what I tell him.’

‘She is not going anywhere and if you don’t leave now, I’ll call the police.’

‘The police, that’s a laugh. They don’t like getting involved with domestics.’

‘They are involved and are looking for you. I am surprised that you were stupid enough to come here.’

‘I have done nothing wrong.’

‘So the fact that you perforated her ear drum, gave her extensive bruises on the arm and hacked off her hair is your definition of doing nothing wrong is it?’

John had been doing a very good impression of a pressure cooker about to explode and those words set him off, violently.

He started smashing more things.

Suddenly Auntie Abby, who I think might have a bit of a temper herself when roused, threw a pot at his head and it hit him on the temple. That stopped him for a second as he shook his head and then he came for us, roaring like a madman.

The look in his eyes showed that he wanted to cause us grievous bodily harm but my aunt was of sterner stuff. She just waited for him to come up and when he swung the bar at her face, it wasn’t there as she ducked under the killer swipe and then with great presence of mind, she kneed him in the groin.

He dropped the tyre lever and clutched at his crown jewels and his eyes sort of crossed.

Auntie Abby with great presence of mind; grabbed the tyre lever and stood over him. I wondered if she was going to brain him, but all she said was ‘Get out now, or else.’

Then he said a few naughty words, threw a couple of insults at us and then, limping and bending slightly, he turned and fled.

Of course for me, reaction kicked in and I burst into tears.

‘Why doesn’t he leave me alone?’

‘Because he’s a bully and he want to get his own way. Well we won’t let him will we?’

‘No,’ I sniffed.

She picked up her mobile phone.

‘Hi, Terry, look that slime ball John Barnes has just threatened us in my own pottery and ran wild with an iron bar. I thought that you were after him?’

‘All right, I know it’s Christmas, but the man is a bloody danger. He nearly killed us, or would have if I had let him. He’s just left the pottery….okay, thanks; love to Mary,’

She put her phone down and then looked at me. I was still doing my young girl upset routine and it seemed that I now cried at the least thing. Mind you, John’s antics were enough to make a saint cry.

‘Don’t worry honey, he’s gone. That was the local Bobby (policeman) I spoke to. He’s a good lad, but the problem is that it’s Christmas and evidently, crime stops at Christmas so that there is a skeleton staff. It’s not like this area has much in the way of crime. It’s not like Bodmin…’

‘What’s wrong with Bodmin?’

‘Don’t ask. Anyway, its high time we went home.’

‘H…he won’t come back, will he?’

‘Not if knows what’s good for him,’ said my Aunt, picking up the tyre lever and flourishing it dramatically.

‘We need to tidy up.’ I said, looking around at the carnage.

‘Leave it, it’ll still be here tomorrow.’

‘I’m sorry I caused all this,’ I said.

‘You didn’t, he did and anyway, nobody messes wid my sisters kid,’ she said in a poor imitation of a Bronx accent.

I giggled, feeling a bit better.

‘I didn’t know you spoke Welsh,’ I said, tongue in cheek.

‘Stupid girl.’ She replied giggling.

As we left the pottery, I looked around nervously, wondering where John had got to, then in the distance I saw his car heading out of the quay car park and going up the hill leading out of the village. It was easy to see and recognise his car, as it couldn’t go too fast on the still icy and snowy road.

‘There’s John,’ I said, pointing.

‘Good riddance,’ she said, ‘the police have his car reg number and description, so they will catch him soon enough. Now lets go home, I’m in need of a couple of mince pies and a nice warming medicinal glass of mulled wine.’

We walked as fast as the conditions allowed, but my attention was drawn by a loud, foghorn noise coming from out to sea. Glancing over, I saw this huge yacht coming through the harbour entrance. It dwarfed everything else and I did wonder if it was too big to fit in.

‘Wow, that’s big. I wonder what it’s doing here. It looks like it should be in Cannes or St Tropez or some other posh, jet set type place.’

‘Oh, it’s often here, you could say that Penmarris is it’s home.’

‘You must have some seriously rich people living here.’

‘You could say that,’ she replied with a funny smile on her face.

We walked up the hill and stopped outside Dun Roamin.

‘Jo said that your stuff is still here, shall we pick it up?’

‘Okay.’

She went up the steps and rang the bell.

A few seconds later the door was opened and the cheery face (not) of the B&B owner appeared.

‘Ah, Mrs Potts; Happy Christmas,’ said Auntie happily.

‘If you say so,’ she sniffed.

‘Young Amy here wants to pick up her things, she’s staying with me.’

‘No refunds.’ said the landlady promptly and with practiced ease.

‘That’s all right. I would hate to see you deprived of your payment.’

‘Best come-along in then.’

She motioned with her arm and we soon found ourselves in the cheerless hallway.

‘Do you want to nip up to your room and get your things? Asked my aunt.

‘Okay.’ I replied and then went upstairs, glad to get away from the stony glances of mine host.

I quickly put my things together and found my way back downstairs. Ma Potts was in, for her, an animated discussion about her piles and bunions and how the doctor was puzzled about the state of her bowels. She seemed to be happier than I had seen her before, but I must admit that Auntie didn’t look too thrilled about the conversation.

With a hurried goodbye we left her mid explanation about her bowel movements and carried on up the hill.

‘Sam should be back from church now with the kids.’

‘Is she alright with me coming?’

‘Of course, she’s dying to meet you. I haven’t many rellies, and she wants to know if my madness runs in the family.’

I think that she was joking and just giggled nervously.

As the weather had improved and the sun was shining, some hardy souls were now out and about. Some children had toboggans, dustbin lids and other improvised modes of transport and were flying down the hill in the park and making a great deal of noise. The church bells were ringing some sort of festive ding-dong that was very in keeping with the season.

Many people who all seemed to know my Aunt and several who knew me by name too passed us. The jungle drums and village grapevine were obviously alive and kicking in Penmarris.

From the gaily painted houses came the sounds of music and laughter and the heady smells of Christmas cooking. I recognised, bacon, roasting meat, baked bread, cinnamon and many other smells that made my mouth water and realise that I hadn’t eaten anything for ages.

‘Hungry?’ asked my aunt.

I nodded.

‘Me too, lets hurry up and get home.’

Jellicle Cottage looked lovely and welcoming. There were lights around the door and windows. Outside the trees had many twinkling lights that looked lovely now and would look even better when it got dark.

Auntie Abby opened the door and shouted ‘we’re home!’

A few cats dashed out of the door and then as I followed her in, I was stopped by a sight of someone coming out of a side room.

She was pretty, about my mum’s age and had a smudge of flour on her nose and an apron over her dress. I instantly recognised her from the church. She had a happy smile on her face. Behind her was a very young child, hanging onto her legs and peeping out.

‘Goo goo, cat, mama’ said the girl.

‘Hi Amy,’ said Samantha.

‘Hi,’ I replied shyly.

‘Come here and give me a Christmas hug then.’

She opened her arms and I went over to her and was embraced warmly.

I went all mushy when she whispered in my ear, ‘welcome home honey.’

~*~

Just then, there was a slam of a door upstairs, a baby started to cry and I could hear the clatter of feet hurrying downstairs.

‘Is she here then?’ asked the voice coming down and then she was there, looking at me intently.

She looked a bit older than me, but I knew that she was in fact younger. I took this to be Hannah. She was pretty, with long blond hair and a sunny smile.

‘Hi Amy, Happy Xmas.’

‘Erm Happy Xmas to you too.’ I replied.

‘Hannah, you have woken up Gabrielle again, I have just put her down. She’ll be all ratty now at lunch time and if she is, you will have to deal with it.’

‘Sorry Mummy,’ she said in a voice that frankly didn’t seem too sorry.

‘Anna huggle,’ said the little girl holding out arms.

‘Alright Heather, come to Hannah,’

Hannah opened her arms and Heather let go of Samantha and walked rather unsteadily to Heather and allowed herself to be picked up. She buried her head into Hannah’s shoulders. I had a feeling that she was a bit shy of me. I didn’t blame her.

‘Right, go and sort out your sister,’ said Samantha, ‘while we get things sorted out with Amy here.’

Hannah raised her eyes to the ceiling and muttering to herself she went upstairs carrying a giggling Heather. She turned as she went up.

‘Slave drivers, that’s what they are. I actually have to do the washing up too. What’s wrong with a dishwasher? Go now Amy; save yourself before it’s too late…’

She then disappeared on a bend in the staircase. I didn’t take what she said too seriously as she had been grinning when she said it.

‘Heather is a bit behind with her speech. She was premature and that may be the reason, but she is catching up with normal kids of her age,’ said Samantha who chose to ignore the accusation that they were slave drivers.

‘She’s sweet,’ I said.

‘Mmm, she is, isn’t she? Now, do you want to freshen up?’

‘Please,’

‘I’ll show you your room,’ said Auntie Abby.

‘Okay, you two go and do what you have to do and then you can and come down and try my famous mice pies and maybe a sip of mulled wine?’

‘Sounds delish,’ I said enthusiastically.

The room was nice, if a bit small. - I don’t think that the house was built for this many people plus a thousand cats, but I wasn’t complaining.

Auntie Abby must have been reading my mind.

‘Sorry about the cramped space,’ she said, ‘we have asked for planning permission to extend. We have plenty of land here and want to make the place a lot bigger, but in the same style as we currently have. Red tape is holding things up a bit, but we will twist the arm of the committee and should get the go ahead in the New Year. We could move to a bigger place, but we love it here.’

‘It’s lovely and quirky.’

‘It is, isn’t it? Anyway, I’ll leave you to do what you have to do. Come downstairs when you’ve finished and have a bite to eat. We always have Christmas dinner late and then we are due to go to Mummy Dotty’s later.’

‘Is she as fierce as she looks and sounds?’

‘Not really, although others might think that she breaths fire. She is a real sweetie and she is someone who is great to have on your side.’

‘What is that thing with the shotgun?’

‘She made it her life’s ambition to get rid of the moles on her lawn. Mind you, to my knowledge she’s never hit a mole with her gun yet and between you and me, Jenkins, her butler, only supplies her with blank bullets. Right, see you downstairs. The bathroom is at the end of the landing.’

She left me to it and I took my meagre selection of clothes out of my case and hung them up in the closet.

After that, I looked out of the window. Below I could see the snow covered garden and a small lake, complete with ducks and the occasional cat prowling about. In the distance, the beach and sea was visible, although it was a bit misty out there.

After doing what I had to do, I made my way downstairs and found everyone in the large, cheerful kitchen. Heather was playing on the floor with Gaby. Hannah was pealing spuds with a look on her face that I interpreted as her not liking the job very much. Auntie Abby and Samantha were sitting at the table, shelling peas and sipping glasses of wine.

‘There you are love,’ said my aunt, ‘pull up a chair, grab a mince pie and try some of this.’

She poured some wine out of a saucepan, it was hot and smelt lovely; all sort of spicy.

‘Not too much as officially you are under age, but a small glass shouldn’t hurt,’ said Auntie.

‘I can’t drink much of it either,’ said Samantha, ‘it goes to my head.’

‘Mummy Sam gets drunk, just sniffing alcohol,’ said Hannah.

‘A bit of an overstatement,’ said Samantha, ‘but still, there is a grain of truth to it. Now, Amy, Abby has told me about what happened at the pottery. Are you all right?’

‘Yes, I think so. Auntie Abby saved me.’

‘Super Abby, flies through the air with the greatest of ease. Can jump over mountains, has the strength of ten, heroine…’

‘Shut up Hannah.’

‘Sorree,’ she replied, smiling.

‘Well, you are safe here,’ said Samantha.

Hannah’s phone went off.

‘Hi Sarah, yea, she’s fine, the usual number of arms, legs, stuff like that.’

She was looking at me and I felt a bit under the microscope.

‘Sarah is Mummy Dotty’s dotty adopted daughter,’ explained Auntie, ‘she can talk the hind legs off a donkey and even in this place of strangeness, she is a one off.’

‘Thank goodness,’ breathed Samantha.

Hannah who didn’t seem to mind being eve dropped, carried on as if I wasn’t there.

‘Yea, quite pretty, bit of a disaster, hair wise under the wig, but still, she has prospects. She won’t beat off the boys yet, but with a bit of help and excellent advice from me, I think that she might make something of herself….’

‘Hannah,’ said Auntie Abby firmly, ‘enough.’

‘Oops, sorry Sarah, parental unit malfunction, got ta go, see ya laters,’

She stabbed a button on the phone and then looked around expectantly.

I could have cried, what with all that had gone on recently, but I had a bit of a funny bone and I just laughed out loud.

‘What?’ asked Hannah, with an all innocent and butter wouldn’t melt in the mouth look.’

‘You do not tell other people about Amy without her permission and that crack about her hair is rude and insensitive.’

Hannah looked crestfallen.

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, ‘I got sort of carried away and anyway, Amy is pretty and her wig suits her and what if she has less hair than that Kojak bloke you like watching on Ancient TV…’

Hannah sort of tailed off as her combined mothers looked at her as if she was deep in the doo-doo.

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled and then turned to me, ‘wanna see my room?’

‘Okay,’ I said, ‘if that’s all right?’ I enquired.

‘Off you go, take a mince pie with you. You are all skin and bone. I can see that you will need fattening up,’ said Samantha, eying me up and down.

We went upstairs leaving the adults to talk about me. As we reached the top of the stairs, Hannah stopped, put her finger to her lips and then crept downstairs a bit. Still out of sight of the adults, she could, I think, hear all that was being said.

She stayed there for a few minutes and then came up. Without a word, she grabbed my hand and led me to her room.

Shutting the door quietly, she stood there for a moment and then came over and gave me a hug.

‘They are making plans about you. Something about going to the hairdressers, makeovers, stuff like that. Sorry about the hair thing; my mouth sometimes says silly things without my input. It’s my mouths fault. I keep telling it to shut up, but it keeps saying things without my permission.’

‘That’s all right. I know that you weren’t being mean.’

‘You will find that we are all a bit nuts around here. It must be something in the water. Anyway, this John Barnes character, is he for real?’

‘Unfortunately yes. He liked me at first…’

I told her all that had happened to me. The fact that she said nothing made me wonder for a moment if she made a mistake in befriending me.

I finished and for some reason I was crying.

She looked at me and then I noticed that she too had tears in her eyes.

‘I feel awful now,’ she said, ‘I didn’t know the full story and I thought…well never mind what I thought. I got it wrong. You’ve really been through it haven’t you?

‘Sort of.’ I said, smiling sadly.

‘Right,’ she said, ‘when I came here I was in a mess too and everyone was kind to me and I was taken in by Sam and Abby. They made me welcome and helped me with my issues. I am transgendered too and they have always been there for me. Now I’m their daughter and I love them more than words can say. If anyone can help you, they can. Most of the people in Penmarris have been so nice to me and not judged me; it’s that kind of place. Oh there are one or two idiots around, but if they say anything, they are jumped on from a great height. What I’m saying is that I am sure that you have a home here and everyone will fight to protect you.’

‘I hope so, I can do with all the help I can get.’

‘Just let that John show his face around here again; he won’t know what hit him! Anyway, enough of that; what clothes have you brought with you?’

‘Not much; John threw most of them away and I could only bring what I had hidden away from him and his sons.’

‘They sound like a bad bunch. Lets go see what you’ve got.’

We went to my room and soon all the clothes that had been lovingly hung up, were strewn across the bed.

‘Not much is there?’ she said after going through them, ‘still, a couple of nice tops and skirts to mix and match. It looks like we are going to have to go on a Boxing Day frenzy of shopping.’

‘I don’t have much money left.’

‘So what?’

‘Well you can’t buy clothes without money.’

‘We have money; pots of it.’

‘I couldn’t…’

‘Don’t be daft…’

‘I’m not being daft. Look, Auntie Abby didn’t…I mean she’s lovely and everything and so are you and the children and Samantha, but I don’t want to sponge off anyone. I’m nearly sixteen and I was only going to ask her if she would let me stay until my birthday and then I could get a job and be independent and not have to worry about being let down by anyone or losing them like I lost my mum and dad…’

Of course, I started crying again and couldn’t finish what I started to say.

How could I explain that anyone and everyone that I had loved had gone away or had turned against me? I didn’t want the pain of any more rejection. I thought that John loved me, but he didn’t and I did not want to go through any more pain and suffering.

I found myself, face down on the pillow and somehow realised that I was alone. Maybe, Hannah was fed up with my being a cry-baby or she just didn’t like me and couldn’t wait to get away from me…

I felt the gentle touch of a hand on my shoulder. I turned over and looked up through tear stained eyes.

‘Oh Amy, come here love.’

I fell into the arms of my aunt and cried my eyes out.

---

To Be Continued…

Please leave comments…thanks! ~Sue