T.S.

Diana age 13: October 1910

"I just think he's so handsome. Don't you think Di?" Chatters Marjorie into my ear. My haze lifts and I respond, "Oh yeah, he's just the cutest."

"You weren't listening." She sighs.

"I was!" I say indignant," You were just asking me if I thought John was handsome."

"No, I was talking about Mrs Changretta's son. Honestly Di ! You'd think I was boring you."

"That's because you are." I mutter under my breath. Small Heath's grey skies never failed to entertain (unlike Marjorie) as the clouds danced outside the window. She continues at it and I send John a pleading look. He didn't really like coming over to me during the school day because his friends would start teasing but lately he hadn't been minding much, which had saved me a lot of grief from Marjorie. He comes over swaggering," morning."

Marjorie giggles, God was she giddy at the smell of men," Hi John."

He ignores her," Want to bunk ?" he smiles.

I roll my eyes at him," John. You come to school for a reason. And besides Mrs Changretta will cane you tomorrow."

"She won't !" he replies indignantly.

"Look, whatever you want to do, I'll after school. Just be patient." I promise him.

And there it was. He went to his seat and waited bouncing his leg and jostling his desk. The school day slugged by and by the end, John looked constipated. But he had done all his work, every single arithmetic problem. All his sentences copied exactly off the board and even stood up to spell out words. I had never seen him participate so much in class but God did he do well when he tried. Even Mrs Changretta seemed dazed when he recited the entirety of the 12 times tables. As the bell struck 4, He got up grabbing everyone's books and pencils, placing them in a pot and even stopping to flirt with Kitty Jurossi.

He claps his hands together, "Let's go. Bye Mrs Changretta, Bye Kitty, Bye Marjorie, Bye everyone... Go Diana go we have places to be."

He pushes me out the door and we begin to sprint. My skirts billow behind me as I chase after him. We run to the dock where Tom is already waiting for us boredly. "Oh God you haven't been waiting all day have you?" I ask

"No actually, I've been working."

"Yeah, working hard snogging Greta Jurossi all day." quips John as he fixes the reins on a horse. Tom smacks him upside the head and pulls the horse out of the stable.

Tom gets on first and then helps up his brother. John sidles back on the saddle leaving space for me to climb on, to be sandwiched between them.

"Absolutely not. John, move." I say.

"Why are you so fussed?" Tom speaks.

"I'd look a right madam sandwiched between two peaky boys. Fucking move up or I'm not coming."

John moves and I sit on the back holding onto his shoulders. The horse trots through Small Heath and I call out to Kitty so she can go tell my mother I've gone with my friends but I'll be back soon. Her time at the Italian owned tailors had taught her a hefty bit of Italian so Kitty would suffice. She nods and waves us off, sending me a look at my proximity to the boys. Nearing the schoolhouse, the horse breaks into a gallop and we rush past Marjorie, who was chatting up Mrs Changretta's son, Luca. The horse keeps going for a good 30 minutes, led by Tom. "Where are we going Tom ?" I question, "My ass is starting to hurt and we're in the middle of nowhere."

"Pft the leather isn't even that tough. You're just all bones." he teases.

"Speaking of, I'm getting hungry." John mumbles.