What About Us | John Shelby

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

December 1917

Small Heath, Birmingham

Tessa was at home with Katie, James and William. It was Christmas eve as the house had been decorated to celebrate the holiday.

Tessa watched from the living room door frame as the kids laid out a carrot, muffin and a glass of milk. She smiled watching them get all excited about Santa.

"Is everything ready for Santa then?" She said as she made her way into the living room and sat down on one of the couches.

"Mummy, how long will Santa take to get here?" William questioned his mother standing in front of her, while resting his hands on her knees.

"If you all go to bed ... he will then come very soon. All the children must be asleep before Santa can come visit then" William's eyes lit up in excitement.

"We must go to bed now" William said, taking Katie and James hand.

Polly also walked in sitting down on the couch facing Tessa "Your mother is right you must all go to bed ... now go on I will see you all at my house tomorrow morning"

The three siblings gave their mother a kiss before making their way upstairs and into their beds for the night "Night night" Polly shouted as their little feet could be heard on the stairs.

"Bless them, they're all excited" Polly said, taking a smoke from her cigarette.

"They totally are ... what about Finn, how's he?" Tessa asked as she picked up the milk and food the kids left for Santa.

"Finn is in bed and all by now. He is not as wild as your three" She said laughing, thinking about how wild her nephew's kids were.

"It's non-stop everyday. I think it's harder now than when they were just babies. Does it ever get easier?"

Polly laughed slightly "From my experience having my own two when they were about the same age as Katie and the twins before they were taken away from me, then to raising John and Ada as teenagers, Tommy and Arthur from an older age then to having Finn from a newborn to now. It never does get easier, it actually gets harder as they grow older"

"Great" Tessa laughed sarcastically.

"Where is Anna by the way? She would pop into me every afternoon, but not today" Polly questioned the whereabouts of the women.

"Ahh, she went back home to Liverpool this morning. Said she wanted to be with her mother and father this Christmas"

"That's understandable. It is hard doing things our way when you're not in the family" The two women chuckled.  

Suddenly the front door of the house had been opened, stopping the two women from their chat as Charlie stood there looking at the two of them.

Charlie pointed to the younger woman "You ... get your coat and hat on. Your needed immediately"

Polly tutted, while rolling her eyes "Not even a Hello Polly, hello Tessa. How are you?"

"I don't have time for greetings Polly. Now get up and come on Tessa"

Tessa stood up from the couch at the man's request. She looked down to Polly shrugging her shoulders.

"Will ya look after them for me, while I'm out?" Polly just nodded her head, of course she would look after the kids, she would be mad not to.