Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

- SARAH PEARCE -

One

Theoretically, Amy's life should have been simple. She was a full time mum with two children, James and Holly, aged five and three respectively. Her husband, Ben, worked nine to five, providing a comfortable lifestyle. Together, they lived in a modern detached house in an affluent part of town with a cordial circle of friends and acquaintances. Straight forward and simple.

It was a typical weekday morning. Amy awoke to the sound of James and Holly arguing over a dried up leaf brought in from the garden the previous day. Having resolved this altercation with the aid of a post-it-note which was evidently more appealing to Holly than the leaf, she set about the morning assault course that was preparing James for school, feeling slightly more harassed than usual. 

"I don't know what's the matter with me this morning," she said, handing Ben his coffee. "My head's all over the place. I've just nearly given your coffee to Holly. You're lucky you didn't end up with chocolate milk." 

Ben placed his mug down on the kitchen table, smiling. "Sounds quite nice," he said, resting his hands on her slim waist and kissing the tip of her nose. "Cheer up, you're always grumpy in the mornings. You'll be fine in a bit." She attempted a smile. "Unless," he went on, "you're going through the change. I've heard that can turn you into a right miserable cow." 

"Oh thanks! That's really helpful, Ben." She poked him in the ribs and pushed his hands from her waist. He couldn't help but laugh at how easy she was to wind up. "I feel so much better now," she said. "And for your information, I'm thirty three, not fifty three. It'd be more likely to be pregnancy than the menopause." 

"I'm only messing," he said. "You're probably just exhausted. You know what you're like - always on the go. I doubt you have the time to scratch your bum some days... You're not pregnant are you?" 

"You have such a way with words, Ben. And no, I'm not pregnant so you can stop looking so terrified. No, you're right, I'm just shattered, I'll be fine in a... Holly, no! Sweetie, I've told you not to do that. Look at the state of you, now. James, go and play for a few minutes while I get Holly changed. And please try to stay clean; that's your last clean school shirt and I really don't want to go rummaging through the washing basket again." 

Fifteen minutes later, she was bustling two relatively presentable children out of the front door. Despite having promised herself last year when James had started school that she'd take the half mile journey to school on foot every day, come rain or shine, more often than not she found herself bundling everyone into the car with seconds to spare.  

They arrived at school just as the bell sounded and darted across the playground to James's class, just making it before Mrs Bailey locked the door. James gave his mum a big sloppy kiss on the lips and hurried inside shouting bye to Holly as he went.  

Amy started back across the playground. She'd almost made it back to the car when she was accosted by Jane, Tom's mum. Tom being the bane of James's life. Not so much a bully as just plain irritating.  

"Amy, you look a little flustered. Running late again?" Jane said annoyingly. The fake empathetic expression on her face made Amy want to punch her. Not many people could evoke such 

feelings in her with a mere facial expression. 

"Almost," she said, forcing a smile. "We just made it." 

Jane shook her head. "It's a nightmare, isn't it? Trying to get them out of the door in the mornings." Amy opened her mouth to speak but Jane went on. "Mind you, I have to admit, I'm pretty lucky in that sense. My Tom, he wakes up every morning at seven on the dot. He wolfs down his breakfast and he's nearly always ready before I am - nagging me to hurry up with my make-up." She made a grunting sound as she