Thomas O'Sullivan & Edith Montgomery

Catching a Fish

It was nearly Christmas. We were on holiday, and I was stuck at home with my dad and mum - who was now 36 weeks pregnant.

"Thomas!" She called. "Thomas!" She yelled. "Jesus Christ, Thomas!" She screamed. I ripped my headset off, ran down the stairs and skidded into the living room.

"What?" I asked breathlessly.

"Bill's here." She replied from the floor where she was doing her yoga. I turned around and saw Bill standing there by the front door.

"Hi." He smiled

"Hey, c'mon." I beckoned him over and led him upstairs. He kept looking over his shoulder, several times.

"My God, Thomas, you're mum's getting big." He remarked.

"Yeah, the bigger she gets the worse her mood is." I sighed, going into my messy bedroom.

"When's she due?" He asked.

"January."

He laughed. "Wow, no wonder she's cranky." He continued.

"Mm. Anyway..." I urged. Bill looked confused for a moment.

"Huh?... oh, oh right, yes, Edith, Edith. Edith. Edith. Ah, found her." He muttered, scrolling on his phone. "Check this out, look at her legs." He murmured. I sat on my bed with him and gazed at her long, slim legs.

"Whoa." I breathed.

"Yeah? Right? I saw her at the gym yesterday." He told me with a smile. "And look... look at that." He pointed to her arms and abs.

"Yikes, she's fit." I commented, practically drooling over the photo.

"Yeah, and I spoke to her and I was like: 'So what do you think of Thomas O'Sullivan?' and then she was like: 'Yeah, he's nice, I haven't really met him.' and then I said, 'Would you like to?' and guess what she said.

"What?" I prompted.

"Well," He began, pulling a piece of paper from his grey jog bottom pockets. "Phone number, and address." He continued. I gasped, took it with shaking hands and quickly dialed it into my contacts. Then, I called her. We both waited impatiently as it rang. I put the phone on speaker and finally, someone answered.

"Who's this?" She asked in a soft, dainty voice.

"Er... T... Thomas... O'Sullivan." I stammered. There was a pause.

"Oh." She said rather flatly. "Hello." 

"Hi." I breathed, looking at Bill, who shrugged. "Er... how are the Christmas holidays going?" I asked nervously.

There was a pause.

"Good." She replied in a timid voice.

I nodded. Then, Bill nudged me, I knew what he wanted me to do.

"Er... er.. hey, erm... Edith?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Would... would you like... to... um... g... go out... somewhere?" I asked hopefully.

There was a very long pause. Bill and I exchanged glances. Finally, her voice came from the other side.

"I would like to. But I can't." She answered softly in her posh London voice. My face fell.

"Why?" I asked immediately.

Silence.

"I've got to go." And she just hung up.

"What!" I exclaimed and stared at my phone. Then, I felt my face grow red, and my grip tightened. I threw the phone against the floor.

"Whoa, hey, hey, hey. Mate, calm down, it's alright." He assured. "You'll get through to her eventually, don't worry. Besides, there are always other fish in the sea if you can't hit it off with her." He continued calmly. I stood up and angrily paced my room.

I knew for a fact that Edith was my only fish that I would want to catch. I would have to do it somehow.

I told Bill to leave, and he did, leaving me in a bit of a mood.
I stomped back down stairs, black hood pulled firmly over my head. My mum was now slumped on a sofa with dad, talking softly to him and giggling like a small girl.

Mum was a lot younger than dad, by about 13 years. My dad was 49, but acted a lot younger, perhaps to keep up with her.

I stood by the staircase, watching the backs of them. Mum had her head leant on dad's shoulder, while dad rested his head on top of mum's. I could see him gently stroking mum's belly, and kissing her affectionately, paying no notice to me as I walked out of my house.

With paper in hand, I walked to Edith's house, I would get her, my mind was firmly set on it.

Her house was modern, her house was white, and everything had the grey colour which was in fashion. I knocked on the door and after a few minutes, it opened.

Edith was there, but she hid behind it.

"What do you want?" She asked timidly.

"Well, first, I would like to see your face." I replied, trying to be playful. But she still didn't come out.

"I... I told you I couldn't go out with you." She stammered.

"Why?" I questioned.

"I... er..." She hesitated, then just about popped her head out. "Please leave." She begged. I stood there firmly.

"Can you at least come outside for a bit. Here?" I pointed to the spot next to me.

She looked about her, leant in the house, before tentatively stepping out and quietly shutting the door. She wrapped her grey cardigan further around her, and shivered.

I smiled. "Hello." I murmured, feeling confident. She did not look at me. "I like your fringe. Is that new?" I enquired, only just noticing that her brown hair had a side curtain, which hid one eye. She nodded shyly.

I rocked up and down on my toes. "You know, come to think of it, I think I like all of you." I continued, trying to flirt, but I didn't know how.

A tiny smile came on her face, and her blue eyes flickered up to me. She opened and closed her mouth several times, as if wanting to say something. Finally, with a quick look around, she put her lips by my ear.

"Meet me in the park at two this afternoon." She whispered. Before I had a chance to say anything, she had disappeared into her house. I stood there, my mouth open. I smiled and pumped my fist in the air.

"Yes!" I exclaimed and ran all the way back to my house. I burst through the door and shut it again, breathless and feeling pumped. Both mum and dad jumped.

"Thomas, where've you been?" My dad asked.

"Make lunch while you're up, Thomas." My mother ordered.

I ran over to them, overjoyed and feeling accomplished. "Of course I'll make lunch! I'll make whatever you want, casserole, meatloaf, I'll even cook a barbeque!" I exclaimed happily, holding both my mum's hands. My dad frowned at me.

"Whoa there, slow down, son. Just sandwiches would be good." He interrupted, looking suspicious. I knelt down in front of my mum and beamed at her.

"No, Pa, it's alright." I replied softly, looking gently at my mother. "Ma, what would you like? I'll make anything you want. Promise." I continued.

She laughed and ruffled my hair.

"My, what's gotten into you. We're Mr. Happy all of a sudden." She remarked, half chuckling.

"So? Can't I be happy for once?" I queried. "Besides, you deserve it, Ma, carrying around this one all the time." I went on, now placing a hand on her large belly.

"Oh, Thomas." She sighed. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad you've come to your senses." She murmured. "But, I think sandwiches will do." She added. I smiled at her, stood up and bowed.

"Then sandwiches it will be. A special treat for the pregnant lady of the house." I teased playfully and bounded off to the kitchen, whistling while I worked.

I served lunch to them within a few minutes, my spirits high as if I might fly. Nothing could bring me down, not even an angry frown.