I'll Be Seeing You

Silver Bells

Jimmy's Point Of View

I can't take in what I'm hearing I just want to burst into tears. I had known Phoebe's Mam all my life, my Mam's best friend this wasn't fair. I must look lost as she grabs me "Jimmy lad please, please listen to me love, she needs to be strong for that little baby, you can't tell her" she says "But, but how long surely they said something" I say and she is suddenly sobbing too "Jimmy I will fight as long as I can" she says "but they said a couple of months" she says " No" I say "I won't get to see her have that baby Jimmy" she sobs "I won't get to see my grandchild being born" she grabs me again "this is why you have to promise me you will look after her, look after them both" she says and I nod at her "I've spoken to your Mam, she's the bestest friend I've ever had and she's promised me she will look after Phoebe while you're away and when her time comes" she says "You've got it all planned out" I say "I have to, now come on put that cheeky smile of yours on hey and get back out there" she tells me wiping my face, giving me the tray to carry.

"Blimey did you go to the well for the water" Phoebe says as we come in "Hey less of that young lady" her Mam says to her "Here you are love nice Victoria sponge your favourite" she says "Lovely" I say my heart suddenly breaking my poor little Phoebe it will hurt her beyond to lose her Mam, I have to do everything I can to look after her now. "We got you a present Mam" Phoebe tells her "Oh you silly thing you shouldn't have" she says "You two need to be saving your money for when this little one comes, they say things are gonna get tough" she says "Well until they do we are gonna spoil ya Mam" Phoebe says "You're a sweet girl Phoebe love you always have been" she says "Just think Mam this time next year you will be sitting here with a little grandchild on your lap" she tells her, her face beaming but it hurts, hurts so much.

"Here love have this" her Mam says to her handing her a little present "But it's not Christmas day yet" she says "But I probably won't get to see tomorrow" she says which makes me think this will be the last Christmas she has with Phoebe, how can I make it happen for them to be together. I watch Phoebe open the little box her little face lighting up "Aw they are lovely Mam" she says "They are little silver bells love,two of them, the first decoration for your Christmas tree, every year, it doesn't matter what it is you must get something new to put on your tree to mark every Christmas that you and Jimmy have together, you'll be putting them on when this little ones, little ones are running around your feet" she says pointing at my tummy "That's lovely Mam thank you" Phoebe tells her "Then there's this" she says she says handing a parcel wrapped in brown paper. Phoebe undoes the string on it revealing a yellow knitted blanket "Mam" she says "For my grandchild" she says "There's plenty of time for that" Phoebe says but me and Violet both know now that there isn't...........there isn't.

Eric's Point of View

Bloody weather it's enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey, I'll be glad to get inside. I walk in and Derrick is behind the bar "Uncle Eric you're back early" he says "Too pissing cold to hang around out there boy" I tell him but he looks shifty "Can I get you a drink, keep the cold out" he says "no I'm going upstairs to change" I tell him "Are you sure Uncle Eric, drop of whiskey will help" he says blocking my way "What the hell is the matter with you" he says "Nothing how about a drop of rum then" he says "I don't want a bloody drink boy alright" I say pushing him aside. I head upstairs and get to the living room door but I can hear voices who the hell is here.

I fling open the door and there she is my little tart of a daughter and the long streak of piss that knocked her up. And yet for a second, I can see that little gel I bounced on my knee, she looks beautiful, she's glowing already Jesus Christ why did she have to come. "Well well well look what the cat dragged in" I say as I walk in and yet I can see the look in her eyes she fears me my own daughter my only child. "Dad" she says quietly as young Flanagan jumps to attention standing in front of her "Don't Eric please" Vi gets up begging me "They just came round with a present" Vi says "Really I thought the only person our Phoebe thought about was herself" I snap "No I think we all know who that is" Jimmy pipes up "Got plenty to say haven't you boy" I tell him "When you start picking on my wife yeah I av" he says giving me a filthy glare !Oh Yes she's your wife now ain't she" I say "Eric pack it in" Vi says "Dad please" Phoebe says softly "I don't want any trouble I just wanted to see Mam that's all" she says "Really" I say "It's Christmas" she says with tears in her eyes "Eric please she's my little gel" Vi says "Well if you want to be with her so much then why don't you beggar off with her then" I tell her "Well she'd be more than welcome at My Mam and Dads for Christmas it doesn't look like she'll get much of one here" Jimmy snipes at me "Stop it both of you please" Phoebe says as she suddenly clutches her stomach "Phoebs, love what is it, is it the baby" Jimmy asks her "For Christ sake Eric see what you've done now" Vi says "She's putting it on the little drama queen" I tell her "She's carrying your Grandchild you stupid selfish man" Vi says "Sit down Phoebe love" her mother tells her "No Mam I want to go home" Phoebe says "Yeah go on clear off" I shout at her "You kick her out of here now Eric and I'm going too" Vi says "Well you know where the door is don't ya gel" I shout at her "What sort of bloody monster are ya" Jimmy says "Mam pack some of your things you're coming with us" Jimmy tells her he's calling her Mam huh can't see him calling me Dad. "Well go on then" I shout at her as she heads off to the bedroom, she is actually gonna do it.

Jimmy comes up towards me looking down at me "I ought to kick the shit out of you but you ain't worth, you will die a lonely old man Eric" he says to me and suddenly I've got nothing to say I ain't.

I stand at the door of the pub as I watch her go, all of them my wife and my daughter "Vi, come on jokes over gel" I shout "You made your point, come back now and I'll forgive ya" I shout but still she doesn't stop "Vi, VI" I yell until I've not breath left in me as I watch her head off into the fog.