Living With The Gypsies | RAINBOW98

Living With The Gypsies - Chapter 2

Mum had finally decide to stop for a break and we were now sitting in a small booth in a quaint little coffee shop. She had boldly told us to get whatever we wanted, but after seeing the prices she hastily retreated the offer. I didn’t mind, I wasn’t that hungry anyway sice it was 6 in the morning. 

I gave Sky her now cold milk bottle and she sucked on that gratefully. Mum had a coffee and we sat together silently. It was interesting to watch the other customers walk in and I pointed out all the crazy outfits the people were wearing. 

“Ma, why are they dressed like that?” 

“You’ll see soon,” she stated simply, looking over her shoulder. 

I decided she knew where we were going and I think it may be where those crazy dressed people were headed, too. I was now very hungry, but I knew we are very tight on money so I decided I would just wait. 

“Right, time to get back on the road, my lovelys,” Mum exclaimed, smiling warmly at us. 

As we exited the coffe shop Mum let out a little squeal. Beside our car, was one of the old Kombi vans – or as Mum called them ‘hippie buses’. 

It was the most ugliest thing I had ever seen in my whole life! I do not know what the original colour was, because I couldn’t tell because there was so much rust and dirt blanketing the body. Mum oohed and ahhed while I stood there awkwardly with Sky on my hip. She was sucking her thumb and was oblivious to her surroundings. 

Suddenly, I noticed a man had coming up behind Mum – I actually was a bit scared of him. He smiled a toothless grin and sent a sly wink my way. I stared back at him, oblivious to his hints. He put an arm around Mum’s waist and she turned around and giggled.

“I see you like me old bus, aye?” he drawled in a rich British accent. Mum was staring at him as if he was the most handsome man alive, it was so embarrassing! 

He was so dirty and rugged and only had trousers and a thin shirt on. He had multiple tattoos up his arms and neck and piercings all over his face. And he looked about 50! Mum was only young – 35 to be exact. 

“It this beauty yours, love?” Mum asked with a broad smile.

 I never had seen her this happy. 

“It sure is, do you want to come for a ride?” 

Mum eagerly nodded and didn’t even give a second glance to Sky or me. 

“You’ll be alright for a while I go out for a spin with this handsome man…” she trailed off, unsure of his name. 

“Denis, and you are?” he had said, looking Mum straight into the eye. 

“Suzanne,” she giggled. 

This was mega embarrassing, my Mum was giggling. Mums should not giggle. Mum went off with Denis and left me alone with Sky. Her eyelids had become droopy and to me, this was a good sign. I walked over to an old, dirty bench outside the coffee shop and Sky fell asleep straight away.