Let's All Make Believe - Oasis

Chapter 18

Ste found my record player and records. It'd been hidden in plain sight the whole time but I hadn't used it in Liverpool so it hadn't been on his radar, the CDs had seen some use on the other hand. Peggy had just been playing him some of her records though, I was sure Gerry and the pacemakers was played as a subtle hint for us to go home.

I was watching him try to figure it out as I was sorting out a pile of his washing. He wasn't getting very far, he couldn't just press a button and make it play. He didn't know how to lift the lid

He came and pulled me by my jumper (still Liam's jumper) so I could put a record on for him. It was a nice escape from the laundry. It was a great escape from the conversation I had with my mum and the subsequent argument with George that was still spinning round my head.

He gave my Depeche Mode's album of their singles. I put it on, he danced about while I pretended to play the keyboard and sang along. This was some proper family fun.

In the middle of People are People he suddenly stopped and gave me a different sleeve.

I stopped Depeche Mode and put it back in it's sleeve, disappointed, I was enjoying that. He was worse than having my dad in charge of the music! When he played DJ he could never play out an LP either.

I recognised the cover easily and gave an exaggerated gasp. "We've stolen daddy's record."

The record in question was the Stone Roses Second Coming that thew world had to wait about five years for. I very secretly didn't get the Stone Roses so it couldntve been mine, maybe Noel dumped it in my collection when it didn't live upto expectation.

Ste just pointed and told me to play it so I did what he said. I got quite into the first song Breaking into Heaven but Ste didn't like it at all. I wanted it to play on but the DJ had other ideas.

This time he gave me the Verve's Urban Hymns. Richard Ashcroft was a friend of the band but the recommendation to buy the album came from my dad, not them since it was released after I left.

"You're not gonna like this one either." I told him as I set it up.

"Am!"

"Mummy met this singer when it was you who was growing in my tummy." I told him before it got into the singing.

The memory came flooding back, I felt how pissed off I was at Noel telling him I was pregnant when we'd agreed to keep it quiet but also how much I loved Noel for wanting to shout it from the rooftops. Ste didn't care for that little fact or ashcroft's music and quickly passed me another record.

"No." I told him, refusing to put Be Here Now on.

My heart did a few harsh beats seeing it. I'd never played it. It had gone from Noel's hands to mine to the storage box to living in the cabinets. I could almost feel his hands still holding onto it.

He screwed up his face gearing up to scream and go off on a full on tantrum. I did know not to give in to him but it was far easier than the meltdown. I warned him it was a long one and it was staying on now he'd insisted on it.

I shoved the vinyls he'd had out back in with the others, not caring for the order and went back to the basket of laundry. He listened intently. He knew it was his uncle Liam singing to him so he liked what he heard.

He got out his building blocks and started building a tower like it was Tetris as he listened.

"Don't get too many out, will ya? George'll be home soon."

I was doing my best to please her to avoid another argument, like not wearing liam's jumper around her his toys were a big thing for her and it was getting harder and harder for.me to pick.them up. He didn't listen.