I'll Be Seeing You

My Sweet Phoebe

"Is it alright if Jimmy stays for tea Mum" I ask after we came back in. Jimmy was determined to ask Dad if he could marry me but I think he would have a fight on his hands but I had to remember to do what Mum said I had to break free and do what my heart told me and after today my heart just wanted to be with Jimmy to be his wife to have his babies to look after him and keep his home those were my dreams pathetic as they sounded that was all I wanted.

"Of course it is love" Mum says "Isnt it Dad" she turns asking Dad "What now" he says "Our Phoebe is asking if Jimmy can stop for his tea" she says "Yeah I suppose so you can do washing up mind boy" Dad says thats as good as it gets where he is concerned "Not a problem Mr O'Connell" Jimmy says to him giving me a little wink my darling Jimmy I hope Dad goes easy on him.

We all go to sit at the table Jimmy sitting next to me while Dad gives him the look across the table "So Jimmy with this war they'll be looking for young lads like to you to fight" Dad starts how could he "I'll be more than happy to do my bit" Jimmy says to him and I smile at him "this madman needs stopping if this country is to have a future we need to stand up to him and show him what we are made of" he tells Dad "lovely words Jimmy lad" Mum says to him touching my knee under the table "so do you think you've got what it takes then do you son" Dad asks "Dad of course he has don't speak to Jimmy like that" I say to him "watch your mouth my girl" he snaps as Jimmy takes my hand thats resting on my thigh "it's alright Phoeb's" Jimmy says to me "I will do it for my children" Jimmy says as a lump comes to my throat "children why you got yourself a bit of stuff have you lad" Dad asks "she's much more precious than that" he says "oh did you hear that Vi Jimmy is in love" he jokes but not in a funny way "Eric don't be rude"Mum says "So come on then who is she this princess of yours" he asks again as Jimmy grips my hand even tighter "It's Phoebe Mr O'Connell" I swear I can't bear it he's going to go mad his colour is already changing "what did you say" Dad asks anger building in his voice "Mr O'Connell I'm in love with your daughter" Jimmy tells him "like hell you are" Dad yells grabbing Jimmy by his collar and pulling him up off his chair "Dad please" I scream at him "thought you'd worm your way in here sniffing round my daughter" he shouts "You can do what you like Mr O'Connell it won't change how I feel about Phoebe" he says "who the hell do you think you are" Dad shouts at him "Dad stop it I LOVE HIM" I yell at him "what the hell do you know about love" he shouts at me then looks at Jimmy "you've had your bloody end away with her haven't you Flanagan" he says going to hit Jimmy "Eric STOP" Mum shouts at him "they are in love can't you see that you stupid old fool Jimmy wants to marry Phoebe" she says "how the hell do you know all this" he asks "well our daughter has to be able to talk to one of us but she kept it a secret even from me because of YOU" she shouts poking him in the chest. Dad glares at Jimmy "so you want to marry her do ya" he asks him "yes I do more than anything" Jimmy answers "We would like your blessing Mr O'Connell but will happily do it without you can't stop us" he tells him my heart is thumping I can barely think straight.

Dad turns to me "you're a liar Phoebe and nothing more than a little tart" and just as he utters these words I feel it the sudden rush of heat and pain as he slaps me across the face knocking me off my feet I feel myself fall bit can't stop it "Jesus Phoeb's are you ok" Jimmy asks grabbing me but I can't answer "YOU" Jimmy shouts as he lunges at Dad punching him in the face "your a mad man she's not safe here with you" Jimmy yells at him "you ever touch her again and I'll swing for you I swear to god" he shouts "come on Phoebe come on darling your coming home with me" he says to me. Dad says nothing he's lying in a heap on the floor nursing his swollen face. Mum comes to help me up and drags me to my room with Jimmy's help "Come on love get some of your things and go and stay with Jimmy" Mum says just chucking random things in my little suitcase I've had since I was a girl I can't see what she puts in "take her away from here Jimmy please love" Mum pleads to him "I'll take care of her Mrs O'Connell I promise" Mum looks at me before heading to her room coming out with a brown paper bag "here take this" she says to me "what what is it Mum" I ask her "it's some money for you and Jimmy it'll see you to get a little house" she puts her hand to my face with tears in her eyes "I'm sorry he did that to you love" she sobs making me sob too "come on quick before he comes to his senses get from here" she says "but when will I see you Mum" I ask "I'll come and see you love yeah" she says "Jimmy come on take her home" she asks of him. I'm still shaky but Jimmy wraps his arms around me keeping me safe.

We get outside hit by the cold light of day everyone is running around almost in a panic trying to take in the news. I feel the rush of emotion run through me and I just burst into tears "Phoebs darling it's ok come here" Jimmy says to me "what are we going to do Jimmy" I say to him "we are gonna do what we said were gonna do Phoebs we are gonna get married and be together" he says with a smile "but the war they'll take you away from me" I sob "no darling they won't take me away I will go and fight so that we can have a future yeah and even If you can't see me I am always here" he says pointing to my heart "and you are here" pointing to his own "we will never be apart my sweet Phoebe" my legs won't hold me up everything has just been drained from me. "Come on my darling let's go" he says and we hop on the first bus to take us to Jimmy's house.

We get to the front door and I suddenly get panicky "Jimmy won't your mum and Dad be angry" I ask "Don't fret girl I'll tell them everything"he says rubbing his thumb over the the slight swelling that's come up on my cheek fair to him Dads got a fair fist on him and all I can feel is it throbbing. Jimmy walks me into the house, his mum and Dad have a lovely house nothing huge but Jimmy's mum looks after it so well it was like a second home really I'd spent so much time here when I was little Jimmy and I always playing together he was the same then as he was now cheeky, gorgeous and so loving "alright son everything ok" his Dad asks sat in the chair by the fire, his mum coming from the kitchen "hello you two oh my god Phoebe love whats happened to your face" she asks and I get all teary again. "Her Dad did it" Jimmy tells them "WHAT" Jimmy's Dad shouts "I always knew he had a temper but to take it out on his own daughter do you want me to go round and sort him out love" he asks me "No really Mr Flanagan" I say starting to smile "Jimmy give him a whack on his own" I tell them "Jimmy how could you" his mum asks "don't have a go at him Marg he did the right thing" his dad says "but what made him do it" his mum asks and me and Jimmy look at each other "Mum me and Phoebe are engaged" Jimmy tells them showing them my hand that now shows off the sweet little ring he gave me "oh Jimmy darling" his mum gasps putting both hands to both cheeks "well boy that's just champion" his dad says "you two were made for each other you know I've always said it" he says "well how long has this been going on" his dad says wondering. "About two years I'd say" his mum says "how did you know mum"
Jimmy asks her "your my first born Jimmy lad I know you better than you know yourself" she says "you only had to see the two of you together to know how much you loved her a love that I think has always been there" she says "Phoebe darling it will be a pleasure to welcome you into our family" she says to me "thank you Mrs Flanagan" I say to her "the thing is mum Phoebe doesn't have anywhere to stay I can't let her go back to him" Jimmy starts "no of course you can't you are welcome to stop here love" his dad says Jimmy grips my hand as he says "she can stay in my room with me" his mum and Dad look at each other and his Dad goes to speak but his mum stops him "yes of course she can" she says "why don't you take your things upstairs darling" she says "make her some room in your wardrobe Jimmy love" she says "I'll bring a hot water bottle up to air the bed" she says "come on Phoebs" Jimmy says as we walk upstairs I hear them talk as we go up "and your alright with that are you Marg" Jimmy's Dad asks "I doubt they'll get up to any worse than we did back in our day" she says laughing making me
smile but not really understanding

"here we go darling" he says opening the door. I start to take my things out of the case Jimmy putting them away for me until he gets to my nightgown holding it up and smiling at it "this is very pretty Phoebs" he says it being a pale peach gown of silk and lace well as close as. I smile at him feeling very very shy all of a sudden "I bet you look real pretty in it" he says I must blush violently when he comes up to me putting his hands round my waist. "I won't rush you darling" he says "but I just love you so much Phoebs and I want to show you" I get a sudden rush of courage god where did that come from "tonight Jimmy I want to you know....." I start but can't let the words out as Jimmy pulls me to sit next to him on the "Jimmy will you show me" I ask him and he takes my hand "of course my darling Phoeb's"he says "that's what I want more than anything" he says I look at him again. "Jimmy will it hurt" I ask him he rubs up and down my arms "I'll be gentle Phoebs I promise" he says was I ready for this yeah I think I was Jimmy was all I had and I wanted to give myself to him completely. My Jimmy my darling darling Jimmy my hero.