The Good Mother

A child's perspective on parenting priorities, group mentality and small-mindedness.

‘…And then he said “Go and dive into concrete, but don’t break your head!”’ Michael Bunch told his mother.  That was a lie. What actually happened was that me and him and Georgie Green found out where the boys of the neighbouring village had their den. Georgie found it out but it was Michael who wanted to go and smash it up. It was only a few stupid sticks behind a tree in a ditch, and we collapsed it in ten seconds.

   Then this kid - little Peter Linsey - had come along at the wrong moment. He was really angry at what we’d done, and didn’t notice that there were three of us, the smallest of which was bigger than him. He was pointing and shouting at us from out of his oversize jersey and so Michael started to taunt him, calling his mother an old hag and him ‘the hag’s runt’. That really got him even angrier. When I saw his face I felt sorry for him and guilty that we’d broke his den and now we were standing there being mean like he was the baddie. Then he said that he was going to tell Mr. Hyssop about everything. He shouldn’t have done that - it was a stupid thing to say - everyone knew that Michael was on report with Mr. Hyssop, and that any more trouble would have him expelled. You can imagine what Michael did then.

     Now Michael, scared of being caught, was spinning a load of lies to his mother and making out that Peter had attacked him, when who came marching up the track but Peter and Mrs. Linsey?

    ‘Mrs. Bunch! Have you seen what young Michael’s done to my boy?’ called Mrs. Linsey as they came. They stopped in front of us. Peter had a large bruise on his cheek and was peering sadly out of a puffy eye. Mrs. Bunch drew herself up; she was used to defending her golden boy.

    ‘Mrs. Linsey, if your child would stop acting like a gypsy, trying to extort money out of decent folks’ kids, then perhaps he wouldn’t get into so much trouble,’ she said. ‘My Michael was only protecting himself. A young lad can’t go around being afraid of tearaways. Don’t expect me to punish him for doing what any self-respecting person would have done.’

    ‘First of all, Mrs. Bunch, Peter isn’t the sort of child to bully anyone. Just look at the size of him compared to Michael. Secondly, I know how you and some of the other mothers talk about my family in the café, but we’re not gypsies and I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t go around slandering my name.’

A lot of people didn’t care too much for The Linseys because they lived in a poor house and looked pretty scraggly. Even the vicar said that they obviously couldn’t care for their kids if they let them go around like that. My aunt said that they just couldn’t afford to look nice, but it didn’t mean they were bad people. Still, we gave them a  wide berth at school because we didn’t want to catch nothing.

     Mrs. Bunch put on what my aunt always called  “a contrite smile”. 

    ‘Helena’ (that was Mrs. Linsey’s name)  ‘I simply don’t know what you’re speaking about. It seems to me that your child has perhaps got his penchant for make-believe from his parents.’

That made Mrs. Linsey’s eyes pop. I don’t know what she’d have done if PC Matthews hadn’t come up the way just then. She turned to him.

    ‘Constable, I’d like to report an assault on Peter. Michael Bunch hit him.’ She pointed out the accused.

    ‘Constable Matthews, Peter tried to rob my boy and he defended himself. You know what those Linseys are like,’ interjected Mrs. bunch.

The PC looked at Michael, then squinted at Peter.  ‘Have you been trying to steal?’ he asked.

      ‘No. They broke my den, then called me names and hit me.’

      ‘Look here, young lad, its always someone else’s fault isn’t it? You’re lucky that I don’t take you down the station for mugging. As it is I think you’ve got off lightly with a sore eye. Next time charges will be pressed.’ He looked at Mrs. Linsey.  ‘I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your boys away from this end of town.’

      ‘My boy was attacked on the other side of town.’ She looked furious.

      ‘Don’t make excuses for him. I needn’t mention that it wouldn’t go well for Mr. Linsey at the Social on Tuesday if his family have been causing trouble around town. I don’t want you to say another word. Move along now, go home.’

Mrs. Linsey went flat. She put her soft little hand around Peter and guided him slowly back along the track. The Constable and Mrs. Bunch watched them go.

      ‘I have a child in the same form as their youngest’ said the Constable  ‘so I know how you feel.’

      ‘I wouldn’t be a good mother if I let Michael hang around with that lot.’ She replied, walking back towards her house with the others.

        I stood for a minute kicking around in the dirt while her words were kicking around in my head and it occurred to me that Peter was always a polite boy, but Michael was nasty. That was when I decided not to hang around with the Bunches any more.   

Author's Note

Reviews most welcome. Do your worst.

Reviews

[Marie]

Someone learned a very good lesson about mothers and the law and life in general.

[Daniel Eaves]

If only the adults could learn the same lessons, eh?