MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER 1955.

A GIRL AND HER MOTHER AND A DATE WITH A BOY AT THE HERBALIST IN LONDON IN 1955.

Yes Helen muses Id like to meet Benny by the Duke of Wellington but to ask Mum first and I dont think shell mind as its Benny as she likes Benny and his mum and mine know each other and talk to each other at the school gates and when they talk they talk and yes if I ask Mum nicely and when shes not busy shell let me go but I cant leave it too long or the time will go and he will have gone if Im not at the Duke of Wellington by ten past ten this morning has as he is going to the herbalist shop to buy liquorice sticks and sarsaparilla by the glassful and Benny says it makes blood so if I drink a pint I will make a pint of blood and hopefully I wont spillover with blood she waits a few minutes while her mother puts away the shopping Helen had bought home from Baldys and looking at her mother making sure he mothers features did not show too much stress and timing it right that was the key Benny told her once timing is the key he said her mother walks around the kitchen seemingly busy the baby crawling around her mothers feet and the smell of nappies boiling on the stove steam rising smell of it Mum she asks can I go out with Benny to the herbalist shop and buy some liquorice sticks and sarsaparilla? her mother picks up the baby she hugs him close smells his rear end pulls a face what did you say? her mother asks holding baby a little distance away from her arms out stretched walking to the put-down table over the bath and placing baby down can I go with Benny to the herbalist shop and get some sarsaparilla and liquorice sticks? Helen repeats standing with fingers crossed behind her back when are you wanting to go? her mother asks unpinning babys nappy and the smell erupting into the room and air as soon as I am allowed Helen says trying not to breath in hoping her mother will say yes but her mother hesitates her feature screwed up her fingers pulling back the offending nappy and dropping it in a pail at her feet bring me a clean nappy from the other room Helen and some talcum power and some cream and best get some other safety pins as these are a bit well not fit to put on again until theyve been washed o keep still you little perisher dont move your legs so and no dont piddle on me go on on then Helen dont dawdle so Helen walks into the other room and collects a nappy from the fireguard and talcum powder and cream and pins from the bag by the chair and takes them to her mother who is struggling to hold the baby in one place and clean up the smelling liquid and mess  and waving a hand in front of her face to give her fresher air give them here then girl I cant wait all day and here hold his legs the little figit so I can get him clean properly Helen pulls a face and carefully reaches over to try and hold her brothers legs still while her mother attempts to clean him up but her brothers legs move at a pace and hes quite strong for one so small she thinks hold him hold him her mother says Helen does her best for a little girl not yet in double figures there done it her mother says hes done now right take him and put him in the cot in the other room while I wash these nappies out can I? Helen asks can I go? go where? what do you want now? her mother says to go to the herbalist with Benny Helen asks he asked me this morning while I was getting the shopping at Baldys her mother puts on the kettle and empties the nappies in the big sink when did you want to go? as soon as I am allowed Helen says gazing at her mother through her thin wired thick lens glasses hoping her mum will say yes off you go well you cant always rush off you know not when I may need you after all youre my big girl the oldest of the tribe but as youve been good this one time you can go but mind the roads and keep with Benny and if you need to go loo make sure its a clean place and put some toilet paper on the seat you dont know who sits on them things ok I will Helen says trying to recall all her mothers instructions can I go now? she asks hoping her mother will not change her mind at the last minute best go now then her mother says its nine fifty nine fifty? Helen says what's that mean? ten minutes to ten her mother says o right Helen says and rushes into the passage way and put on your raincoat it looks like rain her mother calls out I got it Helens says and rushes out the door and down the stairs carefully not wanting fall down the steep steps she holds on to the stair rail and then out into the street and bright fresh air and dull clouds and she walks along Rockingham Street under the railway bridge and there he is Benny hands in his jeans pockets his hair and quiff creamed down and his hazel eyes gazing at her blimey he says youre earlier than I thought youd be he takes in her hair plaited into two and her thin wire framed glasses making her eyes larger than they are had to help Mum with my baby brother she says hed messed his nappy and Mum had to clean him up and needed me to help and gosh the smell Benny enough to make you feel sick and anyway Im here now o but I havent money I forgot to ask Mum for money she says biting a lip looking back towards where shed come I got money Benny says rattling coins in his jeans pocket she smiles and looks at him he gives her kind of smile she likes the kind that makes her feel safe and wanted and she loves the coat he wears with the odd buttons and and his quiff of air and his warm what shall we do now stare.

Reviews

[Willard Wells]

I will read this to completion after you have edited and added some punctuation and paragraphs. Structure is a bit rough at this point. I am sure it is a great story and I look forward to coming back. Let me know when you have it edited. Thanks for sharing

I wanted to add that the title is great. I am familiar with "Mothers Little Helpers" from around that time. Funny stuff.

[Terry Collett]

If I had wanted the story in paragraphs and the punctuation I would have had them but as I didn't the story is as I wished it to be, Willard. However, if you want to read some of my more formal stories with paragraphs and punctuation there are early works of mine to read if you choose to do do.

[Willard Wells]

I will go back and read this to completion and read the other one. This was the first of you work that I have seen. After reviewing and before I submitted I reviewed your bio and had a feeling this was the way you planned it, but I had to ask. Ok I have now completed the above and is still and odd format to me, but in my own writing I find myself doing unknown things. Thanks for sharing

[Terry Collett]

I thank you for your comments, Willard. My earlier writings are more formal and to some easier to read and that is right. However, I'm experimenting with different styles, seeing they go on given stories and poems.

[Willard Wells]

My skill is far below yours as my attention time seems to be short so my writing is rather simple in form. I understand the experimentation as that seems to be what most of my work is at this time as I try to learn and expand my work. You and a few others are outside the box in some projects, it just depends on how far you allow your mind to go to new places. Thank you for sharing and discussing.

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, Willard. I no longer have the ability to write long stories anymore, my attention span has shortened as I have grown older. I must make the effort as read you writing as it seems right I should do so.

[Willard Wells]

That would be kind of you yet my work is rather infantile. I feel much of my word is written from a hyper level and that contributes to it being more simplistic. I have been humbled by most all of my reviews.