Let’s Pretend
by CB McCall
1st prize Winner
‘My mam spat out her tea when I told her.’ ‘Why?’
‘She said that sort of thing was private and Mrs Mason shouldn’t have talked about it. But my Auntie Vera said it’s better to know what’s what.’
‘Your Auntie Vera is nice.’
‘I know. She said it was better than believing silly things about storks bringing them, or growing them under gooseberry bushes – like Julie thought!’
‘I didn’t! Not really.’
‘You did. And Pearl thought…what did Pearl say, Marie?’
‘She said babies were a gift from God and that you find them in the cellar.’
‘That was it.’
‘Well that’s not that silly. My mum says babies are a gift too.’
‘Ha! Roger Hope’s sister doesn’t think so. I heard her crying and telling our Gary she didn’t want to have one.’
‘I’m not surprised – who wants to get as fat as Mrs Mason? Shall we play house?’
‘All right. Are we all sisters again?’
‘Well I think that you and me and Pearl and Marie should be the sisters. I’m the oldest so I’m in charge, Pearl can be the quiet one cos she’ll just want to sit in the tree bedroom. And you and Marie can be naughty and keep sneaking out of the house when I’m not looking.’
‘And who am I?’
‘You can be Julie’s boyfriend, and Marie is covering up for her so you two can meet.’
‘Why am I the boy? I’m always the boy.’
‘You’re best at it. You’ve got the shortest hair.’
‘Boys don’t have to have short hair any more. I don’t want to be the boy.’
‘Well somebody’s got to be the boyfriend. Then Julie can have a baby in her tummy cos she’s the fattest…What’s the matter with Pearl, Marie?’