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Chapters (38)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  38. Newsletter Sign-up

“Of course not! I’m proud … although, I don’t entirely agree with you that my plans are always useless…,” he chuckled.

Marty sat down, his eyes, his head, and his whole body aching. Grandad ruffled his hair.

“You know that fire you have, that’s what’s going to get you somewhere … You can’t lock it all up. You’ve got to ride the wave. Let all those feelings go through you … like Gracie does when she dances … Don’t be ashamed of what you feel. Big feelings, they turn into big dreams, brilliant things.”

“Are you sure?” Marty felt shaky, a bit newborn, squinting in the morning light.

“I’m positive. We just need to keep believing … Your mum, she’s got some issues of her own she needs to work out. It’s not your fault. She just needs time…”

Marty smiled a sad little smile.

“How about a day off today? I’ll write you a note tomorrow when you go back and … let’s see if we can decide which of these pumpkins to keep.”

Marty nodded and watched as morning began to make the allotments busy. Sadiq was already watering. The old lady in allotment 7 was putting out bird food and making a funny squeaky noise with her lips like kissing, calling the birds to her. John Trinidad was planting in the morning light. Grandad was right. He did actually feel a bit better. A bit lighter. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and looked at the giant pumpkin plant threading its way around the allotment. There was only one thing pressing on him, and that was how he was going to make it up to Gracie.

FIFTEEN

GRANDAD’S APARTMENT WAS small. Marty was used to having no room, but Grandad’s apartment was small in a different way from Marty’s house. It was just tiny. One room, half a wall, a toilet behind that, and a two-ring electric cooker. He used to come for sleepovers when he was smaller, but what with the pub below it, and shouty, beery people making a noise outside, Marty hardly did any sleeping. Marty watched as Grandad brushed his trilby.

Grandad had spoken to Mum. Marty was going to stay with Grandad for a few months. Marty had heard her crying on the other side of the phone, but Grandad had been firm. She needed some time to sort herself out, and it wasn’t fair to the boy. Marty’s heart hurt as he heard his mum’s muffled sobs over the phone, but he tried to harden himself against it.