All the Way Home and All the Night Through Read Free Page A

been drinking, but they didn’t mention it.
    â€œNow then,” said my mother.
    â€œHello, Vic,” said my father.
    I sat down on the settee at the back of the room and looked at the fire. My mother smiled at me in her worried way. No one said anything. My father straightened the cushions at the back of his head.
    â€œIt’s cold out,” I said.
    â€œIt’s bitter,” my mother said with an underlining shudder, “Bitter.”
    My father turned toward me and grinned. He pointed in an exaggerated manner at the fire. “Best place on a night like this.” It was a private joke, involving our two personalities. I smiled, still looking at the fire.
    â€œHave you had a good day?” my mother asked.
    â€œNot bad,” I replied.
    â€œSeen Janet?” my father said. He was still grinning, his private grin from father to son. They didn’t know and I didn’t know how to tell them.
    â€œYes, I saw Janet,” I said, and smiled back at him.
    â€œHow was she? All right?” my mother asked.
    â€œOh yes, she was all right. You know.”
    â€œShe’s a lovely girl, you know, Victor,” she said.
    â€œI know, Mother,” I said rather testily. “I wouldn’t got out with her is she wasn’t.” My mother turned and looked into the fire, her eyes focused on some private thought of hers.
    â€œDid you give her my regards?” asked my father, rubbing imaginary waxed mustaches.
    â€œOh, aye. She sent hers to both of you.”
    It was becoming too much. I got up from the settee and took my coat off.
    â€œWhat would you like to eat?” my mother asked me as I hung my coat in the cupboard.
    â€œNothing, thanks. I’m not really hungry.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œYes, I had something on the boat.”
    I walked over to the door. “See you later,” I said, closed the door and went into the big room where my grandmother was watching TV. I went in and sat down on the studio couch. My grandmother was sitting in her chair, a shawl wrapped round her bulky figure. She was watching a variety show.
    â€œHello, Victor,” she said as she turned her broad face toward me.
    I loved my grandmother. She was a good person.
    â€œHad a nice day?”
    â€œNot bad.”
    â€œSeen Janet?”
    â€œYes. Saw her all day.”
    â€œThat’s good. How’s she keeping herself?”
    â€œOh, very well thanks. She asked after you.”
    â€œMm. What did you do, go t’ the pictures?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGood picture?”
    â€œYes, not bad.”
    â€œMm.” She looked at me for a minute, smiling. I smiled back. “You’re a rum lad, our Victor.”
    I laughed. She turned to look at the television. A comedian came on and told some stories and pranced about.
    â€œHe’s a fool is that feller,” said my grandmother and was amused by an expression that he was wearing. Eventually I dozed off to sleep. My mother woke me when she came in with a tray carrying my grandmother’s supper.
    â€œThere’s some sandwiches for you here, Vic. You’ll feel hungry after, and I don’t want to be messing about later on.”
    â€œThanks, Mother.”
    She went out. I ate some of the sandwiches and watched television. Halfway through the third one, everything welled up inside me. I just sat there on the studio couch, my mouth full of sandwich, my body heaving and tears streaming down my face.
    My grandmother put her hand to her mouth and said:
    â€œWhat’s up, Victor? What’s up love?”
    â€œIt’s Janet,” I said, still chewing the sandwich. “It’s all over.”
    â€œOh, Victor. Oh dear. Oh, Victor, I am sorry.”
    I carried on weeping.
    In between chewing and sniffing, I kept telling her that it was all finished.
    She was very upset for me.
    That’s how it ended between us. That’s the way it was more or less. Other things