New Welsh Short Stories Read Online Free Page A

nowhere. Cheap rings crowd Bella’s fingers, looking as if they’d dropped out of Christmas crackers. Clogs to clogs in three generations.
    â€˜She didn’t say.’
    Though not Jarvis’ biological grandmother, Carly dotes on the toddler. She cooks him healthy food, worrying about the takeaways Bella feeds him. You can’t broach this without Bella exploding – stomping around in her skimpy clothes, thong showing when she bends over, teeth nicotine - stained. Older than her years Bella looks and somehow bewildered in a way that gnaws at Chris: crap dad he was. Carly tries to support Bella. She insists there’s good in her; it’s just that Bella conceals this in case it’s seen as weakness. And Jarvis is a sweetheart. The way Carly sees it, at least he gets a couple of decent meals in the week and perhaps he’ll ask his mam for broccoli of his own accord. Doesn’t Chris think so?
    In … your … dreams, darling! But Chris admires his partner’s caring ways and is grateful. More of a mam and nan to his family than her , that’s for sure.
    *
    Nobody’s in when Chris gets home. Carly’s on the lawn with Jarvis straddling one hip. Hallo, you! Chris taps on the window and she beckons him out. Bampi’s coming, Jarvis! Look! Jarvis in a rapture of welcome leans out, calling Chris close. Here he is! Give Bampi a lovely cwtch! Securing his grandfather with the free arm, Jarvis locks the two adults to one another and himself. Kisses all round.
    They’re keeping a distance from the bird, so as not to alarm her. Carly plants one foot in front of Daisy, whose baffled nose twitches. She takes the foreign body for a toy perhaps: but not her toy. The ground - nester, sunk into herself, is motionless, oily secretions shut down, glands closed. Nothing helps Daisy identify prey.
    â€˜What I don’t get,’ says Carly, ‘is how she can feed while she’s stuck here. And when the chicks are born, how’ll she cope then?’
    â€˜Maybe they don’t feed when they’re brooding, maybe they’ve laid down fat or something?’
    â€˜Could be. Watch this space.’
    A force - field surrounds the creature in a bubble of safety. Daisy, bored, slopes off to track foreign urine in the wilderness.
    *
    Jarvis is staying the weekend. Bella’s estranged partner, Taylor, that sordid waste of space, comes round – egging Jarvis on to play rugby in the house. It takes time to calm the lad after all the excitement: cheeks flaring with eczema, Jarvis grizzles as Carly washes his hair in the bath, singing Row, row, row your boat . He’s gone blond overnight, she exclaims – look, Chris. Gently down the stream. Were you blond as a child? Merrily merrily merrily merrily. Perched on the toilet seat with a can, Chris watches his grandson melt into Carly’s loving kindness. Life is but a dream. She hoists him out to be cuddled in a warmed towel. Her face then: there’s something so beautiful in its expression. Jarvis, calmed, slips his thumb in his mouth.
    â€˜Can I ask you something, Chris?’
    â€˜â€™Course you can.’
    â€˜It’s a big ask.’
    â€˜Ask.’
    â€˜Could Jarvie stay more of the time, Chris? Pretty much live with us even? I love him as my own. I know she has her problems and I do sympathise … but honest - to - God Bella can be neglectful, there’s no other word for it. Take your time, don’t answer now.’
    â€˜Well, cariad… ’
    â€˜No, love, don’t answer now…’
    â€˜It’s not that I…’
    â€˜Don’t, please. Just think about it.’
    Chris defers the answer.
    â€˜Oh and by the way,’ Carly adds. ‘I rang the RSPB. A young guy came round – eyes on stalks. He reckons it looks like a common sparrow but sparrows don’t act like this. The area boss’ll be round tomorrow. Meanwhile, we’ve to give the bird