Page 65 of The Way We Are Now

‘I can bunk down on your sofa,’ Theo said quickly. ‘If that’s OK with you,’ he added, looking towards Mum.

Around ten, when the midsummer sky was still refusing to give up its daylight, Mum and Dad went back down into the house and Theo and I were left at the allotment.

‘Theo, I’m so sorry,’ I said. ‘Les has always been like this. He was hell at school… Mum and Dad always being called in… And, you know…’ I went on, falling over my words as I spoke. ‘…if your family had turned on me when I’d met them for the first time… I’d have been so upset… so⁠—’

‘It’s fine,’ Theo cut me off mid-flow.

But I sensed it wasn’t.

When he didn’t say anything more, I went on, ‘My brother has spoiled what’s been a wonderful weekend.’

‘I guess it’s the sheer prejudice your brother has against me. He’s judging me on who my sisters have ended up with. That’s a bit weird, you have to admit, Anna.’

‘I know and I’m so sorry.’

Theo stifled a yawn. ‘Actually I’m shattered. From what I recall, we didn’t get much sleep last night.’ He smiled at me, but there was a distance between us that hadn’t been there earlier.

‘Theo, don’t judge me on my brother,’ I now said, immediately regretting the words.

‘But Anna, you judge me constantly: on my family, my home, my public school, my accent… my friends… you know, all that stuff about Minky, Blinky, Buffy… and Barty, wasn’t it? And when you met them at the hunt ball, you immediately judged my brothers-in-law.’

‘No, I didn’t… I don’t,’ I argued, almost in tears.

‘Anna. You do. And I guess it’s natural. It’s just, you know… bloody hard work.’

‘I’m sorry.’

Theo stood and kissed my cheek almost sadly. ‘It’ll all be fine when I’ve sobered up,’ he said. ‘I need to sleep and then I’ll hit the road early.’

21

I spent an uncomfortable night, managing only fitful sleep. My bedroom was airless and, even with the window wide open and with just one cotton sheet over me, I couldn’t relax as my wired mind went over the events of the previous evening. If only Theo had driven straight off back to Leeds as he’d intended, instead of Mum insisting he stay. If only Dad hadn’t plied him with drink so that he couldn’t drive, I wouldn’t be having these awful misgivings that a wedge had been driven between us by my own family. Unintentionally on Mum and Dad’s part, but wilfully, recklessly by my little brother.

By 5 a.m., I’d had enough and went downstairs. I was concerned that Theo, unable to sleep on the uncomfortable sofa, might have already left. I heard voices and went on into the living room. Theo was already dressed, the sheets and pillows neatly stacked on the arm of the sofa and, as I suspected, was about to leave. Probably without saying goodbye as well. What I didn’t expect to see was Les sitting next to him, both of them drinking coffee.

‘So, go on then,’ Les was saying, ‘if you want to find out more – you know, so you can inform those brothers-in-law of yours – you come with us.’

‘What?’ I stood in the doorway. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Your brother reckons I need educating,’ Theo said solemnly.

‘I didn’t say that!’ Les sniffed, turning to where I stood. ‘What I did say was, the best way to inform his sisters’ husbands as to what is really happening here in South Yorkshire is for him to see what’s going on first hand. As I doubt very much that one of Margaret Thatcher’s lackeys, or a banker, would ever shift their soft backsides to face the reality of what’s happening in the bloody mess they’ve helped create, then maybe Theo here should come along. He’s nowt else to do all day except pack up his stuff and go back to his big estate.’

‘Les, stop it,’ I snapped. ‘Just bloody well stop it.’ I moved over to Theo who was calmly drinking his coffee. ‘Get off home, Theo,’ I said. ‘Ignore this stupid brother of mine.’

‘He’s probably right, Anna. The public do need to be aware of what’s going on.’

‘They are aware. It’s on the Six O’Clock News on the BBC every night,’ I said, shaking my head.

‘And who runs the BBC?’ Les interrupted. ‘Thatcher’s government, that’s who. Any reporting will be pretty one sided…’

‘I have great faith in the BBC,’ I lied. Hadn’t I, only last year, got into a debate with someone on my course about its impartiality, loyal Frank backing me up as he always did, regardless of whether I was right or not?

‘Well, more fool you then,’ Les replied.

‘Why the hell are we here at five in the morning, discussing the BBC for heaven’s sake?’

‘We’re not,’ Theo now said, turning and holding my gaze. ‘We’re discussing whether I should join Les at this Orgreave place and see for myself. And actually, your brother’s possibly right to some extent: the BBC’s political bias is a frequent subject of debate, with public opinion and research showing perceptions that lean slightly right…’