Read Online Bells of Bournville Green by Annie Murray - Free Book Online Page B

Thanks Trev.’ She’d never even heard of them. The song was ‘Love Me Do’. When she turned it over, the B side was ‘PS I Love You’.
    ‘It’s a really good song!’ Trev’s face was bashful, but serious. ‘I do, you see, Greta. I really love you. I think I always have.’
    ‘Oh, Trev . . .’ She was touched and embarrassed at once. She’d always liked Trevor. He was nice in a daft sort of way. But she’d never really thought of him in that way – not as someone to go out with or anything. She couldn’t think what to say to him, so instead she asked,
    ‘You got a record player?’
    ‘April’s got one – it ain’t much good. Have you?’
    ‘Yeah – Mom’s got an old one. But let’s ask April if we can put it on.’
    April sprang to life at the thought of hearing the new record and took them up to the room she and Dorrie shared. Dorrie came up as well, not wanting to be left out, and they put the record on the turntable. Soon the four of them were jigging about in the girls’ messy room with ‘Love Me Do’ pouring tinnily out into the room. Greta was glad April and Dorrie were there too because they just had fun and didn’t have to talk about anything. They laughed at Trevor’s gawky dancing in the narrow space and Dorrie got a bit too excited, twirling round in her fairy dress, and at the end they all fell back laughing on to the beds.
    ‘Thanks, Trev!’ she panted. ‘That’s the best present!’
    ‘Let’s put the other side on,’ April said.
    For the next hour or so they kept playing the record and dancing to the two songs in turn until they knew all the words to them and were pink and hot. Then the two younger girls drifted down to watch the television and Greta was left alone with Trev, perched on the mauve flowery coverlet on April’s bed.
    ‘That was good,’ she said.
    ‘It’s always good when you’re around.’
    ‘Really?’ Greta blushed, touched by his simple sincerity.
    ‘Yeah. There’s no one like you, Gret. You’re so nice and so pretty. No wonder everyone wants to take you out.’ He looked down at his long fingers. Greta imagined them curled through the handle of a pair of scissors, trimming hair. ‘I mean I know I’m not much – but I do love you.’ He finished this sentence with sudden passion and looked into her eyes. His were grey and deep. ‘I do – honest.’
    She looked back at him, drawn in by his adoration of her. Trevor was always seen as a bit of a clown in the neighbourhood, with his long gangly legs and proneness to accidents. But he’d always been a kindly boy, and now he was sitting here all sweet and familiar. She knew she didn’t exactly fancy him – not like Dennis – but if anyone wanted her she usually found she wanted them too, at least a little bit, and she was flattered and didn’t want to be unkind.
    ‘Oh, Trev,’ she looked back at him, feeling her cheeks burn pink. ‘That’s nice. I don’t know what to say . . .’
    ‘Don’t say anything—’ He moved closer and she could see he was going to kiss her. She left it just too late to move back and in a second his arms were round her, pulling her close, and Trevor’s mouth was eagerly fastened on hers. After a second she realized how nice it felt and she kissed him back. For minutes they were locked together before Trevor pulled away, gasping.
    ‘Oh God – oh, Gret . . .’ He looked awestruck, and a beaming smile spread across his face. ‘Oh, that’s lovely – oh I love you!’ Once again he put his arms round her. ‘Come out with me? Be my girl, will you? Let’s go out together.’
    Greta felt panic rise in her. How could she say no to him on Christmas Day, when he’d been so sweet and given her a present? She couldn’t tell him about Dennis, not now – it would be so cruel. Maybe if she went out with him once, to be kind . . .
    ‘All right,’ she said.
    ‘Will you!’ he bounced up and down on the bed whooping with excitement. ‘Oh Greta – you’re the