'You can't tell me what to do. You're not my real Mum!' Shelagh's mouth dropped as a shocked silence fell over the room broken only by the clueless whines of Angela who sat gumming the arm of the cloth dolly she had been attached at the hip to ever since Sister Julienne had given it to her three days after her adoption.
It had all started earlier that day when Patrick had been called out to an urgent case. He was once again covering for another doctor, this time due to illness, and had taken the car as the patient lived relatively far away. He'd been gone for hours and could well be so for many more.
But it was Timothy's birthday. And they'd had plans.
The day had taken yet another downturn after Shelagh had suggested the three of them go for a picnic by the docks. Timothy had agreed readily-he loved watching the ships coming in and out. But then Angela had started crying and been sick. Shelagh had found her to have a temperature and deemed it a bad idea to take the tot out of the house. Naturally Tim had been disappointed and annoyed but he loved his sister, his mother was only looking out for her and his father couldn't help being so needed. It was only a minor set back.
So he phoned Jack to ask if he wanted to play out, but he was at his Grandmothers. Colin, it transpired, was being visited by his Aunt and Uncle from America so he couldn't play out either. Gary was ill. Tommy was grounded. David was helping his father at work. Chris had been grounded by his mother too.
By the time he had finished phoning them all Tim was in a foul mood that was not helped when his Mum had asked him to change Angela whilst she did the washing. That's when the idea struck him.
As soon as he suggested it to his mother she had cut him down. He was only 13-far too young to be getting the bus anywhere even if it was only to Mudchute Farm she argued. That's when he finally snapped.
'But Mum that's not fair!' He howled stomping his foot in frustration.
'Don't argue with me Timothy!' Shelagh warned.
'But it's only a few miles away! I'm not a little boy anymore!'
'You may not be as little as you used to be but you're still very young. Besides it's barely been 18 months since you had Polio! You're still recovering.'
'I am NOT!' He shouted. 'I am well.'
'Don't you raise your voice to me Timothy! Don't think your father and I can't hear you groan in the night because you're legs hurt.' She argued back, trying to keep the situation calm. She too had been bitterly disappointed by Patrick's abrupt departure and had been as keen on the picnic at the dock idea as Timothy but Angela was beginning to come down with something and she couldn't risk it even with the weather as pleasant as it was recently. She did not need a fight with her son to complete her day.
'That's growing pains!'
'Partially perhaps but I've been a nurse and your mother long enough to know the difference. The rate you're shooting up has exacerbated the pain I know. Timmy it's nothing to be ashamed of.' She took a step towards him but he jumped back.
'I'm not ashamed because I don't suffer from Polio pains anymore! I can't be ashamed of something that doesn't exist. Why can't you just accept that!'
'Tim-' Her patience was wearing very thin very fast.
'NO! I know you still feel guilty because you didn't notice I had Polio and because you were smothering to me last summer because you couldn't accept you'd never be a mother but that doesn't mean you have to be so overprotective and cautious all the time! I am not a little boy. I don't need you suffocating me again. I managed perfectly fine before you came along.' Timothy went to leave the room.
'Timothy!' Shelagh shouted her ire now provoked. 'I will not stand for you speaking like that to me. Come back here and apologise right now!'
'No.'
'Timothy Stephen Turner get back here now!'
'You can't tell me what to do. You're not my real Mum!' They stared at each other for a second before Timothy glared at her, studiously ignoring the tears that had sprung to her eyes and the gasp of pain she let out at his words.. 'I'm going out. Don't worry I won't get on the bus.' He stormed out of the living room and to the front door
'Tim!' She raced to the front door but was stopped by the sounds of Angela's cries. He turned to face her from the doorway
'That's right Shelagh-go see your daughter, if you can even call her that. I know you care about her than me so don't even try to hide it.' He cried back as he slammed the front door leaving the two Turner women in tears.
