"Ma do
we still have that huge tin bath thing we used to drown the children
in?". Creedy was throwing things out of his way as he hunted
around.
"We used to bath the children Creedy, you tried to
drown them, and yes its around here somewhere. Why?"
"I need
it", Creedy started hunting behind cupboards and under chairs.
"Urgh, its not going to be under a chair is it?"
"Well I
could be searching for days then Ma!"
The old woman heaved
herself off her chair, "I'll bloody find it. Not sure what state
it will be in though, never gets used anymore after you created that
wonderful skinny dipping in the lake game!"
"It was a quicker
way of washing the little parasites, bah I wish I was still allowed
to play in the lake. Quinn and me had a fine water polo team set up
you know. Only no one wanted to play". Creedy rubbed his beard,
walking over the fire he flumped down and sat looking
thoughtful.
"That's because it was freezing water Creedy, you
get in, clean and out. Why aren't you allowed to play with the kids
anymore?"
"Oh some of the girls started to question my gender,
asking weird questions. Boys were ok with girls being different but
oh no the girls had to stand and point. I decided to stop playing
then, and Tina cleans them all now."
Ma laughed, "I'd
forgotten about that, I'll always remember little gene coming in
and asking what was between your legs!"
Creedy grinned, "They
grew up far too fast. Mind she's still as nosy as ever; eleven
years old and she wanted to know how babies were made. I left that
one to Tina"
"You left what to me?" Tina entered carrying a
armful of washing which was thrown into the huge vat of slowly
boiling water. "Creedy come on I need your personals, wash
week!"
"I'll do it tomorrow"
"Now please, and hurry.
Can you grab Rosie's too"
"Ohh now I can't be touching
Rosie's personals" Creedy laughed, satisfied she couldn't
answer back to that one.
"From what I've heard she cant keep
her hands off yours, now go fetch"
Tina stood and shoved Creedy
toward the door, his mouth wide open in shock.
"Well Mrs Tina,
wait until I have a word with your Tommy, and my beloved, discussing
us at length were you!"
"We said nothing about length
Creed!"
"Tina you get in here and wash your mouth", Ma
couldn't breathe, the look of shock on Creedy's face was too
much.
Creedy laughed his way to his room. Which had now
become him and Rosie's room. Walking in he sniffed the air, and
remained still. He knew she was in here, he could sense her. But she
was hiding.
"Fi Fie fo thumb I smell the scent of an
Irish…plum!"
"PLUM?" came an outraged cry from under the
bed. Crawling out Rosie glared at him. "I am not plum
shaped!"
"Well dear, ok then.. I cant think of an attractive
looking fruit, and if I could we would have issues."
Creedy held
his arms out, pulling Rosie into a bear hug.
"Get off me you
lout!"
"So you were under the bed?"
"Yes…I was
searching for something."
"Something?"
"A mouse"
Creedy's
eyes opened, "You know your insane don't you?"
"I'm
telling you I can hear it."
Creedy kissed her cheek, "this is
why I love you. Anyway I'm here for your personals for Tina to
wash. Then I intend on a long drawn out conversation with you about
length!"
Rosie smiled as he lifted her in the air. Kissing her
deeply he rubbed his nose against hers. Rosie rubbed hers back.
Laughing, "Aww Dave Eskimo kisses!"
"Come on, personals,
wash day! I'll have to find some clean pants to wear, the ones I
have on now are starting to change colour. You're clearly not
looking after me. 1 point knocked off"
"Aww I earned that
point, you're too harsh, you no fun at this game. I'm no longer
playing man and wife!"
"Yeah but you cheat anyway, you always
talk about points when I'm worn out from being loved. I'm either
deliriously happy and will passionately hand you 3 points, or I'm
so tired I don't know I'm agreeing to 50!"
Rosie walked to
the other side of the room and crossed her arms. "You're a very
naughty husband"
Smiling, Creedy fell to his knees and crawled
over to her, pulling at her skirt until she joined him on the floor.
"Get off
me you fool" but Creedy tickled her until she had tears in her
eyes, crawling desperately to get away from him, but he kept pulling
her back, until he was on top of her. His mouth inches away from
hers. Rosie leaned forward to kiss them, but he pulled back, then
moved forward. Whenever Rosie puckered up he moved away from her
again.
"Sorry, I'm very faithful to my wife, and since you
aren't her, I cant be kissing you can I?"
"My darling
husband, will thee re-marry an old wench like me?"
"In a
shot", his mouth covered hers as his hand reached under her
clothes. "I'll get your personals and be on my way"
Creedy
entered the kitchen half an hour later, noticeably flushed and with a
stupid grin on his face. Throwing the clothes into the tub, he
turned to see Ma clutching the large tin bath.
"You're a
star" he cried kissing her cheek. "Tina can I ask you a
favour?"
Tina carrying on swirling the water, "Sure anything
my little chickpea."
"Less of the little! I need you to keep
Rosie out of my way for an hour or so"
Tina wiped her brow and
dropped her stick, "You want to be away from Rosie, what's
wrong?"
"Haha, nothing I need to fix the room up!"
A
few hours later after everyone was abed, Tina and Rosie returned from
their walk. In actually fact Tina was looking for an excuse to talk
to Rosie alone. Their talks about their husbands were always fun,
until now Tina had been silent about her relationship, but Rosie was
so open and cheery and clearly in love, they began giving each other
tips and swapping stories.
Laughing they headed toward Rosie's
room.
"Do you want to come in for a drink? I'm sure Dave will
be waiting for me to come back!"
Tina almost said yes until she
remembered Creedy's plans.
"Ooo another time maybe, I have to
get back to Tommy. I hope he's warmed the bed"
With a parting
hug, Rosie watched Tina walk down the corridor and into her room.
Rosie walked backwards from Creedy's door and toward the
window, staring out she searched the skies. They hadn't had a
Dragon for weeks.
Leaning out she looked down to the grounds, she
could see dotted figures about the place, clearly on watch.
Rosie
had never felt more content and safe than here with Creedy. Tears
pricked her eyes as she thought of her dead mother, always wanting
the best for her. Her poor father, they would have loved Creedy every
bit as much as she did. Rosie gulped in some air. Remembering the
struggle she had, both her parents killed by Dragons, she had jumped
the next boat to the UK, naively thinking the dragons inhabited
Ireland and nowhere else. That was at the beginning of the slaughter.
Since then she had trawled across the UK looking for somewhere to
settle. Half starved, she had almost given up hope until she fell
across this place and then her life had been fixed, Fixed by a man
with an angels face.
Wrapping her shawl tighter around herself
she turned and entered her room.
