Childhood Love: The Sweet and Innocent Romance of Young Hearts

“Mum, can I wear my blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?”

“Blue? Why that one?”

“Because Katie Wilson said it suits my eyes!”

“Well, if Katie said so, of course you can wear it.”

Tommy, delighted, ran off to play with his older brother, Jack, who was already at school. That evening, Mum told Dad about the blue shirt and how it matched Tommys eyes.

Dad chuckled and ruffled his youngest sons hair. “So, mate, do you like Katie, then?”

“Yeah, Im gonna marry her.”

“Blimey! Well, first, youve got to go to school, get an education, then think about marrying.”

“Oh, thats ages away” Tommy frowned.

“Dad, can I marry Katie tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Where will you live, son?”

“Here, of course!” Tommy looked baffled.

“Whose house? Katies?”

“No, Dad! Shed live at hers, and Id live here.”

Dad shook his head. “Doesnt work like that, lad. If you marry her, youve got to take her in, work to support her while she goes to nursery, then school, then uni.”

Tommys eyes welled up. “But what about me?”

“Youll have to work, son. Provide for your family.”

Tommy burst into tears. Mum knelt beside him. “Whats wrong, love?”

“Mum, I wanna marry Katie, but I dont wanna work yet! I wanna go to nursery and school first, but Dad said” He sobbed.

“Oh, sweetheart, just wait till youre older, then marry her.”

“But by then, someone else might take her!”

“Like who?”

“Dunno maybe Charlie or Ben!”

Dad laughed. “Well, if shed let someone else take her, shes not the one for you.”

The next morning, Tommy marched up to Katiea little girl in a red velvet dress, a big bow in her long blonde hairtook her hand, and declared, “Im gonna marry you, Wilson!”

Katie studied him, then turned away. “No!”

Tommy stomped his foot. “I said Im marrying you! Not now, alright? Later, yeah?” He peered into her eyes.

“Why not now?” Katie asked. “Charlie and Lily got married today.”

“Thats pretend! Ours will be real!”

“Alright then,” Katie nodded, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.

At school, Tommy demanded the teacher seat him next to Katie. She refused, pairing Katie with another boy instead. Tommy plonked himself beside her anyway.

“Im marrying Wilson when I grow up.”

The class erupted. “Ooooh, Tommy and Katie, sittin in a tree!”

“Quiet!” the teacher scolded. “Tommy, youre too young for this. Go to your seat.”

“No! Katie, tell her!”

Katie just smiled.

“Well, Miss Wilson, whats your answer?” the teacher asked.

“Were getting married properly when were grown-ups. Not like Charlie and Lilytheyre just playing.”

The teacher sighed. “Fine, sit together.”

Katie was the queen of his heart. He carried her bag, shielded her from dogs, bullies, even teachers. Once, when she scraped her knee, he hauled her to the nurses office.

Years later, in secondary school, he confessed properly.

And Katie? She just smiled and walked off, chin high.

“Ill still marry you, Wilson!” he yelled after her.

Then Jake, a boxer who drove his own car and studied mechanics, started chasing Katie. Tommy took bruises but never backed down.

One day, three lads cornered him.

“Oi, kid,” one sneered. “Come here.”

“You want me, you come get me.”

“Cheeky little sod. Listenstay away from Jakes girl.”

Tommy glared. “Tell Jake if he doesnt stay away from *my* girl, hes done for.” He turned his back, walking off, feeling their rage like a storm at his heels.

Later, they jumped him from behind. Outnumbered, he heard a screamKatie, swinging a fence picket like a sword, barrelling into the fray. His brother and mates came running, called by Lily, Katies friend.

That night, cleaned up under the tap, they all laughed, Tommy loudest of all, ribs aching. Walking Katie home, she paused at her door.

“Hurt much?”

“Nah,” he lied.

She kissed him. The lads tactfully looked away.

“Sorry, Tom.”

“For what? Youre my hero! Swinging that plank like Bruce Leescares me, Wilson. Howm I gonna marry you if you fight like that?”

She laughed.

Then came the army. Katie didnt cry or clingjust stayed close.

“Remember, Ill marry you when Im back, yeah?”

For the first time since nursery, Katie said, “Yeah.” She blushed. “Tom dyou love me?”

“Are you daft? Ive spent my whole life saying Ill marry youcourse I love you, silly.”

Letters flew back and forth, each hiding *I love you*.

Then they stopped.

Parents and Katie waited. The news showed grubby, grinning lads fighting far away.

Then three letters arrivedone each for his parents, Katie, and Jack.

To his parents and Katie, he wrote jokes about penguins on assignment up north. They laughed and cried.

That night, Jack told Katie: penguins dont live up north. Their childhood code hid the truth in one wordone word that kept mothers awake.

Jack sobbed into his pillow, helpless. He wrote back, ending with: *Dont forgetyouve still got to marry Wilson. Or shell grab that plank again.*

More silence.

Then, the news showed boysno, soldiersbattle-hardened.

“Mumthats Tom!” she screamed.

Onscreen, he turned, grinning, dimples flashing.

At home, paramedics came for his mum. The doctor said, “Hes alive. Wait for your soldier.”

Katie couldnt sleep. Dads smoked in silence.

“Hell be alright,” Katies dad whispered. “Hes got to marry our girl.”

Thenhe came back.

Dawn. A soldier sat on a bench, listening to birds, savouring home.

Jack stepped onto the balcony, lighting a fag.

“Smokings bad,” Tom called.

“Sos being a smartarse. Welcome home, little brother.”

Later, slightly tipsy on joy, Tom yelled up at Katies window: “Wilson! Im here to marry you!”

No one told him off. The whole street knewa soldier was home.

“Mum, Dadcan I marry her now?” Tom spun before the mirror.

“Get dressed, groom,” they laughed. “Before she changes her mind.”

“Over my dead body!”

***

“Mum, Im getting married.”

“Oh? Whens that?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Goodness! And whos the lucky lady, Michael?”

“Emily Wilson. In my class.”

“Wilson? Dad know about this?”

“Yeah. He said talk to Grandad first, so Im marrying her tomorrow.”

***

“Well, Grandad? Did you talk sense into him?” Mum laughed.

“Aye. History repeatsanother Wilson stealing our boys hearts,” Dad chuckled, shaking his head. Michaels grandad just grinned.