Eventually Mum and I tidied the kitchen and not long after that, Hannah’s hour long phone conversation ended. She’d been chatting to her friend Mary and proceeded to paraphrase the highlights of the conversation to our mother. “You haven’t been telling her about me have you?” I apprehensively asked.
“Nooo.” my sister defensively claimed. “Your secret’s safe with me.” she said. I certainly hope so because Mary’s younger sister Emily is in my class at school.
“Me and Peter are going shopping tomorrow if you fancy coming?” Mum said.
“To the city?” Hannah asked. Mum nodded. “Nah… it’ll be heaving.”
“I know… but the sales are on.” Mum replied.
“Are you driving in?” Hannah asked.
“No I think we’ll get the train.”
The next day, Dad was too hung over to even drive us down to the station, let alone come shopping with us. On the one hand I was relieved but on the other… “I wish Hannah was coming.” I said as we briskly walked to the train station. Mum asked why and I explained that I wouldn’t feel quite so self conscious if she was there.
“Ah so you want her as cover, rather than company?” Mum asked.
“Yeah, something like that.” I coyly replied. A mother with her teenage son and daughter won’t look quite so conspicuous as just a mother and her son in the hosiery department.
“That’s why I was toying with the idea of you looking a bit girlie.”
“I’d be even colder if I was wearing those shorts and tights.” I replied. “I don’t know how they cope on days like this.”
“A lifetime of having to wear skirts for school.” Mum replied. “It toughens our legs up.”
It was chilly enough walking to the train station, but standing on the station platform felt positively Baltic. “Brrrr.” I said. “I should have borrowed a clean pair of tights off Hannah.”
“You’ll be OK once we’re on the train.” Mum said. “And the Arndale’s always warm.”
“Yeah I guess.” I said, shivering. “Aren’t you cold?” I asked my mother who appeared to be completely at ease in the near Baltic climate.
“I’m a girl… we’re tough.” she shrugged.
I looked her up and down. A thick winter coat covered her down to just above the knee. A pair of heeled leather boots covered her up to just below the knee. A pair of brown tights covered her legs. “Your knees at least must be cold?” I quizzed.
“They’re OK.” she claimed. “You should try it some time… skirts are warmer than they look.” she said. “Plus I’ve got an underskirt on as well, which makes a difference.”