Forever Is Over by Calvin Wade Page A

“ F in scum! ” to himself, took a few steps back, then ran full pelt at his car, jumped through the open window like a stretched out version of a Duke of Hazzard, clambered over to the driver ’ s side, switched his sirens on and sped off.
    Kelly and I stood for a few seconds under that bus shelter in stunned silence before she spoke,
    “ I ’ m as innocent as the Birmingham Six! ”
    “ Well you could have been introducing yourself to them, if that copper hadn ’ t been called away! Come on, Kelly, get in the car! There ’ s a group of disappointed lads in Halsall worrying that I may not be turning up! ”
    On the way to Halsall, Kelly would not shut up! Her adrenalin was obviously still pumping after her brush with the law and she recounted
    her whole tale to Martin and Amy from beginning to end. Vomit Breath was off out to the Kingsway in Southport, clubbing as usual, so Kelly had already known that she would have to make plans to avoid me babysitting. She had arranged to go to Kirsty Murray ’ s, a friend from school, who lived near the Eureka pub, just off Asmall Lane. The arrangement had been for Kelly to stay for her tea, then at about ten o ’ clock when Vomit Breath would definitely be out, she was going to return home in a taxi. She knew I would be back before Vomit Breath and that VB would be too drunk to check on us when she came in, so no questions would be asked. Working in conjunction with Kelly, I had already told Vomit Breath that I was going to the cinema and that I had made arrangements to pick Kelly up on my way home. I trusted Kelly so had no concerns that she could not look a fter herself for a few hours
                  Kelly ’ s side of the plan did not run smoothly. After passing my clothes and make-up to Amy, she headed to Kirsty ’ s and had her tea there as intended. She was all set to stay there until ten, but Kirsty ’ s Mum had taken a call from her sister to say their Mum, Kirsty ’ s Nan, had taken ill. Her Nan had angina and she was complaining of chest pains so they were all concerned her eighty five year old body might be calling time. Kelly said there was a lot of anxious scurrying around the house and although Kirsty ’ s Mum said Kelly was welcome to accompany them up to Burscough, Kelly felt she would be surplus to requirements and lied convincingly that her own Nan would be more than happy to see her in Aughton. “ Tut ” didn ’ t live in Aughton, she lived in West Kirby, thirty miles away, but obviously Kirsty ’ s family didn ’ t know that!
    So, as Kirsty ’ s family all sped off in their Vauxhall Astra GTE, Kelly decided to sit down at the bus shelter, fifty metres from Kirsty ’ s house, collect her thoughts and decide where to go. It was too early to go home just in case Vomit Breath was still there having some pre-night out drinks with her the “ Halitosis Horrors ” , as we had christened her fat, ugly friends. Kelly says that as she ran into the shelter to avoid the wind and rain, she knocked over a can of cider that had been left there by a drunken litter lout. She picked it up and gave it an inquisitive sniff, but as she was about to put it in the bin, the copper collared her. To be honest, as far as I was concerned this was the biggest cock and bull story since Foghorn Leghorn (the Looney Tunes Rooster) went to Spain to become a matador! There is no way in the world Kelly would have just been sniffing a cider can. She was probably drinking it in Kirsty ’ s bedroom and then smuggled it out when she left. This was the least of my concerns though. I was more concerned with what to do with her now. Martin pulled up about a hundred metres from the Birch ’ s house, windscreen wipers still working overtime, as we weighed up our options. A thirteen year old girl did not belong at a party held by three lads aged between sixteen and twenty one.
    “ Amy, do you think your Mum would mind if Kelly stopped at your house? ”
    “ No, she ’ d