h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Revenge Served Cold 19

Andy looked at his watch. “It's time I went and met Jess. Sorry Mel.”
Mel wiped her eyes, which were red from crying. “Can I come? You can trust me with Jess. Promise.”
Andy nodded and they walked down the stairs from her flat together. He unlocked his grey Nissan, which he'd left in the small car park. “I'll take the car back home, if that's all right. I only live a few streets away from the school and it's a struggle to park closer.”
He drew up in front of a semi-detached house. It had a small front garden and was covered with grey pebble dash. From the front, it looked identical to its neighbour, but Mel could see a single-storey extension at the back.
“Is that your studio?”she asked.
He smiled. “That's a grand name for it. I call it the Shack.”
Mel smiled back. The better she knew Andy the more she liked him. They walked in silence the short distance from Andy's house to the school and joined the group of parents waiting for their children to come out. To Mel's surprise, she saw Wendy walking towards the school gate.
“I thought George had been excluded.”
“Do you want to talk to her?”asked Andy.
Mel shook her head. “Not unless I have to.”
As they waited, Mel saw Jess walking along the school drive, chatting to another girl. George appeared, running past them and heading for the open gate. He came rushing out of the gate, ignoring his mother and nearly ran straight into Mel. She opened her arms and caught him. For a moment, she looked down at the struggling child, with his blond hair and blue eyes. She had her prize in her grasp. Recognising she couldn't keep him, she led him a few steps towards Wendy, who was hurrying to meet her.
“Thank you, Mel,”said Wendy. “I'm always afraid he'll run into the road.”
“That's OK but I thought you said George had been excluded.”
“They let him back because they've got some special needs help they've been asking for.”
“I'm glad.”
Mel turned towards Andy, who was talking to Jess. He looked at her and smiled. “Well done.”