Chapter 8: The Christening
Sue had actually volunteered to act as the 'family representative' at the first part of the Christening. As both her parents were working in the morning she had agreed to attend the actual service and the small reception afterwards and then back to Aunty May's house for the main family 'do' where her parents would join her when they finished work.
She was actually quite looking forward to it, Even though they did not see each very much the family considered itself to be quite closely knit; when Sue was younger the family had regularly holidayed together and many of Sue's early memories were of the family sharing caravans at the sea side, games of cricket and football on the beach, adults and kids alike joining in.
Over the years, as the kids had grown and life had gotten a little harder, the family had drifted apart bit; Christmas and Birthday cards were still exchanged, anniversaries still remembered, and they still got together for the occasional wedding or funeral but in the main they did not see much of each other even thought they only lived on opposite sides of the town. So Sue was looking forward to meeting them all again; it had been years since she had seen some of her cousins and Aunt May had always been a favourite.
Jackie had somehow managed to side step the invite altogether and had poked fun at her as she had dressed to go out but even Jackie had had to admit that she looked good, her hair drawn up severely onto the top of her head and held with a large clip which she covered with a wide brimmed floppy dark blue hat. Her simple A-line, pale, air force blue, mini dress, relieved by short puff sleeves and a mandarin stand up collar. With white sheer tights and black button down clumpy shoes she looked every inch the sixties girl. Jackie had whistled as Sue had made a twirl, making her dress billow out. "Not too much of that today," Jackie laughed, "that's the shortest skirt I've ever seen, I can see your knickers."
"Can't," she said laughing, "I'm not wearing any!"
"Sue!" Jackie laughed and lifted the hem to have a look.
"Only joking" Sue said, smoothing her dress down. She slung her small strappy purse over her shoulder and posed, "How do I look? Will I do the family proud?"
"You look a million dollars," Jackie said appreciatively, "legs right up to your neck."
"Mum did a good job of this didn't she?" Sue said looking at the needlework, "Didn't take her long either. You should get her to make you one."
"How on earth did you ever get Mum to agree to it? She'd never let me wear anything that short."
"Bet she would now. She's coming around to the idea of miniskirts. She's not as old fashioned as you'd think."
"You'll knock 'em dead at the Christening," Jackie said, brushing her older sister down and picking a piece of cotton off the back of her dress.
"Sure you won't come?" Sue asked but Jackie smiled and shook her head,
"Not my scene thanks." The one year difference in their ages, although not significant in many ways had ensured that Jackie had not quite shared the same early memories and consequently was not that close to Aunt May's side of the side of the family. She was just that bit too young to remember. So claiming that she had something else on she had weaselled out of the event all together.
As Sue's lift arrived Jackie gave her strict instruction 'not to stay with the old fogies' too late as she was going to try to get a few of 'the gang' around and that Sue would have more fun coming back home. "We'll get some booze in as well," she dropped in as an added incentive.
Meeting up with everyone outside the Church was great fun and Sue laughed as she tried to put names to faces and fill in the gaps in the family history that the years of little contact had created. Aunt May fussed over her, straightening her clothes and her hat, all the time sighing and tutting and going on about how she had grown and showing her off to half remembered relatives and guests; and Sue loved it.
When the Vicar arrived they all made their way noisily into the Church and settled themselves into the pews. Eventually the Vicar managed to achieve a semblance of order and quiet and slowly the service took form. When the parents stepped forward with the baby Sue was shocked at how young they seemed. "They'll be having the wedding next," Aunt May whispered, obviously of the opinion that the young couple should have been posing for school photographs rather than standing there looking entirely lost in 'grown up's' clothes; pretending to be adults, with a child in their arms.
Sue looked around; it was the usual family gathering, bored children, slightly less bored adults, the old and the young, the good and the half remembered. The women smiled, resplendent in their Sunday hats and the men slightly cowed, unfamiliar in the face of God; all perspiring slightly in the hot dusty air inside the Church.
Then she noticed two faces she hadn't seen in a long time, her older cousins, Andy and John, companions from those long ago family holidays. They were sitting together down the side of the Church towards the back of the congregation. They were now fully grown men and had that special look that hard physical work bestows on the Northern working man. They were bored and hot and had spread themselves out across the pew, ties loosened, jackets undone, slowly deflating with the air of men who know that they must endure until the final 'Amen'.
It took her a while to attract their attention, the heat and boredom having slowly robbed them of any interest in their surroundings; but when he finally recognised her Andy struggled upright, grinning broadly, rudely nudging John back to life. John looked around confused until, following Andy's pointing finger, he suddenly recognised Sue in the crowd.
She laughed as they gave her the 'thumbs up' in greeting and silently mouthed their hellos and their pleasure at seeing her again. Eventually realising that they had exhausted their repertoire of mouthed conversation Andy raised his eyebrows in enquiry and mimed the universal action for having a drink; 'going to the pub after?' he mouthed and Sue laughed and nodded.
She turned back to the ceremony, her smiled fanned by warm memories of the boys as summer browned youngsters, playing in the sand at the seaside, sharing a 'shandy' from their father; both young and both running slightly just this side of being wild. She had always had a crush on them, for as long as she could remember they had always been her hero's. They were both much older than her but they had tolerated her, a gawky young girl, who followed them around and was always under their feet whatever the game. They always affectionately referred to her as 'our Kid'.
The ceremony was soon over and the heat dazed congregation surged unceremoniously out of the Church and into the sunshine; the women fanning themselves with their hats and the men loosening their ties and shrugging off jackets; gaudy braces and broad leather belts characterising the style. The hubbub of noise dissipated in the open air and the crowd began to break up into groups. The main group with the mother and father and the newly christened baby made straight for the pub, 'Surprised if they're old enough to drink" Aunt May muttered into her double chin as she and Sue tagged onto the end of the procession crocodiling its way down the main street.
Suddenly John appeared and saying hello to his aunt he asked what the 'two girls' were drinking "Andy's already at the pub, getting a couple of rounds in before the rabble arrive. I'll give him your orders." As soon as May and Sue had told him he shot off back towards the front of the procession again. "Good lads those two," May volunteered, it seemed she an opinion of everyone and was more than happy to share it weather asked or not. "A bit wild though. Don't seem to have much respect for rules, either of them, always courting trouble if you know what I mean. A good laugh though when they've had a drink, everybody likes them. Always, been full of life, always been in trouble, ever since they were kids. Bet you remember that don't you?" Sue went to speak but May just carried on without waiting for an answer, "Always do everything together they do, absolutely bloody inseparable. You'd think they were still tied together by their mother's chord."
They finally made their way to the pub and joined the mêlée outside and found themselves seats at one of the rickety tables on what passed for the pub's 'beer garden', the inside was obviously already packed to capacity. Soon she spotted Andy and John pushing their way through the crowds with a full tin tray of drinks each. The boys made their way over to the table and placed the drinks down with exaggerated care. "Good grief," Sue laughed, "stocking up are we?"
John grinned and handed a drink to May and Sue. He surveyed the remaining drinks with pride, "'Thought we'd better get a couple or three rounds in, it's five deep at the bar in there and it's a hot day."
The guys sat down and turned to face Sue, she laughed, "Bloody Hell, you both look so serious suddenly."
"I'll have you know that drinking is a serious business," John said picking up his first pint.
"And you should know John Davies," Aunt May chimed in, "you've certainly done enough to be called an expert!"
John smiled and shrugged, "You have to do your bit don't you May? Life would be pretty bleak otherwise."
Aunt May leaned forward planting her feet wide apart like a Sumo wrestler and heaved her bulk to her feet. "I'll leave you youngsters to catch up with each other a bit. I've just seen someone over there I haven't seen in years and gossip beckons. Many thanks for the drink boys and I'll catch up with you later. Might have a bit of a job for you before we all leave here; if you're still capable that is," she said eying the tray of beer.
