Mum, can I wear my blue shirt to nursery tomorrow?
The blue one? Whys that?
Because Katie Johnson said it looks nice on me! It matches my eyes!
Well, if Katie said so, of course you can wear it.
Little Alfie, pleased, ran off to play with his older brother, Will, who was already at school. That evening, Mum told Dad about the blue shirt and how it suited Alfies eyes.
Dad chuckled and ruffled his youngest sons hair.
So, lad, do you like Katie?
Yeah! Im gonna marry her!
Is that so? Well, first youve got to finish school, get an education, and then think about marriage.
What? Thats ages away!
Alfie frowned, deep in thought.
Dad can I marry Katie tomorrow?
Tomorrow? Where would you two live, son?
Here, obviously! Alfie replied, confused.
Whose house? Dad teased. Hers?
No, Dad! Alfies eyes widened. Katie stays at her house, and I stay at ours!
Thats not how it works, son. If you marry her, youve got to take her home with you, work to provide, while she goes to nursery, then school, then uni.
But what about me? Alfies eyes welled up.
Youd have to work, lad. Support your family.
Whats wrong? Why are you crying? Mum knelt beside him.
Mummy, I wanna marry Katie, but I dont wanna work yet! I wanna go to nursery, then school, and Dad said *sniff*
Theres no rush, love. You can marry her when youre older.
But by then, someone else might take her!
Who?
Dunno maybe Tommy or Jack.
Well, if she can be taken that easily, maybe shes not the one for you.
The next morning, Alfie marched up to Katiedressed in a red velvet dress with a big bow in her long blonde hairgrabbed her hand, and declared:
Im gonna marry you, Johnson!
Katie stared at him for a moment, then turned away.
No!
Alfie stomped his foot.
I said Im marrying you! Just not yet, alright, Katie? He took her hand and looked into her eyes. Later, yeah?
Why not now? Katie tilted her head. Tommy and Lily got married now.
Thats pretend! Ours will be real!
Alright! She grinned, and hand in hand, they ran off to play.
At school, Alfie demanded the teacher sit him next to Katie. She refused, placing Katie beside another boy instead. Alfie stubbornly sat beside her anyway.
Im marrying Johnson when Im grown up.
The class erupted in laughter. “Ooh, lovebirds!”
Quiet! the teacher snapped. Whats your name?
Alfie.
Alfie, youre too young for such things. Go back to your seat.
No! Katie, tell her Im marrying you!
Katie sat there, quietly smiling.
Well, miss? the teacher asked.
Were getting married properly when were older, she said. Not like Tommy and Lilytheirs was just nursery pretend.
The teacher sighed. Fine. Sit together.
Katie was the queen of his heart. He carried her bag, shielded her from dogs and bullies, even hauled her to the nurse when she skinned her knee.
In secondary school, he confessed properly.
And Katie? She just smiled and walked off, head held high.
Im still marrying you, Johnson! he shouted after her. Hear me?
Then Jack, a boxer with his own car, started hanging around Katie. Alfie took bruises but never backed down.
One day, three lads cornered him.
Oi, kid, one sneered. Come here.
You want me, you come to me.
Cheeky little git.
My names Alfie.
Listen, mate, back off our mates girl, yeah?
Your mates too scared to say it himself? Tell him if he doesnt stay away from my girlAlfie stressed *my*hell regret it.
He turned his back and walked off, feeling their anger but refusing to run.
They jumped him later, cowardly, from behind. Outnumbered, he barely fought backuntil a scream cut through.
Katie. She charged in, swinging a broken fence plank like a sword, smacking the bullies aside. Will and his mate came running afterLizzy, Katies friend, had fetched them.
That night, cleaned up under the tap, Lizzy brought antiseptic. They laughed as they dabbed each others cutsAlfie loudest, though it hurt to breathe.
Walking Katie home, she stopped at her door.
Did it hurt?
Nah.
She kissed him. The lads tactfully looked away.
Sorry, Alfie
For what? You saved me! Swinging that plank like Bruce Lee. Im scared of you, Johnson. Howm I supposed to marry you if you fight like that?
Shut up! She laughed.
Then came the army send-off.
No dramatic tearsjust Katie, steady beside him.
Remember, Ill marry you when Im back.
Yeah. For the first time since nursery, she said yes. Alfie She blushed. One question.
Go on.
Do you love me? She hid her face.
Are you daft? Ive spent my whole life saying Ill marry you, and you ask *that*? Of course I love you.
Letters flew back and fortheach hiding *love*.
Then they stopped.
Nothing. The telly showed boysdirty, grinning, alivefighting far away.
Then three letters arrived at once.
To his parents and Katie, he wrote jokespenguins on the “northern mission”. They laughed through tears.
That night, Katies little brother asked, Alfies in America?
What? No! Hes in the army!
But Will knew. Their childhood code hid the truth in one wordone word that kept mothers awake.
Will criednot like a boy, but a manhelpless.
He wrote back, jokingending with, *Dont forget, youve still got to marry Johnson. Or shell grab that plank again.*
Then silence.
Until the news. Soldiers. Boys? Or men, hardened by war.
Alfie! Mum clutched her chest. There he is!
He turnedgrinning, dimpledas if hed heard.
The ambulance came for Mum.
Hes alive, the doctor said. Wait for him.
Katie couldnt sleep.
Dads smoked in silence.
You knew?
Yeah.
Good.
Thenhe came back.
Dawn. A soldier on the bench, listening to birds.
Will stepped onto the balcony.
Smokings bad, Alfie called up.
Sos being a smart-arse. Might get punched.
Hi.
Welcome home, little brother.
Hours later, slightly drunk on joy, Alfie shouted up at Katies window:
Johnson! Im here to marry you!
No one told him off. The whole street knewa soldier was home.
Mum, Dad, can I marry her now?
Get dressed, groom. Before she changes her mind.
She wouldnt dare! Ive waited forever!
***
Mum, Im getting married.
Oh? When?
Tomorrow.
And whos the lucky girl, Michael?
Emily Johnson.
Who?
From my class.
Does Dad know?
Yeah. He said talk to Grandad first, so Im marrying her tomorrow.
***
Well, Grandad? Did you talk some sense into him?
Tried. History repeats. Another Johnson stealing our boys hearts.
Alfienow Michaels grandadlaughed.
