Plain Jane
Oh dear, is that really a man? Some sort of mistake, surely! Cant Jane see who shes about to marry? Short, weedy, and as ugly as sin!
Dont exaggerate so much! Hes short, fine, but thats hardly a crime. Face isnt everything, you know! Jane herselfs no beauty queen.
Well, thats true. But imagine their children! Good heavens!
The young mums, gossiping out of sheer boredom, fussed over their prams, admiring their own sleeping babies. As if any future children of Janes could compare with theirs!
Meanwhile, Jane was unloading bags of groceries from her fiancés car, smiling warmly at the neighbours and then bustling about:
Dave, love, are you sure youre not overloaded? Here, let me take something! she tried to grab at least one of the bags from David, but he wouldnt let her.
Sweetheart, you be a dear and hold the door instead! This heavy lifting isnt a womans job. Not for you, at any rate!
The ladies on the bench exchanged glances.
Look at him! Not a womans job, he says! Theyre all attentive before the wedding, arent they? Wait till Janes hitchedthen itll be a different story, youll see!
Jane and David disappeared into the block, and the neighbours kept right on dissecting their height, faces, his car, her walk. After all, what harm is a bit of idle gossip?
But Jane had no time for their tittle-tattle. She was hurrying to her mother, whom she hadnt seen for two weeksfirst a work trip, then racing to finish up the new flats renovation with Dave before the wedding. Mum had insisted Jane mind herself, not to fuss, and not to come unless absolutely necessary. The fridge is full, phone works, and the weddings just around the corner. How to fit it all in?
Only Jane couldnt help it; shed never been so long or so far from her mother, and she hadnt yet learned to calm the ache of worry.
Jane was born to her mother at thirty-five. Marion, with her beaky nose and gawky looks, worked as a cashier in a tiny grocers; her family and friends had long written her off: a classic spinster, theyd said. No place for children there.
Except Marion astonished everyone! She went off to the seaside and came back with a fiancéa real looker, tall, broad-shouldered, blue-eyed. Next to him, Marion was a tiny grey mouse beside a grand Maine Coon. They hardly looked a pair.
But after Alexander entered Marions life, she wore the furliterally and figuratively.
Marions husband was sharp and hardworking. He not only earned well but saved even betterand when it came to his wife, whom he adored, he spared nothing. Marion blossomed, dressed up, got a fashionable haircut, shrugged off her old acquaintances for good.
She never really had close friendsnever clicked somehow. Marion wouldve liked more company, but people avoided her. Too plain, they thought. Never asked her out, never invited her dancing. Whod have fun with that face?
So, when the last few so-called mates dropped in for a cuppausually to ask a favour, and to beg that any rare groceries arriving at the shop wouldnt pass them byMarion had no regrets seeing the back of them.
She feared gossip. Worse than a pistol, everyone knows. You never know where itll hit or what itll ruin. Marion knew that, in many eyes, Alexander was too good for her, and that meant some would whisper, urging him to drop heror worse, invent things. So Marion turned her house into a real fortress: no one in but family. She wasnt risking her happiness.
Needlessly, as it happened. Alexander wanted no one but Marion. Growing up parentless with a drunken grandmother, hed learned all too well the meaning behind handsome is as handsome does. Folk wisdom handed down for generations makes sense, as he knew better than most.
He lost his parents before his third birthdaya tipsy father, returning from his mates wedding, crashed the car in the rain.
Alexander stayed with his grandmother, who, losing her only son, could never recover. At first, shed drink a little, then it became a torrent. By eight, Alexander could cook his own tea, iron his school shirts to avoid awkward questions, and kept his head down to get decent marks. His good looks were more a curse than a boonhe was noticed, and adults attention could be suffocating.
He grew stubborn and sharp-temperedhow could he not? When he got no affection, when Grans bottle meant more than her grandson, and everyone else just gaped at his pretty face, no one ever wondered how he actually lived in this world.
No one except the lady in the bakery, where Alexander fetched bread daily. She, raising two on her own, knew what it was to have no mum. Shed grown up in care herself, but still gave her boys warmth, a homenever flush, but always fresh bread, potatoes sizzling in the pan, tea with honey from the neighbours hives.
Oh, thank you! What do I owe you?
Its nothing, love! You stand behind the counter for the lot of usdont insult me by offering.
She always gave Alexander a bun along with the loaf.
Eat it at school! shed say sternly, brushing his curls with her palm.
That careundeserved and freely offeredwarmed him for the day, made the cold world bearable. At first, he refused the bun, but soon realised Auntie Val was hurt by it, so he started thanking her instead. After school, hed come back to help her, and in time, began to think of Val as his mum.
When Alexander was fifteen, his grans heart finally failed her. Val didnt hesitate, folding him into her own family.
Youve been my son for years. This just makes it official.
So Alexander gained a familymum and brothers. The anger faded; there were people to chase away the gloom.
He finished his apprenticeship, took a job, fixed up his grannys old council flat. But romance was another matter. Women were happy to chat him up, but always cooled off after a while. He fell for one girl who hardly bothered with an excuse:
No, Alex, I dont want anything serious. Youre too good-looking. Youll leave. Dump me. If Im lucky, just me. If its with a childwhat then? With a face like that, youll never settle. All the girls are after you! Take your pick!
Angerlong-forgottenstirred again, but Alexander knew where to go with his troubles.
Son, then shes not yours. Yours is still out there, waiting. Dont give up hope! Without hope, nothing ever happens. Just wait! Itll turn out right!
Val always knew how to soothe him, lighten his heart. He told himself he could waitif hope was what it took.
But the years went by, and he was still waiting. His spirits began to falter, so Val intervened again, insisting he take his first trip to the sea.
Oh, Alex! Youve got to see it! Its
Whats it like, Mum?
Huge! Gentle! Wild! Always different, love! But youll see for yourself. Off you go! Its a blessing!
There, Alexander met Marion. No one noticed the girl leaned on the rails, staring at the stormy sea after a downpour, but Alexander was struck dumbshe looked just like his adopted mum. Once he got to know her, he realised fate had handed him a second miracle after Val: Marion was as gentle and loving. With such hidden tenderness and longing to give affection that Alexander knewthis was it! The thing hed waited years for, the answer to his endless prayers.
And, of course, he wasnt going to let it slip away.
When their daughter was born, Alexander and Marion loved her so much it frightened them.
What if we spoil her, Alex? Marion worried. What if we ruin her?
We wont, Alexander would kiss his daughters crown. Shes a clever one.
He had such faith in her that Jane had no choice but to shine at her lessons and show her sweet, gentle soul.
Takes after her mum! said Val, stroking her granddaughter. As kind as Marion! Look after your girls, son. If theres love in your home, theres happiness.
Alexander remained close to his mum and brothers. But when something felt wrong, he confided in his brothers firstdidnt want to trouble his wife or mum.
You did the right thing, Alex. Dont worry! the brothers meant what they said.
Within days, they found him a doctor. And when the news was bad, they didnt let him give into despair.
Dont even think about it! Youve a daughtershe needs you. Were here, and medicines always moving on.
It was a long battleten years. Alexander hung on, surprising doctors with his grit and will to live.
Others wouldve given up long ago. Youre a tough one.
Alexander nodded, even through the dizziness, thinking his strength was in Marion and Jane, who would race from school daily to deliver food and check hed eaten.
Im not hungry, love, Alexander would protest.
Eat, Dad! The soups salty, and Mum cried while she made it, but I told her itd be all right! That youll get better soon and come home! Did I do right?
Right, sweetheart It will be, just like you said
And every time, Alexander came home, though every prognosis was worse. How could he not, when they were waiting?
He went quietly, at home, with Marions arm around him, drifting off on her shoulder. She sat until dawn, holding him and turning over their whole shared life in her mind.
No regrets, Alex What a life! I was so happy with you. Thank you, my love
In the morning, Jane wandered in, birdlike, and gave a tiny gasp at the sight.
There, darling! Daddys not hurting any more Hes at peace now, you hear? Dont cry Marion made no attempt to stifle her tears. Im here, love
Jane and her mum werent left alone. Alexanders brothers dropped round, Val came to visit. The family became closer, grieving together, knowing you cant shoulder such pain alone.
The years rolled on, and Jane grew up. Each year, looking at herself in the mirror became harder. She knew she was plain, really plain, and there was no hiding it.
How could she shrink her nose or make her eyes bigger? Even carrotsshed read they d help a girl growdidnt help.
At school, she was teased, while Marion wiped away tears and whispered:
Well see, darling, wholl turn out happy. Give it time!
Jane finished school, got into university, but never found anyone to appreciate her gentle character. Eyes skipped past her to the pretty, confident girls. When exams came, people begged her for perfect revision noteshers were always immaculate. She never daydreamed in lectures, knowing full well in a class full of girls, there wasnt much to hope for romance-wise.
What will we do, Mum? Marion worried, seeing Jane forge a career but lost in her personal life.
What dyou think! Send her to the seaside! Val grinned. It worked oncemaybe its lucky again! What do you say?
Much sense in that! But Jane wont go alone. Shes far too stubborn.
Well all go, then! Well round up the lads with their wives and kidsa proper family trip. Jane will have no choice but to run off just to get a little peace! Remember last time, when she legged it into town to get away from the grandkids? Val laughed at the memory. Our little terrors can wear out anyone. Shell be desperate for an escape!
Lets do it! Marion agreed, determined.
But fate had other plans.
Jane did go to the seaside but flatly refused to venture away from her family. No amount of coaxing changed her mind.
I dont want to go off on my own! she insisted.
Her family had to accept it.
Yet fate was already preparing its joke. Hardly back from holiday, Jane met destiny not on sandy shores, but right at her doorstep. Returning from work, she parked up and dashed through a sudden downpourno, a proper English deluge.
Abandoning her brand new patent shoes, she kicked them off and splashed through puddles barefoot, hurrying home where she knew her mum would be fretting. Right near the block of flats, a passing car sent a wave of dirty water all over her.
Unbelievable! was all Jane could say.
Then she burst out laughing, so infectiously that the driver, stopping to apologise for the mess, couldnt help but stare in amazement.
Fate grinned, putting another tick on her list of jobs done, and moved briskly along, knowing Jane and David would be just fine.
And so they were.
Years later, those same neighbours, perched on the same bench, looking after their now-grown children, would start whispering as Davids car pulled up by the door:
Look at that fur coat on her! I cant get mine to buy me one, but herno trouble!
You again?
She cant pull off that posh number! She just cant.
Oh, you old grouch! Jealousys eating you up, isnt it? Whats Janes happiness to you? Her husband may not be handsome, but hes sweet, besotted with her and the kids! Jealous, are you?
I am! Why is it some folk get everything for no reason, and others nothing? Look at them! Neither of them are lookers, but the children are gorgeous! How?
Its genes, love! Janes dad was a real stunner, my mum said! Its pure genetics, thats all.
Is it? Then why is Jane so pleasant, always smiling, never a cross word, no matter what you say? Surely she ought to hate the world for the looks she got!
She should, but she doesnt. Maybe if you envied less, youd find a happier life too!
Oh, get off! Im talking about John, and you lecture me about fools! Whats her secret, eh? Her bloke dotes on her! Maybe shes got a trick?
Ask her! Maybe shell share it?
As if! Im not learning about life from the likes of her!
Well, have it your way. Grinding your teeth in envy is more fun, Im sure.
But Jane had no time for local chatter. She hardly managed to keep up with her own broodwhen was there energy to fret about others? Mum was putting on a brave face but tiring, Val was planning to move closer to help with the great-grandkids, uncles coming over, David promising to help with their extension. The kids needed an eagle eye.
Sam, Maisie, time to come in! Grannys fresh out the oven with her pieyou cant keep her waiting!
And so the evening would come, with time for warm conversation, a song with the old guitar, and one of Marions magical bedtime stories for the grandchildren.
And life would carry on.
