Free A Cockney's Journey by Eddie Allen Page A

see him but no one else could. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. He was gone. As we entered the Wimpy, Ann was already sitting down drinking coffee.
    “Hi guys,” she shrieked. Leaning over the table, she put her arms around my neck and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. Oh man, that felt beautiful. We all sat down and ordered coffee with our Wimpy and chips. Well, except for me. I just had coffee.
    “Not eating, Ed?” they asked.
    “No. Not hungry as it happens,” I muttered.
     No money was more like it. Bloody starving, I was. I’d had no dinner due to that bloke giving me a beating over a pair of wet pumps.

    We sat in the Wimpy, chatting away, laughing and giggling, telling each other jokes. I was so happy and thrilled to be with my friends. All my troubles just vanished to the back of my mind and were temporarily buried.
    “How did you cut your eye? Looks a bit sore, Eddie” Ann asked, all concerned, as she leant over and gently kissed me below my left eye. That’s the second time Ann has kissed me tonight. Keep it up girl.
    “Oh, I got hit in the face by a branch when I was gardening at Rose’s.” I hated lying to Ann, but I couldn’t tell her the truth about my family life. All of them had great parents; kind, caring and loving. I didn’t want to be the odd one out. If the truth was known, I was really jealous!
    “What time is it, Tony?” asked Karen.
    He looked at his watch. “Half nine,” came his reply.
    “I’ve got to be in at ten, guys.”
    “So have I,” Ann said.
    “Yeah, and me,” Lyn sighed.
    After a short debate between the lads and me, we decided to call it a night, much to my relief. We all got up and headed towards the exit. Outside, I asked Ann if she would like me to walk her home. She smiled.
    “That would be nice, Ed,” she said.
    We all said our farewells and walked in the opposite directions. I had half an hour to walk Ann home and get in myself. It was going to be tight but I should just about do it. The two of us strolled down Rye Lane and crossed into Park Road. As we walked past the back entrance to Rye Lane market, Ann linked arms with me. We walked down Park Road, arm in arm in a comfortable silence. I felt ten feet tall and so proud; my heart was pounding and the feeling I had in my stomach was something I had never ever experienced before. A bead of sweat ran down my temple. What’s happening to me? My mouth was dry and I started to tremble with excitement.
    “Nearly there,” Ann said. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face me; her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. She broke the link and put her arms around my neck. Then it happened; my first kiss was seconds away. Ann gently tilted her head and kissed me. I responded passionately and we stood embraced for what seemed like an eternity. She put her tongue into my mouth. Her kisses sent a chill down my spine and absolutely bloody blew me away. This is heaven. She pulled away gently and gave me a peck on my cheek.
    “You smell gorgeous, Eddie,” she whispered. I took a deep breath before responding.
    “And so do you, Ann,” I said, feeling light-headed.
    “See you later, Ed. I must go now. I promised I wouldn’t be late.” She blew me a kiss and turned to run to her house. I stood there, shell-shocked, and watched her disappear into her front garden. My mind was buzzing and I had a grin as big as a Cheshire cat on my mush. Shit! What was the time? I started to run towards Lyndhurst Way. Come on, faster , I goaded myself on. I was flat out when I reached my turning. As I ran round the front of the house, I could see that there were no lights on. Oh shit! On reaching the back gate, I noticed a glimmer of light in the kitchen. Thank God someone’s up. I put my hand on the back door handle and turned it. To my utmost relief, it opened. My mother was sitting by a candle,