This Time Next Year(59)

‘Are you sure you want these braids like cornrows? You can see a lot of your scalp this way,’ Minnie asked, biting her lip in concentration as she tried to pick up the pieces of the plait she had dropped.

‘My head’s a good shape, I can pull it off.’

When Minnie’s mother came in they were still watching Splash. They had just reached the part where Tom Hanks realises something fishy is going on with Daryl Hannah’s legs.

‘A little help, please!’ her mum shouted from the front door.

Leila and Minnie jumped up. Minnie’s mother was carrying bags full of shopping balanced in both arms and had a fistful of post she’d scooped up from the mat.

‘What’s all this, Mum?’ Minnie asked, peering into a carrier bag.

‘Your birthday lunch, isn’t it. All the shops are going to be closed tomorrow so I need something to feed everyone.’ Minnie’s mother dropped the bags onto the floor and started flicking through the pile of letters in her hand. She made a nervous clicking noise with her tongue.

‘What’s wrong?’ Minnie asked.

‘Nothing, just with your dad’s new ventures I can hardly keep track of these bills.’

‘We’ll take these for you, Mrs C,’ said Leila, picking up the bags and carrying them through to the kitchen.

‘I said I didn’t need any fuss for my birthday,’ Minnie said quietly, picking up the last two bags from the doorstop. ‘You’ve got enough on your plate, Mum.’

‘Your brother’s bringing this new girlfriend over tomorrow. I’m not presenting her with Christmas leftovers. We want to make a good impression.’

Her mother followed Leila through to the kitchen and sank into a chair. She pressed the pile of bills onto the table, closed her eyes and squeezed the top of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.

‘Have you got one of your headaches again? You need to take it easy, Mum.’

‘I’m fine, don’t make a fuss, Minnie.’

Minnie began to pull quiches and pre-packaged sausage rolls out of the shopping bags, while Leila started opening cupboards to see where things might go.

‘And what have you gone and done to your lovely hair, Leila? You look like Christin Aquila Area.’

‘Christina Aguilera, Mum,’ said Minnie.

‘Well, you won’t get lost in a crowd, will you? Come on now, back to your own plans, whatever party you’re out to.’

‘We’re staying in,’ said Minnie.

‘Hiding from the jinx,’ said Leila, putting an empty shopping bag over her head. Minnie laughed and pulled the bag off her friend’s head. Leila squealed. ‘It got me! It got me!’

‘Don’t joke girl,’ said Minnie’s mother, ‘you haven’t known this one long enough to know the truth of it. Do you know that song by Albert King, ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’? I always think of that as the soundtrack to Minnie’s birthday.’

Minnie’s mother started moving seamlessly around the kitchen, putting food away in cupboards, humming the song to herself.

‘Oh, well that reminds me, I got you something,’ said Leila, running back through to the living room. She returned with a small square package of gold tissue paper, which she handed to Minnie. Minnie opened it with a puzzled look.

‘It’s not my birthday just yet.’

‘I thought you might need it now,’ said Leila. Minnie unwrapped the paper to find a delicate silver necklace with a four-leaf-clover pendant. ‘To counteract any bad luck,’ Leila explained.

‘I love it, Leila, thank you!’ Minnie cried, flinging her arms around her friend.

‘It’s a nice idea, but it might take more than jewellery, Leila,’ said Minnie’s mother.

‘Oh, Mrs C, since you’re here, I’ve got to ask you now – where do you want to be this time next year?’ said Leila.

‘Excuse me?’

‘She asks everyone at New Year,’ Minnie shrugged.

Minnie’s mum shook her head, then looked pensive. ‘If I’m no worse off than I am now, I’ll be happy,’ she said.

‘Oh Mrs C, you’ve got to dream a little bigger!’ said Leila, spinning around on the spot.

‘Dreams are for sleep, Leila,’ she said, tapping Leila on the head with a bag of spaghetti.

Minnie and Leila settled back down to watch the end of their film. Once Minnie’s mother had finished in the kitchen, she came through to the lounge. Minnie and Leila were both in tears at the ending.

‘What are you two blubbing about?’ she asked.

‘Oh, it’s so romantic, Mrs C. He gives up life on land to be with the love of his life underwater,’ said Leila, her face streaming with tears. She reached out to take a tissue from the side table.

‘Honestly, you lot and your romantic notions,’ tutted her mother. She picked up the pile of DVDs they’d lined up and started shaking her head as she looked through the titles. ‘Fairy tales and mermaids and prostitutes made good; I tell you, all these films are filling your heads with rot. You’re only going to be disappointed when you see what’s out there in the real world.’

‘Not a romantic then, Mrs C?’ said Leila. ‘Come on, why don’t you watch The Princess Bride with us? You might like it.’