ANTICS OF ‘MICKY MOLLOY’ EPISODE IV “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKY!”

Friday lunchtime, it’s pouring down with rain but the playground is still full with the usual football frenzy going on! Full, that is, with one exception, Micky was having his dinner inside. There were tables set aside for pupils who brought their own dinner with them. Even though he had nearly finished he wasn’t bothered about going out to join the game. Micky had been fed up this last week or so, not for any particular reason, just generally bored with stuff.

“Not going out Molloy?” It was John, the 5^th year lad who had taken a shine to Micky since the cross country the other week.

“No, not today, can’t be bothered,” answered Micky as he packed his lunch stuff away.

“God! You sound really fed up. What’s wrong?”

“Nowt really. Just bored, same stuff all the time.”

Before he realised, he was telling John all the stuff that was bothering him. The Community Service was doing his head in, not the actual work, that was okay, plus he was always put in the same group as Jacko and Wilf. It was just that his Saturdays were all taken up. He knows it’s a punishment but it gets to him sometimes.

“Why not try something different,” John suggests.

“Oh, like running I suppose.” Micky knew where John was going.

“Why not? You enjoyed that cross country, and I know how quick you are. Come on Micky, give it a go.”

There was a silence till Micky chirped up, “Okay! What do I have to do then?”

There was another silence then John said, “Great, you can come with me to club on Monday if you want just to see what goes on.”

“Sure. I’ll make sure it’s okay with Mum and Dad later. Can I come with you?”

“Yeah, I’ll pick you up about 6.30.”

Just then the bell went and it was time for class. “Right then, see you Monday night then Micky.”

“Yeah, see you.”

It was funny, but this lunchtime talk had done something for Micky’s mood and he was quite excited about the prospect of going to the running club on Monday.

After school Micky headed straight home to tell Mum and Dad what he had planned for next week. As he bounced in through the back door, sister Sally was nearly knocked flying.

“Whoa! Slow down a bit, where’s the fire?”

“Are Mum and Dad in?”

Sally told him they were in the front room. “Why, what’s so important?”

No time for an answer, so she just followed him in.

“Alright Mick, you’re home early. Not been down the plot to see Gramps?” Dad, Billy, enquires.

“No not today. Is it okay if I go to the running club on Monday night with a lad from school? He’s a 5^th former.”

“You, at a running club!” laughed Sally.

“Shut it you,” screamed Micky. “Can I Dad?”

“Should be okay eh! What do you think Jen?” Mum’s face said it all with a smile that lit up the house.

“I think that will be good. It’s about time you found something other than football.”

“Great! Is tea ready?” Micky asked as he ran upstairs to get changed. He was off to tell Jacko and Wilf of his plans for Monday. Sally put the tea out, (pie and chips). Micky was back downstairs in a flash and cleared his plate just as quick.

“Right! I’m off. See you later.”

“Back for 9pm Micky. Community Service in the morning,” Mum reminded him.

Jacko and Wilf were waiting at the park gates.

“Come on Micky, we’re off skating,” Wilf shouted. The nearby, church run, youth club were taking the kids off the estate to the local ice rink.

“Nice one,” Micky replied, “But I’ve got no money.”

“Don’t need any. It’s free,” replied Jacko.

So the trio dashed off to the club and made sure they got seated together. While on the bus Micky told his mates about going down the track on Monday with John.

“What do you want to go messing with that ‘posh’ lot for?” Wilf asked.

“Shut up Wilf,” Jacko replied. “Anyone who washes twice a day is ‘posh’ in your book. What’s brought this on then?”

Micky told them how bored he’d been the last couple of weeks and how he needed to try something new.

“I know what you mean,” said Jacko.

The coach arrived at the ice rink and the priest and youth club staff got the boys and girls signed in and kitted out with skates. They had an hour on the ice which was great fun but over all too soon. Back at the youth club the lads chatted for a while and tried to guess what job they’d get at tomorrow’s Community Service, then all made their way home. Micky told his Mum and sister all about the ice rink. Dad was in bed already as he was up at 4.30am for work in the morning. Three hot chocolates and some toast later and so was the rest of the Molloy household.

Saturday morning and Micky was on his way to do his Community Service. He arrived at the office and was the first one there apart from Mr Taylor, who himself had only just arrived.

“What we got today Sir?” asked Micky.

“Cleaning some graffiti off the shop fronts down by the bus station and a bit of cleaning up along the canal this afternoon.” he told him just as Wilf and Jacko arrived and got straight inside to make a brew. Micky went with them armed with today’s schedule. Some 20 minutes later all the group had checked in and the minibus took them to the first of today’s jobs. It was hard work as most of the graffiti was spray painted on brick but, eventually, it was all done. After lunch, it’s was off to the canal to tidy up the tow path which was a victim to overgrown weeds and fly tipping.

Jacko knew this area well as his Dad used to bring him down here fishing a few years go. The afternoon talk was all about ‘Black Jack’, the pike that every adult who ever fished the canal, had on the end of his line at least once, but which always just got away. His size and weight differed with every telling of the story. It made the afternoon flash by and even Mr Taylor was still talking about it when they got back to the office. Micky took Jacko and Wilf down the allotment to meet his Grandad as he had promised he would a couple of weeks ago. The fishing talks continued with the old man taking centre stage with his version of battling the giant pike. The boys were hypnotised by the tale the old man told, but, after all he was a professional teller of stories. That’s what Micky loved about his Grandad. Before they knew it, it was teatime so everyone helped put stuff into the shed, closed the greenhouse door and set off for home.

“I’ll walk back with you Mick. I need to talk to your Mum and Dad.”

So off they went, still chatting and laughing, all the way back to Micky’s house. Jacko and Wilf said goodbye to the old man and thanked him for letting them on his plot. He said they were welcome any time.

In the house, Sally was making a list for the Chinese takeaway.

“Hi Gramps! You staying for some tea?”

“Yeah, come on. You haven’t stayed for ages,” agreed Micky.

“Okay as long as it’s hot when you get it back.” Everyone chose what they wanted and Micky and Sally went to the Chinese to get it.

“Right, that’s him out of the way for a while. I know it’s his birthday next Wednesday. What can I get him? Is there anything he needs?” asked Grandad.

“You know Mick,” replied Billy, “he never asks for owt. I think it’s because he thinks we have nowt. We’re not too badly off at the minute. We’ve got him a mobile phone and Sally is putting £20 credit on it for him.”

“Rovers are at home Tuesday night in the first leg of the UEFA cup and Frank Shepherd, one of the scouting staff, can get tickets. What if I took him and made a fuss of him? Should be a good game against Sparta Prague.”

“Are you kidding Dad? He’ll be over the moon,” replied Jenny. “You know how much he loves the Rovers.”

“Right then, leave it with me. I’ll sort that out.”

The kitchen door flew open, “Kung Fu supper for five!”

“Ha! Ha!” laughed Micky.

“It had better be hot!” barked Grandad.

Jenny laid the table and everyone sat down for a really enjoyable evening, with no telly, no computer games, just good family laughing and joking fun. All of them loved it when Grandad came round.

What next? Wait for the next episode in the Antics of Micky Molloy – HAPPY BIRTHDAY PART II.