Its not a race, dearthink it over once more, AuntLiz urged her niece, Poppy, as they sat in the modest kitchen of the old terraced house in Yorkshire. What if you cant manage? Look at the children now. Youre barely nineteen yourself, and Keenan is only thirteen. Thats the most troublesome age for boys. If he starts acting up, what will you do?
Poppys voice trembled. AuntLiz, I cannot stand by and let my own brother end up in a childrens home. I know it wont be easy, but I wont be able to sleep while hes there. Is he healthy? Is he fed? Will anyone mistreat him?
Their mother had passed away only months before. The sparse family had gathered at the funeral: the two sisters of their motherElizabeth and Irenecousin Tom with his wife, and Toms sixteenyearold niece, Irenes daughter. Two women from their mothers former workplace arrived, and a close family friend, AuntJenny, stayed on for the tea.
After the wake, only relatives remained, and they faced the question of how the children would survive. For Poppy, the path was clear. At nineteen she had just finished her second year at university, held a scholarship, and would have to take a parttime job. It would be hard, but she could see a way forward.
The problem was Keenan, thirteen. No one among the relatives could take him in.
My flat is already cramped, AuntLiz explained, gesturing to the twobedroom council flat she shared with her husband, their two sons, and their motherinlaw. Where would another person fit?
We moved out, Irene replied, and Bobby has fallen back into drinking. He was dismissed from his job last week. Thats a month at least. My daughter and I lock ourselves in the bedroom at night. Can we really have a child in such conditions?
Cousin Toms response was curt: We have our own three.
Thus, if the older sister could not secure guardianship, Keenan would be consigned straight to a childrens home.
Keenan himself was not present at the family council; he sat on a swing set in the yard, a chipped wooden bench his only company. Beside him perched his friend, Max, and the two boys fell silent.
Been talking about this long? Max asked.
Two hours already. Poppy wants to become my guardian, but her aunts keep objecting. They say Im a troublemaker and she cant handle me, Keenan replied.
What do you think? Max pressed.
I dont know, Keenan admitted. But I dont want to go to a home. I want to stay here, go to school, play football.
The aunts, determined to dissuade Poppy from what they deemed a foolish plan, deployed their final arguments.
Poppy, youre still young. You should be thinking about building your own family, having children. Keenan would be a weight around your neckwhat man would want a girl with that extra responsibility? Irene warned. Dont be stubborn; place your brother in care. Youll visit, maybe take him back for holidays. Were looking out for you. Keenan will ruin your life.
Seeing Poppys resolve, AuntLiz suggested, Sell that old bike, buy something modest for you and Keenan, and live on the difference while you study.
By evening the relatives dispersed. Poppy called her brother back inside.
Come on, at least eat something proper. Youve been nibbling all day, she said.
Keenan ate, and Poppy, sitting opposite him as their mother once had, asked, All right, Keenan, well manage?
He gave a silent nod, eyes fixed on his plate.
The next morning Poppy began hunting for work. What could a secondyear economics student expect? She sent out resumes for manager and accountingassistant positions, but heard nothing. She lowered her expectations, applying for sales assistant roles. Two interviews later, a shop offered her a place, but when they learned she intended to continue her studies parttime, they withdrew the offer.
Its twice a year we need you for exam periods, the manager explained. Who will work then?
Disheartened, Poppy considered the only remaining optiona checkout job at the supermarket down the road. Their neighbour, MrsBaker, worked there and assured her she would be hired; there was no one else looking.
On her way home, Poppy ran into her former mathematics teacher, MrsOlga Sinclair, now the form tutor for Keenans class.
Olga was aware of the familys plight and promised to help with the guardianship paperwork, offering to provide the necessary references. She also suggested a temporary post:
The secretary is going on maternity leave. Its not a permanent post, but while shes awaythree monthsyou could pick it up. The pay is modest, but its right near your flat, and Keenan will be in sight, Olga said.
Poppy took the job, switched to a parttime university course, and managed on the modest wages. Keenans small pension and the guardianship allowance kept them afloat, not wealthy but far from destitution.
Keenan, being a typical teenager, sometimes clashed with his sister. He resented Poppys overcontrol; she feared she couldnt raise him properly and that he might fall in with the wrong crowd.
Overall they lived decently. Everyone had duties. Poppy cooked, washed, and kept the house tidy. Keenan cleaned the flat, took out the rubbish, washed his dishes, and could pop to the shop without issue.
However, AuntLizs warning proved true in another way. Vadim, Poppys boyfriend of almost a year, grew uneasy with her new responsibilities.
I dont get why youve taken this on, he complained one evening. I wanted a normal lifestudy, work, have fun. Instead youre playing the hero, and Im not up for that. Remember the weekend we planned at the holiday camp? You quit because you couldnt leave Keenan. I went alone, feeling like a fool. Then Les, my friend, invited me to his birthday at the cottage and you said no again. I cant stand it.
Poppy broke up with Vadim. At first she was hurt, but soon she thought, What use is a selfish man?
She did not remain alone for long; Keenans presence gave her purpose. He continued at the local football academy, and at fourteen the coach promoted him to the senior squad. He now played not just in practice matches but in away games as well.
One Saturday they faced a team from a neighbouring town. Poppy went to cheer for her brother. The match went well; Keenan scored one of three winning goals. In the final minutes, however, he twisted his ankle badly.
The clubs medical room treated him, and the assistant coach, Ian, offered to drive both Poppy and Keenan home.
Didnt know Keenan had such a young mum, Ian remarked.
Its not a mum, its a sister, Keenan corrected.
The next day Ian called Poppy to check on Keenans recovery. He called again, then again, eventually inviting her for tea, then a dinner, then a walk. Their friendship blossomed.
A year later two milestones were celebrated together: Poppy and Ians modest wedding in the village church, and Keenans admission to the elite sports college that feeds the national Olympic reserve.
Thus passed a life that was ordinary yet threaded with sorrow and joy, a story that, even now, I recall with a quiet fondness.