Inspirational English, Issue 42, Jan/Feb 2018 Inspirational English, Issue 42, Jan Feb 2018 | Page 45

Continued from previous page
time he sang for the family had an Nana” I answered confidently “you telt me
extraordinary effect on everyone in the no tae … so a didnae!”
room, no matter how many times my Nana around the kitchen as she said “can a make
heard her son singing it always produced a ye a wee drink Peter … something tae …”
moistening in her eyes. Dode´s wonderful “naw naw Nana” I replied “a´ve hud some
performance got its usual ear bursting juice … Iron Bru … a love Iron Bru” “ Ok
response that was immediately followed by well,” then she looked at the clock “just
cries of ´spin the bottle! … spin the bottle!” twelve minutes to go then.” She now
and so with the clock telling me it was no reached into the back of the shelving where
more than a few minutes before ten o´clock she keeps her foodstuffs and produced a
I knew I could now settle in to being small shovel and a muslin bag.
entertained by the many marvellous voices She indicated to me to make sure nobody
I´d come to know and love over the years was approaching before she stealthily
when spinning the bottle took centre stage. opened the muslin bag and there lay the
I tried to not look too often at the clock on stuff of my journey to manhood. Two small
the mantelpiece, and it proved to be a pieces of coal, a coin, salt, bread, a
smart plan, as in what seemed like a snap miniature of Bells whiskey, and a small
of a finger there was just eighteen minutes glass. I peered over her shoulder at the
to go to midnight, a joy that was instantly holy grail of Scottish culture and,
countered by that niggling anxiousness instinctively it seemed, we both fell into a
again, which was magically removed by my short silence that was both beautiful and
Nana calling out my name from the kitchen scary.
doorway and gesturing for me to join her. “There it aw is Peter … lovely isn´t it? …
As is courteous I waited till the end of one and …” she glanced back at the clock “in
of my aunt´s singing ´You’re a Pink eight minutes you come back in here ´n a´ll
Toothbrush´ a song that always got keep them aw busy wi sumthin while you
everyone joining in before excusing myself sneak oot doon the hall and quietly go oot
and joining my Nana in the kitchen. the front door.” I heard all of what she had
As I entered she glanced over my shoulder, said but my mind took a moment to engage
I assume to make sure no one else was “eh … aye … that’s nae bother Nana”
coming, then, being small of stature she words that reassured her, but with just
looked up at me, smiled and said “how´r seven and a half minutes to go the truth is
´ye feelin Peter? … are ye awright son? … my legs developed a numbing sensation
are ye sure yer awright? she repeated that got me feeling I might not be able to
which I followed with “am fine Nana! … move from where I was standing and even
honest a am.” if I could, I thought I would maybe drop the
Holding me at arm’s length she exclaimed shovel and … a panic moment that was
“a knew it … that’s great son!” then her instantly dissipated when I heard my
face changed slightly when she added Nana´s voice saying“your gonna do a fine
“ye´ve no telt anybody huv ye?” “Naw job for your Nana Peter …a cannae wait
She glanced
“First Footing” by Peter Taylor
45