A Role To Play

Alfie could be a handful, but Bea was desperate for him to be part of her sister’s wedding . . .

ALFIE had a headful of blond hair and the biggest, bluest eyes. He had the dearest face and a smile to melt the hardest heart.

His laugh was infectious, and his expressions were a photographer’s dream.

Just because he had a tantrum now and then was no reason to exclude him from the wedding party.

He was three years old. Having a tantrum was just what you did at three years old!

The health visitor would say it showed he was reaching his milestones.

Bea had been waiting for the request all week, ever since her other sister’s daughters had been asked to be bridesmaids, but it didn’t look as if the invitation for Alfie to be a page boy was going to be forthcoming.

“He’s at a difficult age, Bea,” Lorraine said, doing her best to look sympathetic.

She could afford to be, as Daisy and Ella were already booked in for bridesmaid dress shopping the following week.

“You don’t really want him kicking off as they’re saying their vows, do you?”

“He wouldn’t.” Bea passed a mug of coffee to her older sister.

She’d called this emergency meeting as soon as she suspected Alfie had been overlooked.

“You can’t guarantee that though, can you?”

“Of course I can! He’s desperate for a Buzz Lightyear toy, and that’s what I’d planned to promise him for perfect behaviour.

“Even Alfie can manage to be good if he wants something badly enough!

“And the service doesn’t last long, does it? Once he’s out of the church I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”

“It’s disappointing I know,” Lorraine said.

“It’s unfair, that’s what it is! I can’t believe Sian’s left him out. Alfie’s her only nephew, too.”

“I think last Sunday might have clinched it.” Lorraine looked uncomfortable.

“I know she was sort of considering having him, but when he threw himself to the floor and screamed for an hour . . . ”

“He wasn’t well.” Bea rushed to her son’s defence, as always. “The next day he developed a horrible runny nose.

“You can tell Sian doesn’t have children. She doesn’t understand tantrums are just a toddler’s way of communicating.”

“I think he was communicating a bit too loudly for Sian,” Lorraine said with a grin.

“Well – she’ll find out one day, won’t she?” Bea finished lamely.

Lorraine nodded, not sure what to say.

Alfie was a lovely little boy, but his tantrums were a daily occurrence.

He would grow out of it, of course, but probably not in time for the wedding.

“Didn’t you try the bribe thing that day? With a chocolate biscuit?”

Bea was exasperated. “He was unwell, Lorraine, I just told you that. The last thing he wanted was a chocolate biscuit.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Your girls must have had tantrums when they were little.”

“Yes, of course they did.” “Anyway.” Bea took a breath, making a big effort to change the subject. “What colour of dresses are you looking for?”

“Cream, I think, with coloured sashes. But Sian’s not exactly sure yet.”

“Very nice.” Bea took a sip of hot coffee, imagining Alfie in a little cream suit with a colourful bow tie.

He would look so unbelievably cute.

In fact, Alfie looked cute most of time.

Even when he was arching his back and refusing to sit in his car seat or wailing on a shop floor, people would catch sight of his adorable little face and smile knowingly at Bea.

“Tired, is he?” they would say.

Bea would smile and try to give the appearance of being in control, at the same time wishing for

a great big hole to swallow her up, and bundle him home as quickly as possible.

In no time at all Alfie would be back to being a perfect little boy, but by this time she was usually completely frazzled!

OK, it wouldn’t last for ever. He would grow out of it, of course he would. Didn’t the entire world tell her that on a daily basis?

The trouble was, she needed him to grow out of it right now – or before the wedding, at least!

“Sian wants you to come shopping with us, Bea. We’ll all have lunch afterwards.

“You will come, won’t you?”

“Yeah, of course. I just wish Alfie was a page boy, that’s all.”

A piercing scream echoed down the stairs and Lorraine swung round on her chair.

“What on earth was that?”

“It’s only Alfie waking up from his nap,” Bea said.

Alfie came downstairs with his blond hair tousled and messy, and his cheeks still flushed with sleep.

He gave his auntie Lorraine a beautiful smile and snuggled shyly into Bea.

Even Lorraine must have thought at that point what a shame it was he wouldn’t be walking down the aisle with his cousins, Bea told herself.

He would look stunning dressed up in a little cream suit.

Perhaps Lorraine would have a quiet word with Sian about Alfie being a page boy after all.

“Let’s get you a drink, darling,” Bea murmured.

But Alfie had other ideas. He didn’t want a drink.

He wanted ice-cream. And he wanted it now!

“I haven’t got any icecream, Alfie.

“I’ll get some later if you’re a good boy. How about a nice drink of juice instead?”

“I’d better get going.” Lorraine stood up, knowing what would probably happen next.

“He’s still not well,” Bea said.

She felt embarrassed that Alfie was about to go into full tantrum mode yet again.

Lorraine smiled. “We’ve all been there,

A piercing scream echoed down the stairs

Bea. Don’t worry, he’ll grow out of it.”

Alfie was getting redder in the face now. Nothing short of a whole tub of ice-cream was going to sort this out.

As Lorraine walked down the path and got into her car, she reflected on how loud the echo of a child’s scream would sound in St Mary’s church.

Knowing Alfie, it would probably drown out both the organ and the congregation singing.

Not really what Sian would want for her wedding, Lorraine thought.

Probably best not to bring up the subject when she spoke to Sian after all.

Daisy and Ella’s long hair streamed behind them as they twirled around in their matching cream satin dresses.

Sian had finally settled on green sashes, and they looked perfect.

“I love them!” Sian’s face was flushed with excitement. “What do you think?” “Beautiful,” Lorraine said. Bea smiled. She reminded herself that she really must try not to be such a grump.

This was her sister’s special day and it was only right she had everything as she wanted it.

Her husband seemed quite relieved Alfie wasn’t going to be a page boy.

“Look on the bright side, Bea. If Alfie hasn’t got a role to play, at least we don’t have to buy an over-priced Buzz Lightyear to get through the ceremony!”

But men, of course, didn’t really understand situations like this, Bea thought.

“They look really nice,” Bea said now, making a huge effort to push her feelings to one side.

“The green colour suits their hair. Good choice.”

Lorraine gave her a sisterly smile of approval.

“Right!” Sian clapped her hands with pleasure. “We need to make a date for the fittings and then we can go for coffee and cake.

“Ah – nearly forgot. Cushions!”

“Cushions?” Bea and Lorraine both looked confused.

“Cream would be best, but pale green would be OK. Do you have one?”

The lady in the shop was only too delighted to show Sian a vast range of silky cushions of all sizes and colours.

“Are the pews hard?” Bea asked with a grin. “How many do you need?”

“Just the one.” Sian held up a small, soft cushion in cream. “For the ringbearer.”

“The what?”

“You know – you put the wedding rings on a cushion and it’s carried into church.”

“Bit over the top isn’t it?” Bea said.

“Do you think?” “Can’t your best man slip them into his pocket? That’s supposed to be part of his job, after all.”

“Well you do hear horror stories where the ring gets dropped. Or worse, lost.”

“Bit unlikely, Sian. Save yourself the money.” Lorraine was nodding. “I think Bea’s right. There’s enough expense at a wedding.”

Sian stroked the silk cushion thoughtfully.

“I thought it would be a nice idea. But if you both think it’s silly . . . ”

“Not silly, Sian,” Lorraine corrected. “Just extra money, that’s all.

“But it’s a lovely cushion, and it’s your wedding, and if you want a ring-bearer then you have one.”

Sian shrugged, turning the cushion over in her hand.

“I knew Alfie wouldn’t cope with being a page boy, but I thought he might be OK holding this cushion.

“I thought he could sit with you, Bea, pass the cushion to our best man, and then sit back with you.

“It’s not a big role, but I didn’t want to leave him out altogether.”

“Alfie? You want Alfie to be the ring-bearer?”

“Not if you think it’s a silly idea. I just thought –”

“No!” Bea stopped her sister in her tracks. “It’s a great idea. Great.”

“But you said –”

“I don’t think I did. It’s a lovely idea. Isn’t it, Lorraine?”

Lorraine stifled a chuckle and nodded. “Lovely.”

“Really? It’s not over the top?”

“Did I say that?” “Well, yes.”

Bea shrugged.

“I don’t know why I thought that. After all, why not have something a bit different?

“I’ve never been to a wedding where there’s been a ring-bearer.

“I wish I’d had one at mine. It’s a brilliant idea.”

Lorraine gave her a look to warn her she was totally overdoing it, but it was too late now.

If this was Alfie’s chance to be in the wedding, then Bea was going to grab it with both hands!

Sian was looking thoughtful.

“I just wanted him to have a part. He is my only nephew after all.”

“Ah, thanks Sian.” Bea gave her sister a quick hug.

“I know he can be a handful, but he’ll be good. I’ll make sure of it.”

Lorraine slipped her arm though Bea’s and grinned.

“You do know what this means, don’t you?

“After our coffee and cake, it’s a trip to infinity and beyond!”

Bea laughed and nodded. “Too right! But believe you me, that Buzz Lightyear will be worth every single penny!” ■