MORNING SERIAL

“WHERE have you been, Ieuan? His father was half-undressed and ready for bed when he entered the kitchen. He appeared anxious and worn.

“A fine time we’ve had here, wondering what had become of you. D’you know what time it is? Nearly twelve!” “I’m sorry, Dad.” The door in the passageway opened, and his mother appeared, clad in a nightdress, a shawl over her shoulders. She frowned at him.

“I heard you come in,” she said sharply. “A fine time for a young boy to be out, and on a Sunday night, too! What the neighbours will think, I don’t know.”

She drew the shawl about her. “Your father’s been on the doorstep since half past ten. Worried stiff, we’ve been, thinking you’d had an accident or something. Asked Jamesie Harries if he’d seen you. But nobody round here seems to know where you’d hopped it to. And your father had to leave the front door open for you. Where’ve you been?” Ieuan sat down on the sofa. He began to unlace his boots.

“I asked you where’ve you been,” his mother insisted. He took no notice of her. “Your mother asked you a question, Ieuan,” his father said.

He looked up. “I’ve been … well, I’ve just been out, that’s all.’’

“Out! That’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? But where, boy? That’s what your mother wants to know.”

“Yes, where?” his mother demanded. “‘Out’ is no answer to my question.”

“If you want to know, Mam, I’ve been to the park.” “The park closes at nine,” she reminded him.

He flung his boots under the sofa.

“Now then, there’s no need to go off in a huff! After all, we’ve got a right to know where you’ve been. Who were you with?”

“No one. I—I just went for a walk on my own.”

“H’m! A fine cock-and- bull story! On your own, indeed. I’ll soon find out if you were by yourself.

If you was up the park, then there’s plenty of people must ha’ seen you there. I’ll find out. Oh, yes.”

“All right, Mam. Find out if you like. I’m tired.”

“Indeed you are. And so am I — not to mention your father.”