That Woman Always Wins

Miranda had stolen her husband. Now she was muscling in on Sports Day, too!

Anna could see Miranda streaking ahead of her. And then it happened…

You are going to do it, aren’t you, Mummy?’ asked Chloe anxiously.

‘Do what, darling? Come to Sports Day this afternoon?’ said Anna, attempting to make two packed lunches in record time. ‘Of course

I am. I want to cheer you on!’

‘No! I asked you if you’d run in the mums’ race.’

‘Oh! Um…’

‘Please, Mummy!’ Jamie begged. ‘We want to cheer you on, too!’

Anna sighed. ‘OK. As long as you won’t mind me coming last.’

‘You won’t!’ Chloe said. ‘Miranda will!’

Jamie nudged her, but he was too late.

Anna stared at her. ‘Miranda’s coming to school Sports Day?’ ‘She’s coming with Daddy.’ ‘And she’s taking part in the mums’ race?’

‘Maybe not…’ said Jamie. ‘Yes, she is!’ said Chloe. ‘You said she wouldn’t beat Mummy because she’d topple over.’ ‘I didn’t!’

‘You did. You said Mummy says she’s top-heavy, remember?’ Anna couldn’t help laughing. ‘Look at the time!’ she cried. ‘Hurry up, or we’ll be late!’

They arrived at the school gates just as the bell rang.

‘Bye, darlings!’ said Anna, hugging them both. ‘See you later. Good luck in your races!’ ‘And you,’ Chloe grinned.

‘You haven’t been roped in, too?’ asked her friend Louise.

‘I’m afraid so,’ Anna sighed. ‘I wouldn’t mind so much, only Miranda-the-Marvellous is taking part, too. How can she? I mean, she isn’t even a mum!’

‘I guess a father’s significant other is eligible,’ Louise mused. ‘Don’t worry, they won’t be cheering her on.’

‘But she’ll beat me!’ Anna wailed. ‘Yet again, she’ll put one over on me. There she’ll be in her short shorts and skimpy top designed to reveal her perfectly flat stomach.’

‘Your kids don’t care about that,’ said Louise. ‘They love you because you’re you. And they don’t like her, because she took their father away.’

‘So why do they love going on days out with her so much?’

‘To be with their dad!’ said Louise. ‘She’ll never take your place. Never. And you know what they say: It’s not the winning that counts…’

‘No – it’s the not-falling-flaton-your face!’

At home, Anna tried on three pairs of shorts, then decided her legs weren’t fit to be seen. Instead, she wore jeans. Coming last wouldn’t be so bad if it looked as if she wasn’t bothered.

She and Louise set off together.

‘Miranda probably won’t have the nerve to turn up!’ Louise told Anna as they rounded the corner of the school building – and bumped straight into her. As always, not a hair was out of place, and she’d obviously spent the morning applying her oh-so-perfect make-up.

‘Oh, hello, Anna!’ Miranda beamed. ‘Have you seen Simon?’

‘Not since he went to the gym and ended up at your house,’ Anna said coolly, trying hard to keep her tone light and even.

‘Go on with you!’ Miranda giggled. ‘I hear we’re competing against each other? Good luck!’ ‘And you!’ Anna muttered. ‘Look, there’s Jamie,’ said Louise as Miranda went off in search of Simon. ‘See? You’re the one he’s looking out for.’

Spotting his excited face, Anna waved to him and

Chloe, then settled down to watch the races. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Simon come onto the sports field with Miranda, but then his mobile rang and he went off to answer it, and missed his own children’s races. Nothing had changed, then…

Neither Jamie nor Chloe were brilliant runners, but they had fun. When the children’s races were all completed, they came dashing over.

‘Well done, both of you,’

Anna said, hugging them.

‘Thanks!’ said Jamie.

‘Where’s Miranda?’

‘Over there!’ Anna pointed. They both ran over to her. Anna couldn’t believe they’d left her to go to that woman!

Miranda was sitting on the grass, her long, tanned legs stretched out. Could her shorts be any shorter?

‘They’d rather talk to her than me!’ she said to Louise.

‘They’re not interested in her – just her designer trainers,’ Louise replied.

‘Well, she’s got the money, hasn’t she?’ Anna snapped.

The dads’ race was run, then the teachers’, and still the kids were chatting away to Miranda. Jealousy surged through Anna. What did they see in her? Was she trying to take her children away from her now, too?

It was only when they called the mums’ race that the kids got up. Even then, they followed Miranda to the start line. Reluctantly, Anna joined her. ‘Good luck, Mummy!’ Jamie said, finally turning to her.

Before she could answer, the whistle was blown and everyone started running. Anna could see Miranda streaking ahead of her. And then it happened – Miranda went sprawling on to the grass. Anna dodged around her, put on an extra spurt, and then, miraculously, she was over the finishing line!

‘Well done, Mummy!’ Jamie and Chloe cried, hugging her.

‘I can’t believe it – I wasn’t last!’ Anna panted.

‘No, Miranda was,’ said Jamie. ‘She didn’t even finish. Look!’ They turned together.

Poor Miranda was sitting where she’d fallen.

‘Bad luck, Miranda!’ Jamie cried as they reached to her. ‘Poor you!’ Chloe added.

‘I was doing so well,’ Miranda panted. ‘Then, suddenly, I fell. I can’t understand it…’

‘Never mind,’ said Anna. ‘It was just a silly race.’

Miranda frowned, then threw back her head, laughing. ‘You’re right. Maybe I’m just too competitive!’

Then, trying to stand, she gasped. ‘Oh, look! No wonder I fell. My trainers came undone!’

It was then that Anna saw Jamie and Chloe exchange a conspiratorial smile. Suddenly, her jealousy started to fade as she began to understand why her two lovely children had chosen to spend quite so long at Miranda’s feet…

THE END