Baildon Moor - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

West Bowling, Bradford, June 1988

‘Is she your girlfriend?’ says Billy with the disdain that only a thirteen year old boy can muster.  He’s a scruffy, gingerish child.

Sullivan laughs. ‘Yeah, our kid, Julianne’s my girlfriend.’

Billy looks at me suspiciously, as if I’m a strange dog that might bite at any moment.

‘Oh,’ he says and turns back to his Euro 88 stickers, unpeeling a footballer and carefully placing him in his appointed place in the album.

‘So, who’s that?’ I ask, pointing at one of the players. I’m honestly trying to take an interest but I’ll be the first to admit I don’t have the first clue about football. 

‘That’s Glenn Hoddle. God, you’re so thick.’ Billy rolls his eyes.

Sullivan sniggers and gently cuffs his younger brother across the head.

‘Don’t talk to Julianne like that.’

‘Sorry.’

I excuse myself and go to the kitchen to make a pot of tea and some orange squash for Billy. I really don’t do children.