The Trouble with Weasels by Penny Luker

The Trouble with Weasels

by Penny Luker

When you’re a mother, you spend years trying to protect your children from all outside dangers and hardships, but when your children grow up, you have to let them make their own mistakes. It’s so hard not to give them your much more experienced opinion, but I try my best to be quietly supportive.

My daughter, Cassie, is one of the kindest and warmest human beings you could meet. She always sees the best in people, which is a wonderful virtue, but I worry about how easily she could get hurt. Watching her start dating is something I’d have liked to ban, but she’d hate me and of course, I have no right.

At first, Edward Weasel seemed to be a charming young man. My daughter fell for him, as only the young can, with total commitment, which would have been admirable, if only it had been for another cause, like saving the planet. Who has a name like Weasel anyway? Edward said he was twenty eight and he certainly looked that age until you looked more closely. His reddish brown hair was just a little too even, as though it was dyed, and although he gave an appearance of height, I noticed that his shoes had a subtle heel to compensate for short legs. Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against short, older men, but I am quite averse to men who pretend to be something they’re not. If his appearance didn’t come up to scratch, that was the least of my worries.

‘Don’t you think he’s wonderful, mum?’ my daughter asked.

‘As long as he makes you happy, I’m happy,’ I lied, but I wasn’t at all happy.

I couldn’t put my finger on what it was I didn’t like about him until about a month later. My brother was throwing a party for the rich and famous. He’s a successful film director. He always invited us to his parties and we never go. When folk are wearing top notch clothes and jewellery that makes your eyes water, it makes you feel like you’re a country bumpkin, when you turn up in your best Marks and Spencer frock. Okay, I admit it, I’m an inverted snob, but my brother really isn’t. He’s smart and direct and he always sees things very clearly. We received and politely declined the latest party invitation. A few days later Cassie cornered me.

‘Mum, do you think we could un-decline that party invitation to Uncle Derek’s? Edward would really like to go.’

My first instinct was to say no, but when Cassie has set her heart on something, I find it hard not to give in.

The night of the party arrived and I have to say Cassie looked exceptional. She’d found a beautiful, knee length, silk dress in a charity shop. It oozed style and class, but when Edward turned up, he was obviously disappointed in how she looked.

‘I assumed you’d dress up a bit more; you know a long dress,’ he muttered, thinking I couldn’t hear.

‘I think she looks absolutely gorgeous,’ I said. ‘Now don’t be a jerk. Off you both go’.

I know I shouldn’t have said anything, but how could he criticise her? Edward did have the grace to go red, but I’m not sure if he was ashamed of himself or angry that I’d called him out on his rudeness.

The next day I asked Cassie how the party had gone.

‘It was fabulous, mum. Uncle Derek introduced me to everyone as his favourite niece. He whispered; we won’t tell anyone that you’re my only one.’ She laughed and without hesitating said, ‘Can I bring William home for tea later?’

‘William?’ I queried. ‘What happened to Edward?’

‘Oh, I dumped him,’ she said. ‘When we left here, we had a row. Not the best start to the evening. He didn’t like you calling him a jerk,’ she smiled. the drink and told him she’d started her working life as a waitress, so she knew how hard he had to work.’

‘She does sound kind.’

‘Then Edward said I should go and speak to my uncle, because he obviously wanted Juliet to himself, but she linked my arm and said that was a good idea. She had something she wanted to talk to Uncle Derek about, so we left Edward standing on his own.’

‘So is it really all over with Edward?’ I asked.

‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but you looked so beautiful and you’d taken such care.’

‘Anyway, we agreed to put it behind us. He was so eager to go to the party and I wanted us to have a good time.’ Cassie put her arms round me, ‘Of course it is. He wheedled himself into so many conversations; interrupting when people were talking. I was feeling bad about bringing him, but Juliet Snow told me, that’s the problem with weasels. They’re flipperty gibbets, who scurry around everywhere, but have no worthwhile purpose.’

So what happened then?’ I asked.

‘When we arrived, I introduced him to Uncle Derek, and he seemed to forget I was there. He stood in front of me and actually stood on my foot. I mean anyone could do that, but you check the person you hurt is all right, only he didn’t. Then later, he was trying to impress Juliet Snow – you know from the Northlander’s show, and he actually snapped his fingers at William to bring us some drinks. I was so embarrassed. Juliet was lovely. She thanked William for Cassie laughed as she went upstairs to get ready for William. I sighed. Derek had been right as usual. When I’d rung him to ask what I should do about Cassie’s interest in Edward, Derek had told me to let them come to the party. His thoughts were that if Edward was not a genuine person. he would almost certainly show himself up, amongst the rich and famous.

I wonder what William is like.

Penny Luker is a writer and artist from Cheshire. She writes novels, short stories and poetry for adults, and also writes children’s stories. You can find her work at www.pennyluker.wordpress.com or author.to/PennyLuker