The Street (13 page)

With a shy smile for Geoff she turned to go in. Looking back, she gruffly repeated her thanks before she ran up the stairs.

‘Back room,’ was her mother’s greeting and instruction when Alice burst in to tell her the good news about her job.

Alice swung a glance between her parents. She understood why she was banished from their presence. Her mother had obviously not finished telling her father what had happened to Sophy earlier. Such conversations between them were, as far as possible considering the cramped condition of their home, done in private.

Alice gave her dad a tiny smile then went to see how Sophy was. She found her looking pale but sitting on the bed brushing little Lucy’s hair. When she asked about Bethany’s whereabouts Sophy said she thought she was on an errand, getting Beattie Evans some snuff from the shop.

Having seated herself beside Sophy, Alice pulled out the scarf from her pocket then related how she’d come by it. ‘Don’t tell Mum, or she’ll have it off me soon as she can.’

Sophy took the silk and, holding it up, twisted her wrist to look at it from different angles. ‘It’s really nice.’ She gave her verdict and handed it back.

‘Yeah; and it’s a present for Dad.’

‘Why’d Geoff give it to you?’

Alice shrugged, keeping her expression neutral. She wasn’t about to tell Sophy that she thought Geoff had taken a fancy to her. For some reason that seemed private, just for her and Geoff to know. ‘He said he don’t want it,’ she explained airily. ‘And he won’t give it to Danny ’cos they’ve fell out over him not treating you right.’

The mention of Danny’s name made Sophy’s eyes narrow to slits in her white face. ‘Good. He don’t deserve nuthin’,’ she said spitefully. ‘All he deserves is a good thumping.’

‘Perhaps when he finds out you’re not having the baby after all he’ll come round to see you. Geoff reckons he feels right guilty about it all but he doesn’t want to be tied down.’

‘Well, I don’t care anyhow; he can fuck off,’ Sophy choked out on a sob.

Alice looked shocked on hearing her sister’s bad language.

There were three rules the Keiver kids must obey on pain of a thrashing: no swearing, no thieving and no drinking. It didn’t seem to matter that their parents, especially their mother, indulged liberally in at least two of those sins. If Tilly had also been light-fingered on occasion, when working as a charwoman for wealthy clients, she’d been shrewder than those colleagues who brazenly boasted that having a few of their employer’s little bits was their right considering the pittance they were paid. She’d also kept any hint of it from her family, including her husband. Keivers didn’t lower themselves to steal; that was Tilly’s motto.’Don’t let Mum hear you talk like that,’ Alice cautioned with a grimace at the door.

‘Is Dan really sorry, d’you think?’ Sophy asked forlornly.

Alice shrugged. She wished now she’d not let on what Geoff had told her. She felt as though she’d broken a confidence even though he’d not asked her to keep their conversation to herself. ‘Hope they’re not gonna be long chin-wagging; I’m starving and want me tea.’ She stood up abruptly, shaking off a feeling of melancholy. Besides, it had just occurred to Alice that, what with the commotion earlier, and her fight to keep her job, she’d gone without a morsel to eat all day.

‘Won’t be nothing much to have,’ Sophy said morosely. ‘Bit of bread ‘n’ scrape if we’re lucky.’

‘Fancy chips,’ Alice said, smacking her lips. ‘Chips with loads of salt ‘n’ vinegar. I wish it were Friday and I’d got paid. On Friday I’m eating me tea in a caff down Blackstock Road. I’ll treat you too this week.’ Alice knew that Sophy always took her payday tea in a café, despite her mum insisting she come straight home with her wages. Sophy knew better than to do so: she could end up losing the lot if their mother was in a particularly foul mood. Several times Sophy had treated Alice to a cup of tea and a big sticky bun too out of her wages. Alice thought it was only fair that she returned the favour now she was able. But the thought of such delights now, when she was hungry, simply made her stomach grumble noisily.

‘D’you reckon Beth’ll get a few coppers off old Beattie for running her errand?’

Alice nodded, knowing at once what Sophy was thinking. ‘How much you got?’ she asked bluntly.

‘Enough for a ha’penny and a ha’porth.’ For those two coins she’d get a piece of fish and a portion of chips.

‘I got sixpence,’ Alice said triumphantly and pulled the coin out to show her sister.

‘We got enough for a drink ‘n’ all then,’ Sophy said with a giggle.

‘You fit to go out?’ Alice asked anxiously as her sister got up feebly from the bed edge.

‘Yeah, already sorted meself out,’ Sophy said succinctly.

‘We’ll catch Beth outside, before she comes back in, and say we’re all off up the road to tell Sarah Whitton about me job. If Mum thinks we’re out for fish ‘n’ chips she’ll have our pockets turned out.’ She added as a solemn afterthought, ‘Then Dad’ll lose his scarf fer sure.’

‘Just as well neither of them’s old enough to join up and be a sailor in the navy. They’d sink a ship before the war’s properly started.’ Alice’s rueful comment made her two companions burst out laughing as they observed the boys’ unsuccessful efforts to row their boat in a straight line.

It was a hot Saturday at the beginning of August and Alice, Sophy and Sarah Whitton were lounging on scratchy parched grass that sloped up and away from the Finsbury Park boating lake. They had walked from Campbell Road the short distance in the blistering heat and found a shady spot beneath trees. Gratefully they’d collapsed down on the ground to have a rest. They had begun to pool pennies to see if between them they had enough cash to take a boat out on the lake and still have some left to stop off at a café for a bite to eat on the way home.

A long, low whistle had curtailed their calculations. A moment later a group of youths had bowled up and sat down close by. Danny and Geoff Lovat – who were on friendly terms again now Sophy was back to normal – had been amongst a quartet of young hounds. Herbert Banks, also from Campbell Road, was with them; so was a boy Alice recognised as being out of Queensland Road.

A session of good-natured catcalling back and forth had taken place between the groups of boys and girls for some while. Bored with that, Geoff and Herbert Banks had stood up and wandered off towards the lake. A little while later Alice had watched the two of them – in possession of an oar each – rotating a boat in clumsy circles towards the centre of the lake. It was that amusing sight that had prompted her to make her remark about the war that’d recently been declared on Germany.

The news that they were at war had been shocking, and oddly exciting, but it all seemed very distant and unreal, especially on a glorious carefree summer day such as this.

‘I saw me dad in the week,’ Sarah said. ‘He reckons now he’s lost his job he’s going to volunteer for the army. It’s regular pay ‘n’ grub, he says. And he wants to do his bit for his country.’

Alice frowned. ‘He’s a bit old, ain’t he?’

‘Thirty-seven, I think. I hope they don’t let him in. I don’t want him to be hurt or nuthin’.’

‘Me dad brought in the newspaper and we read all about it. It’s all going to be over by Christmas anyhow,’ Alice told her friend reassuringly. ‘So even if your dad does go to war he’ll be back home before you know it.’

‘I heard Herbert Banks’s been boasting he’s going to go to the recruitin’ office and pretend he’s nineteen so’s he can join up.’

Alice snorted derisively. ‘He don’t even look fifteen even though he is. He won’t get away with that, not even if he draws on whiskers.’

Suddenly the two younger girls realised that Sophy had been unusually quiet during this lively discussion. Presently it was the main topic of conversation for most people. In the factory where Alice worked all the talk at dinnertime was about how the Hun were due a good thrashing.

Alice and Sarah turned their attention on Sophy. She blushed and pouted defensively as she was caught out exchanging a significant stare with Danny.

Danny suddenly leapt up and strolled the few yards over towards them.

‘Wanna take a boat out?’ He directed that exclusively at Sophy. ‘I got the money to pay for it,’ he added with gruff persuasion.

Alice glanced at her sister, expecting to hear Sophy tell him where he could stick his boat and the oars too. But after a moment, and looking bashful, Sophy sprung up and, with a mumble for the girls, went off with him towards the water’s edge. Alice rolled onto her stomach and watched them. Danny helped Sophy get in then they were off and he was having more success than his brother had managed in getting going into deep water. Soon they had caught up with the little craft carrying Geoff and Herbert.

The boy from the Land, stranded alone on the grass, sent Alice and Sarah a hopeful look. But getting no encouragement he obviously came to the conclusion he’d be wasting his time. He got up and slouched back towards the park gate.

‘Thought your Sophy weren’t having no more to do with Danny Lovat.’

Alice raised herself up lazily onto an elbow and gazed again at the sight that had prompted Sarah’s sly remark. Danny looked to be heading towards a secluded part of the lake sheltered from prying eyes by low branches that in places skimmed the still water.

‘Bet Sophy’s glad she weren’t expecting after all. She’d better hope she can keep it that way.’

Alice continued plucking grass stalks and chewing on them. She ignored Sarah’s deliberate comment. She wasn’t getting into that conversation with anyone. Of course, Sarah had known about Sophy thinking she was pregnant. Everyone who’d been home in Campbell Road that Sunday dinnertime had known about Sophy thinking Danny Lovat had got her into trouble. The fight between the two families had been furious enough for the noise to carry out to Highgate Hill. But Alice had never confirmed or denied anything to anyone about it. And now, even her mum had mellowed a bit over it all. Since Margaret Lovat had helped Tilly clean Sophy up they’d started to talk again. Her sister Beth had done a bit of babysitting for the Lovats to earn ha’pennies and Margaret and Bert had started turning up again to the Saturday night singsongs around the piano.

Although the families were no longer at loggerheads Alice was nevertheless rather annoyed that Sophy had gone off so readily with Danny. Clearly she still had a yen for him despite the way he’d treated her, and she wasn’t able to resist when he paid her a bit of attention. Alice felt regretful that she’d not got up and followed them and told Danny Lovat that he’d better treat Sophy right this time.

‘Did you get taken on at the biscuit factory?’ she asked to change the subject. If Sarah continued probing and hinting an argument was sure to erupt between them and Alice felt too warm and lethargic to get involved in any of that. Ever since Alice had started full-time work Sarah had been keen to get a proper job too. But although Ginny Whitton was keen to appropriate Sarah’s part-time earnings from odd jobs she was reluctant to let her youngest daughter be too in dependent. Sarah was the only child left at home now, and Ginny wanted her to be on hand to do her fetching and carrying. Only on odd occasions when she was desperate – usually for a bottle of medicine, as she called it – could Ginny be seen outside the house, hobbling up the road towards the off licence.

‘I didn’t even go for an interview,’ Sarah said sulkily. ‘Me mum put the block on it. Said she’d get the truancy officer on me if I took on full-time. She’d do it too, the cow. Still got me doorsteps in Tollington Park. I did three this morning.’ She looked at Alice. ‘Your Beth got any spare she don’t want to do? I could use another couple to boost me takings.’

Alice briefly shook her head. ‘What will you do when you get to fourteen and she still won’t let you get a proper job?’

‘I’m gonna be off, that’s what I’m gonna do!’ Sarah said emphatically. ‘Ain’t staying with the mad old bag and livin’ off charity ‘n’ scraps forever. ’S’not fair. It’s time Connie or Louisa come back and took a turn with her. I don’t see why I should be the one looking after her till she pegs it.’

Alice sat up. She put her arms around her knees and rested her sharp little chin on them. ‘Is Connie really going to marry that copper?’

‘Dunno. They’re meant to be getting engaged, but that don’t mean nuthin’. No plans for a wedding been made as far as I know. She don’t like his people. All airs ‘n’ graces. Yet she said they’ve not got much to brag about.’

‘At least she got away from The Bunk,’ Alice remarked reflectively.

‘Yeah. Can’t blame her for that, even if she is with a rozzer.’

‘You’ll be a bridesmaid if it’s a fancy do,’ Alice said with a grin. ‘You’ll get to wear a frilly frock and hat ‘n’ all that.’

Sarah scowled unhappily at the thought.

‘Don’t want to imagine how your Louisa’d suit a frilly frock and hat though.’ Alice began to chuckle as she imagined Sarah’s fat bruiser of a sister kitted out all dainty.

‘Bleedin’ hell! What a fright!’ Sarah gasped and joined in with Alice’s increasingly uproarious laughter.

‘Geoff’s on his way back with Herbert.’ Alice wiped her streaming eyes and grinned. ‘Looks like the boat’s home ‘n’ dry after all.’ She watched as the two boys jumped lithely onto dry land.

‘I reckon Geoff’s sweet on you.’ Sarah looked at Alice. ‘I reckon you ‘n’ ’im are going to be walking out together soon.’

‘Don’t be daft.’ Alice blushed. ‘He’s me friend . . . like you.’ She turned her head away from Sarah’s astute gaze and met Geoff’s eyes. A pleasant little sensation rippled through her as he smiled.

‘I reckon he’d like to be more’n yer friend. You’d best hope he ain’t like his brother with the girls, or you’ll be sorry, like your sister was.’

‘He’s nothing like Danny.’ A firm shake of Alice’s head stressed that. ‘He’s much nicer than Danny. Generous ‘n’ all, he is. Treated me ‘n’ Sophy to something to eat in Blackstock Road last Friday when me mum was on the warpath. She had every penny off us both to square her rents for Mr Keane. Cheek she’s got! She came looking for us after work before we could spend any. Said she’d give us a bit back in the week but she’s not.’

‘Well, he would do, wouldn’t he?’

‘Eh?’ Alice said.

‘Geoff was showing off ’cos he’s keen on you.’

‘Oh, shut up!’ Alice said irritably. The thought of her and Geoff as sweethearts . . . well, it was daft. As far as she was concerned, she was never marrying anyone tainted by The Bunk. Not even someone as nice as Geoff Lovat. She was going to work hard and save as much as she could and escape to clean air and flowers in the garden.

Besides, Alice impressed on herself, she didn’t have time to bother with romance. What occupied her thoughts was getting better work than she had at the toy factory. Not that she was unhappy there. Although the work was demanding and boring her colleagues were nice enough and she’d struck up quite a friendship with Annie Foster. Annie had helped her no end when she’d first started and had found keeping up with the production rate difficult and the machinery cumbersome to use.

Constantly in Alice’s thoughts was the interesting rumour she’d heard that a new factory was opening up in Isledon Road to make stuff to do with the war. She’d heard that there might be jobs going soldering hand-grenade cases. She’d also heard that the pay was likely to be about twelve shillings. That was more than she was getting in the toy factory. She might still be young but she knew she was an experienced factory hand now. If she needed a reference she was sure that Mr Wright would give her one. She’d worked hard and kept her nose clean. She’d seen a nice skirt and blouse down in Chapel Street market. She’d had enough of her mum buying her stuff second hand. If she was old enough to work full-time she was old enough to buy her own clothes.

‘Bleedin’ hot!’ Geoff exclaimed then flung himself down beside Alice on the grass.

Herbert sat down too before lying back and shielding his eyes with his arm. ‘We goin’ off to the flicks this afternoon?’ he mumbled against his sleeve to Geoff.

‘Nah,’ Geoff replied, squinting into the distance. ‘It’ll be sweltering in the fleapit on a day like this.’

‘We were just saying,’ Alice ribbed him, ‘hope you two ain’t about to apply for a job in the navy. You’d sink ships.’

‘Weren’t that bad,’ Geoff jovially protested. ‘Got back on dry land alright. Anyhow Dan can be skipper.’ He concentrated his narrowed gaze on the spot in the lake where his brother was smoothly rowing. ‘He looks like he’s got the hang of it alright.’

‘That ain’t all he’s got the ’ang of by the looks of it.’ Herbert smirked insinuatingly. He peered from under his arm at Alice. ‘Your sister don’t never learn, then.’

Alice jumped up. She didn’t like Herbert much at the best of times. She remembered him sticking his oar in on the day that Louisa had set about Sarah over her missing blouse. ‘You want to mind your own business, Banksie,’ she said. She looked at Sarah. ‘I’m going to walk down to the water and wait for Sophy. Coming?’

‘What for?’ Sarah sighed and used a hand to fan her warm face. ‘Be better off waiting here in the shade. We’ll get roasted by the sun.’

Alice knew that was true but she simply wanted to avoid any more hints or questions concerning her sister and Danny Lovat and what they thought they were playing at, considering all the trouble they’d caused.

‘See you later then,’ she said and started to walk off towards the water.

Geoff levered himself up. He fell into step beside Alice. Obliquely she was aware that Sarah had got up too and was following them, probably to avoid being left alone with Herbert.

‘Me mum’ll kill her if she finds out she’s knockin’ about with him again,’ Alice suddenly burst out in a low hiss and slanted Geoff an angry look. ‘She’s a bloody fool going off with him like that!’

‘He ain’t exactly using his head either,’ Geoff said quietly. ‘P’raps he’s just got something he wants to say to her and that’s why he’s took her off alone.’

‘What? Like sorry?’ Alice suggested sarcastically.

‘Yeah . . . like sorry,’ Geoff replied. ‘I know he is and I know ‘n’ all he wouldn’t have the guts to do it with all of us around.’

‘D’you think that’s it, then?’

Geoff nodded. ‘Yeah . . . I do. He says he’s going down the recruiting office to volunteer. Dunno if he was being serious or larkin’ about.’

‘He must be larkin’ about,’ Alice scoffed. ‘He’s not yet seventeen. They won’t take him till he’s nineteen.’

‘Well, he’s not going to say his right age, is he?’ Geoff gently pointed out. ‘He could pass for quite a bit older than he is. Peter Slater out of the Land who works down the market with Dan got took on. He’s sixteen and he’s already been over Woolwich Common on drill.’

‘You look as old as Danny.’ Alice glanced at Geoff, her expression solemn, an ache tightening beneath her ribs. ‘Are you going down the recruiting office too?’

‘Not sure yet. What I do know is that there’s not much in a shit hole like Campbell Bunk to stay put for, except me family ‘n’ friends . . . like you.’

‘You’ve got a good job,’ Alice said quickly, hoping to dissuade him from going to enlist. ‘You’ll get on and get out of The Bunk. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to get on and get out.’