The Boy with the Latch Key

June giggled nervously. She was in awe of Betty, who was bold and daring and didn’t seem to fear anyone. She felt flattered that the older girl had noticed her and chosen her as her special friend. Betty was already leaving the shop when June felt the hand on her shoulder and was suddenly stopped in her tracks.

‘Betty …’ she cried piteously, but her friend looked back and grinned as she ran off, leaving June to face the anger of the shop manager by herself.

‘You’re in trouble now, girl,’ he said gruffly. ‘I’m holding you responsible for the theft of those lipsticks and you’ll sit quietly in my office until the police come … and it will be better for you if you tell me who the girl was that actually snatched them.’ He paused and frowned at her. ‘I saw what she did and I’ll tell Sergeant Sallis who was to blame – but you’re in serious trouble, girl, and she’s run off and left you to take the blame …’

June looked at him, tears hovering. ‘I want my mum,’ she whispered miserably. ‘I want to go home to my mum …’

‘Oh no, not again,’ Sister Beatrice groaned as Sergeant Sallis pushed June forward and told the sorry tale. It was his second visit of the day and by far the most serious. ‘June, what have you got to say for yourself?’

June hung her head but didn’t speak. Sister Beatrice sighed and looked at her sadly.

‘Don’t you know what kind of a girl she is, June? She isn’t your friend or she would’ve stayed with you and helped you – she got you into this trouble and you’re very lucky not to be sent to a remand home. If it happens again, I shan’t be able to stop the police bringing a case against you …’

‘I’m sorry. It was just a lipstick …’

‘At least four,’ Sister Beatrice shook her head. ‘Go along and have your tea, but remember this is your last chance …’

She stared at the police officer in exasperation as the door closed behind June. ‘She isn’t a bad child – it’s that Betty Goodge.’

‘I’ve spoken to Miss Saunders about her and she’s having her sent on to the remand centre. Apparently, she gave her one last chance – and now she’ll have time to repent at leisure …’

‘Do some of them ever learn? I don’t think even we could have helped that girl – and she’s certainly had no understanding or love next door …’

‘Miss Saunders doesn’t see things the way you do, Sister. It will be a sorry day if her kind ever takes over completely – they don’t seem to know the meaning of compassion; it’s all morals and rules with that lot.’

‘Yes, I believe you may be right,’ Beatrice said. She was thoughtful as Sergeant Sallis took his leave. June would soon be leaving for Halfpenny House and out of the way of the bad influence from next door, but did she ought to visit the prison and tell June’s mother any of this? Mrs Miller surely had a right to know whatever she’d done … Perhaps she would wait until she had better news to pass on, when June was settled in Essex and doing better. Surely, it couldn’t help to give Mrs Miller bad news, because she must be worried enough as it was …

Ruby replaced her telephone receiver and smiled in satisfaction. After what had happened today, Sister Beatrice wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if she tried to hang on to June Miller. Ruby had rung the Children’s Department as soon as she’d heard and told them she was moving Betty into secure care. Her call to Miss Sampson had turned out to be more worthwhile than she’d hoped, because her supervisor from when she worked in the Children’s Welfare Department had agreed with everything she said; they were alike in more ways than one, though Ruth was a few years older, but neither of them was interested in marriage or men. Ruby suspected that Miss Sampson’s reasons might be different from hers, but it did mean that they got on well, and Ruby took care to consult her about important decisions, even though she was in charge of her girls, within the Department rules.

‘I know that strictly speaking it isn’t my affair, but I felt in the interests of the child I should consult you. In my opinion she has been allowed to run wild for years and even if the mother were not in prison I believe she would be better with a decent family. Otherwise she will end in a remand home like so many others.’

‘You were very sensible to contact me,’ Miss Sampson said primly. ‘I have always thought that St Saviour’s would be better run by someone like you, Ruby – especially now that Angela Adderbury has retired. Sister Beatrice was kept there because a lot of influential people refused to move her, despite my advice. Sister Beatrice is well-meaning, I have no doubt, and I believe she is strict – but I think I shall look into this matter and quite possibly make an order for fostering.’

‘I’m so glad I rang you. I thought you might reprimand me for interfering?’

‘Not at all, Ruby. Did you have anyone in mind for foster parents?’

‘Well, I do know of a couple who have asked about fostering one of my girls. Mr and Mrs Bailey said they wanted to give a child a good home. I explained that my girls are here to be disciplined and could not be considered for fostering or adoption, but then I thought of June …’

‘What kind of people are they?’

‘She is a school teacher and he owns a grocery business; he helps to run a youth club in the evenings. They are both in their thirties and childless – and willing to foster older children, but they did ask for a girl.’

‘They sound ideal,’ Miss Sampson said. ‘Yes, give me their details in writing and I’ll make some inquiries. We are a little short of available foster parents at the moment, so they might very well be suitable.’

‘I am so pleased I rang you now. I was afraid you might think I was interfering in St Saviour’s business.’

‘Not at all, Ruby. You are a woman after my own heart and I trust your judgement. Please keep me informed of anything that attracts your notice.’

Ruby glowed under her superior’s praise. It was exactly what she wanted – for Ruth to notice her and approve. Perhaps it was the first step to a relationship between them … but she still needed to be very careful; she must be sure her affection was returned before she made a suggestion. ‘I’m so glad you agree, because I am sure Sister Beatrice will not …’

‘Well you know my opinion there. Leave it with me, but as soon as I’ve verified this couple, I shall make an order for June Miller to be taken into custody …’

Ruby was feeling elated when she finished her call; Ruth Sampson had thought she’d behaved properly, though Sister Beatrice would almost certainly be furious. She would believe that Ruby had gone beyond her remit and would no doubt be angry to receive an order for one of her children to be taken into care and then fostered. Ruby pushed the thought from her mind. She’d acted in the best interests of the child, which any bystander was entitled to do …

Archie was pleased as he fingered the half-crown in his pocket. Ted Hastings had praised him for his work and rewarded him generously. He’d been so pleased that he’d told Archie he could have the job every Saturday morning if he wanted it.

‘I’ve been lookin’ for a likely lad to work on the stalls,’ he’d said as he handed Archie a plastic mug of tea and a sticky bun. ‘If you keep up the good work I could take you on when you leave school. In time you could be running a stall yourself and you might even own one in time …’

Archie knew that Ted Hastings owned several market stalls. His daughter Maggie ran a stall selling material and she’d been busy the whole morning. Ted had sent Archie over with a cup of tea for her and Maggie had been just as friendly as her father.

‘Thanks, Archie,’ she’d said after he’d told her his name. ‘That’s just what I could do with. I hope you’re going to work for us every week?’

‘Mr Hastings said I can work for him when I leave school,’ Archie said. ‘I could leave next term, but Mum wanted me to stay at school and learn to be something proper – in an office or a mechanic or somethin’ …’

‘Dad says you never get anywhere as a wage-slave,’ Maggie told him. ‘I think you should come and work for us as soon as you leave. You’ll do all right for yourself with us. When Dad takes to someone he looks after them …’

Archie wondered what Mr Hastings would think if he knew his mum was in prison for theft … a theft she hadn’t committed. Perhaps he should have told him, but it wasn’t something he was proud of. He might have believed Archie, but if he didn’t he probably wouldn’t have let him help on the stall.

Archie was just going to have to prove himself, before he told his new friend.

‘Where did you get to all day?’

June’s sulky tones made him turn to look at her. He’d been sitting in the little garden behind St Saviour’s because it was quiet and he wanted to think but now he was suddenly angry.

‘I should think you’re the one who should be telling me that,’ Archie said and stood up. ‘Why did you take those lipsticks? You know Mum would be furious if she thought you’d pinched anything.’

‘I didn’t,’ June said truculently. ‘Betty gave them to me …’

‘But she stole them and you knew what she’d done,’ Archie said. ‘It was stupid, June. Do you want to end up in a remand home like her?’

‘No …’ June looked fit to burst into tears. ‘I want to be at home with Mum but she’s in prison …’

‘Because someone lied about her,’ Archie said. ‘You’ve still got your freedom and it’s not too bad here. Sister Beatrice looks stern but she’s fair – and Wendy is lovely, so are Sally and Nancy. All of them are … We could be in a lot worse places, June.’

‘I know …’ June hung her head. ‘It was Betty. She kept taunting me and I wanted her to like me.’

‘If you want me to like you, just behave. I don’t want you sent off to some remand home. Mum would kill me when she got home. We’ve got to stick together, love – don’t you see?’

‘I’m sorry,’ June said. ‘I wish Mum was here …’

As the tears slipped down her cheeks Archie relented and put his arms about her. ‘It’s all right, June. I’ll look after you. You’ll always have me. I promise …’

CHAPTER 6 (#u03c152e8-2afa-5cba-8aba-68f69720a496)

‘Was it a good film last night?’ Tilly asked as she met Kelly coming into work that evening. ‘My sister Mags wants to see it and I’ve told her she can go with her friends, but I’ve been thinking I’d like to see it myself.’ Tilly’s brother had joined the Army the minute he was old enough and intended it to be his career, but Mags had come to live with Tilly and her husband Terry after their mother had died the previous year. Mrs Mallens had been too fond of the drink and when she caught pneumonia, she hadn’t had the strength to fight it.

‘It was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It came out last year but I hadn’t seen it and I loved it,’ Kelly said. ‘I don’t get to the flicks often, because I work most nights and I’m usually busy at home even if I’m not at work …’