An Orphan’s Courage

‘How are you feeling, Beth?’ Beatrice asked the child.

She glanced nervously at her brother and then said, ‘I’m all right, Sister …’ She hesitated, then, ‘When can we get up and go outside please?’

‘Do you feel you’re ready to go to school, Beth?’

Again the slight hesitation, and then Andy got out of bed wearing his St Saviour’s pyjamas and came to sit on the edge of her bed. ‘We want to go to school, Sister, but … if we tell you where they’ll tell him … and we can’t go back there or he’ll kill us …’

‘The Beast …’ Beth said, her voice trembling and her eyes filling with tears. ‘Tell her, Andy – tell her how he beat us and didn’t give us enough to eat after Mum died …’

‘Is this man your step-father?’ Beatrice asked, her voice sterner than she intended. ‘Let me promise you that if he was the one that beat Andy before you came here, he will not be allowed to have the care of you again.’

‘If the school tells him we’re there he’ll get us on the way back here,’ Andy said and Beatrice saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. Beth’s hand reached for his and he held it tightly. ‘I can stand up to him, Sister – but I don’t want him to hurt Beth again …’

‘Well, you don’t have to go to school just yet. Nancy is our head carer and she will give you a few lessons to do in the mornings until you feel able to return to normal school – but if you can trust me and tell me the name of this man I may be able to have him punished. He should be in prison for what he has done to you.’

‘He would come after us and take us back,’ Andy said. ‘I want to go to school but I can’t protect Beth, because she goes to … the juniors …’

‘Yes, I understand your concerns,’ Beatrice said, treating his opinions with the respect they deserved. ‘Perhaps, if you wished to return to school, I could have a word with your headmaster? I have already spoken to Miss Sampson from the Welfare people about you, Andy, and for the moment she is content to leave you in my care – but the Department would like to investigate your case and punish the man that hurt you …’

Andy shook his head stubbornly, and Beatrice nodded, because she knew that he needed time before he could really trust her. ‘Yes, I do understand. Do you wish to let Beth have her lessons with us for the moment and try to attend school yourself?’

‘Can I think about it, Sister?’

‘Certainly … ah, here is Nurse Rose with your meal. I shall leave you to enjoy it and let you decide what is best. If you felt it was just too dangerous to stay in London, I could send you to Halfpenny House in Essex. It is more modern than we are and the people there are good people. It might be better for you if you fear your step-father’s retribution …’

Andy gave her a long considering look and then inclined his head. ‘I’ll try goin’ to school tomorrow,’ he conceded. ‘It depends on what them people do … but he was given custody of us when Mum died and he lies all the time. He’d say I was making trouble for him out of spite … but he’s a bully and a beast, and we’re never goin’ back there.’

‘Will you believe me when I say I shall do all I can to make sure you stay with us?’

Andy hesitated for some moments and then inclined his head. ‘I trust you – but the Welfare people sent us back to him after we run away when Mum died. He said he would look after us, but he made us do everything; he wouldn’t let Beth go to school and told them she had a cold when they came askin’ why – and he hit me whenever he felt like it, especially when he was drunk.’

Beatrice had heard the story so many times before. It happened time after time, when the children were left to an uncaring relative who drank. She also knew that Andy was speaking the truth when he said that the Welfare people had given them back to their step-father’s care when they’d tried to escape after their mother died. It was their policy to leave children with a relative unless they had reason to believe that person was unfit – and that wasn’t always easy to judge. People were very good at putting on a show when they had a visit from the Children’s Welfare Department.

‘I shall make sure certain people know what this man has done to you – but it would be so much easier if I knew his name.’

‘He’ll just smile and deny it all and they’ll believe him,’ Andy said, ‘and then he’ll know where we are and come after us …’

The fear of the man they called ‘the Beast’ had gone too deep to be erased with vague promises. Beatrice knew she had to talk to someone at the Children’s Department …

Suddenly remembering that she had an appointment with a young woman, Beatrice turned hurried steps towards her office. She was late and she could only hope that Sandra had remembered Jinny Hollis was coming for an interview …

Luckily, Sandra was already there and had given the young woman a cup of tea. She’d been sitting down when Beatrice entered but got to her feet, a faint flush in her cheeks as she said hello. It was obvious that she had nice manners and Beatrice approved. She thought that perhaps they’d been lucky Hannah had recommended the girl and she smiled, inviting her to sit once more.

‘Drink your tea, Miss Hollis. I’ll have one too, Sandra – and then we’ll hear what this young woman has to say …’

Beatrice had just entered her office that afternoon when the telephone rang. Picking it up, she discovered it was Angela Adderbury, the woman who had helped her run St Saviour’s for years and was now helping to run Halfpenny House in Essex.

‘Angela, how nice to hear your voice …’

‘Sister Beatrice, I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to tell you something; it isn’t set in stone yet, but there’s a definite chance that St Saviour’s will be closing next year …’

‘Oh no! This can’t be true … surely they wouldn’t …?’ Beatrice felt the shock hit her like an icy wave. Her heart raced and for a moment she felt a little light-headed.

‘Rest assured that both Mark and I will fight it – but I’ll keep you in touch. For the moment this is confidential but I wanted you to be aware – of course you know there is always a place for you here …’

‘You’re very kind, Angela, but the Board might not agree … besides, my life is here. There are still children in dire need, Angela …’

‘I know and I promise I’ll do everything I can to stop the closure – but I wanted you to reassure you of my support in case the worst happens …’

Beatrice was recovering her composure and decided to change the subject. ‘Thank you for letting me know; now tell me, Angela – how are you and the twins? I see Mark when he’s in London, but it’s ages since I’ve seen you.’

‘Oh, the twins are fine. We took them to Scotland in the Easter holidays and they loved it. Mark is talking of teaching them to ski this winter; he’ll take them to Switzerland I imagine.’

‘That sounds wonderful. Is everything going well at Halfpenny House now? I know you had a few problems …’

‘Some of the older boys took a long time to settle down. One of the carers was too harsh and I think he upset them, but since he was asked to resign things have run smoother. I found a new cook too and the food is better. I’ve introduced a new regime of fresh salads and vegetables … the kids were getting too many suet puddings, chips and fried stuff …’

‘I dare say fresh vegetables are easier to get there than in town?’

‘Yes, and I’ve formed a relationship with some local farmers. It’s much cheaper to buy direct from the farm and fresher too. You must come and stay with us soon, please say you will.’

‘Well, perhaps – just for a day,’ Beatrice said. ‘Oh, I can hear voices at the door … I must go. Please keep me in touch …’

Beatrice replaced the receiver and sat very still staring into space as her heart raced. It was ridiculous, but the news had made her feel quite ill … as if she couldn’t breathe for a moment. How foolish. She’d always known this could happen; it made perfect financial sense for the Board to close St Saviour’s now that they had their modern country home. Still, it had upset her for a moment, but she was fine now, perfectly fine …

CHAPTER 6 (#u5d3cd0a3-984e-521e-9d9e-34dae630d19a)

Jinny felt as if she were walking on air when she finally left St Saviour’s an hour and a half after she’d entered it, having been given a job and shown a nice airy room in the nurses’ home that would be hers for as long as she worked for the orphanage.

The orphanage didn’t look much of a place outside, a bit austere with tiny windows in the attics and scarred grey walls. It had come through the war without suffering a direct hit, but there were cracks in the brick walls and the roof had patches of thick moss, though inside it was much better. You could see several alterations had been done over the years to modernise it, and it was kept lovely and clean. Sister Beatrice had told her it was due for a paint-up and the builders were going to do several much needed repairs.

‘It shouldn’t trouble us too much,’ she’d told Jinny. ‘I’m sure they will keep out of our way as much as possible …’

‘Oh, I’m sure it won’t bother me, Sister,’ she’d said and the nun had smiled a little.

Jinny was now officially one of the ’Alfpenny girls, or angels as a lot of people called the nurses and carers. St Saviour’s of Halfpenny Street was well known to East Enders, and the people who ran it were generally praised in glowing terms. Jinny had been nervous of meeting Sister Beatrice, who was often described as a bit of a dragon, but she’d been a little subdued when she finally arrived late for the interview, after Sandra had already made Jinny feel comfortable and given her a cup of tea in her office. Sister had apologised and the interview had begun somewhat later than expected, but both Sandra and Sister Beatrice had seemed genuine and kind people to Jinny; she’d expected to be put through a lot of difficult questions, but they asked mainly about her family life, and then, only after a few minutes’ pleasant chat, what she wanted to do in the future.

‘I don’t mind cooking and cleaning, and I like sewing,’ Jinny had answered truthfully. ‘I liked reading at school, and writing compositions – but I’m not good at maths, though I can add up and divide, but I can’t work out logarithms and equations and that sort of stuff …’

‘Nor can I,’ Sandra admitted and she’d laughed softly, her blue eyes full of mirth. ‘A part of this job will be helping in the kitchens, the preparation of food, washing up and that sort of thing – also cleaning the children’s dorms, collecting dirty laundry and dealing with it. We have a woman who comes in early to scrub the floors, but bathrooms, changing beds and that sort of chore is what we’d expect from you before you start work in the kitchen, Jinny. In time you may be asked to help with children when they are admitted – and if you have the right sort of patience, reading and playing with the little ones …’

‘Oh …’ Jinny hardly knew what to say, because it all sounded like a dream to her. She was going to get paid for doing things she liked?

‘Does the idea not appeal?’ Sister Beatrice asked and frowned. ‘You’re a little too young to go straight into the job of carer …’

‘Oh no! I mean yes, it does appeal,’ Jinny said and blushed violently. ‘I didn’t think it would be so nice … I mean, do I get paid as well as my room and food just for … doing what you said?’

‘The wage is two pounds fifteen shillings a week, plus your uniforms, your food and your room. You’re expected to keep it clean, but the sheets are done at the laundry with St Saviour’s …’