Kay Brellend 3-Book Collection: The Street, The Family, Coronation Day

‘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.’

‘Can’t see me mum ‘n’ dad being pleased to see me get on ‘n’ get out,’ Geoff remarked wryly. ‘Not when they’ve got four little ’uns and none of them close to leaving school. They’ll want me ‘n’ Dan to hang around fer years yet.’

Alice nodded slowly. She knew that was true. Her parents – especially her mum – had the same view on things. They wanted their older kids – the ones bringing in a bit of pay – to stick around for ever so they could put all their earnings in the family kitty.

They had reached the water’s edge and both stood staring out over its glittering grey surface. The boat with Danny and Sophy glided closer and beached some yards away. With self-conscious courtesy Danny helped Sophy alight.

‘We’re goin’ off down Blackstock to get something to eat,’ Geoff yelled at his brother.

‘I never said I would, Geoff Lovat,’ Alice shrewishly reminded him.

‘They’ll come too,’ he said with a private smile for her. ‘Then we can find out all what’s goin’ on between them.’ Geoff looked back at Sarah and Herbert who were dawdling about behind, looking bored. ‘Best get rid of them two or we won’t find out nuthin’. Dan’ll clam up.’

‘Sarah’s me friend. I can’t just tell her to get lost,’ Alice protested.

‘Tell her you’re going home. We’ll take a detour up The Bunk then when her and Banksie’s shook off, we’ll keep on going and find out what these two are looking so pleased about.’

Alice took a look at her sister and knew straight off that indeed she was looking secretly pleased with herself, so she must be up to something. Sophy’s eyes were shining and she could barely tear her gaze from Danny’s face.

‘Alright. We’ll get rid of Banksie and Sarah,’ Alice agreed, ‘and carry on down the caff.’ As Geoff turned to walk back she fell into step beside him. ‘If Sophy says her ‘n’ Danny are walking out again me mum’ll have her guts fer garters. Then after that she’ll murder him,’ she warned Geoff, not wholly joking.

‘Certainly don’t look like he’s said he’s off fighting the Hun. Your sister looks right happy about something.’

‘She did say … a while ago … that she reckoned he deserved a good thumping. Perhaps she’s hoping the Germans’ll give it to him.’ With that parting shot Alice speeded up and, linking arms with Sarah, the little party proceeded towards the park gate.

Chapter Fourteen (#ulink_c9d774ee-5996-59c1-a251-8e4d0c7ed84f)

‘You said you was goin’ away ’cos you was joinin’ up.’

‘Well, I ain’t. I’m goin’ away to train ’orses. Can help fight the war that way ‘n’ all. Transport’s as important as soldiers.’

The two brothers locked eyes in combatant stares across the table in Kenny’s café in Blackstock Road.

‘What are you going to tell Mum ‘n’ Dad?’ Geoff hissed at Danny. ‘All hell’s gonna break loose when they find out. They’re relying on you putting in the pot.’