An Orphan’s Courage. Cathy Sharp

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СКАЧАТЬ she’s better orf wiv you any road,’ she said and stopped crying. ‘I’ll bring ’er fings round then …’

      She’d seemed ashamed of herself as she left, but when she’d brought the old clothes round later she’d been in a temper again, and had obviously decided that she would dispose of the better clothes that her daughter possessed.

      Jinny was nearing the market in Petticoat Lane. The thought of the ten shillings in her purse was so exciting that she could hardly contain herself as she wandered from stall to stall, keeping her hand in her pocket to protect it from wandering fingers that might try to rob her. Pickpockets frequented the various lanes that housed the several markets in the area; all kinds of merchandise was sold in these lanes, second-hand clothes, shoes, and better clothes, as well as crockery; leather and cloth bags, straw hats, curios, and a variety of other goods in the lane itself, but in the next streets there were caged birds, food stalls, rags and pens containing rabbits and small livestock, like one-day-old chicks and ducks.

      Jinny lingered by a stall selling new clothes. She looked through a rail of skirts, none of which were more than ten shillings, and found a tweed one she liked a lot, but what she really needed was a new blouse.

      ‘Sell yer that fer seven bob if yer want it, luv,’ the stallholder said and winked at Jinny. He had a nice smile and she didn’t feel in the least threatened. She was tempted, but knew she needed a blouse more than another skirt.

      ‘I like it, but I need a blouse,’ she admitted. ‘Perhaps another week – if I get my job …’

      ‘Yer can ’ave it two bob down and half a crown a week,’ the trader offered. ‘Yer’ve got an ’onest face, luv.’

      ‘Thanks,’ Jinny said and smiled. ‘I need to see how much I can get a blouse for first – and maybe I’ll come back …’

      ‘Maybe you’ll win lots of money on Ernie’s new Premium Bonds,’ he said and grinned at her. ‘I’m gonna buy one fer a quid next month and if I win the big prize I’ll be rich – and then I’ll give all me customers half price …’

      He nodded and Jinny moved off, passing the stalls selling new blouses, most of which would take the whole of her ten shillings and more, to the second-hand stalls further down. In the previous street the goods shown were much worn and unwashed, but on one stall with a notice proclaiming the goods were nearly new, the clothes were hung on hangers and nicely presented.

      Jinny saw some lace blouses and went to look. She immediately saw two pretty ones that she liked; one was yellow voile with little white spots and the other was cream silk and had a lace frill at the cuffs and tiny pearl buttons. Both looked as if they might have been new, and she looked at the price tags with some apprehension. They were priced at six shillings each – which meant she could afford one of them and still put a deposit on the skirt.

      ‘Do you like ’em?’ The young woman came round from the back of the stall with a friendly smile. ‘They’re a bargain they are – cost you two guineas each new they would.’

      ‘They look as if they were expensive,’ Jinny agreed. ‘Is there anything wrong with them?’

      ‘Nah, they’re perfect, and I washed ’em meself,’ the girl said proudly. She was wearing a full skirt, pretty blouse and white bobby socks with winkle-picker shoes. ‘I’m good at things like that – you ’ave to be careful with real silk …’

      ‘Are they both silk?’ Jinny asked, feeling a flutter of excitement, because she’d thought they were lovely without knowing what they were. ‘Why did the woman who owned them sell them?’

      ‘She ’ad a baby and they wouldn’t fit – ’sides, she’s got loads of money … she was tellin’ me she were at Wimbledon when Althea Gibson beat Angela Mortimer. I ’eard it on the radio, but I’d love to ’ave been there – wouldn’t you?’

      ‘Oh, I’ve never thought about it … I did play tennis at school, but I wasn’t very good.’ Jinny touched the material of the silk blouses reverently. ‘I’d like them both but I can only afford one,’ she said hesitantly. ‘I’m not sure which to choose …’

      ‘How much ’ave yer got?’

      ‘Eight shillings to spend on a blouse … I need two for something else,’ Jinny said and took the money from the purse in her pocket. ‘I think I’ll ’ave the cream one …’ she decided but before the stallholder could act someone snatched the money from Jinny’s hand and started running. ‘My money …’ she cried and started after him. ‘He’s pinched my money …’

      People stared but made no attempt to stop the rogue from fleeing through the crowded market. He was getting away from her and Jinny’s heart sank as she saw him disappearing into the throng. The money Nellie had given her had gone and she wasn’t likely to see it again, and that meant she couldn’t buy anything. Tears pricked her eyes and she felt such a fool for holding the money out so eagerly to show the stallholder. What an idiot. She should’ve waited until the blouse was wrapped and kept a tight hold on it. Feeling miserable, Jinny turned away, knowing that she’d lost her money and there was nothing she could do.

      Retracing her steps, she went back to the stall selling the blouses and almost in tears told the girl that she couldn’t buy either of them.

      ‘If you’ve got them next week, I’ll buy one – if I get my new job …’

      ‘Wanted it to make a good impression I expect?’

      ‘Yes, but my school …’ Jinny broke off as a hand clutched her arm and she turned to see a somewhat out-of-breath Micky Smith. He grinned as she stared at him and handed her the ten-shilling note he was holding. ‘What …?’

      ‘Sorry it took me so long to get ’im,’ Micky said, looking proud of his achievement. ‘I didn’t realise straight away what he’d done and then someone said you’d been robbed. I managed to get it off him but he got away … I’ll find ’im though and I’ll make ’im sorry …’

      ‘You got my money back?’ Jinny was disbelieving and then overwhelmed. ‘That’s so kind …’ She choked as the tears became very real. ‘Thanks. I can buy my blouse now …’

      ‘You can have the two for nine bob,’ the girl said. ‘I reckon you deserve it after a nasty turn like that. I don’t like thieves. They nick things off the stall if me and Dad don’t keep an eye out.’ She smiled at Micky. ‘You was brave and clever to get that back, Mick.’

      ‘Yeah,’ he agreed, his grin widening as the purchase went ahead and Jinny parted with the note for her paper bag and a shilling change. ‘Be seein’ yer, Maisie. Tell yer father I’ve got a bit of business fer ’im later …’

      ‘Righto,’ Maisie said and looked pleased as Jinny took her purchases and moved off, Micky at her side. ‘I’ll see yer later then …’

      Micky nodded but didn’t look back at her. He walked with Jinny as she moved away. ‘The bugger didn’t hurt yer, did he? I wish I’d seen him sooner …’

      ‘No, I’m all right,’ Jinny said. ‘I’m going for a job interview tomorrow at St Saviour’s, and I needed a new blouse. I was just deciding which to buy and got my money out too quick – and he snatched it before I knew he was there.’

      ‘Probably СКАЧАТЬ