East End Angel. Kay Brellend

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СКАЧАТЬ swivelled to see her brother and Davy Wright slouching across the road. Beattie raised a hand in greeting, then headed off towards the corner shop. Kathy knew the middle-aged widow had a soft spot for hungry kids. She also liked a bit of company. Tom had told her before that Beattie Evans had invited him and his friends in to have a cup of tea and a bit of bread and jam when she was feeling generous. All they had to do in return was listen to her nattering on about the olden days until they’d curbed their hunger and could scarper.

      ‘I suppose I’d better get off and see what Tom’s been up to.’ Kathy could see from her brother’s expression that he was torn between acting nonchalant in front of his friend or running up to her. He raised a lazy hand in greeting, leaving it at that.

      Before Kathy had got far, Matilda halted her.

      ‘How’s your sister doing? See anything of Jennifer, do you?’

      ‘Yeah … I see her on and off.’ Kathy smiled faintly. ‘She’s about the same.’

      ‘One day it’ll all come right, you’ll see.’ Matilda gave a kind smile. ‘When you see her next tell her I say hello.’

      ‘I will … thanks,’ Kathy answered gruffly. Matilda had known about the bust-up that Bill Black had caused in their family, as did a good many local people.

      ‘Well, I’d better get inside and sort Reg out something for his tea. He’ll be home soon.’ Matilda gave Kathy’s shoulder a farewell pat. ‘Remember me to yer mum, as well, won’t you?’ flowed back over her stout shoulder as she disappeared inside the dank hallway.

      Tom noticed Davy’s eyes pinned to his sister’s face as she approached. Kathy was pretty, and all the boys, even those like Davy who were a lot younger than she, tended to stare. Some had even made rude comments about her, making him feel awkward.

      ‘Not at work then?’ Tom said gruffly by way of greeting.

      ‘Afternoon off …’ Kathy replied. She gave Davy a smile. He did look different from when she’d last seen him about a year ago. His complexion was spotty and a dark film covered his top lip as though a moustache wanted to sprout. He certainly looked big enough to be out earning a living. By comparison, her brother seemed like a schoolboy.

      ‘Shame you ain’t got yer uniform on.’ Davy leered at her. ‘I’m feeling right dizzy, Nurse, and could do with you examining me all over.’

      ‘Ha-ha.’ Kathy gave him a pronounced sickly smile. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard something similar from a brash male. Davy Wright was just the youngest to try it on and she felt disappointed that he had. Matilda was right: the lad had changed, and not for the better.

      ‘Shut up,’ Tom whacked his friend’s arm, shoving him away. ‘Goin’ home,’ he muttered, and started off towards Paddington Street with Kathy, ignoring Davy making a lewd gesture.

      ‘Davy older than you, is he?’ Kathy asked.

      ‘Only six months,’ Tom replied defensively. He knew what his sister meant: he appeared far younger than his friend now Davy’s voice had broken and he’d started growing whiskers. ‘Mum sent you round to get me, did she?’ he asked sullenly.

      ‘It was my idea to come round to find you ’cos I missed you last time I came over to Islington.’ Kathy sensed her brother’s moodiness.

      ‘Well, don’t go asking me loads of questions ’cos I ain’t telling you stuff so you can tell her.’

      ‘What’s got your goat?’ Kathy grabbed his arm, halting him. ‘I’ve only come to say hello because I’m off back to Whitechapel soon. Wish I’d not bothered now.’

      Tom had the grace to blush. He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, walking on. ‘It’s just … I’ve had enough of Mum always going on at me,’ he threw over a shoulder.

      ‘Not surprised she’s going on at you if you’re always so bloody tetchy. When you leaving school?’ Kathy asked. ‘I reckon you need a job.’

      ‘Soon as I can.’ Tom brightened. ‘Dad said I can go and work for him.’

      Kathy muttered beneath her breath. Her father was a criminal who fenced stolen goods for a living and she was amazed that he’d carried on his dodgy activities for so long without serving a spell in prison. As far as she knew, he’d never had any other sort of work and had been ducking and diving since he got demobbed at the end of the Great War. Her mum excused what Eddie did by saying it had been the only work he could find at the time. A multitude of men had returned home to compete for employment. Her father had never once discussed in Kathy’s hearing what he did, but she knew the war had ended a long time ago and her father had had plenty of time to sort himself out a decent career. Eddie carried on because the money he made was far more than a regular job would pay.

      ‘Mum knows all about the plan for you to go into the family business, does she?’ Kathy tilted her head to read her brother’s expression.

      ‘No, she don’t! And don’t you go telling her. Dad said to keep quiet about it ’cos she’d give us both earache. She reckons I should get a job as a clerk.’ Tom’s top lip curled, displaying his lack of enthusiasm for a desk job.

      Kathy stifled a giggle at the idea that her brother would be accepted for such a position. ‘And what about Davy? Is he getting a job?’

      ‘He’s got a job,’ Tom blurted, then looked flustered.

      ‘What’s he doing then?’ Kathy prompted.

      ‘He’s learning to be a croupier at the weekend over on the corner there.’ Tom jerked his head at the Paddington Street junction. ‘Sometimes he’s dogger-out for the men instead, but he don’t get as much doing that. Earns a packet sometimes when he gets the pitch to himself.’ Tom added enviously, ‘Wish I could have a crack at it.’

      Kathy knew that illegal street gambling had been going on at that spot for decades. She was also aware that some local kids earned tips acting as lookouts for the players. The coppers who patrolled the area soon put a stop to the illicit activities and were known to confiscate the proceeds, if they managed to lay their hands on it and escape. The gamesters in the Bunk didn’t take kindly to losing their stakes and were not averse to cutting up rough to ensure they didn’t.

      ‘You’d better steer well clear of it or all hell will break loose when Mum and Dad find out.’ Kathy sighed. Her father might encourage her brother to join him ducking and diving but he’d be dead set against his son getting involved in anybody else’s shenanigans.

       CHAPTER TEN

      Kathy had been waiting glumly at the bus stop for ten minutes when she noticed a posh vehicle slowing down at the traffic lights. She frowned, wondering why the car seemed familiar. The driver turned his head and saw her just as she was about to look away. He obviously recognised her too because he cocked his head, smiling, then pointed, indicating he would pull over.

      The penny dropped and Kathy felt a bit flustered. It was nice of him to stop, she supposed, but it wasn’t really necessary. Nevertheless, from politeness, she lost her place in the queue to approach him. She recalled he’d introduced himself СКАЧАТЬ