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

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СКАЧАТЬ was slanted up at him then she was on her way and uncomfortably aware that he’d turned to watch her walking away.

      ‘Wot the fuck d’you want?’

      Jimmy carried on up the stairs towards his wife’s rooms. ‘That ain’t a nice way to say hello,’ he sneered, sending a sidelong look up at Tilly. ‘Specially when you ain’t seen me for a while. Bet you missed me, ain’t you, Til?’

      ‘Yeah … like I missed getting smallpox,’ Tilly snapped. ‘Why don’t you just turn around and piss off.’

      ‘Why don’t you just mind yer own business?’ Jimmy responded. ‘You know if you don’t, I’ll have to make you … just like before. Remember?’ A menacing smile followed the warning and he stopped climbing the stairs to pose against the banister. ‘Y’know sometimes, gel, I think it’s why you goad me so much. You’re after a repeat performance, ‘n’t yer?’

      Tilly’s features hardened into a mask of utter loathing. ‘You disgust me. But you’ll never beat me down so you can poke yer threats right up yer arse. Fran’s me sister ‘n’ I’ll look out for her when needs be. We’re family … something you’ll never be, you evil bastard.’

      As the door to her room opened and Jack came out Tilly fell silent. Jack’s features set into stone when he noticed who was talking to his wife.

      ‘Alright, Jack?’ Jimmy asked chummily as though he’d never dream of threatening the fellow’s wife.

      ‘I was till I saw you.’

      ‘That ain’t nice, Jack,’ Jimmy protested in a whine. ‘We’re brothers-in-law, you ‘n’ me.’

      ‘Yeah …’ Jack intoned. ‘And I wish we weren’t ’cos I’ve had more’n enough trouble with you being part of me family.’

      ‘Bleedin’ hell,’ Jimmy huffed, all indignation. ‘I come to see me kids and hand over a bit of me wages and get nothing but aggravation off the pair of yers.’

      As though she’d heard the magical word wages Fran appeared in the doorway. For a moment all four people stood still and silent.

      ‘Come on,’ Jack told Tilly firmly. ‘We ain’t getting involved in this. I’m off to work. You’re up the shop. We ain’t got no milk or tea. Beth’ll look out for Lucy.’

      With that Jack caught his wife by the arm and hurried her down the stairs. Surprisingly, Tilly allowed him to steer her past Jimmy without incident despite her fingers curling at her sides. It was only when they reached the bottom of the flight that she broke free of her husband’s restraint and wheeled about. She simply looked up at Fran. ‘Alright?’ The single word was heavy with significance.

      A nod was all the answer she got from her sister.

      ‘I’ll be back shortly … don’t you worry about that.’ Tilly turned and went out with Jack.

       Chapter Seventeen

      ‘Is Jack thinking of going down the recruitin’ office and volunteering?’

      ‘What makes you say that?’ Tilly thrust one end of the damp sheet at Fran and backed off with the other until the linen was pulled tight. Deftly they folded and came together. Tilly took the neat rectangle and dropped it into the basket at her feet.

      ‘Jimmy heard it on the grapevine,’ Fran said, and plonked her hands on her hips while waiting for Tilly to unpeg the final sheet hanging limp on the line.

      ‘Oh … yeah?’ Tilly scoffed as she gave an expanse of cotton to her sister and they repeated the process of stretching and halving. ‘Where’d he hear that? Couldn’t have been off the recruiting sergeant ’cos the weasel ain’t got it in him to turn up there himself and take the king’s shillin’.’

      ‘Yeah … well, I’m glad of that ‘n’ all.’ In pique Fran let go of the sheet and let Tilly fold it on her own. ‘Jim’s a family man. He’s just being sensible, stopping home and lookin’ out for his own. What’s needed is bachelors in the army.’ Fran’s defensive stance wilted. ‘Why are you always so against him? Way you carry on you’d think that you ‘n’ Jack never had a cross word between you.’ She gave her sister a significant stare. ‘I heard the two of yers last night going at it like the clappers.’ Fran’s hands again found her hips. ‘Kept me awake half the night.’ That peevish complaint drew no response from Tilly. ‘Anyhow, Jimmy’s been good lately, giving me regular money every week. He took the boys boatin’ on the lake down Finsbury last weekend.’

      A snort of derisive laughter met that. ‘Well, if he’s trying that hard the old bag’s thrown him out fer sure.’

      ‘You’re wrong!’ Fran cried, quite agitated. ‘He’s still living with her. She won’t let him go, he says. Keeps causing a right scene when he says he’s moving out and coming back home where he belongs.’

      ‘I reckon she wants shot of him, first chance she gets. And he knows it. Soon as he can’t ponce off her no more he’ll be back and running you ragged instead to keep him in booze ‘n’ bacca.’

      ‘He’s changed …’

      ‘Ain’t listening to none o’ that crap, Fran,’ Tilly announced bluntly. ‘Heard it all before so don’t tell me no more ’cos we’re gonna end up arguing.’ Tilly contemptuously clicked two fingers. ‘He ain’t worth that as far as I’m concerned.’

      For a few minutes the small back yard crackled with tension. Tilly turned back to Fran. ‘If you must know Jack has said a few things about enlisting. I put him straight on it. He’s needed here, with me ‘n’ the kids. He reckons if things over there ain’t better after Christmas he’s going. Always been patriotic and brave, has my Jack. Them sodding Kitchener posters stuck all over the place don’t help. Your country needs you!’ She spat. ‘Perhaps it do; but when you live in The Bunk your family’s needs are greater. So Jack still ain’t going, and that’s that.’

      ‘Well … now you understand how I feel about my Jimmy stoppin’ around with me and our boys.’

      ‘No I don’t,’ Tilly responded flatly. She scooped up the washing basket overflowing with damp cotton. ‘Gotta get going and get me rents collected.’ She shoved Fran’s washing at her then made for the back door. ‘I’d get that lot ironed if I was you and get it back over Highgate before the kids get home from school.’

      Geoff looked out of the window of Kenny’s café at the steady drizzle.

      Alice shook his arm to get his attention. ‘Why don’t you try and get a job too at the new factory that’s just opened up? Me and Annie are going to be drilling and tapping. But best of all we can get night work. Good pay for night work. We heard they might pay up to sixteen shillings to start off.’ She clattered her cup to rest on its saucer. ‘Bet the pay’s better than what you get in Milligan’s. Be nice to have good money for Christmas.’

      Geoff wrinkled his nose. ‘Nah, I just got a rise. Me wages ain’t far short of fifteen shillings and I’ve still got me perks to take into account on top. Anyhow, don’t fancy factory work, nor working nights. Might tell me dad though. If he can sit at a bench drillin’ it might do him. He used to do night work in a factory СКАЧАТЬ