A Mother’s Sacrifice. Kitty Neale

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СКАЧАТЬ two men, her eyes dark with anger as she pushed the sleeves of her cardigan up to her elbows, which was a sure sign she meant business.

      ‘Billy! Frank! The pair of you, sit at that table, and you had better tell me what’s going on!’

      Frank went to speak but Billy got in first.

      ‘Frank has been seeing that Glenda Jenkins – you know, the one who is married to Harry.’

      ‘It’s not what you think, Mum, honest. We’re just friends,’ Frank quickly protested. He wasn’t prepared for this. Apart from Harry, the last people he wanted to know about him and Glenda were his mother or his brother. He knew his mother would give him an ear bashing about having anything to do with a married woman and as for Billy, well, it was none of his business.

      ‘From what I saw, it looked like more than that,’ said Billy sarcastically.

      ‘I don’t know what you think you clocked, Billy, but I’m telling you, there’s nothing more to me and Glenda than friendship.’

      ‘So you’re saying that you have a “friendship” with Glenda Jenkins, one that I don’t suppose her old man knows anything about. Is that right?’ asked Joyce.

      ‘Yeah, but that’s all there is to it, Mum. Like I said, we’re just mates.’

      ‘Not any more you ain’t! I know all about them Jenkinses, bloody gyppos, the lot of them. He’s a nutter, that Harry. If he finds that you’re seeing his missus he’ll be straight round here and he’ll have your guts for garters! You’ve got to stop seeing her,’ Joyce warned.

      Frank looked at his younger brother, who was smiling slyly, before turning to his mother again. ‘I don’t see why. We’re doing nothing wrong. We just talk, that’s all.’

      ‘In that case, if it’s so innocent, how come her old man knows nothing about it?’

      Frank sighed and said heavily, ‘Because, like Billy, he might get the wrong idea.’

      ‘Anyone would. She’s a married woman and you’re meeting behind her husband’s back. You’ve got to knock it on the head, Frank. If you don’t and Harry Jenkins gets wind of it, as I said, he’ll be round here to give you a kicking. From what I’ve heard about him he might give me a slap too, so stop seeing her, Frank. She ain’t worth it.’

      Frank saw that his mother was wringing her hands in fear and knew that she was right. If Harry found out, he would go berserk and he’d be vying for Frank’s blood. However, his mum was wrong about one thing. Glenda Jenkins was worth it.

      Billy woke up the next morning with a thumping headache. He’d drunk far too much beer the day before, but had felt the need to drown his sorrows after the shock of finding his brother with Glenda. Though his memory was a bit fuzzy, Billy recalled the conversation at the kitchen table with Frank and his mum. He knew that Frank wasn’t prepared to stop seeing Glenda. Nothing his mother had said would change Frank’s mind, so if she couldn’t make him stop, Billy was left with no option other than go to the one person who could – Harry.

      He really didn’t feel like going to work today, not with this stinking hangover, and the cold October morning wasn’t doing anything to encourage him out of the warmth of his bed, but he suddenly felt invigorated and spurred on at the thought of grassing Frank up to Harry.

      The builders were in full swing when he arrived, already fifteen minutes late for work. His foreman had seen him and was shaking his head disapprovingly, but Billy took up his shovel and got stuck in to mixing mortar for the wall that Harry was bricklaying.

      ‘All right, Bill,’ called Harry. ‘You were a bit worse for wear when you left the pub last night. You don’t look much better this morning. I reckon you’re a bloody lightweight who can’t keep up with us men.’ Harry laughed and several of the men around him joined in.

      Yeah, you can laugh now, thought Billy, but you’ll be laughing on the other side of your face soon. He just had to pick the right time to tell him, and by half past twelve that afternoon, much to Billy’s relief, the rain was falling so hard that work was stopped. They headed for the nearest pub, Billy rehearsing his words in his head as they hurried through the downpour. He was nervous about broaching the subject with Harry, worried that the man would lash out at him in anger, but a few pints of stout gave him the Dutch courage that he needed.

      ‘Harry, can I have a word, mate?’ he asked, drawing the man to one side.

      ‘Yeah, go on, Billy, what’s up?’ Harry was in a cheerful mood but Billy knew that what he was about to tell him would change all that.

      ‘Look, I dunno how to say this, but it’s about your Glenda.’

      ‘What about my Glenda?’ asked Harry, his smile suddenly diminishing.

      ‘It’s just that with you being a mate and all, I don’t really wanna have to tell you this, but I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t.’

      ‘Billy, what are you on about? Just spit it out, will you?’ Harry’s tone of voice revealed his loss of patience.

      ‘I’ve seen her, Harry. Seen Glenda out and about with another bloke.’

      Before Billy could say another word, Harry had slammed down his pint glass and had him by the throat up against the pub wall, snarling, ‘What you on about, Billy? What are you trying to say about my Glenda, eh? Reckon she’s a slag, do you?’

      This wasn’t how Billy wanted the conversation to go and he could feel his legs weaken with dread, his voice becoming high-pitched with fear. ‘No, Harry. I ain’t saying that, mate. I’m just saying that I’ve seen her, and the thing is, I know the bloke.’

      The pub had gone quiet, all eyes on them, and then the landlord spoke. ‘Any trouble, take it outside, lads.’

      Harry dropped Billy and yanked on his arm. ‘Outside, now,’ he growled in his ear.

      Billy was almost shoved out of the door and stood with his back against a brick wall as Harry paced in front of him. ‘Harry –’ he began nervously.

      ‘Right then, you’d better tell me what’s going on,’ Harry interrupted, and to Billy’s relief he seemed to have calmed down a bit.

      ‘It’s my brother, Frank. I saw him and Glenda in Battersea Park yesterday. I had a word with him about it and he says they’re just friends, but if you don’t know about it, I think it’s a bit suss.’

      Billy saw the colour drain from Harry’s face and his fists clench at his side.

      ‘Are you sure about this, Billy? My Glenda’s a good woman and, let’s face it, you’ve always had your eye on her. You sure you ain’t a bit jealous and out to cause a bit of bother?’

      Billy had feared that Harry might not believe him so had come prepared. ‘Harry, I wouldn’t lie to you. And the thing is, I found these in Frank’s bedroom. Do you recognise them?’ He took the stolen knickers belonging to Glenda and held them out to Harry.

      Harry grabbed them, crushing the fabric in his hands before he spoke.

      ‘Friends, eh? This brother of yours has obviously been seeing my wife behind my back and he reckons they’re СКАЧАТЬ