let’s have a look at this bracelet you’re selling. My old mum loves a bit of gold and her birthday’s coming up soon,’ George said, clapping his hands together.
Sarah took the bracelet from her pocket and handed it to George. ‘Honest, I did find it. Tommy spotted it down on the river banks off the bridge. I didn’t steal it, I wouldn’t.’
‘It’s all right, I believe you, thousands wouldn’t,’ George said. ‘Tell you what though, I’ve never seen anything quite as fancy as this. It must be worth a fortune. How much do you want for it?’
Sarah knew it was worth much more than she could ask, but she didn’t care. She’d take whatever she could get. She pulled a figure from the air and answered, ‘Ten pounds.’
George coughed and for a moment, Sarah thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head.
‘Well, I wouldn’t normally spend that much money on a pressie for my mum, but—’
Sarah quickly interrupted, worried she was about to lose her sale. ‘Five pounds,’ she said.
‘Whoa, slow down, girl. I was going to say—’
Once again Sarah cut in. ‘OK, three pounds but that’s my final offer.’
George laughed. ‘You drive a hard bargain. Tell you what, I’ll give you a fiver for it. That way, you’ve got it sold and I’ve got me mother a bit of tom that she’s going to love. You’d be hard pushed to get rid of it round here. People ain’t got that sort of money going spare. You’d be better off going up town to flog something like this.’
‘No, a fiver is fine. Deal,’ Sarah said, relieved she would at last be able to feed herself and Tommy.
George handed Sarah a five-pound note. She’d never had so much money in her hand and studied the white piece of paper with its writing in black ink. It said, ‘Bank of England’ in fancy swirly letters and underneath was written, ‘promise to pay the bearer the sum of five pounds’. Sarah wasn’t sure if the money was real, and couldn’t afford to be ripped off.
‘What’s this you’re trying to fob me off with? Do you think I’m stupid, George?’
‘What do you mean? Of course I ain’t trying to fob you off. That there’s good money,’ George replied.
His tone of voice made Sarah think she’d hurt his feelings with her accusation, but she had to be sure she had real money. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Truth is, I’ve never seen a fiver before and didn’t know they looked like this. If I’m honest, I’d much rather you paid me in coins.’
‘Give it here,’ George said, tutting. ‘I don’t know, you women, there’s no pleasing you sometimes.’ He chuckled.
As George was sorting out some coins from his money belt, Tommy jumped up from the crate he’d been looking through. ‘Can I have this please? It’s really brilliant.’
George and Sarah looked at the man-sized khaki army jacket that Tommy was holding up, and both laughed. It almost reached to his feet.
‘If that’s what you want, but better check with your sister first.’
‘Can I, Sarah … please?’
Sarah saw the delight on her brother’s face. It wasn’t as if the child had much to be happy about, and she supposed it would at least keep him warm. ‘Yes, all right. Just make sure you thank George.’
Tommy dropped the blanket to the floor and put on the jacket, then spontaneously ran and threw his arms around George’s legs. ‘Thanks. This is the best coat I’ve ever had!’
‘You’re welcome,’ the man said, ruffling Tommy’s brown hair.
Sarah picked up the blanket, roughly folding it while thinking that George looked quite moved by Tommy’s display of affection. She saw him smile when Tommy began marching back and forth.
‘He’s a proper nice lad. A real credit to your mum and dad,’ George said.
‘Yeah, he is. But it’s just us two, no mum and dad.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say anything out of turn. Well, you’re doing a fine job of looking after him.’
Sarah didn’t think she was and the guilt jabbed at her again. She thought she might burst into tears, but before she could, George handed her the coins and she croaked, ‘Well, it was nice meeting you, but now I’ve got this money I can pay you for the coats.’
‘Nah, I’ve got a good deal with the bracelet, so we’ll call them a bonus. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you,’ George replied.
She managed a watery smile then called, ‘Tommy, come on, time to go.’
Tommy swung round and marched towards her, stomping his feet, pretending to be a soldier. ‘Yes, sir,’ he said in a deep voice.
Sarah gave George a small wave and, tummy rumbling, turned to head for the nearest fish and chip shop.
She didn’t look back, but she heard George call out, ‘Don’t be a stranger. Come and say hello next time you’re up the market.’
Tommy had wolfed down his fish and chips and had even licked the newspaper they were wrapped in. Then the rest of the day had been spent ambling around the park, but now as the sun was beginning to set, Sarah thought about heading back to the shed.
She had enough cash in her pocket to get a room for a few nights, but thought it best to save the money instead. After all, she didn’t yet have a plan for how to make any more. ‘Come on, Tommy,’ she called to her brother, who was halfway up a small oak tree. ‘Time to go.’
Tommy whined, ‘Ow, I don’t want to go yet. Can we go to the funfair?’
‘No, it’s going to be dark soon, come on and stop answering me back.’
Tommy jumped down from the tree then minced towards her with a sullen expression. ‘Have we got to go back to that shed again?’
‘Yes, we have, but I don’t know why you’re looking so miserable about it. You slept OK and found some treasure in there!’
‘I know, but I don’t like it. Please, can we go home? Mummy might not smack me now.’
Sarah had twelve years’ more experience than Tommy, so she knew only too well that their mother would not have calmed down, and if they walked back through her front door they’d both receive the hidings of their lives. ‘Sorry, Tommy, I’m not risking you getting beaten black and blue. I love you too much to see you get hurt, so like it or lump it, we’re going back to the shed.’
Tommy didn’t protest, but hung his head as he walked alongside her. They were soon in the alley which led to the back gate. ‘Remember, just like last time, quiet as a mouse,’ Sarah said, and pushed open the gate.
Once inside, Tommy made himself comfortable on the deckchair. ‘My soldiers, I can play with them now,’ he said as if just remembering them, and pulled the tobacco tin from his pocket.
