had not often trekked the miles there for Sophy and Alice quickly flagged during the tramp. But her mum would encourage her tired little legs to keep going by saying the rich pickings to be had off toffs would get them a fish ‘n’ chip supper. They didn’t always get what they’d been promised if they passed a pub on the way home and their mother had a thirst and all the pickings in her pocket.
The memory had started in Alice a profound longing to have a place that was neat and tidy and had flowers growing. As she’d got older, and her dream expanded to include a husband and children, Alice had realised she must have a decent man too … not a man from around here. She didn’t want a layabout or a gambler or a drinker or anyone who squandered precious money that was destined to give her children a different life to the one she’d known. She wanted a man like her dad … who really deserved to have done better for himself, or so Alice thought. And probably he would have done if he hadn’t married her mum …
But, there was a fly in the ointment that Alice could see and she felt a surge of resentment on remembering it for it was spoiling her daydream, and her blossoming plans for her new life. She cast a look on her mother, wondering if she had overlooked it too.
‘What about the school board man?’ Alice ventured. ‘There’ll be trouble if I bunk off for so long. I ain’t even thirteen for a few more days.’
‘I’d say the school board man’s got more on his plate than to worry about the likes of you,’ Tilly briskly replied. ‘By the time you get took on somewhere you’ll be more’n thirteen anyhow. By the time the school reports you absent you’ll be thirteen and quite a bit. Ain’t worth their while to make a song ‘n’ dance over it. I know for a fact that Geoff Lovat next door ain’t done more’n a couple of days’ schoolin’. He’s been working almost since the day they turned up last year. School board man ain’t bothered him.’
Alice knew that was true. Geoff had done full-time work at thirteen – when he could get it. He’d done a bit of casual sweeping and so on down the coal yard; he’d been on a market stall with Danny when they’d had enough to invest in a barrow of their own for a few weeks. He’d also gone with Billy the Totter on his rag ‘‘n’ bone round till Billy reckoned too much stuff was going walkies. Geoff would go anywhere at all where he’d get a wage packet and no questions asked about his age, or whether he was bunking off school and likely to attract trouble. Like Danny, he was able to get work easily because he looked a lot older than he was and had the height and physique of a man.
‘I’ll get round to the factory gate and hang about dinnertime,’ Alice promised her mum.
‘Yeah, do that. If nothing comes of it we’ll keep looking.’
‘Ain’t doing the rag shop though,’ Alice said quickly.
Tilly raised her eyebrows at her daughter’s obstinate tone. ‘Best find yourself something quick then,’ she replied. ‘You’re out to work now and that’s that.’
Alice huddled into her coat and pulled the collar up to keep the breeze from buffeting her cold face. She looked again towards the iron gate as a few women hurried out, gossiping. They were no doubt rushing home for a bite to eat at dinnertime before their afternoon shift started. But there was no sign of Annie Foster. Alice had already decided that if she didn’t ambush her here, by the factory gate, she’d make the effort to find her in Playford Road. She was out to work now. Definite.
Another bunch of young women emerged from the old brick building and Alice felt a surge of relief. She recognised Annie; she stuck out because of her glasses. As the women stepped onto the pavement Alice called out. Annie changed direction and came over to her with a wave for her friends who’d headed off the opposite way.
‘Thought you might turn up. Your mum said as you might be interested in gettin’ a job,’ Annie said without preamble.
Alice nodded. ‘They still taking on?’
‘I think they’re pretty much done. You’ll need to be quick.’ Annie took a glance up at the wall where the board for vacancies had been pinned. It had gone. ‘I know that Tina Baker’s had enough. She’s just put in her notice. She’s leaving Friday ’cos she can’t keep up and earn enough. It’s piecework so it ain’t easy money. Right boring too, it is.’
Alice nodded her understanding. ‘Don’t mind. It’s a start.’
‘Yeah,’ Annie said wryly. ‘It’s a wage packet come Friday.’
‘Who shall I ask for?’
‘Mr Wright’s the manager. He ain’t bad actually. I’d get in there now if I was you, before they stick the vacancy notice back up on account of Tina quittin’. Also it ain’t so mad busy over the dinnertime.’
Alice nodded, glancing apprehensively towards the ugly, squat building. She took an inspiriting breath.
‘Don’t say your proper age if he asks,’ Annie instructed kindly. ‘But he might not ask. He never did when I got took on. But then I’m older than you and I look it.’
Alice nodded again and muttered her thanks. Nervously she brushed down her coat to remove rain spots. She took another deep breath, about to move towards the gate but Annie stopped her.
‘’Ere, is it right what I heard that your Sophy’s in the family way?’
‘Who told yer that?’ Alice demanded rather roughly. Immediate, instinctive loyalty to Sophy and her family had made her sound aggressive.
‘Tommy Greenfield. He found out off his sister Pam. Me ‘n’ ’im are walking out together.’
‘Oh yeah? Well, you want to watch him,’ Alice said gruffly. ‘Or he’ll have you in the family way. Remember poor Maisie?’ She threw that caution over her shoulder as she walked on without answering Annie’s question.
Once inside the building Alice felt her confidence rapidly disappearing. The noise of machinery was thudding away somewhere out of sight. She sidled further in and passed a wall, the top half of which was a glass panel. She glanced in to see a couple of wooden desks jumbled with boxes of files and paperwork. A man looked up from where he was writing to frown enquiringly at her.
Alice froze. She’d hoped for a few private moments to get her bearings before someone spotted her. Determinedly she gripped the door handle and poked her head in. ‘Excuse me. I’m looking for Mr Wright.’
‘Well, you’ve found him. What are you after? A job?’ he asked bluntly.
Alice nodded.
‘Well, come in then and sit yourself down.’
Alice slipped through the door and after fidgeting on the spot, wondering which chair to choose, she sat on the closest.
‘Not there. Here.’ Mr Wright tapped a chair that was adjacent to his own.
Swiftly Alice did as she was told, aware that the fellow’s eyes were on her. But he didn’t look unfriendly; in fact he had quite a pleasant sort of face even though he was almost bald. He looked quite smart too in his dark suit of clothes. She guessed he was about as old as her dad.
‘What’s your name and how old are you?’
Alice’s heart sank. Straight off, the first question he’d asked, when she’d been
