her mum – had the same view on things. They wanted their older kids – the ones bringing in a bit of pay – to stick around for ever so they could put all their earnings in the family kitty.
They had reached the water’s edge and both stood staring out over its glittering grey surface. The boat with Danny and Sophy glided closer and beached some yards away. With self-conscious courtesy Danny helped Sophy alight.
‘We’re goin’ off down Blackstock to get something to eat,’ Geoff yelled at his brother.
‘I never said I would, Geoff Lovat,’ Alice shrewishly reminded him.
‘They’ll come too,’ he said with a private smile for her. ‘Then we can find out all what’s goin’ on between them.’ Geoff looked back at Sarah and Herbert who were dawdling about behind, looking bored. ‘Best get rid of them two or we won’t find out nuthin’. Dan’ll clam up.’
‘Sarah’s me friend. I can’t just tell her to get lost,’ Alice protested.
‘Tell her you’re going home. We’ll take a detour up The Bunk then when her and Banksie’s shook off, we’ll keep on going and find out what these two are looking so pleased about.’
Alice took a look at her sister and knew straight off that indeed she was looking secretly pleased with herself, so she must be up to something. Sophy’s eyes were shining and she could barely tear her gaze from Danny’s face.
‘Alright. We’ll get rid of Banksie and Sarah,’ Alice agreed, ‘and carry on down the caff.’ As Geoff turned to walk back she fell into step beside him. ‘If Sophy says her ‘n’ Danny are walking out again me mum’ll have her guts fer garters. Then after that she’ll murder him,’ she warned Geoff, not wholly joking.
‘Certainly don’t look like he’s said he’s off fighting the Hun. Your sister looks right happy about something.’
‘She did say … a while ago … that she reckoned he deserved a good thumping. Perhaps she’s hoping the Germans’ll give it to him.’ With that parting shot Alice speeded up and, linking arms with Sarah, the little party proceeded towards the park gate.
‘You said you was goin’ away ’cos you was joinin’ up.’
‘Well, I ain’t. I’m goin’ away to train ’orses. Can help fight the war that way ‘n’ all. Transport’s as important as soldiers.’
The two brothers locked eyes in combatant stares across the table in Kenny’s café in Blackstock Road.
‘What are you going to tell Mum ‘n’ Dad?’ Geoff hissed at Danny. ‘All hell’s gonna break loose when they find out. They’re relying on you putting in the pot.’
Danny shrugged. ‘Don’t know yet what I’ll tell them. But I’m going back home to Essex. That’s definite. Sophy’s coming too, ’cos there’s a job for her ‘n’ all in me boss’s house.’ He glanced at Sophy and she smiled encouragement at him.
‘They won’t let you go,’ Alice warned her sister. Sophy’s soppy love-struck expression was making her feel as needled as Geoff sounded. ‘When Mum finds out what you’re planning she’ll go crackers. Anyhow you don’t know anything about working as a servant in a big house.’
‘Soon learn,’ Sophy returned obstinately. ‘Danny says that Peter’s sweetheart didn’t know about working in service either. She’s a shop girl. But she got took on all the same.’ She paused. ‘Anyhow, s’long as I send them a bit of cash now ‘n’ again Mum ‘n’ Dad won’t worry. If anything I’ll be doing yers all a favour. Could do with a bit more room about the place what with Stevie ‘n’ Bobbie always under all our feet.’
Alice looked dubious but fell silent. She still felt dazed by what she’d just learned from Danny and Sophy. Their infectious enthusiasm for the new life they were planning, far from London, had failed to excite Alice. She could see only trouble ahead caused by their abrupt determination to move away to Essex together to work for a well-to-do family.
A sudden fierce resentment trembled through Alice as she brooded on the fellow who’d brought it all about. Peter Slater had worked in the market with Danny before joining up. Prior to that he and his fiancée had been on the point of starting afresh out in the Essex countryside. Peter’s boss had dozens of costermonger stalls and shops around the city but he also had a big house and a farm, close to the coast in Essex, where he reared livestock. Horses were needed for the war in France and Peter Slater had been due to go to the farm to learn to train the animals before they were ferried abroad for the military.
But Slater had got a bit too merry and patriotic one dinnertime in the pub and, full of Dutch courage, he’d gone to the recruiting office and joined up. Soon he’d be on his way to France. At Danny’s request – and to keep his boss sweet in case he needed him again – he’d recommended Danny as his replacement for the training job in Essex. Danny had been keen to have his ticket back to the county he classed as home. From the moment he’d arrived in Campbell Bunk it had always been his intention to escape and return to his roots.
‘So you two are courting again then, are you?’ Alice asked abruptly.
‘Sort of …’ Danny said bashfully and slid a glance at Sophy.
‘You’d best make sure you don’t do anything stupid this time,’ Alice warned Sophy. ‘Ain’t going through all that chaos again!’
Sophy mumbled something beneath her breath and averted her red face.
‘Well, thanks very much,’ Geoff snapped sarcastically at Danny. ‘You scarper and leave me stuck working me fingers ter the bone providing fer ’em all. You selfish bleeder!’
‘Ain’t nuthin’ preventing you from scarpering too when your time comes,’ Danny replied defensively. ‘You stick it for another year then it’s your turn to leg it.’
‘What they all supposed to do then?’ Geoff ’s expression was thunderous with disbelief. ‘You know Dad’ll never pull enough in collecting pots in a pub to keep them all.’ Geoff leaned closer to his brother and spat through his teeth, ‘He’s a bleeding cripple in case you’ve forgotten! He ain’t ever going to get a good paying job. And you know Mum can only take in washing while she’s got kids hangin’ on her skirts.’
‘I ain’t letting that worry me!’ Danny roared with equal ferocity. ‘Sod the lot of them! It’s me chance ‘n’ I’m takin’ it!’
‘So am I,’ Sophy said and flicked at Alice a defiant look.
‘You’d best make sure you do send something back then out of your wages,’ Alice retorted. ‘’Cos if you don’t, I wouldn’t put it past Mum to come and get it off yer.’
That observation wiped some of the confidence from Sophy’s face. It was no idle threat. She knew her mother was capable of anything; even travelling to Essex to take her wage packet off her if she believed herself entitled to it. She’d wrestle it from her new boss if necessary.
Geoff gave his brother another filthy look then without a word he pushed back his chair and stalked off. Alice shot her sister a scowl then got up too and followed Geoff out into
