epdf.pub elizabeth-stuckley-magnolia-buildings

Элизабет Стакли
КВАРТАЛ „МАГНОЛИЯ"
Книга для чтения
на английском языке
в X классе средней школы
Адаптация, комментарии и
словарь А. А. КЕРЛИН
ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ
Современная английская писательница Элизабет Стакли пере­
пробовала за свою жизнь много профессий: она работала постоянным
агитатором избирательного участка, четырнадцать лет руководила
местной военизированной детской организацией, преподавала в шко­
лах; была шофером во французской армии, потом поваром в англий­
ской армии; занималась трудотерапией с детьми — и писала книги.
Сейчас она живет в Лондоне, и двери ее дома всегда открыты для
соседских ребят. Они основали (не без ее участия) «Клуб Искателей
Приключений». Члены клуба ставят пьесы, рисуют, ходят в походы,
придумывают разные интересные дела. Об этих ребятах и для них
написала Э. Стакли свою книгу «Квартал „Магнолия" (Magnolia
Buildings).
Многоэтажный, многоквартирный дом (Buildings) с поэтиче­
ским названием «Магнолия» расположен в рабочем квартале Лон­
дона, и живет здесь рабочий люд. Поднимитесь по узкой, темной,
обшарпанной лестнице на четвертый этаж, —здесь в квартире 49
живет семья Бернерс: четверо ребят, их родители и тетя. Элли, ее
предприимчивый брат Вэл, старательная Дорин и малыш Лен —
герои этой книги, они обрисованы автором с любовью, тонким по­
ниманием их психологии, мягким юмором. У каждого из них свои
интересы, свои стремления, они не застрахованы от ошибок, свой­
ственных их возрасту. Однако атмосфера добра, справедливости
и взаимоуважения, царящая в этой простой английской семье, по­
могает ребятам увидеть свои поступки, а иногда и проступки, в на­
стоящем свете.
Перед читателями проходит жизнь семьи Бернерс в течение года,
с их повседневными заботами, радостями и горестями: хорошень­
кая толстушка Элли в новогоднюю ночь задается целью во что бы
то ни стало похудеть и всегда выглядеть такой же изящной, элегант­
ной и прекрасно одетой, как ее любимые кинозвезды; энергичный
Вэл, коновод дворовых мальчишек, организует свою «банду „Черная
5
Рука"» для борьбы с шайкой старших мальчишек, которые обижают
малышей и не дают спокойно вздохнуть вечно занятым женщинам
дома «Магнолия»; Дорин готовится сдавать ответственный экзамен
«одиннадцать с половиной»; весной в доме — повальная эпидемия
гриппа; потом попадает в больницу мама, и все домашние обязан­
ности приходится выполнять Элли, и т. д. На этом фоне ярко выделя­
ются традиционные английские праздники, которых с нетерпением
ждут ребята: майская ярмарка, 5 ноября — «день Гая Фокса» и рож­
дество с обязательным школьным самодеятельным спектаклем.
Книга написана хорошим, живым, очень современным языком,
который автор адаптации старался максимально сохранить, сделав
в то же время книгу доступной для чтения в X классе средней
школы.
Chapter I
ALLY'S NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
Gloria Berners l lay asleep in her bed at 49 Magnolia
Buildings. 2 She was fourteen years old. Her name was
really Gloria Evelyn, but the other children had always
called her Glory Alleluia, or Ally for short. s
"New Year's Day!" said Ally to herself as she
woke up. "I must wish for so'mething." She turned
over on the pillow and her mop of curly yellow hair made
a fan round her face. She thought about the things she
wanted. The first thing, of course, was to have a bed to
herself and sleep in it without Doreen. That would be
grand. 4 Doreen snored in her sleep like a pig.
She kicked her little sister to stop her snoring.
Have a room to myself, that's next, she thought.
Have glamour 5 like film stars. Have some pioper high
heel shoes. Meet Elvis Presley or Tommy Steele. e
Go to the Riviera 1 for a holiday and wear a bi­
kini.
That's too many wishes for one year, Ally said to her
self. No hope 2 to get any of them. Not a chance of a room
to myself, let alone 3 a holiday on the Riviera.
No one had a room to themselves at 49 Magnolia Build­
ings. The buildings were a block of old fashioned flats.
Mum and Dad shared a room, the boys, Val and Len, who
were twelve and eight, slept together while Doreen, Ally
4
and Auntie Glad were in the third room. Not that Auntie
Glad was much bother. Б She was so quiet and so small,
almost a dwarf. When Dad's mother had died (Auntie
Glad was Dad's sister), she had brought her iron bed to
Magnolia Buildings with her, and put her trunk under it.
She took up very little room 1 and didn't speak at meals,
so that no one ever noticed her. She had a job as a dressmaker.
But the boys were different. Val was like twelve elephants. When he moved, everybody and everything were
in danger. Len played trains all over the floor. As for
Doreen, her books were on every table. She had to take her
Eleven Plus exam 2 this month. She made such a fuss
about it 3 that you could think she was the only girl in
the world who was to take it. She's just cut out for a teacher, 4 thought Ally.
Then Ally remembered her diary. She must start to
write it. Lou, her friend, had given her that diary for
a Christmas present. Lou was going to keep a diary too,
so that they could compare their notes about all the exciting things that happened during the year. Ally lay and
thought of the things she would write. This first day of
the year was dark and snowy. Luckily, it was a Saturday,
and Dad didn't work on Saturdays as things were slack. s
Breakfast could be late.
Auntie Glad dressed in the dark and went off to wash in
the kitchen. The only water in the flat was there, and the
bath was under the kitchen-table.
Ally turned on the light and opened her diary. She wrote:
"Hello, New Year. Aren't you cold? We all live here in
the flat, Mum, Dad and Auntie Glad, me, Val, Doreen
and Len. Auntie Glad came to live 6 here when Dad's mum
died. I wished for a lot of things this morning, but won't
get them. Mum went out to work at five. She is still cleaning
offices, but will be back for breakfast. Dad works on the
railway. I must make tea..."
She went to put the kettle on when Auntie Glad came
back to do her hair. x They didn't speak to each other.
There was nothing to say at half past seven in the morning.
It was too cold. Auntie Glad began to take out her curlers.
The kitchen smelt stuffy. 2 Ally put the kettle on the
fire, then she put some cups and saucers on a tray and buttered a few slices of bread. Auntie Glad ate no breakfast,
but she would be glad to have a cup of tea.
Then Ally went to wake up the boys. They were both
asleep in the one bed and only Val's black curls and Len's
crew cut could be seen above the sheet. Their clothes were
thrown on the floor, all mixed up with their dirty boots.
"Wake up," shouted Ally. "It's New Year's Day. And
mind you wash."3
They did not stir. She shook Val. Glamour, she thought,
shall I ever have it? She picked up all the clothes off the
floor and threw them on top of the boys.
Val opened his eyes and shut them again. It was too
cold to move. He could tell that by the tip of his nose.
New Year's Day, he thought, perhaps this year I'll get my
bike.
Dad was now shaving at the sink. It was a wonder how
the Berners family managed to do everything in their
little kitchen. To an observer they might seem to be
performing4 a complicated dance as they washed, shaved,
cleaned teeth and cooked meals.
Ally laid breakfast 5 for six while Auntie Glad slipped
across the room and out of the door like a small grey mouse.
No one saw her go. 6 All she had done was to leave an empty
cup with a few tea leaves in it.
Mum came back and the day really began.
"Too bad 7 you were not with us this morning," she cried
as she opened the door. "We nearly died laughing. There was
ice everywhere and the
bus skidded about all
the time. We had that
fat conductor. He's so
funny! Come on, * let's
have a cup of tea. I'm
dying for one."2
That was Mum all
over, 3 bringing
the
frosty morning and the
jokes of the other cleaners home with her. She
was always laughing and
talking and always ready
to sit down and have a
cup of tea. She was stout
now, and so she was
always glad to give her
feet a short rest. If the
flat was usually rather untidy, well, what of it? 4
"The house is made for the people, not the people for
the house." Mum would say, 5 gathering up some clothes and
toys and shoving them into the nearest drawer, "There are
some people who grumble at the dirt that's brought in,
but I like a bit of company and a bit of fun. Come on,
fill up 9 and don't spare the sugar."
There were always friends and neighbours in Mum's
flat. They came there to chat and to forget their troubles.
There are no marble halls at our place, 7 thought Ally,
but Mum makes it O. K- 8
"You got those trousers on 9 again, Al?" asked Mum and
she burst out laughing. * "Never saw such silly girls!
We wore their faces 2 in lockets, but you've got to wear
their names on your pants." This was all because Ally
had embroidered the names of Elvis Presley and Tommy
Steele on her blue jeans.
"All the other girls did it too," Ally said angrily because
she didn't like it when Mum laughed at her. "It's the fashion."
"You would stand on your heads if it were the fashion,"3
said Mum. "Well, I must get a move on. 4 You all going 5
to the pictures this morning?"
On Saturdays, the children all went to the cheap show
at the cinema. It cost them only sixpence.
"I'm not going. I'm busy," said Val.
Mum smiled and hoped he wouldn't get into trouble
again. 6 Val was a handsome boy with curly hair and dark
eyes, rather tall for his age. Val was usually in trouble.
"I'm going to the pond to see if there's ice," said Len.
"Get out!"7 shouted Val. He always shouted, never talked.
"They 8 won't let you on the ice. They break it up on purpose, so that we boys couldn't slide. It's not fair. What's
ice for?"
"They don't want you to get drowned," said Dad. He
was a big fair man with a droopy moustache. He never said
much as it was impossible to out-talk Mum when she began
talking. Now he sat down to read his paper. Doreen said
she had to make a map of Europe.
"I don't want to go to the pictures, Mum," Ally
said. "It's kid stuff. e Cowboys riding round that
same old village. And who wants to see Mickey
Mouse?" 1
"I do," said Len. His pointed little nose was red with
the cold. 2 "Oh, Mum, I do want to go. 3 Or I'll miss the
serial, The Black Box. It's always so exciting. Last time
the monster man was in a dark cave and..."
"Go on, 4 Ally, take him, do," said Mum. "I'm afraid
to let him cross the street alone. You go now, Ally, and do
the shopping, and then take Len to the pictures."
"It's a waste of money," grumbled Ally. "I want to go
and see A Heart for a Coronet next Wednesday. Now, that'll
be a smashing picture."
"I'll give you the money to go, if you just take Len
now," said Mum.
Dad said, "That's right. Chucking your money away!"5
"That's what I work for, isn't it?" cried Mum with
spirit, her black eyes sparkling. "So as 6 to have a bit of
money I can chuck away as I like."
She liked spoiling the children. She had spoilt them all,
especially Len. But none of the familly could resist Len,
with his dimples, his funny nose and his yellow crew cut.
"Mum never goes to the pictures, never," said Doreen in
an accusing voice to Ally.
"Shut up," shouted Ally. "Give me the basket. What
do you want, Mum?"
Ally usually liked shopping. She was friends with
everyone in the shops, and they often gave her a bit more
meat or an extra apple. But this morning she felt sour.'
It was New Year's Day, and she wanted something wonderful to happen. Something with a spot of glamour.8
Outside the air was full of frost. It was a fine day.
Even old Sprot, the flats' caretaker, was whistling to himself as he walked about the yard. He hated all children and
regarded them as natural nuisances.1 He would have liked
to let the flats to no one but2 old age pensioners and spinsters.
Ally and Len ran across the Common.3 The trees were
white with snow and the pond was covered with ice. Alas,
Val was right. The park keepers had got up very early and
had broken the ice into lumps which looked like yellow
candy. Small boys were already throwing the lumps at each
other.
Yes, it was just a day for a foreign prince to drive up
and announce that Ally was really a foreign princess in
disguise who had been put at the door of 49 Magnolia
Buildings as a baby and that now her time had come to go
back to her native country and become a queen. All Ally's
ideas about the world beyond the Common,4 all her dreams
came from the pictures or T. V. because she had never
been anywhere else.
"Oh, come on, Len," she grumbled, because it was
really awful to walk with small boys. Either he went round
and round her feet like a puppy on a cord, or he lagged
behind and got stuck 5 at crossings.
There was a long queue outside the cinema. When
the doors were opened, the children rushed in shouting
with excitement. Ally had bought some sweets to suck, in
case it was a dull film. But after a while she got interested
in the picture. There was one girl who really had glamour
in spite of her old-fashioned clothes. Lucky thing! 6 What
a time she had! 7 She was held up in stage coaches,8 carried
off on horseback, tied to railway tracks and so on and so
forth. And never a hair out of place.1
"I've got to have glamour," Ally said to herself. On the
way to the pictures she had seen her own reflection in a shop
window. Her pony tail of curls 2 of which she was usually
proud, had looked — well, shabby. She had grown out
of her coat, and her jeans looked funny beneath it. She had
a hole in her sock and her old shoes looked awful because
she had not polished them that morning.
When the lights went up 3 at the end of the film, she
looked at her nails. The nails were not too clean and some
of them were broken.
You need a bathroom 4 to look smart, she said to
herself. Nothing gets the dirt off like s a proper long wash
in a bath.
Coming out of the cinema, Ally made her New Year's
resolution. She was going to attain glamour, even if it
killed her.
Chapter II
THE BLACK HAND GANG"
Val went down the stone staircase of the house that
Saturday morning. His coat collar was turned up, his hands
were in his pockets. He walked with the special swagger 7
adopted by all gangsters. He also walked cautiously,
because at any moment one of Shorty's 8 gang might jump
out and attack him. His life was dangerous. It was one
long battle in self-defence.
When he got to the yard, Sprot was shouting at some
small children, a few mothers were passing with shopping
baskets, or were talking to one another in loud voices
up and down the balconies. Two chaps who belonged to
Val's gang were in the yard too. They were leaning against
a wall, pretending not to see anybody or anything. Val
gave them a sign and walked firmly across the centre of
the yard. It was safer to keep clear of1 the walls, something
might always drop from the balconies. The other chaps,
pretending not to see him, immediately walked out of the
yard too. It seemed they had just remembered something
important.
The thiee boys, George, Ginger and Val, met on the
Common. This was more or less safe, being near to the
main road.
"Where are the others?" asked Val between closed
teeth 2 and looking in the opposite direction.
"Waiting for us at the bandstand," answered George
in a low voice.
"We'll go separately," commanded Val. "Don't want 3
to be seen together. Might arouse suspicion. See you later."4
He went quickly across the Common. The other boys
went separately through the trees, all the time keeping an
eye on 6 Val. They knew that at any moment he might be
attacked by one of Shorty's gang.
Something must be done about Shorty and his lot,6 Val
was thinking as he walked across the Common. They are
a nuisance round the block. Somebody must break them up.
It'll have to be me.7 None of the other chaps have got organization. That's the main thing, organization.
Shorty and his lot were a real menace. They were big
boys, some of them fifteen or sixteen. They hadn't enough
money to amuse themselves. So they just hung about and
beat up the younger boys. Val had been collecting his gang
all the winter. He was not by nature a bully; in fact he
liked to live a peaceful life, but he was a natural leader.
He couldn't allow Shorty's gang to beat up the small chaps
and to steal or break their bikes. Whatever people said
about Val Berners, they always agreed that he had a kind
heart.
The bandstand was a good meeting place. It was safe
enough as it was near the cafe, where there were always
lots of people. If the worst came to the worst* and Shorty
and his gang turned up, they could always run into the
cafe. Shorty couldn't start anything in there.
Val made his way 2 through mothers and prams. Six
of his chaps had arrived but only four of them would be
much good 3 in a proper fight.
There was George, a tall boy, but not as strong as he
looked. He had broken two front teeth falling off his bike
when Nap, Shorty's lieutenant,4 had put a stick in the front
wheel. George certainly had a reason to be very angry
with Shorty's gang. George was a good chap and Val
could trust him all right.
Then there was Billy with the round red face and stout
body. He was all right too, but a bit of a big mouth.5
Bert and Ginger were brothers. Bert was all right, but
Ginger was a bit young, although he could run very fast.
Brian was fifteen and by rights he should have been 6
in Shorty's lot, but he was a quiet boy and was afraid of
bullies. He had joined Val's gang for protection. Val didn't
think a lot of him.7 He couldn't fight well and spent most
of his time reading in the public library.
Eddy was the sixth. He was such a thin child that Mum
said he could go through a keyhole.
The boys faced Val, with their backs to the high bandstand.
"I know how to get into that old house," said Val.
"But we must be careful, or we'll have the police on our
tails again.1 You all know where it is? Bill, you got the
candles?"
Bill took some candle-ends out of his pocket.
"How did you get them?"
"Mum threw them out, Val."
"Did you tell her anything?"
"No."
"That's all right then. Let's go."
They all went running across the grass. Now that 2
they were not in the yard, they could look like boys who
were playing and not like gangsters.
Soon they got to the deserted house, which stood right
in the middle of the Common, among some fir trees. Its
dark dirty windows were broken by stones.
"Come in one by one 3 and don't make any noise,"
said Val.
He slid behind some dark evergreen bushes that were
covered with snow. Val was an excellent climber 4 because
he spent-the summer evenings climbing over garden walls
in search of fruit or flowers. Most of the fruit was not ripe
and he didn't really want the flowers, but it was the fun
of the thing.8 No explorer can make a dangerous voyage
and come back without some treasure.
Now George dug out a crowbar that he had put under
some rubbish a few days before. With the help of the crowbar
he and Val tried to open the back door; but at that moment
there came a low whistle from Ginger. All the boys dived
into the bushes and froze. Ginger crept up to Val.
"Cops!" 6 he whispered. "Saw them on the road, two
of them."
After a while the policemen moved on and the boys
tried again to force the door. It gave * suddenly with a loud
noise and the boys fell into the hall. They stopped a moment
to listen and then Val said, "Give us a light.2 It's very
dark in here."
George struck a match and the boys rushed forward.
"Get back!" cried Val. "Discipline must be maintained.
And don't make any noise or I'll teach you. Brian, shut
the door. Ginger, you stay in the bushes."
The house had the damp smell of deserted houses. The
boys rushed into the kitchen. The stove was rusty. There
were empty jam jars on the table and mice droppings everywhere.
"This'll do fine for headquarters,"3 said Bill.
"No! Underground is the only safe place," said Val.
"The cellar!"
They had a look at the cellar. It had probably been a coal
cellar, for the floor was covered with dirt.
"This'll do fine." Val held the candle high. With his
handsome dark head, he looked like a real leader. Billy
with his red face, and George without his front teeth could
not compete with Val.
There was no need to explain to the chaps how useful it
was to have a safe, secret place. Every gang must have
a hideout, somewhere to keep things and to cook food.
"Better have a look round upstairs. You never know,"1
said Val. "Remember that picture when the hero took over
the empty house and never thought of looking 2 upstairs?"
"Yes," said George. "But there was only a girl there."
"Not that film," said Val scornfully. "I mean the one
with the time bomb 3 inside the clock."
So they decided to go upstairs and have a look. There
was nothing on the top floor, not a dead body, a time bomb,
nor even a girl. However, they found an old table there
and carried it down to the cellar.
George looked at it with pride as he put it in the middle
of the dirty floor. "We've got some furniture already,"
he said.
"My mum's got an old stove she never uses," said Brian.
"I'll bring it next time and we'll cook potatoes."
Ginger, who had been told to keep watch outside but
who had followed with the rest,4 now put a hand on Brian's
mouth. "Sh!"
There was certainly someone outside the house. They
heard steps.
"Downstairs all of you and shut the cellar door, Ginger," whispered Val. It might be the police, or, worse still,
some of Shorty's lot.
The boys blew out the candle and stood there, as if
frozen. Val was frightened, for it would he awful if the
cops caught him again. He had had too many warnings
already and this would count as breaking and entering.5
Val knew as much about the law as any lawyer. If the police
opened the cellar door, the boys would be caught like rats.
And what would Mum say if Val were sent to an approved
school? 1 Yet it wasn't possible in London to do everything
according to the law and have some fun. Val couldn't
live without adventure.
Once more there came a sound of heavy footsteps.
The policemen must have come back and noticed 2
the forced door. That idiot Ginger had not shut it properly!
"They've been in here again," said a man's deep voice.
"I'll give them something 3 when I catch up with them."
"I thought I saw some of the little devils in the bushes,"
said a younger voice.
"It's always Saturdays," said the older man. "They
should go to school every day of the week.4 Then we'd get
a little peace."
The boys trembled with fear in the darkness. They were
in despair. What if there really appears a new law that
will say that everyone must stay at school the whole
week long? 5 That will be awful! And what if the police
open the cellar door? What then?
Heavy feet came past the cellar and stopped. The boys
held their breath.6 Suppose someone hiccoughed now?
The deep voice said, "I can't waste time here. You'd
better report 7 that door, Evans."
The heavy feet passed the cellar door again. The boys
could hear that the policemen tried to fix the broken door.
Ginger and George started to get out. Val pushed them
back. "Use your brains!" 8 he whispered scornfully.'
"This is maybe a trick. No one must move till I say so,
see?" While pushing the boys backwards in the darkness
he hit Ginger in the stomach with his elbow.
"Oh! You hurt me, Val."
"Shut up! I won't have you in the gang, see?"
The gang all were silent for a moment, thinking that
Val was wonderful. He was the only one who understood
that they had to stay and wait until the policemen were
gone. You had to use your brains, just as Val said. No
wonder he was the leader of the Black Hand Gang! That
was their name, and a good one too,1 as their hands were
always dirty and made dirty everything they touched.
"We'll give them five minutes," said Val. "The police
haven't got patience. Then I'll go out. You chaps stay here.
If I don't come back, you'll know they got me. And keep
your big mouths shut.2 They needn't find out about the
gang."
The police had propped up the broken door. Val crept
towards it and put his eye to the keyhole. Through it he
saw the bushes. Then carefully, inch by inch, he drew aside
the door and jumped back into the house, waiting for
the attack at any moment. But no one moved. With
a beating heart he went out into the garden. Not a sound.
The cops had gone!
The getaway was as cautious as the arrival. Under
Val's command, the boys left the house one by one, dived
into the bushes and crept through a hole that someone had
already made in the fence. Val and George put back the
door and made it look natural.3
"You are a bit black," said George to Val as they walked
back across the Common. Val looked as if he had spent
the whole day in a coal mine.
"That's all right," said Val calmly."Mum's used to it."4
Chapter III
RUBY
It was the Monday of the next week that Len brought
home Ruby. He was always bringing home something,
sparrows with broken legs or stray kittens.
Mum was busy all day.
It was washing-day. She had
just brought up the dry things
as the children returned from
school. Len walked slowly
upstairs, leading Ruby by
the hand.
Ruby was a small girl from
Jamaica, with woolly hair tied
into bunches with two red
bows. All the way up the stone
stairs she sobbed loudly. Her
nose was running x and her
knees were scratched and bleeding. Len kept talking to her
in a soft voice.2 "Come along
up then,3 Ruby. You'll see,
Mum will make it all right."
Ruby was still sobbing
when Len knocked on the door
of the flat. "What on earth — " 4 began Mum, as she opened
the door. "Now, Len, why are you making such a noise?
Don't you know it's washing day and I am busy? I've
just brought in the washing."
Ruby sobbed louder.
"They were teasing her at school," said Len. His mouth
was trembling at the thought of the other children's cruelty.
"So I brought her home, see. It's not fair, Mum. It's not
her fault if she's black."
"Oh, oh," sobbed Ruby.
Mum who was really as soft-hearted as Len, wiped
Ruby's nose with her apron, picked up the sobbing little
girl and carried her into the flat. Len followed behind like
a worried sheep-dog who had found a sick lamb.
"There, lovey," 1 said Mum, sitting down with the child
on her lap. "What a shame, really! Look at her knees!
Len, pass me the towel, no, the damp one, silly." With
a practised hand she wiped the small black face and then
put a sweet into the girl's mouth.
"What's your name, lovey? Ruby? Well, isn't that a pretty
name? 2 And what a smart check dress you've got, and lace
on your petticoat! Why, aren't you the smartest girl in
London?"
Len leant against Mum's chair. He was glad that Mum
had made Ruby stop sobbing, for he hated tears; but he
wasn't sure that he liked to see her on Mum's lap. That
was his place.
Ruby stayed to tea, and Len was sent to tell her mother
where the child was. Ruby was a nice little girl and soon
cheered up over her chips and doughnuts.
"I've got a bike," she said cheerfully.
"It's a shame, really," said Mum. "I'll speak to the teacher. Go on, lovey, have another 3 doughnut. Live and let
live, 4 that's what I say. Go on, child, eat your cake and
Dad'll take you home."
Auntie Glad looked a little surprised when she came in
to tea and saw the small black visitor, but she said nothing,
as usual. She always kept her thoughts to herself.5 She just
went and brought her own special cup and saucer painted
with roses. Alf's wife could do whatever she liked. After
all 6 it was Alf's house.
So Dad took Ruby home and even gave her a threepenny
coin. But he only knocked at the door of Ruby's flat and
then went quickly away, because he didn't want to explain
that the white children had been so cruel.
Mum said to Ally, "I must speak to the teacher."
"It won't be any good,"1 said Ally, "the children don't
do it when the teacher is there."
Later in the evening Mum said to her neighbour: "You
never know what Len'll bring home next. He is so softhearted."
Chapter IV
THE ELEVEN PLUS EXAM 2
The next excitement was the Eleven Plus exam. Doreen
was terribly afraid of it. She didn't say much but her
eyes grew red from over-reading 3 and she came out in
spots.4 Mum gave her some medicine but it didn't help
much.
"I wish they'd do away with 6 this Eleven Plus exam,"
said Mum. "Don't be so excited about it, Dor. If you pass,
it will only mean a lot more homework and your Dad will
have to keep you when you ought to be earning a living."6
"Don't you want me to succeed, Mum?" asked Doreen
fiercely.
"Not if you come out in spots and the family can't turn
on the T. V. because you can't concentrate. I'll take you
to the doctor tomorrow to get you a tonic."
"I can't go to the doctor and waste a whole morning,"
cried Doreen.
Mum sighed and gave up. "Well, do as you like," she
said.
But the night before the Eleven Plus exam Ally woke up
because poor Doreen was sick. Ally got frightened and ran
to wake Mum.
Mum was used to night alarms. She at once got up,
seized her old coat and told Ally to put a kettle on.
Poor Mum looked very tired herself. There was a lot of
curlers on her head and her eyes were still swollen with
sleep when she went quickly into the girls' room and put
the shivering Doreen back to bed.
"There, lovey, Mum's here. Don't cry."
The child, her teeth chattering,1 lay down while Mum
covered her with all the things she could find at hand.2
"Well, well, you have got yourself into a fine state 3
because of this exam!" Mum glanced at Doreen's face,
green between two red rat-tails on the pillow. "I've a good
mind 4 to keep you in bed tomorrow."
"No, no!" Doreen tried to get up but fell back, feeling
dizzy. "I've got to get through the Eleven Plus. I've just
got to take it,B Mum. I'll never be a teacher if I don't."
"There are other things you can be,"6 said Mum. But
she knew in her heart that Doreen was destined to be a teacher, for ever since she could walk she had played at schools.
She had sat 7 her dolls in a row and taught them, she had
taught grandma's kitten, and even Len too. Her favourite
toy had always been a blackboard.
"Teach, teach," cried Mum. "Can't think where you get
it from. Well, you never know with kids. There's Glory
Ally with her head full of nonsense about film stars and
glamour, and Val, who can get into prison at any moment
for all I can see.8 Oh, dear,8 what a family I've got! Not
to mention 10 what Len brings home."
Doreen tried to say something, but suddenly her face
grew pale and she was sick again. When she lay back tired
and empty, Ally brought in the hot-water bottle. Mum
could not stay with the girl any longer. She had to get
dressed and go to work. Doreen lay with shut eyes, thankful
for the warmth.
She somehow managed to get up and dress by eight
o'clock. At breakfast there was a discussion about whether
Doreen should go 1 to school. Auntie Glad took no part
in the discussion. Perhaps she had decided that the best
way for her to live in her brother's house was to make herself invisible. She seldom spoke at meals. The only time
when she talked was late at night to Mum. She spoke in
a low voice and Ally, lying in bed, wondered what these
mysterious stories were about.
Doreen didn't eat anything. She could hardly swallow
some tea.
"You ought to be in bed, my girl," said Dad in an angry
voice. He hated the children to be ill.2 "Girls needn't pass
any exams. I never passed anything in my life, and I get on
all right, don't I?"
"Oh, let her go," said Mum. "If she's sick, she's sick,
and can come home again. But she must have a try 3 or she
will never forgive us for stopping her. I'll go with her and
tell the teacher she was sick."
Mum told Doreen to put on a large scarf and led her out
into the cold morning.
"Will you be able to get there?" asked Mum. Doreen
nodded bravely. There were blue shadows under her eyes
and her nose was red with cold.
"If you feel sick, ask the teacher to let you go home,"
said Mum.
Doreen nodded again. She was afraid to speak. All she
could think of was that she must get to her desk and sit
there. "If I can do part of the exam," she told herself,
"they will have to let me finish it another day." She had
made up her mind 4 to become a teacher and go to some
distant land to teach the native children. So she simply
couldn't give up the idea. This plain, shy girl was as much
an adventurer as 6 Val or Ally, but she was more determined
than they.
As Mum and Doreen went past the chemist's shop,
the church clock struck nine. School did not start till
a quarter past nine. Mum stopped and looked at the shop.
"They must have something to stop sickness," she said.
"I've heard of such things. Let's come in, Doreen, and they
will give us something that will help you."
"No, Mum, no!" cried Doreen. "I'll not go. It'll make
me worse again."1
"Don't be silly," shouted Mum and pushed the girl to the
door. "Do you want to be a teacher or not? Then just you
do 2 what Mum says."
When they entered the shop Mum said to Mr Jimson
behind the counter, "I want something to fix this girl's
stomach."
Mr Jimson grinned. He knew Mum well, for she often
came to buy her tonic or some corn-plasters. "What's the
matter with the young lady?" he asked.
"She's got her Eleven Plus today and she's sick, poor
thing.8 Now hurry up, please. We've got a quarter of an
hour to get her right."4
"Well,1 well," exclaimed Mr Jimson. "Don't worry.
I'll give the young lady a cocktail that would fix an earthquake. Just a minute," and he disappeared.
"You sit down, Dor," said Mum, sitting down herself
and sticking her swollen legs out before her. "Just as cheap
to sit."5
Doreen sat down trembling.
"Now," said the chemist's voice. "You drink this up.
And you will soon feel all right."
Doreen took the glass with a shaking hand, began
to drink and choked. Her eyes filled with tears. "I — I
can't," she gasped. The cocktail burnt her throat and it
had a strong, peculiar taste.
"Drink it up," commanded Mum. "We've only got five
minutes left."1
Doreen shut her eyes and drank. It was like flame inside her stomach. But she had to pass the exam. She had
to be a teacher. She would drink anything to succeed.2
She didn't remember much about the walk to school;
she didn't hear Mum's
explanations to the teacher. The cocktail began
to work. The awful cold
and sweat disappeared.
Instead came a strange
feeling, as if there was
a small fire inside her
stomach. By the time
she got to her desk and
was given her paper, she
felt suddenly light and
cheerful, almost carefree.
Doreen was a natural
fusser.? But the cocktail,
working on an empty
stomach, had taken away
all the worry. She felt as
if she were able to sing or dance, or to fly up in the air.
The first paper was the essay. There were four subjects
from which to choose, but Doreen did not hesitate. She
recognized her subject at once.
"What I want to be when I am grown up," she wrote at
the top of her page. "If I cannot be a teacher and go to some
distant country to teach, I shall die of grief..." She wrote
and wrote in her clear neat handwriting, all the things that
she had never told anybody, all the deep wishes of her heart.
She described the joy she would find in teaching, and her
wish to make othei people like learning. The medicine
had given her a strange, wonderful freedom, so that the
words came easily off her pen, and the things she wrote
were unusual for an eleven-year-old girl.
The medicine helped her in arithmetic as well, but it
was beginning to lose its power by the time she came to the
intelligence test.1
Her stomach felt empty now2 and her head was beginning to swim. But her determination held. She made heiself solve such problems as: "If James is the brother of
Henry and Henry has six children, what relations are those
children to James's father?" She examined and placed in
proper order all sorts of squares and dots, found synonyms
and answered alphabet questions and so on and so forth.
Her neat, precise mind helped her when the medicine lost
its power.
And then, 30 strange is the working of the nervous system, the very moment 3 the examination was over, she
felt quite well and went home to eat an enormous
dinner.
"How did you get on?" asked all the family.
"All right," said Doreen. "Pass the bread, Val."
"There,4 what did I say?" Mum said triumphantly to
Dad. "Only nerves, see?"
"This education of women is a lot of nonsense,"1 said
Dad. "The chaps at the 'Cock' 2 were saying so last week."
"They are afraid that their wives will know a bit too
much,"3 said Mum laughing.
But Doreen was not listening. She had suddenly begun
to blush. A terrible, hot shame filled her, for now she was
beginning to remember what she had written in the essay,
all her private thoughts and dreams. What would the examiners, those cold, critical people think of her? They must
think she was a silly idiot! How awful! They would laugh
at her essay, and she would certainly fail.
Mum looked at her daughter. "Well, you won't have to
do any more work now, Dor. That's one good thing. You'll
be able to sit and watch the T. V. and no nonsense."4
Chapter V
GLAMOUR
All through February, Ally was trying to attain glamour.
She bought a bottle of nail varnish and she manicured her
nails. The only trouble was that with so much washing
up 5 the varnish did not stay on very well. All the time
she had to put on new coats of varnish; but the dirt got in
between them, and that made her nails look peculiar.
She hadn't enough money to buy any varnish remover.
"Looks like blood on your nails," said Dad with distaste.
But Ally didn't give in. She went to bed at night with
a lot of pins in her naturally curly hair. She did that "to
preserve the set",6 as she said. But while she slept, the
pins fell out and Doreen complained that it was like sharing
a bed with a hedgehog.7 Ally also spent a lot of time on
removing Elvis Presley's name from her pants and embroidering "Izzy Waters".1 It had been a long job, but Ally
thought she simply had to do it. Anyone who had heard
Izzy sing would agree with her.
Ally's best friend was Lou. They always walked to
school together, giggling the whole way. They giggled
because everything they said to each other sounded so funny. They also giggled because they were happy.
Mum had got 2 Ally into the Senior Church School,3
because she had heard that the classes were smaller and
that the head mistress tried to train the children in good
manner?.4 Ally liked school well enough, especially now
when she was in the top class and working with Miss Fleetwood.
Miss Fleetwood was not like the other, older teachers.
She was very pretty and had been to Oxford as well as to
the teachers' training college.5
"I think she's smashing," said Ally to Lou when the two
girls were going to school one spring morning.
"I can't say I understand everything she talks about,"
said Lou, "but when she reads poetry, I get shivers down
the back.8 It's so lovely. And the way she looks at you,7
if you whisper or move."
"She's got style, see?" said Ally. "Not like the other
teachers."
"Not at all like the others!" agreed Lou.
"Please, Miss Fleetwood, would you read the Lady of
Shalott?"8 Ally asked at the lesson in English 9 that morning.
The class was thrilled and sat listening to the teacher's
clear young voice. There was something about the mysterious Lady that pleased them.
"Oh, miss," said Ally at the end. "They ought to do that
on the T. V. I mean that would make a smashing scene
when she comes out and gets in the boat and lies singing
till she dies and all the knights look at her — and everything."
"I wonder how Tennyson would have liked being on
television?"1 said Miss Fleetwood, smiling. "Perhaps Byron a
would have liked it better. He loved publicity. Just listen
to this now." And she read them Byron's poem She walks
in beauty like the night.3 That made such an impression
on Ally that she walked in beauty all that week, until
Mum met her when she was crossing the Common' and
asked, "Got a crick in your neck?"4
"Glamour!" thought Ally. "What a hope!"5
Nobody had ever explained to Ally where Glamour began and ended. To her it meant everything that was exciting and lovely. She was sure that it applied to Izzy
Waters, because his singing stirred something inside her.
She knew that certain actresses were glamorous and so were
certain clothes and scents and places. But now she was
beginning to guess there was a rarer, more complicated
glamour, something that poets had, and that Miss Fleetwood knew about. That was why Ally kept thinking about
her. She wanted to find out the secret thing that Miss
Fleetwood knew.
The young teacher had not got the obvious glamour of
some famous actresses. She was not dressed up in mink and
pearls, but she wore crisp, clean shirts. Her neat hairdo
was smooth but looked beautiful, and there were little
pearl studs in her ears. She smelt fresh too, of some sort
of clean soap, not strong scent. Ally did not have a very
clear idea of what a real lady should be,1 but she thought
that Miss Fleetwood might be it.
There was no fuss or scolding in Miss Fleetwood's
classes. As she entered the room, everything became calm,
pleasant and orderly. The young teacher moved gracefully
and wrote on the blackboard in an elegant hand.2 Even
her books had plastic covers. Her shoes were very small
and pretty. The girls used to stop her in the corridor and
ask, "Are you teaching us today? Oh, good!"
Ally began to imitate Miss Fleetwood's clothes. She
tried to smooth out her wild pony tail and have a neat
hairdo. Mum looked critically at her and said, "Can't
say the new fashion suits you very well."
Ally also tried" to wear crisp little blouses. She found
a white one that Auntie Glad had brought home, but on
Ally it didn't stay crisp. Very soon it had ink spots and
soot all over. Besides, such a blouse needed a lot of washing
and ironing,3 so Ally had to give it up.
The next week she went to see a film with a famous
actress who was wearing a skin-tight black sweater, enormous gold ear-rings and a gipsy head-scarf. Ally was as
faithful to Miss Fleetwood as ever, but she immediately
put on an old jersey, too small for her, a pair of Mum's
curtain rings and Dad's red cotton hanky.
When Val began to tease her, she exclaimed bitterly,
"It's no good trying in this family.4 I'm young, I've got
to experiment to find my style."
Ally had never seriously thought about religion. Nobody
in her family was religious. Dad never went to church,
and Mum always liked to stay in bed a little longer on
Sunday mornings after getting up at five every day of
the week. Val had long ago refused to go to church.
As to Doreen, she took Len to Sunday school 6 regularly
and they came back with stamps
stuck in a book. Those stamps gave
them the right to take part in all
sorts of summer school picnics,
excursions and Christmas parties.
At Ally's school, things were
different. On Thursdays the Rector
or the Curate came to take a short
service * at the school. None of the
girls liked the Curate because he
was a bore, but they liked the Rector. He was a shy, absent-minded
man, very much like a don at a
university. He spoke to the girls
about all sorts of things that happened to be in his mind,2 using words
that many of them did not know.
Naturally, the girls didn't understand much, but the Rector was
a kind man and they felt it. They
liked to listen to his pleasant soft
voice.
This second Thursday in February the Rector arrived
looking thin and tired as usual. He began talking to the
girls about good and evil in the world. The girls just sat
and listened and didn't even try to understand. Even the
teachers looked puzzled. And only Miss Fleetwood seemed
to know 3 what he was talking about.
When the service was over the Rector gave out an
announcement.4
"We are going to act a play in the church during May,"
he said. "It will be a play about the things I have been telling you this morning. There will be martyrs and saints
in it and a lot of ordinary sinners. I thought some of you
might like B to act in it. If so, please give your names to 6
Miss Wilson. Good morning."7
When the Rector went away there was a break
and the girls rushed intu the cloakroom to discuss the
play.
"Will you be in it, Ally?" Lou asked. "I can imagine
you and me as saints!" And she began to giggle.
"I want to be one of the sinners," shouted Annie Bragg.
"I'll have hoofs and a taill"
The girls went on shouting and pushing one another.
But Ally was serious.
"Shut up all of you," she cried angrily. "You don't understand anything!"
Most people spoil everything by opening their big
mouths, thought Ally. She had decided to take part in the
ploy. Perhaps, rehearsing day after day, she would find
out the secret thing Miss" Fleetwood knew.
And in the crowded yard, where the girls were eating
biscuits and playing catch,1 the warmth of the sun made
her forget her troubles. The sun was shining brightly and
seemed to promise Ally that one day she would know the
greatest secret of all;
Chapter VI
HOME BY SMOG2
At the end of February a week of smog set in. It was
horrid to get up in the morning and see everything as dark
as night. It grew a little bit lighter towards the middle of
the day but it became dark again as soon as school was over.
The blackness which covered the town was both damp and
sinister. The street lamps were no good.3 They could hardly
fight the blackness. The air was concentrated coal dust. The
children's faces grew pale and streaked with black. 4
Val hated coming home at night. In the fog Shorty's
gang might be anywhere. They had a down on Val1 because
they did not want to have a rival gang. Shorty's boys were
much stronger and older, and Nap, his lieutenant, was six
feet tall, strong like a bull, and fought like a tiger. People
said that Nap would kill someone one day, and it was no
use arguing with him, because he had no brains to reason
with.2 He could not even read or write. Blows were all
he understood. Then there was Jim who never fought himself, but who was the gang's spy. But Thompson was perhaps the worst of them all. He had a pinch like a crab.3
His favourite trick was to come up secretly behind a chap and
leave a bruise on him that took days to heal.*
Shorty did not do any dirty work himself. He was too
clever for that and the police had never caught him yet.
As to Nap, the police had promised him Borstal5 the next
time they caught him fighting.
Val was coming across the yard in the fog that he wished
were even thicker. He had a scarf over his mouth, and his
hands were red with the cold. To approach his own house
on such a night was like attacking a fortress. He never knew
whether it was defended or not. But this evening he felt
that Shorty's gang was about.8 He knew they had sworn to
liquidate his own gang.
Luckily two women were standing near the front door
talking. That was good. There could be no one hiding in
the dark beneath the stairs. The first danger point was past.'
He rushed up the first flight of stairs, all' the time fearing
that some of his enemies would attack him. Perhaps most
of all he feared Thompson. Mum always said Thompson
would come to a bad end.8 Val hoped he would. At the mo-
ment he did not feel a brave gangster any more. He felt
a frightened hungry boy.
There was no one on the first landing.
Second flight! There was a dark corner on the second
landing where anyboby might hide. Ha held his breath.1
Not a soul. What luck! Suddenly he remembered that there
was no light on the third landing. So that flight might be
the worst place of all. If he passed it safely, he might be all
right. Going up silently on
tiptoe, Val could smell kippers. He thought enviously
of the lucky grown-ups who
could come home to their
tea every night without fearing anybody or anything.
Passing the dark corner
he stretched out his hands.
Nothing. He was almost up.
Safe. One more flight to
home.
He ran the last flight of
stairs at a gallop, and so
fell right into Thompson's
arms.8 Luckily, Thompson
was not in a mood for fighting. He was dressed up and
going out to the pictures. But Val was taking no
chances.3 Although he was paralysed by fright, still
he thought fast, bent down, seized Thompson's legs in their
splendid socks and brought him down. Thompson gave a
yell 4 and rolled down the stairs. Val got to his feet and
rushed up to his flat. In a moment Thompson could get
to his feet and fall on the boy. Val hoped Mum would
open the door quickly.
He banged hard at the door of his flat. They were in,5
for he could see the light beneath the door. "Mum," he
yelled, "let me in!" He knew she was doing something in the
kitchen. "Mum, quick!" At any moment Thompson might
appear on the landing. "Mum!" Val banged louder.
When she opened the door, he almost fell in.
"Can't you wait a minute?" she asked angrily. "You
aren't the fire brigade."
There was a Jovely smell of frying onions. Val took "a
deep breath. He was back in his fortress. He was safe. He
didn't want to think of tomorrow's battle. "What's for
tea?" he asked.
He put on his swagger again1 as he went into the livingroom. He was again the gangster in his hide-out. No one,
not even his family knew what a dangerous life he led.
Everybody blamed Val for fighting, but the grown-ups
could not guess that it was in self-defence. Once weaken,
once give in,2 and Shorty's gang would kill him. Sometimes, when he couldn't sleep at night, he wished he could
go and live in a quiet peaceful place. That was why he
wanted a bike so badly. On a bike he would be able to escape.
"Going out?"3 Mum asked later when he had swallowed
his mince and onions and three slices of bread and syrup.
"No. Want to see T. V."
He did not want to take risks again that night.
Chapter VII
THE EPIDEMIC
After the smog came heavy rain,4 and the whole yard
was full of running water. The small children loved the pools,
especially those who had gum boots. But the mothers
cursed the weather, for they could not dry the washing, and
all the flats were full of damp clothes. Mum went shopping
and got wet to the skin1 and caught a cold that turned into
'flu.2
After that the whole of Magnolia Buildings had 'flu.
It was like the Black Death 3 in the history book.
One minute you were quite well, and the next in bed with
a high temperature. Mum and Val and Ally were all in bed
at the same time. It was Dad who stayed at home and nursed
them all, because Auntie Glad did not offer her help
and nobody wanted to ask her. She just went out to her
work, as usual, and did not seem to see the family crisis.
So poor Doreen had to do all the shopping.
Mum was just out of bed and very weak still and Ally
was only allowed to sit up for an hour, when Len fell ill.
"I don't like the look of Len,"4 said Mum to Dad at
tea-time. "He says it hurts him to breathe.5 We haven't got
a thermometer, so I went to Mrs Fisher, and would you
believe it? She said Jim smashed theirs in half!"
"Keep him warm," said Dad. But when he came back
from the "Cock" later, he didn't like the look of Len either.
The child was very red in the face now, and breathing with
a strange noise.
"You sleep with Val," said Mum to Dad. "I'll take
Lennie with me. I think we ought to get the doctor."
"It's Sunday tomorrow," said Dad. "You can't get the
doctor on Sunday, especially with this epidemic and all." 8
"He's got to come,"7 cried Mum. "What do we pay for?"
But they put off ringing up the doctor that' night.
Ally could never forget that terrible Sunday. They
finally sent her out to telephone on Sunday evening. All
the doctor's wife said was, "lie's out. 8 Why didn't you ring
up before'ten this morning?"
"We didn't know Len was so ill this morning," answered Ally. "And we didn't want to trouble the doctor on
Sunday."
"Well, he's out now. I'll give him your message," said
the doctor's wife in such a tone that Ally understood she
had had enough of1 the epidemic.
Ally ran home in a state of despair. She always did any
telephoning for the family,2 because nothing could make
Mum pick up a receiver. She was afraid of it, the way 3
some people are afraid of electricity.
"He won't come," Ally said, bursting into the flat.
"He's out. His wife said we should have rung up 4 this
morning."
"I don't khow what to do," said Mum and went back to
look at Len. His face was quite pale now and when he woke,
he cried. "I'm sure he's got something worse than 'flu."
Mum's friend, Mrs Crawley, who came in at that moment, had a look at Len too. "He ought to take penicillin,"
she said. "I think he's got pneumonia. He's breathing just
like Bob did before he died."
Mum looked at Dad. "You go to the doctor yourself,
Alf," she said. "Perhaps he will come if you go yourself.
We just can't wait until morning."
But at that very moment there was a knock at the door,
and the doctor came in. He looked dead tired5 and was panting from the long climb upstairs. 8
"Why didn't you let me know this morning?" he asked.
But Mum and Dad were too worried to explain. They just
took him right in to see Len.
He sat down beside the bed, and said in a cheerful,
quite different voice, "Well, young man, and what's the
matter with you?" so that Len, who was always polite,
tried to smile.
While the doctor was examining Len and listening to
his breathing, Auntie Glad came back. She asked no questions but went straight to the kitchen and put on a kettle for
her tea. Then she got out a little tray, and put on it her
own rosy cup and saucer, some milk and sugar. Out of her
black bag, she took a packet of biscuits. When she went
into the kitchen to make her tea, Mrs Crawley who was still
there said, "Chatty, isn't she?"1 and went to the door. As
she passed the kitchen she said to Auntie Glad, "Len's real
bad. 2 The doctor's here."
Auntie Glad did not turn lound, but went on making
her tea. So Mrs Crawley left the flat.
As Auntie Glad put her tray down on the table, the
doctor appeared from Len's room. He was followed by 3
Mum and Dad, and all three looked very grave.
The doctor took some medicine out of his black bag
and said, "Give him one of these every four hours, Mrs Berners. Have you an alarm clock? He must not miss a dose
all through the night. I'll look in tomorrow morning."
"What's he got?" asked Mum, and her lips were trembling.
"Just a touch of pleurisy,"4 said the doctor. "But don't
worry. He'll be all right soon. Modern science is wonderful."
When the doctor had gone, Mum, usually so cheerful,
sank into a chair and tears rolled down her cheeks "Oh,
Len! my little chap!"
Dad came up to her and awkwardly patted her on the
shoulder. "He'll be all right," he said. "You'll see. Give
him one of the pills."
During the next few days, each time Ally went out she
was afraid to come home for fear of what might have happened5 in the flat. Len lay so quiet, so good, only his little
crew-cut head turned a little on the pillow.
"He's going to be all right, isn't he, Mum?" she asked
once as they both stood outside the bedroom door.
"He's got to be," 1 Mum answered fiercely. Her eyes
were red from no sleep and from crying. Dad still went to
work, but came home al dinner time to see how things were
going.
On the third day, Len asked for a bit of bread and butter.
The fever that had sprung on him like a tiger, now gave up
its attack. By the fourth day Len could sit up and read the
comics 2 that Auntie Glad had brought him.
All the family sat on the edge of Mum's bed looking at
Len and laughing as he smiled. Like soldiers after a long,
hard battle, they were exhausted but happy. For a time the
Berners stayed together in the flat, not wanting to go out
at all. They only wished to be sure that they were all safe
and together.
It was a wonderful day when Len could be carried into
the living-room, to sit in the big armchair. His eyes that
seemed,too big for his face, were even larger when he saw
the great cake Mum had made. On its while iced top, in
pink sugar, were the words "Get well quick, Len". Mum cut
the cake and everybody got a thick slice, including Mrs
Crawley who came in to visit Len.
"I'm going to have a pair of roller-skates for my birthday," said Len and smiled happily as he bit into his cake.
Chapter VIII
WYCH COTTAGE1
Spring was setting in now and the Common was really
coming to life. All the mothers were out with their prams
which they pushed about or put under the trees round the
bandstand. The old men had brought out their chess or
dominoes and were playing serious games. Soon the white
and pink flowers would be in bloom.2 The pigeons were
cooing, the sparrows were fighting for the crumbs thrown
by the mothers, and the old duck built her nest as usual
on the island of the small pond. Schoolchildren were running
about everywhere and their kites were floating high in the
sky.
The playground was full of children too. They were
swinging, riding, sliding and digging. The lady who ran
the playground3 had not a moment of peace. All the time
she had to scold the children for something, especially the
boys who threw sand in each other's eyes.
"Wouldn't have her job 4 for a thousand pounds," said
all the mothers.
In the little wood by the tennis court the grass was already green. The children ran through the wood to see
whether the wagons of the May fair had arrived yet. So
In every corner of the Common something was happening.
Mum and Dad very seldom got away from Magnolia
Buildings or the streets around the Common, except to
go to work. Dad went down to the railway which was about
a mile away towards the river, and when Mum was working,
she took the bus every morning to clean her office. In the
evenings, Dad went to the "Cock" for a half pint of beer
and a chat 5 with his friends, but Mum did not even have
that change. By the time she had prepared tea, washed up,
done the ironing,1 sewn on a few buttons and sent the children to bed, she was glad to go to bed herself.
So it was a great event for her when she went two or
three times a year to see her parents who had a little market
garden not far from London. Sometimes if she went on
a Saturday she would take one of the children to show off
to Grandma,2 but that couldn't be done very often as it
cost money.
It was after Len had recovered, and while Mum was
still at home, that she and Ally went to Wych Cottage
together. Wych Cottage was the name of Grandpa's house.
Mum had looked so tired all the week that Ally was afraid
she would not be able to go, and she kept glancing at Mum
to see how she was, afraid that the trip would be put off.
"It's no good3 looking at me every two minutes, Glory,"
said Mum a bit angrily, "because I'm not sugar and won't
melt before Saturday."
"Are we really going then?"4
"Of course. And you'd better wash your hair and best
gloves and see to B your stockings. And mind, Glory, I'll
not take you there if you wear your trousers. It's all right
here, but Grandma wouldn't like it. You'll put on a skirt!"
There was a terrible fuss in the flat on Friday night.
Mum and Ally were both washing their hair and preparing
everything for the trip. At last Mum sat down before the
electric fire to dry her hair and began to give Doreen directions about the warming up of a pie that was already
made.
"I'll set the oven before I go, see, it won't be difficult
at all. Then there's only the potatoes to cook, and even
you, Doreen Berners, can manage it." (It was well known
that Doreen hated housework of any kind.) "Though," went
on Mum, "I pity the man you'll marry, poor chap."
"I'm not going to marry," said Doreen sulkily, because
she also wanted to go to see the grandparents. "Mum, I
haven't been to Wych Cottage for such a long time."
"You were sick on the bus last time," said Mum, turning
over to dry the other side of her head.
"Well, I'm older now," protested Doreen.
"That doesn't mean your stomach is stronger. Look1
at the Eleven Plus! No, Dor, I'm not risking it this time.
You stay at home, like a good girl." 2
Ally put all her clothes out on her chair that night, so
as to be ready for the morning: her best coat, her brown
dress, clean petticoat, stockings, gloves, and well-polished
shoes. The bus went from the "Cock" at ten, so there was no
time to waste.3 Dad still did not work on Saturdays, so he
would be at home to look after Len and the dinner.
It was the first real spring day as Mum and Ally walked
over the Common. The grass smelt fresh, the birds were
singing, and the sun was shining brightly. It seemed like
a miracle after the long dark of the winter. Ally's heart
was full of joy as she got on the bus.
It was a nice bus with comfortable seats. Mum said,
"You can sit by the window, Glory, and look at the view,
because I always fall asleep at once."
But Ally didn't shut her eyes for a minute all the way,
for it was so seldom that she went away from home.
As the bus rolled along the road, she sucked the sweets
she had brought for the trip and enjoyed everything she
saw: the big shops with cotton frocks in the windows, flowers on the stalls, dogs, handsome policemen at crossings.
She thought a bit about Izzy Waters4 and wondered what he
would think of the letter she had written to him, asking
for his autograph. When she listened to Izzy on the radio,
she forgot all her troubles and felt so happy.
"Yes, this is not so bad. Off my legs and nothing to do,"5
said Mum, and her eyes shut and her head rolled sideways
against Ally's shoulder. In spite of her curled hair and her
lipstick, Mum looked rather grey and tired when she fell
asleep.
The bus rolled on and on until it stopped at Wychwood.6
Mum and Ally got out, feeling like explorers who had arrived in some distant and savage land. Ally thought of
Wychwood as deepest country, because she had never
lived outside London, had never left it except to go for
a day to the sea. But to tell the truth, the village was almost
a suburb.
Mum led the way t a l k i n g with difficulty on her high
heels along the lane which led to Wych Cottage. Ally walked
beside her looking for once2 a neat schoolgirl in a skirt.
At the end of the lane stood an old cottage. Around it was
a pretty front garden full of spring flowers and at the back
was the market garden with neat rows of early vegetables. A
cherry tree was in bloom before the door, and a black cat
sat on the stone steps.
"Oh, isn't it lovely!"3 cried Ally. "I'd forgotten how nice
it was." And she jumped up into the air.
"You mind your manners,"4 said Mum nervously, pushing a curl of her hair into her hat. "And wait till you are
offered things."8
They opened the little gate and went along the path to
the cottage. Grandma opened the door. She looked just
as she always did in her neat, brown cardigan, and black
skirt with a large white apron over it. She had thin grey
hair which was drawn smoothly back into a bun; but she
did not look like a real old lady because she was so upright
and quick.
"Wipe your feet well," she said, "and come in. Well,
Marjorie," she kissed Mum and then turned to Ally. "My,8
how Gloria grows! She's almost a young woman. Though
why you couldn't have called her Mary or Kate or some
other plain name, I don't know. Gloria!" she sniffed. "It's
enough to give the girl ideas."7
Mum laughed. "Don't worry. She's got them."8
"There's a cup of tea waiting." Grandma led the way in. 1 "I thought you
would be glad to have one."
Mum, who was a great reader of 2 the
women's magazines that the typists threw
away in the office wastepaper baskets,
had done up her kitchen in the newest
way. She had pasted two different wallpapers on her four walls and had bought
curtains of yet another style, so that on
the whole the room could make you a bit
dizzy. But Grandma's kitchen was quite different. No
one had ever modernized Wych Cottage and so the kitchen looked as it had looked .years ago. It had no
particular colour at all, but there were pictures and
china plates on the walls, and the shelves were a real
museum of little ornaments. Dut best of all, of couise, was
a glass walking stick filled with a thousand sweets, pink
and white. Ever since she was a baby, 8 Ally wanted to have
that walking stick.
After Grandma had asked about the health of the whole
family, she glanced at Mum and said to Ally, "Now you
run along, miss, and find your Grandpa and tell him that
his cup of tea will be ready in ten minutes."
Ally knew that Grandma wanted to have a talk with
Mum, so she jumped up and ran out through a dark little
room where Grandma cooked on an old oil stove, and out
into the big garden at the back of the cottage.
It was a real pleasure to walk through such a nice, tidy
garden, Grandpa was working in the garden and his old
brown clothes were of the same colour as the earth.
"Why, if it isn't our Glory!"4exclaimed Grandpa, and
he gave her a kiss that smelt of earth and tobacco. He was
quite an old man but his wrinkled face was rosy and he
was always smiling. It was from him that Mum had got
her gay temper which she passed on to Ally. "Why haven't
you come to see your old Grandpa before?" he asked.
"There you are coming up a proper
handsome little maid, The boys will
be after you2 like bees after honey."
He pinched her arm.
"They said to tell you that tea
would be ready in ten minutes," said
Ally, suddenly realizing all over again3
how much she liked her grandfather.
The old man winked. "That means
the women don't want you and me
for a bit. They want to talk in private.4 Come along. I'll
show you the place and pick you a nice bunch of flowers
over there."
So Grandpa and Ally slowly walked along the garden
paths and he showed her everything there was to see, and
told her how much trouble he had with all sorts of pests,
so that Ally was greatly surprised to know that there were
so many wicked creatures in the country.
"In town, there are only fleas and flies," she said.
"I'd lie down and die at once, if I had to live in a dirty
old town," said Grandpa.
When they got back to the house, Mum and Grandma
must have had their talk,5 for they were sitting near the
hearth, cups in hand, quite ready to greet the other two.
"Did you wipe your feet and shut the back door?" asked
Grandma.
Ally said she did, and sat down in a small chair by
the hearth feeling she was a story-book character6 and not
at all the Glory Alleluia of Magnolia Buildings. Grandma
somehow could make everybody have good manners!
While the grown-ups talked, Ally looked about her and
wondered why she liked the cottage so much. It seemed to
have been there for ever and ever,7 and it was as if8 Grand-
ma and Grandpa could not live anywhere else. In the flats
people were always moving and changing, but perhaps that
was because they had not a piece of real ground under them.
"I think if I grew some flowers myself," thought Ally,
"I would never want to go away and leave them. It's so
quiet too, no shouting like in the flats. I would like to live
here."
Before dinner Grandma took her visitors upstairs to
get tidy1 and brought up some water so that Mum and Ally
could wash. There was no running water2 at Wych Cottage.
They had a very good dinner: pork and vegetables from
the garden, an apple pie and cream and then some strong
tea. When they could eat no more and were resting before
washing up, Ally ventured to ask about the glass walking
stick.
"I gave it to your Grandma," said the old gardener,
smiling all over his wrinkled face. "I bought it at the May
fair."
Suddenly Grandma laughed too and she looked almost
young for a moment. "That was when I was nurse at the
Hall."3
"Go on, tell4 Glory the story," cried Mum, who looked
much better after her meal and rest. "I used to love it when
"I was a little girl." And then came the story of Grandma's
and Grandpa's love.
Grandma was nurse at a big house in Sussex5 — that
was the Hall — and Grandpa came there to work as gardener. They both had to work hard from early morning
till late at night. The maid-servants were not allowed to
have followers. They were even not allowed to talk to the
men-servants at the Hall.
"But the girls had to let the gardeners into the house
when they brought fruit, vegetables or flowers," said Grandma, "though our head nurse would have skinned us girls
if she had seen us talk to them,1 and that's how I got to
know him,"2 she nodded at her husband.
Grandpapa chuckled. "Your Grandma was a pretty
maid. I sang in the choir in those days and I used to see
all the maid-servants coming into church. Plain black hats
the girls had to wear, not a flower in them. Still I noticed
your Grandma, and we had a talk or two3 in the garden. If
old Green, the head gardener, had seen us, I'd have got
it hot."4 The old man chuckled again.
"Well," he went on, "neither old Green nor the head
nurse could forbid the fair to come to the town, and as it
was Gertie's day off, I met her there."
Grandma interrupted him. "Came up to me as bold
as brass,8 and asked me to go for a ride on the horses. The
very idea!"6
"And did you?" Ally asked.
"She did, but that was later," said Grandpa. "That was
after we saw the walking stick. I said to her, 'Now, my
maid...' "
"Enough," put in Grandma quickly, but her face grew
quite pink.
"Anyway, I bought her the walking stick, though she
told me not to."
"Well, how was I7 to carry it home? The head nurse would
have asked where I got the thing !"
"So we went to a fortune teller."
"Now, Bert, that's really quite enough," said Grandma.
"And do you know what that fortune teller said?" went
on Grandpa with a grin, paying no attention to Grandma's
words. "Now, the fortune teller, a real gipsy she was, with
gold rings in her ears, she says to your Grandma: 'Well,
my maid, you've got a young man that rides a high horse.'8
And that was how I first learnt that your Grandma was
keeping company1 with our groom."
"I never kept company with him," Grandma protested.
"A silly young chap, and thought a lot of himself,"2 said
her Grandpa. "And then," he continued, "the gipsy said to
Gertie, smiling 'Yes, my maid, you've got a young man that
rides a high horse, but you'll never marry him. The man
you'll marry will hit you with a big stick.' 'No, he won't,'
cried your Grandma, 'no man will ever beat me.' 'Won't he?'
I said, and with that I took up the glass walking-stick that
she had forgotten about, and hit her! We all burst out laughing.3 So when the old gardener died that spring, I got his cottage and we got married and lived there till we moved here."
On the way home in the bus, Mum asked, "Enjoyed
your day?"
"Oh, yes," cried Ally. "You know, Mum, I wish I'd lived
in Grandma's time. It sounds so romantic, not even to be
allowed to meet your true love and all."4
"It was hard work and low pay,"said Mum. "But there's
something I've got to tell you, Glory. I waited till I saw
Grandma, but you'll have to know sooner or later I'm going
to have an operation next month, so you and Dad'll have to
manage somehow. I kept putting it off5 and putting it off,
but now the doctor has booked me a bed at the hospital."
"Oh, Mum!" cried Ally, feeling that the world around
her had suddenly become sad and gloomy. "How long will
you be away?"
"For about a month. Still, I know you'll do your best,8
and Dad'll help."
"You're going to be all right, aren't you, Mum?" Ally
asked in horror, suddenly realizing the danger.
"Of course I am. It's nothing serious. I'll be as right
as rain,"7 cried Mum, and she gave her old, cheerful laugh.
Chapter IX
VAL'S PERFECT CRIME1
"I've just got to have a bike," said Val to himself during
the first week of the Easter holidays. "If I had a bike, I
could get out of here and away from Shorty's gang and go
fishing and exploring, and see the world."
But the question was, how to get the money? Now that
Mum was not working there was less money at home than
usual. There had been no pocket money at all lately.
Val thought hard2 about how he could make money.
First he tried to get a job with the newsvendors, but
they all had boys. Then he went to see Mr Copley at the
stationer's.3 But everyone knew Val's reputation.
"You're a bad boy," said old Mr Copley, looking at him
over the top of his spectacles. "Everyone says so. Always
fighting."
"I don't want to fight," muttered Val, standing sideways to hide a black eye. 4
"Then why do you do it?" asked the old man. "Look at
your coat. It's dirty. And not a button on it. I want a tidy
boy."
Val looked at his coat. It was a sad sight. Mum had already given up mending his clothes for him. "It's a waste
of my time," she said. "You ought to walk about without
any clothes, just painted blue, like the savages."
"If the boy you've got now goes, will you take me on
then?" asked Val.
"No. I want a steady boy," said old Copley and turned
away.
Val could not explain that he wanted to be steady, that
he hated fighting. No one would have believed him. Then,
he was proud, too proud to make excuses for himself.5 So
he just wiped his nose with the back of his hand and so
added another black spot to his face. Dirt just grew on Val.
Next he tried some other shops and the laundry.
"Don't you want a Saturday boy?"1 he asked. "I'll come
in the evenings too."
But they all said they had boys and the laundry woman2
cried, "Go home and wash your face before you go asking
for a job."
Val hadn't thought of that, so he stood there quite
puzzled.
The woman giggled. "Tell your Mum to put you in
the next bag of washing."
So they were laughing at him! That was too much. Val
could feel tears coming to his eyes, so he ran away, with
the giggling of the laundry girls still in his ears.
In despair he went back to the flat and really washed
his face, but as he didn't think of washing his ears or his
neck, he looked like a Negro who had put on a pink mask.
Then he went to call on Mrs Crawley and Mrs Doherty and
some of the other neighbours and asked them all to give
him some work; but everyone answered, "Run along, Val,
and don't bother me. Last time you did my shopping you
broke the eggs, and forgot the bread."
"It was not my fault about the eggs," said Val. "That
was Thompson. He tripped me and everything fell out of
the basket."
But all the housewives were like Mr Copley. They
wanted a steady boy.
At last he gave up his search for work, and went out
into the yard. "It's enough to drive you to crime," he said
to himself. "It isn't as if3 I didn't want to earn the money
honestly." He went across the Common, and down the High
Street, pressing the buttons "B"4 in every telephone booth
he passed; but someone else had thought of that. He
pinched an apple off a stall, not because he was hungry, but
as a revenge on a society that did not want him. He went
and looked at the lovely, shining new bicycles in the shop
windows. Val stood there imagining himself riding down
hills, rushing along to the sea. He asked himself why other
boys had bikes and he didn't. And he said to himself,
"It's not fair."
He began to hate everybody and to feel that the whole
world was against him. He hated a society that refused to
let him even work for a bicycle. Soon he came to the Supermarket where there was a great crowd of people doing their
shopping.
"I could1 bring little Len here and make him pinch something. I could stand in front of him, and he could put
the thing into his pocket without anyone noticing,"2 he
thought.
Then he remembered that Len was now eight, and so he
was responsible for his own actions. Much as Val hated the
world3 he did not want to get his little brother in trouble
with the police.
While all this was going through his head, he was watching a fat lady in a nylon fur coat. She had bought some
apples and was going to put them into her basket. For a
moment she had put her purse on the counter. Without thinking, but acting on impulse,4 Val picked up the purse,
pocketed it, and rushed off. It was done in a second and
he was out of sight before the woman had noticed anything.
So this is what filching had led to! Val had thought
nothing of pinching6 an apple, or a cake, and now here he
was sfealing money. Walking quickly, but not really running, he slipped into a narrow street near the High Street.
The purse was burning in his pocket. He was so frightened
at what he had done that his mouth was dry and he could
hardly breathe.
As soon as he got to the flat, he locked himself in the
lavatory so as to examine the purse in peace. With trembling
fingers he opened the purse and found eight pounds in
notes and about eight shillings in silver. Enough money
to buy a second-hand bicycle!
He didn't feel any remorse now that6 he was safe at home.
The lady at the counter had not seen him. No one else
had noticed him, with all that crowd. He had really committed the perfect crime!
But while he stood there looking at the money, he realized that there were still difficulties. He could not go
out and buy a bike, for his parents would at once wonder
where he had got the money.
What a fool he was! Why hadn't he thought of that
before? He left the lavatory, went into his room, and sat
down on the bed. He had been a thief and all to no purpose.1
Then suddenly he saw what he must do. He would have
to pretend2 that he had got a job. This would mean that
he would have to disappear every Saturday and on most
evenings. No one in the family would have the time or
energy to watch where he went.
It was a nuisance that he wouldn't be able to get the
bike at once, because he couldn't pretend to earn more than
ten or twelve shillings a week. So first of all he would have
to find a safe place to hide the purse and the money, and
that would be difficult, for the flat was so small and so
many people lived in it that it had no secret corners. Val
thought of the cellar in the deserted house, but it was too
far from home and then the other boys might find his treasure there. But it wouldn't be safe to walk about with eight
pounds in his pocket. For the first time Val discovered
that it wasn't so simple to hide one's riches. At last he
decided to put the purse under his mattress. But before he
did so, he took out of the purse the odd eight shillings,
because it would be so nice to buy sweets or cigarettes or
even go to the pictures after all these weeks without any
pocket money.
As soon as Val had money in his pocket, he wished to
show off, to make Shorty's lot understand that he was rich,
a chap who really did things3 and who wasn't afraid of
the police. But it was rather difficult to think of a way to
do it.4
As he walked across the
yard, he saw Shorty and
Nap smoking by the bicycle
sheds. They couldn't attack
Val, for Sprot and some
women were in the yard
too. So Val safely passed
the yard and went down
the road, but as he came
to the tobacconist's kiosk,
he had a bright idea. Those
boys smoked ordinary cigarettes, but he, Val, would
show them. He entered the
kiosk and said, "Dad wants
two cigars, please." The cigars cost about a shilling each,
but two shillings was well spent1 if he could show off to
Shorty's gang. Val's father sometimes bought a cigar or
two, so the man in the kiosk gave them to Val without any
question.
When Val got to the Common he started to light his
cigar. He had smoked some cigarette-ends before, but this
cigar was much stronger. Still, Val was ready to do anything to make an impression on Shorty and Nap.
With the cigar in his mouth Val walked across the yard.
The cigar smelt so strong that its blue smoke reached Nap
and Shorty. Val did not want to spoil the effect, so he
marched right across the yard and up the stairs towards his
flat. But as he came to the top flight he suddenly felt
so strange and dizzy that he had to sit down on a stair,
and the half-smoked cigar fell from his hand on to the floor.
Mum found him there as she went out to do her shopping.
He was sitting with his head against the wall, his eyes
were closed and the cigar lay at his feet.
"Why, Val, what on earth?"
He opened his eyes and tried to stand up, but his face
was green beneath the dirt.
Then Mum saw the cigar and asked, "Where did you
get that thing?"
"Someone gave it me." Though he felt so bad, Val could
still think.
"Get on!"1 Mum knew Val well enough to recognize a
lie. She bent quickly to search his pockets. Her fingers
touched the silver coins, and she cried, "Where did you
get that from?"
There was a pause before Val answered, "I earned it."
"Oh, I see," said Mum. "You won't cheat me, my lord.
You'll come right back to the flat with me. I've got one
or two things to ask you."
In the living-room, Mum faced Val. "Have you been
filching?"
"No."
"You have, and don't you lie to me." She came nearer
to Val; her usually smiling face was pale and worried.
"Where did you get the money, Val? Give it here. I know
Dad and I didn't give you any, so you can't have got it
honestly.2 When I tell your Dad, he will give you a good
thrashing."3
"Mum! Oh, no!" Val put the armchair between himself
and Mum, for in spite of her good temper she could be
really angry.
"Tell me the truth!" she cried. "And give me that money.
Where did you get it?"
Very slowly and unwillingly Val took the money out
of his pocket coin by coin.4 Three shillings, four. He hoped
to keep at least two shillings for himself, but Mum went on
waiting until he had given her all. When she had got it,
Mum went on with her questioning.
"Where did you get it?"
"I — I found it."
"Where?"
Val felt too bad to think of a good story,5 so he told
the truth. "In the Supermarket."
"How did you find it?"
"It was on a stall."
All the time Val had been trying to get nearer and nearer to the door. He hoped to escape if he could distract
Mum's attention just for. one second. But she was too quick
for him.1 She rushed to the door herself and caught him
by the collar.
"Now, I'll have the truth out of you,2 Val Berners, even
if I have to beai it out of you. Whose money is that?"
Val blushed. "I don't know. Someone dropped a purse."
"That's another lie," said Mum. "Where's the purse
then?"
Val saw that it had been silly to mention the purse.
"I threw it away," he said.
"And that's another lie," said Mum, who was now very
angry indeed. It was terrible to find out that her son was
a thief. She shook him and cried, "You give me that purse
at once!"
Val fought and struggled to get away from her, but Mum
held him fast. "I won't, I can't," he sobbed, for he couldn't
lose his only chance to have a bike.
"Where did you hide it? If you don't tell me, I'll go
to the police and they'll send you to Borstal."
When at last Val said that it was under his mattress,
Mum marched straight to the bed and took out the
purse.
"You're a thief, a dirty mean little thief," she cried and
slapped him hard across the cheek.3 "Your Grandpa and
Grandma would die of shame if they knew what you'd
done. Dad and me4 have brought you up honest. We never
cheated anyone in our lives, and now look at you! Dirty,
low cheat!" Mum suddenly felt weak, her anger passed,
she sank into a chair and began to sob bitterly.
Val stood by, looking at her in horror. In all his life
he had never seen Mum cry before. She had never before
slapped his face. Now she had called him a dirty, mean
little thief and a cheat, and his pride was wounded. He
had never thought of himself as a thief. He thought it was
one of his adventures. Even this taking of the purse was
not stealing, but a revenge on people that would not1 let
him earn money. But Mum had said he was a shame to the
family. She had called him a thief.
"How could you do it, Val?" Mum was sobbing. "How
could you? I brought you up decent. I've done everything
I could to give you clothes and proper food. I got up early
and went to work, even when I was ill. And now look what
you've done! It's all to no purpose." And she sobbed more
bitterly than ever.2 She remembered her sleepless nights
when Val was a baby, her savings spent on his first little
trousers, his toys, his school shoes, his summer holiday.
Yes, all she had done for him was to no purpose if he were
to grow up a thief.0
By this time the tears were running down Val's cheeks
too, leaving white stripes on his dirty face. He turned away
from his mother to hide his trembling mouth. He couldn't
cry in front of any woman, not even his mother.
"I wanted a bike," he said. "All the other boys have
got bikes."
"I'd have given you a bike if I'd had the money,"
sobbed Mum. "You know that, Val. But to steal for it —
oh!"
"I didn't want to steal for it," said Val. "I tried to get
a job, but no one wanted me. I asked everywhere. They
laughed at me — they said — they said..." and he began
to sob too.
By and by4 they both got calmer.
"I was so proud of you, Val," said Mum in a sad voice.
"You don't know.5 And so was Dad. I ought to have made
you go6 to Sunday school, but I'm always so tired. Val,
we've got to take that purse back."
Val seized her arm. "No, Mum. They'll arrest me. No,
we can't take it back."
"We must." She got up and wiped her eyes. "We'll take
it to the police and say you picked it up in the Supermarket — on the floor. We'll say that. Go and wash your face,
Val. You're coming with me."
"Oh no, Mum. I can't. They'll guess."
"You're coming with me or I'll tell your Dad."
Val looked at her. "Suppose1 the lady doesn't go to the
police?"
"We'll go to the Supermarket after that. She probably
made a fuss3 there. But we've got to take the purse to the
police. And Val, this must be the end of filching. Take one
thing, and you'll take another. And if I ever catch you again,
I'll hand you over too the police with my own hands. I'll
not have any thieves in our family."
They went to the police station and Mum went up to the
desk, while Val stood behind her. He knew most of the
cops of their district, and hoped they would not recognize
him.
"My boy found this in the Supermarket, by the fruit
stall," said Mum to the policeman behind the counter.
"I thought it would be best to bring it straight here in case
the — the person asks about it. I'll also let them know
at the stall3 in case she—or he goes there."
Val thought that the policeman gave him a searching
look,4 but the man didn't say anything. He counted the
money in the purse, asked Mum to give him details and
wrote down everything.
"We'll let you know if somebody comes to us," he said
at last.
"Val," said Mum as they walked home. "I've got to go
to the hospital next week. I shall have no peace or rest
lying there if I'm afraid all the time of your getting into
trouble."5
Val was silent.
"What if Dad comes and tells me they've caught
you?"
Val put his hand into hers, just as he had done when
he was a small child.
"Val, promise me you won't do it any more!"
He pressed her hand and they left it at that.8
Chapter X
NIGHTGOWNS
The greatest difficulty about going to hospital was —
nightgowns. At home you could go to bed in petticoats or
old summer dresses. But you couldn't wear such things if
you had to sit up in bed in a ward where all the other ladies had nice ribboned nightgowns and looked as smart
as fashion plates.1
But where could Mum get at least two decent nightgowns, let alone the four the hospital asked for?2
"I've got my cardigan that I can wear in bed," Mum
said to Ally, "and I've got one nightgown, but that's all.
You know, Glory, I've never had a really pretty nightgown,
one of those lovely things that you see in the shop windows.
I saw a beauty last week, pale blue, with little bows of
ribbon."
When Mrs Crawley heard of Mum's difficulty, she promised to lend her one of the nightgowns she had bought
when she had to go to hospital because of her bad leg.
"It's so good of her,"3 Mum explained to Ally, "because
if you don't take enough things, they make you put on
awful old hospital nightgowns. I'd die of shame if I had
to wear one of those."
Grandma sent another nightgown, but it was so oldfashioned that Mum said she simply couldn't put it on.
"Could we alter it a bit?" said Ally, but she knew that
it was hopeless. Mum and she were both not good at
sewing.
"I'll take it to needlework class,"4 said Doreen. "The
teacher will help me with it." Doreen was good at sewing
and handicrafts.
"I'm not sure you'll be able to do it," said Mum.
The thought of the hospital and the other ladies in
the ward who would look at her scornfully made Mum go
to the post office and draw out thirty shillings of her small
savings. With this money she bought a nice pink nightgown with lace on it.
"And you'll just have to take my things home and wash
them up quickly," she said to Ally.
The last evening, Mrs Crawley and Mrs Doherty
dropped in to wish Mum luck and give her some advice about
hospital life. Mum's little
suitcase was already packed
but it was opened again to
show the ladies her new
nightgown, and the one
which Doreen had altered.
Soon Dad came home.
He carried a parcel and
looked so shy that all the
ladies couldn't he,lp smiling.1
"Brought you2 something, Marge," he muttered,
put the parcel on the table
and went straight to the
kitchen to wash. Mum untied the parcel with fingers
that trembled with excitement. Inside the parcel was a pale blue nightgown, just
like the one she had described to Ally.
"Oh!" she cried with delight.
"I told Dad you wanted it!" shouted Ally, dancing
about. "Isn't it lovely?"
"Good old Dad!" cried Mum. Her eyes were shining
and her pale cheeks grew red. "There!3 Now I'll be able to
sit up with the other ladies and look as smart as they do.
Half a minute, Alf Berners, you've got to have a kiss for
this, whether you like it or not." And she ran into the
kitchen and kissed Dad, who was all wet from washing.
"Isn't it a beauty?" exclaimed Mrs Doherty. "I wish I
could be going to hospital myself I"4 And she offered to lend
Mum her new plastic bag with roses on it to carry her soap
and tooth-brush when Mum would go to the bathroom.
"Oh, Mum, what about a dressing-gown for going to
the bathroom?" Ally had suddenly realized this need.
Mum looked puzzled for a minute. "Well, I'll just have
to wear my blue coat."
"Oh, many of them won't have any dressing-gowns, I'm
sure," cried Mrs Doherty looking at Mum with her kind
blue eyes. "And your coat is so smart, Mrs Berners, dear."
"Now, I must put all the things in the suitcase again,"
said Mum. "Wheie's my tooth-brush and comb? And now
my hankies and the sweets Ally gave me." She put everything into the suitcase, as pleased as if she were a young
girl going on her first visit.
"We'll all get up to see you off, dear," Mrs Crawley
cried as the two women went away to give their families
some tea.
The rest of the evening Mum kept giving directions to
her own family about everything they had to do while
she was away: the plants must be watered, Len must go
to bed early, Val had to wash and so on and so forth.
It was quite late by the time Auntie Glad came home.
She entered the room as usual, almost invisible in her
black coat and hat, ate the supper that Mum had kept hot
for her, and said nothing about a large parcel she had brought
home. Mum sent all the children off to bed, as they had to get
up earlier than usual. Mum had to be at the hospital by ten.
Dad had gone to the "Cock" to have his usual half pint
of beer, and Mum was finishing her ironing, when Auntie
Glad handed her the parcel without saying a word.
"Oh, Glad! What's it?" Then she cried out: "Oh!" as if
she couldn't believe her own eyes. "A dressing-gown, a
lovely dressing-gown! Glad, where did you get it? It can't
be for me!"
"I made it myself, see," explained Auntie Glad in her
low voice. "I bought the stuff for a song1 and made the
thing during the dinner hours."
"But it's lovely. I've never had anything like it before.
Oh, you are so good to me!" said Mum with tears in her
eyes.
"Well, you've been good to me, Marge," said Auntie
Glad. "You took me in, with your big family. I was glad
to do it for you."
Mum hugged the little woman, and then, as Dad came
in at that moment, she hugged him too, for she didn't
want him to think that his present was forgotten. So they
unpacked the nightgown once more and showed it to Auntie
Glad.
Then Mum put on the new dressing-gown and paraded
up and down1 for the children, who got out of bed to see
the wonderful thing.
"I'll just run and tell Mrs Crawley and Mrs Doherty,"
said Ally, who was still in trousers and sweater. "They must
see it while'it's new. Oh, Mum, you won't have to wear
your blue coat now."
The Crawley and Doherty families were not yet in
bed, and so they came at once.
"You'll be the smartest woman in the ward!" cried Mrs
Doherty. "And now off to bed, all of you, for the poor woman
must have her rest."
"Don't you worry," said Mrs Crawley. "I'll drop in
and keep an eye on things."2
"There! I've never had a nicer evening in my life,"
said Mum as she and Dad went off to bed. "It's almost
worth going to hospital 3 to find out how kind people are!"
Dad took her to the hospital in the morning. Ally had
offered to go in his place, but Dad had said, "No, the British
Railways will have to manage without me for a time. Can't
I look after my wife when she is ill?"
Chapter XI
MUM AWAY 4
When the operation was safely over and Mum began
to recover, the family returned to normal life. But the
flat seemed so quiet and dull without Mum there, laughing,
and drinking tea and chatting with her friends.
At first, Ally did her best.1 She got up early and made
the boys wash and then cooked breakfast. In the evenings
she hurried home after school to make tea and do all the
work that Mum used to do. Val and Doreen also tried to
help, and even offered to go shopping. But after a few days
the children got tired of2 it all. Dad and Auntie Glad had
not changed their ways.3 They just did their own work
and never tried to help in the flat. So all the housework
was left to Ally. She would not have minded it 4 if she
could have thought of herself as of a noble daughter doing
her duty in the absence of a sick mother. There could have
been glamour in such a role. But for that she needed praise
from the family and got none. They only grumbled.
They all took it for granted 8 that Ally had to stay at
home every evening, and couldn't act in the church play
or go to the pictures. All the other girls at school were
in the play and they told Ally about the rehearsals and
the wonderful costumes that they would wear, so that
very soon Ally began to sulk and feel unhappy.
"Glamour!" she said to herself, as she washed up piles
of dirty dishes. No one had stayed to help her in spite of
her grumbling. Val just said, "Washing-up is a woman's
job." As to Dad, he had gone to the "Cock" as usual on his
way to visit Mum. Len was too young to be of much use,
and Doreen had said she had to finish an essay.
"Again an essayl" cried Ally. "Why do you have to
work so much now? You've passed your exam. Remember
what Mum said? I pity the
man you'll marry I"
"I'll never marry. I'm
not that sort," 6 said Doreen
quietly. "Now just shut up a moment. I've got to concentrate."
In her rage Ally broke a saucer and cut her finger.
Things were going from bad to worse.1 Doreen got sick
eating too many sweets, Val came home very late every
evening and Len was always whining and asking for Mum.
Finally, Ally gave up trying.2 She stopped cooking
proper meals, and just went out and bought fish and chips.
She stopped cleaning the flat. It was not only laziness,
it was tiredness as well. During the last few months she
had been getting fatter, and the girls at school laughed at
her and called her "Fatty".3 So she had started to diet,
giving up bread and potatoes and margarine. As she was not
eating enough for her growing body, she grew more and
more tired and as she got tired, she became sulky and irritable.
In spite of her constant tiredness Ally tried to do her
morning exercises, but it was not an easy thing in the small
flat crowded 4 with furniture. She could not even do the
exercises on her bed because of Doreen.
"Oh dear, you can't have glamour if you're fat," Ally
kept saying to herself. "I must grow thin." So she went
on dieting, and in the evening she had dizzy fits 6 and so
could not mend the children's clothes. The boys shed their
buttons as a tree sheds its leaves, and it was a wonder
that they could still keep up their trousers.8
Until now, Ally had no idea how many clean clothes
were needed by seven people in a week. Mum had told
her to take the washing to the laundry on Saturdays. Ally
took it there in a shopping basket but she was greatly
surprised to find how heavy the damp things were when
she had to take them back upstairs. They didn't do any
ironing at the laundry either. The damp clothes lay about
in piles, getting dirty again, because Ally had not the
energy to dry and iron them. Finally the boys, when they
needed clean shirts, pulled them damp and unironed out
of the pile and wore them like that. 1 Then Len caught
a bad cold. He went about with a running nose z and whined
for Mum more than ever.
Besides all the housework, Ally had to go to the hospital every other day 3 to visit Mum and bring back the
nightgowns which she had to wash and iron properly at
home. Sometimes Ally even envied her mother, who was,
of course, the life and soul 4 of the ward. Whenever Ally
came in she was exchanging jokes with all the other patients. She could say something funny about every ward
maid,5 nurse or doctor and made everyone laugh. If any
patient looked gloomy, Mum would cry, "Want me 6 to
come over and draw a smile on your face with my lipstick?"
Mum knew all about everybody in the ward, what was
the matter with them and what the doctor had said. She
would tell all this to Ally as she came to visit her. "See that
patient over there? That's Mrs Hodson. Poor girl, she had
a kidney out ' last Tuesday and she's got four lovely kids.
Next to her, yes, that one with red hair, that's Beryl.
She's going to get married. And such a nice young chap
comes to see her. See that nurse in the small cap? That's
Sister Ann. When she gets angry, she shouts at the patients,
can you believe it? How's my Lennie? I'm so worried about
him. I wish he were allowed 8 to visit me. What about
Mrs Crawley, does she come often? Don't let her poke her
nose into everything or we'll never be able to get rid of9
her. Quick, duck, tell me all the news, because the bell
goes 10 in five minutes."
The woman Mum and Ally liked best in the whole ward
was Mrs Cobber. She lay very quietly in the next bed,
but she was always smiling and cheerful and the whole
ward loved her. No one, not even Mum, knew what her
trouble was,1 but it was something serious. She had been in
the hospital for a long time. Mum told Ally that she had
two nice children and their photo was on her night-table.
One evening, Mrs Cobber seemed happier than ever.
Her eyes were shining and she said to Ally, "I'll go home
soon, the doctor says. The pain's better, see, and he doesn't
think they'll keep me here much longer. My mother'll
come and look after me. I've been here for three months,
so I'll be so glad to get home at last. I can't wait to see
the children.2 I just lie here and imagine myself having
a nice cup of tea in my own kitchen."
After Ally had visited Mum, she usually felt some remorse about the flat. "I'll clean it up properly on Saturday," she promised herself.
But on Saturday, by the time she had done the shopping
and taken the washing upstairs, and prepared some slices
of bread and jam for Len, she just sank into the armchair
and looked at the untidy room without enthusiasm. The
breakfast things were still on the table, last week's wash-
ing was still unironed. Everywhere you could see matches,
crumbs, shoes, Len's toys and old newspapers. Ally knew
that the kitchen was full of dirty supper dishes from yesterday, and that out of all the beds, only Auntie Glad's had
been made.
Dad came in at that moment and for the first time he
realized the terrible disorder in the flat.
"Be glad x when Mum's back," he said.
"So'll I," said Ally. "Look at it!"
"Can't you clean up a bit?" asked Dad and sat down.
It was a very hot day and he felt exhausted because of the
heat that had come so suddenly.
"What's the use?" 2 asked Ally in a hard voice, but not
moving an inch. "As soon as I make it clean, the boys make
it dirty again. And no one helps me, not even Doreen.
Sits here all this week learning sonnets. Dear me! What
a time s to learn sonnets!" And Ally burst out sobbing.
She was so very, very tired and so hungry.
"Here, cheer up," said Dad, quite worried. "Doreen
ought to help you. Where's she gone?"
"P-poetry class or something," sobbed Ally.
"And that Val. Can't he do a bit of shopping?"
"He'd break half of the eggs and forget the bread. No,
thank you."
"What about Auntie Glad?"
"Oh, well! You know what she's like." *
Dad nodded. He knew. "Well, Dor and Val should help
you," was all he found to say
Ally sniffed. "You tell them," she said. "I'm tired of
asking. You make them help me."
Dad sat a moment thinking. Usually it was his wife
who s gave directions to the family. "All right," he said
at last. "Cheer up, Glory. I'll help you."
"You?" said Ally, very much surprised, for Dad had
been so spoilt by Mum that he never did a thing in the
house. Yet now he really helped Ally to clear the table 6
and wash up.
"I never had any idea how much Mum does," he said
in surprise.
"Nor did I," 1 sighed Ally.
The next day when Ally came to see Mum, the ward
seemed very quiet. Mum was quiet too, and nobody shouted jokes from bed to bed. As Ally kissed her, she was
afraid, and said, "Aren't you better, Mum?" for her mother
was pale and looked as if she had been crying.
Mum did not answer, she only pointed to Mrs Cbbber's
bed. It was empty. The bedclothes were changed and thebed was ready for a new patient.
"Has she gone home?" asked Ally. "She told me she was
going."
"She went — at three this morning," said Mum. "But
it wasn't to — to where she thought."
"You mean — Oh no, Mum!" Ally's own eyes also filled
with tears. The children! Mrs Cobber would never see them
now.
"They sent for her husband and put up the screens,"
said Mum, "and in the morning — she wasn't here any
more. It makes you think,2 Ally."
It made Ally think too. What was this nonsense called
glamour? Suppose that Mum had died, and hers had been
the empty bed with the clean bedclothes? She went straight
home, and tired as she was,3 she began to clean up the flat.
The next day she went out and bought a good piece of
meat and cooked it with vegetables. She also ate a large
helping of it.
Chapter XII
THE MAY FAIR
"It's here!" * yelled George across the yard one fine
Saturday morning.
"It's never!" 5 shouted back Val. "Well, George, let's
go over there at once. When did it come?"
"Probably last night. There wasn't anything yesterday."
For days the boys had been waiting for the May fair
that came every year to the Common. The fruit trees were
in bloom and their leaves were green and fresh. It was
high time for the fair to arrive.1
Like magic cities, it had grown up in a night. The great
long wagons and the lorries that carried switchbacks,
roundabouts and other things were arranged in a circle on
the fair-ground'. A spring wind was blowing dust in everybody's eyes, but the show people 2 who assembled the booths
and machines went on working as if they were mechanical
toys. All the boys from the streets round the Common were
there. They were watching, running about, criticizing
everybody and everything and getting in the way.3
Soon the electricity was linked up, and by the evening
the whole place was full of noise and light. Thousands of
bulbs of different colours sparkled round the booths.
In every corner you could hear loud music from electric
organs and the screaming sirens of the flying boats, a favourite attraction of
At the back of the show,4 among the trees, the show
people lived their usual domestic lives. The babies and
dogs played beneath the wagon wheels, old women peeled
potatoes, and blue smoke could be seen coming out of
the wagon chimneys.
The boys had saved all their pennies for the fair, and
each evening they tried to choose the best way of spending
their money. They could buy delicious hot dogs 6 or candies. But it cost a lot of money to ride on the roundabout,
and even more to shoot with a real gun at the shootingbooths.
Ally met Brian Doherty on Friday evening, and to her
surprise he said, "Are you going to the fair?"
"Is it here?" asked Ally.
"They're putting it up. Like to come and see?"
"Aren't you going with Val and the rest?" Ally saw
with surprise how tall Brian was no'w. He must have grown
a lot x during the last weeks. "I can't tonight. I've got to go
and see Mum at the hospital," she said.
Val, who had no money, went to the fair every evening.
He loved the fair and looked forward to i t 2 all the year
round. At night, when the place was so full of light, loud
music, bright colours and cheerfulness, he was happy to
be there. He longed to be one of the show people and do
some of their work. He could be the man who loaded up the
guns at the shooting-booth; that would be wonderful.
Even without a penny he could spend hours there, walking
about, watching, listening and enjoying everything.
Dad had promised Ally to speak to Val and Doreen
about helping with the housework. But the only thing
he did was to premise Val a few shillings to spend at the
fair if he helped Ally with the washing-up.
With real money in his pocket, Val went to the fair on
Saturday, full of excitement. The rest of his gang were
waiting to go with him and all seven boys went there together.
"Tell you what," 3 said Val. "Let's all have a ride on
the horses and we could try to change places while they're
going round, see? That would be smashing."
"Not me," 4 yelled Ginger! "My grandma gave me half
a crow,n. I'll go to the shooting-booth."
"You won't," said George, who was Val's lieutenant.
"You'll do what we do, see?" And he gave him a punch as
they ran. 5
But there was no time to stop and fight as the loud
music called them, and at last they arrived at the entrance
to the fair where a man was selling funny hats. Val led the
way to the roundabout, which had just started off on a
new round. The gang stood there waiting, with their mouths
open, and watched the people on crocodiles, swans, horses
and other animals rushing round and round and up and
down.1 Everything on the roundabout sparkled and shone
and the boys forgot about everybody and everything.
Suddenly they felt that there was someone behind them
and heard Nap's voice, "Look who's here! Those nasty
little boys. Do they want to have a ride 2 on the roundabout?"
"Oh, gosh!" 3 muttered Val, turning round. Why must
they come now and spoil everything? But Nap had already
caught George by his tie and Thompson was getting ready
to pinch. There was no time to lose, so Val yelled, "They're
stopping! Jump on!" For the roundabout had just slowed
down. Val's gang jumped on to the animals and clung
to them, hoping that the roundabout would soon start
again.
"Do the little boys want to ride on their nice horsies?" *
mocked Thompson, and he and Nap and two others jumped
on to the platform that was now slowly moving. When
Val saw that a battle was inevitable, he kicked out and
caught 5 Shorty in the face.
"Duly play!" 0 yelled Shorty and then the whole gang
jumped on to the platform and joined in the fight, trying
to pull the smaller boys off their seats. Thompson attacked
George who kicked back and the fight grew general and
fierce. Val's gang fought as bravely as real knights on real
horses. Thompson managed to pull George off his crocodile
and they continued fighting on the platform. The public
was now in terror; some girls screamed. The boys went on
fighting while the roundabout animals went on going up
and down and round and round. The yelling soon rose
above the music, and the man who had been collecting
money on the other side of the platform rushed to the boys
and joined in the fight. He had yelled at the man who
worked the machine to
stop,1 but the man did
not hear at first, so the
roundabout continued to
move with the boys fighting all over it.
In a few minutes the
roundabout slowed down
and stopped, and the
police appeared.
Val had only one idea,
to escape from the cops.
He knew that as leader
of the gang he ought to
stay and speak to the
police and explain that
Shorty's gang had attacked them; but he also
knew that the police
wouldn't listen.2 His nose was bleeding, his clothes were
torn, so he couldn't appear before the police in such a
state. Then, he had promised Mum not to get into trouble
while she was in hospital, and if the cops caught him now,
they would certainly send him to a special school for bad
boys.
All those thoughts came later. But at the moment escape
was the only thought.1 Paying no attention to the screaming of the women, the shouting of the boys, the whistles
of the police, he rushed to the other side of the roundabout, pushed a man who tried to stop him and in a minute
jumped down the platform. When he was safe on the
ground, he didn't stop to take breath 2 but kept on running, leaving behind him the yells and angry voices and
the music of the fair.
With a beating heart he managed to reach home at
last. His nose was bleeding less now and he wiped it on
his sleeve.
As he ran, several unpleasant thoughts attacked him.
Suppose 3 the rest of the gang was caught, what would they
say to a leader 4 that had deserted them? What would
they do if they were punished, and Val got off free? They
would probably turn against him.
And at the same time he knew that he had to run away.
There was no other way out for him.5 If the police caught
him, that would worry Mum, and make her worse.8 If
Mum died, it would be the end of the world.
When he got to the yard, he walked slowly. Nobody
must think that he was hurrying. All the way upstairs he
argued with himself. What if the gang thought he was
a traitor? But then, even if he had stayed, what could
he have done? The police would not listen to a twelveyear-old boy.
What a pity that Mum was not at home! It would be
no good to speak to Dad, because he would not understand.
He would only be angry that Val had got into trouble
again 7 and perhaps he would even give him a thrashing.
In the dark, the house looked like a fortress. Most of the
inhabitants had gone to bed. By now, Dad must be back
from the "Cock". The problem was how to get into the flat
without being seen.
Val went up the stairs very carefully, but suddenly Mrs
Doherty opened her door and caught him by the collar.
"Wait now!" she said. "Where's Brian?"
"I don't know," muttered Val. Probably in a police
car or even in an ambulance, he thought. The light from
the open door showed Mrs Doherty the fear beneath the
dirt on Val's face.
"Was he not at the fair with you?"
"We — we lost each other, see." Val tried to get free,
but Mrs Doherty held him fast. He must get into bed.
Only there would he be safe, if the police came to their
house. Any of his gang might give him away, especially
Bill who was such a big mouth.1
"It's late, very late," said Mrs Doherty. She had put
on an old shawl over her head, for the night was getting
cold. "What were you doing there? Were you riding on the
roundabout?" At the word roundabout Val started. Mrs
Doherty looked at him again and saw blood on his shirt.
She immediately felt something was wrong.
"Wait now, Val! Something's happened. Tell me the
truth, boy."
At first Val wanted to pull away and run, but then he
realized that he needed help. Mrs Doherty was the mother
of one of his gang. He must try and make her understand.
"It was Shorty —" he began. "It wasn't us." 2
"Oh, those boys again," sighed the woman. "Go on."
"We weren't doing anything. Honest.3 We were just
waiting for the roundabout to stop, and we were going to
have a ride, see. Then Shorty and his gang came up. They
started it all. We didn't want to fight. We were just enjoying ourselves, see. We got up on the horses and thought
they'd leave us alone, but they went after us and began
fighting. They tried to pull us off. All the people were
yelling. Then the police came and I ran away."
"The police? Oh, dear! * What happened to my Brian?"
"I don't know. He hates fighting, but Nap attacked
him. Shorty's boys are bigger than us."
"Dear me! So he may be in the hands of the police."
Mrs Doherty turned to the door and then cried, "And
himselfa is on night duty, and I can't leave the kids."
"I couldn't do anything," said Val. "They wouldn't
have listened to me. We didn't start the fight."
"It's that Shorty. The wicked devil!" cried Mrs Doherty.
"Those chaps are a shame to the whole block. No one has
dared to raise a hand to them,3 and it's high time they
werp punished. My Brian's as quiet as a lamb if he's left
alone.4 Books is all he wants. I myself'll go to the police
and all the other mothers too, for we're already sick ofB
those hooligans. No boy can walk safe in this block because of them."
Mrs Doherty spoke with great spirit and Val looked
at her amazed. He had never thought that the parents
knew about Shorty's gang.
"They always scold me for fighting," he said bitterly.
"But I don't want to fight. It's them.8 They always start
it. I've just got to defend myself."
"Don't speak so loud. I don't want Mrs Crawley to hear
us. If Brian does not come back, I must go to the police station. Did anyone near the roundabout see how it all had
started?"
"There was a lot of people. But it all started so quick,
see."
"Sometimes I curse the day we left Ireland and came
to this wicked city," said Mrs Doherty in despair.
Luckily at this moment, Brian himself appeared; but
what a terrible state he was in! His clothes were torn, and
there was a great bleeding cut across his cheek. One eye
was black and already closing.7
"Brian!" cried his mother. "Have they killed you?"
"Almost," said Brian.
"Where are the others?" asked Val.
"The police took George and Shorty and Thompson.
But Nap got away and so did the rest of us.1 Oh, Mum,
it was awful. They just started it. Nap pulled me off my
horse and I fell on to the platform and cut my face. It
hurts awfully."
"Come in and I'll wash you," said Mrs Doherty. "Thank
God! 2 I thought you were in prison."
"How did you get away?" Brian asked Val.
"Oh, I slipped off," said Val, to whom all his self-control had returned. "How did they get George?"
"Shorty knocked him down, see. It was terrible, Val.
You never saw so many cops. And do you know about
Ginger? He broke his arm, I saw the ambulance as I got
away. It wasn't our fault, Mum."
"I myself and some of the other mothers will go to the
police tomorrow," said Mrs Doherty. "We'll stop that
fighting at last. Come in now, Brian, love, and we'll put
something on your face. One of these days 3 that Nap will
kill somebody. You go to bed, Val, or there'll be trouble
for you.4 I wonder 5 if anyone has told Ginger's mother?"
"There's the police car below," whispered Val suddenly.
The black police car had driven right into the yard, and
two policemen were getting out.
"I'm going," said Val and he rushed to his flat and
knocked on the door. Mrs Doherty and Brian also disappeared like rabbits into holes.
Luckily for Val, Ally was not asleep yet, as she had
washed her hair and was drying it in the new curlers recommended by a women's magazine.
"Where've you been?" she asked angrily. "Haven't
you promised Mum?" Val didn't want to tell Ally the whole
story. He was too tired and his head ached. He just fell
into bed, dirty as he was. Len did not even wake.
The next day, the whole of Magnolia Buildings was
discussing Saturday's events. Some people had seen the
police car. Ginger's mother and father had to go to
the hospital. Ginger's arm had been set x and he was now
in plaster. Shorty, Thompson and George would be summoned.2 The rest of the gang had escaped, but the police
were making inquiries.3
To Val's relief, none of his gang blamed him for escaping, because they had all been too busy trying to get
away themselves. George had lost one more tooth in the
fight.
"You'll have to get some false teeth soon," said Val,
examining his friend's mouth.
"My lip hurts terribly," complained George. "Still,
we gave as good as we got.4 Nap's got an enormous black
eye. I wish they'd send Shorty and Thompson to Borstal.
Lucky I'm only eleven."
"You'll get fined," 5 said Val, "but not much. What
does your Dad say?"
"He says he'll give me a good thrashing," grinned
George, "but he won't. He knows Shorty and Thompson."
Mrs Doherty now gathered some of the indignant
mothers and they moved from flat to flat. Sometimes they
took Brian with them to show what Shorty's gang had
done to him. But the boy hated this and ran away to hide
in the public library,6 where he could sit and read in peace.
He was still at the Grammar School, but he studied so
well that there were hopes of the University for him.
All the mothers agreed that Shorty's gang was awful,
and they all told Mrs Doherty that something should be
done, and that they would speak to their husbands. So
the mothers of Val's gang joined up against the mothers
of Shorty's gang, and as every mother defended her own
son, bad words were shouted from balcony to balcony all
the time, and there was no peace left7 at Magnolia Buildings.
Sprot, the old caretaker, hearing; all that noise, got
frightened and went about saying that real trouble might
come out of all that.
The wives flew to their husbands, but the husbands
did not want to do anything. They knew that they had to
live next door to x the other boys' fathers, to pass them
often in the yard, and to meet them at the "Cock". "It's
not my business," every man said to his wife. Only Ginger's
father, who had red hair and a quick temper, made a fuss
and wrote a letter to his Member of Parliament, saying
that a question should be asked in the House 2 about such
gang fights.
. Shorty, Thompson and George had to appear in court,
as they were the ones 3 the police had managed to catch.
But as it was their first official offence, they were only
fined a few shillings and told to behave well 4 in the future.
All three boys returned to the flats, happy at having got
off so lightly.5 Time passed and soon the event was forgotten.
So the two gangs remained and their fight went on.
Chapter XIII
SUMMER
It was a hot day when Mum came back from the hospital. There was an early heat wave that year. Mum still
looked pale and weak but she smiled when she saw that
the flat was clean and tidy.
"You've done grand," 6 cried Mum with enthusiasm,
as she stood panting by the door, for it had been difficult
for her to climb up the four flights of stairs. "Why, you've
even got some flowers and the table is laid for tea!"
Ally blushed. She felt like a soldier who had polished
up everything for the general's inspection, but who didn't
do much on ordinary days. Still, she had done her best
during these last days and she had cooked proper meals
for the family.
Len came running in with a little puppy that he had
found in the street. He had run all the way home, because
he was afraid of old Sprot, the caretaker, who never allowed anybody to bring stray animals to the flats. He now
put the puppy down and threw himself into Mum's arms.
He was so happy to see her,
"You've been a good boy, Len?" asked Mum, kissing
him. "Look here, duck,1 you can't keep a dog here."
"Oh, Mum, I've got to. He's quite alone in the world."
"But Mr Sprot will not allow it. You know that, Len ...
Ally, dear, let's have our tea." And Mum sank into the
armchair. She felt exhausted.
"But, Mum," argued Len, "if we throw the puppy out,
he'll die!"
"Shut up, Len!" cried Ally. "Can't you see Mum's
tired? Here is your tea, Mum, good and strong and lots
of sugar."
Val rushed in looking quite as black as usual, but Mum
was so happy to see him that she didn't say a word about
his dirty face and missing buttons. Doreen arrived with
a pile of books, said "Hello, Mum," as if her mother had
just been out for the day,2 and after having her tea, began
doing her homework as usual. Dad came back, and said,
"How are you, Marge? O. K? That's good," and went
to the kitchen to wash. But he looked very glad, for he
hated the flat without Mum. It was so dull.
Auntie Glad came home later. Cold or hot weather,
she wore her usual dark coat and dark cap. She whispered
something, sat down to her tea and said nothing as usual.
But that didn't matter, because as soon as Mum had had
two or three cups of tea, she began talking. She told everything about the hospital, the doctors, the food, and the
ride back. Ally sat feeling quite happy. The hard duties
were now off her shoulders.1 She turned on the T. V. and
sat down to watch. It was a ballet performance and all
the Berners had glamour for half an hour.
"There's nothing like being home again," 2 said Mum
as she sat beside Dad on the sofa with Len between
them.
Somehow, everyone had always felt that Doreen would
get her scholarship, except Doreen herself. But then the
news came that she had passed her exams so well that she
was almost top of the list.3 So she got a place at the Green
Coat School,4 one of the principal girls' schools of London.
If Doreen worked hard, she would now certainly have
a chance of going to the University.
"Yes, but what about clothes — and me out of work?" 5
asked Mum.
"I've got to go to the Green Coats," protested Doreen,
very pale and excited. She certainly couldn't give up her
victory now, just because of some silly clothes. "I must go
now that I've won it. Can't we get the uniform secondhand or something?" 8
"Perhaps the Governmental help," said Dad. "They
ought to do it. Just think of the tax we pay on beer and
tobacco. Cheer up, Dor. We'll get you the clothes."
"That's right," said Mum. "We'll fix it up somehow.
Just imagine! Our girl at the Green Coats! I must run along
and tell Mrs Doherty and Mrs Crawley. Won't they be
surprised! When Brian got into the Grammar School,7
Mrs Doherty kept talking about it day and night. But
this is the Green Coats! You've done very well, Dor!"
It was a very hot summer, and the people of the flats
tried to spend all their free time in the open air.
The prams stood under the trees almost all day long.
Once a week the band played on its stand, and sometimes
there were concerts as well. The circus came as usual,
and people had to queue up for the tickets. Val and his
gang of course managed to get enough pennies to sit in
the cheap seats. They enjoyed the show from beginning
to end. They felt they had never seen such clowns, such
elephants, such tigers, although it was all just the same as
last year. For the next week they played circus in the yard,
until old Sprot drove them away.
Ally went to the circus with Lou and she sat and saw
only glamour; glamour in the fine ladies who rode on.elephants, glamour in the acrobats who threw each-other about
so easily, glamour in the young men who rode bicycles
high in the air. The music, the lights and colours made
her drunk with excitement.
Len went on whining to see
the circus, until Mum sent him
there with Doreen; but he was
so worried about the poor tigers
who had to sit on chairs that he
couldn't sleep all night.
"Drat the circus," * said Mum.
"This is the last time you go,
Len Berners. Those tigers are all
asleep now, curled up happy as
cats. And you go to sleep too or
I'll give you such a slap." 2
By July, all the talk was of
holidays. Everybody everywhere
asked everybody else, "Where
are you going for your holidays?" Some people had had their holidays already and
went about looking like Red Indians, showing everyone
their snapshots. Only the Berners family didn't talk about
holidays, because they all knew they would not be able
to go away that year. Money was short,3 and then some
extra money would be needed to buy clothes for Doreen.
"We'll go to the country for a day when Dad gets
his holiday," said Mum to cheer up the children.
It was almost the end of the term and it was terribly hot
in the classrooms. Ally kept thinking about the sea and
the sand and the sun. Oh, to lie in the sun on the beach!
Even Miss Fleetwood's pretty voice couldn't hold Ally's
attention. Miss Fleetwood was going home to the country
with her young man. Lou was going to Margate.4 Only
Ally Berners had to stay in the hot, dusty town. It was
not fair. She had worked so hard all the spring. She was
tired. She ought to have a holiday. In a magazine story
a mysterious stranger would approach her in the street
and say, "Are you Gloria Berners? The Rolls-Royce5
is waiting for you to take, you to the yacht.6 Do not worry
about clothes. There are lots of elegant clothes waiting
for you there."
One day when she had climbed up the stairs feeling
hot and tired she found her family in a state oi excitement.
They were all laughing and shouting at once:
"Auntie Glad! Lottery! Holiday! Sea!"
"What?" Ally shouted back.
"Be quiet all of you," cried Mum, her black eyes shining. "Auntie Glad has won two hundred and fifty pounds
with her lottery ticket."
"She never!"1
"And she's taking us all to the sea. She's already booked
a little summer cottage for a fortnight, when Dad has
his holiday. Never told anybody anything. Just went and
did it."
Then all the family began to shout again, while Ally
asked all sorts of questions, and Auntie Glad sat there
smiling a little, but quiet and silent as usual.
"Eight pounds a week for the cottage," said Mum.
"But she says it's got a kitchen and there's a shop and all,
and a cafe too, right in the camp." "
After that, the whole world changed for the Berners
children. They too could go round and talk about their
holiday that was even more romantic than other people's
because of the lottery. Every day, when she woke up, Ally
thought, "Only ten days more, only eight, only five..."
Until it was only one, and everything was packed and
ready to start.
Chapter XIV
THE HOLIDAY
It wasn't a very long journey, and the railway station
was not far from their cottage, so they just walked along
the path that led to the camp. Dad went first with the
heaviest suitcase, and the others followed him, each carrying something. There had been no need to bring food as
it could be bought at the camp shop.
"WELL, isn't it grand!" cried Mum as she looked at the large
field dotted with rather old little cottages. They went
straight to the office which was in a wagon, to get the key
of their cottage.
When they reached it, there was great excitement. The
key of the door would not turn,1 because Mum's fingers
trembled so.
"Give it to me," cried Dad. "There! It's easy."
They all rushed in to look at the three bedrooms, the
living room, the little kitchen, the toilet, everybody talking and exclaiming at once. "Can we sleep here, Mum?"
"What a small kitchen! It's worse than ours." "These beds
are O. K." "Mum, can I have a drink of water?" "Mum, can
we go to the beach?"
While all the rest of his family were discussing the
cottage, Val did not waste time on unpacking. All he wanted was to get to the sea, the sea he had not seen for three
years. He quickly ran across the field, reached the sea
and looked at it with delight. That was what he wanted ...
water, light, air and space. He stood for a second breathing in the sea wind, then he threw off his shoes and socks
and ran on, feeling the wet sand under his feet. There were
no more streets, no more Shorty, no more cops or school.
The only thing in the world was that line of pale water far,
far ahead. The sea was calm. He went into it knee deep,2
rolling up his trousers, with no thought of his new shoes
left on the shore. He put his hand in the water and then
licked his fingers to taste the salt. The sea was all around
him and everything was quiet. He was quite alone, but
not at all frightened. To be alone there was a pleasure and
a rest. He just stood there for a long time, feeling the last
rays of sun on his head, and he licked his salty lips. He
was in the sea at last!
When he came out, he felt hungry and went back to
look for his shoes. It took some time s to find them, and
he was afraid they had been stolen, but at last he saw
them in the sand. In his wet trousers, he started back for
home. On his way he met a fat, smiling little man.
"Enjoyed the sea, son?" asked the man, beaming all
over his face.4 Val thought him quite old, no less than
forty, but the man looked so good-natured and friendly
that Val stopped to answer.
"It's smashing," he said.
"It's a nice place," said the fat little man. "You got a
cottage?"
"That's right." Val did not wish to stay and talk as he
wanted to have'-his tea. "Number fifteen we've got. Just
come today."
"There,1 isn't that nice?" The little man beamed all
over his face again. "Me 2 and my sister have got number
fourteen. Our name is Truby. Are you a big family?"
Since he was a baby Val had learnt not to give his name
to strangers, but he answered, "Seven, if you count Mum
and Dad and Auntie Glad."
"And how will you all fit into that cottage?" asked the
little man with friendly curiosity.
"I don't know," said Val. "Haven't been inside yet."
As they walked towards the cottage, they saw that all
the Berners family was busy moving in.3 Mum had opened
the windows. Dad was putting two deckchairs on the little
verandah. Doreen was running back from the camp shop
with a basket of food. As they came nearer, Val could
hear Mum's excited voice, "Put it therel Be quick! Move
yourself. Ally, pass me that." Inside the house, Ally was
singing at the top of her voice.4 Len rushed out yelling,
"I want to go to the beach!"
"What a nice family!" sighed Mr Truby. "I'm glad you
are next door to us." 5 He was going to say more, but at
that moment an angry voice shouted, "William! Come
in at once. Your tea's been ready for half an hour." A thin,
elderly woman came out of number fourteen. She had a face
like a lemon, and it was clear that she had a very bad temper.
"Oh, dear," exclaimed little Mr Truby. "I must run!"
And he hurried across the grass as fast as he could on his
short legs. As soon as he reached the house, his sister began
to shout again, "Where've you been? I've got a terrible
headache. Those awful people who've just moved in
are making such a noise.
I'll complain to the —" and
she banged the door behind
her brother.
The Berners had a splendid meal of sausages and
chips, bread and jam and
hot, strong tea. Everybody
was already full of news and
discoveries.
"There's pictures a on
Thursday evenings at the
cafe," Doreen said. "And a
festival in town, on Friday
evening. And, Mum, could I buy a bathing cap? They've
got lovely ones at the shop."
Ally said, "I've met an awfully nice girl, Mum. She's
called Audrey. She says her Mum says I can go and look
at their cottage. Oh, Mum, Audrey's got such a wonderful
bathing-suit and all." 2
A man had told Dad that the nearest pub was the "Ring
of Bells",3 a nice little place a quarter of a mile from the
camp. He and Dad had agreed to meet there at six-thirty.
Soon the family got to know the place very well. The
weather was fine and warm, and the children spent nearly
all day in the sea, while Mum sat happily on the sand,
giving her feet a rest. But all the time she was busy giving
out buns and sandwiches and sweets and drinks as if she
were a one-woman snack bar.4 All the family became fiery
red, and poor Doreen, who had a fair skin, could not sleep
at night.
However, in a few days, everybody became quite brown.
Dad lay in the sun and went to sleep beneath his paper,
and in the evenings joined the other men at the "Ring of
Bells". Len changed out of all recognition 6 after a few
days of sun and air. He ate enormous meals and stopped
worrying about stray dogs or poor crabs with no homes
to go to. 1
But the person who changed most was Auntie Glad.
The first morning, she made the family gasp,2 for she came
to breakfast in a new, blue-striped cotton dress, with her
hair tied up in a blue scarf. For the first time in years,3
the family really looked at her. In the flat, wearing her
dark coat and her cap pulled down to her ears, she had
been just a person that nobody ever noticed.
"Oh, Glad!" cried Mum in surprise. "Why, you look
smashing! Where did you get that pretty dress? Doesn't
it show up your eyes!" 4
The family looked, and realized for the first time
Auntie Glad's eyes were blue.
"Thought you'd put your bit of money by," * said Dad,
who, though he was glad to have a holiday, was afraid
that his sister would chuck away all she had won.
"I'm tired of putting my money by," Auntie Glad
suddenly said in quite a loud, clear voice. "I've been doing
it all my life. Now I'm going to spend a bit."
As the days went by, Auntie Glad changed out of all
recognition. Her face had always seemed grey and tired;
now the colour came back into her eyes and cheeks. She
stopped wearing her black cap, and her hair took some
colour from the sun. She did not, however, speak much
more than usual. She would take 2 a rug and a magazine
and go off by herself3 to some distant place on the
beach. Some days she took a sandwich and did not even return to dinner. She seemed glad to be alone and in the
open air.
Instead of always being black, Val was now always
wet. He walked about nearly all day in his bathing shorts.
Ally made great friends with Audrey and talked of
nothing but her * and her family who lived in the centre
of London and were very grand and glamorous.
"Mum, Audrey goes to a private school, and her Mum
thinks my hair's lovely. They are going to ask me to come
and see them when we get back."
It was all Audrey, Audrey, till Mum said she would
simply die if she heard the name again.
Ally and Audrey walked about arm in arm 5 all day
and bathed together, or spent hours drinking soft drinks 8
at the camp cafe.
If the boys tried to talk to them, they giggled and
turned their backs on them.' They did not want to waste
their precious time together with boys. "They're so silly,
Mum," said Ally. "Why can't they behave like the chaps
in the pictures?"
One evening, Val was on the beach as usual, when Mr
Truby came up. "Hello, Val! Enjoying yourself?" The little
man always tried to be friendly when his sister was not
about.1 The Berners could sometimes hear Miss Truby
scolding her brother in a loud voice.
"Yes," said Val, who could not imagine that any boy
could be unhappy by the sea. The only trouble was the
thought of having to go back to London, and the days
were now flying away fast.
"Don't want to go home, eh?" said Mr Truby, sitting
down beside Val.
"No," said Val. "I hate it at home.2 I'd like to live here."
"Why don't you like it?"
"Don't know. Nothing to do and too many people."
Val threw a stone into the water. "I hate school too. The
teachers are silly."
"I don't want to go back, either," said Mr Truby with
a sigh. "I'm a sanitary engineer and doing quite well,3
but I like the country. But Aggie, my sister, she hates
it."
"London is too big, see", said Val thoughtfully. "You
can't get out of it. Now, if I had a bike, I'd get out every
week..."
"Get a job in the evenings and earn your bike," said
the little man. "You're a big strong boy."
"Earn my bike," Val said bitterly. "I can't get a job
anywhere. I tried all round the Common. I'll never get
a bike." He sighed now, thinking of that lost hope for
freedom.
"I've got an old bike," said Mr Truby suddenly. "Don't
see why you shouldn't have it..." 4
"You mean?" Val looked at him as though a bicycle
had just fallen down from the skies. "Oh, Mr Truby, I'd
try and pay you bit by bit." 5
"Nonsense, boy," Mr Truby beamed. "I'll give it you.
I never use it. You come along and take it. I'll tell you
where I live. But come when
my sister isn't there. She's
against giving things away."
"Oh! A bike of my own!" x
Val's voice trembled. "Can I
come as soon as we go back?"
The holiday was over, and
on the last evening, Mum
was packing and Ally was helping her. All the family were
sorry that they had to leave,
except Val. He was thinking of the bike. Everybody was
busy, even Dad had to help. Mum after a fortnight of sun
and air was quite herself again,2 laughing, talking, and
friends with the whole camp.3 All the evening all sorts
of people came to the cottage to say good-bye to her.
Auntie Glad was not packing. She wasn't at the cottage
at all. After she had paid for it, she didn't take any part
in the life of the family. She was always out of doors 4
by herself.
"Give me a bit of cord," said Mum to Dad, "I must tie
it round this suitcase." At that moment Auntie Glad came
in and behind her was Mr Truby.
"Hello," said Auntie Glad in her soft voice. "Here's
Mr Truby." But there was something odd in her voice as
she said it and everybody looked at her in surprise.
"Marge," said Auntie Glad. "Me and Mr Truby are
getting married."
"What?" cried everybody.
"Glad! You're never!" B Mum got up from the floor.
"Why, I didn't even know you knew him."
Mr Truby exchanged a laughing glance with Auntie
Glad, and for the first time that the Berners family remembered she suddenly laughed aloud.
"Of course I know her," said Mr Truby. "Considering 6
that we've spent every day of this fortnight together,
haven't we, Glad?"
Auntie Glad nodded happily. She was smiling, she had
colour,1 and she wore a pink dress that the family had
never seen before. She and Mr Truby made a rather funny
pair, for Auntie Glad was quite small, and he was hardly
taller than she was. But they were both so happy that it
was a joy to see them. There's glamour about them, thought
Ally, and this seemed very odd to her.
"The only thing is," said Mr Truby, "don't tell my sister."
"She'll have to know sooner or later, won't she?" asked
Dad.
Mr Truby looked frightened. "I don't want her to make
a row a here." His kind little face grew quite grave. "Still,
she's got money. She can live by herself. She won't have
to live with us."
"That's right," said Mum. "You just tell her that. And
it'll be nice for Glad to have a place of her own.3 She's
never had one, poor girl. Always lived with Grandma and
then with us. I hope you'll be very happy. My,4 Glad,
didn't you give us all a surprise!" And she kissed Auntie
Glad, who suddenly looked very shy.5
Then everyone burst out laughing. Dad dug out some
bottles of beer, the children were sent for fish and chips
and the whole party had a wonderful evening. Mr Truby
and Auntie Glad told all their adventures: how they first
met at the ice-cream kiosk, how they went to the pictures,
how they escaped from his sister, Aggie, and so on and
so forth.
"Well, here's to your health and may all your troubles
be little ones," 6 cried Dad, raising his glass. The children
started to sing, and then came a loud knock at the door.
Ally flew to open it. "It must be Audrey," she said.
But it wasn't. It was Miss Truby who looked at Ally scornfully and said, "Excuse me. Is my brother here?"
Before Ally could answer, or stop her, Miss Truby
marched into the room and saw all the signs of celebration.
"So that's where you are!" she shouted. "I've found you
out at last. That's why you were leaving me alone day
and night! I saw you and her" (pointing at Auntie Glad)
"sneaking away together. I've been watching you all this
week, William Truby. You nasty little man!"
Mr Truby stood up. He was much shorter than his
sister. "I — I was going to tell you, Aggie," he muttered.
"I'm engaged to be married to 1 Miss Berners."
"What, her?" 2 said Miss Truby scornfully.
"And why not?" asked Mum, whose black eyes shone
dangerously. "If you can't be polite, perhaps you'd better
go home."
"I will not. William, you have been caught into a trap
by a wicked schemer."
But this was too much for Mum. "Glad isn't a wicked
schemer," she cried. "She's a decent, kind and hard-working
person, and she paid for us all to come here and have
a holiday out of her own pocket. Your brother's a lucky
man."
"Hear, hear," 3 said Dad, banging his fist on the table.
"And if you can behave decently," went on Mum, "and
sit down quietly like a lady, I'll make you a cup of tea
and we'll talk this over."
But Miss Truby suddenly sank into a chair and started
to sob. For the next few minutes she had hysterics. Mum
flew to put on a kettle. Dad made for the door.4 Len began
to cry. Mr Truby was very frightened. He had a kind
heart, and when his sister had hysterics he got into a terrible state.5 Now he kept patting her on the shoulder, and
she kept whining, "Oh, Willy, what shall I do without
you? You can't go off with that woman."
"Well, we'll see, we'll see. We shan't get married just
now, Aggie. So don't worry. There, there." 6
But Auntie Glad, who had not spoken a word during
this whole scene, now saw the danger. She had suddenly
guessed what always happened to Mr Truby each time he
tried to get married. She stood up and cried out, "That's
not true, Bill. You and me are getting married at once,
next month, or not at all. Otherwise we'll never get married.
She'll talk you out of it* like she did last time."
"Last time?" said Mr Truby, getting very red. "How
did you know about last time?"
"I've got some sense, haven't I?" said Auntie Glad.
She was so angry that her family could hardly recognize
her. "A man like you, Bill, would have married years ago
if it hand't been for her." 2 She pointed at Aggie who
was sobbing in her chair. "But if you leave me now, Bill,
I'll sue you for breach of promise, and that's that." 3
Poor William really looked like a man between two
fires. He had no idea that Glad could have such sharp
teeth'. In the end,4 he took the sobbing Aggie off.
"Dear me, Glad!" said Mum, who still held the kettle
in her hand. "Didn't you give us a surprise again! I never
heard you speak like that before."
"She's a wicked woman," said Auntie Glad, and her
voice was no longer the old shy whisper. "If I don't save
him now, Marge, he'll never, get away."
"That's right," said Dad. "And now, if you don't mind,
I'll go up to the 'Bells' for my half pint. I need it after the
battle."
Ally went to bed full of excitement. This was real drama.
No heroine on the pictures could have spoken better than
quiet little Auntie Glad. If that was what love did to you —
well!
Val also went to bed happy. Mr Truby must give him
the bike now. Why, the man would be a relation! An
uncle!
"The best of it is," said Doreen to Ally as they undressed,
"when Auntie Glad marries, we can each have a bed to
ourselves!"
Chapter XV
"SOMETHING ABOUT GUNS"
Now it was autumn on the Common. The leaves were
turning yellow and orange. Soon they would fall, and there
would be a smell of bonfires rising from all the gardens.
It was only on warmest days that the old men played chess
and dominoes out of doors. Later came the early morning
frosts, and people everywhere began to get out their winter
clothes.
The Berners children never played with each other.
They all lived such different lives that they usually met
only for meals and then parted again. Yet, at the end of
September, Ally noticed that something was wrong with
Val. In spite of the new bicycle, Val seemed worried. He
walked about looking as though * he were afraid of something "I wonder what he's up to," B thought Ally. But she
did not dare ask him, as she knew he would only tell her
to shut up.
It was George who had disturbed Val's peace of mind.
One fine afternoon the two boys went off for a ride on their
bikes. It was Val's first long ride, and he was happy.
When they stopped for a rest, George suddenly said,
"Shorty and his gang are up to something."
Since the holiday, Shorty's gang had been rather quiet.
Val had hoped they had left him alone at last.
"What's that?" he asked.
"I heard something last week," said George looking
worried. "Nap and Shorty were talking, see, on our balcony. And they were saying something about guns.You
know the way Nap laughs,3 and then he said, 'Don't you
worry, Shorty, I'll get those guns. There's always the
roof.'"
"What guns?" asked Val.
"Don't know. Didn't dare stay. They might have caught
me listening."
"Well," said Val thoughtfully, "if that lot 1 got guns,
it'd be awful. Where can they get them from?"
"Don't know. But they're up to something. Why have
they left us alone? It's kind of strange,2 isn't it?"
For the next few days, Val and George tried to find
out what Shorty's lot were doing, but they did not tell
the rest of their friends about it. Billy was a big mouth
and Brian did not seem interested these days.
Although Val did not find out much, he became sure
that some plan was in preparation. If Shorty's lot got
guns, life at Magnolia Buildings would become dangerous. He did not think that guns would soon be discovered
and taken away. He already had in his mind a picture of
Shorty and Nap shooting up everyone, barricading the
stairs and balconies. Val had seen something like that in
the pictures.
Then a new thing happened. It had to do with Ally 3
Since the summer, Ally had changed very much. She
had suddenly grown up and got slim, because now
she was almost fifteen. And she was getting quite clean
and tidy. She combed her hair and cleaned her teeth
every day, and even polished her shoes. Her stockings were
always in order and her clothes looked well ironed. She
was really'very pretty, and she wanted to have new clothes
more than anything on earth.4 Yet, how could she have
new clothes if she was not earning money, and every spare
periny of the family money was spent on Doreen, who was
now at the Green Coats School? Ally, like everyone in
Magnolia Buildings, wanted to make money, but how?
She decided to go and discuss the matter with Lou, and
was on her way there one evening when she ran into Shorty.
Six months ago Shorty, if he had met her on the stairs,
would have pulled her pony tail, or said something rude,
but now he stood aside to let her pass.5 Ally did not want
to stop and talk because she had never liked him. His
head was too big for his body, and he had short legs. She
didn't like his unhea'thy pale face and his green eyes
either. When he asked, "Where are you going, Ally?" she
answered, "To see a friend," and went quickly past him and
away down the stairs.
After that, Shorty always tried to meet her on the balcony or on the stairs saying all sorts of silly things, until
Ally was quite nervous when she had to leave the flat.
That had been going on for about a fortnight, when
one evening she was coming home up the stairs and by
chance Val was a flight behind her. Shorty was on their
landing, and as soon as he saw Ally he began to whistle
in his usual nasty way. Ally pretended not to see him,
but Shorty caught her by the hand. "Why do you put on
airs,1 baby?"
"You leave me alone," cried Ally angrily and tried to
get past him.
Shorty laughed, but she knew he was angry because
she did not like him. Val, coming up the steps from below,
saw this scene, and realized with horror that he ought
to do something to help Ally. But though his legs were
short, Shorty had strong arms and shoulders and could
be very dangerous. Before Val could decide what to do,
Brian Doherty appeared above and said to Shorty, "Leave
her alone, or I'll show you." Ally immediately hid behind
Brian's back.
"So she's your girl now, is she?" said Shorty with an
unpleasant laugh. Brian had grown so much that he was
now six inches taller than Shorty. He looked quite ready
to fight, although he was thin and much weaker than
Shorty.
"You get out of here," shouted Brian, "and don't make
a nuisance of yourself." 2
There was a pause while the two boys faced each other.
At that moment Val came running up, and when Shorty
saw that there were two against one, he gave a forced
laugh.3 "Really, I have no time to waste on you, kids,"
he said and rushed past Val down the stairs. Val was so
surprised that he let him go.
"Has been bothering you, hasn't he?" Brian said to
Ally.
Ally tossed her head.
"He's always hanging around.1 I told him to leave me
alone."
"You leave him to me," said Brian. Ally looked at her
champion with sudden admiration.
Val nodded his head thoughtfully and went up the
stairs. But later that evening, he said to Ally, "You know
that Shorly. He's up to something."
"You're telling me," 2 said Ally. "It's a pity they don't
call him up. 3 The army'd do him good. The sooner he is
out of this place, the better."
"Oh, I don't mean girls and all that," said Val. "But
George says..." He looked round nervously. "You won't
tell anyone, Ally? George thinks he and Nap are getting
some guns."
Ally laughed. "Where can they get guns from? Don't
be silly, Vail"
Chapter XVI
THE WEDDING
Auntie Glad's wedding was the first week in October.
She had got her way.1 She had said, "Either you marry
me at once, William, or not at all."
"Glad's got a lot of energy," William told Dad while
they were drinking their beer at the "Cock", for the two
men had become great friends. "And such a little woman,
too! Well, it's all fixed now, and I've got myself a new
suit."
Somehow, Auntie Glad managed to make sister Aggie
leave William's house and go to live in a flat. It turned
out that William was quite well off and had a nice little
business of his own 2 as a sanitary engineer. All the housewives' loved him because he was such a pleasant man and
always helped them very quickly if they had plumbing
troubles.3
"Auntie Glad, you'll be quite rich and grand!" exclaimed
Ally when they stood outside William's house. She and
Mum came with Auntie Glad to see her future home as
soon as William's sister had left.
Inside they saw solid mahogany furniture and heavy
lace curtains on the windows. The curtains were so thick
that the light of day hardly penetrated. Aggie had taken
away a lot of ornaments to her flat, but there were still
enough things left to make Mum cry, "What a place!
Think of the dusting!" 4 She looked round a bit and tried
all the chairs.3 "Still this is all very nice, Glad. If you
change the paper on the walls and hang some fresh curtains, it'll be O. K. Let's go upstairs and have a look,
ducks."
All the furniture upstairs was just as solid, and filled
each room so that it was hard to move around. Mum tried
all the beds. "You'll need new mattresses, Glad. These
ones are as hard as stones. And I've never seen such thick
lace curtains. They shut out all the light. Still, I must
say the bathroom's awfully nice "
Auntie Glad was silent, as usual, and just went round
quietly opening all the drawers and cupboards, but Ally
guessed that she had a lot of ideas, and that Uncle William
would have to agree with them.
Auntie Glad wanted to have a grand wedding, with
bridesmaids and all "I've got the money," she said, "and
as I never thought I'd get married, I'm going to have it
grand! After all, Marge, it's only once in a lifetime, and
William doesn't mind."
Uncle William had just said that he didn't mind being
a circus.
Ally and Doreen were to be 2 bridesmaids. A grand
wedding breakfast was to take place at the "Cock" in the big
room upstairs. Dad fixed that. Auntie Glad was to be married
at the church on the Common, which was only five hundred
yards from Magnolia Buildings Fverybody could easily
have walked there, but Uncle William insisted that the
whole thing should be done properly and ordered two
Rolls Royces.
Word? cannot describe the fuss and excitement in
49 Magnolia Buildings on the morning of the wedding.
Auntie Glad's dress, made of silver satin, lay on Mum's
bed. Mrs Doherty, Mrs Crawley and many other Magnolia
ladies had come to see it before the bride put it on, and everybody had agreed it was lovely. Ally and Doreen were to
wear dresses of red velvet and pink velvet shoes. Mum
had bought a new hat. "That's all I can afford," she ex-
plained. "Still, my blue coat's quite good, and it's time I
had * a new hat, in any case."
When the bouquets were sent from the shop, the family found that Uncle William had ordered enormous
buttonholes 2 too.
"I'll look like a flower show," said Dad as he was handed his.
The question was who was to dress first and where.
It was obvious that Ally and Doreen would need a lot
of time to get ready, but if the boys were dressed too soon,
they would be quite dirty before they reached the church.
Mum rushed round, tying ties and doing hair.3 As soon as
the boys got into their Sunday suits, she pinned on their
buttonholes and put them on two chairs, saying that if
they didn't sit still, there would be no party and no cake
for them. The thought was so awful that even Val did
not dare to move.
Auntie Glad dressed in Mum's room, and the girls were
still busy with the flowers when the Rolls Royces arrived.
Everyone who was at home, and most people were as
it was a Saturday afternoon, stood at their doors or leant
over their balconies.
"This is glamour, real glamour at last," thought Ally
to herself, for she had seen her own reflection in the mirror
and knew that she was looking beautiful. Holding her
bouquet of pink roses, she went carefully down the stairs
with Doreen following her. "This is the way I'll walk
when I'm a bride," she thought.
"Lovely, isn't she," cried Mrs Doherty as the girls
passed her door. "You'll be the next, Ally!"
"Your petticoat's showing a bit." 4 Mrs Crawley could
never admire without adding some criticism. "Still, even
that Doreen looks all right today," she said to Mrs
Doherty.
Doreen did not care. She was less interested in her
velvet dress than in her green school coat, which was the
emblem of her career and success.
Down the stairs went Ally,1 and at each balcony, there
were admiring "ohs" and "ahs".a Just for one day she was
not ordinary Ally Berners but some wonderful creature,
full of glamour. Shorty and Nap were hanging about as
usual, but today they dared not speak to her or even whistle
rudely, for she was too glamorous.
In the yard the Rolls-Royces were standing, and there
were chauffeurs in uniform. One of them opened the door
and handed Ally in.3 This was their second trip to the
church, for Mum, hot 4 and excited in her blue coat and
new hat, had gone off with the boys. Grandpa and Grandma
had also gone in the first trip. They had come up to London
for the day, bringing a basket of fruit and flowers. Only
Auntie Glad, sitting quietly in her silver dress, still remained upstairs with Dad, who was to go with her.
Ally got into the Rolls like a princess, and felt a bit
sorry that she had to share this joy with Doreen, who had
just flopped down beside her. In Ally's ears was music,
the wonderful music that always accompanies heroines
of the pictures during their great moments.
"Hold up your bouquet, Dor," she whispered to Doreen.
"You are ruining it." Ally held her own bouquet high and
looked out of the window. She saw all the people watching
her, and she could hardly breathe for excitement.5 She
wished this trip could last for hours and hours.6
When the Rolls 7 stopped in front of the church, there
was quite a crowd, all the people who came to see the
Saturday weddings. The photographer was there, too
The chauffeur handed Doreen out of the car. Ally got out
as gracefully as possible.
She and Doreen stood at the entrance waiting for the
Rolls to bring Auntie Glad. Soon it drove up, and Dad
got out first to help his sister. The little woman looked
calm and happy, but Dad, with his huge buttonhole,
looked as miserable as any man could. He only hoped that
the whole thing would soon be over and he could go back
to the "Cock".
They all went in, where Uncle William was waiting
for his bride. And then the ceremony began, and Ally
saw Uncle William putting a ring on Auntie Glad's
finger. "One day it will happen to me," thought Ally.
"I shall stand here by a man, and I shall turn to look at
this man as Auntie Glad is looking at Uncle William."
Then everyone started kissing everyone else, and they
all came out of the church, and there was the photographer
arranging them for wedding photographs, and imploring
them to smile. First he took Auntie Glad with Uncle
William who was holding her hand and beaming all over
his face.1 Then the photographer took the bride and groom
with the bridesmaids and fheir families. The last group
included everyone, even William's sister Aggie.
The Rolls-Royces took the party to the "Cock" for
the wedding feast. Everything was splendid. There was a lot
of fine food and wine.
"This is the wedding breakfast," Ally told herself,
looking at the table. "Tomorrow it will all be finished
and I've got to remember it always. Auntie Glad is going
to cut the wedding cake. Val, the pig, has got his plate up
already.2 H'm, Dad looks a bit more cheerful now. Doreen's dropped some food on her dress. Just like her! s
Look at Mum laughing! She's so red in the face. 'Good
health 4 to the happy pair!' Poor Dad! He doesn't want
tb make his speech. Come on,5 Dad!"
After the breakfast, more fiiends came in and they all
ate and drank too. The record player was turned on and
everybody danced. Auntie Glad first danced with her
William. The Dohertys had come and the Crawleys and
some of the girls who worked together with Auntie Glad,
a few of Uncle William's friends and a chum or two of
Dad's x who had come up from below. Grandma and Grandpa sat side by side, holding their glasses of wine, and
nodding their heads to the music 2 while everyone else
danced. Ally danced with Brian. The boys were running
about and getting under everybody's feet, and Mum had
to take Doreen to the cloakroom as the poor girl was sick
again. Mr Porlock, the owner of the "Cock", had come up
to drink a health to 3 the bride and groom, and Mum kept
laughing at his funny jokes. But she refused to dance with
him. "On my feet enough without that," 4 she said. "Get
along with you,5 Mr Porlock. You ask one of the girls."
The party went on and on, and everyone got very hot
and cheerful. It was almost time for Auntie Glad to go
and change her dress and to start for home with Uncle
William. At this very moment, the barman came hurrying
in and whispered something to Mr Porlock. The word he
whispered was "police".
"Police?" asked Mr Porlock, looking at his watch.
"It's not closing time yet?" 1
"No, no," said the barman. "There's been a robbery
next door.2 The police want to know where the owner of
the shop lives."
"Excuse me, all," said Mr Porlock, and he went quickly
out of the room. Some of Dad's friends and Dad went after
him. Dad had been longing to go down to his usual corner
in the bar and this was a good chance. Auntie Glad had
gone off to change, and Mum began to gather up the children. Val, however, slid away, and went downstairs behind
the men.
There were two policemen in the bar, and they were
soon writing down the address of the owner of the shop
in their notebooks.
"He lives just round the corner," 3 said Mr Porlock.
"I don't know the number, see, but it's the second house
in the next street. What's happened, sergeant?"
"The lady across the road 4 rang up the police station.
Said she saw two boys on the roof and thought something
must be wrong as she knew that the shop was shut."
The policemen, Mr Porlock, and most of the people
who were there, came out of the bar and went along the
narrow street that ran between the "Cock" and the shops.
These shops were the kind that are built in front of ordinary houses.6 They were just one storey high. The robbed
shop was a junk-shop. It sold chipped china,6 old guitars,
mattresses, books, beds, toys and all sorts of cheap arti-
cles. There was a ladder propped up against the wall of
the house.
"That's my ladder!" cried Mr Porlock. "It was in my
yard. How did they get it out of there?"
"Those boys climb like monkeys," said the sergeant.
"Bates, you'd better go and bring the owner."
The policeman went off while the sergeant and Mr
Porlock went up on the roof to examine it carefully. In
the darkness Val went up the ladder too, but was immediately sent down again. So he walked round the shop
and looked into the window. Already a suspicion was
forming in his mind. By the light of the street lamps,
he examined the strange assortment of objects for sale.1
There were old radio sets, shoes, gas stoves and many
other objects, but not the object which Val looked for.
He was almost sure that during last week he had noticed
a gun ia the window. Now it wasn't there..
Roof, gun. The words reminded Val of the words that
George had heard when Shorty was talking to Nap. Val
was sure now that Shorty and his lot had done it. They
had stolen the gun. They had learned somehow about the
ladder at the "Cock" — yes, of course, Nap's mother
cleaned there.2
"What shall I do?" thought Val in despair. His first
impulse was to tell the police about his discovery, but
then he thought that it wasn't the thing to do.3 He certainly hated Shorty and his gang, but he didn't want to
hand anyone over to the cops. Besides if the boys found
out that he had sneaked, they would beat him to death.4
What was he to do?
He stood still, trying to decide. The temptation was
so great! If Shorty's lot were sent to Borstal, Magnolia
Buildings would be a much happier place. He wished
George were there, so that he could discuss the problem
with him.
Mr Smith, the shop owner, had arrived by now 5 and
was opening the shop door and talking to the police and
Mr Porlock. The rest of the men had gone back to the bar.
Val waited and watched while Mr Smith switched on the
lights and began to look round the shop to see what was
missing. Val held his breath * when the men approached
the window and Mr Smith pointed out the spot where the
gun had been. Val knew that he was right. The gun had
been stolen. In his mind 2 he saw Shorty and his lot running across the Common with the gun hidden beneath
their coats. He was sure that they were already in bed
now, with the gun under a mattress.
The police, having written everything down in their
notebooks, were now leaving the shop. The sergeant was
saying: "We'll see what we can do about this, sir. Are
you sure nothing else is missing?"
Mr Smith shook his head. "No, sergeant, just that gun
and the revolver."
"H'm, that's odd. Still that woman was right It's
probably boys. And I've got some suspicions about the
gang that did it." He turned to the second policeman.
"Bates, help Mr Porlock take away the ladder. Better
not leave it there." Then he noticed Val. "Look here,
you,3 what are you doing here, still hanging about? You
ought to be in bed, son."
"I'll help you with the ladder," Val said to Mr Porlock.
He thought that perhaps he could tell his story to the owner
of the bar. That would not be like telling the police.
The sergeant began to look at Val suspiciosly. "I suppose you don't know anything about this?" he asked.
This was an unexpected question. Val did not know
what to say, so he didn't answer at all.
"Speak up,4 boy! You in with them?" B
"No, sir. I've been at the wedding. My auntie's wedding
at the 'Cock'. You ask my Dad. He's in the bar. He'll
tell you."
The sergeant looked at him even more suspiciously.
"You don't look much like 6 a wedding guest," he said.
And that was true, because all the dirt from the ladder
was on Val's hands and face and Sunday suit.
Val didn't know what to do. The police knew him only
too well. If he said anything, they would certainly think
that he had taken part in the robbery. If he said nothing,
Shorty's gang would keep the guns and Magnolia Buildings would have no peace. "Just like the cops to fall on
me * only because I'm a boy," thought Val.
But at that moment help came. Taxis had been ordered
to come and take home the bride and groom and the
bridesmaids, and they were now arriving at the "Cock".
Mum had come downstairs with the girls and Len. Auntie
Glad and her husband had driven away.
"There's my Mum," Val cried. He had never been so
glad to see Mum in his life. "You ask her."
At the sight ofa police Mum got frightened. "What's
he done now?" 3 she asked.
"That's what I want to know," said the sergeant.
"I haven't done anything," cried Val. He was awfully
angry with Mum for her tactless words. "You know I've
been at the wedding all the time, Mum."
"Some boys have robbed the shop next door," said the
sergeant. "They've taken a gun and a revolver out of
Smith's shop. They got in through the roof."
At the word "gun" Ally looked out of the taxi window,
for she was already inside.
"Did you say 'gun'?"
"Yes. Why?" 4
"I'm sure I can guess who —"
But Mum pushed Ally back into the taxi. "Don.'t poke
your nose into what's not your business,"5 she said.
"If you don't know, don't start trouble by guessing."
"Go on, miss." The sergeant was much politer to the
pretty bridesmaid than to her brother.
"Oh, she doesn't know anything about it," said Mum
firmly.
The sergeant grinned. "All right, all right," he said
cheerfully. "Don't you worry. We've got a good idea who
it is. We'd been watching them for a long time. We'll
find out. We've got our methods."
Mum cried, "This taxi's ticking up," 1 and climbed in.
"Off you go!" 2 said the sergeant. "Put the kids to bed.
Where to? Magnolia Buildings? Go ahead, driver!"
Now that the excitement was over, Len was half asleep
and Doreen was nodding too.
And so ended Auntie Glad's wedding.
The next day, there was great excitement in Magnolia
Buildings. The police used their own methods, searched
the homes of Shorty, Nap and Thompson and took them
all off to the police station on a charge of housebreaking
and robbery.3
The three boys were later sent to Borstal and approved
school, according to their age, and the whole of Magnolia
Buildings gave a big sigh of relief.4 With those three
characters removed,5 Magnolia Buildings became a far
happier place.
Chapter XVII
J03S
Ally and Val both got jobs in the same week. Mrs Frank
from number 42 was offered a place as evening waitress
in a West End 6 cafe, so she asked Ally to baby-sit for
her 7 five evenings a week from six till eight. Ally agreed
with enthusiasm, without thinking of the details.
Mrs Frank was a small, dark woman and the baby was
dark too. It was a pretty little girl, a year old, called
Rachel. She had black curls and eyes with long, dark
eyelashes, and she took to Ally * very quickly. Mrs Frank
also liked Ally, because the girl wanted to please so much.Only the family had doubts about Ally as a babysitter.
"She'll sit on the baby, I bet," said Val.
"This isn't a job for you, Al," said Mum. "Just think
of it, shutting yourself up 5 every evening!"
"But I need the money, Mum. I've got to buy some new
clothes. Everybody's got new dresses, even Lou."
Brian did not express any enthusiasm about her job
either. He said, "What do you want to do it for, Al? It's
a waste of time."
"I've got to have some new clothes," explained Ally,
but Brian only laughed and said, "You look all right
to me."
But Ally was firm. She had decided to take this job.
On the first evening, she went down to number 42,
looking very important..She pretended to listen to all the
directions about the baby and her food, although really she
was looking round at Mrs Frank's flat and admiring her
ornaments and curtains. From time to time she tried to
have a look at herself3 in the mirror.
"You'll stay till Bert comes back, won't you, Ally?"
finished Mrs Frank. "He'll be back at eight. Take care of
Rachel, there's a good girl." 4 Mrs Frank kissed the baby
and hurried off.
At first Ally was quite happy. It was fun to have an
empty flat all to herself.5 The baby was in bed, she soon
fell asleep and looked like a little angel, so that Ally
could walk about the rooms and examine everything.
She picked up the photographs and studied the faces of
the Franks' friends and relations. She had a look at the
Franks' bedroom and then at the kitchen. She tried to do
a bit of the mending 6 that Mrs Frank had left her, but
she was not very good at needlework and put the socks
back unfinished.
After a while she began to look at the clock. Only seven.
One whole hour more! She read a bit from a women's
magazine, and still it wasn't yet half past seven. From
the yard and the balconies came shouts and laughter,
and the sound of running feet. Everyone but Ally seemed
to be having fun.1 She began to wonder what Brian was
doing and whether he had taken another girl to the pictures. It was only by remembering her new dress that
Ally could stay to the end of her time. She gave a big
sigh of relief when Mr Frank came home. The baby was
still asleep and he was quite pleased.
But it was not so easy the second week. The baby
was cutting teeth,2 so she was restless, kept whining and
did not sleep. Ally walked up and down3 the little 100m with
her, up and down, up and down, singing and dancing,
but Rachel didn't stop whining. Her cheeks were quite
red, and each time Ally thought she was going to sleep
a bit and laid her carefully in her little bed, she woke
up at once and started to cry again. Mrs Frank was greatly
worried that she had to go to work and leave the child.
"But we need the money," she said to Ally, "and if I stay
at home so soon, I may lose my job."
For three days Rachel whined and was difficult4 until
at last two neat, white pointed teeth appeared. On the
fourth day she didn't sleep either because she was in high
spirits.8 Each time Ally laid her down, she jumped up
like a celluloid doll.
On that fourth evening Ally was reading a very romantic story in a book she had brought with her. The heroine's
life was in danger all the time, so that Ally simply had to
read the story to the end.
At first, Ally put the baby on her knee and tried to
go on reading, but Rachel only struggled and tried to get
to the floor. Absent-mindedly, Ally let her down, thinking
it would do her no harm to crawl around a bit.1 Perhaps
she would get tired and then fall asleep.
Ally read on and on. The baby was so quiet that she
had forgotten about her. Yes, the hero had done it! He
had found the heroine at last. "Do not be afraid, my darling!" he cried. "I will save you!"
The door of the flat opened and Mrs Frank came hurrying in. "They let me go a bit earlier —" she began.
"Oh, my goodness!" 2
Ally suddenly came back to life. The baby! Out of
bed 8 and on the floor! She jumped up. And there was
Rachel, black from head to foot. She had been sitting by
the coal bucket and licking the coal!
There was a terrible row. Ally was thrown out of the
flat immediately. Mrs Frank was in a rage. She said that
Ally was the worst baby-sitter in the world. If Rachel died of coal poisoning,1 she would call in the
police.
Still sobbing, Ally ran upstairs to Mum. It was awful.
No one in the block would ever trust her again or give her
another job. That silly Rachel! Eating coal! Brian would
laugh if he heard! And what about the new dress? She had
paid only two instalments on it.2 Would the shop give
her the money back or would they keep it, if she couldn't
finish paying for the dress?
• Mum did not say, "I told you so!" She was tactful,
but later in the week she pointed out, "That's glamour
for you. If you hadn't taken that silly book with you,
you'd have kept your job."
"I thought you didn't want me to have a jqb," answered
Ally, who was hurt. For by this time the whole family
thought that Ally should have a job,3 as though the job
had been their idea in the first place.4
To pay the instalments on the dress was a terrible
problem too
"You don't deserve a new dress," said Mum a bit
angrily when the matter came up.B Mrs Frank had been
going round saying all sorts of things about Ally, and
Mrs Crawley, that old gossip, was sure to pass it on! e
This wasn't a pleasant thought.
Luckily,' Dad, who perhaps loved Ally best of all his
children, said that he would give her the dress for a birthday present. So Ally dressed up in it and went to the
pictures with Brian, as proud as a peacock. But after this
Ally really began to understand that money must be
earned by good work, and that if you take on a job, it is
better to do it properly.
When Val heard that Tim
Robins, who worked for Mr Arby,
the newsvendor, had been sacked
because he was always late, he
rushed straight to the newsvendor's
stall and offered himself as
the new boy. This time he did
not forget to wash his face and
hands, and even to put on a
clean jacket. He got the job, and
got up very early next day to go
from house to house, pushing
the papers into letter-boxes.
When he returned home to
breakfast, he was very proud of
himself. He had done the round
in record time. 1 As he came into
the yard, he was so full of pride
that he did not bother to look
found as usual. Suddenly Tim
Robins jumped out from behind2
the bicycle sheds and knocked
him to the ground. 3
"You dirty so-and-so!"4 yelled Tim. "Going round
and stealing my job! I'll teach you a lesson!" And he
gave Val several hard punches and kicks.
Tim was a big, heavy youth, but Val was not so easily
beaten.6 Once he had recovered from the shock of the attack,*
he began to defend himself. The two boys rolled on the
ground fighting fiercely. Blood was soon pouring from
both their noses.
"I'll call in the police," yelled old Sprot, and he started
kicking at both of them, hoping to stop the fight. Dad, who
was just coming dowstairs on his way to work, rushed
to the boys, seized Val by the collar and put him on his
feet. Tim remained on the ground gasping and looking
angrily at Val.
"He jumped out and fell on me," gasped Val.
"He stole my job, that sneak," yelled Tim. He was on
his feet now and seemed quite ready to start the fight
again.
"I'll show you both!" growled Dad.
"I didn't start it. I don't want to fight," said Val
bitterly.
"To start fighting in the yard!" Old Sprot was in a rage.
"Never seen x boys like these ones. My Dad would have
skinned me,2 if he'd caught me fighting. Decent people
can't live in this place, I know that." And he went off
still grumbling.
Dad now tried to settle the quarrel. "Did you get the
sack 3 or not?" he asked Tim in his slow voice.
"Well —" Tim did not know what, to say and wiped
his nose with his sleeve. "Mr Afby did say..." *
"Did you get the sack or not?"
"If Val hadn't come at once, Mr Arby'd have taken me
back."
"So you did get the sack. Well, I don't see you've
got anything to complain of.5 You leave my Val alone in
future or I'll speak to your Dad. Got that?" 6
Tim seemed to have got it, for he went off quickly and
didn't look back.
"It was bad enough when you weren't working," said
Dad looking his unlucky son over rather critically. "But
it's worse now that you are.' You and Ally! I don't know
what's going to happen to you."
Chapter XVIII
THE BONFIRE
Of course, there was only one thought in all the children's minds as November approached — Guy Fawkes
Day! 1
Most of the boys made dummies with masks and old
hats. They borrowed prams and went along the streets
pushing thtir Guys and looking for a place to stop. Once
the boys had got hold of2 a certain good corner, such as
by the cinema, or near the "Cock", they fought tooth and
nail 3 to keep it. Every few yards during the end of October, you could see children sitting with their dummies,
crying "Penny for the Guy,4 sir! Penny for the Guy!"
In one way or another,5 enormous sums of money wsre
collected. Then the children rushed to the firewoiks shop
and bought lots of rockets and bangers and other sorts
of fireworks for Guy Fawkes Day. Of course not everyone
could wait till the Fifth and on most evenings, almost
for three weeks before the day, boys were letting of fireworks just to see that they really could explode.
The radio announcers were giving out directions to the
people not to make their own fireworks, because they could
be dangerous. And the fire brigades were making preparations; they knew that the Fifth would be a hard day for
them.
Of course, Val and his gang were very busy loo. They
were especially looking forward to the Fifth this year as
there would be no Shorty's gang to spoil the day for them.
Val and George had made such a horrible looking Guy
that people grew pale at the sight of it, and paid up 1
quickly, so that they might hurry on and not see it any
more. George had borrowed the old family pram and the
boys put their Guy in it and pushed it along the streets
from four o'clock to bedtime. They were not shy like
other beggars who just sat and waited between their Guy
and their cap of pennies. They moved about, rushed up
to passers-by and attacked them so fiercely that the people
got nervous and gave them sixpences and shillings by
mistake, and then went home and wrote angry letters to
the papers saying that Guy Fawkes Day was a shame
because it was teaching the younger generation to beg.
But fireworks were not the only thing that Val had
in mind for the Fifth. He was planning an enormous
bonfire, and bonfires were of course absolutely forbidden.
Luckily there was a large bomb site 2 not far from Mag-
nolia Buildings. It had been cleared so as to be ready for
some new house. It was here that Val meant to have his
fire. But the boys had to organize everything very carefully, so that the police or the fire brigade could not stop it.
One of the problems of living in a large town is how
to get rid of large-scale rubbish.1 People have to pay big
sums of money to the dustmen for taking away old sofas,
broken tables and chairs. Val knew this and for some time
he had been going from flat to flat, asking people if they
had any old furniture they did not want A week before
the Fifth, he made his gang carry all that junk downstairs
and put it into a bicycle shed. Nobody asked where it
was going. Everybody was only too pleased to get rid of
it without having to pay the dustmen.3 Soon there was
no more room left 3 for the junk in the shed, and the boys
decided to carry the rest of it downstairs on the evening
of the Fifth itself.
There were about twenty school age boys in Magnolia
Buildings and Val, who was a natural organizer, gathered
them together.
"You're to be in the yard as soon as it gets dark," he
ordered. "And if you start talking about our plans, Billy —
well, you know what! So keep all your big mouths shut,1
see! Ginger, you and Bob'll go first and see if the coast
is clear 2 and no cops about. The rest of us'll take the
junk there."
On the evening of the Fifth when it was already dark
and the sky was already full of falling stars and loud
bangs, a very strange procession left Magnolia Buildings.
Old sofas, chairs, tables, beds, mattresses and other such
things,were all moving down the street above funny short
legs. Val and George led the procession with a horrible
sofa on their heads. Four smaller boys carried a huge
mattress, Billy had two old chairs.
The official order was that the procession should move
silently, but this was quite impossible for twenty boys.
There were shouts and laughter and collisions.
"Shut up, you asses! Come on, hurry!" implored Val.
"Stop shouting, Bill. You take my end of the sofa, Pete,
I'm going ahead."
A fight had started between two boys carrying chairs,
and Val had to stop it. Luckily, all the grown-ups were
indoors having their tea, so the procession got safely to
the bomb site.
"Come on, chaps, pile it up," 1 commanded Val, as
they came to the centre of the site. "No! Not like that.
Here, first put the big things, and then all the small junk.
Be quick! Hurry up, or they'll come and stop us!"
All the chairs and sofas were piled up and the horrible
Guy that had helped the children so much in their begging
was put on the very top of the pile, on a chair with three
legs. Rockets were stuck in the Guy's arms. Val struck the
first match, while everyone pushed everyone else trying
to get at the match-box and strike a match too.
A moment ago, the bomb site had been a dark, lonely
place, but suddenly it came to life. In a few seconds hundreds of children joined the organizers, and now they all
yelled and ran and danced round the bonfire.
Fireworks were now let off all over the place, exploding in the very middle of the crowd. Screaming girls ran
away. All the windows in the houses round the bomb site
had been opened, and their inhabitants were yelling protests and complaints, but not one of the children listened.
Some of the grown-ups saw the fun of the fire;2 but there
were other ones 8 who went to ring up the police and the
fire brigade.
Val and his gang were in their glory.4 For weeks they
had been planning this night, counting their pennies and
dreaming of rockets. Their faces and hands were by now,
if possible,6 blacker than usual. As the rockets went up
and broke into a myriad of bright stars, red, green, and
orange, their hearts seemed to go up too.
Yet hardly had the fire attained its full height when8 the
children heard the ringing of bells. Big red machines
were rushing from every direction towards the bomb site.
"They're coming!" yelled Val "Look out,1 chaps, the
brigade's here." Behind the fire brigade were the black
police cars.
Usually the boys would have run away. Mum, who had
come with Len, held her breath.2 But the boys did
not care.3 They knew that public opinion and history and
tradition were all on their side. Besides, on this night
they were seized with such excitement that they were
even ready to spend a week or two in prison after such
a wonderful bonfire.
The firemen and the policemen had jumped out of
their machines. The firemen were getting ready to put out
the fire but then they stopped and looked at the dancing
flames for a moment. They were remembering their own
childhood, when they too had searched for a place to light
a great fire.
"They aren't doing much harm, those chaps," said one
of the firemen at last. "They are far from the houses, so
there's no danger."
One of the policemen wanted to protest, but saw that
really there were too many children to arrest.4
"Poor kids," said the sergeant, who was also a father.
"They'd been saving their pennies and begging for weeks."
"They oughtn't to be let go begging," 5 said the first
policeman.
Some of the more angry neighbours, seeing that the
fire still burnt, had, come out of their houses and were
shouting at the police.
"They're dirtying our windows and washing. They've
woken our babies and frightened our dogs. They ought to
be punished. It's dangerous. It's a waste of money —
a shame. I am a ratepayer. I shall write to my M. P." 8
And so on and so forth.
At last, the police and the fire brigade began to move
towards the bonfire. They moved slowly, as though they
too were hypnotized by the flames. The children had
fallen quiet,1 and were no longer jumping and yelling
because they were a little afraid.
The sergeant had shouted, "You know you can't light
a fire here."
But the children knew that they had done it.
Then the fire began to die down of itself,2 because it
had burnt so fiercely. The highest chair fell down, and
the Guy on it let off his rocket and was also burnt in the
flames. That seemed to be a signal for the firemen, and
they began to put out the fire at last. But no one minded
it now.
The boys had had their fire and let off most of their
rockets. They had nothing against going to bed. Guy
Fawkes had been burnt until another year.
Chapter XIX
THE PANTOMIME
The shops always felt it was Christmas time long before 3
anyone else. Some people laughed and said that the shops
were silly, that Christmas was getting earlier and earlier,
and soon it would begin in August. But the children agreed
with the shops, because they too liked to think about the
coming of Christmas. It was the one bright star ahead
that kept them cheerful through 4 dark, smoggy November
and icy December.
The Common was almost deserted now except for a few
people going to their work. Even the mothers with their
prams preferred to go for walks along the lighted shops.
Most of the fallen leaves had been removed, the little
cafes had shut, and the bandstand was deserted. No chil-
dren were swinging on the swings or sliding down the slides.
It was getting darker and darker every day. No wonder x
that people turned to indoor occupations,2 T. V., dancing,
roller skating and cinemas.
The Berners family were used to London winters and
smog and did not worry very much. They were too busy.
Mum had gone back to her cleaning, and although she
sometimes grumbled a bit when she had to leave house in
the icy darkness of five o'clock in the morning, as soon
as she was in the lighted bus with the other cleaners, she
was gay again and ready to chat and joke. "We've all
missed you, duck," said the fat conductor.
Val was getting up early too, as he had to do his paper
round. He was never late and Mr Arby said he was a good
boy. Sometimes he longed to stay in bed and not to go out
into the smog or frost or rain, but the thought of twelve
shillings a week made hiin jump out of bed. He was saving
up money to buy a tent. He wauled to go camping in the
country next summer. With a tent and a bike he would
be absolutely free. The faithful George would go with
him. Already they had made a plan to join the navy together as soon as they could.
Mum had asked for a part of Val's money to pay for
his new shoes. "It's not fair," he grumbled. "I'm not working for shoes."
"Then you can go barefoot," said Mum laughing. "Suppose I kept my money for myself?" 3
Doreen had to rise early too. The Green Coats School
was very far from Magnolia Buildings, and even when she
came back late in the evening she still had a lot of homework to do, so that her eyes grew red from over-reading.4
Len was quite happy because Mum had promised to buy
him a parrot for Christmas. That was the only sort of pet
that Mr Sprot allowed to have in the flats. "I'll teach
him to talk," said Len in delight.
"Let's hope that when Len gets his Polly," 8 said Mum,
''he'll stop bringing all sorts of things home. With all
those black kids and stray dogs, this place is like the
Lost Property Office." x
Nobody asked Dad if he was happy. Maybe he did not
know it himself. But he was probably quite pleased as
long as a he could be with his family, and go along to the
"Cock" in the evening for his half pint of beer and a chat
with his friends.
Auntie Glad seemed very happy indeed. When she
and Uncle William came to tea on a Sunday, they kept
talking about all sorts of changes that were going on in
their house, about painting and changing the wall-paper.
Uncle William looked fatter and more beaming than
ever and Auntie Glad had never gone back to her old dress
and black cap. She looked quite young and cheerful. Aggie
had now -made it up with 3 her brother.
"Though I wish she hadn't," 4 said Auntie Glad to
Mum. "Because she's such a bore. She keeps coming and
telling me how to look after Bill, as if I didn't know it
myself. Still, in every marriage you have to put up with
something,5 and if Bill wants to see her, he's welcome." 6
But what about Ally? Was she happy too? Not all the
time, unfortunately. Take, for example, the school pantomime.
The school had always done ' a special Christmas play,
and for two years Ally had played the principal part in it.
This year it had been decided to do a pantomime, and Ally
was sure that she would be chosen to play the part of
Cinderella.8
"Look here, Gloria, I'm very sorry," Miss Fleetwood
had said when they were casting. "But you really are too
tall. Linda is the only one with the voice and the legs
for Principal Boy,1 and you're half a head taller than she
is. I don't think we can make you an Ugly Sister, because
the boys will play them. So that means that you can only
have the part of the Good Fairy."
Ally's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Miss Fleetwood, you
almost promised me I'd be Cinderella. I don't want to be
the Good Fairy, that's a soppy part."
"But, Ally," said Miss Fleetwood, "I couldn't help
your growing up so fast, could I? 2 Come on now,3 be a good
gill and cheer up. Anyhow, you'll have a lovely dress all
silver and white and a crown on your head. I think we can
fix you a wand with an electric battery and the star at the
top will light up. You'll be able to do a dance and you'll
gel a special spotlight * every lime you come on the
stage."
Ally sighed. It wasn't fair! Not even with a special
spotlight. She did not want to be the Good Fairy. She had
always wanted to play Cinderella, she had imagined herself in a beautiful dress at the Court Ball,5 with all the
parents looking at her and thinking how lovely Ally Berners was! That would have been true glamour. In this
panto, the Good Fairy spent a lot of her time dressed up
as an ugly old witch. She appeared as a real fairy only
at the end of the second act.
Ally told Brian about her disappointment, but he could
not take it seriously. "It's only a kids' play at school,"
he said with the important air of someone who is just
leaving the Grammar School 6 and perhaps going to London
University.
"You don't understand," said Ally, as they were walking back from the pictures. "Suppose a talent scout
should happen to be in the audience.7 You never know.8
1 was reading the other day 1 about a famous film star who
was discovered like this when she was a waitress. And
if I played a really good Cinderella, I might be invited
to Hollywood and become a star too."
"Nonsense!" cried Brian scornfully. "Can you imagine
any talent scout going to the Church School panto? Be
your age,2 Al."
But Ally did not give in. "He might be a parent, you
never know. I ought to get a chance."
Even if there were not so many good actors at school,
everybody was thinking and talking of nothing else but
the panto.3 In the handicraft classes the boys were making
and painting the scenery, in the needlework classes the
girls were sewing wonderful costumes. Rehearsals filled
every spare moment. Luckily, Mr Browne, the headmaster
and producer, was a very talented man and knew a lot
about directing.4 During the last two years he had managed
to organize a school orchestra and taught it to play a few
tunes. Miss Fleetwood helped to make the costumes.
In spite of having the wrong part,8 Ally went round the
flat singing the song refrains at the 'top of her voice, until
Mum yelled, "For pity's sake 6 stop it, Ally. I'm sick to
death of7 this singing."
"And it isn't fair," said Ally for the thousandth time.
"Imagine Ann Price playing Cinderella! That silly little
thing!" 8
"They ought to have chosen 'Jack and the Beanstalk',"9
said Val. "Then you-could've been the beanstalk, Al."
There were all the usual excitements and horrors of
staging a panto: some people did not learn their words,
the scenery became dirty, the principal characters got 'flu,
the tickets were not ready. All these misfortunes happened.
The dress rehearsal* was, of course, simply awful, just
as dress rehearsals always are. The lights went out, some
of the costumes were still not finished, and the Principal
Boy kept forgetting his words. The Ugly Sisters who had
been so funny at the first rehearsals were getting duller
and duller. In fact, everything seemed hopeless. Mr Browne
and Miss Fleetwood went round saying, "It will be all
right on the night," a but they did not seem too sure
of it. 8 At last the day of the first-night came.
All the classrooms were turned into dressing-rooms and
it was quite amazing to see untidy, dirty schoolchildren
turning into beautiful fairies or Court ladies after being
dressed and made up.4 All the children rushed to the mirror
to see how they looked, and couldn't believe their own eyes.
But under the beautiful costumes were frightened, beating
hearts. Everyone was thinking, "Suppose I make a mess
of my part,5 suppose I forget my words?"
Ally certainly looked dazzling in her silver and white
dress with a shining coronet on her hair; but unfortunately
all that beauty had to be hidden under a great black
cloak, a false nose and a witch's hat.
All her old self-pity came back to Ally when she looked
at Cinderella. That Ann Price certainly had a pretty
doll's face, but she looked silly.
Ally had to go and take her place above the chimneypiece. She had to come down the chimney and to appear
on the stage with a loud explosion and a flash. While she
was waiting, ready to jump, she could hear the excited whisper coming from the packed house.6 In every chair was
a parent who had come to see his or her own child. I ought
to be playing Cinderella, Ally kept thinking, and tears
of anger came to her eyes again.
The school orchestra began to play a merry tune, and
if all the instruments did not finish the tune at absolutely
the same second, who cared? * It was a wonder that the
school had an orchestra at ail. The curtain suddenly went
up and a wave of hot air blew across the cool stage. The
Ugly Sisters appeared. They were walking about with
a proud air looking awfully funny in their comic petticoats and pants, while poor little Cinderella was trying to
dress them for the ball.
Even from behind the chimney Ally could see that the
panto was going well. Something had2 happened to everyone,
excitement had gone to their heads, and was making them
act and sing and dance as they had
never done before.
The audience was laughing nicely.3 Listening to all this,
Ally turned from a Good to a Bad Fairy. She ought to be
on the stage singing Cinderella's song instead of hiding
above the chimney.
Now the Ugly Sisters were dressed at last, in spite of
all the strange things that had happened to their clothes
while they were trying to put them on. They were dancing
off to the ball * followed by the Wicked Stepmother.
Cinderella was left alone in her rags, to sing her sad song
in the ashes.
I cannot go to the Ball.
Sisters and Mamma and all
Will polka and lancer,!!
And have lots of fun.
I shall sit here
And just eat a dry bun.
I shall not dance with a handsome young feller •
But stay in the ashes and be Cinderella.
Oh, I do want to go to the Ball!
This was the Good Fairy's
cue.7 Ally gathered herself
8
up, broomstick and all. When the big flash and explo-
sion came, she was down the
chimney and standing on
the stage in her spotlight.
The excitement that had
got into the other actors x
had got into Ally too, only
more so. Ally was a natural
actress. She had a vivid
imagination and was never
shy.
In her disappointment
she almost did not act during, the rehearsals, only
doing the minimum of
work, but tonight it was quite
another thing. She would
show them! She would
make the audience forget
that silly little Cinderella!
Ally just gave that Good Fairy all she had.2 If the panto
had been going quite well before, it now went with a bang.3
She overacted it, she caricatured all the Good Fairies there
had ever been, she played the fool,4 she made the audience
die of laughter because she just did not care.8 And because
she did not care, she could do anything she liked with
the audience. Poor little Cinderella was so amazed that
she could hardly say her words, and anyhow the audience
was laughing so much at Ally's tricks that they could not
concentrate their attention on Cinderella at all.
Miss Fleetwood caught Ally between scenes6 and
implored her to behave. Mr Browne scolded her, but it
was no good,7 for that night she had gone mad and did
not care. "It serves them right," 8 she said to herself,
"they should have given me a proper part and this wouldn't
have happened." Besides the audience liked her. All the
parents who had come to see the show from a sense of duty
were enjoying themselves as much as if they were at Drury
Lane.1
Ally sang her song that was full of good wishes for
Cinderella in such a way that it sounded like mockery.
When she sang that she hoped the girl would get her prince,
the audience knew that the prince was a clown and no good
to any girl.
When Mr Browne played a tune on the piano in the
interval, he put into it all the rage he felt against Ally
Berners. But nobody could stop her because she certainly
had the audience on her side. The headmaster could hear
people asking each other, "Who is the Good Fairy? Isn't
she wonderful?"
In the interval, Cinderella and the Prince attacked Ally.
"What do you think you're doing?" they cried. "You never
give us our proper cues! And stop playing up those silly
tricks, riding round the stage on your broomstick. You've
never done that before. We didn't know when to
come in."
But Ally paid no attention and just went on to the
stage with a mocking laugh.
During the second part of the panto she behaved in
the same way. At the Court Ball, she frightened the Court
ladies so that they forgot their dance. By the time the
show came to an end, and Ally had to make her last speech
in front of the curtain, the audience was standing and
yelling for her.2 Never had there been such a school pantol
Behind the scenes,3 Mr Browne and Miss Fleetwood were
biting their nails and wishing they could give her a good
thrashing.
Mum and Len were quite amazed at Ally's success and
nearly clapped their hands off.* They, like the rest of the
audience, had no idea that she had killed the show.1 The
other actors themselves were waiting in a rage behind the
scenes, and there would have been a fight if the teachers
had not stepped in.
"Ally, come into my study a minute," said Mr Browne.
"You have gone a bit too far." 2
"I don't care," said Ally with shining eyes and the
freedom of a pupil who has only one more day of school
life. "I ought to have had the principal part. Anyhow,
I made the show.3 You can't say I didn't, sir. Listen to
them now."
This was absolutely true, because the audience was
still clapping and yelling tor the Good Fairy.
"I think perhaps I should go out and take another
curtain,4 sir?" And she was off.
"If you don't promise to behave properly tomorrow
night, I'll give your part to somebody else," Mr Browne
called after her.
"You can't," said naughty Ally, quite drunk with
success. "They'll all come to see me."
Ally was very excited and happy all the way home,
even though her friend Lou was worried and told her,
"You'll be very sorry about it tomorrow."
"Why should I?" 5 said Ally carelessly. "I showed them
I could act."
"Mr Browne'll give you a bad leaving report," 8 said
Lou, "and it'll be hard for you to get a good job."
"I don't care!" cried Ally, because she knew that she
would go on the stage.7 The great West End producers8
would not bother to read a schoolmaster's report.
Chapter XX
FAME AND AFTERWARDS1
Oddly enough,2 there had been, by chance, a reporter
in the audience, one of the reporters of the South London
press 3 who had a small girl at the school. He had come
to see the panto only because his daughter was a fairy.
He had expected to be bored for two hours, while children
stumbled over half-for gotten lines. But instead of this
he had greatly enjoyed the panto because of Ally. He had
been absolutely charmed by her acting.
"That girl is a real find," 4 he said excitedly to his
wife on the way home. "She's got imagination and personality. This is very rare. Few people have it. That's
a girl who should go on the stage. I'd like some producer
to see her.8 She's awfully pretty too. I've never seen such
hair." And he sat down late that night and wrote such
an amusing article about the school panto and Ally that
it was printed by most of the South London papers. Everyone round the Common read that Ally was a talented
young actress.
As soon as Mum came back from work next day, Mrs
Doherty and other neighbours came running in with their
papers.
"Dear me," said Mum when she read the article. "Just
think of it! All this is written about our Ally!"
"He says she should be in the West End theatres,"
cried Mrs Doherty. "Or on T. V. Wouldn't it be lovely
ir she were on T. V. and we could watch her! We all that
knew her from the cradle! That'd be a pride for you, Mrs
Berners, dear."
Ally, who, when she calmed down, had begun to feel
that she was perhaps a bit wrong, was now almost beside
herself with delight.6 So, after all,7 she was right. The
reporter wrote that she had made the show, and what
could the teachers and the children say against it? The
house would certainly be packed tonight. Perhaps Mr
Browne would even run the show * for the third time.
Ally's vivid imagination was off at once.2 She saw other
people, important people, reading the paper. She saw some
great West End producers arriving in Rolls Royces to
offer her engagements at enormous salaries. She saw herself in a mink coat, just leaving for Hollywood by plane.
"Miss Gloria Berners when asked about her plans said,
'I really do not know at present what I shall decide to do.
I feel that perhaps I should not refuse 3 the Paris T. V.'s
offer.'"
But not everyone was pleased. Some of the children
had gone home in a rage and told everybody how Ally had
behaved. The parents of those actors were very angry.
Cinderella's father even spoke to Ally's Dad when they
met in the yard. "Your girl spoiled everything for my Ann
last night," he said.
"Did you see the papers this morning?" asked Dad triumphantly. "They say our Glory made the show."
"That may be," said the other father, "but at other
people's expense,4 if you ask me." s
"Well, I don't ask you," said Dad. And that was the
end of the talk.
There were no ordinary lessons on the day of the second
show of "Cinderella", and Ally did not want to go to the
dressing room too early. She was a bit afraid of everybody
there. But the children were not so angry as she had feared:
They too had read the papers. If the papers said Ally was
so good, then she must be.6
Mr Browne and Miss Fleetwood were still very angry,
but they dared not make a big fuss,7 because they had to
spare the actors' nerves before the show. They could speak
to Ally afterwards. Anyhow it was Ally who had made the
show and now all the tickets had been sold out.
When Ally went to her place above the big chimney
she felt strange.* She still wanted to do her best 2
and to be the star of the show but she did not want to do
it at the expense of the other actors. She had always been
popular among the pupils 3 and she did not want to lose
that popularity. Also yesterday's mad excitement and
anger had passed, so she really did not know how she
should play her part that night.
As a result the whole of the show went wrong.4 The
other actors were now waiting and ready for Ally's tricks.
So they were just standing by and letting her do what
she liked. Ally herself tried to be funny, but what had
been created by excitement and anger could not be reproduced in cold blood.6 One must be a professional6 to
reproduce the same feelings night after night. Together
with her anger and excitement Ally had lost all her charm
because she was not sure she was doing the right thing. The
audience somehow felt it and did not laugh as they had'
laughed the night before. Most of them had come expecting
to see something wonderful, but very soon they got disappointed and their disappointment went straight back to
the actors, who began to play still worse.
In the second act, Ally tried again to do her wild ride
on the broomstick round the stage, but this time she somehow stumbled over the broomstick and fell down heavily.
While falling she hurt her right arm and gave a loud cry
of pain.7
She tried to get up but found she could not. The pain
was too sharp, and she screamed again.
The audience began to get up and shout out advice.
Miss Fleetwood rang down the curtain,1 and Ally was carried into the headmaster's study. In two different ways
on both days, she had managed to kill the show.
Ally was crying with pain. "Oh, it hurts,2 it hurts,"
she sobbed, for the pain on top of the nervous strain 3
was too much for her.
"I think she must have dislocated her shoulder, A dislocation often hurts much more than a break," said Mr
Browne, looking very worried. "I'll ring for the ambulance.
We must get her to the hospital and have her arm X-rayed 4
at once. Miss Fleetwood, send someone for her mother."
The ambulance arrived before Mum, because Mum had
had to quiet the family first and change her clothes. The
men put Ally, who was still in her fairy dress, carefully
into the ambulance; but still her arm hurt terribly. At
the hospital she was carried first to the X-ray room,5
where they discovered it was a bad dislocation, and then
she was taken to the theatre.6 A prick in the arm put her
to sleep,7 and when she woke up again, she was in hpd in
the Women's Ward and her dislocation had been reduced.8
But oh, how it still hurt!
She was allowed to go home in a few days, and her
arm soon mended, but she had to go to the hospital and
have massage e during all of her Christmas holidays.
"Well," said Mum after Christmas, when Ally's arm
was all right again. "It doesn't look as though Hollywood's
going to make you an offer.10 I'm going to ask if they'll
take you at the ladies' hairdressing saloon. I heard they
wanted an apprentice there. So if it's glamour you want,
my girl, you'll get it. You'll like the job, and besides
you'll see a bit of life there too. But don't you come home'
with your hair dyed pink or some such nonsense, or Dad'll
skin you, you may be sure of it. And none of your tricks
there, either." 2
Ally dared not say that she wanted to go on the stage.
After that terrible night, she was afraid that everybody
would laugh at her. Luckily, Mr Browne, thinking that
the girl had been punished enough, had spared her in his
leaving report. He only wrote that Gloria Berners had"
"a tendency to over-enthusiasm". 3
Tp work at the hairdressing saloon was not as exciting
as Hollywood, but it was better than many other jobs,
so Ally went off to her work with a light heart. She had
always liked to do her own hair, and she thought it would
be fun to experiment with other people's.
After a few weeks at the hairdressing saloon Ally changed
out of all recognition.1 She now looked quite neat and elegant, had properly manicured nails and expertly cut
hair.2 She also brought home such a lot of stories she had
heard from the customers that Mum could listen to her
for hours.
"Do you know what?" Ally came running into the flat
one evening in March. "I saw Mr Collins today, he's the
manager, you know, and he says if I go on as I'm going,3
he'll put me into the West End branch. It's my hair.4
He thinks it will attract the customers. Oh, Mum! The
West End!"
"There," 5 cried Mum, looking with delight at her pretty
daughter. "I believe you kids are going to turn out all
right after all.6 I do hope to see all of you grow up
decent people and be happy. Of course Len is too young
to make any plans about him. But he ins't a bad chap,
is he? Doreen's going to be a school teacher, and Val
wants to be a sailor and now you're getting to the West
End. Why, Ally, you may meet a Duke or someone
grand,' and get married and be a great lady!"
"What, me!" 8 cried Ally laughing. "No, I don't like
dukes." But her eyes were shining and she looked as though
she half believed
9
her mother's words.
NAMES OF PERSONS
PLACE NAMES