by Cathy Sharp
She felt apprehensive but knew that if Sister demanded an explanation, she must tell her the truth, because otherwise Billy would be in worse trouble. Sister Beatrice had threatened to cane him next time he did anything wrong and a little voice in her head told her that cheating would be considered much worse than running in the corridor.
Mary Ellen was in the dining room having tea with Marion when Billy came in. He looked flushed and triumphant, and she knew immediately that he must have done well in the football match. He loaded his plate with shrimp paste sandwiches, two sausage rolls and a slice of sponge cake, and brought them to the table where they sat.
‘We won,’ he announced as he set his plate down. ‘And I scored the winning goal.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful,’ Mary Ellen said, her heart lurching. He looked so pleased with himself and she was carrying a guilty secret she just knew was going to get him into a lot of trouble. ‘I’m so glad, Billy. Tell us all about it. We want to hear it all, don’t we, Marion?’
‘Oh yes,’ Marion agreed and looked wistful. ‘I used to like playing football in the lane with my friends, but I wasn’t very good – not like you, Billy.’
‘I don’t know if I’m very good,’ Billy said, ‘but the sports master said he would make me a regular member of the team and …’ His face clouded and Mary Ellen thought he might burst into tears, he looked so miserable.
‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘Is it because of Arthur? Or is it Sister Beatrice? Has she got on to you about the lines …?’
‘What lines?’
‘You were supposed to be in detention and write one hundred lines so I did them for you and put your name on the top, but she came in just as I was leaving and she said she knew you’d gone to a football match at school …’
‘No, did she?’ Billy stared in surprise. ‘How could she know that? I never told anyone but you – and you didn’t tell?’
‘No, you know I wouldn’t. But she’ll know you didn’t do the lines and be angry with you. She might think you asked me to cheat for you … but I shall tell her the truth if she blames you. It was all my idea.’
‘It was a good idea,’ Billy said. ‘If she hadn’t found out I was playing for the school she wouldn’t have guessed.’
‘No, because I printed the letters like you do, Billy. It was ever so hard and took ages, but I thought it would save you getting into more trouble – and now you may be in worse.’
‘Oh. Look.’ Marion ducked her head down. ‘Sister Beatrice has just come in and she’s looking for someone – I think she’s coming over, Billy.’
‘I don’t care,’ Billy said on a note of bravado. ‘There’s nothing she can do to me now.’
‘Billy Baggins, so you’ve returned to us, have you?’ Sister boomed in a tone that brooked no good for errant boys. ‘Well, I’m sure I hope you enjoyed your afternoon, because it is the last time you will have any privileges until Christmas – and now I should like you to come to my office if you will. Playing truant is one thing, but getting another person to write out your lines is quite another.’
‘It wasn’t Billy’s fault,’ Mary Ellen said quickly. ‘I’m the one that did it – and I thought of it myself. Billy didn’t ask me …’
‘Indeed?’ Sister’s gaze narrowed intently. ‘Why should I believe you?’
‘Because I’m telling the truth,’ Mary Ellen replied, meeting her angry stare. ‘On my life, Sister. It was all my idea …’
‘Then you should be ashamed of yourself, Mary Ellen. Cheating is something I just will not accept here at St Saviour’s. If you were not asked to do this …’
‘It isn’t her fault,’ Billy put in quickly. ‘Don’t lie for me, Mary Ellen. I made you do it. You should punish me, Sister, not her.’
Marion started to cry. ‘It isn’t Mary Ellen’s fault,’ she wept. ‘Don’t punish her – and Billy won his football match and now you’ve gone and spoiled it …’
‘Stop that snivelling at once,’ Sister Beatrice commanded. ‘Is this a mutiny? I shall have something to say to you, Billy. Finish your tea and report to me in half an hour. Marion, you must learn not to take sides when it doesn’t concern you – and as for you, Mary Ellen, your privileges will be cancelled for the next two weeks.’
Mary Ellen stared at the Warden but she didn’t reply, nor did she cry, even though her eyes stung with tears. She wished she hadn’t cheated, because now she saw how shameful it was, but she’d done it to save her friend. Instead of that, Billy was in even more trouble and she might miss the Christmas party at the church hall unless Sister relented before then.
She turned to Billy as Sister walked away, feeling sick with misery. ‘I’m sorry; I’ve just made things worse for you. I meant to help – but she’s really angry with us now.’
‘She’ll probably give me the cane,’ Billy said. ‘It don’t matter. It only hurts for a minute and me pa used to hit me far worse.’
Mary Ellen knew that he was putting on a brave show, because he was bound to suffer, but there was a look in his eyes that bothered her because it was caused by something worse than a punishment from Sister Beatrice.
‘Is there anything you haven’t told me?’ she asked and saw him look hesitant. For a moment she thought he was going to speak, but then he checked and grinned in his old way, almost reassuring her.
‘Nah, there ain’t nuffin’ wrong,’ he lied, and she knew he was lying. ‘I don’t care about the old witch – she can’t hurt me no more.’
‘What do you mean?’
Mary Ellen didn’t understand, because she knew Billy had been trying to keep Sister Beatrice sweet so that she didn’t send him away from St Saviour’s, but now he seemed resigned – as if he’d given up trying. She reached out and touched his hand, but he drew it away as if he’d been stung, jumped up from the table and ran from the room, leaving most of his tea untouched on the table.
‘What’s wrong with Billy?’ Marion asked. ‘He loves sausage rolls and fruitcake, but he’s hardly eaten a thing.’
‘I’ll wrap them in a paper serviette and take them for him,’ Mary Ellen decided aloud. ‘I can smuggle them up to him after lights out.’
‘If you get caught you will be in trouble,’ Marion objected. ‘Why not take them to his dorm when you go and put them by his locker? He will find them when he goes up and you won’t get into trouble for being out of bed later on.’
‘Yes, I shall, thanks for the idea,’ Mary Ellen said. ‘And thanks for sticking up for us to Sister Beatrice. I’ve never seen her cross with you before.’
‘She never has been, though she’s always firm, but she was very angry. I haven’t seen her like that before.’
‘She seems to pick on Billy all the time,’ Mary Ellen said. ‘I don’t know why she’s unkind to him, it only makes him do silly things – he goes and defies her but she doesn’t seem to understand that it’s just him proving he isn’t afraid.’
‘I don’t think Billy is afraid of anything.’
Mary Ellen didn’t answer. She had sensed fear in Billy just now but she didn’t think it was to do with Sister Beatrice threatening to cane him. No, it was his fear of his bully of a brother, fear that went much deeper than his dislike of Sister.
As she took the remains of his tea upstairs and put it by his bed in the empty dorm, Mary Ellen sensed a shadow hanging over her friend. She couldn’t guess exactly what was troubling him, but she knew it was bad. If he would only tell her they might find a way of solving it. Angela and Sally were both approachable and Mary Ellen felt that if she confided in them they would find a way to help – but if Billy wouldn’t tell her what was wrong, she couldn’t do anything for him.
There was no sign of Billy when the children gathered for prayers and a glass of milk before bedtime, and Mary Ellen was truly worried. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something bad was about to happen, but she didn’t know what to do. Even if she went to the boys’ dorm to look for him, there was no guarantee that she would find him.
She had to try because her instinct told her something was wrong. Billy had looked so miserable and he’d won his match so he ought to have been happy.
Jumping out of bed, Mary Ellen dragged on her clothes and left the dormitory. She would go down in the garden and throw stones at Billy’s window. If he woke up he would come out to see what was wrong.
She crept along the hall, finding her way to the back door. One small light was always left burning at night in case anyone came down, and the carers were about all the time. The back door was unbolted, which was unusual, and the back of Mary Ellen’s neck prickled, because it should not have been opened. Someone had got here first.
‘Billy …’ she called softly as she went out into the darkness of the garden. ‘Are you here?’
For a moment there was silence and then a small shadow came towards her. ‘Mary Ellen, what are you doin’ here?’ Billy’s voice hissed at her. ‘I’m waitin’ fer Arthur. I’ve got to go with him.’
‘No, you mustn’t,’ she cried and grabbed at his arm. ‘I shan’t let you. Billy, he’s trouble. Please don’t be foolish …’
‘You don’t understand,’ Billy said and his face was pale in the light of a moon suddenly revealed by shifting clouds. ‘If I don’t go he’ll hurt you all – he’s threatened to set the place on fire …’
‘Billy!’ She was shocked and anxious. ‘Don’t you see, he’s bad? You mustn’t go with him.’
‘I’ve got to,’ he said, and his voice broke. ‘He could hurt all of you.’
‘I told you to come alone, you little bugger. We need yer to help us do a job tonight.’ Arthur’s harsh voice broke into their speech. ‘Get rid of her or I’ll break her neck.’
‘You just leave her alone or I’ll kill you!’ Billy said and stood forward. ‘Why do you want to come back ’ere? I don’t want anythin’ to do with …’
‘It won’t be just her I’ll hurt if yer don’t behave,’ Arthur muttered and moved threateningly towards them. ‘I’ll give the pair of yer a good hidin’.’
‘Run for it, Mary Ellen, he means it,’ Billy warned.
Mary Ellen gave a screech of fright, but instead of running off, she lunged at Arthur, kicking and screaming at the top of her voice. He gave a grunt of pain as she kicked his ankles and then swore furiously, making a grab for her hair and tugging it until she yelled in pain. Mary Ellen turned her head and sank her sharp little white teeth into Arthur’s hand and he cried out in anger. He hit out at her and caught her in the face, knocking her to the ground where she lay gasping for breath. Her head was swimming and the last thing she heard was Billy’s cry of horror before the outside light was switched on and a woman came out into the garden.
‘What’s going on out here?’ Angela’s voice called. ‘Who is it? Whoever you are I’ve got a poker here and I’ve already sent for the police.’
‘You’ll pay for this, you runt,’ Arthur’s voice hissed. ‘I’ll be back and when I do you’d better be ready to come or I’ll kill your little friend here.’
Billy was on his knees helping Mary Ellen to her feet when Angela came out to them. ‘What’s going on here? Did I see a man running away?’
‘It was just a tramp,’ Billy said. ‘Me and Mary Ellen came down to get a drink of water and saw him trying to get in the window so we tried to stop him …’
Mary Ellen looked at Billy. She wanted to blurt out the truth but was too scared. Angela was looking hard at Billy.
‘This door was unbolted,’ she said. ‘I don’t think a tramp could have done that. Are you going to tell me the truth, Billy?’
‘It is the truth,’ Billy said defiantly. ‘I ain’t got nuffin’ else to say – and nor ain’t Mary Ellen.’
‘You should tell Angela the truth,’ Mary Ellen said quietly. Her cheek felt sore and she was close to bursting into tears, but her pride wouldn’t let her.
‘Well, I shall have to tell the police and Sister,’ Angela said. ‘Because if there was someone trying to break in we shall need to call the police …’
Billy looked at Mary Ellen. ‘I’m sorry he hurt you, but he’ll do worse if I don’t go,’ he said. ‘It’s not her fault, miss. She was just tryin’ to help me.’
He turned and ran off through the garden. Mary Ellen watched him go but she couldn’t stop him and she was hurting too much to try.
‘Can you tell me the truth?’ Angela asked, but Mary Ellen shook her head. ‘This is serious, you know. If Billy has run off with someone we need to know, Mary Ellen.’
‘I can’t tell you, miss. I want to but I can’t …’
‘Well, by the look of you, you’ve been taught a hard lesson. Come on, I’ll take you in and clean you up and you can have a drink of hot milk before you go to bed – but I shall have to lock up and I must report this to Sister Beatrice in the morning. And I’ll have to let the police know what happened here.’
‘Please, miss,’ Mary Ellen begged. ‘Billy didn’t want to go. He might come back in the morning – and if you tell the police he will be in trouble …’
Angela hesitated, because an intruder was serious, but she wasn’t sure anyone had actually been trying to get in and she didn’t want to stir up trouble for Billy if she could help it. ‘Well, I shan’t disturb Sister just now. I’ll make sure everything is safe and I’ll talk to her in the morning – it will be for her to decide whether we need to inform the authorities. I suppose Billy might come back and it might be best to see what he has to say before we go to the police.’
When Mary Ellen woke on Sunday morning Alice was opening the curtains and calling to the girls to get up and wash. ‘You shouldn’t be yawning when it’s morning,’ Alice said, coming to her bed. ‘Didn’t you sleep well?’
Mary Ellen shook her head and stretched. Her cheek felt sore and she thought she must have a bruise. Sally would have asked her why she hadn’t slept, but Alice seemed preoccupied and just walked on to the next bed, as if her mind was elsewhere. Mary Ellen wished that Sally was there, because perhaps she might have told her how worried she was about Billy and the threats his brother had made the previous night. The horror of what had happened flooded over her and she jumped out of bed, in a hurry to get washed and go down to breakfast to see if Billy had come back. Surely, he wouldn’t have gone to join Arthur? His brother would make him do bad things and Billy would get into trouble. She was scared, because Sister was going to be cross when Angela told her about what had happened in the garden.
Mary Ellen’s clothes were muddy from where she’d fallen when Arthur hit her and she had to get clean ones out, and put the others in the washing basket. That would earn her a black mark, because they’d been clean on the day before – but that was nothing compared to the danger Billy was in if he hadn’t returned.
She ran down to the dining room on fire with the need to find her friend. Please let him have come back; please don’t let him be in trouble …
Billy wasn’t in his usual seat, and that sent a chill through Mary Ellen, because he was always the first down. If he’d really run away anything could happen to him and she felt anxious just thinking about it.
Selecting two slices of toast with a spoon of marmalade, Mary Ellen carefully carried her tray to their table. She sat sipping her orange squash waiting for Billy to come in and join her, but he still hadn’t arrived by the time she’d finished eating. She was just thinking of going to look for him when she saw Angela coming towards her and her heart began to pound madly.
‘Sister Beatrice wants you to come to her office. Don’t look so frightened, Mary Ellen. She just wants to ask you a few questions about last night.’
‘She’ll give me the cane …’
‘No, I am sure she won’t. I’ll stay with you, if you like?’
‘Yes, please, miss.’
Mary Ellen pushed away her used plate and stood up, following Angela from the dining room through the hall and up the stairs to Sister Beatrice’s office. Her mouth was dry and her heart beating so fast that sh
e thought her chest would burst. She was in trouble, she was sure of it!
Angela knocked at the door and then pushed it open and went in, Mary Ellen following behind like a scalded mouse. Sister was looking out of the window, her hands crossed behind her back and she looked stiff and straight. She must be very angry!
‘What do you know of what happened last night, child?’
‘We heard a noise in the garden and went out.’ Mary Ellen fidgeted as she lied. ‘A man was trying to get in …’
‘You heard a noise and went out – what were you doing out of your dorms and why were you together?’
‘Billy was upset,’ Mary Ellen fabricated desperately. ‘I went down for a drink of water and he was there and …’
‘Billy did not come to my office as I asked last evening. I believe he intended to run away – and perhaps you tried to stop him. Is that what really happened?’
‘Billy thought you were going to whack him.’
Sister frowned, looking concerned rather than angry.
‘Had he come to my office, I merely intended to inquire whether he wished to remain here. We have certain rules at St Saviour’s, which I consider necessary for the safety and comfort of my children and staff. However, apart from sensible rules I do not believe the life here is hard or unhappy for most of our children – and I have to consider all my children. One unruly boy cannot be allowed to upset the smooth running of the home for all the others. I meant to ask Billy to think carefully whether he could accept these rules and continue to live here – or whether he would prefer to live elsewhere. It seems I have my answer. He has run off without a word, making more trouble for all of us.’
‘Sister Beatrice,’ Angela intervened. ‘We do not know what the reason behind Billy’s disappearance may be. It is possible that he will turn up later with a perfectly good explanation. Doesn’t Billy have an older brother? Mary Ellen, is that who it was?’