Across the Barricades
Page 15
A crowd of children were jumping up and down on the pavement.
‘It’s lucky you are going away on a boat,’ said Gerald.
‘Don’t I know it?’ said Kevin.
Brede waited for him a few yards further down the street. She stood with her hands bunched into the pockets of her coat.
‘Good-bye then, kids! Good-bye, Da.’
‘Good-bye, Kevin.’
They called and waved until he was half-way down the street. He walked backwards waving his arm. And then he turned to Brede and said, ‘Let’s go quickly now.’
Mrs Rafferty was standing on the opposite pavement. ‘Is that you for off then, Kevin? Off to make your fortune, eh?’
‘You never know, do you, Mrs Rafferty?’ Brede called back.
When they rounded the corner, Kevin stopped. He put down the case. ‘You don’t need to come any further, Brede. I want to go the rest of the way myself. You don’t mind?’
‘Of course not.’ She gave him a little smile. ‘Well, Kevin, I’ll miss you.’
‘I’ll miss you too. You’ll write and tell me how everybody is? And if there’s anything wrong you must let me know. Promise?’
She promised. She kissed him quickly on the cheek and then ran back round the corner, out of sight.
He picked up the suitcase and set off again. Ahead, at the entrance to the scrapyard, he saw Kate Kelly. She was leaning against the gate post watching him. As he came nearer she straightened up and came towards him,
‘Can I speak to you, Kevin?’
‘I’ve nothing to say to you.’
‘I just wanted to say I was sorry. I must have made a mistake about that box.’ She was walking beside him now in the direction of the bus stop. He lengthened his stride.
‘You don’t expect me to believe that!’
‘Well, to be honest… Brian Rafferty made me. I wouldn’t have told the lie otherwise.’
‘Made you?’ As he spoke he realized that he was not interested in what she had to say. It was all of it behind him now, Kate and Brian Rafferty and the beatings up and the bombs. He was heading out for something new. For the first time since deciding to go away he felt excitement stir inside him.
He saw a bus coming along the main road. ‘Goodbye, Kate,’ he said, and ran to meet it.
The ships’ funnels loomed up behind the sheds. He sniffed in the exciting smell of the docks, a mixture of sea and oil and sacks. He walked, swinging his case, enjoying the bustle and movement around him.
Standing beside the Liverpool shed was Sadie. He ran the last few yards to reach her.
‘So you managed to come and see me off?’
‘Did you think I wouldn’t?’
‘No.’
‘Anyway, I haven’t come to see you off. I’m coming with you.’ He was looking at her in amazement. She added anxiously, ‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘Mind?’ He put down his suitcase and lifted her up and whirled her round till she was breathless with laughter. ‘That’s the best news I’ve had in months. But where’s your luggage?’
‘I couldn’t walk out of the house with a case, could I now? You’ll have to take me as I stand. But I’ve bought my ticket.’
She took the piece of paper from her pocket and held it out.
‘Come on then,’ said Kevin. ‘What are we waiting for?’
‘Nothing,’ said Sadie.’ Nothing at all.’
He took her hand and together they walked across the shed to the white, waiting ship.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Across the Barricades
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20