Christmas is for Children

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘If that’s the last one, Miss Flo – give it to Mick…’

  ‘Oh…’ Flo looked upset. ‘We were sure we had enough for everyone…’

  ‘I’ve had plenty of gifts this Christmas,’ Ben said. ‘Mick, this is yours.’ He took it and handed it to his friend. Honour gave them both a sixpence.

  ‘I’ll have some sweets for you if you come to the house tomorrow,’ Flo whispered. ‘That was well done of you, Ben.’

  Ben shook his head, his cheeks pink as he pocketed the sixpence and walked back to where his dad was sitting. Ruthie had her box open and was sucking a red lollipop.

  ‘Ain’t yer got one, Ben?’

  ‘Nah, but it don’t matter,’ Ben said. ‘You eat yours, Ruthie.’

  ‘Yer can have one of me lollipops,’ his sister offered, but Ben shook his head. ‘I ain’t hungry. You keep it fer later.’

  ‘I saw what you did,’ Robbie said in a low voice. ‘That was a good thing to do, son. I’m proud of yer.’

  ‘That man – the one who tried to steal Miss Flo’s money…’ Ben frowned. ‘I’m sure he’s the man who threw that cash box in the dustbin near Finney’s.’

  ‘Yes, I thought it might be.’ Ben’s father nodded his agreement. ‘He has been hanging round here and at the Sally Army offices – and they think he broke in and stole a collecting tin left on their counter. They don’t leave money in the office, but there were a few pennies in the tin.’

  ‘It’s still pinchin’, ain’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it is, Ben. John Hansen wouldn’t call the police because it’s Christmas Day, but he’ll telephone tomorrow and ask them to keep a watch over this place.’

  ‘Are we goin’ now, Dad?’

  ‘After I’ve had a word with Miss Flo and Miss Honour.’ His father looked at him and then ruffled his hair affectionately. ‘If Mick wants to come to our house for a bit of cake and some clean clothes – you can ask him if you like.’

  ‘Thanks, Dad,’ Ben said and turned to look for Mick who had disappeared while he was talking to his father. He searched the hall for him, but by the time his father came back for them, he knew that Mick had gone.

  ‘Your friend didn’t want to come?’ he asked.

  ‘He left while me back was turned,’ Ben said. ‘He’s like that, Dad. Sometimes he’ll speak ter me, others he won’t… he has a terrible time at home. When Mick comes to school, he has bruises all over him, but a lot of the time he just stays away. The teacher tried to talk to Mick’s father about it once, but he was drunk and threatened him and no one has dared to say a word since… but a lot of days no one sees Mick at all.’

  ‘Someone should be told,’ Ben’s father said. ‘It’s wrong that this kind of thing can go on and no one dares to stop it… maybe we should tell the police.’

  ‘Mick would never speak to me again if we did that,’ Ben said. ‘Please don’t, Dad. Not the police…’

  ‘Well, I’ll have to tell someone. I’ll speak to John Hansen after Christmas…’

  Ben nodded and followed his father from the mission hall. When Mick showed up again, he would invite him round to the house, but who knew when that would be.

  23

  Flo deposited her basket on the kitchen table and sighed with contentment. Her father looked at her and nodded.

  ‘Went all right then, did it?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes – thanks to Mr Graham,’ Honour said, depositing the still half-full jar of sixpences. ‘A rough-lookin’ man tried to steal your sixpences, Dad. Mr Graham went after him and stopped him. Some of the men put the thief out…’

  ‘They should’ve called the police,’ her father growled.

  ‘John Hansen said he wouldn’t because it was Christmas Day.’

  ‘Sentimental fool. If the bugger was low enough to try to steal from the kids, he will do it again elsewhere.’

  ‘Robbie’s knuckles were red where he’d hit the man. I should think they will be sore,’ Flo said and went to put the kettle on the hob, but she was filled with pride and glad that Honour had been there to see Robbie’s bravery. ‘I’ll make us a cup of tea.’

  ‘So was it worth all your hard work?’ her father asked.

  ‘It was lovely,’ Honour answered first. ‘The children lined up properly like Mr Hansen told them and there was hardly any pushing – but we were one box short and so Ben didn’t get one. Luckily we had plenty of sixpences so I gave him one of those – but he missed out on the box of sweets.’

  ‘I thought you double-checked your list?’

  ‘We did,’ Flo said. ‘There was a young lad there on his own – he looked dirty and uncared for. I think he just turned up out of the blue. One of the other women told me they had to fetch a stool from the kitchen and use an enamel plate for one dinner. They had plenty of food and several people had seconds – but they had checked the numbers too and they’re sure an extra child turned up.’

  ‘By the sound of it he needed that meal more than most,’ Flo’s father said

  ‘Yes, I think he did, poor lad. Ben was before him in the queue, but he gave the gift to the other boy – Mick… he’s a good-looking lad with black hair and blue eyes, but as thin as a rake and filthy.’

  ‘Sounds as if he might be Irish,’ her father observed. ‘It’s a pity Ben didn’t get his box of treats – but you can give him something next time you see him.’

  ‘I told him to come tomorrow, but I don’t think he will.’

  ‘Shame, because I know the Graham children were a big part of the reason you did it.’

  ‘Yes, at the start,’ Flo agreed, ‘but Robbie is gettin’ on his feet again now, Dad. He can provide for his children – and there were so many little faces there. Most of them hadn’t had anythin’ for Christmas. The way their eyes lit up was wonderful to see. I felt like cryin’…’

  ‘No need for tears. They will remember this Christmas as special all their lives – and that’s down to you two,’ Mr Hawkins told them. ‘You’ve worked so hard, the pair of you – and I’m proud of my girls. Rich people give money to charity, but you were prepared to work for what you did – and that makes it special.’

  Flo’s cheeks were warm and her father’s praise made her glow. He’d seldom given her a kind word over the years and, though he’d softened of late, this was high praise.

  I’m goin’ to…’ Honour said and broke off as there was a knock at the door. ‘Who can that be?’

  Flo was the closest. She went to open it and stared as she saw who stood there. For a moment she was silent and then she opened the door wider.

  ‘You’d better come in,’ she said. ‘You have a lot of explaining to do…’

  As she led the way into the kitchen, Honour gave a little squeak of surprise, staring at the man in uniform as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.

  ‘Roy! What are you doin’ here?’ she asked, looking shocked.

  ‘I came to see you,’ he said. He looked from her to Flo. ‘From what you said, I think you didn’t get my letter, Honour…’

  ‘No, I didn’t get a letter…’

  ‘Why don’t you take Roy through to the shop – or go for a walk?’ Flo suggested. Roy’s unexplained absence had cast a shadow over Christmas for Honour but already she looked happier.

  ‘Will you come for a walk?’ Roy’s eyes held a look of appeal.

  ‘Yes, all right…’ Honour reached for the coat she’d taken off earlier. ‘I shan’t be long, Flo…’

  ‘If you hurt that girl of mine you’ll be sorry…’ Mr Hawkins said, suddenly fierce and clenching his fist. ‘I may be old, but I’m not too weak to give you a backhander…’

  Roy looked at him. ‘I never meant to hurt her, sir,’ he replied. ‘I just want to explain – if she will let me…’

  ‘I’m ready,’ Honour said. ‘I’ll see you later, Flo…’

  Flo nodded but didn’t speak as they left.

  She made the tea and brought a tray to the table. ‘I don’t know whether he’s lyin’, but I haven’t
seen a letter for Honour…’

  ‘No need to look at me, girl. I didn’t take it this time…’

  ‘You mean you took Robbie’s letter. The one askin’ me to forgive him and to meet him…’

  ‘Told yer about it has he?’ Her father’s eyes dropped. ‘Yer mother opened it and gave it to me – demanded I do somethin’ about it, so I did… I told him to clear off and I gave him a good hidin’…’

  So many years of not knowing, of believing that Robbie hadn’t wanted to wed her, hadn’t loved her… Between them, her parents had ruined her life. For a moment bitter tears threatened, but then Flo realised it didn’t matter. Robbie loved her and one day they would be together.

  ‘I was never good enough fer yer mother’s family,’ her father said suddenly. ‘Her father didn’t like me and he put that bit in his will to make sure the shop came to you when she died and not me. I was angry over that – and I hated your mother lying to me; that’s why I made her share her profits with me. Robbie Graham was too young to have a child and so were you – but if you’d told me you loved him it might have been different…’

  Flo looked at him and believed him. Her mother had threatened her with what her father would do and she’d let herself be dominated, but he’d been hurt and he’d had a right to be angry.

  ‘Do you swear to me that you didn’t take Honour’s letter?’

  ‘I swear on me life.’

  Flo nodded. ‘I hope she will believe you. I do, but she may not. She was very hurt because Roy just stopped comin’. He’d asked her to marry him and she thought he’d been lyin’ to her.’

  ‘You never told me anythin’ about this…’ He glared at her and then his gaze dropped. ‘I suppose I can’t blame yer after the way I’ve been. You’ll hate me now if yer didn’t before…’

  ‘No, Father, I don’t hate you,’ Flo said. ‘My life hasn’t been all bad. I like my shop and I enjoy my work. It might have been better if I’d had Robbie too – but that is the past.’

  ‘There’s nothin’ ter stop yer now,’ he said. ‘That man thinks the world of yer – I saw it in his eyes. You could have him now if yer want…’

  ‘Perhaps…’ Flo hesitated. ‘Robbie has to get on his feet again. He’s too proud to live on what I earn from the shop. If he is successful, we might marry – but Honour is more important for now. I told her she couldn’t marry until next summer, but I’m not goin’ to stand in her way. If she wants to get married sooner, she has my blessin’. It means I’ll need help in the shop though – and I might need some help in the house too…’

  ‘I shan’t be a trouble to yer for much longer…’

  ‘Don’t talk like that!’ Flo said sharply. ‘Sometimes I’ve been angry with you because you hurt me – but I don’t want you to die. You’re my dad and, despite everythin’, I love you… and I’ll always look after you.’

  Her father didn’t answer. He just sat and looked at her and the tears trickled down his lined cheeks. His tea sat on the table in front of him turning cold, but neither he nor Flo touched their cups.

  ‘It’s time I went up,’ he said a few minutes later. ‘Honour will want to talk to yer alone when she gets back…’

  ‘I’ll get you to bed,’ Flo said and ignored his angry shake of the head. ‘Don’t be daft, Dad. You can’t manage alone…’

  *

  Robbie took the children to see Bert and Millie that evening. The elderly couple were sitting in front of their kitchen table and they wanted to know all about the Christmas lunch at the mission. Ruthie was bubbling over, telling them how good the roast chicken had tasted and the tinned fruit with custard, and showing them what was left of her box of treats.

  ‘What about you, Ben?’ Bert asked. ‘Did you get one, lad?’

  ‘Ben gave his up because there was one short,’ Robbie answered for him. ‘A young lad came on his own to the lunch. He wasn’t on the list, but they fed him and Ben insisted he have the last box.’

  ‘I got lots of presents,’ Ben said. ‘I didn’t need it – and Mick didn’t get anythin’ else. His dad was drunk and there was no food in the house. I told him to come to the mission. I knew they’d have lots of food – and if they hadn’t, I’d have shared my dinner with him.’

  ‘Yes, you would.’ Bert nodded his approval. ‘Yer a good lad, Ben. Where does this Mick live?’

  ‘I think it’s one of them derelict places what the council boarded up. I’ve seen him headin’ in that direction, but he never says anythin’ – he only told me he hadn’t had anythin’ to eat ’cos I said we were goin’ to the mission for our dinner…’

  ‘I’m goin’ to have a word with Nurse Mary tomorrow,’ Robbie said. ‘She will know the proper people to tell. Everyone at that lunch today was hard up, Bert – but most had scrubbed their kids’ hair and spruced them up best they could. Mick was filthy and probably had nits…’

  It’s not his fault,’ Ben defended his friend swiftly. ‘There ain’t no water in them derelict houses…’

  ‘No, there wouldn’t be,’ Robbie agreed. ‘They were not fit for use when the council boarded them up. If it hadn’t been for lack of money, they would’ve been pulled down now. They must be damp and rat-infested – and dangerous…’

  ‘Mick hates it, but there’s nowhere else…’

  Robbie frowned. ‘I’m worried about that lad. I think I’ll go round to John Hansen’s house, Bert. Is it all right if I leave Ben and Ruthie here with you until I get back? I’ll be as quick as I can.’

  ‘Of course it is. You know we love havin’ them,’ Millie said. ‘You do what you can to help that lad, Robbie. We look after our own round here…’

  ‘Does Mick go to your school, Ben?’

  ‘He did for a while, but we often don’t see him for days.’ Ben shook his head. ‘He hangs around outside and I’ve seen him sneak into the school kitchen.’

  ‘Surely the school should send the inspectors round after ’im?’ Millie said, looking anxious.

  ‘He’s slipped through the system,’ Robbie said. ‘Right, I’m goin’ to tell John about this. He’ll know the right people to deal with it…’

  ‘Not the police, Dad…’ Ben pleaded.

  ‘Not the police – but the lad needs help,’ Robbie insisted. ‘We can’t just stand by and do nothin’.’

  *

  Robbie walked swiftly. He tried the mission first but it was locked and there were no lights inside, so he went round the corner and into Lonely Lane, where John lived in an old three-storied house that had been divided into three flats. John had the ground-floor flat and answered his door as soon as Robbie knocked.

  ‘I saw you coming,’ he said. ‘Is this about that incident today?’

  ‘No, it’s about a young lad who turned up at the mission uninvited – well, Ben told him he could come, but he wasn’t on your list…’

  ‘Yes, my ladies told me we had an extra child for lunch – but there was enough food to go round and more.’

  ‘The point is that lad was filthy, neglected and near starvin’ – and the father is often drunk. Ben says he thinks the lad and his father are livin’ in one of those derelict houses the council boarded up near the docks.’

  ‘Ah, I see what you mean,’ John said. ‘I’ll get in touch with the children’s department at the council. They will send someone round – but in the end it may be a job for the police. If the father doesn’t want to be helped, he’ll scarper…’

  ‘Yes, I realise it is a difficult situation, but after what I saw today I had to do something. He looked thinner than ever and pale. Nurse Mary visits a lot of homes where the men are out of work; I wondered if she might know of the family.’

  ‘If she does, she hasn’t told me. You don’t know the father’s name?’

  ‘The boy is called Mick but Ben didn’t know his father…’

  ‘Well, we must see if we can do something for the lad,’ John said, ‘but the father may be beyond help…’

  ‘Everyone needs a chance,’ Robbie
said. ‘I’ve been lucky and if I get all the work I’ve been told about, I shan’t ever look back – but perhaps Mick’s father needs a chance too. It’s hard for all of us right now.’

  ‘I’ll certainly make inquiries, Robbie,’ John said. ‘Get home to your kids – and thank you for your prompt action at the mission today.’

  ‘Goodnight then,’ Robbie said. ‘Sorry to disturb you. I’ll see you after Christmas…’

  Robbie left John to close his door and walked away. He didn’t see the shadow walking up behind him and when the heavy object hit the back of his head he went down without a sound. The dark figure bent over him, searching through his pockets and taking the few coins that were in his jacket. Robbie was unaware when the man spat in his face and then kicked him in the side before walking away. Blood was seeping from the wound to the back of his head as the cold night settled around him…

  24

  ‘Roy was sent off on a special trainin’ course. They only told him where he was goin’ that mornin’. He wasn’t allowed to leave camp, so he couldn’t come to the shop and tell me. He scribbled a note to me and asked one of his mates to bring it round, but Roy thinks he must have forgot… and he says he did send me a card but only on Christmas Eve, because he wasn’t given leave until then, so it might get here after Christmas…’ Honour looked at Flo a little accusingly. ‘If we’d had a phone he could have rung me…’

  ‘Do you think he was tellin’ the truth?’ Flo looked into Honour’s eyes and saw the sparkle was back. Her cheeks had a healthy colour and she looked beautiful. ‘Are you sure he won’t just disappear again, love? I just don’t want you hurt…’

  ‘Look what he gave me…’ Honour held out the little blue velvet box. Flo took it and opened it, gasping as she saw the beautiful sapphire and diamond three stone ring inside. ‘Roy wants us to get engaged now and married next spring or summer. He’s still lookin’ for a nice little shop with living accommodation over it… and when he finds it we can move in and settle down.’