by Rosie Clarke
26
He opened his eyes with a groan as the pain struck, closing them again quickly because of the light shining into his eyes, and put an arm across his face to shut it out.
‘So you’ve come back to us then,’ a gruff voice said. ‘You’d have been a gonner if my Mick hadn’t spotted yer and come runnin’ ter fetch me. ’Tis lucky for yer I couldn’t afford a drink or I’d never have got yer back ’ere’
Robbie became aware of the pain in his head. He put up a hand to touch the source of the pain and discovered a roughly tied bandage. He tried to sit up but fell back on what was possibly a pile of sacks or rags. The lantern being held over him was bright, but the rest of his surroundings were dark. He was aware of the odour of damp and neglect and suspected the rustling sound he could hear was rats.
‘Where am I?’
‘It’s where we kip fer the moment,’ the gruff voice said. ‘Me and the lad – we came down lookin’ fer work, but there ain’t none fer the likes of me. Me name is Taffy and me home’s in Ireland, so ’tis – but I’ve been working up north for the past ten years. I married a northern girl and she gave me my lad – but she died these two years past and I’ve been on the road since, so I have.’
Robbie struggled to sit. His head was swimming, but he made it this time and looked into the face of the man who had brought him here and tended to his injury. ‘Do yer know what happened to me?’ he asked.
‘Mick says you were struck on the back of the head. He was too far away to warn you, but he saw what happened; you were bleeding and the night was bitter. If we’d left yer there yer might have died – so I carried yer here and tended the cut on yer head. It’s not that deep, but yer were out for a whole day and I was thinkin’ mebbe I should have got a doctor to yer, though I tipped the last of me whisky what Mick hid on yer wound…’ He looked a bit regretful that he’d wasted good whisky.
‘Thank you for what yer did,’ Robbie said. He’d managed to sit up but knew he couldn’t stand. ‘Where is Mick?’
‘He comes and goes,’ Taffy said. ‘He knows who hit yer, so he does, but whether he’ll tell yer…’ Taffy shrugged. ‘I’ve no food in the place, but Mick fetched me a drop of the hard stuff…’ He offered a half-bottle of what smelled like whisky and Robbie remembered what he’d been doing the night he was attacked. He shook his head. ‘If I’ve been out for more than a day my kids will be frantic…’
‘Mick went to yer house ter tell them, but it was empty. He thinks he knows where yer kids go after school. I told him he’d better go round and tell them where yer are…’
Robbie’s sight was clearing. He realised he was in a derelict house and the windows were boarded over, which was the reason it was so dark. ‘Is this place the old tenements – they were going to pull these houses down, but the charity decided they couldn’t afford it…’
‘We’re not the only ones kipping here,’ Taffy said. ‘There are a few rough types – and that’s one of the reasons I’ve decided to move on. I’m going to take the lad back to Ireland. We’ve relatives there and they’ll take us in fer a bit…’
‘What’s yer job, mate?’ Robbie asked. ‘I might be in a position to offer yer some work soon.’ That was if he hadn’t lost the chance of restoring those buildings for the Sally Army.
‘That’s the first decent offer I’ve had since I came south,’ Taffy said and grinned at him. ‘I’d have taken yer up on it – but I’ve made up me mind. I can’t take care of the boy on me own. Back home he’ll be made ter wash and have regular food in his belly…’
Robbie looked at him, nodding because he understood; it was hard for a man alone to keep his children safe, especially one who had no home and no work. ‘Give me a hand to stand, will yer?’
‘Yeah…’ Taffy took his arm and pulled until he was standing. Robbie was forced to hold on to him until his head stopped whirling and then he let go. ‘Are yer all right?’
‘I will be in a moment,’ Robbie said. He heard rather than saw Mick arrive and then the young lad was standing by his father’s side.
‘I went ter the ’ouse where the old folk are and told ’em yer were alive,’ Mick said, lookin’ at Robbie. ‘Yer kids are stayin’ wiv Miss Flo – so the neighbour said. She asked if we wanted ’er husband to come and fetch yer back, but I told ’er no…’
‘Good lad…’ Taffy said. ‘I’ll find yer something to eat today, so I will…’
‘If yer could give me a hand home, I’ll give yer both somethin’ ter eat,’ Robbie offered. ‘You and Mick are welcome to wash at mine and I’ve some clothes that might fit you – and Ben may have a pair of trousers and a shirt Mick could use…’
‘I’ll help yer home,’ Taffy said, ‘and if Mick wants ter wash I’ll not stop him – but the food would be welcome.’
‘I owe you for fetchin’ yer father to me, Mick,’ Robbie said. ‘The food is the least I can do…’
‘Yer me mate’s dad,’ Mick said, ‘and yer stopped that rotter takin’ our money at the mission. I reckon that’s why he hit yer…’
‘You know it was him?’ Robbie asked and Mick nodded.
‘He hangs round ’ere some of the time and he clouts me when he feels like it. He’s a bad ’un. We’re all scared of ’im. I know they call him Scrapper, but it probably ain’t his name – just what they know him by. No one likes him. He steals other folks stuff and if they argue he beats ’em up…’
‘If I catch him touching you I’ll give him a hidin’,’ Taffy said and glared at his son. ‘You didn’t tell me…’
‘Yer were drunk; you’d probably ’ave ’it me,’ Mick said and Robbie saw the other man flinch, but he didn’t strike back at the boy.
‘Mick, let me put a hand on your shoulder,’ Robbie said. ‘I reckon I can manage now – and the sooner you get me home, the better…’
*
Flo opened the door and stared at Effie in surprise. Her first thought was that either Millie or Bert had been taken bad and her heart jerked as she invited the woman inside her warm kitchen. It never rained but it poured!
‘It’s lovely and warm in ’ere,’ Effie said. ‘I had ter come round, love, as soon as I heard – Robbie’s all right. Leastwise, he’s had a nasty bang on the head and he’s been unconscious fer a few hours, but the lad said ter tell his kids he would be all right…’
‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Flo said and sat down on the nearest chair as her legs felt as if they would give way under her. ‘It’s such a relief. Where is he?’
‘I don’t know – the boy wouldn’t tell me. He said he was Ben’s friend and that he and his father were lookin’ after Robbie…a bit of a scruffy lad…’
‘I wonder if that’s the boy Ben brought to the mission…’ Flo said and shook her head when Effie looked curious. ‘It doesn’t matter. It was good of you to come round, Effie – will you stay for a piece of my Christmas cake and a cup of tea?’
‘I don’t mind if I do,’ Effie said, clearly relishing the prospect of a good gossip. ‘You ain’t openin’ the shop fer a while then – but yer wouldn’t wiv yer poor father gone. I was sorry ter ’ear that, love…’
‘Dad had been ill for some time,’ Flo answered. Her throat caught but she didn’t cry. ‘It’s always a shock, but it wasn’t unexpected.’
She brushed over it as lightly as she could, hoping that Effie would talk about something else. The woman liked to gossip and soon started talking about other things, including some good news she’d heard.
‘They say there’s a new factory openin’ in the spring,’ she said. ‘Well, an old one openin’ up again – cannin’ food, so they say. I reckon there will be queues ready to sign on once they open the gates…’
Relieved the subject had been changed, Flo joined her in speculation as to whether the worst of the depression was over or whether the factory was just batting against the tide. Either way, it would bring some relief to the local people.
As soon as Effie left, Flo ran upstairs to the children. Ben was buil
ding something with his Meccano set; she thought it might be a crane but wasn’t certain. Ruthie was nursing her doll and looking pensive. They both stopped and stared at her as she entered the room.
‘Your friend went round to Bert’s and told them that your dad is all right,’ she said and they both jumped to their feet, running at her. She caught their hands as they clutched at her arm in sudden excitement. ‘Effie came to tell me. The boy – Effie said a scruffy lad - said your dad had a nasty bang on his head and he was unconscious for a while, but he says he will be all right…’
‘Where is he?’ Ben asked.
‘I want my dad…’ Ruthie said and two tears slid down her cheeks.
‘I’m not sure where he is,’ Flo said. ‘Your friend wouldn’t tell Effie, but it’s good news. Your dad will come here lookin’ for you as soon as he can…’
‘I want my dad…’ Ruthie whined louder now. ‘Where is he?’
‘I bet he’s round Mick’s…’ Ben said and darted past Flo.
‘Where are you goin’?’ Flo whirled round and caught him. He struggled, but she held on to him. ‘No, Ben – if it’s those condemned houses, it is dangerous for you to go there alone.’
‘I’ve been there before with Mick,’ Ben lied and tried to get away. ‘Please let me go, Miss Flo…’
‘He might not still be there,’ Flo reasoned. ‘I think if your dad woke up, he’d want to get home, don’t you?’
Ben looked up at her mutinously for a moment and then nodded. ‘I’ll go home first…’
‘We’ll all go,’ Flo said. ‘All of us together. I can’t let you go alone, Ben. Robbie would never forgive me if anythin’ happened to you – and I’ve seen some rough sorts hanging round the tenements.’
‘Mick says there are some nasty blokes,’ Ben admitted. ‘He hates it, but his dad never stops anywhere long enough for them to have a proper home…’
‘Let’s all put our coats on and we’ll go to your home first and then we’ll think about what we do next. We need a man to go with us if we’re going to the old tenement block…’
‘All right,’ Ben agreed. ‘Mick is scared of them blokes, so we’d be best together…’
Honour came into the kitchen as they fastened their coats. She wanted to know where they were going and when they told her, insisted on going with them.
‘The more of us, the better,’ she said and picked up her coat. ‘Come on, Ruthie. Hold my hand. We don’t want anyone gettin’ lost, do we?’
‘I know my way ’ome…’ Ruthie said indignantly.
‘Yes, but I don’t know the way and I might get lost,’ Honour said and Ruthie went into a peal of laughter and took Honour’s hand. ‘That’s it; you take care of me…’ Honour smiled down at her. She glanced at Flo. ‘Do you really think Robbie will be home now?’
‘If he is conscious, his first thought will be for the children…’
*
Mick cleared the bacon, sausage and chips, from the chip shop, from his plate, wiping a piece of slightly stale bread round the edge to soak up the grease. Robbie had showed Taffy where the food was and let him get on with it, because his head felt as if it were splitting.
‘Here, get that down yer, mate,’ Taffy said and slid a mug of strong tea in front of Robbie. ‘Sure yer don’t want a drop of the good stuff in it?’ He poured a generous measure of the whiskey in his own and smacked his lips.
Robbie smiled weakly and sipped his tea. It had several lumps of sugar in it and he felt it doing him good, giving him strength. He was feeling better now that he was in his own home, sitting in his chair by the range, which Taffy had made up for him.
He hadn’t been able to face much food himself, but he did manage a few bites of a sausage Mick put on a plate for him. It made him feel a bit queasy, but he held it down, because he needed all his strength if he was going to fetch his children. He couldn’t face the walk just yet, but he’d get them before nightfall somehow.
‘We’ll be going now, mate,’ Taffy said and Robbie realised that he’d been sitting with his eyes shut.
‘Don’t you want to wash and change?’ Robbie asked. ‘I haven’t really thanked yer for what yer did for me… I’ve got some money here somewhere…’ He looked around, trying to remember where he’d hidden a couple of pounds.
‘Nah, thanks just the same,’ Taffy said. ‘I’m owed a few quid, so I am. I’ll pick it up tomorrow when they open the office – and we’ll be off, back to the old country. ’Tis where we belong – and the lad can go to school there…’
‘Don’t want ter go ter school…’ Mick muttered rebelliously.
‘You’ll do as yer told,’ his father said and glared at him. Mick submitted but didn’t look happy. ‘We’ll be off then…’
‘Let yourselves out…’ Robbie didn’t try to get up. He wasn’t sure he could.
He closed his eyes again, drifting off as he heard the door close behind his guests. Somewhere in his thoughts there was one that said he ought to have tried harder to keep them here – because Mick needed someone to look out for him, but Robbie’s head was throbbing and he couldn’t keep two thoughts together.
*
‘Oh thank God!’ a voice said and someone else said, ‘Is he all right…’
‘Dad, Dad, speak to me…’ a small hand was shaking his arm and a tiny form was climbing on his lap and it was that that brought Robbie back.
‘Be careful, Ruthie, your dad isn’t very well,’ a voice from his dreams said and then he felt a gentle hand on his face. ‘Robbie, love, I think we need to change the bandage and take a look at the injury to your head. We might need the doctor…’
‘No, it’s all right… I was just sleepin’,’ Robbie said and opened his eyes, looking into Flo’s sweet face. The anxiety in her voice made him smile and he felt life flow back into his limbs. His head was still sore, but the fuzziness that had caused him to drift off had begun to clear. ‘I felt terrible when Mick and Taffy got me here, and I just sat here and went to sleep after they left…’ He held out his hands to Ruthie and Ben, who rushed to kneel beside his chair. ‘I’m all right – don’t cry, Ruthie.’
‘Did they make you a meal?’ Flo asked, looking at the mess.
‘I told them to cook bacon and sausages for themselves. They were hungry and I can get more for us… when I can make my feet work again…’ He gave her a lopsided grin. ‘I don’t know what that rogue hit me with but it scrambled my brains for a while.’
‘I’m goin’ to have a look,’ Flo said and took off the makeshift bandage, which was a rather suspect red scarf that could have done with a wash. She gently inspected the wound to the back of Robbie’s head and nodded. ‘You’ve got a nasty cut there, but it hasn’t gone deep and it seems to be clean despite that bandage…’
‘I think Taffy said he’d put some whisky on it,’ Robbie said with a grimace. ‘That may be why it is so damned sore, but it probably stopped any infection taking hold.’
‘Yes, it certainly looks clean, but I expect you have a headache. I’ve got an Aspro in my pocket, if you’d like one?’ She took out a pink strip of the painkilling tablets she used if anyone had a bad cold or a headache.
‘It might help,’ Robbie said and accepted the small strip. ‘Thank you for taking care of the children, Flo – Honour.’ He looked at Honour and smiled and saw that she was crying but trying to comfort Ruthie. Something told him that she knew the truth about their relationship
Ben had started to clear up the mess, hiding his own emotion.
‘We loved havin’ them,’ Flo said. ‘What can we do for you?’
‘I’m goin’ to clear up the mess Mick and his father left,’ Honour said and flicked a hand cross her eyes before eyeing the greasy dishes in the sink. ‘I’ll put the kettle on, Flo. Make us all a cup of tea.’
Flo brought Robbie a glass of water and he swallowed the tablet. He took another and swallowed some more water, smiling at her. ‘That will help I’m sure – thank you.’
‘We were
very worried about you,’ Flo said and sat on a chair looking at him, unable to take her eyes from his face.
‘I’m sorry. I knew nothing until a couple of hours ago when I finally came round.’
‘It’s not your fault…’ She smiled but couldn’t bring herself to stop staring at him. ‘I’m so glad you’re all right…’
‘So am I,’ Robbie said and then frowned. ‘I missed an important appointment, but I was unconscious and only started to come round earlier… I need to get a message to someone.’
‘I can deliver it – or ask John Hansen to,’ Flo offered. ‘And if you were unconscious all that time we should have the doctor. I’m going to ring for him, Robbie. I don’t care what you say…’
‘Perhaps John could telephone the captain at the Sally Army and explain why I didn’t meet him…’ Robbie looked anxious. ‘It was a big job and it’s a shame if I missed it because of that rogue… Mick saw him and that’s how I came to be at their place. Taffy carried me back there and looked after me as best he could. Feeding them was the least I could do…’
‘Give me your message and I’ll pass it on, but I’m also ringing for a doctor,’ Flo said. ‘Will you be all right here tonight? Shall I stop here with you?’
‘What about your father?’
‘Dad died in the night…’ Flo caught back a sob. ‘He looked peaceful when I found him…’
‘Yet you still took the kids in?’ He stared at her as if he couldn’t believe she was really there.
‘They took Dad away to a chapel of rest. The doctor thought it best, because of the shop selling food. To be honest I was glad to have your two in the house; they helped me through the first hours…’
‘I’m so sorry, love,’ Robbie said and took her hand, holding it gently. ‘I wish I’d been there for yer…’
‘So do I,’ she whispered, tears catching her throat. ‘You could come to ours – or I could stay here. You shouldn’t be alone tonight…’