by Joan Jonker
George suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Ellen’s free arm. ‘You stay where yer are while I find a penny for the milk.’
There was a look of desperation on Jimmy’s face. ‘Me mam’s bringin’ milk in, she won’t be gone long.’
George handed him a penny. ‘Yer heard what I said, now get goin’ and don’t forget to take a jug with yer.’ When the boy hesitated, he roared, ‘Do as yer told, yer little bleeder, or I’ll take me belt to yer.’
Jimmy didn’t go to the kitchen for a jug, he picked up a dirty one from the table. He didn’t know what it had been used for, but if wishes were granted it would be full of poison. Right then, seeing how distraught his sister was, he wished his father dead. ‘I won’t be a minute.’ His words were directed at Ellen. ‘I’ll run all the way.’ He left the room with his father’s evil laughter ringing in his ears. But he was filled with apprehension for his sister and even with the threat of getting belted with his dad’s buckle, he couldn’t bring himself to desert her. So he didn’t go any further than the front door.
‘Dad, can I put the cup on the table?’ Ellen’s voice trembled with fear. ‘I’ll make yer a fresh one when Jimmy comes back with the milk.’
‘No, you stay right where yer are until I say yer can move.’ The wickedness in George’s voice had the hairs on Jimmy’s neck bristling as he listened outside. ‘You be a good girl and do as yer dad says.’
‘No, Dad! Leave me alone! That’s dirty, that is! Stop it, Dad, please!’
Jimmy had heard enough. He pushed the door open and was filled with anger and disgust when he saw his father leaning forward, a look of pure lust on his face as his hand went further up Ellen’s dress.
‘You dirty, filthy bugger.’ Jimmy grabbed Ellen and pulled her away, placing himself in front of his father. ‘Yer nothin’ but an animal, you are, yer dirty swine.’
George was momentarily taken aback. His brain was numbed by the three pints of beer he’d had and it took him a while to come to grips with what was happening. Then, his hands going to the buckle on his belt, he roared like a lion. ‘I warned yer, didn’t I? Well, now I’m goin’ to flay yer within an inch of yer life.’
Jimmy was too angry to feel fear. He put his two hands on his father’s chest and pushed him back in the chair. ‘I hate you, d’yer hear? I wish yer was dead.’ His eyes blurred with rage, the lad didn’t see the clenched fist coming towards him until it was too late. He took the full force of the blow on the left side of his face and stumbled backwards.
Ellen looked on in horror until she saw Jimmy holding his face, then she flew at her father. The brother she loved had been trying to help her and this man, this evil man, had hurt him. She pummelled his body with her fists, her anger giving her the strength to rain blows that really hurt. ‘I hate you, too, and I wish yer were dead.’ Then, remembering the shame and humiliation he’d caused her over the years, she wanted to see him cower in agony. So she raked her nails down both of his cheeks and delighted in his cries of pain.
‘Leave him now, he’s not worth it.’ Jimmy pulled her away. ‘We can’t stay in the house with him, he’s insane. Get yer coat and let’s get out of here.’
‘Are we goin’ to wait in the street until me mam comes back?’
‘What good would that do? She’ll only stick up for him, she always does. Anyway, yer not going back in there, ever.’ Jimmy held on tight to Ellen’s hand. ‘We’ll go to our Sadie’s, she’ll know what’s best.’
‘She’ll be at work.’
‘We’ll call in the market, she won’t mind.’
They were walking down the street when Ellen said, ‘Jimmy, yer eye’s all red. Another hour an’ it’ll be black and blue.’
He shrugged his shoulders. ‘I’ll live.’
‘Thanks for stickin’ up for me, Jimmy, I’ll always love yer for that.’ Ellen stared down as their feet covered the ground. There was something on her mind but she was too shy to know how to say it. ‘Jimmy, we won’t have to tell anyone what me dad was doin’, will we? I don’t want anyone to know.’
‘We’ll have to tell our Sadie, so she’ll know that yer can’t ever go back home. But I won’t say anythin’ – you can tell her in private, like. She’ll understand ’cos she knows what me dad’s like.’
‘But what about you? I’ll worry about you going back ’cos me dad’ll kill yer after this. If you go back, I’m comin’ with yer.’
‘Not if I’ve got anythin’ to say about it, yer won’t. But we can’t do anythin’ on our own ’cos we’ve no money and no one to turn to except our Sadie. But she will help us, I know she will, so let’s wait an’ see what she has to say.’
Sadie smiled and waved when she saw the children coming towards her, but as they got nearer and she saw the distress on their faces she left the stall and ran to meet them. The first thing she noticed was Jimmy’s swollen black eye. ‘What on earth happened to you?’
It was Ellen who told her, the words pouring from her mouth. ‘Me dad did that to him just ’cos he was stickin’ up for me. And I battered me dad and scratched his face. Look – I’ve got blood under me nails.’
Sadie’s mouth gaped. ‘Oh, my God! What brought all this on?’
Jimmy kicked the ground with the toe of his shoe. ‘He asked for it, Sadie, he’s been askin’ for it for years. He was undoin’ his belt to flay me and I pushed him in the chest. The next thing I knew he’d landed this punch on me.’
‘But what started it off, and where was me mam?’
‘Me dad was late gettin’ in with his money, he’d been to the pub as usual, and me mam left to go to the shops as soon as he got in. She took Les and Sally with her, so there was only me an’ Ellen in. He sent me to get some milk, but I didn’t go ’cos I knew he was up to no good. So I stood outside the door and listened. When I heard Ellen cryin’ I went in, and that’s how it started.’ Jimmy looked uncomfortable. ‘Our Ellen’s got somethin’ to tell yer, private like. But I can’t go and talk to Mary Ann, she’ll wonder where I got me black eye from.’
‘Tell her!’ Sadie saw his startled expression but didn’t care. She was so mad, so furious, she wanted the whole world to know what her father was like. She didn’t need Ellen to tell her what he’d been up to, she knew him from old. And to think it took a young boy to put him in his place. ‘Yer’ve no need to tell her everything, not about Ellen. Just say he was going to give her a hiding and yer tried to stop him. For that he gave yer a black eye and he did it deliberate.’
Jimmy hesitated, reluctant to go until he’d said what he knew his sister would be too shy to say. ‘She can’t go back home, Sadie. It wouldn’t be right ’cos she’s not safe where me dad is.’
‘I know that, Jimmy, but it’s all happened so quick I haven’t had time to get me head together. It’s not only Ellen I want out of that house, it’s you as well. But I haven’t the foggiest idea where yer could go. Ellen will be all right, I know Grandma will let her sleep with me, but there’s not room enough for you.’
‘I’ll be all right, Sadie, as long as yer see to Ellen.’
Sadie felt like throwing her arms around him and weeping on his shoulder. At his age he should be enjoying his childhood, not having the responsibility of a grown man thrust on him. ‘You go and talk to Mary Ann, we’ll be with yer in a minute. But don’t interrupt her if she’s serving a customer.’
Sadie listened in silence as Ellen, her eyes on the ground, told her what had happened. ‘And I’ve scratched all his face, Sadie, it was bleeding. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to do it only I got mad when I saw what he did to our Jimmy.’
‘Good for you! He’ll have a job explaining the scratches away. But what you’ve got to remember is that none of this is your fault, so don’t be feeling embarrassed or ashamed. No one will know the real story, not even me grandma and grandad. So hold yer head up, sunshine, and look everyone in the eye.’
Mary Ann was waiting, eyes blazing and nostrils flared. ‘He’s one bleedin’ bastard, is that father o
f yours. I’d hang him up by the feet until he screamed for mercy.’
Sadie sighed. ‘I know, Auntie Mary, but right now I’ve got a problem about what to do with our Jimmy. I’d give anything for him not to have to go back home, but even if I had somewhere he could go, which I haven’t, there’s his school to think of. If I tried to change his school there’d be all sorts of questions asked and they’d contact me mam and dad.’
‘I’ll go home, I’ll be all right.’ Jimmy put on a show of bravado but inside he was feeling anything but brave. He knew that as soon as he put his foot in the door his father would be waiting for him with his belt in his hand. ‘If he touches me, I’ll run away.’
Sadie made a quick decision. ‘Yer’ll go home, but it won’t be alone.’ She took hold of Ellen’s arm. ‘Go and stand by my stall, sunshine, put a smile on yer face and start selling. Yer’ve watched me the last few Saturdays, so yer know what to do. Everything on the stall is sixpence so that’s all yer’ve got to remember. If yer get stuck, ask Auntie Mary, or even the customers – they’ll help yer.’
Ellen looked uncertain. She’d watched her sister with the customers and envied the ease with which she spoke and laughed with them. But she wasn’t like her sister, she was shy with strangers. ‘Where are yer goin’? Can’t I come with yer?’
‘Ellen, I can’t be in two places at once and don’t forget I’m supposed to be working. So you get on that stall and do my job, while I go somewhere with our Jimmy.’
With her hand on her brother’s elbow, Sadie pushed him through the crowd of people to Tommy’s stall. He and his father were both serving but Tommy looked up briefly to give them a nod. Then when he’d exchanged a second-hand saw for threepence, he walked along the stall to where they were standing. ‘Hello there, young …’ His words petered out when he saw the ugly bruising on the boy’s face. ‘What’s happened to you, lad? Walked into someone’s fist, did yer?’
Sadie looked to where his father was chatting to a customer. ‘Mr Seymour, d’yer mind if I have a word with Tommy?’
‘Have three if yer like, queen, we’re not exactly rushed off our feet.’
Tommy came from behind the trestle table. ‘What’s up, Sadie?’
‘Yer can see what’s up, Tommy.’ She pointed to her brother’s face. ‘My brave father did that to him.’
‘Bloody hell! He knows who to pick on, doesn’t he? Were yer giving him cheek, lad?’
Jimmy shook his head. ‘He was givin’ our Ellen a hidin’ and I tried to stop him. I did give him cheek then, I said I hated him and wished he was dead. That’s when he fisted me.’
‘There’s a bit more to it than that, Tommy,’ Sadie told him. ‘When Ellen saw what he did to Jimmy, just for sticking up for her, she had a go at me dad and scratched his face. She said it was bleedin’ so it must be bad.’
‘Serves him right. If I’d been in Ellen’s place I’d have taken the poker to him.’ Tommy gazed with sympathy at the angry bruises which covered the boy’s eye and came halfway down his cheek. ‘Yer did right to try and protect yer sister, young Jimmy, and I’m proud of yer. A little hero, that’s what yer are.’
‘I’m not lettin’ Ellen go home again, she’s in danger in that house ’cos me dad can’t keep his hands off her,’ Sadie put in. ‘He was like that with me, but I’m not as gentle as our Ellen. Anyway, I’m asking me grandma if she can live with us, and I’m positive she’ll say yes. And because she’s just turned fourteen, I’m going to find out if she can leave school early. But our Jimmy’s a different kettle of fish; he’s got another year at school so he’ll have to go back and face the music. And I’m afraid for him. After what’s happened, me dad will tear him limb from limb. He’ll get Ellen’s punishment as well as his own.’
‘Not if me and Spike take him home.’
Sadie sighed with relief. ‘Tommy, yer an angel, I was praying yer’d say that. I know we’re all supposed to be goin’ to Blair Hall tonight, but we could still go even if it means being a bit late.’
‘Hang on, I’ll get Spike over.’ Tommy put two fingers in his mouth and blew out a loud whistle. When he caught his friend’s attention, he waved him over. ‘I know Spike will agree with me, but it’s policy to ask.’
Spike took one look at Jimmy’s face, asked how it happened, then shook his head sadly. ‘Yer not letting the lad go home on his own, are yer?’
Tommy grinned. ‘No, you an’ me are goin’ with him. Yer such a kind-hearted bloke I knew yer wouldn’t mind me offering yer services.’
‘Yer should have let us go in last time, Sadie – I did warn yer.’ Spike’s normally smiling face was serious. ‘I knew yer father was a bad ’un from what yer told us. When children are so afraid of their father that they daren’t open their mouths, then there’s something radically wrong. A smack on the backside when they’re naughty is one thing, but takin’ a belt to them is something else. Anyway,’ he cocked his head at Tommy, ‘are we goin’ straight from here or goin’ home first?’
‘If we go straight from here we’ll catch me dad before he has time to go to the pub.’ Sadie nodded, ‘Yeah, I’m coming with yer.’
‘There’s no need. Me and Spike can sort it out. You’d only get yerself all upset.’
‘I’m takin’ our Jimmy home, Tommy, and no amount of talkin’ will change me mind. I want to see the look on me dad’s face when he sees you two. I want to see the same sort of fear on his face that he puts on the children’s. I know it makes me sound as hard as nails, and perhaps I am, but if I am then that’s how he made me.’
‘Aw, you’re not hard, Sadie,’ Tommy said. ‘Yer as soft as a brush.’
‘Yer nicer lookin’ than the brush me mam’s got, though.’ Spike grinned into her face. ‘If me mam’s brush was as nice-lookin’ as you, I wouldn’t let her brush the floor with it. Oh no, I’d make her sit it on a chair and we could all spend our time admiring it and saying, “Isn’t she like Sadie Wilson?”.’
Jimmy forgot his painful eye and Sadie smiled. ‘You two are as mad as hatters, but I’m glad I’ve got yer for me mates.’
‘Yeah, me too.’ Jimmy was wishing the next few years of his life away to the time when he was as big and manly as these two. ‘When I leave school, would I easy get a job on the market?’
‘What, a hero like you? Of course yer would, especially if I recommended yer.’ Tommy threw his chest out. ‘I’m very highly thought of, I am.’
‘Ay, come on, I’ll have to get back to me stall ’cos Ellen will be having a nervous breakdown. She can go to me grandma’s now and tell her what’s happened and that I’ll be late. And she’ll have to tell Peter, as well. He can go on to the dance and we’ll meet him there.’
‘Yeah, okay. Me and Spike will pick yez up when we’ve cleared away for the night.’ Tommy ruffled Jimmy’s hair. ‘Don’t you be worryin’, lad, ’cos it’ll be all right, I promise. Your dad has hit you for the last time.’
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ellen was filled with mixed emotions as she made her way to Sarah’s. She ran like the wind, and her mind raced at the same speed. It was hard to take in that she’d never have to go back to the home she had come to hate. And to live with Grandma and Grandad was a dream she never expected to turn into reality. Mind you, they hadn’t yet said she could live with them, but Sadie seemed so sure and her sister was usually right. The only blot on her horizon was the plight of her brother, Jimmy. If only he didn’t have to go home then her happiness would be complete. She couldn’t imagine life without him because since Sadie had left he’d always been there to look out for her. He wouldn’t be in this trouble now only for trying to protect her.
With her head so full of conflicting thoughts, Ellen ran on, her eyes not seeing the people she passed. She pelted round the corner of Penrhyn Street at breakneck speed and straight into the arms of Peter Townley.
‘Hey, steady on, Ellen.’ Peter held her at arm’s length. ‘What’s the big hurry?’
She took several deep breaths to calm
her nerves. ‘I’ve got a message for Grandma from our Sadie, and I’ve got one for you, as well.’ She screwed her eyes up to try and halt the flow of tears, but it was no good, they began to roll down her cheeks. ‘Oh Peter, it’s been a terrible day. Me dad punched our Jimmy an’ he’s got a terrible black eye. And I got so mad at what he did to me brother I scratched me dad’s face.’
‘I’m sure things aren’t as bad as yer think, Ellen, so dry yer eyes. It’ll all blow over, you mark my words.’
‘It won’t, yer know.’ Ellen sniffed up, wishing she had something to wipe her nose on. ‘I’m not goin’ home no more. I’m hoping Grandma will let me stay with them.’
‘Yer can’t just run away from home without yer parents’ permission. They’ll be worried sick about yer.’
‘They don’t worry about us at all. If they did they’d look after us better and not be clouting us all the time. We’re not allowed to open our mouths, an’ if we even look sideways we get a belt.’
Peter dropped his hands and his eyes were thoughtful. ‘Is that why Sadie left home?’
Without thinking, Ellen said, ‘Yeah, she’d had enough. She looked after us when she was home, our Sadie did, that’s why we all love her so much. But when she left there was only our Jimmy and he’s no match for me dad.’
‘Look, let’s get to Auntie Sarah’s. There’s no point in yer having to go over the whole story twice.’
Sarah’s smile was one of welcome when she opened the door to see Peter standing there with his arm across Ellen’s shoulders. But when the old lady saw the girl’s tearful face her expression turned to one of concern. ‘In the name of God, sweetheart, have yer had an accident?’
Peter got in first. ‘Ellen’s got a message for yer from Sadie, and one for me. But I think a cup of tea would work wonders right now.’