by Joan Jonker
She was about to close the gap in the curtains when her heart jumped. On no, not again! Her eyes screwed up, she moved closer to the window. It is, she cried silently … there’s a man on the top of the wall! Glued to the spot with fear, she saw him swing his leg over and drop into her yard.
‘Oh, dear God, help me, please!’ Her mind was telling her to run but her feet refused to move. It was only when she saw the figure creeping stealthily up the yard that she was galvanised into action. ‘I’ve got to get out. Whoever it is out there, they’re up to no good.’
Her breath coming in short gasps, she ran from the room as quickly as she could, down the hall to the front door. The bolt was a bit stiff and she cursed the stroke that had taken away the use of her right arm. When the bolt creaked back, she sighed with relief and flung the door open. In her eagerness to get away from the house she almost fell off the front step. Her intention was to knock at the Watsons’ next door, but the house was in darkness. Oh, dear God, they’re in bed!
Her heart beating fifteen to the dozen, Victoria looked up and down the street. The pale-yellow glow from the streetlamps showed that there wasn’t a soul in sight, and her panic grew. She couldn’t think straight, her head was in such a whirl. But even in her fuddled state she knew she had to get help … there was no way she could go back into that house on her own. Then came the most welcoming sound she’d ever heard, the raised voices of people coming out of the pub in the corner.
Stumbling over the cobblestones in her slippers, she crossed the road and ran towards the voices. As she neared them, she heard one she recognised. ‘Oh, Molly, thank God it’s you. Help me, please!’
Philip Bradley was yawning as he turned into the entry. He felt so weary he could have gone to sleep on his feet. Working from eight in the morning till ten at night was no joke … it was all bed and work. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the foreman had asked him to work all day Saturday and Sunday. They were mad busy in their workshop, couldn’t get the orders out quick enough. Still, the extra few bob in his wage packet would come in handy. He badly needed a new pair of working shoes, the ones he was wearing were nearly falling off his feet.
Higher up the entry he could see the outline of someone sitting astride a wall, but being so deep in thought, it didn’t register at first that it was an unusual sight to see at this time of night. Then his brain became alert and his tiredness fell away. He’d know that figure anywhere … it was his so-called brother. What the hell was he up to now?
Phil quickened his pace but the figure had disappeared before he could reach it. There were two back doors close to each other and he wasn’t sure which yard his brother had entered. There was no doubt in his mind that it was his brother, he wouldn’t put anything past the thieving beggar. If he knew which yard he was in, he’d go after him … stop him from robbing some poor soul.
Then Phil heard the sound of a bolt being drawn, slowly, so it wouldn’t make a noise. Making it easy for a quick getaway, Phil thought darkly. He rubbed his chin, considering what action to take. Perhaps he’d be wise not to get involved … he might end up in trouble himself. But he couldn’t just walk away knowing someone was going to be robbed, could he?
‘To hell with it,’ Phil muttered, laying his rolled-up overalls on the ground. ‘This is one time he’s not gettin’ away with it. I’ll break his bloody neck for him before I’ll stand by and let him ransack someone’s home.’
‘Miss Clegg!’ The friends gathered around the distressed woman as Molly put her arm across her shoulders to steady her. ‘Just take it nice an’ easy, sunshine, an’ tell us what’s wrong.’
‘There’s … a … a … man in me yard.’ Victoria gulped in the fresh air and tried to calm herself. No one could harm her now, her friends would see to that. ‘I saw him on the wall, then he was creeping towards the house.’ She started to sob, ‘I think he was goin’ to break in.’
‘Is he still there?’ Corker boomed.
Victoria nodded. ‘I think so. He didn’t see me because me light was out. I ran out the front … I was so frightened.’
‘Right! We’ll catch the bugger.’ Corker took command. ‘Jack, you go in the front, and me an’ George will nip around the back. Between us we’ll have him dead to rights.’
‘I’m comin’ with yez,’ Nellie said, hurrying after the men. ‘I’m not missin’ this.’
‘I’ll give our Tommy a shout,’ Molly called, ‘just in case we need him. Yer never know, there might be a gang of them.’
‘I’ll stay with Miss Clegg.’ Ellen took the old lady’s arm. ‘Come on, love, we’ll walk up to our house.’
Brian Bradley pressed lightly on the kitchen window and a sly smirk crossed his face when it moved at his touch. This was going to be a doddle. There was enough gap between the top and bottom frame to slide his knife in and force the catch. Once he was inside the house there’d be no problem, because he’d seen the light being put out half an hour ago, which meant that the old lady had gone to bed. He’d hung around until now, giving her time to fall asleep.
He slid the knife between the frames and moved it along until he found the catch. Good … it was moving. Another minute and he’d be inside the house. Then he felt a pair of hands encircle his throat and his blood ran cold. His eyes wide with fear, he tried to turn his head but fingers tightened on his windpipe, threatening to cut off his air supply.
‘Don’t say a word,’ a voice hissed, ‘and don’t try anything or I’ll throttle yer. Now, turn around and get back out.’
More terrified than he’d ever been in his life, Brian dropped the knife and allowed himself to be frogmarched down the yard. ‘Open the door,’ the voice hissed, adding pressure to his throat. ‘An’ if yer know what’s good for yer, yer won’t make a sound.’
Once out in the entry, Brian heard the door being closed at the same time as he was flung face forward against the opposite wall. He yelped with pain when his nose came into contact with the bricks, and he felt blood spurt out and run down over his mouth. But the pain wasn’t his biggest worry. Uppermost in his mind was the need to escape. He had to get away or he’d be in real trouble. Holding his nose, he bent over and tried to make a dash for it. But he’d only taken two steps when he was caught by the scruff of his neck. ‘Oh no you don’t!’
Once again he was flung against the wall, but this time he was facing his adversary. His mouth gaped in surprise. ‘You!’
‘Yes, me.’ Phil pushed him back against the wall when he tried to step forward. ‘An’ yer better get yer hands up because I’m goin’ to give yer the hidin’ of yer life.’
‘Don’t be so bleedin’ daft! Just wait till I tell our dad what yer’ve done. He’ll kill yer.’
‘He’s not “our dad”, he’s your dad. Yer’ve always had great delight to throwin’ that at me, haven’t yer? Thought it hurt me when yer called me a bastard and laughed behind me back. Well, I’ll tell yer now, I’d rather be a bastard than a Bradley.’ Phil had never before felt such an overpowering rage. He’d always known that the whole family lived on their wits … robbing and deceiving decent people was a way of life to them. But what he’d witnessed tonight had brought home to him exactly how bad they were. If he hadn’t come along, some poor family would have come down in the morning and found their home looted.
The brief lull brought a crafty look to Brian’s eyes. He’s bluffing, he thought. He wouldn’t dare hit me, me dad would kill him and he knows it. ‘Come on, let’s go home before someone comes an’ finds us,’ he coaxed. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll tell me dad it was all a mistake … say yer thought I was someone else.’
He doesn’t understand, Phil told himself. None of them do. They haven’t the faintest idea of the suffering and humiliation they’ve caused me. And as the thin, wheedling voice continued, the grievances that had been building up over the years exploded like fireworks in his head. He’d never had a close friend in his life because of them. When he was a kid none of the mothers in the street would allow their ch
ildren to play with him because he was a Bradley. And at school he became a loner … afraid to make friends because he’d be too ashamed to invite them to his home. Even now, when he should be enjoying life, he was reduced to using the back door because he couldn’t hold his head up in the street. The same street where the girl he’d fallen for lived. And because of his family, that girl was out of his reach.
The thought of Doreen was the last straw. Filled with a blinding rage, Phil reached forward and grabbed Brian by the front of his shirt. ‘Put up yer fists and fight … unless you’re the coward I take yer for.’
‘Gerroff!’ Brian tried to push the hands away. ‘Bleedin’ mad, that’s what yer are. If yer think I’m fightin’, yer’ve got another think comin’.’
‘Please yerself, but don’t say I didn’t warn yer.’ Phil drew his arm back, curled his first and let fly. He heard the blow land and Brian’s scream of pain. But he was too incensed to feel pity. ‘That’s for the poor bugger whose house yer were goin’ to rob. An’ this one,’ he drew his arm back again, ‘is for me.’
But before Phil could throw the punch, his arm was held in an iron grip and a voice said, ‘That’s enough, son.’
‘Leave go, he’s only gettin’ what he deserves.’
‘Maybe so, but I said that’s enough.’ Corker pulled Phil out of range of his brother, then released his arm. ‘Now, explain what’s going on.’
When Phil turned he was amazed to see so many people in the entry. ‘How long have yer been here?’
‘Not long enough to know what you two ’ave been up to.’
‘He was tryin’ to break into that ’ouse, mister,’ Brian whined. ‘I tried to stop him an’ he hit me.’
‘Is that true?’ Corker asked.
Phil looked down at the ground. ‘If he says so.’
‘It most certainly is not true!’ Miss Clegg had slipped Ellen’s restraining hand and, after telling her neighbour to go home and see to the children, Victoria had hurried down the entry. When she heard what was being said, she pushed her way between Molly and Nellie. ‘It wasn’t him, it was that one there.’ She pointed an accusing finger at Brian. ‘I saw him as plain as daylight.’
The Bradley lad, Molly thought. I might have known. She heard loud footsteps running down the side entry and put her fingers to her lips when Tommy and Doreen appeared. ‘Sshh, be quiet.’
Miss Clegg wasn’t finished with the hapless Brian. ‘And it was him who stole Malcolm’s bike last year and hid it in my yard.’
‘Where do you come into it, son?’ Corker looked puzzled. ‘Why would yer take the blame for somethin’ he did?’
‘He’s our Phil, me brother,’ Brian shouted. ‘An’ he was breakin’ into the old lady’s ’ouse with me.’
Molly heard Doreen’s gasp, then her muffled, ‘Phil!’
‘D’yer know him?’ There was no reply to Molly’s question … Doreen had taken to her heels and fled. ‘What’s biting her?’ Then the penny dropped. Tall, blond, handsome and his name was Phil. This was the boy Doreen had fallen for! The smashing dancer she’d met at Barlows Lane. The one she wanted to ask to her birthday party. Well, that romance would be short-lived. She wasn’t going to take up with one of the Bradleys, not if Molly had anything to do with it.
Corker was weighing Phil up. There was something not right about the whole set-up but he couldn’t figure out what. ‘Is it true, son? Were you breaking in to Miss Clegg’s?’
‘No, sir.’
Jack, who had come through the house, was leaning against the yard door taking it all in. This was a queer business, without a doubt. But he was inclined to believe the blond lad, although he didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because he’d addressed Corker as ‘sir’. That one word showed respect, and the lad went up in Jack’s estimation. He moved forward, and in doing so nearly tripped over something on the ground. He bent down to see what it was and picked up the overalls. ‘Who do these belong to?’
‘They’re mine, sir. I was on me way home from work.’
‘He’s a bleedin’ liar,’ screeched Brian. ‘Don’t believe him!’
‘If I were you, I’d keep me mouth tightly closed,’ Corker warned. ‘You’re in enough trouble without adding to it.’ He glanced at Phil. ‘You are one of the Bradleys, aren’t you?’
‘I live with them.’ Phil straightened up and met Corker’s gaze head on. ‘But Mr Bradley is not my father.’
‘I heard there was another son. You go to work, don’t you?’
When Phil nodded, Corker asked, ‘Can yer tell us why yer were knocking hell out of yer brother?’
‘I might live with the Bradleys sir, but I don’t live like them. I am not a thief. I caught Brian attempting to break into that house, an’ I stopped him.’
‘Well, this is a fine kettle of fish,’ Nellie whispered as she gave George a dig in the ribs. ‘What happens now?’
‘If yer’ll give yer mouth a rest,’ her husband whispered back, ‘we might find out.’
‘I heard that, Nellie, an’ I confess I haven’t got a clue what to do now.’ Corker twisted the end of his beard. ‘We should take young feller-me-lad here to the police. But they’d think we were havin’ them on if we told them his brother stopped him from breaking into a house.’
The word ‘police’ brought forth a wail from Brian. ‘It won’t do yez no good goin’ to the police … I didn’t break in, didn’t steal nothin’. Just let me go home! He’s broke me bleedin’ nose an’ it needs seein’ to.’
‘Oh, I’ll take yer home all right.’ There was a threat behind Corker’s words which wasn’t lost on those listening. ‘But what about you, young Phil? You won’t be welcomed with open arms, will yer?’
‘I am never welcome.’ There was bitterness in Phil’s voice. ‘I don’t fit in, yer see. But the parting of the ways had to come sometime, so it might as well be tonight.’
‘Have you anywhere to go, son?’ Corker asked. ‘A relative or friends?’
Phil shook his head. ‘The Bradleys were disowned by their relatives years ago, and I haven’t any close friends. But don’t worry, I’ll be all right. I’ve got a couple of mates in work, one of them will put me up until I sort meself out.’
Miss Clegg touched his arm. ‘Come in with me and I’ll make you a cup of tea.’
‘No, I won’t bother yer … you’ve had enough trouble for one night.’
‘Molly, tell him he’s got to come in … I want him to.’
‘You heard what the lady said, yer’ve got no choice.’ Molly turned her head and gave Corker a knowing nod. ‘Me an’ Nellie will go in with Miss Clegg while you men take the queer feller home.’
‘Good idea, Molly. Come on, Jack, and you, George. We’ll have a few words with this lad’s family.’
‘Will yer do me a favour, sir?’ Phil hung his head in embarrassment. ‘Will yer explain to me mam an’ tell her I’ll be all right? I’ll write to her when I get meself settled somewhere.’
Corker nodded, then took hold of Brian’s arm. ‘Come on, let’s get it over with.’
Molly handed Phil a cup of tea. He looked so dejected she found herself feeling a stir of pity for him. ‘Are yer hungry, son?’
‘No thanks.’ Phil took the cup and gave a faint smile. ‘I’ve caused enough trouble as it is.’
‘Make him a sandwich, please, Molly.’ Miss Clegg was back in her chair beside the roaring fire Nellie had built up. ‘The poor lad said he’s been working from eight this morning, he must be starved.’
‘Have yer got anythin’ in for a sandwich?’
‘There’s some corned beef on a plate in the larder.’ Victoria couldn’t take her eyes off Phil. She could see the suffering on his face and her heart went out to him. ‘And plenty of bread and butter.’
When Molly went out to the kitchen, Nellie followed. ‘I’ll rinse me hands, they’re all mucky.’
Molly opened the larder cupboard and smiled when she saw the plate covered with a hand-made doily. ‘She does everything nice,
does our Victoria. Considerin’ she’s only got the one good hand, it doesn’t stop her doin’ things proper.’
‘What d’yer think of him?’ Nellie whispered. ‘He seems like a nice lad to me … yer wouldn’t think he was one of the Bradleys.’
‘Just what I was thinking.’ Molly cut a slice off a cottage loaf. ‘But looks can be deceiving, so yer can’t really tell.’
‘Victoria’s taken a fancy to him.’ Nellie shivered. ‘That blinkin’ water’s freezing, I’ve got goose pimples on me goose pimples.’
Molly handed her a plate with two thick sandwiches on. ‘Take that in, will yer? I’ll make another just in case … he’s a big lad.’
‘Nice-lookin’ feller, too!’ Nellie sighed. ‘Bloody shame he’s mixed up with that family.’
Molly thought of Doreen, but for once she didn’t share her daughter’s secret with her friend. Least said the better. ‘After what he did tonight, I don’t think he likes them any more than we do. When all’s said and done, we can choose our friends but we can’t choose our family.’
‘Aye, yer right there, girl.’ Nellie was thoughtful as she carried the plate through and set it down in front of Phil. ‘There yer are, son, get them down yer.’
‘Thank you.’ Phil felt more like flying than eating, and when he took a bite the bread tasted like sawdust in his mouth. He was worried sick. Where could he go? One of his workmates would take him in, but what excuse could he make when he turned up on his doorstep at this time of night? He couldn’t tell the truth, he’d be too ashamed.
‘Here yer are, eat them all up.’ Molly topped up the sandwiches on his plate. ‘Yer a growing lad.’
‘I couldn’t eat all that, I seem to have lost me appetite.’ He looked briefly into Molly’s face before turning to Victoria. ‘I can’t tell yer how sorry I am about what happened. My so-called brother needs horse-whippin’… but the one really to blame is his father. He’s the one that taught Brian and the two girls to steal. Ever since they were old enough to walk, he’s encouraged them to lie, cheat and rob. They think nothin’ of it, because that’s how they’ve been brought up.’ He put his half-eaten sandwich back on the plate. ‘But I’m not makin’ excuses for Brian, because there is no excuse … he’s old enough to think for himself.’