The Boy With the Latchkey

by Cathy Sharp

  ‘You didn’t kiss her?’

  ‘You’ve got to believe me, Ellie,’ Billy said. ‘I wish you had more time sometimes – but I’ve got too much to think about over this business with Sam to be running after other girls. It’s you I want … you must know it?’ He frowned. ‘You’ve got to trust me, Mary Ellen. If you don’t we’ll break up one of these days …’

  ‘No!’ Tears were running down her cheeks now. ‘Marion says you’ll get tired of me.’

  ‘What does she know?’ Billy’s tone was gentle. ‘Surely you know all I want is to be with you, Ellie?’

  ‘All I want is to be with you,’ she said and lifted her face for his kiss. ‘You know I love you, Billy?’

  ‘Yeah,’ he grinned as the old confidence returned. ‘I’ve got some good news for you – me and Sam and Ted Hastings are goin’ into partnership on the market selling all Sam’s cabbage stuff – and Jimbo says I can have his cabbage cheap when he gets any; I’ve just got to cut the labels out …’

  ‘Who is Jimbo?’ Mary Ellen was puzzled, but she clung to his arm, glad to see how excited he was and to realise that she’d been silly to let Marion’s spite upset her. Billy had big plans for the future, just as she had.

  ‘Jim Platter – he’s the one I took the stolen stuff back to. They were all perfect stock, Mary Ellen. No wonder they sold quick for fifteen bob on the market. He was so impressed by me botherin’ to give them back that he says we can have all his seconds in future – so we’ll have exclusive rights to his seconds knitwear and Sam’s cabbage as well. Archie and Nipper are goin’ to run the stall between them … do you remember Nipper from St Saviour’s? Well, he went on the ships for a couple of trips when he left, but he’s got a bit of a weak chest. The doc told him it was a legacy from the days when they used to go hungry for weeks on end … in fact he didn’t know what it was like to eat a decent meal until he came to us at Halfpenny Street.’

  ‘Nipper always followed you about like you were his hero,’ Mary Ellen said, remembering how they’d made friends with Nipper and his brother Jimmy.

  ‘Yeah, we were all good mates …’ Billy frowned. ‘Did you know that Jimmy was killed about a year ago working on the Docks?’

  ‘Oh no!’ Mary Ellen’s eyes stung with sudden tears as she remembered the cheerful lad who had been bruised and battered and half-starved when he was brought into St Saviour’s. ‘Jimmy always looked out for Nipper … he must miss him terribly.’

  ‘He does,’ Billy said. ‘He’s been living in a mission down near the East India Docks, taking whatever jobs he can, but he’s going to find himself a room somewhere now that he’s been offered a steady job …’

  ‘You can trust him, Billy.’

  ‘Nipper and Archie both; they’ve both had a rotten time, but maybe things will get better now. I popped in to see Sister and tell her what I was doing and she says that Mrs Miller is going to be released very soon …’

  ‘If what you told me is true she should never have been sent to prison. They ought to give her a lot of money to compensate her for what she’s suffered – and her family.’

  ‘There’re some things money can’t make better,’ Billy said, ‘but I agree that she’s owed. I doubt if anyone in authority will see it like that though …’

  Mary Ellen nodded, looking grim. ‘Things aren’t always fair, Billy – but if Archie has a proper job that’s something at least. Let’s hope his mum can find them a home and a job for herself.’

  ‘Archie has told me all about his mate Ikey; he’s the one that found out a lot of stuff about Mrs Miller. I reckon he’s a useful bloke to know. He might be able to help me and Sam …’

  CHAPTER 23

  ‘Sister Beatrice …’ Sandra Miller sat down in the chair indicated across the desk in Sister Beatrice’s office. ‘Mr Hendry insisted on bringing me here after I was released this morning …’ She glanced at the man standing in front of the empty fire grate. The weather was still mild even though it was autumn now and fires were not needed as yet. ‘He says you have something to say to me?’

  ‘Yes, Sandra, I do … I may call you by your name?’

  ‘Of course.’ Sandra smiled. ‘After what you’ve done for me I think we must count as friends …’

  ‘Yes, I would like to think so,’ Beatrice said. ‘Mr Hendry brought you here at my request. You have learned by now that your home has been boarded over and although some of your possessions were removed to safety by your friends, much has been lost … another injustice I fear.’

  ‘I intend to approach the landlord and demand some sort of recompense,’ Edward Hendry said. ‘However, at the moment he’s offering a derisory sum … twenty-five pounds. I’ve told him it isn’t adequate but he claims the contents were fit only for the bonfire they had in the garden.’

  ‘I dare say much of it was,’ Sandra admitted. ‘After my husband died I couldn’t afford new carpets or curtains and the furniture was second-hand at the start. We were saving for a new home but …’

  ‘Yes, well, it isn’t just the value of the goods, it is the way it was all taken from you without reference to your feelings or the law,’ Mr Hendry said. ‘I doubt we shall get true justice, Mrs Miller – there is no fund from the state for reimbursing victims of false accusations and false imprisonment at present. However, I have spoken to your firm and they are willing to offer you your old job back – or one hundred pounds and a reference …’

  ‘A hundred pounds …’ Sandra gasped and her face was pale. ‘That is a lot of money …’

  ‘Hardly enough to compensate for all you suffered. However, it would be costly to bring an action against them and I can’t guarantee that we should end up with more at the finish.’

  ‘Oh no, I’m grateful for the money offered and the reference. I must have a reference or I shan’t find work.’

  ‘Well, that is not strictly true,’ Sister Beatrice interceded. ‘Since Angela retired to care for her twins we have not had a permanent secretary here. What I wondered was whether you might consider doing part-time secretarial work and combining it with some care for the children …’

  ‘My children are here?’ Sandra looked at her anxiously.

  ‘Archie is out, but June is in the sick ward. We haven’t put her back in the dorms yet, because Mr Adderbury says she needs a little time to recover from her ordeal.’

  ‘Who is he?’

  ‘A very respectable and clever psychiatrist, who gives us his services for free,’ Beatrice said with a smile at the lawyer. ‘Your children are here and I wondered if you would like to stay too – just until you can find a house that will suit you? In return you will help the carers and act as my secretary, and we shall pay you, of course.’

  ‘You are extremely kind but …’ Sandra drew a shuddering breath. ‘Yes, perhaps it would be best for a while, until I have time to adjust.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Beatrice smiled at her. ‘People can be extremely cruel, Sandra, and until everyone knows the truth you may find yourself shunned. However, you would be accepted here and even if you stayed with us for just a short time, you would have a chance to come to terms with your life and decide where you wish to go …’

  ‘Yes …’ Sandra looked from Beatrice to Mr Hendry. ‘Perhaps you would let me stay here then – and Mr Hendry, perhaps you will get that reference and the money for me please?’

  ‘I certainly shall, though I am not satisfied with the amount, but I fear it is the best we can do, and I hope for a similar sum from your careless landlord.’

  ‘I can only thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put in on my behalf.’

  ‘Most of the work has been done by Ikey,’ Edward Hendry said and smiled. ‘He persuaded that secretary at your old firm to come forward with her evidence and that led to the arrest of Mr Prentice, who when he was presented with the proof that he’d handled the stolen cheque, confessed that you were entirely innocent. Ikey told him he would get a lesser sentence if he made a full confession – and after that
you were in the clear. Ikey is a most unusual man, Mrs Miller, but your son likes him and trusts him and I must say I do too …’

  ‘Where is my son please? You said he was out …’

  Beatrice frowned. ‘He is working on the market with some more friends of his …’

  ‘That has to stop,’ Sandra said and frowned. ‘He should still be in school!’

  ‘Archie works Saturdays and holidays, but he’s made up his mind to leave as soon as he’s old enough.’

  ‘Well, I am his mother and I want him at school until he’s passed all his exams,’ Sandra said and stood up. ‘You’ve all been very kind and I cannot thank you enough for helping me to prove my innocence, but I am rather tired … and I need the stink of the prison off me before I go to June.’

  ‘Of course.’ Beatrice rose to her feet at once. ‘Come with me, and I shall show you where you can rest and sleep. We have a kitchen here and the staff will provide you with a meal and a pot of tea if you ask – but we do request that you do not help yourself. Cook doesn’t like people in her kitchen unless she tells them what to do …’

  ‘I should not dream of it,’ Sandra said. ‘I shall feel better in a few hours and then perhaps we can discuss your kind offer again?’

  ‘Yes, certainly,’ Beatrice said and led the way out into the hall and into the lift. ‘I will give you a brief tour downstairs and then take you to the nurses’ home, where I’ve had a room prepared for you …’

  ‘Ah, Archie,’ Sister Beatrice smiled at him as he entered her office and he felt relief wash over him. When he’d been told to go straight to her office, Archie had thought he was in trouble, but he could see immediately that it wasn’t the case. ‘I wanted to tell you that your mother is here – she’s with June in the sick room at the moment.’

  ‘Mum’s here?’ Archie felt a rush of joy and he grinned at the nun. ‘When did she arrive?’

  ‘Just before noon,’ Sister Beatrice replied. ‘Sandra was tired and she wanted to wash and rest, but she’s been with your sister for more than two hours now. I am sure she is anxious to see you too.’

  ‘I’d have come sooner if I’d known,’ Archie said. ‘Can I go to see her now – I’m not in trouble, am I?’

  ‘Not with me, but your mother is not happy about your having taken employment on the market …’

  Archie’s glow of pleasure faded for a moment. ‘No, she wanted me to stay on and take all me exams … but I ain’t goin’ to use them fancy things. I like workin’ on the market and Ted says I’m doing well and I’ll be rich one day just like he is …’

  Sister looked amused, but she didn’t seem angry. She just told him to go and find his mother and sort things out with her. Archie wanted to run to his mother; he wanted to hug her and kiss her and tell her how much he loved her, and how much he’d missed her, but he walked slowly, dragging his feet because he knew she would be angry. Sandra Miller had big plans for her children and Archie had let her down; he’d promised to take what she would think was just a dead-end job on the market – but worse than that, he’d let them send June away and it was his fault that those bad things had happened to her.

  He opened the door of the sick ward and immediately saw that his mother was sitting on June’s bed, holding his sister as she leaned against her, eyes closed, a look of peace on her face. His mother was talking to her, kissing her head and soothing her, but then she looked up and saw Archie. For a moment her eyes lit up with love, but then her look of welcome faded and she wasn’t smiling as she held out her hand to him.

  ‘Come here, Archie,’ she said. ‘I’ve been waiting for you …’

  Archie went to her, took her hand and bent down to kiss her cheek. She turned her head and kissed him back on the side of his head, but still she wasn’t smiling.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I know I shouldn’t have let them take June away …’

  ‘That wasn’t your fault,’ she said and now there was a faint smile in her eyes. ‘I’ve been told what you and your friend did to help June. I’m proud of you for what you did then, Archie …’

  There was a but lurking and Archie waited for the blow to fall. He loved his mum and he was sorry if he’d upset her, but he couldn’t give up his dreams and his new life to please her.

  ‘You know why I’m upset, Archie. I want you to stay at school, take your exams and make something of your life – like your father would’ve wanted for you, love.’

  ‘I can do all the sums I need and I can keep books and write a letter – Ikey says I don’t need all the rest if I want to be a market trader and earn a good living …’

  ‘And who is this man to advise my son?’ Sandra felt a surge of irritation. Ikey had by all accounts done most to get her name cleared, but he’d kept the truth from her in prison and he was telling her son it was all right to work on the market when Sandra wanted him to do something worthwhile with his life. She wasn’t sure what yet, but she would like him to go on to college and seek a better life than she’d managed to give him.

  ‘Ikey rescued June from those people. He’s the one that’s done it all, Mum – he got the truth out of Reg Prentice and made him confess it to your old boss … and he saved me from life on the streets. He’s the best friend I’ve got, even better than Billy and Ted and his daughter and Nipper …’ Archie’s words trailed away as he saw that his mother was unmoved. ‘He’s a real good friend, Mum. You would like him if you knew him, just like I do …’

  ‘Perhaps I should,’ she conceded, remembering that she had thought him attractive when he’d visited her in prison, ‘but he still has no right to tell you what you should do with your life. I’m your mother and I’m the one who decides what happens in this family.’

  ‘You weren’t here when we needed you,’ Archie said truculently. ‘When I was starvin’ on the streets and attacked – and you weren’t here when June needed you …’ His voice trailed away as he saw the pain in her eyes and he was immediately sorry, because he hadn’t wanted to hurt her. ‘Ikey was here for us, Mum, and Ted and Billy, and Sister and Ted’s daughter. They’re me friends and I want to work with them; I want to make a good life for us and I’ll make good money one day soon and then you won’t even have to work. You can just stay home and look after June … as you should …’

  Tears filled his mother’s eyes and Archie felt her pain strike deep into his heart, but he couldn’t relent and tell her he would do what she wanted. He wasn’t ever going to be treated as just a kid again; as soon as the law allowed, he was going to work with people who treated him as if he belonged, respected him and looked out for him – but he didn’t want to cause her pain.

  ‘June will go to school again soon and she’ll be all the things you want, Mum,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry but I’ve made up my mind. It’s my life and you can’t make me take exams if I don’t want to.’

  ‘We’ll talk about this later,’ his mother said in a voice Archie remembered from the past; back then it had made him resigned to giving in and letting her have her way, but he was older now – much older than the few months she’d been in prison should have made him. He might still be a youth in the eyes of the law but Archie felt like a man and he was determined he would never go back to school again …

  ‘I’m goin’ out later,’ Archie said. ‘I’ve promised Billy I’ll do something for him. Don’t worry about me, Mum. I’ll be perfectly all right – and I’ll probably stay with Billy or Ted tonight.’

  ‘I forbid you to stay out all night! How long has this been going on? I’m quite sure Sister Beatrice doesn’t know you don’t sleep here …’

  ‘It’s the first time,’ Archie said. ‘Billy and Sam need a bit of help, so we’re all going to be there – Ted and Ikey and a few friends …’

  ‘Archie …’ his mother’s gaze narrowed. ‘I’m your mother and I forbid you to do this … whatever it is.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ Archie said, ‘but I’m goin’ as soon as I’ve had me tea. You’re not to worry or be upset. I’ll se
e you in the mornin’ and when you’ve met me friends you’ll understand …’

  ‘Archie … Archie, come back here,’ Sandra said and then realised she was talking to an empty room, empty apart from her and her daughter. Poor little June, her darling child, who was clinging to her as if she would never let go again. Tears filled Sandra’s eyes and she bent to kiss her daughter’s head, whispering of her love.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I promise I shan’t leave you again.’

  ‘Mummy,’ June whimpered and clung to her even tighter. ‘Archie’s friend Ikey is brave and nice. I liked him … he got me away …’ Tears caught at her throat, and Sandra forgot her rebellious son as she cuddled her little girl. ‘Don’t go away again, will you?’

  ‘No, I shan’t go,’ Sandra said. ‘I’ll stay here with you until you’re ready and then you can come to my room and sleep in my bed …’

  Archie ate his meal quickly; he was half fearful that his mother would come after him and demand that he went to bed immediately, as she would have if he’d defied her in the past. Yet things were different now, even though she hadn’t accepted it yet. Too much had happened for Archie to give up his plans and become a child again. He wanted to please his mum, to make her smile and enable her to live in a home that he helped to provide, but he wasn’t willing to give in all the way down the line. Archie wasn’t a child any longer – and the part he was to play that evening was surely proof that his friends thought him a man now.

  Ten days had passed since the last break-in at Sam’s place. Customers had to ring to be admitted now, and they’d managed to stop the pilfering that had been going on for far longer than Sam had realised. Sam told them he’d been worried that he might lose some of his good customers, but they’d praised his efforts to ensure the goods were more secure and all he’d lost was the lower end of the market traders – and Mr Connolly.