‘We shall wait here ‘til she comes out, I must speak to her!’
They waited patiently on the pavement which was bustling with midday shoppers. Lily seemed to be in the shop for a long time and Ellen began hopping from one foot to another with impatience. They were both feeling thirsty and a trifle peckish, but it was worth the wait.
A conservatively dressed Lily eventually bounced out of the shop, the bell tinkled on the glass door, she firmly shut it behind her. She caught sight of her two friends who were standing opposite on the other side of the street. Lou and Ellen were a bit wary of speaking to her in such a public place, fearful that Betsy or Freddie might see them. There would be murder, a terrible scene.
Lily was pleased to see them and rushed over.
‘We found your note.’ Said Ellen.
‘Good, you have a lot to do. Make sure you bring the regulars with you, oh and by the by,’ she laughed, ‘Don’t bother asking ‘The Fat Man.’
Lou rolled her eyes, in understanding. She nodded her head towards the tea rooms. ‘We’re going in ‘ere, do you fancy a cuppa tea?’
‘Afraid not, got to get back to the house, having some furniture delivered. You will join me?’ Asked Lily, a touch anxiously, but her expression was warm.
‘We are and we’re made up for you Lily.’ Said Ellen as she squeezed her arm.
‘Good, and don’t bother asking the other little one, I don’t want the responsibility of her being under age like. I look forward to you both joining me.’ Said Lily as she was nervously looking up and down the street.
Still anxious not to be seen by the Hales, the girls were relieved when Lily turned away and bustled up the busy street. She was soon lost in the crowd as the other two sauntered quietly into the tea shop.
Betsy fancied a walk down to the Pier Head. It wasn’t her usual route in daylight but she just had to walk off her pent up anger and frustration. Lily had made a fool of her and she felt humiliated. She had designs on working it to her advantage, as it would make room for another young girl. Her corrupt mind was spinning with her next cunning plan, she was hungry for the money. She had designs on exploiting the next Boyle girl. ‘Rachel must be twelve now and I wager that Lottie Boyle’s got even less fucking money than she had last year.’ Thought Betsy deviously.
She went down School Lane, her footwear was highly unsuitable for the rough town streets. She insisted on wearing ridiculous shoes, her gait was almost comical. Many times before she had nearly broken her sparrow’s ankle as she had stumbled on the cobblestones. Today, she was trying to walk more carefully.
As she entered Lord Street, she found herself confronted with a happy gathering of street entertainers, jugglers and clowns led by a strange looking red haired man. The beat of the drum and the sound of a barrel organ, amidst the shouts of the children was a maddening racket in Betsy’s ears. Their brightly coloured costumes and painted faces were enough to give her a headache, she hated bright colours, noise and laughter.
‘What the hell’s going on here? Fucking stupid din.’ She muttered under her breath angrily as she became caught up in the entourage. Betsy hated clowning and frolics, she hadn’t had a proper laugh in her whole wretched life. She only ever cackled hideously and that was normally at someone else’s expense. This was at times when she had got one over on someone or at some poor soul’s misfortune.
A juggler dropped one of the balls. It rolled under Betsy’s feet. This made her launch into a bad tempered tirade at the man, at the same time she was trying not to fall. Fortunately, she didn’t recognise Alice who was walking alongside the juggler.
Today Alice looked different. Her head was bare and her hair was plaited, free of make-up, she just looked like any other thirteen year old. She glanced down to where the ball had fallen. Then to her horror she saw Betsy. Alice was
They waited patiently on the pavement which was bustling with midday shoppers. Lily seemed to be in the shop for a long time and Ellen began hopping from one foot to another with impatience. They were both feeling thirsty and a trifle peckish, but it was worth the wait.
A conservatively dressed Lily eventually bounced out of the shop, the bell tinkled on the glass door, she firmly shut it behind her. She caught sight of her two friends who were standing opposite on the other side of the street. Lou and Ellen were a bit wary of speaking to her in such a public place, fearful that Betsy or Freddie might see them. There would be murder, a terrible scene.
Lily was pleased to see them and rushed over.
‘We found your note.’ Said Ellen.
‘Good, you have a lot to do. Make sure you bring the regulars with you, oh and by the by,’ she laughed, ‘Don’t bother asking ‘The Fat Man.’
Lou rolled her eyes, in understanding. She nodded her head towards the tea rooms. ‘We’re going in ‘ere, do you fancy a cuppa tea?’
‘Afraid not, got to get back to the house, having some furniture delivered. You will join me?’ Asked Lily, a touch anxiously, but her expression was warm.
‘We are and we’re made up for you Lily.’ Said Ellen as she squeezed her arm.
‘Good, and don’t bother asking the other little one, I don’t want the responsibility of her being under age like. I look forward to you both joining me.’ Said Lily as she was nervously looking up and down the street.
Still anxious not to be seen by the Hales, the girls were relieved when Lily turned away and bustled up the busy street. She was soon lost in the crowd as the other two sauntered quietly into the tea shop.
Betsy fancied a walk down to the Pier Head. It wasn’t her usual route in daylight but she just had to walk off her pent up anger and frustration. Lily had made a fool of her and she felt humiliated. She had designs on working it to her advantage, as it would make room for another young girl. Her corrupt mind was spinning with her next cunning plan, she was hungry for the money. She had designs on exploiting the next Boyle girl. ‘Rachel must be twelve now and I wager that Lottie Boyle’s got even less fucking money than she had last year.’ Thought Betsy deviously.
She went down School Lane, her footwear was highly unsuitable for the rough town streets. She insisted on wearing ridiculous shoes, her gait was almost comical. Many times before she had nearly broken her sparrow’s ankle as she had stumbled on the cobblestones. Today, she was trying to walk more carefully.
As she entered Lord Street, she found herself confronted with a happy gathering of street entertainers, jugglers and clowns led by a strange looking red haired man. The beat of the drum and the sound of a barrel organ, amidst the shouts of the children was a maddening racket in Betsy’s ears. Their brightly coloured costumes and painted faces were enough to give her a headache, she hated bright colours, noise and laughter.
‘What the hell’s going on here? Fucking stupid din.’ She muttered under her breath angrily as she became caught up in the entourage. Betsy hated clowning and frolics, she hadn’t had a proper laugh in her whole wretched life. She only ever cackled hideously and that was normally at someone else’s expense. This was at times when she had got one over on someone or at some poor soul’s misfortune.
A juggler dropped one of the balls. It rolled under Betsy’s feet. This made her launch into a bad tempered tirade at the man, at the same time she was trying not to fall. Fortunately, she didn’t recognise Alice who was walking alongside the juggler.
Today Alice looked different. Her head was bare and her hair was plaited, free of make-up, she just looked like any other thirteen year old. She glanced down to where the ball had fallen. Then to her horror she saw Betsy. Alice was
Similar Books
