nothin’.’
Kathy, feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself and blushing hotly, mumbled that she was sure she hadn’t meant to cause offence. Then, growing angry, because she knew she was in the wrong, she added that she’d not meant to accuse any of the allotment owners, since she knew they were all honest men. ‘But there’s soldiers from the barracks come over the fence sometimes, and kids from the back streets, too,’ she said haughtily. ‘ That ’s who I meant.’
‘Oh, sure you did,’ Jimmy McCabe sneered. ‘It’s likely one o’ them would break into the shed to steal garden tools when none of ’em have so much as an inch of garden of their own. An’ the only person likely to steal your bleedin’ blackcurrant bush is another gardener, as well you know.’
Everyone hates being put thoroughly at fault and Kathy’s first thought was to lash out at Jimmy and somehow get her own back. ‘You can sell garden tools in Paddy’s market, and probably you could sell a fine blackcurrant bush an’ all,’ she said wildly. ‘But there were no need to jump down my throat, Jimmy McCabe, because I didn’t mean—’
Jimmy McCabe pulled the pram to a halt and turned; furiously, on Kathy. ‘I told you your dad had been good to me; I’d no more break into his shed and steal his tools to sell in Paddy’s market than I’d steal from me own mam. How dare you say such things, you spiteful little bitch.’
At this point, Jane decided to pour oil on troubled waters. ‘Shurrup, the pair of you,’ she shouted. ‘Kathy didn’t mean you when she said you can sell garden tools in Paddy’s market, she meant someone could. ‘Well, if you two ain’t fire an’ water – you just won’t mix. Jimmy, shut your gob and don’t open it again till I say.’ She swung round on her friend. ‘Kathy, just you tell Jimmy you’re sorry you didn’t make it clearer that you knew he weren’t a thief. Come on, own up. You made a mistake and you’re sorry for it.’
It was easy for Jimmy, Kathy thought resentfully as she stammered out a grudging apology. All he had to do was button his lip, whereas she had had to eat humble pie. Then she remembered how garrulous Jimmy was and smiled to herself. Maybe keeping quiet was as hard for him as saying she was sorry had been for her. Smiling a little, she turned to him and repeated her apology in a much pleasanter tone. After all, he was pushing her baby brother and all her messages in the big pram and they still had a good walk ahead of them. No point in stomping along in gloomy and resentful silence; it had all been very unfortunate and they should do their best to forget it and act as though nothing had happened.
Jimmy looked slightly surprised at this second apology but took it in the spirit in which it was meant. ‘’Sorlright, queen,’ he said gruffly. ‘Me mam always says I only have to open me mouth to put me foot in it, and I dare say she’s right. Let’s talk about something different, eh? Shall I ask you about school, or shall I tell you what it’s like working in the brewery?’
Both girls laughed but little Teresa leaned forward, saying earnestly: ‘Please, Jimmy, will you show us how you put your foot in your mouth? I seen babies do it all the time, but I never seen a grown-up. Does you do it wi’ your boots on? If so, you’ll have to be rare careful where you tread.’
This innocent question caused a great deal of hilarity and considerably eased the rather tense atmosphere. Jimmy hopped along the pavement on one foot, trying to get his boot somewhere in the region of his mouth, whilst the three children squealed with amusement and Jane and Kathy took over the pram once more. Jimmy only let them push it for a short way, however, before taking it again, and conversation became general, Kathy describing the carol concert at which her friend Ruby had sung ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ as a solo and she herself had read one of the lessons. Not to be outdone,
Kathy, feeling thoroughly ashamed of herself and blushing hotly, mumbled that she was sure she hadn’t meant to cause offence. Then, growing angry, because she knew she was in the wrong, she added that she’d not meant to accuse any of the allotment owners, since she knew they were all honest men. ‘But there’s soldiers from the barracks come over the fence sometimes, and kids from the back streets, too,’ she said haughtily. ‘ That ’s who I meant.’
‘Oh, sure you did,’ Jimmy McCabe sneered. ‘It’s likely one o’ them would break into the shed to steal garden tools when none of ’em have so much as an inch of garden of their own. An’ the only person likely to steal your bleedin’ blackcurrant bush is another gardener, as well you know.’
Everyone hates being put thoroughly at fault and Kathy’s first thought was to lash out at Jimmy and somehow get her own back. ‘You can sell garden tools in Paddy’s market, and probably you could sell a fine blackcurrant bush an’ all,’ she said wildly. ‘But there were no need to jump down my throat, Jimmy McCabe, because I didn’t mean—’
Jimmy McCabe pulled the pram to a halt and turned; furiously, on Kathy. ‘I told you your dad had been good to me; I’d no more break into his shed and steal his tools to sell in Paddy’s market than I’d steal from me own mam. How dare you say such things, you spiteful little bitch.’
At this point, Jane decided to pour oil on troubled waters. ‘Shurrup, the pair of you,’ she shouted. ‘Kathy didn’t mean you when she said you can sell garden tools in Paddy’s market, she meant someone could. ‘Well, if you two ain’t fire an’ water – you just won’t mix. Jimmy, shut your gob and don’t open it again till I say.’ She swung round on her friend. ‘Kathy, just you tell Jimmy you’re sorry you didn’t make it clearer that you knew he weren’t a thief. Come on, own up. You made a mistake and you’re sorry for it.’
It was easy for Jimmy, Kathy thought resentfully as she stammered out a grudging apology. All he had to do was button his lip, whereas she had had to eat humble pie. Then she remembered how garrulous Jimmy was and smiled to herself. Maybe keeping quiet was as hard for him as saying she was sorry had been for her. Smiling a little, she turned to him and repeated her apology in a much pleasanter tone. After all, he was pushing her baby brother and all her messages in the big pram and they still had a good walk ahead of them. No point in stomping along in gloomy and resentful silence; it had all been very unfortunate and they should do their best to forget it and act as though nothing had happened.
Jimmy looked slightly surprised at this second apology but took it in the spirit in which it was meant. ‘’Sorlright, queen,’ he said gruffly. ‘Me mam always says I only have to open me mouth to put me foot in it, and I dare say she’s right. Let’s talk about something different, eh? Shall I ask you about school, or shall I tell you what it’s like working in the brewery?’
Both girls laughed but little Teresa leaned forward, saying earnestly: ‘Please, Jimmy, will you show us how you put your foot in your mouth? I seen babies do it all the time, but I never seen a grown-up. Does you do it wi’ your boots on? If so, you’ll have to be rare careful where you tread.’
This innocent question caused a great deal of hilarity and considerably eased the rather tense atmosphere. Jimmy hopped along the pavement on one foot, trying to get his boot somewhere in the region of his mouth, whilst the three children squealed with amusement and Jane and Kathy took over the pram once more. Jimmy only let them push it for a short way, however, before taking it again, and conversation became general, Kathy describing the carol concert at which her friend Ruby had sung ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ as a solo and she herself had read one of the lessons. Not to be outdone,
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