Liverpool Angels by Lyn Andrews Page A

for ice cream and turns on the various rides.
    ‘Would you just listen to them, Agnes! Do they think we’re made of money? You bring them on a day out and they’re not satisfied with that!’ Maggie protested.
    John laughed as he exchanged glances with Bertie. ‘Oh, go on, Maggie. It’s a special occasion and I don’t mind giving them a few pence to spend on treats. Why don’t you and Agnes go and see if you can get us seats in the grandstand?’
    ‘And leave this lot to their own devices and with money to spend? For a start they’ll get lost in this crowd and we’ll never find them, and I dread to think what damage our Eddie could do with a rifle,’ Maggie shuddered.
    ‘What if Bertie and I stayed with them, kept our eye on them? We’ll come and find you when they’ve spent up, which won’t be long as they’re only getting pennies,’ John offered.
    Maggie looked enquiringly at Agnes and then nodded. ‘All right, as long as you don’t mind and you don’t let them run riot. I doubt we’ll get seats though so we’d better pick a spot to meet up,’ she said, looking across to the already packed raised grandstand on the other side of the park.
    ‘How about over there by the bandstand?’ John suggested, and Agnes and his sister agreed.
    ‘Right, what do you want to do first? Rides or ice cream?’ John asked the over-excited little group.
    ‘We want a go on that rifle range!’ Eddie and Jimmy instantly replied in unison.
    ‘Da, can we go on that ride with the painted horses?’ Mae pleaded and Alice nodded enthusiastically.
    ‘I wouldn’t mind going on that too,’ Harry added. He was quieter than his twin and wasn’t at all sure that he wanted to try the rifle range; it looked a bit dangerous. But the ride with the horses was going round really quite fast too.
    ‘Don’t be daft, that’s a ride for girls!’ Eddie scoffed while Jimmy sneered at his brother.
    Seeing an argument brewing, John intervened. ‘I think you’ll find that you’ve got to be a certain age before they’ll let you have a go on the rifle range, lads, and I’d say you’re too young. So why don’t you all have a turn on the carousel, or those swinging boats, and then ice cream? By then it will be almost time for the big events and we certainly don’t want to miss them.’
    Eddie was disappointed. ‘That carousel thing doesn’t look very exciting,’ he muttered.
    ‘There seems to be just girls on it,’ Jimmy added gloomily.
    ‘Uncle John, do we have to have them with us?’ Alice demanded, glaring at her brother and Jimmy Mercer. ‘They’ll only go showing us up, won’t they, Mae?’
    Mae supposed Alice had a point although she didn’t mind Harry Mercer: he at least was quieter than the other two.
    ‘We’d sooner go on those swinging-boat things, anyway. They look more exciting than those soppy wooden horses,’ Jimmy stated, frowning at Alice.
    ‘See what I mean, Uncle John?’ Alice retorted smugly.
    ‘Right! You lads all come with me to the swinging boats. Mae, Alice and Lucy, you go with Mr Mercer to the carousel, then we’ll meet up when the rides finish for ice cream – and no more arguments! We’re all supposed to be enjoying ourselves,’ John stated firmly before shepherding the boys in the direction of their chosen ride.
    Bertie Mercer grinned at him. ‘Kids! You can never please them!’
    When Maggie, Agnes and the girls got home later that afternoon they all agreed that it had been well worth standing in the hot sun to see the spectacle, even if they hadn’t been able to get seats in the grandstand.
    ‘You girls go up and take off those hats and dresses. I see you managed to get ice cream all down the front of yours, Alice; you never seem to stay tidy for long. I’ll put the kettle on,’ Maggie told them, removing her own hat and unbuttoning the neck of her blouse, which was sticking to her with perspiration.
    Agnes did the same as she got out Maggie’s cups and saucers, instructing Lucy