One Step at a Time by Beryl Matthews Page B

were different now. She wanted to know why her friend had ignored her.
    Running hard, she caught up with them. ‘Gladys, what’s the matter? What have I done?’
    ‘Nothing.’ Gladys looked embarrassed. ‘It’s not your fault, but my mum said I mustn’t have nothing more to do with you.’
    ‘Why?’ Amy was stunned by this sudden turnaround. Was it all going to start again: the taunts and nasty comments, the rejection? Her mouth thinned into a firm line. Well, she wasn’t going to put up with it any more. ‘Tell me why?’
    The girl with Gladys snorted. ‘You know why. Go away. We don’t want the likes of you with us.’
    ‘I wasn’t talking to you,’ Amy snapped. She’d never liked this one – Janet was her name, and she worked on the cutting table.
    ‘Look, Amy.’ Gladys shuffled uncomfortably. ‘Things have changed and I can’t see you no more. You must know that.’
    Amy watched them walk away, completely mystified. What was she talking about?
    Something had gone terribly wrong and by Friday Amy was seriously worried. Her brief period of happiness had come to a sudden end. No one at the factory spoke to her unless they had to. Her mother was refusing to step outside their door, and she was sure all the neighbours were watching her as she walked up the street. She had asked her mum what was going on, but Dolly wouldn’t talk to her.
    Amy no longer looked forward to her day or the pleasure of going to the pictures every Saturday with Gladys. Last week she had been so happy, but in a short few days everything had changed. And the upsetting thing was, she didn’t know why.
    She was barely inside Marshall’s door when the foreman came up to her.
    ‘The boss wants to see you, at once.’
    She left her coat on a chair and hurried to the office. Perhaps he had another special job for her? The door was open so she knocked and waited for him to look up.
    ‘You wanted to see me, sir?’
    ‘Come in and shut the door.’
    She did as ordered, not liking his sharp tone, and stood in front of his desk, trying to think if she had done something wrong. Nothing came to mind. She was very careful to work hard and do as she was told.
    ‘I’m afraid we are going to have to let you go – as of now.’
    ‘Pardon?’ What was he talking about? Let her go where?
    He muttered under his breath, clearly not liking this. ‘I’ve had orders from the owner to sack you.’
    She swayed with the shock, struggling to take in what he’d just told her. ‘What have I done? I’ve been working hard and doing the special jobs for you. You said my sewing was good…’ She stopped babbling when he lifted his hand to stop her.
    ‘It hasn’t got anything to do with your work. It’s because of this.’ He waved a newspaper at her. ‘The man who was killed was a distant relative of the owner.’
    ‘Killed?’ The room seemed to be moving and she gripped the front of the desk to stop herself from falling over. ‘What are you talking about? What has that got to do with me?’
    ‘Oh, come on, you know what this is all about. Everyone does.’
    ‘I don’t. I don’t!’ Her frantic cry echoed around the small office.
    He opened the newspaper and laid it in front ofher. ‘Look at the headline. “Convicted of murder and to hang”.’
    ‘Who? Who?’ She was so confused by now that the words were just a muddle and tears began to trickle down her face. She moaned, ‘I don’t understand. I can’t read it.’
    When he swore under his breath she looked up, utterly bereft. She had lost her job and was now being accused of something – but she didn’t know what it was.
    The breath hissed through his teeth. ‘My God, and no one’s had the decency to tell you?’
    She shook her head; not caring that she had blurted out that she couldn’t read. Something terrible must have happened, but what could it have to do with her?
    ‘I’m sorry.’ His voice softened. ‘If it was up to me I’d keep you, but I have to follow orders.