The Five Shilling Children

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘I was hungry last night and I went to the kitchen. I had some cheese. I didn’t mean to steal, but I didn’t want to wake anybody to ask for permission. I’m really sorry, Miss Reed.’

  ‘That’s all right, Adam. Thank you for telling me, it was a very grown-up thing to do to admit to it.’ Una gave a cursory nod and walked away.

  Adam looked round at Rodney and saw him glower. He had pre-empted Rodney’s opportunity to tell tales, and the boy was fuming.

  ‘You ain’t heard the last of this, Fitch!’

  ‘Oh I think I have,’ Adam whispered, ‘unless you want to take it outside?’

  Rodney stepped back as Miss Reed closed in on him. ‘Not causing trouble are we, Mr Dukes?’

  Rodney shook his head.

  ‘Jolly good. Now go along and get your breakfast,’ Una said with a sickly smile.

  Each of the boys at the table grinned but no-one said a word. Adam had outwitted Rodney Dukes this time, but they all knew the boy would not leave it there. There would come a time when Rodney would challenge Adam again, so desperately did he want to be top dog.

  Adam was aware of it too, but he knew that now he had had boxing lessons he would be ready. For the first time in his life Adam Fitch was not afraid. Realising this fact gave him a new-found confidence; it was evident in his posture, speech and the way he walked – not a swagger, but tall and straight.

  As they moved into the school room, Rodney’s eyes burned into the boy who had bested him. His mind was working on a way to bring Fitch down and Rodney thought the best solution would be to go via Polly. He could upset the little wretch and her brother would be forced into the conflict. Rodney knew if it came to a fight he would win. It stood to reason really – he was bigger and stronger. Fitch wouldn’t stand a chance.

  By lunchtime Rodney had worked out a plan. He sat next to Polly at the table and while they ate, he stole a potato from Polly’s plate. The little girl stared at him with a frown creasing her brow. Adam watched in silence. Rodney leaned over to steal another but Polly was waiting for him and she stabbed his hand with her fork.

  Everyone burst out laughing as Rodney howled, rubbing his sore hand.

  ‘Serves you right!’ Polly exclaimed. She was used to it – James, her big brother was always stealing from her plate when they had lived at home and were lucky enough to have food.

  Ruth Ashby rushed over to see what all the noise was about and Rodney was the first in with an explanation.

  ‘Polly Fitch attacked me for no reason!’ he moaned throwing his hand forward for inspection. The marks left by the fork’s tines showed clearly as red dots on the boy’s pale skin.

  ‘Polly?’ Miss Ashby spoke quietly to the girl whose head was now bowed. ‘Did you hurt Rodney?’

  Polly nodded, then in a show of defiance she looked up and spat, ‘He was pinching my food off my plate!’

  ‘I weren’t!’ Rodney denied Polly’s words.

  ‘Miss Ashby,’ Mabel Elliot called over.

  Ruth turned to answer the call. ‘Yes Mrs Elliot?’

  ‘I saw it all as I was standin’ ’ere. Young Polly is telling the truth.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Elliot.’ Turning back to the boy at the centre of the disturbance Ruth went on, ‘Rodney, if you continue to behave in such a manner…’

  ‘What? You won’t do nuthin’!’ Rodney jumped to his feet and grinned nastily when Miss Ashby took a step backwards.

  The children watching could see she was afraid of this boy and all waited to see what would happen next.

  Rodney stepped forward and Ruth moved back in the silence that ensued.

  ‘I ain’t scared of you!’ Rodney said poking a finger in Ruth’s direction. ‘In fact, I think you’re scared of me!’

  ‘Rodney, please sit down and finish your meal,’ Ruth said on a croak. The boy was correct – she was afraid of him.

  Ignoring her words, Rodney advanced on the frightened woman. ‘Go on – admit it,’ he taunted her.

  The scrape of chair legs on the wooden floor distracted Rodney and he turned.

  ‘Right Dukes – outside – you and me,’ Adam said as he walked towards the door.

  ‘Adam, please…’ Miss Ashby begged. Annoyed with herself at being unable to diffuse the situation she realised she may have made things worse.

  Rodney’s evil grin spread across his face. Although it had not gone exactly as planned, the end result was the same. Adam had taken the bait and now Rodney intended to reel him in. Following Adam, Rodney laughed loudly.

  ‘Oh dear,’ Ruth muttered as she wrung her hands and looked around for Una Reed. The only one able to stop the escalation of the incident was Una and she was nowhere to be seen. Where on earth was she?

  The children all left their seats and rushed around a simpering Miss Ashby and then out into the garden.

  ‘Ad’, don’t fight – you’ll get in trouble,’ Polly urged.

  ‘Adam you’ll get hurt,’ May Johnson called as she stood next to Polly.

  Rodney was standing still, a huge grin on his face as he watched Adam roll up his shirt sleeves. Adam walked around his opponent making Rodney turn on the spot.

  ‘Right, you ready?’ Adam asked confidently.

  ‘Any time you are,’ Rodney said then staggered back as Adam’s fist caught him squarely on the jaw.

  Ruth Ashby could only stand by and watch, she was far too afraid to intervene. Mrs Elliot and Dilys the maid, were outside watching too.

  Adam remembered the things taught to him by Billy Marshall; bob and weave, the old one-two – jab and cross punch, strike and back pedal, keep on the move. He was bouncing lightly on his feet as he circled Rodney who was now rubbing his chin. Adam’s fist was now up protecting his face, the other in readiness to jab again.

  ‘Ha! Look at you! Who do you think you are – the ‘Tipton Slasher’?’ Rodney laughed despite his sore jaw.

  ‘C’mon, Rodders, let’s see what you’ve got,’ Adam said with a grin.

  Fat hands curled into fists and Rodney swung wildly and missed.

  ‘Poor attempt at a haymaker,’ Adam said before moving in to deliver a hook.

  Rodney winced as Adam’s bent elbow punch landed on his chin once more.

  ‘Oh dear, Rodney, can’t you counter-punch?’ Adam asked as he bounced lightly around the astonished boy.

  Clearly Rodney had underestimated Fitch. He had no idea the lad knew how to box. What an idiot he was; now he was in a situation he didn’t know how to get out of. In a fit of rage, Rodney threw himself forward.

  Adam had watched carefully and pre-empting the boy’s next move he struck out with a check hook and Rodney fell. Billy’s words had raced through Adam’s mind, ‘check hook – bend your elbow and hook punch then pivot on your lead foot and swing your back foot 180 degrees around.’

  Rodney was down and had no intentions of getting up again. Fitch had beaten him and inside he fumed. There would be another time and Fitch would never see it coming.

  Adam was laughing as his friends crowded around him giving their congratulations at beating the other boy fair and square.

  The cook and maid were clapping and Miss Ashby’s pallor had turned a nasty shade of grey.

  Unbeknown to all in the garden, Una Reed had watched the whole debacle from her bedroom window. She wanted to see how Adam’s moonlight flits had benefitted him.

  10

  Minnie Fitch was inconsolable at the loss of the baby she loved so much despite him being born of rape by her husband. She cried buckets when Gerald told her he had buried the boy out on the heath.

  James and Peter had never seen their mother cry like this before, she was normally so strong, and they didn’t know what to do so Gerald instructed them to continue with their jobs of picking coal and scavenging for food.

  Minnie sat by the empty fireplace staring into space and Gerald could get no sense out of her. He flatly refused to tell her where the child had been buried because he knew she would spend her days at the g
rave site mourning.

  Out all day searching for work, Gerald returned home to find his wife sitting where he had left her. She wouldn’t eat, not that there was much to choose from; she said nothing and he worried for her sanity. He had to do something to snap her out of it, to bring her mind back from the place where it had strayed. Gerald tried to cajole her, then he yelled at her. Nothing worked – Minnie was staying in the safe place her mind had taken her to.

  In truth, Gerald’s voice had seeped into her brain but Minnie ignored it. She hated the man she had married, the one who had sold her children. That same man who had buried her baby out on the heath without a care for her feelings. She wanted nothing more to do with him – ever again.

  Staring into the cold dark grate, Minnie wondered what would happen to her now. Could she run away? If she did, how would she survive? It was difficult enough with her sons scavenging, she’d never manage all alone. She’d tried to find a way of buying back Polly and Adam from Reed’s Orphanage, but five shillings was a lot of money and with Gerald not working it would be impossible.

  Her thoughts lingered on her two beautiful dark-haired children and she wondered for the millionth time if they were missing her. She was certainly missing them.

  Polly and Adam, so different from the others. Her mind brought forth an image of her little girl crying, her fingers in her mouth. Minnie sighed quietly. She’d tried so hard not to shout at the little scrap, but being so dreadfully tired all the time took its toll. Poor Polly had so often borne the brunt of her mother’s temper, as had Adam.

  Her mind took her further back in time and she felt once more the battering from her husband for falling asleep during the daytime. It was when James and Peter were small and she was exhausted from caring for them so she had sat down whilst they had a nap. She had been woken abruptly by Gerald ranting and raving drunkenly about his tea not being on the table.

  That day had come as a surprise to Minnie. She had never seen her husband like this before, and she knew then their relationship had changed. Gerald was no longer the loving man she had wed; the doting father who adored his sons. He had turned into a violent bully who felt his word was law. It was the drink that had altered his personality but it was Minnie who suffered at his hands. With no money and two young boys to take care of Minnie could do nothing but put up with it. She had nowhere else to go and no-one from whom she could seek help. With her family long dead she had only her neighbour Flo’ Spittle, but the situation she found herself in was not something she could share – even with Flo’. Then Adam and Polly had come along and Minnie Fitch felt well and truly trapped.

  Standing up, Minnie walked from the house leaving the back door open. She strode determinedly down Bank Street. It was cold but even without her shawl she didn’t feel it. Crossing the tramway without looking both ways, she marched on into William’s Place. Coming to the canal towpath she followed it to Cable Street where she turned and walked to the small bridge. Leaning against the brick wall she looked down into the dark water of the canal snaking its way beneath her.

  It would be so easy just to allow herself to fall forward. There was nobody around so in a matter of minutes the misery of her life would be over. The cold water was enticing her into its depths, it was calling to her.

  Minnie let out a dry sob. If she jumped, who would miss her? Would Gerald and the boys even notice she wasn’t there? If she ended it all now, at least she could be with John again. They could be angels together. The thought made her smile.

  She recalled the day Adam had been born. A strong healthy child, he had a head of dark hair and Gerald had instantly suspected something was wrong. James and Peter’s hair was so fair it could hardly be seen and yet Adam’s was almost black. The midwife assured him by saying there was plenty of time for it to change colour – but it never did.

  Then her little girl came along. The same dark hair and eyes as Adam would prove Minnie right in her fears – Gerald had never taken to either of them.

  Inwardly she smiled as she remembered the day walking to the market just before her daughter was born. She’d heard a well-to-do woman call out to her child, ‘Pollyanna, don’t go too far ahead there’s a good girl.’

  It was then that Minnie had decided on a name if her new-born should be a girl – Pollyanna. Gerald had ranted about his wife having ideas above her station, but Minnie ignored him. Of course, as the child had grown the name had been shortened to Polly but Minnie didn’t mind; full name or shortened it suited her little girl.

  Now she was gone, along with her brother Adam – the children she adored.

  It was then she heard the sound of a horse’s clip-clop on the towpath and Minnie automatically turned her eyes towards it. She saw the narrowboat the horse was pulling along by a long rope. A man was leading his horse and she knew they would have to cross the bridge where she stood. Panic gripped her and Minnie wondered if the man would guess what she was considering doing.

  Gripping the top of the wall she gritted her teeth. She would have to wait now until the boat was gone. As the man led the horse onto the bridge Minnie turned to watch them pass by.

  Doffing his cap, the man spoke, ‘How do, missus?’

  Minnie returned the greeting with a nod then turned back to watch the boat drift beneath the bridge. The woman steering waved and Minnie found herself waving back before the boat disappeared from view.

  In that instant, Minnie realised where she was and what she had been about to do. Was it the man’s greeting or the woman’s wave which had brought her to her senses? Looking down into the ripples left behind by the narrowboat, Minnie’s resolve crumpled. She couldn’t do it. Her courage failed her as she thought about her children once more.

  Turning on her heel, Minnie Fitch ran towards home like the devil himself was after her.

  *

  James and Peter were waiting for her when Minnie rushed in through the back door.

  ‘Mum?’ Peter queried.

  James stared, hardly able to believe the sudden change in his mother. For days she had just sat, eating nothing and not speaking a word to any of them.

  Minnie looked hard at her two sons.

  ‘Right,’ she said, her hands on her hips, ‘you’re all I’ve got left. You know what yer father did with Polly and Adam…’

  The boys exchanged a glance which confirmed they did indeed know what had happened to their siblings.

  ‘Don’t look at each other – look at me!’ Minnie demanded. ‘Now then, things are gonna change around here – from today! For starters you two are going to school!’

  ‘If we do, who will scavenge and coal pick?’ James asked, a note of sarcasm in his voice.

  Minnie’s hand shot out and caught him across the head. ‘Are you deaf or what?’

  Shocked that his mother had struck him, James shook his head.

  Turning to Peter, Minnie asked, ‘You got anything to say?’

  The boy shook his head as he glanced at his brother.

  Minnie nodded. ‘And another thing – when you speak to me, you do it with respect! I will not put up with you treating me like your personal skivvy any more, do you understand?’

  Her sons nodded vigorously and guessing what they were thinking she added venomously, ‘Don’t think yer father coming home will make me change my mind. You will both start doing as you’re told from now on, and I’ll hear no more about it. As for yer father, he’ll agree with me or rue the day he didn’t! Now, tomorrer you’re off to school and don’t think to do a bunk cos if needs be, I’ll take yer there meself!’

  Flicking her fingers to dismiss the boys, Minnie dropped onto the hard, wooden chair by the fireplace. Feeling weak she realised lack of food was the cause. Going to the table she sorted through what the boys had brought home. There would be enough to make a vegetable broth so Minnie began to prepare their evening meal.

  ‘I wondered where you’d gone,’ Flo’ said as she stepped into Minnie’s kitchen. ‘I ain’t half sorry about your little ’un
, Min’.’

  Minnie simply nodded not trusting herself to speak for fear of bursting into tears again.

  ‘I saw the doctor come and go and I knew…’ Flo’ allowed her words to trail away.

  ‘Ta Flo’,’ was all Minnie could manage as she watched her neighbour leave quietly.

  Whilst their mother was busy in the kitchen, James and Peter sat in their bedroom.

  ‘What’s got into her?’ Peter asked.

  ‘I think it’s losing our John and dad not telling her where he’s buried; it’s tipped her over the edge,’ James said as he rubbed his head where he’d been clouted.

  ‘She ain’t doolally, James, she’s just angry with us all.’

  ‘Ar well, dad will put her right when he comes home,’ James said confidently.

  ‘I ain’t so sure. She means it this time. She gave you a right cockaiver on yer head, and she ain’t never done that before,’ Peter mused.

  ‘Granted, but dad will sort her out you wait and see,’ James said with a grin. As far as he was concerned his mother deserved all she got for hitting him.

  An hour or so later the boys heard their father’s voice and they padded downstairs to the kitchen. If there was to be a showdown then they wanted to witness it.

  ‘So, you’re up and moving again, it’s about bloody time!’ Gerald spat as his wife placed his bowl of broth on the tiny table.

  Minnie glared at him but said nothing. Crooking a finger to the boys who were watching with interest, she pointed to their food. Sitting on their stools, James and Peter picked up their spoons and began to eat, their eyes switching from mother to father and back again.

  ‘What’s this muck? Is this the best you can do? I’ve been traipsing the town all day looking for work and I have to come home to this?’ Gerald complained.

  Still maintaining her silence, Minnie walked to the table and picked up Gerald’s bowl. Turning slightly, she threw the dish against the wall. Broth and broken pottery landed in a heap on the floor. Going back to her chair, Minnie began to eat her own food.

  The lads gasped at their mother’s show of hostility and waited for the backlash from Gerald.