The Five Shilling Children

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘What the…? Have you gone mad woman? Get me some more then clean that mess up!’ Gerald was fuming.

  Minnie ignored him and carried on eating. Having had no food for days, she was starving but continued to enjoy her meal like a lady.

  ‘Did you hear me?’ Gerald yelled.

  Placing her spoon in her empty dish, Minnie took both to the sink. Picking up the broth pan she moved to the table and refilled her sons’ dishes. The now empty pan she returned to the sink to be washed. Looking at Gerald she held out her hands and shrugged her shoulders.

  Gerald glanced at the boys who kept their eyes on their food, and then he stood up sharply tipping his chair over with the thrust from the back of his legs.

  ‘Minnie! What’s going on for God’s sake?!’

  With a look that could sour milk, Minnie glared at the man she hated with her whole being. This man who treated her like a scullion in her own home.

  Dropping her thin hands onto her bony hips, Minnie spoke to Gerald for the first time in a week. ‘If you don’t like what I cook, fine – do without! Tomorrer these two are off to school,’ her arm shot out towards her sons then returned to her hip, ‘so if you want coal for the fire, you’ll have to pick it. If you want to eat, you’ll have to scavenge and beg like we’ve had to these last years. Oh, and by the way, there’ll be no more swilling beer in them taverns neither!’

  Gerald was standing with his mouth open as he listened to his wife’s tirade.

  ‘No more swill… What the…? Minnie what’s got into you?’ Gerald spluttered.

  ‘I’ve had enough! Of you, of this…’ Minnie spread her arms to encompass the small kitchen, ‘of everything! I know I can’t have John back but I can get Polly and Adam. I just need enough to buy them back before it’s too late. I want these two to have an education so they can have proper jobs. And, I want you to get a job or get out of this house! I ain’t standing for no more of yer bullying ways, Gerald Fitch. So, make up yer mind because I swear to God, if you so much as touch me again I’ll knife you where you stand!’ To emphasise her words, Minnie picked up a knife from the sink.

  ‘Minnie…’ Gerald mumbled as he took a step towards her.

  ‘One step further and you’ll be joining our John!’ she said waving the knife in the air.

  11

  Una Reed sat by the fire in her bedroom and pondered the scene she had just witnessed take place in the garden. Adam Fitch had bested the arrogant bully, Rodney Dukes. Una smiled into the flames as she recalled seeing Adam sneaking around the house in the late hours.

  Hearing a noise one night, Una had opened her door a crack and peeped through. Seeing a shape pass by and move quietly down the stairs she waited with bated breath. She had wondered if one of the children was trying to run away, but in the dim light from the hall windows she saw the figure move to the fireplace.

  Silently stealing from her room, Una stood in the shadows and watched as the figure unlocked the door and slipped out. So, whoever it was knew where she kept the spare key.

  Rushing down the stairs, her skirt held up to prevent a trip, Una followed out into the garden just in time to see the child disappear through a hole in the hedge.

  Running across the grassy lawn Una had, with some difficulty, squeezed her tall thin frame through the gap. Looking around as she got to her feet, she saw by the light of the moon it was a boy and he was making for Jenner Street.

  Una tailed the boy at a safe distance wondering why he was heading towards the old orphanage building. As she reached the structure and peeped around the corner, her question was answered. The boy was Adam Fitch and the man he was meeting Una would have known anywhere. It was Billy Marshall – he and Una had grown up together.

  Staying in the shadows Una watched and listened to Billy giving instruction. So that was it, Adam was learning to box. Una left them to it and returned home; each night she heard Adam go and come back hardly making a sound. She had also witnessed the contretemps between Adam and Rodney, and the following morning when Adam told his lie she could barely contain a wee smile. The boy had gone downstairs – but not to the kitchen as he had said and Una now smiled at Adam’s quick thinking.

  Despite hating bare-knuckle fighting, Una could see the need where Adam was concerned. Rodney Dukes had continued to provoke the lad into a confrontation, and now it had happened. Adam had walked away the victor and Una wondered if that would be an end to it all. She knew Rodney could not now annoy any of the others for Adam would step forward to protect them. All she could do was wait and see, and in the meantime, she made a mental note to have the hole in the hedge fixed.

  *

  Sitting now at her fireside, Una’s mind took her back years to when she was a girl. She and Billy Marshall had been great friends at school; Una helped him with his academic work and Billy became her protector. The symbiotic relationship had been a good one and they had remained close even after leaving school.

  Una had inherited everything when her parents passed away, and that was when she invested her money and property in Reed’s Orphanage.

  Billy, on the other hand, could find no work and so had taken up the life of a pugilist. Una had let him know in no uncertain terms what she thought of his chosen profession.

  She sighed sadly as she recalled the argument they’d had as she had tried to persuade him not to fight. Billy however had been determined. The rift between them grew wider over the years and, somehow, they never managed to close that great divide. Una had followed Billy’s career as best as she could via word of mouth as the fights were rarely covered in the newspaper, and she hadn’t been able to help herself feel a little proud to see Billy had done well and made quite a good living from pitting himself against other boxers.

  A tear formed as Una recalled her feelings for Billy – she had secretly hoped that one day they would wed, but the pugilism had come between them. She could never have put herself in the position of a wife waiting for her husband to return – never knowing if he would be maimed. Worse still, waiting for the knock on the door that would herald the message that she was a widow. So, Una had gone her own way, but had remained unmarried.

  Clearly, from what she saw, Billy still loved to box and now he had taught Adam the rudiments of the skill he so enjoyed. She just hoped the boy would not take it up as his chosen profession.

  *

  The following morning, Una wrapped a shawl around her shoulders over her coat and went into town to purchase supplies for the orphanage. Walking into the market, she gave her order to the woman on the fruit and vegetable stall. She was about to walk away when she overheard a conversation begin at the next stall. Wandering over she scanned its contents; tin pots, bowls, teapots and cutlery. Her hearing sharpened when she heard the name Fitch.

  ‘Such a shame,’ one woman said.

  ‘Ar I know. He was nobbut eight months old an’ all. Poor little mite, gone before he cut his teeth properly!’ said another.

  ‘It’s Minnie I feel sorry for though – being married to that bully,’ the first woman spoke again.

  ‘I heard her nearly drowned herself in the cut. Mind you, if I was married to him, I would jump in the canal!’ the second muttered.

  ‘You know she had to send her two littlest to the orphanage don’t yer?’ the first woman said then clicked her teeth in disgust.

  ‘That would have been his idea, not Minnie’s I reckon,’ the second agreed.

  Una listened carefully with her back to the women. If she was correct in her understanding, Polly and Adam’s baby brother had died.

  As Una walked away, she debated whether the Fitch children should be told this sad news. Was it her place to inform them of the death of their brother? Would Mrs Fitch ever be in a position to give a home to her two children again? Somehow Una doubted it. No-one ever claimed their offspring back once they had been brought to her.

  Going about her business the dilemma swung like a pendulum in her brain. Tell the children or keep her counsel?

>   Arriving back at the orphanage, Una sought out Ruth Ashby who was lending a hand in the kitchen. Relating what she’d heard in the town, Una gave her reasons for and against telling the children. ‘It will only upset them,’ she said.

  ‘Of course it will, but on the other hand it’s my opinion they should know,’ Ruth said pushing her blond hair out of her eyes.

  Mabel Elliot cleared her throat and Una turned to her and asked, ‘Do you have something to say, Mabel?’

  Blue eyes which appeared to hold a lifetime of sadness looked back at Una as the cook spoke. ‘I don’t know what to say really – but if it were me, I’d tell ’em.’

  Una nodded. ‘I will consult with Celia once she has finished her lessons and then I will make my decision.’

  An hour later, with the children outside playing, Una retold the story of baby Fitch’s passing to Miss Brock.

  ‘Oh my, that’s a difficult decision to have to make,’ Celia said in earnest.

  ‘So, what would you do?’ Una asked.

  ‘Tell them, then they can’t blame you for keeping it from them. It’s unlikely Mrs Fitch will claim them back again, Una, we both know that,’ Miss Brock answered kindly.

  ‘So be it,’ Una said, ‘I will see Polly and Adam in my office immediately after lunch.’

  Celia gave a grim smile and went to ring the hand bell to call everyone in for their midday meal.

  Adam and Polly stood in Miss Reed’s office wondering what they had done to warrant being there.

  ‘Children I have something I feel I must share with you and I’m afraid it’s not good news.’

  Polly’s fingers went straight to her mouth as they always did when she was afraid.

  ‘I overheard some women in the market discussing your family and it would appear that your little brother has passed away.’ Una paused to allow her words to sink in.

  ‘John’s died?’ Adam asked, shock written all over his face.

  ‘I’m afraid so, Adam. I’m very sorry,’ Una said.

  ‘What did he die of?’ Again, it was Adam who asked.

  ‘I’m afraid I have no knowledge of that,’ Una replied keeping her voice low.

  ‘Ad’, I want to see our John,’ Polly cried.

  ‘You can’t, Polly, he’s gone to live with Jesus,’ Adam said as he cuddled his sobbing sister. ‘Miss Reed, can we go and see his grave?’

  ‘Adam, I’m not sure that is a good idea. It will only upset you both more than you are already.’ Seeing the boy’s sorrowful nod Una went on, ‘I’m sorry for your loss, Adam and Polly. If you need anything, just ask one of the staff.’

  The two children left the office hand in hand and made their way outside to join the others.

  Una sighed with relief as she watched them go. Not knowing where the parents lived she was hardly able to visit them; she knew she would have to return to the market if she wanted to discover more information regarding the demise of John Fitch. However, this was something she had no intention of doing. It was not her concern and she was far too busy to bother wasting her time.

  Turning her thoughts to her accounts, Una pulled the ledger from the drawer of her desk. Shaking her head as she scanned the figures, she knew it was time to have a shake-up. If she got rid of the older boys, then she could fill their places with younger children who she could sell on for good money.

  Having made her decision, Una made a mental note to instruct Ruth to tell the boys to pack up and get out, which would leave her to concentrate on replacing them with the more lucrative kiddies.

  Outside, Rodney watched the pair walking hand in hand. ‘What’s up with you? You’ve got a face like a smacked arse!’ he jeered as he saw Adam leading Polly to join their friends.

  Adam ignored the jibe as the others crowded around him. Whispering the sad news, he insisted Rodney should not be told for the boy would only use it to taunt Polly or himself. Then Adam would be forced to confront Rodney yet again which he didn’t want to do.

  Unable to concentrate in class that afternoon, Adam kept a careful eye on Polly. Every now and then she would put her arms on her little wooden table and lay her head down. They could all hear her sobs and Adam’s heart ached at her distress. He was upset too but could not allow himself to break down in front of the others.

  Then he watched as Miss Brock moved to Polly and whispered in her ear. Polly nodded and Miss Brock took her hand and led her to the front of the class. The teacher then sat in her big chair and lifted Polly onto her lap.

  Celia Brock’s eyes met Adam’s as she rocked Polly on her knee. Adam smiled his thanks and Celia nodded.

  With her fingers in her mouth Polly snuggled close and before long she was fast asleep.

  It was all Adam could do to hold back his tears at Miss Brock’s show of understanding and affection. There would be time later, once in bed, when Adam could release his emotions and let his own tears fall.

  *

  It was a couple of days later when Adam sat in his bedroom concentrating very hard on the letter he was composing.

  Deer Billy,

  I hope you ar well and still winning. I sorted the bullee out like you showd me. Our little brutha died and Polly cried a lot. I miss you and wishd we was still meetin.

  All the best, Adam Fitch.

  Satisfied, he folded it and placed it inside the envelope he’d made in class that afternoon. Carefully copying out the address from the paper Billy Marshall had given him, Adam now stared at it. Having no money for a stamp he wondered how he could post it.

  He could deliver it by hand but that would mean having to sneak out again, a problem magnified now as Miss Reed had had the hole in the hedge repaired.

  Adam thought about how kind Miss Brock had been to Polly and he considered approaching her with his predicament. If she would pay for a stamp for him, he would offer to clean and tidy the school room for her. Would she think this a good bargain? There was only one way to find out, he would ask her – after class tomorrow.

  Hearing the hand bell calling them to their evening meal, Adam remembered it was his turn to say grace. Rushing down the stairs he joined the queue for his food.

  Once everyone was served and sat down, Adam watched for Miss Reed’s nod.

  ‘Thank the Lord for what I’ve had, if I had some more, I’d be very glad.’

  Looking across at Miss Reed once more he could tell she was trying to suppress her annoyance at his irreverence. Adam thought everyone needed cheering up and so his prayer had held a little mirth.

  The children tucked into their food amid giggles at the boy’s boldness.

  ‘Why do you always leave a little bit on your plate, Joe?’ Polly asked.

  ‘It’s good manners. It tells the cook you enjoyed your food and you couldn’t eat another bite,’ he answered.

  ‘Why didn’t we do that, Ad’?’ Polly pursued.

  ‘Cos there was never enough to go around let alone leave any,’ Adam answered sadly.

  Polly nodded and the children finished their meal in silence.

  12

  Having just finished her accounts, Una was now sitting in her office with Ruth Ashby.

  ‘We have to bring in more money, Ruth, otherwise this orphanage will go under.’

  ‘I don’t know how,’ Ruth answered as she pinned back her golden blonde hair.

  ‘We need to find families for the younger children and maybe it’s time the older ones moved on now they are working.’ Una slid her ledger into the drawer of her desk as she spoke.

  ‘The older children may be working but they couldn’t afford to rent a property…’ Ruth began.

  ‘They could if they got together and shared a house,’ Una cut across the older woman’s sentence, ‘they could pool their wages to cover rent and living expenses. We certainly cannot afford to keep them here any longer. That being the case, I need you to inform them of the fact.’

  ‘Me?! Oh Una, I can’t do that to them! It will be like being orphaned all over again!’ Ruth was aghast at
the order given to evict the working youngsters.

  ‘Don’t be so melodramatic, Ruth! It’s time they learned to stand on their own feet, sooner rather than later to my mind. Give them a week to find accommodation elsewhere then out they go because I fully intend to bring in younger ones to fill those beds. Now I suggest you go and tell them.’ Una stood and moved to open the door.

  As Ruth left the office already beginning to fret about what would become of those being thrown out, Una snorted her disgust at having to explain herself.

  Closing the door, Una returned to her seat. Staring out of the window onto the gardens, she thought about getting the younger children sold on. She could charge a pretty penny, especially for Polly and May – little girls always moved quicker than boys. In the meantime, she would buy cheaper food and instruct Mrs Elliot to cut down the portions; they had to economise somehow.

  If she could get May and Polly sold off, that would increase the coffers substantially. Then of course she would have to deal with the girls’ brothers, who would likely be distraught at losing their sisters. Still – needs must when the devil drives.

  Glancing through the window again, she saw the first snowflakes begin to fall. Una moved to stand where she had a good view of the gardens. She felt the cold seeping through the glass and she shivered. The beautiful autumn had passed and she hadn’t even noticed. Now the winter had arrived and set in completely, bringing a new beauty to the land.

  Una sighed knowing she would have to order extra coal for the fires – more expense. She knew also that wealthy families would not be seeking children from the orphanage until the spring. A few more months wouldn’t really make that much of a difference and then she could be in pocket once the girls were gone.

  Pulling her shawl tighter about her shoulders, Una left the office to go to the kitchen. Mabel Elliot was sure to have the kettle on the boil and a slice of cake to spare.

  That evening Ruth Ashby called the older children – all boys – together to impart the news that they had one week to find alternative accommodation. She told them of Una’s idea to share a house and so cut down on expenses.