An Orphan's Courage

by Cathy Sharp

  ‘Your father left her a house and money?’

  ‘The house isn’t much, but there was an insurance policy. Dad took it out two years before he died … said it would keep us safe if anything happened to him but it didn’t …’

  ‘Worked the opposite by attracting the wrong sort,’ Doctor Henderson nodded. ‘So that’s why he treated you the way he did … didn’t want you claiming anything from your father’s estate. Of course it depends how it was left …’

  ‘Don’t know what you mean; it was Mum’s …’

  ‘Yes, but did your father leave her a life interest and then pass it on to his children?’

  ‘You mean when Mum died it should’ve come to us …’ Andy nodded slowly. ‘I wondered why he took us. He never liked us … but it would’ve been the only way he could get what Dad left … if he left it that way …’

  ‘It is a possibility and might explain why he treated you like slaves.’

  ‘’Cos he wanted us to die and then he’d have it all to himself …’

  ‘Perhaps. I’ve no proof of that, and neither have you, so confine yourself to what you know when the police come to interview you – and they will after I tell them about Beth’s injuries. In the meantime I’ll look into things … if you will trust me to do it?’

  ‘Yeah, thanks – and thanks for being nice with Beth …’

  ‘I don’t understand how anyone could be other than nice with your sister,’ Doctor Henderson said. He turned to Rose. ‘This young man has some old bruising, but it doesn’t seem to have gone inward on him. I shall leave him in your care – and be in touch quite soon. Good evening, Sister Rose … and Andy.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Rose and Andy answered together.

  ‘He’s all right,’ Andy said as the door closed behind the doctor. ‘I’m glad I told him. When I saw my step-father outside the school I knew he wouldn’t give up – and I told Mr Barton this morning. He said to tell the police and I was going to ask Sister Beatrice, but now …’

  ‘She will be very pleased,’ Rose said. ‘You don’t feel sick or anything?’

  ‘Just hungry. I left my tea to come and see what was happening …’

  ‘Then I’ll ask Jinny to get you something,’ Rose said. ‘Come down to the kitchen now and we’ll see what’s going … I could do with a sandwich myself …’

  CHAPTER 10

  Rose noticed they were out of tea in the staff room and went to the cash box they kept for supplying their own drinks and biscuits. Once the kitchen had supplied them with the basics and they’d only had to pay for extras like better coffee or a nice cake, but since Mrs Davies arrived she’d told them they would have to buy their own tea and biscuits.

  Opening the cash box, Rose frowned, because she was sure there had been three ten-shilling notes and several half-crowns as well as some shillings and sixpences. Now there were only two ten-shilling notes and the change. She took two half-crowns and made a note in the book in the drawer to say it was for a packet of tea. Closing the drawer, she decided that she must have been mistaken. No one would take a penny of the money, because all the staff contributed and they’d agreed that if they had enough later in the year it would be used to buy treats for Christmas and little gifts for the kids.

  She shook her head, forcing back the suspicion that pilfering had been going on for a while. Rose had wondered a couple of times whether a few bob was missing, but sometimes one of the staff brought in a packet of biscuits and forgot to make a note that they’d taken a shilling or two for them – although ten shillings was rather a lot.

  She wondered if one of the girls from the probationary centre next door had nipped in and taken it. They weren’t supposed to visit St Saviour’s, except on a weekend for a special tea , but it was always possible … but no, Rose was letting her suspicious nature get the better of her.

  It wouldn’t do to say anything about it, because she couldn’t be sure what ought to be in the cash box. Everyone was supposed to put in two bob a week but it was a voluntary thing and some of the staff couldn’t always afford it – and Rose sometimes put in extra, as did Wendy and Sandra.

  It would be more efficient if every penny was recorded in and out, but everyone was so busy and they’d always been able to trust each other. Rose thought it was awful if they couldn’t do that and was reluctant to be the one to raise suspicions.

  No, she wouldn’t say anything for the moment, but she’d have a word with Sandra and suggest that they sort it out a bit. For the moment things would go on as they were, because no one wanted to be stuck with the responsibility of keeping accounts …

  Jinny visited the market on Saturday hoping to see Micky and ask him to the party but first she went to the stall where she’d bought her tweed skirt and handed over her ten-shilling note, to pay what she owed for her skirt.

  ‘Yer don’t ’ave ter pay it all in one go,’ Dave said and grinned at her. ‘If Micky says yer all right that’s good enough fer me.’

  ‘I’d rather pay,’ Jinny said and smiled shyly because he was looking at her as if he liked what he saw. ‘I’m going to save up because I shall want a new coat in the autumn … and I’ll come to you first.’

  ‘You trust Dave to find you somethin’ decent,’ he said. ‘I’ll treat you right, luv.’

  ‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘Have you seen Micky this morning?’

  ‘’E were about earlier. Can I give ’im a message?’

  ‘I was going to ask him to a party for Friday next week,’ Jinny said and felt herself blush. ‘I’ve been asked to take a friend and I don’t know anyone else …’

  ‘Yer know me,’ Dave said cheekily. ‘I’ll come wiv yer if Micky won’t – but yer can ask ’im yerself, ’cos he’s comin’ now.’

  Jinny turned as Micky sauntered up to her, dressed in a striped navy suit, blue shirt and the inevitable crepe-soled shoes. He looked like a Teddy Boy but wasn’t rude like many of them who had been labelled by the press as louts for tearing up cinema seats and generally making trouble on the streets. He grinned at her as he came to join them.

  ‘Buyin’ more clothes?’ he asked and glanced at Dave who nodded.

  ‘Just paying what I owe,’ she corrected. ‘I’m going to save for a good coat for the winter and I need some more shoes. I took my best ones for work, because they’re comfortable.’

  Micky nodded as Dave smiled slyly. ‘She was lookin’ fer yer, Micky lad – lucky you!’

  ‘Lookin’ fer me?’ Micky regarded her with new interest.

  ‘I’ve been invited to a party in a garden, I think. They said I could bring someone so I thought of you … do you want to come on Friday? It’s at half-past seven …’

  Micky hesitated, then inclined his head. ‘Yeah, I don’t mind – what sort of folk are they?’

  ‘I was asked by Rob Thompson,’ Jinny said. ‘His brother Nick is a builder and he’s having a party for the woman that cleans his house.’

  ‘Yeah, I know Rob and Nick,’ Micky said and grinned. ‘I’ve done a bit of business with him. Yeah, I don’t mind goin’ to that sort of party … We’ll take ’em a bottle of plonk … I can’t be doin’ with posh folks.’

  ‘They wouldn’t ask me if it was posh,’ Jinny said and giggled, because she suddenly felt excited. ‘I didn’t know who to ask …’

  ‘I said she could ask me if yer didn’t want to go,’ Dave said and then went quiet as Micky shot a look at him. ‘Only joking, mate. I know she’s yours …’

  ‘Yeah and don’t yer forget it,’ Micky hissed. ‘Come on, Jinny. I’ll take yer for a coffee or some fish and chips if yer like …’

  She hesitated, because she didn’t want him taking for granted that she was his girl, but then she gave in because she wanted him to take her to the party – and she did like him.

  ‘All right,’ she said. ‘I’m not on duty until four this afternoon so we’ll have fish and chips if you like – as long as you let me pay half …’

  ‘Please yerself,’ he said and winked a
t Dave. ‘See yer later, mate. Tell yer father I’ll be over same time as usual …’

  Dave nodded, watching as they walked off in the direction of the fish and chip café. Glancing back, Jinny thought she caught a flash of disappointment in his face, but he turned to serve a customer with a smile and she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t imagined it …

  Inside the café there was a queue for the takeaway meals, but further in there were several tables empty. Micky told her which one to get for them and stopped to put a coin in the jukebox, grinning as Elvis started singing his hit song.

  ‘We’ll have fish and chips and peas,’ he told her as he sat down, ‘and I’m havin’ a Coke, what about you?’

  ‘I’d like a dandelion and burdock if they’ve got any,’ Jinny said. ‘If not, I’ll have a Vimto.’

  ‘OK – and I’m payin’,’ Micky said firmly. ‘Just so you know – when Micky Smith takes a girl out he pays …’

  Jinny nodded, because she couldn’t make a fuss now, but she would have to be careful about letting him take her out too often, or he would think she was his …

  Jinny screamed as Elvis sang to the girl he loved on screen, hearing the screams, sighs and gasps from rows of adoring fans behind them. Nellie had wanted to see Love Me Tender again, and she had tears slipping down her cheeks as the romantic story came to its inevitable end.

  ‘Oh, that was so lovely,’ Nellie said as the lights went up and everyone started hunting for shoes, jackets and anything else they’d let slip from their grasp as they lost themselves in the story. ‘It was real good of you to bring me, Jinny. A proper treat that was …’

  ‘You deserve it,’ Jinny told her. ‘I don’t know what I should’ve done if you hadn’t been there for me, Nellie. Besides, I liked seeing the film myself and you’re my friend.’

  They left the warmth of the Gaumont cinema and went out into the street; it was cooler now because there was a hint of rain in the air and they hurried to the nearest bus shelter and stood under it as the skies opened and it started to pour.

  ‘You’re goin’ ter get soaked,’ Nellie said, looking at Jinny in her skirt and short jacket. ‘At least I’ve got me mac …’ They saw a bus coming but it wasn’t the one Nellie needed. ‘You get on this, Jinny, no point in coming back wiv me. It will take yer back to St Saviour’s – and I’ll wait for mine …’

  ‘I’ll come back with you …’ Jinny started to argue but Nellie pushed her forward and she got on, waving to her friend before going to sit down. Craning to look back at Nellie she felt uncomfortable at leaving her there waiting for a bus in the rain, though she knew it made sense on a night like this, but she would rather have seen her friend inside her home.

  It was still raining hard when Jinny got off the bus just a few yards from St Saviour’s. She ran towards it, not noticing the figure that had descended from the bus a few seconds after her, and went through the gate at the same time as Nurse Wendy who had just arrived for her shift and obligingly unlocked it.

  ‘Awful night, isn’t it?’ Jinny said. ‘It started to pour as we waited for the bus.’

  ‘I shall be glad to get in,’ Wendy said. ‘I missed my usual bus and had to walk part of the way and I’m soaked …’

  ‘I got wet too …’

  Jinny made a dash across the garden and Wendy entered St Saviour’s through the back door, the gate shutting with a clang behind them, locking itself.

  From outside in the darkness a man stood looking at the forbidding front of the children’s home. So that was where the little bitch had disappeared to; it was his lucky night and he’d hardly believed his luck when she’d jumped on the bus like that, walking past him without even seeing him. An unpleasant smile touched his mouth. He’d been trying to make that old hag Nellie tell him where she’d disappeared to but she was stubborn. Now he didn’t need her help. She’d bad-mouthed him a few times and shook dust over him, the cow, but he didn’t need her any more and he might teach her a little lesson … but nothing like the one he was going to teach that bitch who had dared to think she could escape him.

  He was smiling as he turned to walk away. He might have grabbed her then if that nurse hadn’t come up so quickly out of the murky night, but there was no hurry. Now that he knew where she was he could think about what he was going to do … think about how to make her suffer the most …

  ‘Are you looking forward to the party?’ Kelly asked before she left at six that Friday evening. Kelly was one of the carers and Jinny thought she seemed a friendly girl, popping into the kitchen for a chat when she had a little free time.

  ‘Yes, very much,’ Jinny answered the friendly carer with a smile. ‘I’m off in half an hour and Micky is going to meet me on the corner at seven and then we’ll go together. It’s the second time I’ve been out this week …’

  ‘Wendy told me she met you coming in late on Monday night.’

  ‘I took Nellie to see Elvis at the Gaumont; it was lovely,’ Jinny said. ‘Have you seen it?’

  ‘Yes, we went when it came out last year, but I’m looking forward to the new one now. I read about it somewhere and it’s called Jailhouse Rock I think …’

  Jinny nodded and got on with her task of washing the tea things. Elsa and Mrs Davies were doing the supper this evening and the other girl wasn’t very happy about it, even though she’d finished early three nights that week.

  ‘Some people have all the luck,’ she’d grumbled when Jinny told her she was going to a garden party. ‘I never get invited anywhere nice – all my bloke wants to do is drink down the pub and play darts with a load of his mates. They never stop talking about football. I hardly get a look in once they’ve bought me a lemonade shandy …’

  ‘Why not go out with someone else then?’ Jinny suggested, but all she’d got in return was a sour look.

  Forgetting her, Jinny finished her work and glanced at the time. She would just have time to wash and change into her best skirt and blouse and meet Micky at the street corner.

  Emerging from the side entrance at three minutes to seven, Jinny turned in the direction she’d arranged to meet Micky, but she hadn’t gone more than three steps when someone grabbed her arm and she turned to find herself staring into Jake’s cold eyes. His eyes were bloodshot and the stubble on his face told her he hadn’t shaved for days.

  ‘You!’ she cried, shocked and stunned, because she’d thought herself safe here. ‘Why can’t you leave me alone?’

  ‘I’ve come to see you, Jinny,’ he muttered, leaning towards her so that she could smell his stale breath. ‘Ain’t yer pleased to see me?’

  ‘No, I don’t want to see you or talk to you,’ Jinny said. ‘Let go of my arm. I’m in a hurry. I’m meeting someone …’

  ‘Too bad,’ Jake muttered. ‘Yer ma’s sick and she wants yer. She threatened to throw me out if I didn’t get yer to come back … so that’s where yer comin’ …’

  Jinny was sure he was lying and yet she halted uncertainly. ‘Why? What’s wrong with her?’

  ‘Yer’ll know that when yer come, won’t yer?’ He gripped her arm tightly, trying to pull her with him, but Jinny resisted. She didn’t trust him and she wasn’t going to let him drag her away.

  ‘Let me go or I’ll scream. I know things about you, Jake, and if you hurt me I’ll go to the police,’ she threatened and saw his face tighten with anger. Her threat had been an impulse because she really knew very little, but Jake thought she did and he was furious. Jinny saw Micky standing at the corner of the street and breathed a sigh of relief. The sight of him gave her courage and she kicked out at Jake’s shin, causing him to let go of her as he gave a howl, of rage more than pain. In that instant she ran towards Micky as fast as she could and he, seeing she was in trouble, came forward to meet her, putting his arm about her protectively. He looked at her face and then back at Jake.

  ‘I’ll kill the bastard …’

  ‘No, Micky,’ Jinny said. ‘I’m not hurt. He wanted me to go with him – said Ma wasn’t well, but I
didn’t believe him. I know what he wants …’

  ‘Dirty bugger,’ Micky said and looked hard at Jake who was staring at them in obvious frustration. ‘Come on, love. I’ll look after yer. If he comes near yer again he’ll be sorry. I’ve got a few mates who’ll let him know where he stands …’

  ‘I don’t want you to get into trouble because of him,’ Jinny said. She’d been shaken by the suddenness of Jake’s appearance, because she’d thought she was safe, but now she would be on her guard and she’d be more careful. ‘I hate him but I’m not afraid of him, Micky.’

  ‘He needs teaching a lesson,’ Micky said and his eyes smouldered with anger but then, as Jake slouched off, it was gone in a moment and he was smiling at her. ‘Come on, Jinny. Let’s go to this party. You look lovely …’

  Jinny tucked her arm through his and hugged it. Seeing Jake like that had upset her, but she wasn’t going to let him spoil her night with her friends. He was a nasty piece of work but she would be careful to stay out of his way when she visited Nellie. She was sure he was lying about her mother being sick, but she would ask Nellie on Sunday … and for the moment she was going to have a good time …

  CHAPTER 11

  Rose hadn’t enjoyed herself so much in ages. The food was delicious and set out in the square dining room; little pastry cases filled with prawns in pink sauce or some kind of meat pâté, mini sausage rolls, and cheese and pineapple on sticks, bowls of green salads, fresh crusty bread cut into chunks, butter, pickles and cold chicken, crisps and nibbles were offered in generous quantities. For those with a sweet tooth there was a large creamy torte, decorated with tinned fruit. The room had long French windows and opened out into a large garden so that people could wander in and out. A long table in the garden was covered with a red cloth and set with plates, knives, forks, paper napkins