by Katie Flynn
Ellie looked uncertain. ‘I don’t want to go getting Connor involved. He may be tall but he’s a lot younger than Sid, so Sid might well hit him. Besides, I don’t want to tell anyone about … about what happened.’
‘You don’t have to go into all the ins and outs, just tell him the first bit, how Sid hit you and you hit him back. You can leave the middle bit out.’ She smiled reassuringly at Ellie. ‘You’re goin’ to have to tell folk summat, luv, ’cos you’re right about one thing: Sid’ll want to get his version across first and it won’t be the real one. So you’re better tellin’ folk the truth before he gets a chance to muddy the waters, as it were.’
Ellie nodded. ‘I’ll go and see Connor first thing, but in the meantime is it all right if I kip here, just for tonight?’
Throwing back the blanket, Sally shifted over. ‘Course it is, but you’ll have to get in here with the rest of us. There won’t be much room, but with a bit of luck you’ll not fall out too many times.’
The girls had only been in bed a few hours when the air raid siren wailed across the night sky. As they headed for the shelter of the school in Bond Street, Arla reassured Ellie that she wouldn’t look out of place, as everyone was still in their nightwear with coats or dressing gowns hastily thrown over the top; nor would anyone question her presence. The people who lived in the courts were known for their hopsitality, and Arla’s parents did not raise a single brow when they saw Ellie tucked up next to Arla on one of the wooden benches.
‘’Ello, Ellie! I didn’t know you was sleepin’ over. Budge up, won’t you, love?’ Mrs Winthorpe joined them on the bench, while her husband, a cheery-looking man with a dark-stubbled chin, squinted down at Ellie.
‘’Ow’s it goin’, queen? Good job the missis woke me up; I thought Moanin’ Minnie were more thunder.’
When Ellie woke some time later it was to find Betty Winthorpe kneeling in front of her, a look of concern on her face. ‘You’re all right, Ellie luv, you’ve just had a bit of a nightmare, that’s all. You sounded real scared.’ She glanced up at Arla. ‘The all-clear’s sounded, so I think it’s best if you take Ellie back to ours and sort her some brekker out. Me and your dad’ll see if anyone wants help in the city before we come back. I heard a couple of explosions, but let’s hope there was no one inside when they hit.’
On the way back to the court Arla explained to Ellie that she had been shouting out in her sleep. ‘You was shouting “Bugger off, you filthy devil” at the top of your lungs. I managed to convince Mam that you must have been shouting at the Luftwaffe; she did look a bit doubtful at first but I think she believed me in the end.’ Entering the room in which they slept, Ellie filled the kettle whilst Arla fished some bread and jam from the storage cupboard. ‘Do you want me to see if I can get summat to fit you, or will you be all right with that old coat of your mam’s over the top of your nightie?’
‘It’s still a bit too big for me, so folk shouldn’t be able to see what I’ve got on underneath. Besides, if Connor’s home it shouldn’t be too long before I can get my own clothes.’
‘Right you are. We’ll head off as soon as we’ve drunk our tea. I know it’s still early, but with luck we can catch him before he goes off with his mates.’
Ellie and Arla had first met Connor at the youth club on Latimer Street, when Robert Green, a bully of a boy, had decided to cause trouble. It had been a couple of weeks before Christmas and Ellie had been making paper chains to decorate the room when Robert had snatched them out of her hands and begun wrapping them around her.
‘Paper chains is for little kids,’ he had sneered. ‘I reckon you’re slow, an’ they give you this to do’ cos you’re too thick to do owt else.’ His eyes shone malevolently as he started to pull the chains tight around her.
Hearing the paper start to tear, Ellie had held her breath. ‘Pack it in, Robert. These are for the Christmas party. Surely even you look forward to Christmas?’
Robert had snorted. ‘In this dump? Not with you and all the other dunces—’ He had flinched as a hand slapped down hard on his shoulder. ‘Gerroff or I’ll punch your lights out,’ he had started, releasing his grip on the paper chains and spinning round. He stopped abruptly as his eyes settled on the tall dark lad who had come up behind him. ‘Oh, I didn’t realise it were you. I were only ’avin a bit of fun.’
The newcomer had raised an eyebrow. ‘I don’t think she finds your idea of fun very amusing, so it’d be best all round if you ran along.’
They could hear Robert muttering under his breath as he walked stiffly away from them. ‘Run along? Who the hell does he think he’s tellin’ to run along? It’s a good job I kept my temper, that’s all I can say …’
Ellie had smiled shyly at the other boy. ‘Thanks for that. I’ve complained about him loads of times, a few of us have, but they just tell us to ignore him because he’ll soon get bored.’
Connor held out a hand. ‘I’m Connor Murray.’
Shaking the proffered hand, Ellie smiled at her saviour. ‘I’m Ellie Lancton. Nice to meet you, Connor, and thanks again for gettin’ rid of Robert. I don’t recall seein’ you around here before, but he seemed to recognise you.’
Connor had placed his hands in his trouser pockets. ‘My family’s not long moved here from Bootle. Me and Robert go to the same school, and someone in my class suggested I might like to pop down here and make new friends.’
Now, as the two girls approached the large terraced house on Bevington Street, Arla turned to Ellie. ‘Do you think we might be too early? You don’t suppose they’re still in bed, do you? It is the weekend, after all.’
Ellie, who was doing her best to hide her nightie under her coat, slid behind her friend. ‘You should’ve said summat before we got here. I can’t go hangin’ about. What if people see me standin’ ’ere in me nightie?’
A voice spoke from behind them. ‘Why are you still in your nightie?’
Ellie jumped, knocking Arla against the front door. ‘Connor!’ Ellie hissed, whilst trying to stifle a giggle. ‘You nearly sent me to an early grave.’
‘Well, you nearly sent me straight through the flamin’ door,’ Arla said crossly, rubbing her forehead.
‘So how come you two are up and about so early?’ Connor said. He pointed accusingly at Ellie. ‘And go on – why are you still in your nightie?’
Ellie shushed him. ‘Can we talk somewhere else? I don’t fancy discussin’ the whys and wherefores on your front doorstep.’
Connor looked intrigued. ‘We can talk in the kitchen.’ He gestured for the two girls to go ahead of him. ‘You needn’t worry, there’s no one in. Mam and Dad have gone into the city, and me brothers are down the rec playing footy. I was there too, but I forgot the money I owe Lofty for his old boots, so I had to come back for it.’ Entering the small kitchen, he invited the girls to sit down. ‘Well?’ he said, his gaze settling on Ellie. ‘Spill the beans, as they say.’
Taking a deep breath, she told Connor the whole story, ending, ‘It was a gut reaction. I only hit him; the rest was an accident.’ She looked pleadingly at Connor. ‘You don’t think I could’ve killed him, do you?’
Connor pushed his thick fringe of dark hair back from his forehead and shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. I reckon Arla’s right: if he was really drunk, he probably passed out when he hit his head. There’s only one way to be sure and that’s to go back and see for yourself, only if he catches you there’ll be hell to pay.’ He pulled a face. ‘The way I see it, you’ve got a double dilemma. First you have to get your things out. No problem there; I’ll help you with that one.’ Sitting upright, he puffed out his chest. ‘I don’t think Sid would be stupid enough to take me on. I’m younger and fitter than he is, after all. And second, no matter what the outcome, I think it’d be best if you kept your head down for a bit, just till the dust settles. I’ve got an uncle who rents a farm near Oxton. He’s always looking for extra help, so you’d be doing each other a favour, if you see what I mean.’ He paused, wa
iting for her response, but when none came he added, ‘I’m suggesting you go and live on my uncle’s farm for a bit. What d’you reckon?’
Ellie stared at Connor, hardly daring to believe that he had just offered her the opportunity to leave the courts and work on a farm, with fresh air and lots of animals – maybe even horses – and it was still a few moments before she found her tongue. ‘I reckon yes, yes, and yes again!’ She clapped her hands together. ‘But are you sure, Connor? Perhaps your uncle has enough workers, or maybe he won’t want me. I don’t know anything about farms.’
Connor raised his brows. ‘Course he’ll want you. Who wouldn’t want an Ellie in their lives? Besides, I’m his favourite nephew. If I say you’re good enough, that’ll do for him.’
A thought occurred to her. ‘Connor Murray, you’re a marvel, and I really appreciate the offer, but won’t your uncle wonder why I need to go there? We all know Sid’s a pig of a man, but I do owe him rent, and even if I didn’t I still couldn’t afford to pay your uncle.’
Connor shook his head. ‘It’s not as if you weren’t intending to pay Sid, you were, so if anything my uncle’ll be impressed you managed to keep your head above water for so long, especially under the circumstances. And you needn’t worry about paying him rent: your hard graft’ll cover any living expenses.’ He glanced at the clock on the mantel. ‘I’ve got to go and give Lofty his money before he sells his boots to someone else. How about we meet at Lavender Court early tomorrow morning?’
Ellie looked downcast. ‘Tomorrow? But what am I meant to do in the meantime?’
Arla cut in. ‘I’ll lend you summat. With four of us girls – five counting you – all wearing each other’s stuff half the time I doubt mam will even notice. I’ll explain you’re gonna be stayin for a couple of nights, and that should buy you enough time to get yourself sorted.’
Ellie beamed at her friends. ‘You two are the bestest pals a girl could wish for. I’m so lucky to have you.’
Connor gave her a friendly wink. ‘Any time, chuck.’ Glancing at the clock, he stood up. ‘Sorry, girls, but I’m gonna have to turf you out. I’ll be at Lavender Court for six o’clock tomorrow, Ellie. See if you can borrow a scarf or summat so’s you can hide your face a bit. That way if Sid is around he won’t recognise you.’
Walking cautiously towards Lavender Court, Ellie wrapped the scarf that she had borrowed from Arla’s mother around her face. She peered at the figure that was leaning against the wall of the Cock and Bull. Straightening up, Connor walked towards her. ‘Sid went out a couple of minutes before you got here, so the coast is clear, but even so we’d best be quick.’ He grinned. ‘I must say, he didn’t look too good. His face was covered in cuts.’
Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. ‘At least I ain’t goin’ to get done for murder. Let’s get a move on and get my stuff out of there before he comes back.’ Sliding her hand through the letterbox, Ellie gave a satisfied smile as she felt the weight of the key on the other end of the string. ‘You’d think he’d have had the sense to move it in case I came back,’ she said, fitting it into the lock.
‘He probably thought you’d be too scared to come back. Just goes to show what he knows.’ Connor grinned.
Ellie locked the door behind them and pointed towards the stairs. ‘Up there,’ she whispered.
Connor raised his brows. ‘Why are you whispering? I told you I saw him leave.’
Ellie giggled. ‘I’m as nervous as a turkey on Christmas Eve.’ Gingerly, she pushed open the door to her room. The ewer still lay in pieces on the floor, along with a great deal of dried blood.
Connor gave a low whistle as he picked up some of the broken ewer. ‘Blimey, queen, I see what you mean. It’s a chunky old thing to have smashed over your head.’
Ellie nodded as she started to lift up the loose floorboard that hid her purse. ‘My old school satchel is hangin’ up behind the door. Can you empty all the books out, except for National Velvet and Black Beauty? They belong to my old teacher, Miss Siege. She lent them to me before she joined the WAAF.’
Connor retrieved the satchel whilst Ellie rooted around beneath the floorboard. Placing her few possessions in the bag, she took one last look round the small room before swinging the satchel on to her shoulders and jerking a thumb towards the stairs. ‘I’ll get changed at Arla’s. No point in stayin’ here any longer than we have to.’
At the foot of the staircase Ellie stopped abruptly, causing Connor to cannon into the back of her.
‘Steady on …’ he began, but Ellie was pointing at the key which was dancing on the end of its string as it slid up the door towards the letterbox.
‘It’s him,’ she whispered. Grabbing Connor’s wrist, she shouldered the door into Sid’s room and was surprised to find it gave way with ease. She pulled Connor in behind her just as the key disappeared through the letterbox with a snapping sound.
Putting a finger to her lips she pointed towards the small window. ‘Quick, through there,’ she mouthed. Connor lifted the sash and they disappeared through its aperture just as a bewildered-looking Sid entered the room.
‘What the hell?’ he bellowed.
Thinking on her feet, Ellie ran to the front door and pulled up the string. Locking the door, she yanked the key, snapping the string, just as Sid’s body barrelled into the wood. The pair leapt back, watching the door handle bounce wildly as Sid tried to force it open. He gave an enraged howl. ‘Open the bloody door,’ he roared. ‘You’re as bad as your bloody mam, you dirty, murderous, thievin’ tart—’
‘Don’t you dare talk about my mam like that.’ Ellie, her fists clenched by her sides, stared at the wooden door. Her words cut through the air like a hot knife through butter. ‘She were ten times the person you are, Sid Crowther. She were the kindest, most caring person in the world. If it weren’t for your stinkin’ house she’d most probably still be alive today.’
The thumping ceased and Connor pointed to the sash window, where Sid’s face, red with rage, was beginning to turn purple as he tried to force his shoulders through the frame. ‘There’s nowt wrong wi’ these houses, and if you don’t wanna foller your ma to an early grave you’d best mek sure I never see your face around here again.’
Watching the bully of a man as he struggled to get to her, Ellie’s fear left her. She strode forward, and leaned down until her eyes were on the same level as her former landlord’s. ‘You’re nowt but a dirty, fat old man, and I’d rather be dead than come anywhere near you again, Sidney Crowther. The day me mam moved into this pit were the worst day of her life, and one day,’ she lowered her voice, ‘one day you’ll get your come-uppance and I hope to God I’m there to see it when you do.’
Connor pulled at her elbow. ‘C’mon, queen,’ he said urgently. ‘We’d best get goin’ before all his yellin’ attracts the scuffers.’
Trembling with rage, Ellie nodded. ‘I’m not runnin’ this time, though,’ she said as they headed across the court. ‘I’m leavin’ with my head held high.’ She glanced towards the house where Mrs Burgess lived and saw the old woman, a worried frown on her face, standing in the doorway. ‘Don’t worry about me, Mrs B, I’m goin’ to be just fine from now on.’ A broad gappy smile of relief appeared on the old woman’s face, and she gave Ellie an approving nod.
The two friends walked in silence until they reached the end of Arla’s road. ‘It’s true, you know,’ Ellie said quietly. ‘Those courts need demolishin’. They’re filthy, and there’s rats everywhere.’
Connor nodded. ‘I know. Everyone does. Sid Crowther’s an ignorant pig and one day he’ll get his just deserts.’
Ellie raised a warning eyebrow. ‘Not from you, Connor Murray. I don’t want you gettin’ into trouble over that lowlife. You and Arla are the only family I’ve got. At least, you feel like my family.’
Connor tousled the top of her hair. ‘Don’t you worry about me, queen, I’ve more sense than to do time because of that poor excuse for a man.’
‘Are you comin’ in
to Arla’s, just to say hello?’
He shook his head. ‘I was thinkin’ of goin’ to Paddy’s Market to see if they’ve got any rotten tomatoes. If Sid’s still stuck in the window I could charge the kids a penny a throw, probably make a bob or two.’
Ellie laughed. ‘I reckon you’d make a small fortune.’ Standing on tiptoe, she gave Connor a peck on the cheek, then clapped a hand to her forehead as a thought struck her. ‘I completely forgot to ask! Have you spoken to your uncle yet?’
Connor nodded. ‘He’s ready for you any time, so I said we’d go there tomorrow. My cousin’ll meet us off the bus.’
Swinging her satchel off her shoulders, Ellie pulled out her purse and tipped the contents into the palm of her hand to show Connor. ‘Will that be enough? To get me to the farm, I mean?’
He closed her fingers over the loose change. ‘Don’t you go worryin’ about money. I took the liberty of visitin’ Mrs Wardle, explained how her tardiness had got you into a rare bit of trouble, and that a businesswoman of her standin’ couldn’t afford to be accused of swindlin’ workers, so …’ He opened the palm of his hand to reveal several coins. ‘I told her, and the people at Mr Wong’s too, that you wouldn’t be available for a while, so you mustn’t worry about that either.’
Ellie flung her arms around his neck. ‘Thanks, Connor you’re a real pal, and one of these days I’ll find a way to repay you.’
Blushing, he tipped the money into her hand. ‘It’s no more than you deserve. You’ve gone through enough this year; it’s about time you had a bit of good luck, and I think the farm’s just the place to start.’
She smiled gratefully. ‘I can’t wait to meet your uncle. Does he have any horses?’
Connor laughed. ‘Yes, and pigs and cows! I know how much you love animals, so you should fit right in.’
‘You’re right there, but horses are my favourite. The only one I get to see round here is Billy, the old carthorse that pulls Mr Spooner’s milk wagon.’ She smiled reminiscently. ‘He’s got big fluffy feet and a long nose, and he wears these things on his ears in the summer to stop the flies annoyin’ him.’
