A Sister's Duty

by June Francis

  She hung up her coat and reached for her overall, aware their eyes were following her every move. ‘Who are you staring at?’ she snapped, thinking of Harry being sent away and them being in his place.

  ‘We were wondering why you didn’t like us?’ said a twin.

  She presumed it was loudmouthed Tom. ‘Because you’re pests,’ she muttered.

  They both looked injured. ‘We don’t mean to be pests,’ said the other twin, hunching his shoulders before letting them sag.

  ‘Ha!’ exclaimed Rosie disbelievingly, buttoning up her overall. ‘You’ll be saying next you can’t help yourselves.’

  ‘We’ve always had to help ourselves,’ said the first twin.

  ‘Mam expected it of us,’ said the second one. ‘“Help each other”, she said.’

  ‘And “get out from under me feet”,’ supplied the first. ‘She used to say we drove her mad.’

  ‘Sometimes she didn’t know which one of us was which,’ said the second.

  Rosie felt quite dizzy as her eyes went from one to the other, wishing she knew for definite which was which without always having to look for the scar.

  ‘And she’d clout us both just to make sure she’d got the right one when we did something wrong,’ said Tom.

  ‘When she managed to catch us,’ said Jimmy.

  ‘I know the feeling,’ muttered Rosie. ‘Well, don’t think you’re going to run rings round me.’

  ‘We haven’t done anything to you. Haven’t played any tricks,’ said Tom. He was thinking of the spider he had seen in the corner of his bedroom where it was dusty. It would have given her a lovely fright if he’d put it in a match box and showed it to her. Girls were scared of spiders. They screamed and ran away just like Miss Muffet. ‘Dad says you’re family and we’ve got to be nice to you,’ he added, with obvious regret.

  ‘You don’t have to bother being nice,’ said Rosie, fixing them with a glare. ‘Now go and play with your ball and don’t be nuisances!’ She shooed them into the yard and went in search of Amelia to be told her duties.

  Rosie found her aunt in the dispensing room with Mr Brown. ‘So there you are!’ she said, looking relieved. ‘The twins are behaving themselves, aren’t they?’

  ‘They’re in the yard. But whether they’ll—’

  ‘I’m sure they’ll be OK.’ Amelia’s firm voice cut through her words. ‘I’ll serve in the shop until lunchtime, Rosie, while you help Mr Brown. Then I’ll have to go and you can take my place serving.’

  ‘Yes, Aunt Amelia.’ That suited Rosie down to the ground because it meant she was getting the best of both worlds, working and learning and meeting people and helping them. There was only one thing upsetting Rosie that morning and that was that she had had no word from Davey for weeks.

  ‘And you can keep an eye on the twins for me, too,’ said Amelia in a sweet voice. ‘Thank you, Rosie. I think everything is going to work out perfectly.’

  She smiled, wondering why her aunt was being so nice. The girl gazed around Mr Brown’s tiny kingdom where a wooden bench with a linoleum top took up most of the space. On it were mortars and pestles and a marble slab for making up pills. Next to the slab stood the all-important scales made of brass with a central balance and supports of agate. The scales were checked at least once a year by Avery’s. Mr Brown had told her how important it was to get the weights exactly right. It was the same with measuring vessels. They had a government stamp. Exact measurements could make the difference between life and death.

  Rosie stared at the glass jars of all shapes and sizes displayed on the shelves. Powder containers were curved with wide necks, whereas liquid ones were narrow. Acid or poison bottles were green and ribbed so you could tell the difference between an ordinary jar and one containing a dangerous substance in the dark. Poisons were kept in a special cupboard to which only Mr Brown was allowed to hold the key.

  ‘Here you are, Rosie, this is what you can do for me today,’ he said, and showed her how to work the folding machine, which tidied up the edges of the greaseproof papers that would contain powders.

  She set to work and he watched her for a moment before getting on with making up the prescription Amelia had brought in. He talked as he worked, explaining different things to Rosie. How there was a pharmaceutical weight which pharmacists used and an imperial weight which was used the other side of the counter. He talked of grains and drams, scruples and fluid ounces. Of doctors’ marks on a prescription and how TDS meant three times a day.

  That morning Rosie regarded herself as a very fortunate girl being taught by someone of Mr Brown’s experience. Amelia had already told her that lots of people came into the shop asking for his advice. The poorer people could not afford doctors and he had a great deal of experience in treating all kinds of minor ailments.

  The hours went by swiftly and Amelia came into the dispensing room several times with prescriptions. But it was only when her aunt said they would be closing for lunch in half an hour, and asked Rosie if the twins were OK, that the girl gave a thought to the boys.

  The yard was empty.

  For a moment, she could not believe her eyes. She walked down to the door at the bottom of the yard but the bolt was firmly shot and the padlock still attached and locked. She looked round for any hidey-holes and saw the twins’ ball. It had been holed and was now deflated. She frowned, casting an eye over the outside lavatory, next to which stood a cardboard box with bits of wood and other rubbish in it. That was in front of the pullout bin set in the wall. A wall which was surely too high for two eight-year-olds to climb. Or was it?

  ‘Boys will be boys,’ Rosie had heard Mrs Baxendale say on more than one occasion, the last time being when Davey and a couple of his mates had climbed on to the roof of that bomb-damaged house in Everton where she and her sisters and brother had hidden for a few short hours in January.

  I’ll kill them! she thought, and took a running jump at the gate, determined to find them before Amelia realised they were missing. Surely the twins would not have gone unnoticed in their bid for freedom?

  It was a pleasant day, warm if a little overcast, but the sun was managing to peep out from behind picture-book fluffy white clouds in a way which made Rosie suddenly glad to be out in the fresh air. She raced up the entry, pausing a moment to ask a man sweeping the large stone slabs if he had seen the twins. He pointed her in the right direction.

  Rosie ran up Butler Street, pausing again to ask two women leaning on yard brushes, gossiping. Again she received a positive answer and carried on into Boaler Street, where an elderly woman set her on what was hopefully the last lap of her journey. She was thinking she deserved to be congratulated on her detective work as she passed the lodge on the corner of Gardner’s Drive, only to be stopped in her tracks by a familiar voice calling her name.

  ‘Davey!’ She had intended to be cool and distant but could only smile because she was so glad to see him.

  He cycled towards her. ‘Where are you going, dressed like that?’

  Rosie had forgotten she had on her overall, which did exactly nothing for her, and pulled a face. ‘I’ve had to rush out of the shop. I’m working there full-time now I’ve finished my exams and left school. But those blinking Hudson twins have escaped from the yard and I’ve got to find them.’

  Davey knew of the twins from his mother because she had spoken to Rosie a month ago. ‘Want me to come with you? I’ve finished the morning deliveries.’

  ‘What about your lunch?’

  ‘Sandwiches.’ He patted his pocket. ‘That’s why I’m here. I thought I’d have them in the park. No point in going home. Ma’s in hospital.’

  So that was why he had not been round. ‘What’s wrong with her?’

  ‘Fell off a chair changing curtains and broke her leg.’

  ‘Your poor mam! Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘If you could look in when she comes home, I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.’

  ‘Of course I will. No wonder I haven’
t seen you.’

  ‘I know. It seems ages since we last met.’ He cast her a sidelong glance as they walked side by side. ‘I called last Sunday but your gran sent me away with a flea in me ear because I hadn’t heard from the Yank.’

  ‘She never said! I’ll have a word with her when I get in,’ said Rosie, vexed.

  ‘I had a feeling she had someone with her.’

  Rosie stopped and stared at him. ‘You didn’t see them?’

  He shook his head and a thick hank of dark hair flopped on to his forehead. ‘Why? Is it important?’

  ‘She spoke of “he” weeks back but she’s dead keen for me not to set eyes on him.’

  ‘You think your gran’s got a fancy man?’ He grinned. ‘She couldn’t have. Not at her age. And she’s a cantankerous old faggot!’

  ‘I know! It makes the mind boggle.’ They had reached Newsham Park and Rosie glanced around. ‘I should be looking for the twins.’

  ‘Any idea where they’ll be?’

  ‘They told an old lady they were going to float their boats. I said they didn’t have boats but she said imagination’s a wonderful thing. They had two pieces of wood with nails in them.’

  He grinned. ‘They’ll have headed for the pond then. Should be safe enough. There’s plenty of people about.’

  Rosie had no idea if the twins could swim or not but it was true there were plenty of people out today so they should be safe. Children were playing rounders or just running about. Some had flopped on to the ground and were lying on their stomachs, parting blades of grass and gazing intently at something only they could see. Rosie remembered doing the same kind of thing when she was little. Watching insects scurrying about their business had fascinated her.

  She stepped round a couple, noticing they were lying on an American Air Force jacket. ‘You say you haven’t seen Sam?’

  ‘Yes. Do you think I’d lie?’ said Davey, dark brows meeting as he frowned.

  ‘Of course not!’ She wondered why he had to be so touchy over Sam.

  ‘He might have been sent overseas. It’s all systems go in the Far East to try and get the Japs to surrender,’ he said, looking mollified.

  Rosie had not thought of Sam going East. ‘Do you think the Japs will surrender?’

  ‘Suicidal idiots, aren’t they? I’ve got a cousin out there. He’s only two years older than me.’ Davey looked suddenly serious. ‘Come this time next year, I could be out East. India maybe.’

  ‘Don’t talk about it.’ She slipped her arm through his and he squeezed it against his side. They were silent for quite a while, each thinking how strange it was that life could change so suddenly.

  They found the twins kneeling on the edge of the circular pond, surrounded by the like-minded and their supporters, for whom launching bits of wood across a span of water held a fascination. Davey stood at the back of the crowd, a hand on the saddle of his bike, a smile on his face as he watched Rosie creep up on them. She grabbed both of them simultaneously.

  ‘Gotcha!’ She seized a handful of their shirts but one of them wrenched himself free, overbalanced and slipped into the pond.

  ‘Trust you!’ she groaned as the boy rose, gasping, from beneath the water which was only a couple of feet or so deep.

  Davey dropped his bike and pushed his way through the crowd to her side. Together they seized the twin and dragged him out of the pond. He stood dripping on the gravel. ‘Well, that’s another fine mess you’ve got yourself into,’ Rosie said.

  ‘Not only me,’ said the boy, shivering as he flicked back his hair, sprinkling her with water. ‘Your overall’s got slime on it.’

  ‘Damn!’ said Rosie, annoyed, gazing down at her front. ‘Aunt Amelia’s going to have a fit.’

  ‘D’you want me to take this one home on the bike?’ asked Davey.

  ‘What about me?’ said the other twin, jutting out his lip.

  ‘The name’s Davey, not Charles Atlas. You can go with Rosie.’

  The boy’s face fell. ‘But I don’t want to go back to the shop! Why can’t we catch the tram? We could walk along Orphan’s Drive to West Derby Road and get one there. Please, please?’ he said in a coaxing voice, pulling on Rosie’s arm. ‘Perhaps he’s got money,’ he added, indicating Davey with a jerk of the head.

  Rosie wanted to be rid of them both and looked at Davey, hoping he could read her thoughts. He responded instantly. ‘I’ll take them to the tram stop and have a word with the conductor. You’d best get back to your aunt. She’ll be going spare. And here, kid, you’d best put this round you.’ He took off his jacket and draped it over the dripping boy.

  ‘It’s more than he deserves,’ said Rosie, gazing up at Davey with such warmth in her expression that he felt he could have conquered Everest for her. ‘Thanks.’ She kissed his cheek and before she could draw back again he seized her hand and brought her tight against him.

  ‘Call at ours tomorrow at eleven. Bring some butties and we can go somewhere.’ He kissed her on the mouth before releasing her then turned to the twins. ‘Come on, small fry. Let’s be having you.’

  A dreamy-eyed Rosie stood watching them go. Once they turned and waved and she raised a hand. Then she went back the way she had come.

  Needham’s, like the rest of the shops along Kensington, was displaying the CLOSED sign and there was a noonday stillness about the thoroughfare. She rattled the brass latch and instantly hurrying footsteps approached.

  Amelia flung open the door and dragged her inside. ‘Where the hell have you been? And where are the twins?’ Her face was tight with anxiety.

  ‘I’ve sent them home,’ gasped Rosie, who had run most of the way. ‘Can I sit down?’

  Amelia let her go and the girl collapsed on the customers’ chair. ‘What happened?’ said her aunt, exasperated. ‘Why couldn’t you keep your eye on them for five minutes?’

  Rosie made no answer. Surely it was obvious why she had not kept her eye on them?

  ‘OK, so you were busy and forgot. Where did they get to?’

  Rosie told her without mentioning Davey. Amelia groaned and went into the back of the shop, returning with a cup of water which she handed to Rosie. When the girl had drunk it, Amelia said, ‘You’ll want something to eat.’

  ‘I brought sandwiches. They’re in my jacket.’

  ‘Get eating then. I’ll have to be going. See you tomorrow.’

  ‘No,’ said Rosie swiftly. ‘I can’t come tomorrow.’

  Amelia looked positively put out. ‘I was hoping for your help. And Dotty’s going to be disappointed.’

  ‘I’ll see her soon. It’s just that I’m going somewhere tomorrow.’ She avoided her aunt’s eyes.

  ‘OK. But next Sunday you’ll come?’ said Amelia, pulling on a white glove.

  ‘Next Sunday,’ said Rosie, wondering what she would say if Davey wanted to see her again then.

  ‘See you Monday then – and don’t forget to wash that overall,’ ordered Amelia. ‘Wear mine this afternoon.’

  She was assured of the twins’ safety as soon as she arrived home. As she unpacked the box of provisions left by the delivery boy, she chided the twins. ‘Bread and water, that’s what you’re on today, my lads,’ she said severely.

  ‘But they’ve already had something, Aunt Amelia,’ said Dotty, blinking rapidly behind her new spectacles. ‘I didn’t know they weren’t supposed to eat.’

  ‘And Davey gave us a butty to share, too,’ said Jimmy.

  Amelia’s hands stilled and her eyes fixed on his face. ‘Davey?’

  ‘Rosie’s boyfriend,’ explained Tom, pressing his finger into a greaseproof-covered slab of butter. ‘He gave us the pennies for the tram and told the conductor not to let me catch phew-monia.’

  ‘Pneumonia,’ corrected Amelia automatically, slapping his hand away from the butter. ‘And where did you meet him?’

  The twins exchanged looks and were silent.

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, thinking reticence was something new for the twins
. ‘I can guess. But how do you know he’s her boyfriend?’

  ‘Cos he got all sloppy and kissed her,’ said Tom, pulling a face.

  ‘She kissed him first,’ said Jimmy swiftly. ‘It’s girls that are sloppy.’

  ‘OK, I’ve got the picture,’ said Amelia, starting to put things in cupboards. ‘If you both help me, you might get off without being punished. Go upstairs and take the sheets off your bed – and do the same for your dad’s as well. And bring them down.’

  The twins stared at her. ‘But that’s girls’ work,’ wailed Tom.

  ‘Do it!’ she said, raising her voice. ‘Or it really will be bread and water for the two of you – for the rest of the week!’

  They scurried off, leaving Amelia wondering if Davey was the reason why Rosie was not visiting tomorrow. And why had she kept quiet about meeting him? Not that Amelia had anything against the lad. Only she did not want anything preventing Rosie from accomplishing what she herself had failed to achieve. Still, perhaps she should not say anything yet. Rosie might get awkward and do exactly what Amelia did not want her to do. After all, they were only young and it mightn’t be serious.

  Even so, she found herself worrying about Rosie and Davey as she prepared a pilchard, leek and potato pie for tea. She placed it in the oven and then went upstairs, wondering what was taking the twins so long.

  Their room was empty, sheets on the floor. She opened the door to Peter’s room and the blood seemed to rush to her head. ‘You fiends!’ she cried, taking off her slipper and grabbing the first twin to hand. She whacked him on the bottom. The other yelled at her to let him go, pulling on her arm. She turned and seized hold of him and smacked him across the legs with her bare hand.

  He shrieked ‘That hurt! I’ll get Dad on to you!’

  ‘And I’ll get him on to you, too,’ she shrieked back.

  ‘We didn’t mean to do it,’ said the other twin, face crumpling, tears in his eyes. ‘It was only a game.’

  ‘A game?’ Her gaze swept the room and she groaned and put her hands to her head. ‘Get out! Go on out, both of you!’ Amelia forced them out of the room and slammed the door.