by Cathy Sharp
‘Come on, Mary Ellen, I’ll race you,’ Billy said and started running to be the first to reach the keeper who was walking the elephant.
Mary Ellen ran after him, but Billy was too quick for her. He’d been one of the fortunate few that Angela had taken to the Olympics in the summer, and since then he’d been running every chance he got, having decided he was going to run for England. At least, that was his ambition when he wasn’t dreaming of playing for West Ham football club.
‘Can we stroke him, mister?’ Billy asked the keeper. ‘He’s big, ain’t he?’
‘Yes, she’s an African elephant,’ said the keeper. He was used to children asking if they could stroke the gentle giant. ‘Why don’t you give her this?’
He held out a banana to Billy. ‘Offer it to her and she’ll take it in her trunk – she won’t hurt you, so you needn’t be afraid.’
‘Billy isn’t afraid of anything,’ Mary Ellen said, coming up to them. ‘She’s lovely, mister – what’s her name?’
‘Got a posh name has her,’ the keeper said with a smile. ‘She’s called Matilda.’
‘That’s a daft name for an elephant,’ Billy said, holding the banana tentatively as she took it delicately in her trunk and then dropped it into her mouth. ‘It tickled!’ he laughed in delight. ‘How many bananas does she eat, mister?’
‘As many as she can get,’ the keeper said. ‘She only gets a few a day now – they’re still in short supply – but we give her all sorts of things. Matilda loves her fruit, but she’ll eat whatever we give her. She didn’t get bananas at all during the war.’
‘Come along,’ Rose said. ‘I’m sure this gentleman has plenty to do without talking to you two. We’ve got to find Angela and have that cup of tea …’
‘It’s part of my job, talking to the young ones,’ the keeper said, and touched his cap to Rose. He was a young man and his eyes were warm as they lit on her, making Rose blush. ‘Nice to meet two such pleasant children.’
‘Thank you,’ Rose said and pushed them ahead of her.
Billy had taken off again, running ahead. He was some distance in front of Rose and Mary Ellen when he appeared to trip and fall over.
‘The stupid boy!’ Rose exclaimed and quickened her pace when she saw he was sitting on the ground rubbing at his knee. ‘Now you’ve cut yourself … look, no wonder you fell. Somebody left a bit of metal lying there and you’ve cut yourself on it.’
‘It’s nothing,’ Billy said bravely, but when he moved his hand they could all see the blood.
‘It’s a good thing I always bring a few bits and pieces in my bag,’ Rose said, and opened her large black bag to take out a roll of bandage and some safety pins. She wiped the blood away and nodded. ‘Yes, it’s a nasty cut. I’ve cleaned it as best I can – but you must ask nurse to put a fresh dressing on when you get back home, Billy.’
‘Billy never makes a fuss,’ Mary Ellen said as Rose used some antiseptic cream that stung and then wrapped his knee in a white bandage. ‘But it’s a good thing you’ve got that bandage, Rose. We don’t want to miss the rest of the treat.’
‘No – and I want to find Angela and the others,’ Rose said. ‘Look, there’s the café. Come on, we’ll see what the others are having.’
‘What would you like?’ Mr Hendry asked Billy and Mary Ellen as they joined the others at his table. Samantha and Sarah May were sitting with him and the waitress was waiting for their order. ‘You can have whatever you choose, Billy. I think you and Mary Ellen deserve a treat for what you did last Christmas. Angela told me how brave you all were.’
‘It weren’t nuthin’,’ Billy said. ‘I’d like a sticky bun and a glass of orange, please, sir.’
‘Yes, all right – and you, Mary Ellen, what would you like?’
‘Tomatoes on toast and a glass of orange squash, please, Mr Hendry.’
‘Good, sensible girl – and what about you, Samantha – what will you have?’
‘I’d like toast and tomatoes too,’ Samantha said. ‘What do you want, Sarah?’
‘Same as Billy,’ Sarah said and blushed, looking shy.
‘I’m having one of the pink ones,’ Billy said and looked at the glass case where the cakes were sitting. A small queue had formed; there were always a lot of people wanting a hot drink, especially when it was cool like today. As Billy scanned the people waiting for a table, he saw a face he recognised and a shiver went down his spine.
What was Jack Shaw doing here? Billy looked about him quickly. He ought to tell someone; Jack Shaw was a bad one and had been involved with Billy’s brother Arthur in several big robberies the previous year – but who should he tell? Even as he hesitated, he realised that Jack had seen him and recognised him. Immediately, he left the queue and went out without ordering anything.
‘Is something the matter, Billy?’ Mr Hendry asked.
Billy shook his head. Mr Hendry didn’t know Jack the way he did and he might think Billy was mistaken – after all, the papers had said he was dead – but Billy was afraid of Jack and he knew it was him. Perhaps it was best if he kept it to himself. Jack had gone now and there was no point chasing after him, he could have gone anywhere …
‘You were lucky, Billy,’ Michelle said the next morning as she gently smeared ointment onto his knees and put a nice soft bandage round it. Her work was neat and efficient and the bandage felt a lot better than the one she’d taken off earlier. ‘Rose cleaned the wound well and I don’t think you’ll take any harm. I didn’t need to stitch it, but don’t run around too much for a few days. If it hurts worse, come straight in to the sick ward to see whoever is on duty.’
‘Yes, Nurse,’ Billy said. His knee had stiffened up overnight and it still felt a bit sore as he hobbled from the sick room and stood uncertainly in the hall.
Billy wished that Sister Beatrice was in her office, but she’d gone away to recuperate after her illness. He’d fretted all night and had come to the conclusion he had to tell someone what he’d seen at the zoo; if he didn’t, Jack might come here and threaten them. He knew Billy had recognised him and he’d threatened him a couple of times when Arthur had made Billy keep watch for them when they were breaking into that factory. In Billy’s opinion he was as big a bully as Arthur.
Taking a deep breath, Billy marched up to Angela’s door and knocked. He was invited to enter. She was sitting at her desk typing and looked surprised to see him.
‘Anything the matter, Billy?’ she asked.
‘Yes, miss – at least … I’m not sure. I think I ought to tell you …’
‘Please, come in. If you think it is important I have time to listen.’
Billy approached the desk, his hands clenched behind his back. ‘I’m not a snitch, miss – but I saw him. The police were never sure if he died in the fire or got away, but I know it was him … yesterday, in that café when we was having tea. It was Jack Shaw, miss. I reckon the police might want to know, don’t you?’
‘Yes, I do, Billy.’ Angela frowned. ‘You’re quite sure it was him?’
‘Yes, miss. I know it was – he saw me and cleared off sharpish soon as he knew I’d seen him.’ A shudder went through him. ‘I shall never forget what they done, miss – that Jack Shaw and my brother. They killed a man the night of the factory fire … and they threatened me more than once. Arthur wanted to burn us all in our beds and I don’t trust that Jack. If he came here—’
‘I’m sure he won’t, Billy,’ Angela reassured him quickly. ‘I’m going to let the police know at once. Constable Sallis might want to talk to you – but you won’t mind that?’
‘No, miss. Not if it helps …’ He hesitated, then, ‘I took Timmy some fudge we bought at the zoo, and he sucked a piece and said he wished he’d been with us – can he come on other outings, miss? Our team will soon have enough stars for another trip to the zoo, and Timmy’s only been once with his father. He misses his mum and dad, Miss Angela – and I should like to have him on my team.’
‘Yes, Billy, I’m
sure he does miss his family. I asked Timmy if he felt well enough to sleep in your dorm and he said yes, so I’m going to move him in next week … but you do realise that he isn’t properly over his illness yet, don’t you?’
‘Yes, miss. We’ll look after him. He said he will be having that horrible thing off his leg soon. He’s been having exercise and massage to help strengthen his leg, hasn’t he?’
‘Yes, Billy, but it is a long, slow recovery from an illness like polio. Timmy is lucky that his leg is the worst of his problems. He will need to wear the leg iron for some weeks, perhaps months yet, despite the massaging and the exercises. He may need to be in a wheelchair if we take him on outside trips.’
‘I’d push his chair and look after him, Miss Angela.’
‘Well, we’ll see. I hope it won’t be too long before Timmy is able to get about more easily, but we have to be patient and let him do it in his own time.’
‘He’s in a hurry to get up and join in everythin’.’ Billy grinned. ‘He wants to come and cheer me on at the football when I start playin’ again.’
‘Ah yes, that reminds me,’ Angela said. ‘Father Joe has found a club where you can train with other boys. They do athletics – running and jumping, throwing javelins and things. We wondered if you might like to join? Father Joe will take you there and enrol you. He has a converted van for transporting you all. So, would you like to join the club?’
‘Me, miss?’ Billy’s face lit up. ‘Yeah, I’d like that!’
‘Are there any other boys at St Saviour’s you think would like to join?’
‘Mebbe one or two,’ Billy said. ‘Shall I ask round, miss?’
‘Yes. I think it would be nice to have a St Saviour’s team. Father Joe told me there are competitions you can enter with children from other parts of London – and teams from the country, too, I think. If enough of you want to join he will take you and the others and enrol you all.’
‘Can girls join too, miss?’
‘I suppose they could.’ Angela smiled. ‘Yes, if anyone thinks they could run fast or jump a long way – or throw things – yes, why not girls as well?’
‘I bet I get you a long list,’ Billy said, beaming with pride as he turned away, but at the door he stopped and looked back. ‘You won’t forget to tell the police what I saw?’
‘No, Billy. I’m going to leave a message for Constable Sallis immediately.’
‘Jack Shaw wants locking up, miss.’ Billy closed the door behind him.
He soon forgot his brother’s accomplice in crime as he started running, ignoring the soreness in his knee. It would be great to join an athletics club. He could train with other boys whenever he wasn’t playing football …
TWENTY-SEVEN
‘You were sitting next to Billy Baggins at tea yesterday, weren’t you, Dad?’ Angela said when her father came to have coffee with her before catching his train home. ‘He thought he saw one of the criminals involved in that factory burglary that went wrong last year. He didn’t say anything about it to you?’
‘No – but it was a bit odd. One minute he was chatting away, talking to Sarah and helping her choose what she wanted for tea, and then he suddenly went very quiet, though it didn’t seem to affect his appetite.’
‘It takes a lot for Billy not to be hungry,’ Angela said with a smile. ‘He came to tell me he’d seen Jack Shaw waiting in the queue for drinks. Apparently, he went off as soon as he saw Billy. I rang the police this morning and they confirmed what Billy said. They are certain he wasn’t killed in the fire and they’ve had reports that he has been seen in London, but they haven’t been able to find him.’
‘Let’s hope they do – and soon. You don’t want more trouble with that sort here, Angela.’
‘No, we don’t,’ she said. ‘How are you feeling now, Dad?’
‘Much better for having that wonderful day out with you and Mark – and the children. I like your Billy Baggins, and Mary Ellen … and that child Sarah is delightful if you take the time to communicate with her. She certainly isn’t an imbecile. Yes, I had a lovely time and it did me the world of good.’
‘I wondered if you would like to come when we take the children to the pantomime this Christmas. Why don’t you come up for a few days and we can travel home together on Christmas Eve?’
‘I suppose we could …’ He appeared to consider it for a moment. ‘I could ask someone to come in and get things ready for us at home – and we can order the food and have a hamper delivered.’
‘There’s no chance Mother will be back, I suppose?’
‘None whatsoever. I think we both have to accept that she has decided to make a new life for herself, Angela. And now, I really must leave if I’m going to catch my train.’
‘Yes, of course. I’ll telephone you this evening.’
‘My taxi will be here any moment …’
‘I’ll see you very soon then.’ She kissed his cheek and went to the door with him, watching as he entered the lift and disappeared from sight.
Sighing, Angela collected the cups and took them into the kitchen. She didn’t see enough of her father these days, and she worried about him being alone in that house. As she was washing the cups, her doorbell rang. She went to answer it, wiping her hands.
‘Did you forget something?’ she said, thinking it must be her father.
Angela frowned as she saw the man standing outside her door.
‘Hello, Angela. I hope I haven’t called at an inconvenient time?’
‘I thought you were my father …’ She stared at him, reluctant to ask him in and yet knowing that it would be rude not to. ‘We’ve just had coffee. It may still be warm – or I could make some fresh …’ She hoped her reluctance wasn’t too obvious.
Henry Arnold followed her in, looking about him with interest. ‘I heard you’d bought one of these apartments. Not a bad job – not bad at all, but I still prefer new build to old patched up.’
‘It depends what it is,’ Angela said, annoyed once more; she really loved her apartment. ‘Please sit down, if you wish. What did you want to ask me, Mr Arnold?’
‘Henry, please.’ He didn’t sit down, his smile rather forced. ‘I hope I’m not keeping you from something important?’
‘I’m going into work shortly.’
‘I shan’t keep you long,’ he replied. ‘I wanted to tell you the good news – I’ve found the perfect place for the new St Saviour’s. It’s a couple of miles outside Newmarket – I’ve been able to get us an excellent price on the land and I can’t wait to give my news to the Board at the meeting this week.’
Angela frowned. ‘I wasn’t aware that we were that far advanced with plans to build a home in the country. I’m not at all sure it’s the right time to be thinking of moving the home. We’ve not long opened the new wing—’
‘I dare say you could get a decent price for the building. In fact, I could probably help with that; I have lots of contacts in the trade. Nothing has been agreed yet, though my proposals have been approved in principle – but with this offer, I’m sure that the Board will want to at least secure the land. They would be mad not to.’
‘We’re a long way from having funds to purchase the land and build the kind of place you suggest,’ Angela said. ‘In time, a move to the country might be a good thing, but I think it would be better to wait for a few years and then, when we have all the funding in place, we can think about where it should be situated. Perhaps somewhere in Essex.’
‘I’m not sure I agree with you there. Besides, if you leave it until then you will miss the opportunity of a lifetime. The land is available at a good price, but in a few years it will have become more expensive.’
‘Even so,’ Angela said, ‘I couldn’t recommend going ahead with a large purchase at this stage, I’m afraid. Personally, I’m not convinced that it would be a good move for our children.’
‘Still against me, Angela?’ he asked, a tiny nerve flicking at his temple. ‘Tell me, why don’t you like me?�
� He stared at her in frustration for a moment, then grabbed hold of her by the arms and brought her in close. Before she had time to protest, he was kissing her, kissing hungrily, passionately, and for a moment she felt her reserve melting and her lips softened beneath his, but then, suddenly, she felt a surge of revulsion and pushed him away.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
‘Don’t pretend you haven’t felt it. It’s been there from the first – I want you and I know you feel the same way about me. Why fight me, Angela? We could be a damned good team if you’d only try to see things my way.’
‘I’ve given you no reason to treat me this way,’ she said coldly. Perhaps she had found him attractive, but that kiss had told her all she needed to know. Henry Arnold wasn’t the man for her. She didn’t like him and she didn’t want him to touch her. There was only one man Angela wanted. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Arnold, but I think you should apologise – and then leave. I have no interest in a relationship with you, and I’d be grateful if we could keep matters on a strictly professional basis.’ She tried to keep the tremor out of her voice. ‘I shall give your proposal for St Saviour’s the consideration it deserves.’
‘In other words, you intend to turn it down flat,’ he said, and there was an angry glint in his eyes now. ‘By George, you’re a damned cold fish!’
‘What I am is none of your affair,’ Angela said. ‘Please leave now and don’t call here again.’
‘I’ll get my way, see if I don’t,’ he said, and walked to the door, stopping to turn and deliver his parting shot: ‘I could have helped you with your orphans, Angela. You’ll be sorry you turned me down. If you want to have any hope of keeping your job when we move St Saviour’s to Newmarket, you’d better not try to make trouble for me.’
‘I haven’t started yet,’ Angela said coolly. ‘But I intend to discover exactly what your little scheme is, Mr Arnold. And when I do, I shall inform the Board.’
‘Oh, I do hope you won’t,’ he said in a soft voice that sent shivers down her spine. ‘I should hate it if I were asked whether or not I felt you were right for the post of Administrator and I had to say I wasn’t sure.’
