The Boy Who Flew by Fleur Hitchcock

Author:Fleur Hitchcock [Fleur Hitchcock]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788005104
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2019-03-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Polly and I sit on either side of Beatty’s bed, far into the night.

“Have you found work?” Polly whispers.

I shake my head. “No, but I will.”

“She’s sending Beatty away.” The words are very quiet in the dark room, and I look at Polly to see if she really said it.

Her eyes are damp. “The Colonel says he can take Beatty to a charity hospital in London where they can look after her and cure her legs.”

“But, Poll, she can’t!”

“I don’t see how we can stop it. We––” Polly goes quiet.

Ma stands in the doorway, her face stretched into a wide smile. “I’ll take over now, Poll. You get some sleep.” But I can see she’s been crying.

We sit on either side of Beatty’s bed until the city goes silent.

“She’s peaceful now,” whispers Ma. “But I’ll stay till light.”

I lean back on my chair and watch them.

Hen and chick.

“What a day!” She smiles. “What a lovely man. Paid the doctor’s bill for your uncle, no questions asked.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s a nice man.” Ma strokes Beatty’s cheek. “He can change all our lives, a man like that.”

I say nothing.

“Such a fine upstanding man. Broad shouldered. Kind. I never would have thought—”

I have to say something.

“Ma, you don’t know anything about him.”

“I do. He’s told me lots. All very impressive.”

“I…” I can’t say it. “You can’t send Beatty away. It’s not right.”

She looks up at me, her face red and wet. “I don’t want to, boy, but I don’t have a choice. This’ll give Beatty the chance of a better life.”

“Beatty’s almost never been out of the house. You can’t send her to live in some hospital.” I try to sound calm. “She’ll be miserable.”

I imagine Beatty carted off in a wagon, the Colonel smiling alongside her.

“You only met him this morning.”

“He’s a bit rough about the edges, I grant you, but solid underneath.” She picks a curl from Beatty’s forehead and pushes it to the side. “He’ll look after her.”

“Ma, listen. You can’t trust him! You don’t know him!”

“I do – I can. You’ll work for the nightmen and Beatty’ll be safe in a hospital, it’s the way—”

“Ma! Stop! Think what you’re doing to the family.”

“Off you go, boy – go to sleep now.”

She waves me away and I rise from the bedside.

“Don’t trust him – he’s—”

But she pushes me out through the door and leaves me standing on the landing in the dark.

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