Tilly's Story by June Francis & June Francis

Author:June Francis & June Francis
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911591412
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2017-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Tilly’s heart was beating heavily as she waited for someone to answer the door. It had taken her much longer than she had imagined to gather everything together, place it in the pram and wheel it there.

‘Who is it?’ shrilled a voice.

‘It’s Tilly Moran from the Seamen’s Friends. I was here earlier with Mrs Bennett.’

Bolts were drawn back and the door opened to reveal Patricia standing there with the baby balanced on her narrow hip. ‘What is it yer want?’

‘I’ve clothes, blankets, food and stuff for your family,’ said Tilly in a low voice.

The girl’s face went blank with surprise and then she gazed down at the pram and smiled. ‘In there?’ she asked, a lilt in her voice.

Tilly smiled. ‘Yes.’

‘Yer’d best bring it in but yer can’t stay,’ whispered Patricia.

‘I don’t want to stay,’ said Tilly frankly. ‘I’m late and I’ve other things to do, so if you could get out the way?’

The girl moved aside, hushing the baby when it whimpered.

‘What’s goin’ on?’ asked a child’s voice out of the gloom.

‘Mind yer business, Kathleen,’ Patricia hissed, ‘and stay where you are.’

Tilly heaved the pram into the front room, feeling the pull in the muscles of her back and neck. She was breathing heavily by the time she had wheeled it further into the dimly lit room. ‘Hasn’t the wood and coal arrived yet?’ she asked.

‘No! Nuthin’s come and Mam’s got a-a visitor, erm…’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Mrs Bennett said she would see to it, so you can be sure it’ll come soon. Do you want me to hold the baby while you unpack everything?’

She sensed the girl hesitate. ‘No. The kids’ll help me. Yous can go.’

‘Fine.’ Tilly made for the front door but then hesitated. ‘Have you no lighting in here?’

‘We ain’t got gas. I’ve a stub of candle in the kitchen.’

Tilly made a decision, and despite Eudora having told her they would be visiting some other families known to her tomorrow, she said, ‘I’ll bring you some tomorrow.’

‘No! If the coal and wood comes we’ll have light.’ Patricia touched her arm. ‘Please, go.’

‘What about matches and newspaper?’ Tilly dipped a hand in her pocket and produced a thrupenny bit. ‘Here, use this to buy them.’

Patricia seized the money. ‘Thanks! Tarrah.’

Tilly closed the door behind her, wondering about Mrs Doyle’s visitor. Was it a man? If so, then possibly Eudora Bennett was right. Poor kids! What influence was their mother’s behaviour having on them? Tilly shook the thought away. Right now, she could not wait to get back to the Wrights’ and have something to eat, wash herself all over and fall into bed.

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