Worktown Girls at War 03.A Sister’s Fight by Emma Hornby

Author:Emma Hornby [Emma Hornby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529919837
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2024-07-31T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

‘JOAN, LASS? WHAT the ruddy hell are you doing?’

The girl whipped around, onion and knife in hand, and taking in her appearance fully from the front, Livvy fell about chortling.

‘Laugh all you like, but I think it’s a good idea.’ Joan’s muffled response from behind the gas mask she wore was barely intelligible. ‘Strong, these onions are. I couldn’t see a thing trying to peel them – my eyes were streaming.’

Still chuckling, Livvy shook her head. ‘By, you’re a tonic, you. You’re right, mind, it is good thinking, that. Them things have come in useful after all. I know a woman what were telling me that she dons hers whenever she has to change the baby’s dirty napkin.’

Dragging off the rubber contraption, Joan sucked in fresh air gratefully. ‘This don’t smell much better. Pooh, the pong!’

‘I can imagine!’

‘So did you have a nice time at Vera’s?’

Livvy crossed to the kettle, saying vaguely over her shoulder, ‘Aye, it was all right.’

‘Grandma should be here soon. She’s coming round for dinner, asked me to set out another place.’

This had her smiling. She enjoyed their family Sunday meals. ‘Where’s Grandad?’

‘Spending a penny. I think his piles are playing him up again; he’s been up there ages.’

‘Oh, how lovely, and just when we’re about to eat,’ Livvy muttered. Oh, to be back home! ‘D’you need any help, lass?’

‘No, you’re all right. I’m nearly done, just have to shove the dish in t’ oven.’

She smiled again, stroked Joan’s hair, and made back for the living room. Morris appeared just as she was settling down in the chair by the hearth. He flicked his finger at her, indicating that she must move, and she rose with a roll of her eyes and relinquished the seat to him, crossing instead to the sofa.

‘All right, lass?’

‘I am. You?’

‘No, I bloody well ain’t. My you-know-whats are giving me gyp. Terrible, it is; I’d not even wish this on Hitler hisself—’

‘All right, all right. There’s no need to go on. Anyroad, shurrup, you’ll be putting us all off our grub.’

He harrumphed and reached for his pipe and newspaper. ‘Well, pardon me for bleedin’ breathing, I’m sure.’

Though Livvy clicked her tongue, her eyes were filled with affection. ‘And don’t you be harping on about it when Grandma arrives – you know what she’s like. I fancy a bit of peace today.’

‘Blimey, you can’t do nowt beneath this roof without getting a rollicking for it! I must have been one bad bugger in a former life to deserve this. Aye, a reet bad bugger.’

‘Now you remember what I said,’ she told him, getting to her feet as a knock sounded at the front door. ‘Just keep your mucky ailments to yourself.’

‘Mucky? Mucky? There’s nowt mucky about me, you bold swine. Had a stand-up, all-over wash at the sink just this morn, I did!’

Grinning and shaking her head, Livvy went to admit her grandmother.

‘What’s he blathering on about this time? I could hear that gob of his from the end of the path.

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