East End Angel Part 5

'I saw Jenny a week ago. I've seen her a few times, Mum, and she asked how you were all keeping ...'

Winnie shot upright, her face whitening in shock and anger. 'I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that,' she croaked. 'So don't you say no more. Yer father always asks what we talked about after you've gone. Don't go putting me in a position where I'm to lie to cover up.' She scrubbed her hands nervously on her pinafore.

Winifred hadn't spoken to her other daughter for five years. She'd spotted her on a couple of occasions in the distance but had managed to hurry in the opposite direction, avoiding any awkwardness. Now Winnie wondered if she would recognise Kathy's twin if she walked past her in the street.

'I know she'd like to see you, Mum,' Kathy continued determinedly. 'I think it might get her back on track.'

'Ain't nothing gonna put that one back on track,' Winnie hissed, finger quivering close to Kathy's nose. 'She's too far gone ... has been fer years ...'

'How d'you know that if you've not spoken to her?' Kathy asked, keen to keep the dialogue going. 'If you just see her for half an hour and have a talk, I'm sure it'd help her.'

'Won't help me, though, will it, when yer father finds out and goes bonkers? Didn't help Tom, did it, when the little cow went off with Bill Black and all h.e.l.l broke loose?' Winnie's voice had risen hysterically and she'd grown so rigid she teetered on her tiptoes.

Kathy let her hand drop back to the table when Winnie dodged away from her comforting fingers.

'Don't just write Jennifer off, Mum ... please. She's our flesh and blood.'

It was as though Kathy's appeal went unheard. Winnie had turned her back on her but m.u.f.fled sniffling was audible. Kathy sighed, knowing she was defeated for now. Her mother's fears about Eddie's reaction were valid. If her father discovered that she was in touch with her disgraced twin, Kathy suspected she, too, would be banished from darkening his doorstep. She sipped lukewarm tea, wondering why she persevered with trying to preserve her family ties when it all seemed so hopeless. But some sense of duty and affection sent her regularly to visit her parents, and to check on Jennifer. Kathy genuinely cared about them all Tom especially despite the fact that at times she felt they were all driving her mad.

'Sorry, Mum ... shouldn't have gone on about it like that.' Slowly, Kathy pushed herself upright to put an arm about her mother's shaking shoulders.

Winnie elbowed herself free. 'I'll fetch us some biscuits and put the kettle on again.' She had her pinafore up, dabbing her eyes. Behind it she attempted to sound jolly. 'Got some custard creams and a few bourbons, if yer father's left us a few in the barrel, that is ... greedy pig ...' Winnie hurried away into the kitchen and automatically thrust the kettle under the squeaking tap. But her mind was lively with distressing memories as she added fresh tea leaves to those stewing in the pot.

When barely fifteen years old, Kathy's twin had begun acting like a little tart, showing them up something rotten. She had been slyly seeing Bill Black despite him being ten years older than she was, and her father's business partner. The dreadful affair had resulted in her running off to live with Bill in Lambeth, stealing all her father's savings to take with her. The resultant feud between Bill and Eddie had had devastating consequences for them all. But it was the fact that Tom had got drawn into it that saddened Winifred the most. She was sure that the episode had sent her son off the rails ...

'It's all right, Mum, don't bother making another cuppa for me ... I'm off out.'

'You're not going already?' Winnie spun about, her lined features crumpling in disappointment. 'You've only just got here, Kathy,' she said plaintively. 'Can't you catch a later bus back to the East End?'

'I'm not going home, Mum,' Kathy rea.s.sured quickly, hoping her mother didn't think she'd go off in a huff because they'd almost quarrelled. 'I thought I'd take a walk up the road and see if I can find Tom. I haven't spoken to him for a while. He was out last time I came over.'

'Oh ... if you want to then.' Winnie would sooner keep her daughter's company, but at least Kathy wasn't yet heading home. 'If you do catch up with him, give him a talking to, will you, dear? He might listen to you,' Winnie added optimistically. 'Tell him his tea's ready. It might bring him home, if his belly's grumbling.'

Kathy b.u.t.toned her coat as she walked around the corner, then plunged her chilly hands into her pockets. It was late April Easter had come and gone yet the weather was still cold. In the mornings, when off to do her rounds, she'd stand at the bus stop, stamping her frozen feet to try to warm them. At least when she'd had her bike she'd not noticed the chill: the exertion of pedalling had soon got her circulation going ...

Kathy glanced up on hearing someone hail her. She raised a hand to Cissy d.i.c.kens, swinging a shopping bag, no doubt on her way home with a few groceries. The woman had stopped expectantly on the opposite pavement but Kathy kept on walking, knowing it was gossip she was after.

Her mother was right to suspect the inquisitiveness of her neighbours. Local women with their heads together had been a common sight when Kathy had been living at home. They'd had plenty of grist for the mill from her family. The noise of fights and arguments had issued forth with depressing regularity from the Finch household. But then Cissy often let fly with pots and pans and choice names when her old man stumbled in drunk Sunday dinnertimes.

Her father tippled only infrequently and usually at home. Winnie's sour explanation had been that her husband was too mean to add to the brewery's profit, and besides, he had no friends to go to the pub with. Considering the amount of local families who'd been impoverished by alcohol, Kathy reckoned her mother should give thanks for small mercies on that score.

Kathy carried on into Paddington Street, heading in the direction of Campbell Road. There'd been no sign yet of Tom and she expected to find him, as her mother had predicted, in the Bunk, as it was commonly known. It was also known with good reason as the worst street in north London, due to its reputation for housing all manner of rogues and vagabonds needing a cheap place to doss.

Not all of the Bunk's residents were pa.s.sing through, though; some had lived in the street for a number of years. Kathy knew many of them were good souls who had very little but willingly went short to help others. In the distance she could see just such a person. She immediately broke into a jog, waving, because she'd not seen Matilda Keiver in a long while and it looked as though the woman was about to disappear indoors and deny her the chance of a chat.

CHAPTER NINE.

'h.e.l.lo, Mrs Keiver, how are you doing?' Kathy called breathlessly, coming to a halt by some iron railings fronting a tenement house.

The road in which her parents lived was hardly posh but it was a definite step up on the neighbourhood in which Kathy now found herself. Campbell Road was wide, stretching away into the distance in one direction as far as the eye could see. Looking the other way, Kathy could see a bus crossing the junction with Seven Sisters Road. The tall houses flanking the street were much of a muchness whichever side of Paddington Street they occupied. The majority received little maintenance from their landlords, although the rent collectors called round regularly. Some properties no longer had front doors, just gaping openings hinting at the decay within. Poor wretches desperate to keep warm in winter used anything to hand as firewood, including the fixtures and fittings. Years ago, Kathy had visited Mrs Keiver's daughter Lucy at home in this very house and therefore knew how dilapidated were the rooms.

'Not seen you in a long while, luv.' Matilda's face split in a grin as she emerged again from the house, blinking, to join Kathy in the weak spring sunshine. 'I can see you're doing all right fer yourself, then. Over in Islington to see yer mum, are you?' The middle-aged woman gave Kathy's wholesome appearance a top-to-toe squint.

Kathy sensed the woman's beady blue eyes a.s.sessing her, and knew Matilda was busily working things out in her mind. Matilda Keiver was a plain speaker and didn't make apologies for it.

'So ... what you doing round in the Bunk, Kathy?' Matilda asked. 'After your brother, are you? I know Winnie would sooner he stayed clear of the street and all us bad influences.' She pulled a comical face, mock-affronted.

Matilda did indeed know that Winifred Finch had always thought herself better than the Bunk's residents, but, although they'd had their differences in the past, Matilda didn't hold the woman's att.i.tude against her. She knew that the Finches had had a rough ride over the years, just as she had herself. Matilda had a feeling Winnie and Eddie might have more trouble in store if their son didn't straighten himself out.

'I am after Tom. Seen him, have you, Mrs Keiver?'

'He was about earlier, larking about with Davy Wright.' She glanced towards the Wrights' house further up the street. At present there was n.o.body around outside. 'I know your mum don't like him knocking about with Davy.' Matilda pulled a face. 'Gotta say, I'm with her on that one. I've told Davy he's got a bit too big for his boots lately.'

'Been showing off, has he?' Kathy recalled that Davy had been a bit of a c.o.c.ky lad. He came from a very poor family, even by Bunk standards. Despite his cheekiness, she'd always found him likeable.

'Yeah, he's showing off all right.' Matilda sighed. 'Not that I ever had no boys to bring up, but I know that's how lads get once they get the urge to find a girl.' She frowned. 'Got caught smashing the winders round in the Lennox Road mission hall. Police got called and he got took to court but don't seem to have learned him a lesson. Still swaggering about, he is.' Matilda narrowed her eyes, wedging some stray auburn locks into the coil on top of her head. 'Feel sorry for his mum, more'n anything. Polly's still pulling that handcart round the streets to try and make ends meet by selling a bit of soda and soap. You'd think Davy would give a hand 'stead of causing trouble for her.' Matilda crossed her arms over her chest. 'If I was Polly Wright, I'd send the little sod off to the East End to live with his father. Let Stan have a go at controlling Davy; see how he likes it.'

Kathy knew that Davy was the youngest of five boys. She knew too that their father, Stan, had run out on the family years ago to set up with another woman.

Tough tale that it was, and sorry as Kathy felt for Davy's mum, she didn't contemplate the Wrights' misfortune for long; there were plenty of cases of similar hardship in the Bunk. Kathy was more concerned with whether her brother might be mixed up in it all.

'Mum hasn't said anything about it to me ...'

'Don't think your Tom was involved. Or if he was he kept hisself well hid. Just a little crowd of lads from round here got rounded up.'

'I expect Davy will straighten out when he gets a job.' Kathy was relieved she'd nothing to recount or conceal when she got back to her mother.

'Reckon Davy already has left school, even if he shouldn't have done. He hangs about in the street most of the day and you know what they say about idle hands ...' Matilda arched her eyebrows in emphasis. 'Polly was trying to sort him out a part-time job now he's turned thirteen.' Matilda shook her head. 'She's got a task on her hands the way the unemployment is.'

'Are Davy's brothers still about?'

Matilda shook her head. 'Samuel and Douglas ended up inside for robbery. The other two ... last I heard, they'd hightailed it up North to find jobs as nuthin' doing round here. Can't see that working out for 'em, being as the Jarrow lads are fighting empty bellies.' Matilda leaned back against the railings, smiling at Kathy. 'Enough about the boys, what about you? All trained up now at the hospital, are you?'

'I've left the hospital. I'm working as a district nurse and midwife, working out of Dr Worth's surgery on Old Montague Street in Whitechapel.'

'Ooh, crikey.' Matilda was genuinely impressed. None of her daughters had been scholars but all had been hardworking girls before they settled down to raise families. 'Helped many babies into the world, have you, Kathy?'

'Nineteen, exactly, on my own. If you add on those I did with a bit of help from me supervisor when I was a probationer, it's more like twenty-five.' Kathy chuckled. 'Last one was on Monday: little girl who weighed over nine pounds and the poor mum went a fortnight overdue.'

Matilda screwed up her face, wincing. 'Ooh! Bet that made the poor cow's eyes water.' She announced proudly, 'All my gels was dainty little things. Beth weighed the most at seven and a half pounds. I had old Lou Perkins in to help me each time ...' She darted a glance at Kathy, knowing that such help was outlawed now. 'Course, that's what you did in them days; no nice young nurses on call for the likes of us. Couldn't afford it, for a start. Old Lou would be happy enough with a bottle of port as a thank-you, or a few whiskies down her, round in the Duke.' Matilda gazed dreamily into s.p.a.ce as she recalled youthful days when her first husband had been alive. 'Had all my kids before the Great War, y'see, Kathy. My Jack, G.o.d Bless him, was still alive then. Saw all our gels brung into the world, he did. Idolised 'em all, and they adored their dad.'

Kathy was used to women reminiscing with her about their own experiences the moment they knew of her profession. Usually, she was regaled with horror stories about lengthy labours necessitating martyr-like bravery. But Matilda had a different sort of stoicism. Having battled for survival in the Bunk over decades, coping with a difficult labour was probably the least painful of her memories.

'How's Reg?' It was common knowledge Matilda and her second husband weren't actually married, although they'd been living as man and wife for many years.

'Oh, he's much the same; still doing his totting. Keeps him outta mischief and brings in a few bob. And I do mean a few bob.' Matilda blew out her lips in a sigh. 'Tough old life, ain't it? Keep hoping things'll get better. Had them Fascists round here the other day causing trouble down by Seven Sisters Road. Bricks got thrown.'

'Mosley's Blackshirts?' Kathy sounded surprised. David often spoke about the Fascist Party recruiting in the East End but she'd not heard they were making a nuisance of themselves in north London too. Her boyfriend had been on duty not so long ago, when he'd had to attend a clash between Mosley's supporters and anti-Fascist protestors in Limehouse.

'They think people like us are interested in listening to all their claptrap 'cos we're poor so must hate all the immigrants.' Matilda shrugged. 'Course some folk round here do side with 'em. I opened up me window and bawled at them to sling their hooks 'cos me husband's Irish. Didn't like that, did they.' Matilda threw back her head, roaring with laughter. 'Bunch of hypocrites the lot of 'em. Don't like the foreigners, so they say, yet they got their ideas off the Germans and Eyeties.' Matilda crossed her arms over her chest. 'Course, I ain't got anything against Mosley's crew any more than the others. I tell the Sally Army to clear off 'n' all when they come round preaching. Never been political and don't like no interference 'cos none of 'em ever really helps the likes of us.' She gave a smirk. 'Wasting their time trying to convert me, or save me fer that matter ...' She broke off having seen Beattie Evans coming out of her front door. Behind her were a couple of youths. Matilda gave Kathy's arm a light prod.

'There's your Tom, over there with Davy. Me neighbour's probably given 'em a bit of grub.'

Kathy swivelled to see her brother and Davy Wright slouching across the road. Beattie raised a hand in greeting, then headed off towards the corner shop. Kathy knew the middle-aged widow had a soft spot for hungry kids. She also liked a bit of company. Tom had told her before that Beattie Evans had invited him and his friends in to have a cup of tea and a bit of bread and jam when she was feeling generous. All they had to do in return was listen to her nattering on about the olden days until they'd curbed their hunger and could scarper.

'I suppose I'd better get off and see what Tom's been up to.' Kathy could see from her brother's expression that he was torn between acting nonchalant in front of his friend or running up to her. He raised a lazy hand in greeting, leaving it at that.

Before Kathy had got far, Matilda halted her.

'How's your sister doing? See anything of Jennifer, do you?'

'Yeah ... I see her on and off.' Kathy smiled faintly. 'She's about the same.'

'One day it'll all come right, you'll see.' Matilda gave a kind smile. 'When you see her next tell her I say h.e.l.lo.'

'I will ... thanks,' Kathy answered gruffly. Matilda had known about the bust-up that Bill Black had caused in their family, as did a good many local people.

'Well, I'd better get inside and sort Reg out something for his tea. He'll be home soon.' Matilda gave Kathy's shoulder a farewell pat. 'Remember me to yer mum, as well, won't you?' flowed back over her stout shoulder as she disappeared inside the dank hallway.

Tom noticed Davy's eyes pinned to his sister's face as she approached. Kathy was pretty, and all the boys, even those like Davy who were a lot younger than she, tended to stare. Some had even made rude comments about her, making him feel awkward.

'Not at work then?' Tom said gruffly by way of greeting.

'Afternoon off ...' Kathy replied. She gave Davy a smile. He did look different from when she'd last seen him about a year ago. His complexion was spotty and a dark film covered his top lip as though a moustache wanted to sprout. He certainly looked big enough to be out earning a living. By comparison, her brother seemed like a schoolboy.

'Shame you ain't got yer uniform on.' Davy leered at her. 'I'm feeling right dizzy, Nurse, and could do with you examining me all over.'

'Ha-ha.' Kathy gave him a p.r.o.nounced sickly smile. It wasn't the first time she'd heard something similar from a brash male. Davy Wright was just the youngest to try it on and she felt disappointed that he had. Matilda was right: the lad had changed, and not for the better.

'Shut up,' Tom whacked his friend's arm, shoving him away. 'Goin' home,' he muttered, and started off towards Paddington Street with Kathy, ignoring Davy making a lewd gesture.

'Davy older than you, is he?' Kathy asked.

'Only six months,' Tom replied defensively. He knew what his sister meant: he appeared far younger than his friend now Davy's voice had broken and he'd started growing whiskers. 'Mum sent you round to get me, did she?' he asked sullenly.

'It was my idea to come round to find you 'cos I missed you last time I came over to Islington.' Kathy sensed her brother's moodiness.

'Well, don't go asking me loads of questions 'cos I ain't telling you stuff so you can tell her.'

'What's got your goat?' Kathy grabbed his arm, halting him. 'I've only come to say h.e.l.lo because I'm off back to Whitechapel soon. Wish I'd not bothered now.'

Tom had the grace to blush. He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, walking on. 'It's just ... I've had enough of Mum always going on at me,' he threw over a shoulder.

'Not surprised she's going on at you if you're always so b.l.o.o.d.y tetchy. When you leaving school?' Kathy asked. 'I reckon you need a job.'

'Soon as I can.' Tom brightened. 'Dad said I can go and work for him.'

Kathy muttered beneath her breath. Her father was a criminal who fenced stolen goods for a living and she was amazed that he'd carried on his dodgy activities for so long without serving a spell in prison. As far as she knew, he'd never had any other sort of work and had been ducking and diving since he got demobbed at the end of the Great War. Her mum excused what Eddie did by saying it had been the only work he could find at the time. A mult.i.tude of men had returned home to compete for employment. Her father had never once discussed in Kathy's hearing what he did, but she knew the war had ended a long time ago and her father had had plenty of time to sort himself out a decent career. Eddie carried on because the money he made was far more than a regular job would pay.

'Mum knows all about the plan for you to go into the family business, does she?' Kathy tilted her head to read her brother's expression.

'No, she don't! And don't you go telling her. Dad said to keep quiet about it 'cos she'd give us both earache. She reckons I should get a job as a clerk.' Tom's top lip curled, displaying his lack of enthusiasm for a desk job.

Kathy stifled a giggle at the idea that her brother would be accepted for such a position. 'And what about Davy? Is he getting a job?'

'He's got a job,' Tom blurted, then looked fl.u.s.tered.

'What's he doing then?' Kathy prompted.

'He's learning to be a croupier at the weekend over on the corner there.' Tom jerked his head at the Paddington Street junction. 'Sometimes he's dogger-out for the men instead, but he don't get as much doing that. Earns a packet sometimes when he gets the pitch to himself.' Tom added enviously, 'Wish I could have a crack at it.'

Kathy knew that illegal street gambling had been going on at that spot for decades. She was also aware that some local kids earned tips acting as lookouts for the players. The coppers who patrolled the area soon put a stop to the illicit activities and were known to confiscate the proceeds, if they managed to lay their hands on it and escape. The gamesters in the Bunk didn't take kindly to losing their stakes and were not averse to cutting up rough to ensure they didn't.

'You'd better steer well clear of it or all h.e.l.l will break loose when Mum and Dad find out.' Kathy sighed. Her father might encourage her brother to join him ducking and diving but he'd be dead set against his son getting involved in anybody else's shenanigans.

CHAPTER TEN.

Kathy had been waiting glumly at the bus stop for ten minutes when she noticed a posh vehicle slowing down at the traffic lights. She frowned, wondering why the car seemed familiar. The driver turned his head and saw her just as she was about to look away. He obviously recognised her too because he c.o.c.ked his head, smiling, then pointed, indicating he would pull over.

The penny dropped and Kathy felt a bit fl.u.s.tered. It was nice of him to stop, she supposed, but it wasn't really necessary. Nevertheless, from politeness, she lost her place in the queue to approach him. She recalled he'd introduced himself but could only dredge up his surname. It had stuck in her mind because of a contrast with his fair hair.

'h.e.l.lo, Mr Raven,' Kathy greeted him with a smile. Last time they'd met in dim lamplight and she'd been bleary-eyed with tiredness, but she recalled thinking him good-looking. She hadn't changed her opinion on seeing him more clearly. 'Have you got over the shock yet of being my apprentice?'

'Not really,' Nick replied ruefully, coming round the car to join her on the pavement. 'I've been kicking myself for not chucking a bucket of water over Charlie sooner and letting him take over.'

'I'm eternally grateful that you didn't do that,' Kathy declared vehemently. Having that brute snarling on her shoulder at such a crucial time for mother and baby was a truly horrifying idea.

'Came up to scratch for you, did I?' Nick asked throatily, strolling closer.

Kathy glanced up bashfully into a pair of slate-grey eyes. 'You did very well, and I was grateful for your help.' She edged away, feeling overwhelmed by his proximity. 'Mr Potter would have been a hindrance, not a help. He's an unpleasant character.'

'Quite an understatement ...' Nick remarked drily, looking her slim figure, dressed in civvies, up and down. 'Off duty today then, are you?'