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Chapter Thirteen

‘Just as well neither of them’s old enough to join up and be a sailor in the navy. They’d sink a ship before the war’s properly started.’ Alice’s rueful comment made her two companions burst out laughing as they observed the boys’ unsuccessful efforts to row their boat in a straight line.

It was a hot Saturday at the beginning of August and Alice, Sophy and Sarah Whitton were lounging on scratchy parched grass that sloped up and away from the Finsbury Park boating lake. They had walked from Campbell Road the short distance in the blistering heat and found a shady spot beneath trees. Gratefully they’d collapsed down on the ground to have a rest. They had begun to pool pennies to see if between them they had enough cash to take a boat out on the lake and still have some left to stop off at a café for a bite to eat on the way home.

A long, low whistle had curtailed their calculations. A moment later a group of youths had bowled up and sat down close by. Danny and Geoff Lovat – who were on friendly terms again now Sophy was back to normal – had been amongst a quartet of young hounds. Herbert Banks, also from Campbell Road, was with them; so was a boy Alice recognised as being out of Queensland Road.

A session of good-natured catcalling back and forth had taken place between the groups of boys and girls for some while. Bored with that, Geoff and Herbert Banks had stood up and wandered off towards the lake. A little while later Alice had watched the two of them – in possession of an oar each – rotating a boat in clumsy circles towards the centre of the lake. It was that amusing sight that had prompted her to make her remark about the war that’d recently been declared on Germany.

The news that they were at war had been shocking, and oddly exciting, but it all seemed very distant and unreal, especially on a glorious carefree summer day such as this.

‘I saw me dad in the week,’ Sarah said. ‘He reckons now he’s lost his job he’s going to volunteer for the army. It’s regular pay ‘n’ grub, he says. And he wants to do his bit for his country.’

Alice frowned. ‘He’s a bit old, ain’t he?’

‘Thirty-seven, I think. I hope they don’t let him in. I don’t want him to be hurt or nuthin’.’

‘Me dad brought in the newspaper and we read all about it. It’s all going to be over by Christmas anyhow,’ Alice told her friend reassuringly. ‘So even if your dad does go to war he’ll be back home before you know it.’

‘I heard Herbert Banks’s been boasting he’s going to go to the recruitin’ office and pretend he’s nineteen so’s he can join up.’

Alice snorted derisively. ‘He don’t even look fifteen even though he is. He won’t get away with that, not even if he draws on whiskers.’

Suddenly the two younger girls realised that Sophy had been unusually quiet during this lively discussion. Presently it was the main topic of conversation for most people. In the factory where Alice worked all the talk at dinnertime was about how the Hun were due a good thrashing.

Alice and Sarah turned their attention on Sophy. She blushed and pouted defensively as she was caught out exchanging a significant stare with Danny.

Danny suddenly leapt up and strolled the few yards over towards them.

‘Wanna take a boat out?’ He directed that exclusively at Sophy. ‘I got the money to pay for it,’ he added with gruff persuasion.

Alice glanced at her sister, expecting to hear Sophy tell him where he could stick his boat and the oars too. But after a moment, and looking bashful, Sophy sprung up and, with a mumble for the girls, went off with him towards the water’s edge. Alice rolled onto her stomach and watched them. Danny helped Sophy get in then they were off and he was having more success than his brother had managed in getting going into deep water. Soon they had caught up with the little craft carrying Geoff and Herbert.

The boy from the Land, stranded alone on the grass, sent Alice and Sarah a hopeful look. But getting no encouragement he obviously came to the conclusion he’d be wasting his time. He got up and slouched back towards the park gate.

‘Thought your Sophy weren’t having no more to do with Danny Lovat.’

Alice raised herself up lazily onto an elbow and gazed again at the sight that had prompted Sarah’s sly remark. Danny looked to be heading towards a secluded part of the lake sheltered from prying eyes by low branches that in places skimmed the still water.

‘Bet Sophy’s glad she weren’t expecting after all. She’d better hope she can keep it that way.’

Alice continued plucking grass stalks and chewing on them. She ignored Sarah’s deliberate comment. She wasn’t getting into that conversation with anyone. Of course, Sarah had known about Sophy thinking she was pregnant. Everyone who’d been home in Campbell Road that Sunday dinnertime had known about Sophy thinking Danny Lovat had got her into trouble. The fight between the two families had been furious enough for the noise to carry out to Highgate Hill. But Alice had never confirmed or denied anything to anyone about it. And now, even her mum had mellowed a bit over it all. Since Margaret Lovat had helped Tilly clean Sophy up they’d started to talk again. Her sister Beth had done a bit of babysitting for the Lovats to earn ha’pennies and Margaret and Bert had started turning up again to the Saturday night singsongs around the piano.

Although the families were no longer at loggerheads Alice was nevertheless rather annoyed that Sophy had gone off so readily with Danny. Clearly she still had a yen for him despite the way he’d treated her, and she wasn’t able to resist when he paid her a bit of attention. Alice felt regretful that she’d not got up and followed them and told Danny Lovat that he’d better treat Sophy right this time.

‘Did you get taken on at the biscuit factory?’ she asked to change the subject. If Sarah continued probing and hinting an argument was sure to erupt between them and Alice felt too warm and lethargic to get involved in any of that. Ever since Alice had started full-time work Sarah had been keen to get a proper job too. But although Ginny Whitton was keen to appropriate Sarah’s part-time earnings from odd jobs she was reluctant to let her youngest daughter be too in dependent. Sarah was the only child left at home now, and Ginny wanted her to be on hand to do her fetching and carrying. Only on odd occasions when she was desperate – usually for a bottle of medicine, as she called it – could Ginny be seen outside the house, hobbling up the road towards the off licence.

‘I didn’t even go for an interview,’ Sarah said sulkily. ‘Me mum put the block on it. Said she’d get the truancy officer on me if I took on full-time. She’d do it too, the cow. Still got me doorsteps in Tollington Park. I did three this morning.’ She looked at Alice. ‘Your Beth got any spare she don’t want to do? I could use another couple to boost me takings.’

Alice briefly shook her head. ‘What will you do when you get to fourteen and she still won’t let you get a proper job?’

‘I’m gonna be off, that’s what I’m gonna do!’ Sarah said emphatically. ‘Ain’t staying with the mad old bag and livin’ off charity ‘n’ scraps forever. ’S’not fair. It’s time Connie or Louisa come back and took a turn with her. I don’t see why I should be the one looking after her till she pegs it.’

Alice sat up. She put her arms around her knees and rested her sharp little chin on them. ‘Is Connie really going to marry that copper?’

‘Dunno. They’re meant to be getting engaged, but that don’t mean nuthin’. No plans for a wedding been made as far as I know. She don’t like his people. All airs ‘n’ graces. Yet she said they’ve not got much to brag about.’

‘At least she got away from The Bunk,’ Alice remarked reflectively.

‘Yeah. Can’t blame her for that, even if she is with a rozzer.’

‘You’ll be a bridesmaid if it’s a fancy do,’ Alice said with a grin. ‘You’ll get to wear a frilly frock and hat ‘n’ all that.’

Sarah scowled unhappily at the thought.

‘Don’t want to imagine how your Louisa’d suit a frilly frock and hat though.’ Alice began to chuckle as she imagined Sarah’s fat bruiser of a sister kitted out all dainty.

‘Bleedin’ hell! What a fright!’ Sarah gasped and joined in with Alice’s increasingly uproarious laughter.

‘Geoff’s on his way back with Herbert.’ Alice wiped her streaming eyes and grinned. ‘Looks like the boat’s home ‘n’ dry after all.’ She watched as the two boys jumped lithely onto dry land.

‘I reckon Geoff’s sweet on you.’ Sarah looked at Alice. ‘I reckon you ‘n’ ’im are going to be walking out together soon.’

‘Don’t be daft.’ Alice blushed. ‘He’s me friend … like you.’ She turned her head away from Sarah’s astute gaze and met Geoff’s eyes. A pleasant little sensation rippled through her as he smiled.

‘I reckon he’d like to be more’n yer friend. You’d best hope he ain’t like his brother with the girls, or you’ll be sorry, like your sister was.’

‘He’s nothing like Danny.’ A firm shake of Alice’s head stressed that. ‘He’s much nicer than Danny. Generous ‘n’ all, he is. Treated me ‘n’ Sophy to something to eat in Blackstock Road last Friday when me mum was on the warpath. She had every penny off us both to square her rents for Mr Keane. Cheek she’s got! She came looking for us after work before we could spend any. Said she’d give us a bit back in the week but she’s not.’

‘Well, he would do, wouldn’t he?’

‘Eh?’ Alice said.

‘Geoff was showing off ’cos he’s keen on you.’

‘Oh, shut up!’ Alice said irritably. The thought of her and Geoff as sweethearts … well, it was daft. As far as she was concerned, she was never marrying anyone tainted by The Bunk. Not even someone as nice as Geoff Lovat. She was going to work hard and save as much as she could and escape to clean air and flowers in the garden.

Besides, Alice impressed on herself, she didn’t have time to bother with romance. What occupied her thoughts was getting better work than she had at the toy factory. Not that she was unhappy there. Although the work was demanding and boring her colleagues were nice enough and she’d struck up quite a friendship with Annie Foster. Annie had helped her no end when she’d first started and had found keeping up with the production rate difficult and the machinery cumbersome to use.

Constantly in Alice’s thoughts was the interesting rumour she’d heard that a new factory was opening up in Isledon Road to make stuff to do with the war. She’d heard that there might be jobs going soldering hand-grenade cases. She’d also heard that the pay was likely to be about twelve shillings. That was more than she was getting in the toy factory. She might still be young but she knew she was an experienced factory hand now. If she needed a reference she was sure that Mr Wright would give her one. She’d worked hard and kept her nose clean. She’d seen a nice skirt and blouse down in Chapel Street market. She’d had enough of her mum buying her stuff second hand. If she was old enough to work full-time she was old enough to buy her own clothes.

‘Bleedin’ hot!’ Geoff exclaimed then flung himself down beside Alice on the grass.

Herbert sat down too before lying back and shielding his eyes with his arm. ‘We goin’ off to the flicks this afternoon?’ he mumbled against his sleeve to Geoff.

‘Nah,’ Geoff replied, squinting into the distance. ‘It’ll be sweltering in the fleapit on a day like this.’

‘We were just saying,’ Alice ribbed him, ‘hope you two ain’t about to apply for a job in the navy. You’d sink ships.’

‘Weren’t that bad,’ Geoff jovially protested. ‘Got back on dry land alright. Anyhow Dan can be skipper.’ He concentrated his narrowed gaze on the spot in the lake where his brother was smoothly rowing. ‘He looks like he’s got the hang of it alright.’

‘That ain’t all he’s got the ’ang of by the looks of it.’ Herbert smirked insinuatingly. He peered from under his arm at Alice. ‘Your sister don’t never learn, then.’

Alice jumped up. She didn’t like Herbert much at the best of times. She remembered him sticking his oar in on the day that Louisa had set about Sarah over her missing blouse. ‘You want to mind your own business, Banksie,’ she said. She looked at Sarah. ‘I’m going to walk down to the water and wait for Sophy. Coming?’

‘What for?’ Sarah sighed and used a hand to fan her warm face. ‘Be better off waiting here in the shade. We’ll get roasted by the sun.’

Alice knew that was true but she simply wanted to avoid any more hints or questions concerning her sister and Danny Lovat and what they thought they were playing at, considering all the trouble they’d caused.

‘See you later then,’ she said and started to walk off towards the water.

Geoff levered himself up. He fell into step beside Alice. Obliquely she was aware that Sarah had got up too and was following them, probably to avoid being left alone with Herbert.

‘Me mum’ll kill her if she finds out she’s knockin’ about with him again,’ Alice suddenly burst out in a low hiss and slanted Geoff an angry look. ‘She’s a bloody fool going off with him like that!’

‘He ain’t exactly using his head either,’ Geoff said quietly. ‘P’raps he’s just got something he wants to say to her and that’s why he’s took her off alone.’

‘What? Like sorry?’ Alice suggested sarcastically.

‘Yeah … like sorry,’ Geoff replied. ‘I know he is and I know ‘n’ all he wouldn’t have the guts to do it with all of us around.’

‘D’you think that’s it, then?’

Geoff nodded. ‘Yeah … I do. He says he’s going down the recruiting office to volunteer. Dunno if he was being serious or larkin’ about.’

‘He must be larkin’ about,’ Alice scoffed. ‘He’s not yet seventeen. They won’t take him till he’s nineteen.’

‘Well, he’s not going to say his right age, is he?’ Geoff gently pointed out. ‘He could pass for quite a bit older than he is. Peter Slater out of the Land who works down the market with Dan got took on. He’s sixteen and he’s already been over Woolwich Common on drill.’

‘You look as old as Danny.’ Alice glanced at Geoff, her expression solemn, an ache tightening beneath her ribs. ‘Are you going down the recruiting office too?’

‘Not sure yet. What I do know is that there’s not much in a shit hole like Campbell Bunk to stay put for, except me family ‘n’ friends … like you.’

‘You’ve got a good job,’ Alice said quickly, hoping to dissuade him from going to enlist. ‘You’ll get on and get out of The Bunk. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to get on and get out.’

‘Can’t see me mum ‘n’ dad being pleased to see me get on ‘n’ get out,’ Geoff remarked wryly. ‘Not when they’ve got four little ’uns and none of them close to leaving school. They’ll want me ‘n’ Dan to hang around fer years yet.’

Alice nodded slowly. She knew that was true. Her parents – especially her mum – had the same view on things. They wanted their older kids – the ones bringing in a bit of pay – to stick around for ever so they could put all their earnings in the family kitty.

They had reached the water’s edge and both stood staring out over its glittering grey surface. The boat with Danny and Sophy glided closer and beached some yards away. With self-conscious courtesy Danny helped Sophy alight.

‘We’re goin’ off down Blackstock to get something to eat,’ Geoff yelled at his brother.

‘I never said I would, Geoff Lovat,’ Alice shrewishly reminded him.

‘They’ll come too,’ he said with a private smile for her. ‘Then we can find out all what’s goin’ on between them.’ Geoff looked back at Sarah and Herbert who were dawdling about behind, looking bored. ‘Best get rid of them two or we won’t find out nuthin’. Dan’ll clam up.’

‘Sarah’s me friend. I can’t just tell her to get lost,’ Alice protested.

‘Tell her you’re going home. We’ll take a detour up The Bunk then when her and Banksie’s shook off, we’ll keep on going and find out what these two are looking so pleased about.’

Alice took a look at her sister and knew straight off that indeed she was looking secretly pleased with herself, so she must be up to something. Sophy’s eyes were shining and she could barely tear her gaze from Danny’s face.

‘Alright. We’ll get rid of Banksie and Sarah,’ Alice agreed, ‘and carry on down the caff.’ As Geoff turned to walk back she fell into step beside him. ‘If Sophy says her ‘n’ Danny are walking out again me mum’ll have her guts fer garters. Then after that she’ll murder him,’ she warned Geoff, not wholly joking.

‘Certainly don’t look like he’s said he’s off fighting the Hun. Your sister looks right happy about something.’

‘She did say … a while ago … that she reckoned he deserved a good thumping. Perhaps she’s hoping the Germans’ll give it to him.’ With that parting shot Alice speeded up and, linking arms with Sarah, the little party proceeded towards the park gate.