Tommy shaking as he cowered behind a kitchen chair. ‘What’s going on?’ Sarah asked, confused.
‘You’re supposed to be looking after him, but while you’ve been snoring your head off, the little bastard has tipped me gin down the sink! I’ll kill him, I swear I’ll skin the bleeder alive!’
Sarah jumped from the sofa and ran to scoop Tommy into her arms. ‘Sorry, Mum. He don’t know any better. Please, don’t take it out on him … I’ll get you some more gin.’
‘Too right you will, but I’m telling you that little sod is still gonna get a good hiding from me, and if you try and stop me, you’ll get the same!’
Sarah knew only too well what her mother was like and that she wouldn’t back down. Though Annie was small-framed, she could still pack a punch, and Sarah feared for Tommy more than she did for herself.
‘Please, Mum, I’ll go now and get the gin. Don’t hit the boy, he won’t do it again,’ Sarah said as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
‘For Christ’s sake, girl, you’re too soft with that precious brother of yours. I don’t care how much you turn on the waterworks, he ain’t getting away with it!’
Sarah could feel Tommy quivering in her arms and watched in horror as her mother went for the cane she kept next to her mattress. Annie didn’t use it often, preferring to deliver a slap or a punch, but when she did produce the cane, Sarah knew it meant business. She still had the scars across her buttocks to prove it.
Tommy seemed to sense Sarah’s fears and began crying hysterically. She’d do anything for the boy, whatever it would take to protect him from the intense pain she’d experienced from one of her mother’s lashings. ‘I won’t allow you to whip Tommy!’ she said firmly.
‘You won’t allow me? Who the hell do you think you are? You’ll do as you’re bloody well told, so either hand over the boy or get out for good, the pair of you!’
Sarah’s heart raced. She could tell her mother was on the brink of complete rage. If they were to avoid a beating, she’d have to act fast. In a panic and without stopping to collect any of their belongings, she drew in a deep breath, bracing herself before heading for the front door. If she left now, she knew there would be no turning back, but what other choice did she have? She threw her mother one final look, then turned quickly and walked through the door.
Tommy could see over her shoulder and suddenly screamed, ‘Run, Sarah! Run!’
As she picked up her pace and ran along the corridor, Sarah looked behind her and caught a glimpse of her mother hard on their heels, hand raised in the air, ready to lash out with the cane. It was the last thing she saw before she turned and fled down the stairs, gasping with relief when her mum didn’t follow, but her foul language echoed down the stairwell as she threatened to shred the skin off their backs if they dared to come back.
Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she vowed never to return to her mother’s flat again.
Annie paced the floor. Her daughter had really messed things up for her this time. She had no gin, no money and no customers. She knew it would be pointless to go begging to Cyril as he’d recently thrown her out of his pub, and on more than one occasion too. She could go cap in hand to Eddy, but after the slap she’d given him earlier, she doubted she’d get a welcome reception there either.
Feeling exhausted and exasperated, she slumped on the edge of the sofa and sat with her legs splayed, chewing her fingernails. The agitation caused by the need for a drink was driving her crazy. In a bid to calm herself and think clearly, she drew in a few long deep breaths and leaned back to rest. Sarah’s coat was over the back of the sofa, and as Annie laid her head on it, she felt something hard in the pocket.
She grabbed the coat and frantically began rifling through the pockets. Then, to her relief and delight, she found several coins. This is the least you owe me, Annie thought as licked her lips at the thought of buying some gin. She gathered the money and glanced around the flat. It felt strangely empty and lonely, but Annie was resolute. If her kids had the audacity to show their faces here again, she’d give them what for. Good riddance to ’em, she thought, and untied the key on the back of the door so they couldn’t get in. After all, Sarah was eighteen now, and hardly a child. Annie had done her bit to bring her up, and now she reasoned it was time the girl made her own way in the world and found out what life is really like.
It was getting dark and Sarah could see Tommy was tired and cold, especially as all he had on his legs was a pair of thin shorts. She wished she’d taken the time to at least grab their coats, but with the fear of their mother’s wrath, she hadn’t been thinking clearly.
‘Sarah, I’m so worn out. Can’t we go back home now?’
‘No, love, sorry. That’s not our home any more,’ she told him as she reached for his hand to gently pull him along.
‘So, where’s our home then?’
That’s a very good question, thought Sarah. She knew she had to find somewhere for them to sleep but with no family, friends or money she felt at a complete loss.
‘Please, Sarah, my feet hurt, let’s go home,’ Tommy whined, and began coughing.
It sounded chesty again, and Sarah knew she had to find them somewhere to rest. ‘Here, sit on this wall a minute while I get me thinking cap on,’ she said, trying to sound cheery, though really she felt in utter despair. She lifted the boy and placed him on a garden wall.
‘I’m cold …’ Tommy moaned again.
‘I know you are, love,’ Sarah said, then wrapped her arms around her brother.
Then it came to her. Mr Sayers’ shed! It had been four years since she had been there, and she hoped the old couple still owned the house. If they did, the back gate might still be unlocked and so would the shed. It wasn’t ideal, but it would do for tonight. At least they would have some shelter. ‘Come on, little man, we’re going on an adventure!’ she said with a renewed vigour.
‘What adventure?’ Tommy asked, not showing quite the same enthusiasm as his sister.
‘We’re going to find a secret hut, and maybe, if we’re as quiet as mice, we may find some treasure in there!’
Tommy’s eyes lit up and he jumped from the wall. ‘What treasure, Sarah? Where’s the secret hut? Have pirates been in the hut? Is it Captain Hook’s treasure?’
Sarah chuckled. Peter Pan was Tommy’s favourite story. ‘I don’t know, we’ll have to find out for ourselves, but remember what I said – we have to be very, very quiet.’
Tommy nodded, and they set off for Mr Sayers’ old shed.
Half an hour later, Sarah was pleased to find the back gate unlocked and, as she looked up the garden path, she was relieved to see the house in darkness. She turned to Tommy and placed a finger over her lips. ‘Shush,’ she whispered.
Tommy clung on to Sarah’s skirt, almost hiding behind her. With trepidation, they crept through the gate and up to the shed. Sarah pulled on the door. Thank goodness, she thought as the door creakily opened. She shot a look over her shoulder. There wasn’t any sign of movement from the house, so she quickly pulled Tommy inside with her, then gritted her teeth at the sound of the door creaking again as she closed it. She just had to hope the noise hadn’t disturbed anyone.
‘I don’t like it in here … it’s dark, Sarah,’ Tommy said.
‘It’s all right, look,’ she replied, and then pulled back a piece of gingham material that was stretched on a curtain wire over a small window.
Once the curtain was open, half of the shed was illuminated with moonlight.
‘There