Down Daisy Street by Katie Flynn Read Free Book Online Page A

upside down and you’ve had Billy’s illness to cope with,’ she reminded her friend. ‘It ’ud be a bleedin’ miracle if you weren’t paler and thinner. But you’ll find your feet, you and your mam, because you’re fighters, the pair of you. My mam says so and she should know.’
    By now, they had reached the market and were threading their way through the crowds, heading for Mr Raison’s stall. Kathy was glad it was Jane pushing the pram because, had it been she, they would have been constantly held up. Jane, however, simply barged her way through, seemingly indifferent to the toes she crushed and the behinds she bumped, though when the owners turned and swore at her she always apologised very prettily. And of course, Kathy reflected, everyone was in a really good mood. Both customers and stallholders were beaming and the air was full of good smells. Bunches of holly, ivy and mistletoe clustered thickly around every stall; the flower sellers were making up wreaths, brilliant with chrysanthemums and Christmas roses, and Kathy decided to buy a bunch of chrysanthemums to put on her father’s grave, when they visited it after church next day.
    Thinking of her father brought the familiar onrush of sadness, but the feeling was speedily dissipated by the spirit of Christmas which was almost tangible amongst the stallholders and their customers.
    Reaching Mr Raison’s stall, they joined the scrimmage around it, quickly getting to the front as Jane continued to wield the pram like a weapon. Mr Raison beamed at them, for both girls were regulars, buying what meat they could afford from him whenever they were sent on messages to the market. ‘Whazzit to be today, young ladies?’ he said jovially. ‘I’ve gorra goose for you, Janey, ’cos your dad ordered it earlier, an’ a fine big feller it is. It ain’t dressed nor plucked because that costs extry, but your da’ said as how you and your mam would take care of that.’
    The goose was indeed a fine one and when Mr Raison leaned over and dumped it into the pram the children shouted with glee, believing at first that it was still alive and could be petted and cuddled. Even when they found it unresponsive to their caresses, they continued to cuddle it, stroking its smooth head and admiring its orange beak. Kathy, who knew a little bit about geese, reflected that they would not have been so sanguine had the creature really been alive, for she had frequently met flocks of geese being driven into the city for the Christmas market and knew how aggressive the birds could be.
    Jane’s purchases finished, Mr Raison turned to Kathy. His little brown eyes were kind and she guessed he must know how her circumstances had changed since the previous year, when she had come in on Christmas Eve for the turkey which her mam had ordered. ‘And now it’s your turn, Kathy,’ he said. ‘I’ve a smaller bird, a nice, fat chicken, already dressed for table. There’s enough on it for three an’ you know I’ll make you a good price.’
    Kathy’s mouth watered but she said firmly: ‘Not this year, Mr Raison. This year me mam wants a joint of pork – not too big – some bones for stock and a smallish bacon joint.’
    ‘Right you are, queen,’ Mr Raison said jovially. He turned to the joints laid out on the back shelf, picked one out, weighed it, announced the price and was wrapping it all in one swift movement. Next he chose a bacon joint and did the same with that and then he produced two large marrow bones, wrapped a sheet of the Echo round them and handed the whole lot over, saying: ‘Since you’ve bought two joints, you can have the marrow bones for stock. Still gorra lot of messages, have you?’
    ‘Yes, we’ve got all the fruit and veggies, and thanks very much for the bones,’ Kathy said gratefully, handing over the money. ‘I hope you have a grand Christmas, Mr Raison, and please give your wife my good wishes.’
    As they turned away from the stall, Jane giggled and