Liverpool Taffy by Katie Flynn Read Free Book Online Page B

only that you will loiter goin’ and comin’, when there’s a hot dinner to prepare, that’s the only reason I just occasionally asks if you wouldn’t rather stay at ’ome.’
    ‘I’d rather stay at home and rest, but you wouldn’t want me to do that,’ Biddy said, as near to tears as she had ever come whilst under Ma’s roof. ‘I’m that weary, Miz Kettle, that I hardly know how to go on. It’s just work, work, work, from mornin’ till night, and never an hour to myself.’
    ‘Then you go to mass, dearie,’ Ma Kettle said expansively. ‘Don’t you worry about me, stuck ’ere at ’ome wi’ a thousand and one things to do. Just you go off and enjoy yourself.’
    ‘I will, then. Thanks very much, Ma. Kenny’s going to take me on the ferry to Birkenhead, and then into the country! We’ll be home for tea, though.’
    ‘Now wait on,’ Ma Kettle said anxiously, putting down the last shirt. ‘I didn’t say … what I said was you might go to mass, I didn’t say …’
    ‘Kenny said you weren’t mean enough to try to stop all my fun,’ Biddy continued as though she hadn’t heard. ‘I’ll work all the better for the break, I’m sure of it.’
    She told Kenny later and the two of them giggled over Mrs Kettle’s protestations, and Biddy waited to be hauled from her bed on Sunday morning and informed that her mentor had changed her mind. But although Ma Kettle was quieter than usual, Biddy went downstairs, got breakfast, washed up and cleared away and then announced that she would see everyone later that evening.
    ‘If I had any money of my own I’d bring you home a bit of a present, but since I’ve not had a penny since my Mam died you’ll have to forgive me if I come home empty-handed,’ she said to Mrs Kettle as she and Kenny stood by the back door. ‘Tara, then.’
    Ma Kettle sniffed and when they were half-way down the road she called them back. ‘There,’ she said,pressing a few small coins into Biddy’s hand. ‘Enjoy your holiday and don’t bother wi’ presents; them shirts was ironed a treat.’
    Wide-eyed, Biddy rejoined Kenny and opened her palm, to show him a whole sixpenny piece and six farthings.
    ‘Mean ole bag; but at least she give you summat to spend.’
    ‘So long as she doesn’t sack me when we get home,’ Biddy said, though not as though it was something she feared. She gave a little skip. ‘Wish I had a best dress.… Oh Kenny, it’s good to be outside without an errand to run!’
    ‘You want to say “no”, more often,’ Kenny grumbled. ‘She can’t be led, the old woman, but she can be pushed. We all found that out years ago, or we’d be nothin’ but slaves, like you.’
    ‘It’s different for you,’ Biddy reminded him, slowing to a saunter and sticking the money in the pocket of her tatty skirt, for even with weekly washing one skirt will not last for ever and Ma Kettle had showed no inclination to buy her a new one, or even a new-second-hand one, which would have done admirably. ‘You are her own son; how you look reflects on her. And she’s fond of the three of you, you know that. Besides, you’re earning good money. If she chucked you out you could afford lodgings. What would I do, Kenny? Someone of my age can’t earn enough for digs, I’d be chucked in the workhouse and I really am scared of that.’
    ‘Yeah, it’s ’ard for you,’ Kenny agreed. They were on the sloping road which led down to the landing stage now and Biddy sighed ecstatically and felt the little coins in her pocket with something approaching bliss. A whole day off, the sun shining, and money to spend! If only today could last for ever. But it couldn’t, of course. Tomorrow was Monday; she would be busy in the shop from eight in the morning until eight at night, so she must make the most of today.
    It was a wonderful day out, there was no doubt about it. After serious consideration, Kenny advised Biddy to put her money away somewhere safe and forget about it. ‘Keep it