Two Strangers (13 page)

‘Definitely!’

Alfie seemed to relax a little, so Flo smiled. ‘We’d better go and get a piece of that pie before the men eat it all.’

When the two boys had eaten every scrap of pie on their plates, Bob looked at Vicki. ‘I expect Alfie would like to see the shops. Why don’t you go with Dave and open up for us? Customers will be arriving soon.’

‘I’ll do that. Come on, boys, you can help me.’ Vicki stood up and held out her hand for Alfie. ‘I’ll show you where your big brother is going to work.’

The little boy didn’t take her hand this time, but he did stay close to his brother as they made their way downstairs. Sid had already opened the barber’s, so she took them through the connecting door to the ladies’ salon. She could see that Alfie was looking very intently around as his brother explained everything. He was also near to tears.

‘Why is he so upset?’ Vicki asked Dave.

‘I fink he’s frightened I’m gonna be here while he’s alone. I ’splained he’ll be all right with Mr Harry, but he don’t trust no one but me.’

‘In that case, he had better come with you on the days you’re working in the barber’s.’

‘Cor, do you fink he could? Would Mr and Mrs let him do that?’

‘I’ll have a word with them, but I’m sure it would be all right. They are very understanding.’

‘That would be smashing, wouldn’t it, Alfie?’

Alfie nodded, but his eyes were brimming with tears, so Vicki stooped down and wiped the moisture away with her clean handkerchief. ‘We know you’re frightened, Alfie, and it will take time for you to trust us, but we will not separate you from your brother. Do you believe me?’

‘She’ll keep her word,’ his brother assured him. ‘She’s all right. I told you, Vicki knows what it’s like to be bashed about and homeless. She won’t tell us no lies. Do you know what she did?’

His brother shook his head.

‘She dressed as a boy so she could get a job here. What do you think of that?’ Dave grinned at his brother. ‘She’s clever, ain’t she?’

‘And it was a very good disguise,’ Flo said, walking into the shop and stopping in front of Alfie. ‘But she was starving and could hardly stand up. That won’t happen to you, young man, because your brother has found you both a good home. Harry will see you are not harmed again. We all will. Now, why don’t you both go and see if there is any of that pie left?’

‘Cor, thanks.’ Dave gave his brother a quick shove. ‘Race you for the biggest piece.’

Alfie almost smiled as they raced out of the shop.

‘We’re making promises I hope we can keep, Vicki.’ Flo looked concerned.

‘We’ve got to! That boy is terribly damaged and must never go back to those people. Has Harry said what he’s going to do next?’

‘Not exactly, but he’s determined to keep them. Somehow he’s got to make it legal so they can’t be forced to return to an abusive home. We’ve told him we’ll help and support him. The rest is up to him and his friends.’

Vicki sighed deeply and then fixed a bright smile on her face as the first customer arrived.

The next morning, Harry was in the barber’s teaching Dave his duties, with Alfie shadowing his brother all the time.

‘Go and see how they’re getting on next door,’ Flo told Vicki. ‘If Alfie is getting in their way, see if he will come in here with us.’

‘All right.’ Vicki went through the connecting door to the barber’s and stood where she could see but not be seen. After a while, a smile of satisfaction crossed her face. Harry was showing Dave how to collect any used towels and put them in the basket, then make sure that Bob and Sid were kept supplied with clean towels. Alfie was also listening intently, and she saw him pick up a towel Sid had dropped, grab a clean one and hand it to him. Everyone in the shop, including the customers, were talking to the boys and ignoring the fact that Alfie never said a word.

She quietly slipped back to Flo and told her what she had seen. ‘I think they are all enjoying themselves.’

‘Has Alfie said anything?’

Vicki shook her head. ‘I don’t think so, but he doesn’t look quite so frightened. When is your next customer due?’

‘Eleven. Then no more until two. This is a quiet day, my dear, so you don’t need to stay here.’

‘I know, but what else can I do?’

‘Come and meet my friends and help me get everyone settled in the house,’ Harry said, walking into the salon with the boys right behind him. ‘That will be all right, won’t it, Flo?’

‘Yes, take her away, Harry. Our girl works too hard and we have a difficult time trying to make her take time off.’ Flo looked at the two youngsters and sighed. ‘Go on, Vicki. Harry needs your help today.’

Knowing it was useless to protest, she nodded and then held out her hand to Alfie, who hesitantly took it, still holding on to his brother with the other hand.

Dave chatted happily as they walked to Harry’s house, telling her what he had been doing that morning. ‘And Alfie helped as well. He learns quick. Always has done. He’s real bright, aren’t you?’

Not a word from the child in response.

‘You don’t have to stay quiet no more, Alfie. I told you that.’

‘Don’t push him, Dave,’ Harry warned. ‘Your brother will speak when he’s ready.’

‘I ’spect so.’ Dave frowned up at the tall man walking beside him. ‘But it ain’t right, and it worries me something rotten.’

‘That is obvious. I will start your lessons today, and in time Alfie might join in, but he will only do that when he is feeling more secure.’

Dave was still frowning. ‘Can you help him, Mr Harry?’

‘I think I can. I’ve dealt with troubled children before.’

‘You hear that, Alfie? Mr Harry’s gonna help both of us.’

Vicki could feel tightness at the back of her throat as she listened. Whatever it took, these boys must be kept safe. Dave might talk and joke with his little brother, but it was obvious he thought the world of him and was worried sick. So worried, in fact, that it had driven him out on his own in a desperate search to find a way to get him away from where they were living.

Harry’s friends were waiting for them as they reached the house, and when the little boy saw them, he would have bolted if Dave hadn’t caught hold of him in time.

‘It’s all right, Alfie! They’re friends of Mr Harry. I told you about them, remember?’

‘That’s right.’ Harry smiled reassuringly at the child. ‘This is Edward and Pearl. They are going to live with us and look after the house. Pearl is an excellent cook, so we’ll be well fed.’ Harry turned to his friends. ‘Meet Vicki, Dave and Alfie.’

‘Hello. We have heard a lot about you.’

Vicki shook hands with both of them and liked them on sight. Pearl was ample and homely, and Edward was tall and strong-looking, with a glint in his eye that suggested he smiled a lot. They were just the kind of people to help with two troubled boys.

‘We’ve already unpacked, Harry, and lunch is on its way.’ Pearl delved into a capacious handbag and came out with a parcel which she handed to Alfie. ‘I thought you might like a colouring book and crayons, young man.’

‘Cor, thanks!’ Dave exclaimed. ‘Alfie likes drawing, don’t you?’

There was no response from his brother, but he did accept the present from Pearl. She rummaged in the bag again and brought out a box containing a truck. ‘And this is for you, Dave.’

‘Wow!’ He looked as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘We ain’t never had presents before, have we, Alfie?’

‘Why don’t you put them in your room and wash your hands ready for lunch?’ Harry suggested. ‘Whatever Pearl is cooking smells good.’

Dave grinned happily. ‘We’ll do that.’

As the boys tore up the stairs, Edward shook his head. ‘Poor little buggers. Pardon my language, Vicki, but what has happened to those boys is criminal. What the hell are you going to do, Harry? If the people they were with come for them, you’ll have to let them go.’

‘Oh no!’ Vicki said in alarm. ‘That mustn’t happen. Couldn’t you report them to the police for cruelty?’

‘I don’t want to bring the police into this if I can avoid it. It could make things even more difficult. I’m going to try something else first. Dave gave a couple of clues when he was chatting to me early in the morning, and I have a good idea where they were living. After we’ve eaten, I’m going to see them, and Edward is coming with me.’

‘I’ll come as well.’

‘No. I want you to stay here with the boys. It’s a rough area, Vicki.’

She looked at Harry in disbelief. ‘Have you forgotten where I came from? I grew up in such a place, and I know the kind of people who live there. Many are good, honest people, but there are also some who are thieves and drunks, and violent. I might be able to help.’

Harry sighed. ‘I can’t imagine you living like that, but I’m asking you to leave this to me and Edward.’

‘That’s right, Vicki. We might look like a couple of gentlemen,’ Edward told her, ‘but it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve dealt with this kind of thing. We were working at a school filled with difficult children – and some of their parents were worse.’

‘You never told me that, Harry. I assumed you had been at some posh school.’

He laughed and slapped his friend on the back. ‘Far from it, Vicki. It will be like old times, Edward.’

‘You can safely leave it to them,’ Pearl said. ‘Lunch will be ready in five minutes.’

‘Good, I’m starving. What have we got?’

‘I haven’t had much time today, so it’s a quick meal of sausages and mash, Harry.’

‘Lovely. The boys will enjoy that. I’ll pop upstairs and get them.’

As he strode from the room, Vicki gave a knowing smile. ‘I do believe he’s enjoying himself.’

‘Of course he is,’ Pearl agreed. ‘That man should never have retired. He revels in a challenge, and he’s certainly taken one on with these boys.’

‘I know, but how is he going to be able to keep them? It was different with me because I was older, but they are so young.’

‘That’s why we’re here,’ Edward explained. ‘We are a married couple with a good reputation as parents. We’ve brought up three children, one of whom we adopted, and they are all doing well. If the authorities get difficult, we can apply to look after them.’

‘Oh, that sounds hopeful.’ Vicki nodded in relief.

‘Don’t think this is going to be easy, Vicki,’ Pearl told her seriously. ‘Setting up the school for abused children will be a long, hard struggle, but if we can succeed, then we will be able to help a few youngsters. You survived by your own efforts, and I suspect so would Dave, but Alfie is too young and vulnerable. He must have help.’

‘Ah, here come the boys.’ Edward listened to the clumping feet on the stairs. ‘Let’s eat.’

The sausage and mash was greatly enjoyed by everyone, especially the boys, who both wiped their plates clean and had seconds.

‘At least there’s nothing wrong with their appetites,’ Pearl remarked quietly as she began to dish up a creamy rice pudding. ‘And that’s a hopeful sign. I’d be very concerned if the little one wasn’t eating properly.’

‘Right.’ Harry stood up. ‘That was lovely, but Alfie looks rather tired now, and so do you, Dave. Why don’t you both go and have a nap?’

‘Didn’t you want to start our lessons today?’ Dave stifled a yawn.

‘We will begin tomorrow. I have to go out this afternoon.’

‘Ah, right.’ Dave helped his brother off the chair. ‘In that case we will have a sleep. Alfie is tired out, ain’t you, kid? You needn’t worry ’cause I’ll stay with you all the time. Thank Mrs Pearl for her smashing dinner.’

The boy gave his usual nod.

‘I’m pleased you enjoyed it. You have a nice rest now.’

Vicki helped with the washing-up, and then crept up the stairs and peeped into the boys’ room. They were both fast asleep.

When she came down, Harry and Edward were ready to leave, and Vicki tried again. ‘Let me come with you.’

Harry shook his head firmly. ‘I need you here. The youngsters don’t know Pearl very well yet and might be frightened when they wake up if they don’t see a familiar face.’

That was sensible, and she reluctantly agreed to stay behind. ‘Be careful and good luck.’

Thirteen

The men hadn’t returned after two hours and the wait was agony. What if those people wanted the boys back? What would they do? The thought of such a thing was making Vicki feel sick. With help, young Alfie might become a normal child again, but if he had to return to that abusive home, then he would only sink further down. Perhaps too far to rescue. It was awful to contemplate. How she wished Harry hadn’t decided to do this. It might have been better to keep the boys hidden from everyone. She gave a ragged sigh. That was foolish thinking, of course, and would be quite impossible.

‘Stop pacing, my dear.’

‘Why are they taking so long? I should have gone with them. What can Harry possibly achieve by going to see those people? I’m worried, Pearl. We’ve got to keep the children safe!’

‘Calm down, Vicki. Harry and Edward know what they are doing. Here, I’ve made a fresh pot of tea. Sit down and tell me about the two men who helped you.’ Pearl guided her to a chair, made her sit and then placed a steaming cup of hot tea in front of her. ‘Harry told us you want to find them if you can.’

‘I don’t have much chance of doing that.’ Vicki sipped her tea. ‘With Harry’s help, though, I’m going to try.’

For the next half an hour she told Pearl all about her experiences after her father had thrown her out of the house.

‘I understand now why you are so keen to find them.’ Pearl poured her another cup of tea. ‘And, you never know, something may happen to point you in the right direction. Things like that do happen. If you are meant to find them, then I am sure you will.’

‘Are you an optimist, Pearl?’ Vicki laughed, realizing that the talking had calmed her nerves.

‘Always, my dear. Always. If something is meant to be, then nothing can stop it.’

‘Are those two children meant to be with you, your husband and Harry?’

‘Well, you found Dave begging in the same place you had used, and that’s where someone reached out to help you. Do you believe that to be a coincidence, or was it meant to be?’

‘I agree that it was strange, and it shook me to see him standing there. The memories flooded in and I knew I had to help him.’ At the sound of the front door opening, Vicki was immediately on her feet. ‘They’re back!’