Gabriela's tale

one

*September 1920*

My name is Gabriela Dickson, I also go by Gabby, and I'm here to talk about my new wild life with the Peaky Blinders and how it all began.

It was the first Monday of the mouth. My mother moved out of Birmingham and to London with my younger sister not too long ago. For a new and better life, well at least that's what she told me...

I decided to stay in Small Heath because that's where I know best. It's where I grew up, and I wasn't planning on leaving. At least not yet...

Since my mother and sister moved and I'd be staying, that meant I had to start paying for things myself. I had to look for a job. A proper job that would pay enough for the bills and other important things.

My mum left me the house to keep living in. It used to be my uncle Frank's but when he passed, he left it to my mum, and now she's left it to me. Its not big, just a one level house, with one bedroom, a bathroom, small kitchen, and sitting area.

My uncle passed away from cancer a year ago. That's when my mum started to struggle, living here was hard for her.

As a woman. A woman of color, it has been very hard for me to find a job. Everywhere I went they either said, the spot was already filled or straight up no.

Today I've decided to look for a job at the Garrison, a local pub that recently had a grand reopening from an explosion it had a few months back.

I didn't want to work at a pub but I saw a flier that said they needed a new barmaid, so I had to suck it up and go see if they'll hire me.

The Garrison is owned by Arthur Shelby. He's a gangster part of the peaky blinders, along with his two brothers and a few other men. Everyone in Small Heath knows them. I've crossed paths with them throughout my life and I've seen my uncle talk to them a few of times. But I've never had direct contact with him or any of his brothers.

He has three brothers, Tommy Shelby, John Shelby, and Finn Shelby. All I knew about them was that Arthur was the oldest and Finn was the youngest. And even though Arthur was the oldest, tommy looked to be in charge.

I've heard all the stories about them, I don't know if any of it is true, but I really need a job and they didn't seem like bad people most of the time...

I woke up early and got ready and made my way to the Garrison.

It was eight when I left my house. The Garrison wasn't far, it took me five to ten minutes to get there. As I walked I saw many familiar faces and said hi to a lot of them.

In Small Heath, Birmingham everyone partly knows each other if you've lived here your whole life, and even if you haven't spoken to any of them you automatically know who they are. When new people come to town. everyone automatically knows.

Finally I arrived to the Garrison and pushed open the front door. There were two people sitting and drinking this early in the morning. I'm sure it would fill it up more as time went on.

There was a man sitting at the bar alone. He turned around and looked at me with a blank expression. I'm sure he asked himself what a women was doing there so early in the day.

It was Arthur Shelby.

"Hello." I said as I walked in further into the pub.

"I'm here for the barmaid job." I said, he turned his body towards me but didn't say anything.

"I'm twenty, I can clean well and can start whenever you'd like me to, and I'm good with people." I said with a smile.

"Your name?" he asked me.