Arthur, who is it?" Aunt Pol asked he walked into the kitchen and sat the basket on the table "I dunno who's child this is, but the child was on our doorstep" he said and everyone stopped and looked at each other, Polly went and picked the child up...
They heard a knock on the door, "Arthur go open the door" Polly Gray said to her eldest nephew who obligated.
He went and opened the door but saw no one until he heard a cry, he looked down and saw a basket with a child, he picked the basket and looked around and took the baby with him in.
"Arthur, who is it?" Aunt Pol asked he walked into the kitchen and sat the basket on the table "I dunno who's child this is, but the child was on our doorstep" he said and everyone stopped and looked at each other, Polly went and picked the child up and found a letter and picked the letter up, 'Thomas Shelby' it stood on the letter.
She looked up "Where's Tommy?" She asked and Thomas Shelby walked in "I'm here" he said
She just held out the letter and he looked confused at the others but they just shrugged, he took the letter and sat down to read it.
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He sat there shocked, looking between the baby his baby, and the letter. "What did the letter say?" Aunt Pol asked him he just gave her the letter and sat there confused, not knowing who the mother was, no name. nothing.
"Well congratulations," she said "What? what does the letter say?" asked his older brother Polly gave Arthur Jr. the letter and he read it, "Only you, Tommy only you," he said while laughing.
His younger brother and sister walked into the kitchen "What is happening here and who's baby is that?" Ada, his only sister asked "It's Tommy's" Polly said and Ada just stood there, and then walked to the baby and picked it up " I feel sorry for the child" she said and they started laughing. they sat down and Ada walked to Tommy and motioned for him to take the baby, he just looked at her in horror "Come on Tommy, hold you baby" she said "How are we certain she's mine?" he asked and they sat there thinking.
The baby suddenly started whimpering and opened her eyes and Ada looked down at the baby and chuckled, "Definitely your baby, I'm looking at a mini Tommy" she said and forced Tommy to hold the baby. He sat there holding a child, his child at 14.
It has been a week since Tommy found out he was a father at the age of 14, he was still in denial but he knew when he saw her eyes. She was his daughter. And he could do nothing but try his best at raising her.
He swore to himself, he was going to be the best father.
Birmingham, Small Heath 1909
Amalia age 5
Amalia is now 5 years old, she's a happy kid, her father's pride and joy, he would do anything for her.
She wasn't the youngest anymore, her grandmother had another child, Finn Shelby, her uncle. When Finn was born she was extremely jealous, he was getting the most attention and she didn't like that. One night when Finn was a few months old she was sad and angry at him and she 'ran away' or that is what her father said but she just ran to the river by the house. She was away for hours and her uncles and aunts were running around looking for her, her father was a wreck thinking she was kidnapped or killed and was shouting at anyone.
She started getting hungry and started walking home, she was quite obvlious about what was happening around her, everyone was looking around until someone shouted " She's there" and pointed at her and everyone stopped and looked at her, she was just walking and giggling to herself when she felt someone pick her up and hold her close.
She squealed and giggled when she saw it was her father, "Daddy I'm hungry" she said still giggling, thinking he was just going to play with her, her father looked at her "where have you been?" he asked her while walking to the house "I was by the river" she said resting her head at his shoulder.
When they walked into the house he sat down at sat her on his lap and looked at her sternly "What have I told you about walking alone?" he asked her she looked down "To not" she mumbled "but I was bored and you were just paying attention to Finn" she said pouting "Next time you feel sad come to me okay?" he said she nodded and snuggled into her father.
Birmingham, Small Heath 1914 Age 10
"Lia we have to go to the station," Aunt Pol said to Amalia. She sat on her bed in Polly's house. She was sad, her dad was going to war and she would be left behind.
"Lia!" She heard she sighed and walked downstairs and followed the others. They got to the station, Amalia felt a hand rest on her shoulder and looked up and saw her father looking at her. She turned to him and hugged him tightly.
"I don't want you to go," she said to her father he sighed "I'm sorry angel I have to," he said pulling away and squatting down to her level, and held her chin with his hand. she felt tears in her eyes and threw herself at her father and hugged him tighter. they pulled away and she said bye to her uncles and then hugged her father "I love you daddy" she said "I love you angel" he said and kissed her forehead and then followed his brothers on the train.
Amalia had tears in her eyes and her aunt Ada hugged her and they saw the train left.
Birmingham, Small Heath 1919
I woke up from someone jumping on me I groaned and heard Finn laugh "Fuck off Finn" I said "Aunt Pol want you downstairs, you got a letter" he said and I got up and shoved him out of my room and shut the door, and rushed to get dressed.
I ran down the stairs and almost fell, and sat at the table in the kitchen "Where is the letter?" I asked Aunt pol just handed it to me
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I read it and started smiling " Dad is coming home tomorrow!" I shouted. "Well, honey It's 2.30 am so go to sleep and you'll see him sooner," Ada said and I smiled and ran upstairs and went to bed again. I couldn't wait to meet dad again, It has been 4 years.
