Wear Iron//Thomas Shelby

eight

Tommy and I are walking down the street past the BSA. I smile slightly as I see Jeremiah fall into step with us.

"Jeremiah, Jeremiah... What do you see?" Tommy asks.

"Your sister and Freddie got back this morning," Jeremiah informs him. "I tried following them... but Freddie's so good at getting away. He's like a fish."

"Right, well, keep fishing, eh?" Tommy tells him.

Jeremiah nods before heading off. I turn to look at Tommy.

"Remember what you told me," I tell Tommy. "Freddie is family."

Tommy nods. "Family."

I sit with Arthur, John, and Theo in the private room at the Garrison.

"Would you just tell us what this about John?" Theo asks.

"I should be out there working, not waiting 'round for you to tell us all something," I state.

Just then the door opens and in walks Polly and Tommy.

"All right, John. There's only one man..." Tommy starts. Arthur holds a drink out to him and he holds his hand up. "No. There's only one man guarding the house. What's troubling you?"

John clears his throat. "Well uh... Polly, you know what it's been like since Martha died."

Polly puts her hand over John's. "God takes the best first."

"The truth is, my kids have been running bloody rings around me. Running barefoot with the dogs until all hours," John says.

"Pol, give him ten bob for some shoes," Tommy says. "Is that it, John?"

"Tommy, we'd be better to do this without you," Polly states. She turns back to John. "Now, what's your point?"

"What the kids need is a mother. So, that's why I'm getting married," John states.

"Does this poor girl know you're going to marry her or are you going to spring it on her all of a sudden?" I ask.

"I've already proposed and she said yes," John tells us.

"I think there's a shell about to land and go bang," Tommy remarks before lighting a cigarette. 

"It's, er..." John hesitates. "It's Lizzie Stark."

We all try our best to hold back laughter. Lizzie Stark doesn't have the best reputation around Small Heath. Well at least not to anyone who isn't a customer.

"Lizzie Stark?" Theo laughs. "The Lizzie Stark?"

"John, Lizzie Stark's a strong woman and I am sure she provides a fine service for her customers," Polly starts.

"I won't hear the word," John shouts. "Understand? Do not use that word."

"What word is that, John?" Tommy sighs.

"You know what word that is," John insists.

"Everybody bloody knows," Arthur says with a laugh.

"Everybody can go to hell," John insists.

Tommy crosses his arms over his chest. "Whore? That word? Or prostitute? How about that one?"

"Right, I want it known... if anyone calls her a whore again, I will push the barrel of my revolver down their throats and blow the word back down into their hearts," John threatens.

"Men and their cocks never cease to amaze me," Polly remarks.

"John, Lizzie Stark never did a day's work vertical," I tell him.