What About Us | John Shelby

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

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-CHAPTER THIRTY ONE-

-PEAKY BLINDERS-

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November 1914, Small Heath, Birmingham

It's already been four months since the boys had left for war. Some were taking it better than others. Ada and Ellen were taking it the worst, Ada missed her brothers but missed Freddie more as she wouldn't know what was to happen to there relationship if he was to come back. As for Ellen, she didn't really know where herself and Arthur stood in terms of a relationship. Before Arthur had left, everything was going well for the two but now Ellen wasn't so sure what to do about the whole thing.

Meanwhile for Anna and Tessa they were trying to keep their spirts up for everyone. Tessa didn't have time to be crying herself to sleep every night thinking about her brothers and John. She had three young kids to look after, along with running the business with Polly and trying to keep both Ada and Ellen from going insane.

Tessa had written a couple of letters here and there updating John in what was was going on in Small Heath, telling him about the kids and how she couldn't wait for him to come back home. Tessa had never got any reply back yet, she wasn't even sure if he had received the letters yet, but Tessa would not get her hopes up just yet.

The streets of Small Heath, had changed dramatically. There was very few young men seen, mostly women and kids were the ones hanging around the streets. In the pubs they had been completely empty only consisting of older men that would be sat in there at the night times. Seeing as none of the wives were allowed in unless they had there husband accompany them.

Tessa had also started spending some time down in Charlie's yard, as she would bring the kids and Finn down to see her fathers horses that were kept in Charlie's yard.

Tessa had seen her father maybe twice in the last four months, he had been busy traveling around with the Lee family. She wasn't so happy about the whole thing, but whatever made Johnny happy, Tessa would stand by and let it happen for him.

Finn had asked multiple times about the whereabouts of his three older brothers. By Polly's request Tessa had to lie to the boy and say that "There gone away for a while on business" Finn was too young and innocent to understand what was actually going on in the world at this moment in time.

The business was going well so far, Tessa and Polly did a great job in keeping everything up to date and in order for when the boys were to come back from war. Ada helped out from time to time, but as she got older that's when she realized just what her brothers were really doing for business. She didn't want no part in any of that, so she would only help when it was very much needed by her aunt.

It was hard trying to raise three young kids, there were nights when they all would cry out and Tessa just wished she could just give it all up. She couldn't they were her babies, she would do anything for them. She was there mother, she would never abandon them like her own mother did all those years ago.

Thankfully Anna was a big help to Tessa with the kids. Wanting to keep her mind sane and free from thinking of Will, Anna would help out with the kids as a distraction and as Anna had said many times "Helping you out with the kids, really does distract my mind"

So far everything was running smoothly, but with this family that could change any day. You just had to be ready for the unexpected to happen.

-CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE-

-PEAKY BLINDERS-