The Camden Tales

13 - When You're Strange

-=₪ December 1922 ₪=-

Home / Camden Street / 7.06pm

The streets were deserted. The night sky was clear, but the air was bitterly cold. Everything was covered in a thick layer of snow and you couldn't tell where roads ended and pavements begun. Even Camden Gardens blended in with everything around it. The pure, deep white coat made everything unrecognisable.

Inside the Solomons house the fires were burning and the house was brightly lit with the brand new electric light system, which had been newly installed throughout. The rooms had never seen so much.

Room mouldings had a fresh coat of paint, new wallpaper hung on the walls and all of Alfie's nests and clutter had been cleaned and sorted. Malka now had her electric, fully plumbed in bathrooms and hot running water. It truly was luxury. Just like the streets outside, the house inside was unrecognisable.

Sounds of chatter, cutlery clanking on china and drinks being topped up, could be heard from the large rear dining room.

Edna was up and down the basement stairs checking this and delivering that. She had been given a full complement of dinner staff and waiters, but still felt the need to race around and check all was well.

Alfie and Malka were sat at the heads of their long dining room table, which was pushing its luck at seating twelve. They had family and friends with them, all celebrating the end of hard times, business was booming and they were all benefitting.

The export business had been raking in cash for both Solomons and Shelby. Plus, the truce with Sibini seemed to be holding. The Solomons were back on the racecourses, and Tommy was looking good for sharing the Epsom pitches in the new year. Alfie's empire of accumulation hadn't been this good since before the war.

Gracing the table was Sarah and Albe, Ishmael and Abigail, and Moey with his wife Esther. Louis was present and excited to be sitting to Alfie's left and hearing all the funny anecdotes.

The guest of honour was sat to Alfie's right, Aron.

Aron was the eldest Solomons brother whom they rarely saw. He had joined the forces the moment he turned eighteen, when Alfie was just a boy. To this day, Aron was still married to the forces and now a Colonel.

He sat in full dress chatting with Moey, Esther, Alfie, and Louis about what his responsibilities were in the army. Alfie had great respect and admiration for his oldest brother and was in his element having Aron by his side.

There was also a new face at the table. Ollie had finally introduced the family to his girlfriend, a nice girl too, Bina. Bina was sat to Malka's right, with Sarah on Bina's left, Ollie was opposite.

Malka and Alfie shared a few looks over the table, silently communicating. Alfie had been keen to know if Bina was going to be someone who could accept the family business as it was. Malka had been delicately working to ascertain the answer. As her conversation ran its course, so too did Alfie's. Catching his eye, she gave two very subtle nods.

Bina saw Alfie and Malka share this moment as conversation died down around the entire table. Louis, who was always very quiet, started to move and shift as if he wanted to ask something, but wasn't sure if he should.

"What, Louis?" Alfie asked him.

Louis glanced around the quiet table, all eyes were on him.

"Spit it out, we won't bite." Alfie encouraged.

"Why do you walk with a cane?" Louis asked bashfully.

"Well!" started Alfie, like he was very pleased the subject had been raised.