The Camden Tales

15 - Good Bloody Friday

-=₪ 18th April 1924 ₪=-

Shop / 45 Camden Road / 10.35am

A & M Jewellers looked like it had been ransacked, the cabinets were bare, boxes sat across the counter, the whole place was in disarray.

The back office was much worse, as if a raid was in full swing. Every surface from desks, cabinets and even the floor, were covered in boxes, paper, jewellery and everything besides.

Malka and Sarah sat facing one another cross-legged in the middle of the floor surrounded by the mess. A casual observer would be inclined to call it chaos, however to the two sister-in-laws, everything was precisely where it needed to be.

Today they were stocktaking. Albe was upstairs with Louis in their own chaos of precious gems and metals. Louis didn't usually work in the shop, but he had nothing better to do, at least, that's how Alfie put it. This way, he could help his cousin count faster while also keeping him company.

Good Friday was always stocktaking because it was a bank holiday. A good excuse to close shop, but not a reason for any of them to have the day off. It also did a good job at keeping Malka busy.

"I've done all these rings here Mal. These are eight carat." said Sarah, hovering a hand over a box beside her.

There was no reply. Sarah looked at Malka to see if she was mid-count, but she wasn't. Malka was quietly packing her own box of counted goods.

While Malka wasn't a prolific talker at work, she did seem particularly distracted today. Her mind appeared to be a million miles away.

Sarah picked up one of the new jewellery display trays and ran a hand over the plush black velvet. The wooden tray it sat in was painted gold. They were designed to match the store frontage, which was mostly black with gold detailing. The large sign above the shop was made of reflective black glass, with giant gold letting finely painted on spelling out, A & M Jewellers.

"These new trays Malka are lovely. They will really give the inside of the store a touch of class." Sarah smiled.

Malka picked up the box she had just packed and placed it by some others nearby.

"That is sixteen carat rings" Malka mumbled.

"Malka!?"

Looking up, Malka suddenly saw Sarah looking back at her alarmed.

"What's going on with you today?" Sarah asked.

Malka's shoulders sank, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"It is a race day." she answered through a long sigh.

"Thought race days were good? Big money! Being the accountant isn't that what you want?" asked Sarah preparing to start a new count.

"Crazy good money." Malka nodded in agreement, "Good Friday especially so. The betters are drunk and races are fixed. Tommy and Alfie refer to it as..." Malka puckered up her lips and did an impression of Alfie, "low hanging fruit."

"So, why the long face?"

"Because this low fucking fruit does not come without risk." Malka said starting to fiddle with a white gold pocketwatch.

Sarah watched Malka's fingers play with the watch.

"Almost every time Alfie has ended up in hospital, it has been due to fighting on the courses."

Sarah's brow became heavy, she hated she didn't know this. Sarah had been working at the store for four years and during those years she had barely seen Alfie. Malka bottled everything up and would rarely talk about him. The only time Sarah was aware Alfie had been in hospital was when he got into a fight with Sibini at the Eden three years ago.