Mae Shelby

04

"Good of you to join us." Polly said, reading her newspaper. I ate my bread silently as Ada walked in.

"Where have you been all day?" Our aunt questioned simply.

"In bed." Ada replied. "Couldn't sleep." She cut herself a slice of bread. "Then I couldn't wake up, then I was cold and then I had to go for a wee." I looked at her weird.

"Then I was with this bear on a boat, but that was a dream." She sat next to me, with the jam jar in her hand. That sounds a lot like my dreams. "Then I was hungry." I shook my head, she was almost as bad as me when I rambled. "Why are you reading the paper?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Polly didn't look at her.

"I've never seen you read the paper." What a copycat! She was eating exactly what I was and that was rude. First the dream and now this. I internally scoffed. "I've only ever seen you light fires with them." She bit into her breakfast and I grumbled at her under my breath.

"The BSA are on strike," Polly picked up her tea, "Miners are on strike. IRA are killing our boys, ten a day." I choked on my food. Killing? What the hell?!

"Killing?" I gasped in shock.

"Yes killing, Mae. This world is a dangerous place and you should be careful whilst living in it." My guardian gave me a stern look and I nodded silently.

Ada looked at Pol then at me. "What?"

"Stand up," Pol commanded.

"Why?"

"Just stand up." My sister stood, sighing when Polly stared at her. I giggled at the odd scene, wondering what was going on. "Side on."

Suddenly, Aunt Polly grabbed Ada's breast in her hand, rather forcefully may I add. "Polly, what're you doing!" Ada raised her voice as she stepped away from her.

"Ada...how late are you?" Late for what?

"One week," Ada shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest as some sort of defence against Polly. She then looked at our aunt, "Five weeks." She gave in.

Was she five weeks late to work?! I would give her the boot if I were her employer.

"Seven if you count weekends. I think it's a lack of iron." She quickly admitted. "I got some tablets." Polly sat down and I craddled my head in my hands, confused. My little brain didn't comprehend what they were saying. How can iron effect you going to work? That's a metal, right?

I blocked out what else they said and rushed off to my room, meeting Finn there.

He saw my 'distressed' state. "What's wrong, Mae?" I shook my head, thoughts getting too much for me. I sat down on his bed, next to him.

"Ada- five weeks- work? She, she's late but I don't- don't get why..." I started crying and covered my eyes with my hands as Finn sat there, baffled.

"Mae...what do you mean? What about Ada?" He shuffled closer to me and tried to comfort me by rubbing his hand up and down my back. I continued to sob and when the noise in my head got too loud, I jumped up to punch the wall.

"Iron! That's what I mean." I exhaled heavily. "Lacking iron? Iron.."

It did not hurt at first, so I did it again and again until Finn shouted my name. I cried, not realising Tommy had entered our room and held me in his arms.

"Shh, it's okay, Mae. Calm down, now, and tell me what's wrong." He sat me on his lap on my bed and slightly rocked us from side to side.

"Ada..." I still cried.

"What about Ada, Mae?" Finn watched us. I shook my head again.

"Alright, okay." He soothed.

"It's too much, Tom. Too much." I cuddled closer to him, if that was possible.

"What is?"

"The noise in my head. It hurts, Tommy. Make it stop, please." I whispered. I felt him sigh.

"Shh." Is all he said.

-

The late afternoon came and most of our household residents were going to The Garrison. I wasn't going to go but Finn talked me into it, saying that if I came, he'd sneak me a glass of whatever alcohol I'd like.

I thought about it, the alcohol that is. I've seen Arthur drink a lot and maybe it helps him with his problems. The anger. It could help me with my issues, too.

So we went.

And bloody hell, it was packed and for once I was pleased we had our own private snug. Normally, I'd make fun of Tommy for putting it in and stating how unnessecary it was however I'm really not in the mood for socialising.

Inside, Finn and I were seated first and he was bouncing on the sofa. "Finn, calm down, mate." John laughed and passed us both a cordial.

"Oh, fuck off," I wined. He couldn't possibly be serious. Everyone else gets alcohol but we can't? What bullcrap.

"Oi, watch it." Tommy warned but I couldn't care less.

After a little bit of drinking cordial water and nuts, I nudged my twin.

"You said you'd get me a drink, so go on." He groaned and I gave him a look.

"Fine." He grumbled. I moved out of the way so he could get out but when he did, he turned back to me. "Well come on then, I'm not going by myself." I could not believe him, he's such a wimp.

"What a pussy you are." I sighed. Tom gave me a disapproving look.

"What did I say?" He just rolled his eyes.

"Let's just go." I grabbed Finn's arm and trudged out of the room.

I want a rum or whiskey. "Get me something good." He knew what I meant. He nodded and snuck behind the bar, whilst I distracted Harry.

"Harry, what's happening?" I did my best to lean against the tall bar counter.

"Miss Shelby! Hello, not much. What about you?" I smirked, knowing it was working as I could see Finn grab a bottle.

"Same old, same old." I sighed for dramatic effect. He nodded, serving an old lad.

-

1036 words

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