In My Blood // Alfie Solomons

Holiday

Meanwhile in Birmingham...

'you know esme was right about one thing, you cant beat the countryside.' Arthur said serenely. They had parked at a meadow, "You know I wanna live in the country one day and keeps chickens.'

'yeah, yeah, Arthur we'll see you in London.' John nagged. Tommy pulled a blanket out from behind them to reveal a dead body.

'Christ!' jonh declared, 'youre telling me I rode all the way here with that right behind me?'

' listen,' tommy interrupted. 'we need to bury him.' He started pulling out shovels from the car.

'who was he?' Arthur questioned taking a shovel.

'irish business. Thought it was better if I dealt with it on my own.' Tommy told him. They dug and buried the body and they were back on the road.

'art! John! Get a move on we need to go!' they looked over at tommy tired from digging the grave. 'yeah, yeah, hurry up sunshine!'

'oi we're coming,' Arthur spat throwing the shovels in.

'now the peaky blinders are officially on holiday! Right tom?'

'Right. Holiday!'

"Holiday!' they all cheered as tommy set off again, this time their true destination was London.

A club, sparkling in gold and pounding with music and laughter filled the air when the shelbys arrived. They stood tall and proud, a take no shits attitude they and the rest of the world had come to know the shelby name by. They plopped down at a table and Tommy took in the scenery.

'what the fuck is this place?' John asked people were snorting drugs, fucking on the tables, but the music was loud and fun.

'it's a freak show that's what it is.' Arthus said with a grin. 'what the fuck is this racket?'

'this is what they call music these days brother,' tommy said waving down a waiter.

'its not bad, I like it,' John said bopping his head up and down to the music. 'look at this eh?' john said taking in all the women. 'Its alright.'

'irish whiskey. A bottle.' Tommy said once a waiter got to them.

'and hurry the fuck up!' Arthur told him as he ran off to fetch them a bottle.

'fucking hell,' john said glancing over a few tables. 'I recognize a few of these ladies.'

'that's sabini's cousins over there' Arthur said hesitantly.

'that's right Arthur... this is sabini's club.' Tom said. .

'what the fuck we doing in sabini's club!' John shouted over the noise. 'jesus, everybody in here's a fucking face.' John said really looking at the people around them now.

'just the lieutenants john. No sign of the officers.' Tommy said calmly

'alright, fine.' John said pleased with tommys answer. 'lets line em up!' the waiter had brought them a bottle and glasses before quickly making haste. 'holiday.' John said happily pouring the drinks.

'holiday!' Arthur repeated but their holiday was cut short as a bartender came up with a nice welcoming smile and told them to leave.

'gentleman. Theres been a mistake I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'

'we just bought a fucking bottle.' john told him gesturing to the bottle and undrunk glasses of whiskey in front of them.

'some of the men here recognize you from the racetracks in the north.' He went on.

'yeah, we get that a lot' Arthur said glancing around the room.

'they say you have no business coming around south of the line without prior agreement.'

'and what would that be my friend?' tommy said spinning his glass at his fingers.

'they say this is provocation.' The bartender said softly.

'well,' Arthur spoke up. 'you tell those fine men that we are on holiday and don't give a shit about them. Ya?'

'you are breaking the rules, they say you are the peaky blinders.'

'peaky scum!" someone yelled and shots rang out..

'here we fucking go.' Arthur said excitedly, downing his drink. Everyone was punching everyone, it was madness. Most women ran the other way screaming terrified

'who the fucks next!' Arthur yelled, he loved the fight, he loved it so much. They kept going, until a shotgun rang out. Arthur dropped the ice bucket he was beating a man with, 'put some ice on it,' he said with a laugh as he dropped the bucket on the mans bleeding head.

'get out.' The bartender said pointing the gun at them. But the shelbys were not afraid of a gun. They weren't afraid of anything it seemed.

'yeah?' tommy questioned stepped forward, the bartender looked scared yet he was the one holding the gun. 'you gonna use that?' tommy asked stepping again closer. The man made no signs of shooting them. 'didn't think so' tommy said confidently. 'we came here not to make enemies no! but we came here to make new friends.' Tommy declared. 'those of you who are last will soon be first. And those of you who are downtrodden will rise up, yup. you know where to find us.' With that tommy grabbed the bottle of whiskey and they left into the night, beaten and bloody but not broken, smiles plastered on their faces.

'I think I may have lost a tooth!' Arthur said feeling his face. 'I will have none at this rate!' he laughed.

'some fucking holiday this is.'

'yea? You all right without your fucking medicine now Arthur?' tommy asked, 'here this will fix ya.' He put the whiskey bottle in arts hands.

'give me that!' he said happily.

'you john boy eh? How are you or should I call ye fucking wife!' tommy asked

'oh shut it!' john yelled.

'no more talk of chickens do you hear me!' tommy said.

'fuck the chickens!' Arthur yelled passing the botte down the line.

'Now ive got 50 quid burning a hole in me pocket lets paint the town eh?' tommy questioned.

'woop, woop!' john and Arthur started cheering. "HOLIDAY!"