Mae Shelby

06

"Ada and Freddie Thorne were married today."

Finn and I were eavesdropping on Tommy and Auntie Polly. We have a new brother-in-law, I have a new brother-in-law.

Polly said she'd deal with it but why would she need to deal with the newly married couple? Shouldn't she be happy for them? I certainly am. In fact, I'm going to go find them and congratualte them myself.

I got up from kneeling on the dusty floor. Finn looked at me, "What're you doing?" He whispered.

"Going to find Ada and Freddie, why?"

"Poll said to stay inside," I gave him a look.

"Since when do we listen to what we are told?" I raised a brow at him. He nodded in agreement.

"Fair enough,"

-

Er, yeah.

Couldn't find them and when we thought we saw Ada, it was someone else.

We ended up stealing a bag of sweets to share. I savoured the flavour of the Fruit Salad I had as Finn did the same with his Black Jack. God knows how he likes them, they're ick.

We're back at the Garrison, alone. We wanted to sit at the bar to see what's going on instead of being secluded away.

Ada comes rushing in asking for her husband or Tommy. She looks panicked and out of breath.

"Ada," I catch her attention. "What's wrong?" She's breathing hard and whimpers in pain.

The barmaid tries to offer her some water. "I think they are going to kill each other." I look at her baffled, so does Finn.

Tommy wouldn't kill someone, especially his new brother. And Freddie wouldn't kill his wife's brother. What?

-

The door crept open and Thomas came through into the Shelby home.

Polly shushed him as she stroked Finn's hair whilst he slept, Mae on her other side.

Both children were bundled up in thick blankets as they breathed heavily, dreaming of sweet things.

Tommy sat down with a sigh, gulping down the last of the port left on the table. He took out the money Polly gave to Freddie to leave and flopped it onto the table.

"Freddie didn't want your money." Polly stared at him. "And now the coppers are saying if we don't turn Freddie in, they'll put Ada on the arrest warrant as well."

There was a slight pause. "That's where your compassion gets you, Poll. From now on, we do it my way."

"Or what?" She continued to caress Mae's wild locks.

Tommy stood and left, slamming the door behind him.

Mae stirred, "Mummy?" She asked with her eyes still closed. Polly just shushed her, her heart breaking for the girl as her mother died before she could know her.

-

It stinks.

Finn pulled me along with him to the races and Arthur, John and lots of other men were gathering around behind a shed in Uncle Charlie's yard.

Arthur jumped up onto a box. "Attention," he sang. "Right. This is what was known as the final briefing before going over the top."

I just gave Finn a weirded-out look. Why am I here? What are we- what are they even doing?

"Sixty miles down that road is Cheltenham racetrack." My biggest brother pointed in the direction. "Johnny, what's our mission, boy?"

"To stick it to the Lee family, Arthur!" He shouted.

"That's right," Arthur smiled, rolling his 'r'. "The Lees are skimming money off, legal bookies. Running chalk, selling raffles, beating up them that won't buy. But today, we're going to stop them. Except for you kids, you're going to enjoy yourselves. Stay outta trouble."

"..Now take what you're good at. Those of you with guns keep them out of it unless a gun is pulled on you." Finn went to the box and picked up a weapon. He turned to wave it in my face but Johnny had already snatched it from his hands.

"We want this done quietly." John gave Finn an even bigger knife instead. I cracked up laughing because it was bigger than both our heads combined. Arthur smiled at us both.

"Let's go," And off we went. Even though Arthur told us to not participate, my twin continued to carry the heavy thing and John passed me a small knife of my own. He ruffled my hair as I smiled up at him.

We all climbed into the back of this truck and off we went.

Finn and I were pretending to fight each other as the truck bounced along the cobbled streets. He accidentally sliced my arm a bit but I paid it no mind as I was having too much fun swinging my blade at him.

The men sitting beside us chuckled among themselves, probably at us but I didn't care. I'm happy I could provide them with some entertainment.

-

Johnny demanded we stay outside of the loo whilst he and Arthur went inside with two others. Not a minute later a couple of older men came rushing out but our brothers stayed inside.

"Why do we have to stay here? Let's go find something to eat, I'm famished." I exclaimed as I tried to pull Finley along. Finley is my nickname for him.

"No, I want to fight the Lees," He complained like the child he was.

"Why though? That's boring shit, let's go to the bar. I'm sure a cigarette and rum is waiting for us up there."

That got his attention very fast and we sped upstairs.

-

buttox hoe ;)

914 words

UNEDITED