Meaning Of Loving You- Enola Holmes

024: Still Hold Your Arm

Lilli, Enola, Elizabeth, Sarah and Bessie, sat on a branch on the rock beach on the opposite side of the lake, to the mtch factory.
"All those names, those lives, I failed them." Sarah says.
"Don't say that." Enola tells her.
"Mae gone... William gone..." Sarah says, as Bessie rests a head on her sisters shoulder. "And they're gonna get away with it. You heard the man. 'Where's you're proof?' What do we have now?"
"We have each other." Lilli says. "And we have the truth."

~~~~~

Lilli, Enola, Elizabeth, Sarah and Bessie walk into the match factory. Lilli, Enola and Elizabeth stepping back slightly as Bessie and Sarah walk to their stations.
"Oi. You're not welcome her no more." Mr Lyon says, seeing Sarah.
Sarah knocks stuff off the table before standing on it.
Mr Lyon hits his cane of the table shouting at her to get down.
"Let her speak!" Lilli snaps, as Enola grabs his cane and points it at him.
The two girls nod at Sarah to start.
"A few weeks ago, Mae Izley, William Lyon, and I set out to prove something. To prove this factory was killing people. And they knew it. But they decided the profit mattered more then we did." Sarah announces.
"You're coming with me."Mr Lyon tells her.
"Shh." Enola says, movin the cane closer to him.
"It ain't typhus that's killing us. It's the phosphorus." Sarah says.
"What we work with everyday." Bessie adds.
"You lying little toerag." Mr Lyon says.
"That's a penny off your wages!" Lilli shouts, as Enola hits the table with the cane before pointing it back to him.
"These were our friends. Our sisters. And our children. Well, it stops now. It's time for us to us the only thing we have. Ourselves." Sarah says. "It's time for us to refuse to work. It's time to tell 'em no."
"Right, back to work." Mr Lyon says pushing through the crowd of girls. "You leave here, there is no coming back. You will not get emplyed here again."
"Well will you join me?" Sarah asks.
"Think of your families." Mr Crouch says. "Don't do it, girls. It is not worth the risk."
"Well, will ya?" Elizabeth asks, standing up on the table next to Sarah.
"This is how the world works." Mr Crouch says.
"Please, girls." Sarah says. "I know you're scared. I am to. But it's the only power we have!"
No one makes any attempt to move.
"Right, get that machine back on, and get back to work." Mr Crouch says.
Sarah and Elizabeth get down from the table as the girls slowly return back to work. Lilli walks over to the two girls.
"This can't be there future." Lilli tells Sarah.
"I'm sorry, Lilli." Sarah says, before walking aay.
Bessie stomps her foot causing Sarah to stop and turn to her.
"Stop that." Coruch tells her.
Bessie continues.
"Be one voice." Enola says.
Enola, Lilli and Elizabeth then joins Bessie, then Sarah does. After much protest from Crouch all the girls joined in.
"Come on, girls!" Sarah shouts.
The group then all walk out as one. Lilli, Enola, Bessie and Sarah leading the way, all of them holding hands.

~~~~~

Lilli was working in the office that Edith had lended to her. As she was working, a newspaper was thrown infront of her. She look sup to see her brother.
"Seems you're boy has learnt how to fight." Liam says.
Lilli looks at the paper to see it was an article about how Tewkesbury had got Lord McIntyre arrested.
"Indeed."Lilli says with a smile. "And he;s not my boy."
"Whatever you say, Lils." Liam says, as she hands him the paper back."To be honest, I've always seen you gusy ending p together. Even when you were kids."
"You're my brother. Aren't you meant to be against me being with anyone?" Lilli asks.
"Not if they make you happy." Liam says. "And that's Lord of yours. He makes you happy."
Lilli smiles slightly knowing her brother was right.
"Still. He's not my boy." Lilli says.
Liam goes to leave before laughing.
"Seems I shall not be the last to interrput you today." Liam says. "And he has flowers."
Lilli confused on what he meant looks out the window to see Tewkesbury with a bunch of flowers talking to Edith, before walking over. Lilli walks over to the door as Tewkesbury opens it.
"Liam." Tewkesbury says.
"Tewkesbury." Liam replies.
"See you soon, Li." Lilli says, grabbing her coat.
She puts it on before linking arms with Tewkesbury.

~~~~~

"Tewkesbury, when did I give you the impression that I like flowers?" Lilli asks, as the pair walk down the busy street.
"Well, one, when we were kids and you would always wear the flower crowns I made you." Tewkesbury say, causing Lilli to smile as she links arms with him. "And two, they're called springflowers. Wild, of course. Attracted to ancient woodland, wiry, deceptive, refuse to behave to any rules. but their petals are so delicate and their flowers-"
"Two things. One your metaphor is torture, and I don't have delicate petals." Lilli says, cutting him off.
"Oh, and, and, and..." Tewkesbury says, coming to a stop and grabbing something from his pocket and showing it to Lilli. "It is an invitation to a ball being given by-"
"Uh, Tewkesbury, I'm not going to a ball with you. I got arrested at the last one." Lilli reminds him, as they start walking again.
"But you went to many more before that and never got arrested." Tewkesbury points out. "Plus, all the more reason to dance agin, wouldn't you say?"
"You're a nicompoop." Lilli says, linking arms with him.
"And you are a coward." Tewkesbury replies.
"How dare you speak to a lday like that. You are a digrace, sir." Lilli tells him.
"And yet you still hold my arm." Tewkesbury says.
"And yet I still hold your arm." Lilli agrees with a smile.
Lilli looks up at Tewkesbury as he looks down. The pair smile at each other, before looking forward again. Lilli resting her head on his shoulder.