End of the Line

Chapter 5. Dan

Chapter 5

Dan 

Dan was always too big. At birth, he weighed 11lb. 2oz. By the age of three he was already taller and heavier than his five-year-old brother, George, and by eight could be taken for a teenager. At the time of George's departure for Lowther, Dan was twelve years old and almost fully mature, far too mature in his own opinion to share a bedroom with three sisters. He also felt big enough to be hired. 

Unfortunately, the next hiring was not until Martinmas, the 11th November, almost five months away, far too long to suffer the constant fussing of his sisters, and the strictures of his parents. He just had to make his break. At the first opportunity, he left, taking only the clothes on his back, some cooking utensils, and his entire savings of five shillings. Dan knew his parents would notify the police, and they would soon be scouring the district looking for him, so he headed for open country, avoiding towns and major roads.  

It was almost dusk on his first day, and he had almost given up hope of finding shelter for the night, when he spotted the flickering flames of a fire outside a ruined barn. There, hunched over a bubbling billycan, sat a middle aged man wearing corduroy pants, a flannel shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, an open waistcoat and the traditional cap.  Probably a farm labourer, thought Dan. 

Dan approached and bellowed a loud "Halloo". The man rose to his clogged feet, and turned to face the oncoming giant of a youth. He was obviously apprehensive 

Dan eased the tension by raising his flat cap, wished the older man "a good e'en" and asked if he might join him by the fire. The sight of knickerbockers, the usual attire of schoolboys, and the fresh face that still had not felt a razor, seemed to calm the workman. 

"Care for some supper young un?" 

Dan, who had not eaten all day, willingly accepted a bowl of baked beans and half a loaf of stale haver bread. As he wolfed down the frugal meal, Dan was aware of the gaze of the workman.  

"So tell me son. What made you run away from home?" 

He obviously had realized that Dan was not some poor abandoned child, but came from a caring home. The school uniform was a dead giveaway. 

"I haven't run away. My parents sent me out looking for work. We can't make ends meet since my father lost his job in the mines." 

"What sort of job are you looking for?" 

"Anything." 

"You're a big strapping lad. I'm sure that any farmer would take you on as a labourer." 

"I'm hoping so, but I have to wait until the next hiring. In the meantime I'm hoping to find something else." 

"Would you mind working for me?" 

Dan looked around at the wreck of a barn, the dust covered clothing, the meagre rations, and wondered what kind of job could be on offer. 

The itinerant laughed. "Don't be fooled by what you see here. I've just finished a job on the new police station at Greenodd. I'm a stonemason. Rather than spend money on lodgings in the village I set myself up in this old barn. Saved me a fair bundle." 

"I don't know anything about working stone," said Dan. 

"You don't have to. I'll take care of that. You just have to collect the stones for me." 

"What kind of stones?" 

"Surely on your travels you've seen all the dry stone walls. Many are in need of repair, especially up on the fells, and the Holker Hall Estate hired me to fix 'em. Most of the stones will be close by, but  some"ll have to be carried quite a distance. Do you think you could manage that?"