Growing up Kray

3.

178 Vallance Road, Bethnal Green, 1952.

"Hit 'im! 'Arder! Go on!" "Oh for Goodness sake dad, don't encourage them!" Violet snapped upon entering the living room with a tray full of delicate little cups of tea and a plate of biscuits to accompany. Soft laughter slipped the lips of their guest as she was quick to hop to her feet, helping the twins mother to lay everything out over the coffee table in the centre of the room. "Thanks mum." Spoke the twins in union, pausing for a brief moment to shove a digestive or two between their lips. Violet perched herself on the edge of the sofa, beside their guest with a cup of tea resting in her lap which she firmly held in place with her index fingers and thumbs. "Oh, Y/N, look at 'em. " She warmly cooed, peering over the rim of her cup of tea as she lifted it to her lips and blew gently, before taking the smallest of sips. "Mum..." Reg mumbled in embarrassment as he dipped his head and heavy-handedly placed down his cup. Their mother quietly sighed, shaking her head in awe as she gazed proudly at her boys. The younger female quietly giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as she chewed a mouthful of digestive biscuits. Ronald kept his mouth firmly shut as he stared off into space, rolling his shoulders and neck - clearly deep in thought. "Is it such a crime to love you both as much as I do? Honestly, Y/N, the way they carry on you'd think-" Violet rambled as she waved her hands in the air, tutting quietly as she set down her teacup down on the coffee table before her. "No, mum." Ronnie interrupted, stilling his mother in her tracks as he approached her side and leant to place the most gentle of kisses against her cheek. "Me and Reg are going out in a bit, we won't be too late 'ome. We'll bring back something nice for tea, eh? Nice fish and chip supper. Saves you worrying about cooking." Ron half smiled, his hand lightly squeezing his mother's right shoulder. "You'll eat fish and chips, won't ya?" He then questioned, his eyes lifting to meet with the younger females as she gave a quick nod of her head. "Sorted then." Reg mumbled. The twins met one another's gaze, nodding in unison before they exited the living room and scarpered upstairs to get ready. "Well then my darling, that's our evening planned, isn't it, eh?" Violet cooed as she pushed herself to her feet holding a tray of now empty teacups. She gave a quiet tut as she walked past her father whom sat slumped in a chair in the corner, snoring away with a newspaper across his midriff and a cigarette dangerously dangling between his fingertips. A typical evening in the Kray household consisted of sitting in front of the fire to keep warm. You'd listen to the radio, read a newspaper, drink tea. You'd often wonder where the twins had got to, it was as if they had disappeared into thin air most of the time. One way or another, they always wound up home without their mother batting so much as an eyelid. After all, they were her little angels.