Billie Shelby

Part 6

Billies P.O.V
I had been working at the Garrison for 2 weeks now. It's not too bad .I get on with Harry fine;it's just sometimes when my brothers aren't there,the men can be odd,calling me all sorts when they're drunk. But I haven't told the boys as they would most probably kill someone. Polly tells me to ignore it though-so I do.

There is a new girl starting at the Garrison today so I'm looking forward to sharing the odd drunk men with someone.

Polly walked me to work like she has been every other day,to give us 'girly time' apparently. She's been down lately due to something about her own children,whom she never talks about -I'm trying to get it out of her slowly though. I know Thomas knows,so he may be my next target.

When I got to work the pub had its usual first few customers at 10am:Frank, an elderly man who worked down the canal until he retired a few months ago due to his health,Peter,a younger man who always seemed to have noting better to do,William and another boy I hadn't seen before.
"Hi frank!" I called out as I entered the pub
-"hello my darling" he replied,as he always did call me.
The new boy caught my eye,he looked out of place wearing his immaculate clothes and bow-tie, as he sat at the bar. He looked around my age,possibly older.
I put on my apron tying it at the back as I walked behind the bar and greeted Harry.
"Bill see what that kid wants ,he's been sat there for about 15 minutes without a drink or a word being said" Harry asked me.
I walked over to the boy ,who looked up at me ,without expression.
-" are you alright sir?"
"Urhhh..yes. Thank you"he replied ,seeming nervous.
" you're new around aren't you?" I asked
He looked back to me and smiled " yeah-how could you tell?"
"Just got a weird 7th sense I guess" I joked earning laugh from him.
"Anyways what's you name ,stranger?"I asked politely ,following Harry's order.
"Henry,you?"
"Billie."
"Well it's nice to meet you Billie"
"And you" I smiled,leaving him at the bar ,so I could start my shift by checking the barrels.
"He seems harmless" I said to Harry as I walked past.
When I returned from the  barrels Henry was gone and a blonde girl had taken his place. I walked over to her from the opposite side of the bar.
-"can I help you?" I asked as it was odd for a girl to be in this pub alone without the last name Shelby or Gray.
"Yes. Hi I'm Grace,I'm starting today,I believe I was to see a man called Harry or a man called Billie?"
I laughed at her ,and she stared at me,confused.
"Right,well I'm Billie the man you are to see" I replied jokingly.
"Oh i see" she laughed and I joined her.
" Well we are going to get on fine Grace"I remarked.
"It seems we are"she agreed.

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After half an hour I had shown Grace the ropes:how to change or sort out a barrel,where the mop was to clear up the sick and explained to her why I had been given a name that apparently belonged to a boy.
I liked her.
"Anyways Grace what brought you to Birmingham?"I questioned her.
" well I'm from Galway,and I fancied a bit of change"she revealed .
"So you chose Birmingham?"I asked mockingly
She chuckled "yes I did"
And after that Tommy appeared behind me -causing me to jump.
"Tommy!You scared me ,you idiot!" I said swatting his shoulder,but he wasn't listening. He was looking straight at Grace. Grace looked to me and then to Tommy and back to me again.
"Oh umm..Tommy this is Grace. The new barmaid" I introduced her.
"I'll have a bottle of whiskey" he said,trying to show that he did not care. But I could see the way he had looked at her.
"Um yes ,Tommy..urr"
-"Shelby" he interrupted her.
She nodded at him with a smile before going to fetch his bottle.
I quickly looked up to him "I saw that Thomas" I said with a smirk.
"Saw what?" He replies trying to hide a smile.
"I see ,playing hard to get" I winked at him,trying to wind him up. But unfortunately for me ,my plan backfired as he immediately grabbed my wrists and began tickling me in the ribs. Causing me to scream like a child ,loud enough for the whole pub to hear,even John and Arthur emerged from the private room to see what was going on.
Tommy and I gathered ourselves upon realising that Grace had been stood in front  of us both holding the bottle of whiskey,waiting for us to notice. We both stood up straight and I smoothed down my skirt and brushed my curled hair back behind my ears and placed my hands down by my sides.
Grace cleared her throat-"That'll be-"
"On the house" Arthur said, as he had been stood with John behind us during mine and Tommy's mishap,and he took the bottle from Grace.
John stood forward presenting himself to Grace.
"I'm John" he said , curtsying.
I laughed at him seeing Graces confused reaction,and Tommy even cracked a smile.
"Stop it John" I said pushing him,causing him to chuckle to himself.
"Right c'mon" John said grabbing Tommy and pushing him towards the private room.