Letters - Michael Gray

Everybody Knows

About a month later in London Valarie was writing another letter to Michael. She had to be careful as Alfie was getting suspicious as to why she was receiving so many letters. Valarie also had to be cautious as Michael's mum Polly knew about their letters. The young Solomons was currently sat on her bed while writing a letter and she was in her own world. In fact because she was in her own world she didn't manage to hear her dad climbing the stairs. Three knocks at Valarie's bedroom door brought her back into reality. Before Valarie had time to move the letter she was writing Alfie had walked through the door as he thought his daughter was asleep. Alfie was shocked to see his daughter sat on her bed writing. Valarie looked at her dad like a deer in headlights. She had been caught!.
"What have you got there Darling?" Alfie was curious as to what his daughter was writing.
"Nothing special dad" Valarie was desperate for her dad not to see the letter. However, it was no use Alfie had already picked up the letter and was reading it.

Valarie was now scared of her dad as she could see him getting angrier with every line he read. Alfie was hurt and confused. Hurt as to why Valarie didn't tell him and confused as to who Michael was.
"Who is Michael? Do I know him?" asked Alfie.
Valarie was quite as she looked at her feet.
"TELL ME VALARIE NOW" Alfie screamed at his daughter. Valarie obviously had to tell him the truth now.
" Well when I went to that bookshop in Birmingham I met Michael. We talked and he brought me The Professor by Charlotte Brontë. He left me a message in the front of it along with his address. I wrote to him and we've been writing letters to each other ever since" Valarie explained to her dad.
Alfie didn't know what to say. How could he have not realised?. The other thing that was going through Alfie's mind was what is  Michael's last name?. He knew a Michael who was related to the Shelby's but it couldn't be him.
"What is his last name?" Alfie was desperate to know this information.
"Gray. His name is Michael Gary" Valarie cried to her dad.
It then clicked in Alfie's mind. This was the Michael was related to the Shelby's.
"Do you know who this Michael actually is? What he does for a living?" Alfie had to tell his daughter.
"Yes. He's an accountant for his cousins company and I also know they're who you're doing business with" explained Valarie.
Alfie didn't know what to say but he knew he had to phone Tommy to tell him. With that in mind Alfie stormed out of Valarie's bedroom to phone Tommy Shelby. Valarie just sat there in shock. She couldn't believe what had just happened. All that she knew was that her dad was angry and she probably wouldn't be sending anymore letters to Michael.

Wasting no time Alfie dialled Tommy's number and waited for him to answer. It didn't take long for the phone to be answered.
"Hello, Shelby Company Ltd, Lizzie speaking. How can I help you?"
"Can I speak to Tommy Shelby please, tell him it's Alfie Solomons"
"Wait a minute" said Lizzie
Alfie waited then a familiar Brummie accent came on the phone.
"Hello, Alfie is everything alright?"
"Did you know?" asked Alfie
"Know what?" Tommy has no clue what Alfie was on about.
"That your cousin Michael and my daughter have been sending letters to each other since I came to Birmingham" Alfie was still furious.
"No, I didn't know that Alfie. Is there a problem though?"
"Yes!. I don't want my daughter to be associated with a Shelby" shouted Alfie.
"Calm down Alfie maybe this will be good for business. Think about it" said Tommy trying to reason with Alfie.
"True" Said Alfie "Alright they can see each other but if your cousin hurts her in anyway I'll chop his dick off so he can't be a man anymore" reasoned Alfie.
"Well it's a start I guess. Shall I give Michael your number so he can phone Valarie?" Tommy suggested.
"That would be alright I guess but he can phone first"
"I'll tell him. Bye Alfie" said Tommy
"Bye Gypsy" said Alfie

Tommy put the phone down and sighed.
"What did he want?" asked Lizzie
"Seems like Michael has won the heart of a Solomons" replied Tommy.
Lizzie just laughed as she could guess who he meant.

As Tommy was making his way back to his office he saw Michael talking to Arthur and John by John's desk. Tommy wondered over to Michael and patted his back.
"Well done Michael" Tommy congratulated his younger cousin. Michael, John and Arthur looked at each other confused.
"What's the lad done this time Tom?" questioned Arthur.
"Well Arthur, it seems like our cousin here has won the heart of Valarie Solomons. Turns out they've been sending each other letters ever since Alfie came to Birmingham" answered Tommy.
Michael went red with embarrassment. Arthur and John cheered and congratulated Michael. Michael couldn't help but laugh at his older cousins behaviour.
"Well I've just had Alfie Solomons on the phone. He wasn't happy at first but he's willing to let you two see each other. He's even said you can phone her" Tommy told Michael and handed him the phone number. Michael couldn't believe it. He knew he was going to phone Valarie.

Later that night in London Valarie and Alfie had just finished their dinner when, the sound of a telephone ringing echoed through the house. Alfie and Valarie just looked at each other and wondered who was going to answer the telephone. Eventually Valarie got out of her seat and made her way to the ringing telephone. By the time Valarie got to the phone it was nearly finished ringing but she answered it just in time.
"Hello Solomons residence" Valarie answered the telephone.
"Hello, can I speak to Valarie please?" the mysterious person on the phone asked.
"Speaking" replied Valarie.
"Valarie, hello it's Michael"
Valarie couldn't believe she was actually speaking to him. She never thought she would hear his voice again.
"Michael, I can't believe it's actually you!. How did you get my phone number?"
"Your dad gave it to Tommy, who gave it to me" explained Michael.

Alfie was sat in the lounge. He could see and hear Valarie on the phone. Hello was over the moon to see the smile on his daughters face. He knew Michael made his daughter happy and that made him happy.

Michael and Valarie were on the phone for what felt like hours; when the conversation came to a natural end.
"So Val. Is it alright if I call you that?" asked Michel.
Valarie was bursting with happiness.
"If it's alright with you, it's alright with me" answered Valarie.
"So Val, I've been thinking we should meet up soon" wondered Michael.
"I've been thinking the same. Would it be alright for you to come to London though?"
"Of cause it would. Is next week okay?. Say Tuesday"
"Next week is perfect. I'll meet you at the station if you want" said Valarie.
"That would be brilliant. I'll be there midday" explained Michael.
"Great, I'll even ask my dad if you can stay the night"
Alfie heard this and shouted that it would be okay. Michael heard Alfie shout and laughed.
"I'll pack a bag then" laughed Michael.
Valarie couldn't help but laugh too.
A smile grew on Michael's face at the sound of Valarie's laugh.
"Well I hate to say this but I better go. It's getting late" said Michael.
"I know I can't wait to see you next week" expressed Valarie.
"Same, I'll look out for you at the station. Night Val" said Michael.
"I'll look out for you too. Night Michael" said Valarie.
Valarie put down the phone. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face.