For You I Will

Birmingham, 1919.

Gwendolynn Owen was once again late. The boys had kept her out later than usual the night before at The Garrison. Gwen would like to think of herself as a responsible 20 year old girl but the Shelby Brothers always made her second guess herself. She and her brother Danny grew up on Watery Lane with the Shelby Brothers and shortly after their parents died, Danny enlisted in the war and once home became a helping hand to the Shelby's. While away Gwen and Aunt Poll had grown remarkably close and that is who she was afraid of upsetting.

Gwen arrived at the Shelby Home sneaking through the door.

"Finn boy, what is that you got there?" She asked a young Finn, crouching low at the fireplace. 

"Nothing, nothing at all," Finn chirped hiding his hands in his pockets looking at Gwen with big eyes.

"Boy, you best hope that Tommy or Aunt Poll don't catch you doing what I know you are doing or they will have all our heads." Swinging the curtains wide open revealing a door Gwen went into the betting shop. 

It was only half past nine and it was jam packed. Everyone placing their bets for the big race. Gwen was still slightly hungover and the smell of the sweaty men from the factories and cigar smoke filling the air was making her quite queasy. 

"Oi, Gwennie!!! You were supposed to be here at 9. Pol will cut you she finds out you keep showing up late," John Shelby yelled from across the room. John and Gwen were always super close. Particularly close in age they often were inseparable as kids and even into there teen years. John was even Gwen's first kiss because Gwen unlike most women in Small Heath had values and wasn't going to kiss just any random stranger on a dare during a night of fun with friends. After the war and Martha dying, John tried his hardest but at times being a single dad with four kids was hard and Gwen tried her best to help him.

"John Shelby!! You best keep your mouth shut! You frightened me to fucking death. I swear I do not know if I am hungover, exhausted or both."

"Another long night with Danny eh?"

"Yes, I really don't know what to do John. Between Rosie and I taking shifts, he is up screaming all hours of the night. I try not to put too much on Rosie with the baby and whatnot." John rubs her shoulder reassuringly. 

"You cant help everyone Gwen. You are too good of a girl for this fucked up world."

"He is my brother John. He is all I have left. But something tells me I have to keep an eye, my instincts you know," Gwen looks up at John. He is nearly half a foot taller than her.

"Fuck, you and Pol and your Gypsy instincts. Its nice but creepy of sorts at the same time," John laughs causing Gwen to chuckle playing with  the corners of her shawl. 

Danny Owen was Gwen's big brother. There parents were murdered in cold blood a year before Danny and the boys enlisted. Danny never fully coped with there parents murder and went straight into a drinking fest then straight into war. When he came home he wasn't any better much to Gwen hoping he would be somehow. The war made him suffer from severe emotional episodes making him believe he were still on the battlefield granting him the nickname Danny Whizz Bang. They said his head was full of mud and smoke. 

"Let me see the ledger, take a look at the numbers and make sure you arent too hungover John Boy," Gwen teasingly looked at the chalkboard and ledger book knowing damn good and well that everything was correct. Her and John were the best at numbers and would often work together in the shop. Better than Arthur even and he was supposed to be the man in charge of it all.

"Monaghan Boy has the most bets. He is like knocking all these others outta the water. Lets hope its a good day then," Gwen huffed putting the book down, "How about some tea?"