Eve of the Isle (19 page)

‘What, here?'

‘No, I was at the cottage cleaning out a few things. This fella with a bowler hat walked in as bold as brass. He threatened to chuck us out.'

Eve closed her eyes and sat down quickly. ‘I was afraid this would happen.'

‘Said the rent wasn't paid.'

‘You gave it to him, of course?'

‘Well, five bob to keep him happy.'

‘Five bob! But we had more than that.'

‘Look, love, you may not have noticed but last week I bought the lads a few bits from market as their clothes was falling off them. Then I saw Joseph all right, gave him a few bob extra for all that borsch he cooked whilst you and the boys was ill. And then there's me baccy. I'll admit to the fact I've treated myself to a few Woodbines lately. I was going to put it all back when I started selling again.'

Eve knew that Peg's flower-selling days were long over. With her aches and pains she couldn't stand on street corners any more. Eve had seen the second-hand clothes that Peg had bought for the boys, some jumpers, shirts and trousers for school but hadn't expected them to cost a fortune. Was money, or the lack of it, the reason Peg wasn't eager to return to the cottage?

‘Joseph will put us up a bit longer, gel, don't worry about the rent. We'll scrape it together somehow.'

‘I just hope they don't put someone else in the cottage.'

Peg laughed. ‘In my cottage? Just let 'em try! Now, I'll make us a nice cup of tea.'

Eve sighed. ‘Are the boys home?'

‘Not yet. They've gone up the park.'

‘They should be doing their homework.'

‘Oh, give them a break, gel. The nights are lighter now. And a bit of fresh air will do them good after being in school all day.'

Eve didn't want the twins going off after their lessons. She wanted them to do their homework first. They could play in the street after.

‘Why don't you go in and sit by the fire? I'll bring in your tea.'

The effects of the cold were still with Eve because she gave in easily. Slowly she stood up and went to the front room. The warmth surrounded her as she sat down in the armchair. She looked into the tiny orange flames that lapped at the sides of the coke. As her eyes fluttered closed, she made up her mind to visit the town hall. She would give them the money she had saved, bringing them up to date with the rent. It wasn't that she didn't trust Peg, of course. But she trusted herself more. It was the last thing on her mind as she fell asleep.

It was the end of April before Eve could save up enough to pay the rent. The clerk at the town hall accepted the money without question but would not discuss the repairs to the cottage.

‘Not this department,' was all he would say as he disappeared into his cubby-hole.

On the way home Eve decided to stop at St Saviour's and wait at the school gates. But the bell had already gone and most of the children had left.

A figure dressed in black robes swept across the playground. ‘Mrs Kumar, I would like to speak to you.' Sister Mary crooked a finger. ‘Please come inside.' Under the black frame of her habit and the white band that stretched across her forehead, she looked severe as she led Eve into her classroom. ‘I've been waiting to see you about your sons' work.' She displayed their books on the desk. Eve could see splodges of ink and not a lot of writing.

‘Albert in particular. He is a bright child, but won't make the effort.'

Eve frowned. Sister Mary was right, Albert tended to be lazy and his books showed that.

‘As for Samuel, he tries harder and is good at arithmetic. But his English is not up to standard.'

Eve nodded. ‘Is that all?'

‘There are other things, but I won't go into them now. However, I must bring to your notice that Albert and Samuel are unable to receive communion. They say they have not attended confession for some while.'

‘That's because on Saturday mornings, they help me with the flowers.'

‘Is it really necessary?'

‘Yes, Sister Mary, it is.'

‘By missing confession they are not in a state of grace,' the nun objected, ‘and ready to receive the body and blood of Our Lord. Now, do you want them to be good Catholics?'

‘Yes, but—'

‘Their spiritual welfare must come first.'

‘I'll see they go to confession this week.'

‘Also their Latin is poor. But then what more can be expected if they don't attend Mass on a regular basis?'

How long was this list going to be, Eve wondered impatiently. But before she could reply Sister Mary continued.

‘But my main concern is that they are so often ill.'

‘They only had colds,' said Eve. ‘I wrote a note.'

Sister Mary narrowed her tiny eyes. ‘I received one, but that was before they were absent again.'

Eve opened her mouth then shut it. She felt herself going red. ‘I must have lost track.'

‘Four days in all, Mrs Kumar.' Sister Mary pleated her fingers. ‘And when I asked for confirmation in writing, Albert told me that you were too ill to write.'

Eve tried to look unsurprised. ‘I caught their cold,' she said feebly.

Sister Mary's astute eyes didn't move from her face. ‘No wonder their work is deteriorating. With such erratic attendance their work is bound to suffer.'

‘It won't happen again.'

Sister Mary sat up stiffly in her chair. ‘Samuel and Albert could be good scholars, Mrs Kumar, if they were given the support at home. The potential is there for them to excel at their work. And there are only places available at St Saviour's for those who wish to learn and – most importantly of all – to follow the church's teachings.'

‘Yes, Sister Mary.' Eve was trying to digest everything she had said, but the news of the twins' absences had left her shocked.

‘Our Sunday worship and daily Mass are the most important things in our lives.'

Eve nodded once more but she was hardly listening.

‘That's all for now.'

Eve left the classroom, her mind in turmoil. She had felt about ten as Sister Mary had lectured her. Why had the boys been absent from school and told Sister Mary their mother was too ill to write a note?

Her anger mounted, both with the boys and herself as she hurried home. The boys for being deceitful and herself for allowing them to shirk their studies and miss school.

But when she got home Samuel and Albert were waiting for her with news of their own. ‘We've seen Charlie, Mum,' Albert cried excitedly the moment she walked in.

‘What?'

‘We saw Charlie.'

‘Where?'

‘Up the park.'

‘So that's where you've been?'

They nodded. ‘Peg said we could. Charlie was there playing football. It was his day off and he was practising for a match.'

Eve wondered if the boys had been with him on the days they had been absent from school.

‘He said to give you this.'

Eve took the crumpled paper from Albert. ‘What is it?'

‘Dunno. He said he'd had it in his pocket for a few days.'

Eve walked into the front room and sat down. She read the careful, upright handwriting.

Dear Mrs Kumar,

The
Tarkay
docks at Tilbury in May, later than expected. Somar Singh may be on it, or not. Perhaps you will want this information, perhaps not, but I thought I'd write it anyway. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the matter.

Kind regards,

Charlie.

Eve read it again.

‘What does it say?' Albert asked as they stood beside her.

‘It's the name of the man your dad might have known and the ship he sails on.'

‘Is Charlie taking us to see him?'

Eve felt light-headed and strange. Even the matter of the truancy had taken second place to this. What was she to do with the information? Why hadn't Charlie come to see her instead of writing a note? Should she go and see him?

Joseph came in the door. ‘Eve, are you all right?'

‘Charlie's given us the name of a man that knew our dad,' explained Samuel.

‘I see,' said Joseph sitting beside Eve on the couch. ‘What are you going to do?'

‘I don't know, Joseph.' Without Charlie's help to find the ship, there really wasn't much she could do.

‘What else did Charlie say?' she asked the boys.

‘Nothing. He was playing football with a mate. We was hoping they would let us play too, but Charlie didn't ask.' Albert looked glum. ‘S'pose he didn't think you'd let us.'

‘Is it with Charlie you've been on the days you didn't go to school?'

They both went red.

‘I've just spoken to Sister Mary.'

Samuel and Albert looked at one another. Eve sat back in the chair. ‘So, what have you got to say for yourselves?'

‘We was going to tell you,' said Samuel, tears filling his eyes. ‘But it wasn't Charlie we was with. Today is the first time we saw him.'

‘So what did you do for four days?'

Albert shrugged. ‘Just mucked about.'

Eve couldn't believe they had been so naughty. ‘And why did you say I was too ill to write a note? That was a deliberate lie.'

‘You was ill,' said Albert, ‘but not as ill as we said.'

‘That wasn't the truth, was it?'

‘We didn't think it was a lie.'

‘It was a lie for no reason.'

‘But there was—' began Albert before Samuel nudged him.

‘There was what?' Eve looked at them sternly.

They dropped their heads.

‘Boys, please help your mother,' urged Joseph quietly. ‘She is only trying to understand.'

Samuel wiped his eyes. ‘We was afraid to go to school.'

‘Afraid?' Eve frowned. ‘Of Sister Mary?'

They shook their heads.

‘Who then?'

‘The other boys. They called us names.'

‘What sort of names?'

‘The ones like they called us before. Them rude ones.'

‘Well, just as I told you before, you mustn't take any notice. They don't know what they're saying.'

Eve was furious. She looked at her precious sons and their lovely dark hair and skin as smooth as milky chocolate, and Charlie's words came back to her. Sooner or later the twins would have to fight their own battles. She couldn't protect them forever. But to her they were still little babies and she loved them so much.

That night after the boys had gone to bed, Eve and Peg sat with Joseph in the front room discussing what had happened.

‘I don't reckon they deserve to be punished,' Peg said after Eve had told them what happened.

‘I said they can't go up the park or play in the street.'

‘Poor little buggers.'

‘I had to do something. It won't be for long.'

‘But it was those older kids' fault,' Peg protested. ‘They wanted money from the twins. Even knocked them about when they didn't get it.'

‘I'm going up the school tomorrow to complain to Sister Mary,' said Eve defiantly. Although she had punished her boys, in her heart she felt they didn't deserve it. They had been hiding from the bullies, that was all.

‘I would think twice about that, my dear.' Joseph looked concerned.

‘Why's that?'

‘Because she has no control over those boys outside of school.'

‘Samuel and Albert ain't big for their age. It's not fair, they can't fight back,' cried Eve.

‘The kids to blame think our lads have got money from the flower-selling,' said Peg with a slow nod. ‘So we know the cause of the trouble.'

‘So what am I to do? Stop Samuel and Albert from coming with me to learn the trade? Why should my boys be threatened for doing something worthwhile?'

‘It might be worth a try, just for a few weeks.' Peg looked at Joseph.

He raised his shoulders and held out his hands. ‘It is for Eve to decide.'

‘I could give it a try,' said Eve reluctantly. Then she smiled. ‘They can go to confession instead.'

Peg laughed. ‘They won't like that either.'

‘Sister Mary is always saying they don't go enough.'

‘Them kids is all innocence,' replied Peg with a sniff. ‘Confession indeed! What they got to confess?'

Joseph chuckled. ‘They are good boys. As they grow older they will grow strong and wise.'

But would they? Eve wondered anxiously. She was worried the name-calling had begun again. It wasn't surprising that Samuel and Albert didn't want to go to school.

That night Eve lay awake in the dark still worrying about the boys. Perhaps she should do what Sister Mary advised, make them concentrate on their schoolwork and be good Catholics. Though the flower-selling was important, their immediate welfare came first.

Then her thoughts turned to the note. Did she have enough courage to find the ship and speak to Somar Singh herself? Five years ago, she would have done anything to find out what had happened to Raj, but now she wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. Standing in the morgue and looking at that dead man had brought back all the unhappiness.

The next day Eve waited for Albert and Samuel at school. But it was raining and everyone sped through the gates, eager to get home. Eve searched the boys' faces, wondering which ones were the culprits.

Albert and Samuel trudged out alone. They didn't
look pleased to see her. The rain trickled down Albert's round face.

‘Have you got your homework?'

They nodded. They knew they couldn't go to the park or play in the street and there was silence all the way home.

‘Come on get dry,' said Peg when they walked in. ‘You all look like drowned rats.'

Joseph was cooking in the kitchen. ‘The borsch is nearly ready boys!'

When tea was over, they went into the front room. Eve inspected their books. ‘Albert, you've got more crosses than ticks.'