‘Mary! Go and take your bath. I’ve run the water for you.’
‘OK!’ I said, followin the auntie te the bathroom.
‘Now don’t be long.’
‘No, OK,’ I said as she closed the door.
I stepped inta the bath, dippin me toe in first an then lowered meself in. Lovely! I took up a huge bar of Sunlight soap an started te wash meself. Then I washed me hair. The door opened, sendin in a draft. An the auntie poked her head in. ‘Hurry up, Mary! Come out of the bath now and get dressed. Quickly!’
‘OK,’ I said, disappointed, enjoyin meself in the bath, cos this was the only place no one could get me an start tormentin me.
I got dressed an was dryin me hair when the auntie rushed in an said, ‘Come quickly! There’s someone waiting to see you.’
Me mouth dropped open, an me heart gave a jump. Me! I rushed out, followin the auntie up inta the parlour, an there was me ma! I gaped at her, an the auntie went out, closin the door behind her.
‘Quick!’ me ma said, openin the door quietly. ‘Come on!’ an she opened the front door an grabbed me. ‘Run, Martha!’ an she ran down the street an jumped inta a waitin taxi. ‘Go, Mister!’ An she poked the driver in the back, an he hesimitated te ask where to now, an she said, ‘The city. Hurry!’ An we took off just as the front door opened, an the auntie an the mum an dad an young ones all came rushin out te gape after us. Me ma looked back an muttered, ‘They won’t fuckin get us again!’
I looked back, an the man was rushin back inta the house while the women stared. The auntie had her hand on her head, an the mum had her hand on her mouth. The young ones were runnin up an down the path laughin, an some were gapin.
‘Wha’s happenin, Ma?’ I turned te look inta her face, an she winked at me not te say anythin in front of the driver.
She leaned forward an said, ‘Can ye go a bit faster, Mister? I’m in a hurry!’
He shot forward, an we fell back in the seat. Then we hit the city centre, an me ma looked aroun. ‘Pull over there, Mister!’ an she pointed te a big shop. The man pulled in, an me ma said, ‘We’re gettin out here.’
I jumped out, an me ma paid the driver, an then we rushed inta the big shop an out through another door, an walked through crowds a people. An then she said, ‘Come on in here!’ an we went inta a café, an she ordered a pot a tea. ‘Them bastards wouldn’t tell me where ye were. I couldn’t find out where they’d put ye. They said I could visit ye when I had a place of me own an I could be classed as fit te take care of ye.’
‘So how did ye find me, Ma?’
‘I met a very respectable man who took pity on me. I was sittin on a bench in a park cryin. An when he heard I’d lost you, cos I had no home of me own, he said I could stay in his home. An he’s willin te take you. He’s a real respectable gentleman. So then I was able te tell them I had a home fer you. An they gave me the address after checkin wit the home ye were in. An they said I could come an visit ye. I told the taxi man te wait fer me, an I left him a few houses down so they wouldn’t see him. Tha way we were able te get away quickly before they knew wha was happenin.’
I looked at me ma. Her eyes was shinin, an she was very happy. But she looked very tired, too. It’s only hittin me now. I’m out! Back wit me ma, we’re together again! Me heart lifted, an me belly gave a jump wit gladness. Me ma stares inta me face. ‘Wha happened te you? You’re lookin very white, an ye’re still very thin.’
‘Yeah, Ma! I’m white from all the washin I got. An I didn’t like the food any more.’
‘Yeah!’ me ma said, starin inta me face. ‘Were ye frettin?’
‘Yeah, Ma! I was. I missed ye somethin terrible.’ An I felt me chest fillin up. I wanted te start cryin.
‘Well,’ me ma said, lookin away from me. ‘Them bastards won’t get a second chance te do tha te us again. We’ll keep away from the authorities!’ Me heart jumped in fear at even the mention of tha word.
‘Come on,’ me ma said. ‘We’d better get movin.’ Then she headed inta the tilet, an I followed her in. Another woman was there wit a young one about my age, an I watched the mammy comb the young one’s hair. It was lovely an shiny an straight, parted down one side an a big clip in it. I stared while she buttoned her coat up wit the navy-blue velvet collar an a half-belt at the back. An the young one stood still while her mammy fussed aroun her. She looked lovely, an I wished I could look like tha. Me ma came outa the tilet an said, ‘There’s no paper in there,’ an laughed at the woman, but the woman ignored her.