‘Yes!’
I kept lookin at him, not knowin wha te say. He’s so nice, ye’d never think him a very important man tha’d make funny jokes an talk te us an treat us like we were important, too. ‘I read about youse in the Hotspur an the Victor. I read boys’ comics when I’ve run outa the Bunty an the Judy. An youse fighter pilots were very brave altogether!’ I could hardly get me breath, thinkin about him flyin all them planes.
He looked at me, shakin his head an smilin. Then he leaned over te me an waved his finger, sayin quietly, ‘You know, you too are not without courage, little girl! There’s plenty of fire,’ an he leaned closer, lookin inta me eyes wit his one eye, ‘in those blue velvet eyes. You have courage! And one day you will become a wonderful woman!’ Then he jumped back an clasped his hands. ‘Right!’ he said, gatherin up the dishes. ‘Time to dispose of these.’
I felt me chest risin, an I got a tingle in me belly, an I lifted me shoulders an raised me head, straightenin meself up. I felt very proud in meself altogether. He says I have great courage! A bit like them fighter pilots. Me! I really admire James no end. If I was a boy, I’d want te be exactly like him. He’s the nicest person I’ve ever met in me whole life. An ye’d never think te look at him he was a great man. But he certainly is. ‘Ma, do ye want te know somethin?’
‘Wha?’ me ma said, her eyes half closin an her face red from the heat of the fire.
‘James is better than an aul fillum star, isn’t he?’
‘Oh, yeah!’ me ma said, shakin her head in agreement.
I sat meself in James’s chair, makin meself comfortable. God, we’re so lucky. Then the doorbell rang. Me ma opened her eyes, lookin at me an listenin. The front door opened, an we heard a man’s voice. ‘G’night, Sir. We are looking for a woman and child, Sir, believed to be living at this address. A Miss Kathleen Smith and her daughter Mary.’
‘Step in, Officer,’ we heard James say. An another door opened. The front door was shut, an we heard footsteps goin inta another room an the door closin.
‘It’s them, Martha!’ me ma said, grabbin me. The room started spinnin, an I felt the blood drainin outa me. Me ma’s eyes were starin in fright, an she was the colour of a ghost. ‘Come on, quick! Let’s get out before they come in,’ she said, lookin aroun.
‘No, Ma! No!’ I whispered. ‘Wait, they’ll catch us if we go out there. Do nothin. Wait, let’s see wha happens.’
‘Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!’ me ma joined her hands lookin up te heaven. I was shakin an watchin the door.
The other door opened, an the men’s voices said, ‘Thank you, sorry to bother you.’
‘No bother,’ James said, shuttin the door.
He came in, an we stood starin, holdin our breaths. ‘The police, I’m afraid,’ he said, runnin his hand through his hair. ‘They want to interview you. They believe ... it was reported to them, you absconded with the child without authority.’
Me ma was rubbin her mouth wit her hand an lookin at me. ‘We have te go. They’ll put her away again. An this time they won’t let me near her. I’ll never get her back.’
‘No, no, my dear!’ James said, puttin up his hands. ‘Don’t panic. We can sort this out.’
‘No! Thanks fer all yer help. But I’m not takin tha chance.’ An she said, ‘Come on, Martha. We’d better move before they come back.’
James stood away from the door an said, ‘No, please, there is no need for this! I have contacts. We can have this sorted out.’
‘Ah, no!’ me ma said. ‘When the police get involved, then tha’s trouble.’
‘No, no!’ James said, puttin his hand out te me ma. ‘These chaps are only doing their job. They must follow through with their enquiries, we’ll ...’
‘No!’ me ma said. ‘We’re goin now. Where’s me coat?’ An she grabbed her coat off the stand an then grabbed mine. ‘Come on, Martha,’ an she made fer the door. I was standin beside James an didn’t know wha te do. ‘Come on, I’m tellin ye,’ me ma roared.
‘Please, at least stay the night. You are putting yourself and this child in great danger by walking through the streets at this hour. Tomorrow morning, after a good night’s rest, perhaps you will see things more clearly!’
Me ma hesimitated. I looked at her, wringin me hands. ‘No!’ she said. ‘Once they get their hands on ye, they don’t let go. They might even lock me up.’
‘Good gracious! What in heaven’s name would they do that for! You are not a criminal!’