An Autumn Crush Read Online Free PDF

right, son?’ he asked.
    ‘Yeah course,’ said Denny, trying not to look obvious as he wiped away some water from his eyes.
    ‘Oh hello, Steve,’ said Sarah Burrows, appearing from behind them in the doorway. ‘Do you want a cuppa? Denny – do you want some pop, love?’
    Denny nodded and didn’t speak, because his voice was all choked up. Steve didn’t want to put Sarah to any trouble but he wanted to winkle out of young Denny what was up, so he said,
‘Tell you what, make that two pops, will you, Sarah? Please.’
    When Sarah had disappeared back into the kitchen, Steve left it for half a minute or so then nudged Denny.
    ‘Come on then, kid. Tell your Uncle Steve what’s up.’
    ‘Nowt’s up,’ said Denny.
    ‘You can tell me, you know.’
    Denny opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then clamped it shut again.
    ‘There’s nowt.’
    ‘Yes, there is,’ said Sarah, appearing with two long tumblers of Diet Coke. ‘I’m worried sick. It’s an evil bastard by the name of Tommy Paget. This is the fifth
time Denny’s glasses have been broken this year. I didn’t know any of this was going on until his eye got bashed. Then I found his little body’s covered in bruises.’
    ‘Denny, you’ve got to bash him back, son,’ said Steve, putting an arm around the lad and feeling how small he was when he squashed him into his side.
    ‘There’s four of them,’ put in Sarah. ‘A gang. And the chuffing headmaster is about as much use as a chocolate chip pan. He’s promised there will be no more
incidences, but I’m sceptical. I’m keeping Denny off school for a few days because he’s not sleeping. What state is that for a ten-year-old kid to be in?’
    ‘Where’s he live, this Tommy Paget?’
    ‘Ooh no, Steve, you can’t say anything to kids these days because it just makes them do it all the more,’ said Sarah quickly.
    ‘I’m not going to. I’m just asking where he lives.’
    ‘Other side of the estate. Bridge Avenue. Number ninety-five, I think. You might know his dad – Artie Paget. Fancied himself as a bit of a boxer, once upon a time.’
    ‘Artie Paget’s his dad?’ Oh yes, Steve knew Artie Paget all right.
    ‘It’s a horrible feeling, not being able to protect your own.’ Sarah shook her head slowly from side to side. She looked totally worn out.
    ‘You shouldn’t be on this estate, love,’ said Steve, looking around at the bloody awful place.
    ‘You’re telling me. I’ve had our name down for a transfer for well over two years now. I probably don’t make as much fuss as some. He who speaks loudest, gets heard
first , don’t they say? But at least I can keep an eye on your mum for you whilst I’m here. She sometimes lets me in.’
    Steve smiled sadly. ‘Thanks so much, Sarah.’
    ‘I wish I could do more,’ Sarah replied with a heavy sigh.
    ‘I know what you mean.’ It was ironic how Christine Feast clung to her right to destroy herself with cheap booze. Life was so precious and yet Christine Feast had never seemed to
want it.
    Steve drained his pop and gave young Denny an affectionate nudge before stretching to his feet. ‘You have any more trouble, you tell me,’ Steve said. ‘I’ll teach you some
self-defence moves.’
    ‘I’ve just started karate,’ said Denny proudly, sniffing back the last of his tears because he felt better now, having Steve on his side. ‘I go on Wednesday
nights.’
    ‘Big Jim’s on Buckley Street?’
    ‘That’s the place,’ said Sarah.
    ‘He taught me as well,’ said Steve. ‘He’s a good teacher, is Jim. If you tell him you know me, he’ll give you a bit of a discount.’
    ‘I don’t like to be cheeky,’ Sarah bristled. Steve smiled at the proud young woman and wished his mam had an ounce of her dignity.
    ‘Sod that,’ he said, knowing that Sarah didn’t have a lot of money to spare. ‘Have you got all your gear yet?’
    ‘He said I can do it in my tracksuit for now,’ said Den.
    ‘Here.’ Steve