Beyond a Misty Shore Read Online Free PDF Page B

waited on,’ Sophie said as her aunt came back into the room. She had no wish to offend her but she couldn’t sit back and leave the place in such a mess.
    ‘Ah, that’s good of you, luv. I’m not getting any younger and I can tell you it’s not easy clearing up after my lot. It wouldn’t enter our Katie’s head to help.’ She shot a sharp look at her daughter. ‘No, it’s her day off.’
    ‘Mam, I work the rest of the week! I’m on me feet all day, running here, there and everywhere!’ Katie retorted, annoyed that her mother had more or less said she was lazy, which put her in a bad light. ‘Aren’t I entitled to a day off ?’
    ‘And when do I ever get a day off, milady?’ Lizzie shot back indignantly.
    Seeing that things were degenerating into an argument Sophie quickly sought to intervene. ‘I’m sure Katie works really hard, Aunty Lizzie, and now that we’re here, we can share all the chores, so you can take things easier.’
    Katie, mollified by her words, made an effort to sweep up the ashes as Maria pushed the screwed-up newspapers into the range.
    Lizzie was amazed at how quickly the kitchen was tidied, even little Bella had been given a few simple tasks to do. These two girls certainly were not afraid of housework, shethought. Life for herself would indeed be easier with them around.
    When they’d finished, Lizzie took them upstairs and showed them the room they would be sharing with Katie.
    ‘You’ll be a bit cramped but Jim and I have one room and our John and Billy have the other and it’s smaller than this one. We got the double bed when we knew you were coming,’ Lizzie informed them.
    Maria looked around in dismay. Crammed into the room were a double bed and a single bed, a small wardrobe and a chest of drawers. Obviously Bella would have to share a bed with Sophie and she would have to share with Katie. Of course she’d shared a bed with Sophie until her sister had got married but that had been different, they’d always shared, and the room hadn’t been as cluttered as this. There was barely room to move in here.
    ‘Of course we’ll manage, Aunty Lizzie,’ Sophie said firmly, ignoring the look on Maria’s face but feeling rather dismayed herself.
    ‘Couldn’t we sleep in the parlour?’ Maria asked tentatively. There was one; she’d observed that as they’d stood on the doorstep.
    ‘You could if it was empty but Mr Chatsworth rents it from me, he’s been here four years now and I couldn’t put him out. He’s nowhere else to go and he’s no bother at all. Nice, quiet man he is, keeps himself to himself and always pays on time. His few bob come in very handy too,’ Lizzie informed them.
    Sophie frowned. So there were now nine people living in this house; still, as her aunt had said earlier, there were many overcrowded houses in this devastated city. They’d just have to make the best of it.
    When Lizzie had left them to unpack, Maria sat down on one of the beds. ‘Everywhere is very run down and things are so
worn
, Sophie.’
    As she began to unpack Sophie nodded. ‘I know, but perhaps after going through all that bombing and with such terrible shortages, it’s the best she can do. When we’ve put our stuff away we’ll get a tram into town and see what we can get. There must be places where we can buy sheets and towels cheaply, and a tablecloth. I’ll put it to her tactfully, that we want to help, brighten things up a bit.’
    ‘I noticed there was a small shop on the corner of the next street, we should be able to get things like washing soda, soap and Jeyes Fluid there.’
    Sophie nodded. Maria was right but it would all eat into the small amount of money she had. They’d have to find work soon.

Chapter Three

    L IZZIE HAD TOLD THEM that the shop was called Dodd’s and that they sold everything from bacon to Brasso. Maggie Dodd, who owned it, would give selected customers things ‘on tick’, providing she knew them well enough. Sophie decided they would