Cockney Orphan Read Online Free PDF

There’s a kettle on top of it, heating
slowly, but it should be boiled soon. We’ve no gas and the water’s turned off, but I remembered to fill the kettle and two saucepans before I left yesterday.’ She frowned at the
baby. ‘Does that poor child need feeding?’
    Connie nodded. ‘I expect so. Vic’s sister, Pat, has a little girl called Doris and Pat gave me her bottle to use and some clothes to borrow. They’re all in this shopping
basket.’
    ‘In that case, we’d better get cracking,’ Olive decided, taking Gran’s basket and hurrying off to the kitchen.
    ‘What are you going to do with the boy?’ Ebbie asked as he accompanied his daughter into the front room.
    ‘I don’t really know, Dad.’ Connie sank into the big fireside chair and was immediately enveloped by warmth. As one who was used to her full eight hours sleep, she was feeling
the lack of it now. ‘I’ll have to ask Mum.’
    ‘Did you see what happened to the Coles’ house?’ her father asked as he sat on the couch and rolled a cigarette. ‘Lucky they were away.’
    Connie nodded sadly. ‘There was a whole street sealed off as I walked home.’
    ‘Saint Cuthbert’s took one, you know.’
    ‘Oh dear. Whatever will the congregation do now?’
    ‘It’s anyone’s guess.’ He paused. ‘Nan Barnes told your mother the Islanders was bombed too. I shan’t be going down there for a quick one at the weekend, will
I? And Surrey Docks was alight from end to end. The coast and the city took the brunt of the bombing this summer, but nothing like the inferno of the docks tonight.’ He inhaled deeply,
lifting his head to blow out a slow stream of smoke. ‘Looks like we’re in for a repeat performance tonight.’
    ‘P’raps it won’t be as bad,’ Connie said optimistically.
    Her father shook his head woefully. ‘You’d have thought the devils would have caught their breath after nabbing Poland, then invading France and her neighbours. But oh no, they
annihilated us at Dunkirk, then gave our RAF lads hell in the air over Britain. Now we’re told to expect them on the beaches, or sailing up the river!’
    ‘We’d never let them land, Dad!’ Connie stared at her father, who looked very tired. Even his sprinkling of chocolate freckles did little to lift his fair, slightly grey
skin.
    ‘No, we’d give them a run for their money, all right.’
    Connie felt a shiver of dismay. Was there really a chance that Britain would be invaded? There were always threats and rumours abounding, but so many had been circulating since the beginning of
war twelve months ago that the fear of invasion had receded. Now last night’s activity had changed the picture again.
    ‘Did you have a bad night, Dad?’
    He nodded. ‘Couldn’t keep up with the fires. Those incendiaries were everywhere. The Luftwaffe just followed their path, dropping bombs all over the place, and the balloons never
seemed to make a difference.’
    Olive walked in and lowered a tray on to the table. ‘Drink up whilst it’s hot, you two, we can’t afford to waste tea, no matter how weak it is.’
    Ebbie held out his arms. ‘Give him to me, Connie. I’ll hold whilst you pour, love.’
    ‘Don’t you go getting broody now,’ his wife warned him sternly. ‘You’re a pushover when it comes to kids. You’d have another one tomorrow if it was humanly
possible.’
    ‘Yeah, well thank the Lord it’s not,’ he muttered as the baby brought up a loud burp, his bald head wobbling on his shoulders. ‘That’s it, kiddo, better up than
down. Wish I could do the same, but I’d get a right chewing off if I did.’
    ‘Manners maketh man,’ Olive agreed swiftly. ‘Start as you mean to go on, that’s what my moth—’ Her mouth fell open as she stared at the door. ‘Billy! Oh
my God, look at the state of you!’
    Connie turned to see her brother framed in the doorway. His jacket and trousers were unrecognizable under the stains of what looked like oil and grease. His