Mother’s Ruin Read Online Free PDF

times, she was sounding more and more like her old self. It was time for them to move out, to move on. He intended to put his foot down.
    ‘Is Angel asleep?’ Sally whispered, entering the room. ‘Yes, she’s out for the count. Oh, and I’ve got to go out again after dinner.’
    ‘Oh Arthur, this is the first time you’ve been home early all week. I hardly see you these days.’
    ‘I know, but we’ve just heard about a larger yard in Clapham. It’s just what we need and will hold eight vans. Dad’s arranged to see it and he wants me with him.’
    ‘Why can’t he go on his own?’
    ‘I’m his partner, Sally, and it’s natural that he wants my opinion.’
    ‘But you’ve been on the road all day. Can’t you talk to your dad about your hours?’
    ‘I’ve told you, we’re exceptionally busy at the moment and it can’t be helped,’ said Arthur, glad to be going out again. They had no privacy now and if he stayed in it would be an evening stuck with Sally’s mother and gran in front of the television. If Sadie was in a bad mood it was hell and woe betide them if they spoke while she was watching her favourite programme. It drove him mad and he didn’t know how Sally stood it.
    ‘I suppose you have to go then,’ Sally said, ‘but surely it won’t take too long just to look at a yard.’
    ‘I shouldn’t think so, but I’m meeting an old friend afterwards.’
    ‘What old friend?’
    ‘A bloke I met in Australia,’ Arthur said. He felt a bit rotten when he saw Sally’s face fall, but then quickly decided that he had nothing to feel guilty about. She was putting her gran first, refused to move out of this dump and he’d had just about enough of it. ‘Right then, I’m off for a wash and shave.’
    Sally was despondent when Arthur left, her mood low as she went into the kitchen.
    ‘I didn’t expect Arthur to go out again,’ Sadie said. ‘Nor did I, but he and Bert are going to look at larger premises.’
    ‘What! On a Saturday night?’
    ‘They don’t get time during the day. The firm has gone from strength to strength and I suppose I shouldn’t complain, yet Arthur is rarely home these days.’
    ‘I don’t know why he still has to do the humping and driving. Surely they employ enough men now to do the heavy work.’
    ‘Yes, but what else is there for Arthur to do? His dad’s back has gone and so he handles all the office work.’
    ‘Yeah, well, over the years I suppose Bert has done his share of hard work. He built up the business from nothing really and it was thanks to him that he and Elsie were able to buy their lovely house in Wimbledon.’
    ‘Arthur wants us to move out of Battersea too.’
    ‘I don’t blame him. I miss Elsie, yet I don’t blame her either for wanting to move away from this dump. We’re being surrounded by huge blocks of flats and nearly all the old streets have been demolished, with this one no doubt on the list as well. And have you seen the way they build them tower blocks?’
    Sally opened her mouth to reply but didn’t get the chance to say anything. Her gran was off again, in full sail.
    ‘Great slabs of concrete, Sally, that’s what they use, lifted into place by massive cranes. Twelve floors are built in a jiffy, but I can’t believe they’re safe. You won’t catch me living in one, I can tell you. I’ll stick to good old bricks and mortar.’
    ‘I expect they’re lovely and modern inside.’
    ‘Modern or not it’d be like living in a matchbox. Arthur’s right, my girl, you should get away from this area. It’s gone to the dogs. The factories are still here, belching smoke, and that peculiar smell that drifts in when the wind’s in a certain direction makes my stomach churn. You’d think I’d be used to it after all these years, but no such luck.’
    ‘I think with the hops, yeast and other paraphernalia used, the smell comes from the brewery.’
    ‘Yeah, you could be right, but others blame Gartons Glucose factory, or Price’s where