The Bells of Bow Read Online Free PDF Page A

mention amazed, when Chas turned out to be surprisingly light on his huge feet.
    As the couples danced past one another, Babs leant close to Evie. ‘Look at them frocks, Eve, even better than the ones we do at work.’
    ‘Gorgeous,’ Evie mouthed back at her as Albie whirled her past. She closed her eyes blissfully, letting the music wash over her and, just as she did at home when she listened to the wireless, she began singing along with the band.
    ‘D’yer mean that?’ Albie asked.
    ‘What?’ Evie murmured.
    ‘That I’m the one?’
    Evie’s eyes flicked open and she looked up at him with a grin. ‘I was singing along with the band, yer great daft hap’orth. It’s “Night and Day”, innit? It’s just a. song. Don’t mean nothing.’
    ‘Don’t it?’ Albie inclined his head then gave a slow, proprietorial nod. ‘Well, ne’mind, but I’m telling yer, yer’ve got quite a voice.’
    ‘I know I have,’ she said, her grin becoming even saucier. ‘And so’s our Babs. We’re a pair of very gifted girls. Everyone says so.’
    ‘I can see that for meself,’ Albie answered, looking down at her appreciatively. Then, much to Evie’s surprise, he suddenly stopped dancing, took her by the wrist, and led her through the crowd towards the stage. ‘Matter o’ fact …’ he said. ‘Come on, come with me.’
    Evie let herself be led through the packed dance floor. Babs caught her eye as Albie swept past her and Chas. ‘Don’t ask me,’ Evie called over her shoulder and shrugged.
    When they reached the stage, Albie tapped the pianist, who was also the band leader, on the back and, leaning forward, said something to him that Evie couldn’t make out. The piano player raised his hand and the music stopped. Everyone in the club turned to look towards the stage to see what was going on.
    ‘What’s it to be?’ the band leader asked Evie with a questioning raising of his eyebrows.
    Evie frowned. ‘Sorry?’
    ‘What are you going to sing for us?’
    ‘What, me?’
    He nodded.
    Evie’s already big blue eyes widened and she held out her hand to him and stepped up onto the stage. ‘D’yer know “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”? It’s the latest. From that new American film. I learnt it off the wireless.’
    The band leader nodded again. ‘Sure, I know it.’
    A single spotlight was turned on her, the music began and, with her lovely, clear, strong voice, Evie began singing. After only a few bars there was no other sound in the club save for Evie and the piano. All conversation had stopped, the audience was enchanted.
    Before the final note had died away, the clapping began. Her face glowing with success, Evie reached down to her sister who was standing by the stage between Albie and Chas. ‘Come on, Babs,’ she encouraged her, shouting over the applause. ‘Let’s give ’em a treat.’
    Babs shook her head. ‘No fear! You ain’t getting me up there.’
    ‘Go on,’ Albie insisted, and, before Babs knew what was happening, he had lifted her right off her feet and onto the stage.
    ‘Yer rotten cow,’ Babs hissed but, as she knew she would, she was soon joining in with her twin’s irresistible giggles. ‘Right then,’ she said, shading her eyes from the bright spotlight. ‘Let’s get this over with. What we gonna give ’em?’
    ‘“Cheek to Cheek?”’ suggested Evie, looking across to the piano player.
    ‘What else?’ he replied, gazing with wonder at the sight of the two beautiful girls standing before him who, apart from their contrasting hair colours, were identical.
    By the time the audience eventually let the girls get down from the stage and return to their seats for a much-needed drink, Babs was as excited as Evie and the Bell twins knew that they had scored a hit. They also knew that, as usual, they had made a particular impression on all the men present.
    Albie and Chas beamed with pleasure as they swaggered back to their table, guiding ‘their’ girls before them.
    ‘I love