The Leaving Of Liverpool Read Online Free PDF Page A

sister: she has a heart condition. Oh, do you mind if I sit down.’ There were two chairs at the front of the shop.
    ‘Sit down for as long as you like, luv. You look dead puffed. Would you like a glass of water?’
    ‘Please.’ Her throat was as dry as a bone and she felt desperately hot.
    ‘Here you are, luv.’ The girl came round the counter with the water. ‘Crikey! There’s a bump on your head as big as a football and it’s bleeding. Hang on a mo, I’ll get some disinfectant and bathe it. You’ve been in the wars, haven’t you?’
    ‘I banged it.’
    ‘Well, you must have banged it awful hard.’
    It was rather nice to just sit there, sipping the water, while the girl gently dabbed the bump with cotton wool and disinfectant.
    ‘It’s not bleeding much, but you’ll need to be really careful next time you wash your hair. Don’t use a scented shampoo or anything.’
    ‘I won’t,’ Mollie promised.
    ‘I’ll give you a couple of Aspros. I don’t know whether your head’s hurting much, but it’ll ache like billy-o before the day’s out.’ She seemed extremely knowledgeable. ‘In fact, it mightn’t be a bad idea if you bought a box of Aspros while you’re here. Two tablets won’t be of much use.’
    ‘It’s throbbing more than aching at the moment. You’re being very kind,’ she said gratefully.
    ‘Oh, think nothing of it. I wanted to be a nurse, so I like treating people, and it makes a nice change from just selling things over the counter.’
    ‘Why didn’t you take up nursing? You’d make a great nurse.’
    ‘Ta.’ The girl blushed slightly, pleased by the compliment. ‘The thing is, the training takes for ever and you only get paid a pittance. When our dad was killed in the war, me, being the eldest like, had to find a job that paid a decent wage.’
    ‘That’s a pity, about your dad, and you not being able to become a nurse. Is that a clock on the wall over there?’
    ‘Yes.’ The girl regarded her worriedly. ‘It’s just gone half twelve. Can’t you see it proper?’
    ‘It’s a bit blurred.’ Everything was a bit blurred.
    ‘You really should go to the hospital with that bump. You might have suffered brain damage.’
    Mollie laughed. ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘You should at least be lying down, resting, not running like mad all over Liverpool,’ the girl said sternly. ‘I could tell you’d been running when you came in. Have you got far to go home?’
    ‘I’m not going home. The truth is, my sister and I are on our way to America - New York. We were already on the ship when I found out I’d forgotten to bring her drops.’
    ‘New York!’ She looked hugely impressed. ‘Flippin’ heck, I’m green with envy. Shouldn’t you be getting back, then? The ship might sail without you.’
    ‘It doesn’t sail for another couple of hours.’ She should get back to Annemarie, but her legs still felt wobbly and her vision still wasn’t right. ‘You don’t get many customers in this shop, do you?’ Not a soul had entered since she’d come in.
    ‘I locked the door and turned the sign over when you arrived so people’d think we were closed for dinner. I didn’t want them gawping at that bump on your head.’
    ‘Won’t that get you into trouble? I’d best get out your way, I’m being a nuisance.’ Mollie leapt to her feet and immediately sat down again when the floor rose up to greet her.
    ‘I won’t get into trouble, there’s no need to get out me way, and you’re not being a nuisance.’ The girl smiled and announced she’d make them both a cup of tea. ‘I’ll just go and put the kettle on.’ She disappeared into the back of the shop. ‘Would you like a butty?’ she shouted. ‘It’s mushy peas.’
    ‘No, thank you,’ Mollie shouted back. Even the thought of eating a mushy pea butty made her feel sick. ‘I’d love a cup of tea, though. You are being kind. What’s your name? Mine’s Mollie Kenny.’
    ‘Agatha Brophy. Most people call me