woke John Thomas up.
‘I’m not really in the mood tonight,’ she said, looking away. ‘Reg and I had a fight today, things are going from bad to worse at home, he actually hit me.’
She thought that Tosh would put his cock away, come and sit beside her and reassure her he would take care of her if necessary, but he didn’t. Instead he moved right in front of her, caught hold of her head and pushed her mouth down on to him.
‘Fill your mouth with this,’ he said, and held her head so she couldn’t move away. ‘I’ve been watching your tits jiggling all evening and I’m as horny as hell.’
It was vile – no tenderness, no loving words, no thought for her, just bestiality. He smelled musty, he kept muttering filthy things, and he was pushing himself so far into her mouth it made her retch. He didn’t even have the grace to withdraw when he came.
Anne turned away and spat into her handkerchief, then quickly took a large gulp of gin. Tears of humiliation welled up in her eyes, and when Tosh slumped down on the couch beside her and tried to put his arm around her, she shrugged him off.
‘Don’t you dare ever treat me that way again,’ she hissed at him. ‘I’m not some old tart.’
‘Sorry, doll,’ he said, not even looking vaguely ashamed. ‘I got carried away. I’ll make it better for you later.’
‘I can’t stay later,’ she said, wishing she could go home right now. ‘I told you already, things are bad at home. I think Reg might even throw me out.’
‘Well, you can always share my bed for the night,’ he said as if it was just a joke.
Anne riled up. ‘Don’t you care about me at all?’ she asked indignantly. ‘I’ve already told you Reg hit me once today, I’m hurt and scared and all you’ve done is make me feel worse. I wish I’d never come here to work, I’ve had nothing but trouble since I did.’
‘Come on, babe,’ he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. ‘You know I think a lot of you, I’m just not much good at the sloppy stuff. But you’ve got to make the peace with yer old man, you’ve got the little ones to think of. Now sit there, drink yer drink and have a fag till you’ve calmed down. I’ll have to get back to the bar.’
Anne did as she was told, but Tosh’s words and his actions had done nothing to reassure her, just stirred up even more resentment and bad memories.
Reg held his two girls’ hands as they walked through the dimly lit subway under Hither Green station. They had eaten egg and chips in a café and then gone to the Park cinema. This rather elderly picture-house rarely showed new releases, but instead packed people in by putting on a double programme of old, well-loved major films. Tonight’s were first Dumbo and then Daddy Long Legs starring Shirley Temple, but although both girls were riveted to their seats during Dumbo, May had begun to fidget in the second film and Reg had no real choice but to leave. All the way down the hill Dulcie had been complaining that May had spoilt the evening.
‘That’s enough now, Dulcie,’ he said finally. ‘May’s only five and she can’t concentrate for long. We’ll get to see Daddy Long Legs again one day.’
Dulcie shut up then, it had after all been a lovely surprise going out with Dad. When she heard him raise his voice to Mum about her dress she’d thought they were all in for another miserable evening.
‘Can we go in and see Mummy?’ May asked as they came out of the station. They weren’t often out when it was dark and the Station Hotel, all brightly lit, looked and sounded very inviting with music wafting out through the doors.
‘Of course not,’ Reg said. ‘Children aren’t allowed in pubs.’
‘But I didn’t see her in her new dress!’
Dulcie looked sharply at her younger sister – sometimes she could swear May was half-witted. Surely she knew the new dress was what had made Mum and Dad argue again today? She’d soon be telling Dad how the park-keeper chased