Forgive and Forget by Margaret Dickinson

‘The brother, I mean, but he ended up in court once and was – what do they call it? – bound over.’
    ‘So, what do you think of Micky?’
    Bertha wrinkled her forehead before answering. ‘Not much, if I’m honest. He’s a cheeky little varmint, an’ he’s already eyeing up the lasses, young though he is.’
    ‘I reckon he’s about a year older than me, isn’t he?’
    ‘He’s fifteen,’ Bertha replied promptly. ‘I know, ’cos I delivered him and I keep a diary with all the birthdays of the kiddies I’ve helped bring into the world.’ Now the older woman met Polly’s gaze. ‘It’s you I’d be more worried about than your brother. Falling for the young rascal’s charms.’
    Polly laughed aloud. ‘Oh, you’ve no need to worry about me , Mrs Halliday.’ Then her laughter died. ‘But I tell you who I am worried about. Our Violet. Her face lights up when he comes to call for Eddie and, if she knows he’s coming, she puts a clean pinafore on and a pink ribbon in her hair.’ At the mention of the ribbon, Polly was reminded of what Violet was capable of, and her anxiety deepened.
    Bertha nodded. ‘Violet’s getting to the age when she’ll start being aware of boys – I mean in a romantic way.’
    ‘But she’s so much younger than him. Too young to be thinking about – well – that sort of thing.’
    ‘Girls grow up quicker than boys.’ Bertha sighed and nodded towards her. ‘Look how you’ve had to grow up sudden, after your poor mam died. No one thinks of you as a child any more.’
    Far from making Polly feel sad because her childhood had been snatched away from her, Bertha’s words brought a warm glow to her heart.
    If only Leo would see me as a grown-up too, she thought.

Fifteen
     
    In November, there was great excitement in the city when an electrified tramway replaced the old horse-drawn one.
    ‘Let’s go on the new tram, please ,’ Violet begged and even quiet little Stevie looked hopeful.
    Polly shook her head, ‘We’ll go and see it, but I’ve no pennies to spare to take you on it. You can watch though.’
    Violet pouted and Stevie looked disappointed, but it was all Polly could offer. On the day the new tram was to run for the first time, Polly wrapped the children warmly and pushed Miriam in the pram with the other two walking beside her up the High Street to where the tram was to make its very first trip. The streets were crowded, the people buzzing with excitement as the dignitaries climbed aboard. The tram was bedecked with flags and bunting and crammed with as many people as it would hold. There were so many on the top deck that Polly was afraid it would topple over.
    ‘There’s Leo,’ Violet cried and began to wave.
    Two or three constables were standing near the tram, keeping order, Polly supposed.
    ‘He’s not waving back.’ Violet was disappointed.
    ‘He can’t. He’s on duty.’
    ‘He could. He could at least wave .’
    As Polly watched him, her heart beat faster. He looked so handsome in his uniform and so solemn. No cheeky grin today. Then, as the crowd moved and he saw them, he met Polly’s gaze. He didn’t smile, he didn’t wave, but very slowly and deliberately, he winked at her.
    Polly stifled a giggle and gave him a little wave in return to show that she had noticed. Then the milling crowd moved in front of her once more, blocking her view, as they surged forward when the tram began to move. A cheer went up and men and boys threw their caps in the air.
    As it moved away down the High Street, the crowd began to disperse, either to follow its route or to go home.
    ‘Come on, we’d best get home,’ Polly said.
    ‘I wish we could have ridden on it,’ Violet whined. ‘It’d’ve taken us home.’
    ‘So it would,’ Polly said brightly. ‘But unless you want to go without your dinner for the rest of the week, we can’t afford it.’
    Violet pouted but said no more.
    Miriam’s first birthday, four days before Christmas, was marked by a