Forgive and Forget by Margaret Dickinson Page A

very quiet celebration; the day brought poignant memories back for them all. Polly baked a special cake and iced it and the family clubbed together and bought a second-hand teddy bear. It had seen better days, but the little girl loved it.
    And the first Christmas without Sarah was always going to be difficult for the whole family, but Polly was determined to make the best of it for the sake of the youngsters. Each week she saved a few pennies so that she could buy little gifts. There’d only be one each with perhaps an apple or some chocolate as a special treat in the bottom of their stockings.
    ‘D’you think Mr Wilmott will give you some veg on Saturday night as usual?’ Polly asked anxiously. Christmas Day fell on the Monday and if she hadn’t got everything she needed for the day by Saturday night, she doubted she’d find a shop open on a Sunday.
    ‘I dunno.’ Eddie shrugged. ‘He might ’ave sold out by then. He ses it’s always hectic at Christmas. Best time of the year for trade, he ses.’
    ‘Oh dear.’ Polly chewed her lip.
    ‘Look, Poll, I’ll ask him—’
    ‘No, no, don’t do that. I don’t want him to think we’re beggars. We’re very grateful for all he lets you bring home every week. I don’t know where we’d’ve been without it, specially when Dad was ill.’
    ‘Union Workhouse, most likely,’ Eddie said cheerfully, but Polly shuddered. Thoughts of ending up in the workhouse overshadowed the lives of all those who struggled to make ends meet.
    But on the Friday night Eddie arrived home tottering under the weight of a box full of vegetables. Breathless, but grinning from ear to ear, he dumped it on the table with a flourish.
    ‘There’s the usual stuff that’s going off a bit, but he’s given us some good stuff an’ all. Mr Wilmott ses I’m such a good worker I deserve a bonus at Christmas. There’s even a bit of holly for you to decorate the house.’
    ‘How wonderful.’ Polly unpacked the box carefully. ‘Oh, I must call in tomorrow and thank Mr Wilmott myself.’
    ‘No, don’t do that,’ Eddie said swiftly. ‘He – it’d embarrass him.’
    ‘Would it? Because I don’t like not to say thank you for all this.’
    ‘I’ll tell him you said “Ta”.’
    ‘I hope you’ll thank him properly, Eddie,’ Polly said primly. ‘From all of us.’
    ‘Course I will. Right, where’s me tea, ’cos I’m off out?’
    Polly hurried to get it ready, anxious that her brother should be ready when Micky arrived. He seemed to be calling earlier and earlier for Eddie these days and spent the time whilst he was waiting chatting to Polly.
    Tonight was no exception and whilst Eddie washed in the back scullery, Micky sat near the fire and watched Polly clearing away the tea things.
    ‘Yar dad gone out already, has he, Poll?’
    ‘He’s not home from work yet.’
    ‘Nor’s my dad.’ He grinned. ‘It’ll be some union meeting. Big union men are my dad and yourn.’
    Polly looked up with worried eyes. ‘Is there trouble?’
    Micky grinned. ‘More’n likely if them two’s involved. It’s the only time they agree – and then not always.’
    Polly stacked the crockery carefully and was about to carry it through to the back scullery when Micky said, ‘Poll, would you go out with me one night? Just for a walk or – or summat? We could go to the theatre, if you’d like that.’
    ‘It’s – it’s very kind of you, Micky, but I can’t leave the little ones. Violet’s not old enough to look after them.’
    ‘Wouldn’t your dad or Eddie stay in? Just one night?’ He rose and went to stand close to her. From his pocket he pulled out a sprig of mistletoe and waved it above their heads. ‘Just a little kiss, Poll. It’s nearly Christmas.’
    Polly shuddered. How she’d longed to hear these words said to her by Leo. But it wasn’t Leo saying them – it was Micky.
    ‘You’ll be lucky, Micky Fowler.’ But she forced a smile as she said the words and managed to make them