there myself for a night or two – better than trying to keep warm under the upturned boat! Next weekend we can work together, fix the windows and make it weatherproof. There’s all the summer in front of us, remember, and by next winter it will be as snug a home as anyone can wish for.’
Richard’s face was fixed in a tight grin that nothing would move. He watched Luke survey the floorboards and, like a miniature adult, discussed with him the most necessary needs. Smilingly, Luke nodded at the six- year-old ’s recommendations and made notes on an old envelope.
‘You’re right, I hadn’t thought of that,’ he said frequently. Or, ‘That’s an excellent suggestion, Richard.’ And he would scribble furiously on his paper with his scratchy pencil, licking its indelible lead to strengthen the letters.
‘He really does have a good idea of what’s needed, you know,’ Luke said to Barbara when they were preparing to leave. ‘He’s only six, yet he understands some things so well. And understands things so fast. If he’d been able to have a good education, there’s nothing he couldn’t achieve.’
It wasn’t until the bogie was packed, with the driftwood tucked tightly around little Blodwen, and they were setting off home, that Barbara had a chance to talk to Luke about the possibility of returning to farmer Graham Prothero.
‘I’ll walk you home and you can tell me how you feel about it,’ Luke said. He had intended to anyway, as always, reluctant to say goodbye to this happy, fascinating family. Reaching into his boat he pulled out a thick coat and from its pocket produced two woolly hats, one for himself and the other he handed to Richard, who proudly pulled it on.
As they walked through the gathering gloom, a raggle-taggle procession of shabbily dressed children with Barbara and Luke at the head, in clothesequally ill-fitting and worn, she explained her need to leave the shelter and safety of the Careys and find a place for herself and Rosita.
‘But why this farmer?’ Luke asked. ‘He won’t have changed. It’s no use expecting him to be different. If you go back it will be seen as tacit agreement to share his bed. Just by returning, you’ll be agreeing to his demands.’
‘I’ll make myself clear on what I expect,’ Barbara said with the confidence of youth. ‘I’ll make sure he understands. Besides, he might not take me when I insist on taking Rosita.’
‘Look, wait for a week. I’ll try and find something. I hadn’t realized how you were situated. I thought you’d stay with the Careys. I should have thought and sorted out something before this. I’ll find you and Rosita a place to live. A room and a position where you don’t have to do menial tasks for a man like Graham Prothero. Things that do this to your hands.’ He reached for her hand and touched the roughness. ‘There must be some easier way for you to earn your keep.’
‘It’s nice that you care, Luke. I’m so lucky having you for a friend. But I can’t see anyone taking me in, not anyone decent. If my own parents are too disgusted to acknowledge me and Rosita, then how can I expect a stranger to help?’
‘I’m a stranger and I want to help! I can’t be the only sane person in the world.’
‘You aren’t a stranger.’ She smiled in the darkness, her eyes luminescent, turning up to look into his face. ‘It’s odd, Luke, but although you’re different – I mean, you talk posh and have an important job of work – we are friends, aren’t we?’
‘I hope we always will be, Barbara.’ He leaned over and lightly touched her cheek with his lips. ‘Friends for always.’
‘For always,’ she echoed, but when she tried to return the kiss, her lips touched his woollen hat and they both laughed. It really didn’t matter.
Rosita had been grizzling for a while but then she began crying loud enough to make their ears pop and nothing Barbara could do would pacify her. Luke took the protesting child from
Richard’s face was fixed in a tight grin that nothing would move. He watched Luke survey the floorboards and, like a miniature adult, discussed with him the most necessary needs. Smilingly, Luke nodded at the six- year-old ’s recommendations and made notes on an old envelope.
‘You’re right, I hadn’t thought of that,’ he said frequently. Or, ‘That’s an excellent suggestion, Richard.’ And he would scribble furiously on his paper with his scratchy pencil, licking its indelible lead to strengthen the letters.
‘He really does have a good idea of what’s needed, you know,’ Luke said to Barbara when they were preparing to leave. ‘He’s only six, yet he understands some things so well. And understands things so fast. If he’d been able to have a good education, there’s nothing he couldn’t achieve.’
It wasn’t until the bogie was packed, with the driftwood tucked tightly around little Blodwen, and they were setting off home, that Barbara had a chance to talk to Luke about the possibility of returning to farmer Graham Prothero.
‘I’ll walk you home and you can tell me how you feel about it,’ Luke said. He had intended to anyway, as always, reluctant to say goodbye to this happy, fascinating family. Reaching into his boat he pulled out a thick coat and from its pocket produced two woolly hats, one for himself and the other he handed to Richard, who proudly pulled it on.
As they walked through the gathering gloom, a raggle-taggle procession of shabbily dressed children with Barbara and Luke at the head, in clothesequally ill-fitting and worn, she explained her need to leave the shelter and safety of the Careys and find a place for herself and Rosita.
‘But why this farmer?’ Luke asked. ‘He won’t have changed. It’s no use expecting him to be different. If you go back it will be seen as tacit agreement to share his bed. Just by returning, you’ll be agreeing to his demands.’
‘I’ll make myself clear on what I expect,’ Barbara said with the confidence of youth. ‘I’ll make sure he understands. Besides, he might not take me when I insist on taking Rosita.’
‘Look, wait for a week. I’ll try and find something. I hadn’t realized how you were situated. I thought you’d stay with the Careys. I should have thought and sorted out something before this. I’ll find you and Rosita a place to live. A room and a position where you don’t have to do menial tasks for a man like Graham Prothero. Things that do this to your hands.’ He reached for her hand and touched the roughness. ‘There must be some easier way for you to earn your keep.’
‘It’s nice that you care, Luke. I’m so lucky having you for a friend. But I can’t see anyone taking me in, not anyone decent. If my own parents are too disgusted to acknowledge me and Rosita, then how can I expect a stranger to help?’
‘I’m a stranger and I want to help! I can’t be the only sane person in the world.’
‘You aren’t a stranger.’ She smiled in the darkness, her eyes luminescent, turning up to look into his face. ‘It’s odd, Luke, but although you’re different – I mean, you talk posh and have an important job of work – we are friends, aren’t we?’
‘I hope we always will be, Barbara.’ He leaned over and lightly touched her cheek with his lips. ‘Friends for always.’
‘For always,’ she echoed, but when she tried to return the kiss, her lips touched his woollen hat and they both laughed. It really didn’t matter.
Rosita had been grizzling for a while but then she began crying loud enough to make their ears pop and nothing Barbara could do would pacify her. Luke took the protesting child from
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