Followers

Wednesday, 20 March 2024

MY NEW COAT

 MY NEW COAT

By Bob French


It was the best of times, as Christmas was just around the corner.  It was the worst of times, as the bitter cold winter had already taken the frail and infirm.  It was a time of fear and betrayal for those who lived on the edge of society, it was a time of personal endeavors to survive through to the Spring. 

The ice-cold winds that swept the dirty and empty streets of Canning Town in east London in late November 1879, bore no favours to those who lived in the gutters. 

Jimmy sat huddled in the corner of a shop door-way trying to keep warm. His body ached as the cold had already bitten deep into his bones causing him to worry that this would be his last year.

The clear night sky above his head was very slowly heralding a new day. Yet, he knew, if he didn’t get across to Harvey’s the baker on Wellington Street, there would be no handouts left, and he would have to get through the day on an empty stomach.

He hated this time of the day, when the peace and tranquility which surrounded him would be shattered as the world awoke, and the ritual of lighting fires would quickly contaminate the air with foul, stinking and choaking smoke that hung in between the slum dwellings of Canning Town, igniting his hacking cough.  

As he moved from shadow to shadow towards Harvey’s, he noticed other people moving in the same direction and tried to increase his pace, but found the effort too much.

His dirty and tired face grinned as he realized that in the next few minutes, he would hopefully meet up with the last of his friends he had made at the Crompton Street Work House.

He always looked back on the days he had spent in the work house; they were harsh and brutal, but he had made friends with six other kids and together they looked after each other, until that day, not a year past, when Old Biggins, the warden, had called out their names at morning assembly and told them that they were to leave the work house the following morning, to make their way in the world. Alice had asked him why, and was told that we had all reached the age of sixteen and were no longer the responsibility of the work house.

As the huge wooden doors slammed behind them, Jimmy tried to raise the spirits of his friends, telling them to trust no one and keep dry and safe. He reminded them of their pact they had made the night before; to try and meet up at Harvey’s Bakery on Wellington Street early in the morning on the last day of each month for a free handout.

Then, very slowly, they hugged each other and one by one, they slowly made their way down the steps and into town.  Jimmy had taken off his coat and given it to Humf, warning him to keep warm and dry.  As Alice waved to Billy as he turned the corner and vanished, she spoke softly to Jimmy.

“That was kind of you Jimmy, but you’ll need to get yourself a coat.”

“I’ll be alright.  Humf needed it more than I did.”

Alice smiled. It’s just me and you now Jimmy. I wonder how many will make it to next Christmas?”

They had decided to stick together, but a furious argument caused Alice to go her own way at the end of Summer. As much as Jimmy had tried to warn her about the dangers of a young girl on the streets, she ignored him and left.

It had been a while since he had made it to Harvey’s, and he was pleased to see two of his friends ahead of him in the queue; Billy, who had managed to get a job in the stables of the King’s Head tavern, and Josey, who with her good looks and confidence had found a job as a scullery Maid in one of the big houses out East Barking way. As they chatted, Jimmy caught sight of Alice at the head of the queue. She still wore the pink cardigan he had given her last summer and called out to her, but she ignored him.

His attention was drawn back to Josey, who told him that Humf had passed away within three months due to his bad cough, and Jill, who was a frail little thing, had died within a month of leaving the work house.  It was Billy who told Jimmy and Josey that Alfy, with his limp and stutter, was found face down in the river and that Alice had fallen in with a bad crowd.

Jimmy asked where she worked, but Billy didn’t know for sure.  He thought she worked down near the docks. 

Once they had thanked old man Harvey for his kindness, they hugged each other, then left, agreeing to meet up at the end of November. Jimmy felt lifted by the meeting as he made his way back to his manor, and promised himself that he would look-up Alice before Christmas.

Dawn was gradually making an appearance as he turned down a narrow ally way.  Suddenly he stumbled over something and knelt to see what it was. 

As he did, it groaned and he knew that whoever it was had just come away from Harvey’s.  It was the old trick.  Watch the queue for anyone who looked weak, then wait until they had picked up their hand out, then jump them in an alley and steal everything of value, including their bread. As he turned the body over, he realized who he was looking down at.

Alice!  God! are you alright?”

She just moaned again and as he lifted her head up off the damp ground.  She had been badly beaten, her shoes were gone, her fancy frock had been torn in an attempt to remove it and there was no sign of her pink cardigan or her bread.

“Jimmy love, get me back to my digs.”

“Where are they? I don’t know the way.”

“Help me up.  I’ll show you.”

Jimmy threw her arm over his shoulder and staggered off towards the docks.  As they reached the start of the docks area, she pointed to a large tavern.

“Over there Jimmy.”  As he lifted her up again and started to move towards the tavern, a couple of rough looking men appeared out of nowhere.

“What’s goin’ on ‘ere then mate?”

As Jimmy turned to face the two men, Alice called out.

“Harold. I’ve been turned over.  They took everything.”

Before Jimmy could take in what was happening, one of the men hit him hard in the face.  When Jimmy came too, Alice and the man who had hit him, were kneeling over him.

“You alright lad? Sorry about that. Alice has explained everything. Come on let’s have you up.”

They took Jimmy into the tavern where he was given a drink.  Alice sat with him until she felt that he was alright to make his way back up to Canning Town

She was concerned about him.  She could see that he had lost a lot of weight and when she took his hands, they were ice cold.

“Look love, you ain’t taking care o’ yerself are ya.”

Jimmy nodded. Just then the man who had hit Jimmy appeared with a plate of freshly cooked bacon, eggs and toast.

“’Ere lad, get this down you.  Want another drink?”

Jimmy and Alice sat in the warm tavern for over an hour before the man returned and winked at Alice.  It was time for him to go.

Alice love, pop up stairs to Martha. She’ll give you a new set of clothes.” Then he turned to Jimmy.

“Here lad.  Try this for size,” and handed Jimmy a long woolen overcoat. 

Without a second thought, Jimmy stood, tried on the coat, then turned, smiled at the man. 

“Thank you, Sir.  That’s very kind of you.”

The man stood and stared at Jimmy for a while, then smiled, pulled out a pound note and handed it to Jimmy.

“Thank you for taking care of our Alice.”

As Jimmy slowly made his way back over to Canning Town, it started to rain, but he didn’t mind.  His new coat kept him warm and he had enough money to feed himself until Christmas, when he would meet up with Alice again, and maybe Billy and Josey.

 Copyright Bob French

No comments:

Post a Comment