Off To See The Wild West Show Part 2 Chapter 4 (2/5) By Frank Beill

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5). Part 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Part 2 Prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4.

'I wouldn't be the first lass who's lost her husband an' got behind with the rent in one of his houses ... an' then finished up havin' to degrade herself! With profits from the knockin' shop he buys more houses an' so it goes on.' She looked weary again and her head drooped. It was going to need more than a bag of coal to keep her warm in a cold world. 'So that's where he gets his money from?' 'That an' tekin' bets ... he's a bookie ... an' he's got a club in Harrow Street where the fishermen can go an' get a drink when the pubs is shut. Owt where he can make money out o' the folk 'round here.'

'Sooner you're out of here, the better, Sal!' My mouth was working faster than my brain. 'Where'd we go, Sammy?' Her head was shaking gently in disbelief. 'It'd be the orphanage for Martha and the workhouse for me.' 'I'll sort something out. Don't you worry.' I knew I must, but how I going to do it was something I still needed to work out. * * *

'Well, I never! Sammy! It can't be!' George looked up from his dinner plate in amazement and jumped up from his chair with red braces dangling. Nothing had changed. In my memories George and food were never far apart. 'It is him! Look at him, George.' I think it was the first time I'd seen Sal smile. She jogged Martha gently up and down in her arms. 'It's me, George. The black sheep come home!' I held out my arms making the tassels on my sleeves hang down. My arms must have looked like an angel's wings but any possible resemblance ended there.

He threw his arms around me and gave me a bear hug. I was slightly taller than him now and while his hair was still the same bright red, the freckles on his face were no longer as noticeable. Two tiny boys playing in front of the open fire ran to hide behind their mother's skirt. They'd never seen anything like me before. Two small heads - one red haired, the other brown - peeped out to see the intruder. The room was as sparsely furnished as Sal's living room but the feeling here was different. It felt like a home. There was warmth in the room and it wasn't only coming from the glow in the grate.

'We'll have to have a party!' George shouted over my shoulder. 'Get blind drunk!' 'No you won't!' His wife laughed and stroked the boys' heads. Now another two pairs of large eyes were staring up at me. 'Us Red Indians are not allowed firewater, didn't you know!' I looked over his shoulder and gave the two women a wink. He continued holding on to me. Was he frightened to let go in case I disappeared again?

'There's lots to talk about,' Sal said. 'Sammy's got lots to tell us.' 'I expect George has a lot of tales to tell as well,' I said. 'Especially about South Africa. That's one place Buffalo Bill's show hasn't been yet.' 'Bore you to death, he will.' George's wife shook her head in mock dismay. It was the first time I'd taken a good look at her. She looked familiar. Finally, he let go of me and I was able to breathe again.

Continued... Next Page (3/5)

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