Off To See The Wild West Show Part 1, Chapter 9 (3/5) By Frank Beill 1886: Hull, Yorkshire

(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.

I threw open the sea chest at the foot of our bed. Hidden inside were clothes "borrowed" from the sewing room the previous night. These were things new children brought with them but were no longer needed once they were kitted out with their new uniforms. We needed them now to help us make our escape. Our normal navy blue attire would make us too conspicuous. Fortunately, I was now a more normal size for my age and there were clothes available that fitted me.

George was more of a problem because he was large for his age and new children were not usually as old as us. He kept on his white shirt and blue corduroy trousers as there were no substitutes to fit him. A grey tweed jacket with patched elbows - two sizes too small - had to suffice as his disguise. I found a thick grey-flecked Shetland jumper and a pair of brown trousers. The first part of our route was the most dangerous: getting out of the orphanage. Anyone spotting us on the premises in our change of clothing would know we were up to no good. I prayed everyone else was still at breakfast.

The staircase was the most frightening part. If anyone else appeared there was nowhere to hide, nothing to duck behind. We were lucky until we reached the hall at the bottom of the stairs. There was a loud clunk and the outer door handle turned. George grabbed me and we fell onto the door of the under stairs cupboard. It was not closed properly and we tumbled into the darkness. I lifted myself onto my knees and gently pulled the door behind us until it was almost closed. Almost because shutting it completely might have made a noise. It left a chink through which we could see Jolly Rodgers crossing the hall in the direction of the Master's study.

How I hoped this was the last time I would ever see him. I'd find father with the Wild West Show and be taken away from the orphanage forever. The thought I might never see George or Sal again didn't cross my mind. My tormentor stopped for a moment and turned his head. Would he notice the cupboard door was open? Sweat trickled down my neck and I held my breath. I was imagining George's face turning crimson in the darkness.

Jolly Rodgers turned his head again as though he was thinking about something he'd forgotten. He continued walking in the original direction. The click of a door closing told us it was safe to come out. In an instant we were through the doorway Jolly Rodgers had used to enter the hall and we were out into the yard. The air felt fresh as it coursed into my excited lungs.

We ran as fast as we could to the wooden gate leading into the street. It was locked. The next possible exit was through the garden at the back of the orphanage but the gate there might be locked too. The only other option was to go back through the house ... and maybe bump into Jolly Rodgers. There was another choice.

Continued... Next Page

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