Kitty Neale - A Family’s Heartbreak

‘Don’t be such a drama queen, Gloria. If he hits any of you, I’ve no doubt you deserved it. My father used to take the strap to me, it’s what dads do. It’s called discipline and it won’t do you any harm.’

‘It’s got nothing to do with telling us off! It’s Jenny that mostly gets the brunt of his temper and she doesn’t do anything to deserve it. Please, for her sake, for all our sakes, don’t visit us again.’

Gloria was stunned when her mother just glared at her and pushed past her without saying another word. It was obvious she didn’t care about them. Gloria picked up her pace and, just as she reached home, her father came steaming from the house. His face was contorted with rage and his eyes black. He didn’t so much as look at her as he passed, and Gloria instinctively knew he’d beaten Jenny again. She dashed up the short path to the front door, dropping her key in her haste. Once inside, she flew straight to the front room and looked down in horror at Jenny lying unconscious on the floor.

‘Pamela,’ she yelled. ‘Pamela, run up to the phone box and ring for an ambulance.’

Gloria dropped to her knees beside her sister and gently brushed Jenny’s hair from her bloodied face. ‘It’s all right,’ she soothed, ‘help will be here soon.’

Jenny groaned in pain and a knot formed in Gloria’s stomach. Her father had done this, inflicted these terrible injuries, and she hated him, detested him. Her mother might not have landed the punches, but she’d played a part in this, and she hated her too.

Once again Jenny cried out, and Gloria’s eyes filled with tears. This was the worst she’d ever seen it. Her sister looked in a bad way – a very bad way, and she feared that this time Jenny wouldn’t pull through.

Thankfully, Gloria’s fears were unfounded, but even now Jenny winced as she rolled over in her bed. It had been two weeks since her father had attacked her, but she still felt bruised and sore. She’d told the hospital staff she’d fallen down the stairs. If they’d known the truth, she worried that, hearing what her father was capable of, they’d take the boys away. Jenny wondered if they’d be better off in a children’s home – at least they would be safe – but she couldn’t bring herself to break up the family. She’d always done her best to protect them, but it seemed her father’s violence was escalating. With that in mind, she forced herself to climb out of bed. Every bone in her body ached and she felt weak, but she couldn’t risk staying in her room any longer.

There was a light tap on her bedroom door, then Gloria popped her head in. ‘I thought I heard you up and about,’ she said, then rushed over to offer Jenny an arm to lean on.

Jenny was touched by her sister’s solicitude. Gloria could sometimes be selfish, but she’d been marvellous since she’d come home from the hospital, Pamela too. ‘I can’t stay in bed forever. Dad will be home from work soon and I’m worried he’ll start on the boys. Anyway, why aren’t you at work?’

‘Don’t worry about Timmy and Peter. Between us, Pamela and me have got it all in hand. Can you hear anything?’

‘No,’ Jenny replied, thinking that the house was strangely quiet.

‘That’s because Pam has taken them to Tooting Lido. They won’t be home for ages yet, so get yourself back into bed.’

‘No, it’s about time I was up and about. You still haven’t said why you’re not at work.’

‘I’ll tell you later. Do you want me to make you a cuppa?’

‘Thanks, that would be nice,’ Jenny answered, but got the feeling that Gloria was trying to fob her off about her job. ‘Give me a few minutes. I’ll get myself dressed and then I’ll be down.’

Gloria closed the bedroom door behind her, leaving Jenny to struggle to put her clothes on. Her wrist was badly sprained and at least one of her ribs was fractured. She managed to pull on a dress that buttoned down the front, but brushing her unruly ginger locks proved more of an effort. It hurt to lift her arm above her head. She looked in the mirror, and gently fingered her eye. The swelling had gone down, but the bruise was now yellow, and her split lip still hadn’t healed. She’d rarely smiled lately, but each time she attempted to, the cut on her lip would sting and open again.

By the time Jenny came downstairs, Gloria had brewed a fresh pot of tea and had poured two cups. Jenny eased herself slowly onto a chair and quizzed her sister again.

‘The truth is, Jen, I got the sack.’

‘Oh no, that’s all we need. I’m not going to have any pay coming in again this week and now you’ve gone and lost your job! What did you do?’

‘Nothing! Old Fletcher said I couldn’t have any time off to look after you, so I told him what he could do with his poxy job.’

Jenny couldn’t be angry with Gloria, but she was concerned about money. Their dad provided for the rent and bills and contributed towards the groceries, but between them Jenny and Gloria topped up the housekeeping. Without the extra money, they’d be back on a very basic diet and there wouldn’t be any treats for the boys. Then a thought crossed Jenny’s mind. ‘How has Pamela managed to pay for the boys to go swimming?’

‘It’s all right, Pamela’s best friend’s brother is a lifeguard. He’ll get them in for free.’

‘That’s good. We can’t afford to waste any money for a while. Did you take that letter to the factory for me?’

‘Yes, and Miss Aston was fine about you being off sick. She said you’re not to go back until you’re one hundred per cent better. She seems like a nice lady. I wish I worked at your factory.’

‘Did you ask her if she had any positions available?’

‘Nah, I still need to be here, so I thought I’d wait ’til you’re back at work and you can ask for me,’ Gloria said with a cheeky grin.

‘Does Dad know you’ve lost your job?’

‘Yeah, and he did his nut. He said that now I’m sixteen I ain’t his responsibility and he won’t be paying for my keep. I’ve got two weeks to find another job and if I don’t, he’ll chuck me out.’

‘Blimey, Gloria, you’d better go and see Miss Aston tomorrow. Oh, no, you can’t, it’ll be Saturday and the factory is closed, but you can try first thing on Monday. Dad doesn’t make idle threats, you known what he’s like.’

‘Yeah, I suppose. He also said that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and I’m just like my mother, selfish and lazy. Do you know what … the more I think about it, the more I understand why she left him!’

There were times when Jenny agreed with what her dad had told Gloria. Her sister could be self-centred and was prone to idleness. ‘What about Gran? Have you been to see her?’ she asked.

‘Not yet, I haven’t had a chance.’

‘Oh, Gloria, she’ll be worried sick that she hasn’t heard from us. You should have called in on her.’