Kitty Neale - A Family’s Heartbreak

As the truck slowly passed, Jenny turned her head and followed it with her eyes. Her father wasn’t riding on the back and Jenny’s body slumped with relief. She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself. That had been close, far closer than she felt comfortable with. She had no idea how her father would have reacted if he’d seen her, but it was something she’d rather not discover.

Jenny resumed walking but picked up her pace. She was safe in the factory, out of harm’s way. She was safe at home too, thanks to Craig, and wished she was back there now, secure in his reassuring arms. He knew what she’d been through and had sworn he’d always look after her. She believed he would, but he couldn’t be with her every minute of every day, and moments like just now made her realise how much she still lived in terror of her father.

Gloria detested every minute of living in Craig’s flat. Being in such close proximity to everyone drove her mad and she began to dislike them all. Jenny was a goody-two-shoes, Pamela was a wimp, the boys were irritating and Craig, well, Craig was deaf and as far as she was concerned that was a good enough reason not to like him. At least she could make scathing remarks about him behind his back and he couldn’t hear her. It was something she did regularly to amuse herself, much to Jenny’s disgust.

Gloria grimaced. Then there was her gran living downstairs and too close. She was always spoiling the boys and singing Jenny’s praises. Gloria couldn’t stand listening to her, so she’d stopped popping in to see the old woman. She didn’t miss her.

She’d also defied Jenny and was now working part-time in Queenie’s. She refused to hand over any of her wages, using the excuse that she didn’t eat at Craig’s so why should she contribute? Craig didn’t have to pay extra rent because they were living there. And what Jenny gave him would cover any larger bills. The sooner she got out of there, Gloria thought, the better.

That morning, she stood behind the shop counter and smiled wryly when she heard Dennis’s footsteps above. He was out of his bed at last, and Gloria knew he’d be down to see her soon. She quickly grabbed her handbag to pull out a compact and her red lipstick, making the effort as always to look nice for her man. They’d been seeing each other for three weeks now, since the morning when he’d called into the shop and she’d caught his eye. Gloria would often slip up to his room after work. It made working in Queenie’s far more enjoyable.

‘Hello, gorgeous, how’s my favourite girl this morning?’ Dennis drawled as he sauntered into the shop.

‘I’m not just your favourite girl, I’m your only girl,’ Gloria said, and slipped him a packet of cigarettes. She had no intention of putting the money for them in the till. She would often pinch a bob or two as well. She reasoned it was no more than she deserved, since Queenie paid such crap wages.

‘Are you coming up to mine later when you’ve finished?’

‘Yeah, but can’t you stay down here for a bit and keep me company? It’s quiet today and I’m bored,’ Gloria asked, fluttering her eyelashes.

‘Queenie doesn’t like me hanging about in the shop.’

‘Well, Queenie isn’t here, is she?’

‘All right, but only for half an hour.’

‘Thanks, Dennis. That’s cheered me up.’

‘Why, what are you unhappy about?’

‘Everything! You’re the only good thing in my life. I hate living at Craig’s. Can you imagine what it’s like? Six of us all crammed into a one-bedroom flat. Every time I go in the bathroom, someone starts hammering on the door for me to hurry up. There’s no privacy or anything. Gawd, I could go on, but I don’t want to bore you.’

Dennis put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up, his own just inches from hers. ‘Move in with me then?’

They were the words Gloria had been desperate to hear. ‘But what about your mum? Won’t she mind?’

‘Bugger my mother. You’ll be in my room with me. It’s my home too so I can have whoever I want to stay with me.’

‘Oh, Dennis,’ Gloria squealed, and threw her arms around his neck. ‘You’re the best!’

As soon as she’d done her hours in the shop, Gloria rushed to Craig’s flat, eager to collect her things and move in with Dennis. This was a dream come true for her. She’d be living with the man she loved instead of a family who got on her nerves.

When she arrived, the flat was empty. Pamela and the boys were at school, and Jenny and Craig were at work. Before grabbing a bag, she glanced at the television set in the corner of the lounge. How stupid, she thought, there was barely enough room in the place already, without adding that monstrosity.

She quickly shoved some clothes into the bag, then dashed to the bathroom to pick up her toothbrush and bubble bath. The bottle was half-empty, so she guessed her brothers had been using it again. It was just another thing that annoyed her and reinforced her decision to leave.

Gloria was about to leave, but then as an afterthought decided she’d better write them a note. If she just went missing, Jenny would turn up at the shop looking for her and no doubt there’d be an argument. After rummaging in the kitchen drawers she found an old envelope and a pen, then quickly scribbled a few lines about where she was. To appease Jenny, she said she’d pop in to see them soon. That should do, she thought, keen to get back to Dennis, and she left the note on the shelf above the fireplace.

When she flew back downstairs and outside, Gloria paused for a moment, lifting her face to the sun’s warmth. She felt invigorated and free, no longer constrained by her family and their problems. There’d be nobody to tell her what to do or when to do it. No responsibility of young children. Her life was finally her own, and she intended to enjoy it.

Craig arrived home before Jenny to be greeted by Pamela looking more anxious than usual. ‘What’s troubling you?’ he asked as he took off his work boots.

Pamela didn’t say anything but handed him a note. The writing was scribbled, probably rushed, and difficult to decipher, but once he read it Craig’s heart sank. This was sure to upset Jenny. ‘Oh, blimey,’ he said.

Peter and Timmy were playing with their toy cars, but Peter looked up and asked, ‘What’s going on?’

‘It’s all right, mate. Nothing to worry about.’

Jenny arrived home minutes later, breezing through the door looking happy. ‘Hello, you lot,’ she said. ‘It’s a scorcher out there today.’

Craig didn’t want to break the bad news to her, but knew he had no choice. He stood in front of her, and the second Jenny saw his face, her own dropped.

‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘It’s not my father, is it? I saw a dustcart earlier but I don’t think he was on it. Has he been round here on the warpath?’

‘No, love, but come and sit down. Pam, take your brothers to your room or down to see your gran,’ Craig said.

Once the room was clear, Jenny looked at him, searching for answers. ‘You’re worrying me,’ she whispered.

‘It’s not that bad but read this.’

Jenny took the note and gasped. ‘She can’t do this. They can’t live together, they’re not married! I’m going straight round there, and if I have to I’ll drag her back screaming and shouting.’

‘Do you think that’s wise? I mean, you know how strong-willed she is.’

‘Gloria is hardly more than a child and that Dennis is no good for her. Oh, the silly, silly girl. I can’t just leave her there.’

‘Right then, I’ll come with you.’

After ensuring that Pamela and the boys were all right with their gran, Jenny walked beside Craig in silence. Her mind was in turmoil thinking about how she would deal with her sister. Craig was right, Gloria was strong-willed, and Jenny doubted she’d be able to talk any sense into her. If Gloria refused to come home, it was unlikely she’d be able to drag her back.