Cathy Sharp - The Barefoot Child

‘What kind of a job?’ Josh could never earn so much money honestly. ‘What have you been doin’, Josh?’

‘It’s none of your business.’ He glared at her. ‘Keep that money safe and I’ll give yer more when I get paid – and then we’ll pay someone to find Kitty …’

‘This wasn’t earned well,’ Lucy said. ‘What would Pa say?’ She pushed the money away from her with a little shudder. ‘I won’t take dirty money, Josh.’

‘Damn you! I earned it and it’s mine!’ Josh swept the notes back into his pocket. ‘It’s for Kitty – don’t yer want ’er back?’

‘Of course I do. You know I do,’ Lucy cried. ‘But you couldn’t earn that much money at the docks or the factory, Josh. You must have been stealin’.’

His face flushed and he looked angry. ‘I don’t steal – I work for someone who does a lot of things and he gives me money for helpin’ him.’

‘How do you help him?’ Lucy asked and he dropped his gaze, looking uncomfortable.

‘I don’t steal nuthin’ – I just follow gents what’re drunk ’ome and then I get in through the window and open the door and others come and steal his money and his trinkets.’ There was a hint of shame in his eyes. ‘It was fer you and Kitty … I ’ad ter get money to make up fer bringin’ yer ’ere and now I’ve got ter find Kitty ’cos it’s my fault she’s gone.’

‘It wasn’t your fault,’ Lucy said, seeing the hurt and shame beneath his belligerence. ‘I didn’t blame you for being cheated, Josh. I was managing to make a life for us – until that woman interfered.’

‘I hate ’er,’ Josh said. ‘And I hate livin’ ’ere and I’m goin’ ter find Kitty and when I do we’ll ’ave a better place to live.’

Lucy turned away to hide her tears. Josh needed a father’s hand to guide him, because if he kept on working for this man he would end up in prison or worse. She wanted to tell him to stop, to make him listen, but she knew that all she was doing by complaining was driving a wedge between them.

She was the eldest and it was up to her to keep the family together, but she’d lost Kitty and if she tried to dictate to Josh she might lose him too. She did not know which way to turn and she felt very lost and alone but not as alone as her little sister …

‘Oh Kitty,’ she whispered and did not realise she was weeping until Josh came and put an arm about her shoulders. ‘I miss her and I worry about her …’

‘I know,’ he said and bent his head to touch the top of hers. ‘I’ll find her, Lucy. I swear to you on Pa’s memory. I’ll find her.’

Kitty’s feet hurt. The boots Sadie had given her were not big enough and they crushed her toes. She took them off whenever she could, preferring to go barefoot than wear them.

‘What’s wrong then, lass?’ The kindly voice made Kitty look up as a woman sat next to her on the bench outside the kitchen.

‘My feet hurt, Lil,’ Kitty said and swiped a tear from her cheek. ‘Sadie knew the boots were too small but she insisted they would have to do. Why won’t they let me have my own shoes? Lucy sold her best ones to buy them for me.’

‘Is Lucy yer sister then, Cath?’ Lil smiled at her sympathetically.

Kitty nodded. ‘She calls me Kitty, but I didn’t tell the mistress.’

‘We don’t ’ave ter tell her everythin’,’ Lil said and put an arm about her shoulders. ‘I can’t get yer a pair of boots, love – but I’ve got a bit of pie in me pocket. It was left over from the master’s supper and I pinched it from the larder when Sadie wasn’t lookin’ – we’ll share it, shall we?’

‘Please – thanks, Lil,’ Kitty said and gave her a watery smile. ‘I’m glad you’re here. I hate this place!’

‘It ain’t very nice,’ Lil said and smiled sadly, her arms crossed protectively over her belly. ‘I came in ’cos it’s the only way for me to have my baby safely, see – but you ought ter be wiv yer family.’

‘They said I was a vagrant,’ Kitty said, ‘but it wasn’t true – we had a home.’

‘And where do you live?’ Lil asked.

Kitty’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t know what it’s called. I knew my way home from school – but when they asked where it was I couldn’t say so they said I was a vagrant and sent me here.’

‘Well, I shan’t be ’ere forever,’ Lil said and gave her shoulders a squeeze. ‘If I can find your sister I’ll tell ’er you’re in ’ere.’

Kitty smiled and thanked her. She had been eating her small piece of pie and did not immediately notice the young lad as he walked up to them. He was carrying a brush and had been sweeping the yard.

‘What yer doin’ then, Lil?’ he asked. ‘Who’s this?’

‘It’s Kitty – only the mistress calls her Cath,’ Lil said and smiled. ‘I’m sorry we’ve eaten the pie, Jem.’

‘I’ve got a bit left,’ Kitty said and offered it to him. Jem took it and swallowed it hastily as Sadie came out into the yard.

‘You two get in ’ere,’ Sadie said. ‘I’ve got work to do and you’ve had yer break – and you can clear orf, boy. Get on wiv yer work or I’ll be reportin’ yer to the master.’

Jem winked at Kitty and bent his head to whisper in her ear as she followed Lil back to the kitchen. ‘She’s an old misery,’ he said. ‘Keep out of her way as much as yer can – I’ll fix ’er afore I leaves.’

‘Are you goin’ away?’

‘When I get the chance to scarper,’ Jem said. ‘I’d rather be on the street wiv me mates than in this hole.’

‘Can I come too?’ She looked at him eagerly.

‘Nah, yer too young. Yer would be in the way.’ Jem winked and set off at a run, leaving Kitty staring after him.

If Jem could find a way out of here, then perhaps she could. Kitty didn’t know where she lived, but she remembered the name of the school she’d been to and perhaps if she could find her way back there the Reverend Joseph would help her get home.

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