Kate Tempest - The Bricks that Built the Houses

‘You fought them off?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Jesus.’ Becky shakes her head. They stand in silence for a moment.

‘With a bottle,’ she says, smoothing her hair down.

‘A fucking bottle ?’ Becky is horrified. Her face screwed up.

‘Yeah.’ Gloria sighs.

Becky’s panic constricts her words, they come out strangled and strangely pitched. ‘Were you alright?’

‘In the end, yeah, I was fine.’ Gloria smiles at Becky, her voice level as always. Becky winces, shakes her head. ‘I was alright. And I like the boxing. Tommy keeps saying he’ll come with me, but he never does. He’s getting fat as well, don’t tell him I told you.’

Becky watches Gloria’s hands, gold rings on three fingers, the thin tattoo that bracelets the wrist.

She turns to serve a customer. ‘Yes, darlin’, what’ll it be?’

My producer, Dan Carey, who was the first person to hear any of these ideas and who encouraged me to make it a story.

My agent, Becky Thomas.

My editor, Alexa von Hirschberg.

Alexandra Pringle at Bloomsbury.

My US editor, Rachel Mannheimer.

I spent a month writing at 57a in Whitstable, thank you Katie Gordon for allowing me the space.

I wrote the bulk of the final draft in the back of the tour van driving through Europe and the United States. I have to acknowledge the patience and support of my bandmates and crew; Alex Gent, Anth Clarke, Archie Marsh, Caragh Campbell, Clare Uchima, Dan Carey, Ed Feilden, Francesco Caccamo, Gareth Routledge, Georgia Barnes, Hannah Tee-Dub, Kwake Bass, Liam Hutton, Raisa Khan, Sebastian Renaud and Toby Donnelly, who’ve been with me touring for the last eighteen months. Love you lot, my Welfare Unit.

Elaine Williams, thanks for chatting Paul Gilroy, the Lewisham Riots and knife crime with me. You’re a G. And I’m blessed to call you mate.

Lucy McGeowen for the invaluable blow-by-blow description of years spent working in cafés. Thank you sis.

I had huge help from three dancers: Daisy Smith, Jennifer Leung and Julie Cunningham. Big, big thanks to you all for your generosity and time. I want to acknowledge that some of Becky’s thoughts about dancing and choreography come directly from conversations I had with these three. Especially Daisy Smith.

The staff, drinkers and friends of The Birds Nest pub.

I began to tell the stories which would lead to this story in my first play Wasted . I want to acknowledge Paines Plough, who commissioned that play, and especially James Grieve and Stef O’Driscoll, who directed it and who supported me through that time. Also, the cast of Wasted — Alex Cobb, Alice Haig, Ashley George, Bradley Taylor, Cary Crankson and Lizzie Watts — who bought my characters to life. And the tech team and crew who put it on.

Brand New Ancients was the next step. I want to acknowledge the support of the Battersea Arts Centre, especially David Jubb and Sophie Bradey, in the writing and staging of that piece. I need to acknowledge the musicians and crew who played that show with me over the course of the tour: Alex Gent, Ben Burns, Christina Hardinge, Emma Smith, George Bird, Ian Rickson, India Banks, Joanne Gibson, Kwake Bass, Matt O’Leary, Natasha Zielazinski, Nell Catchpole, Raven Bush, Sarah O’Connor and Tara Franks.

I need to acknowledge the love and support I have had from my family: my parents, Gill and Nigel Calvert. My sisters, Laura, Sita, Ruth and Claudia. My brothers, Jack, Matt and Martin. And little Bess and Zig. All my brilliant cousins. All my uncles and aunties. My grandparents, who I love and miss.

Need to acknowledge my brother Jimmy Davey and my good good friends that haven’t been mentioned above: Adam Bloomfield. Billy Carabine. Callum Locke. Dawna King. Evie Manning. Freddy Vernon. George Latham. Kieran Barry. Kitty Zinovieff. Luke Eastop. Maisy Siggurdson. Niaomh Convery. Sophie McGeevor. Sam Soan. Mica Levi. Thank you guys so much.

Want to acknowledge south-east London; even though you’re changing, you’re still my engine and my anchor.

Want to acknowledge Murphy; my wolf.

Charissa Gregson, Emma Brook, Rebecca Danicic; thank you for your time and attention, your patience and encouragement.

Assia Ghendir, thank you for your love.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the help I have received from India Banks — in this novel and in all the things I’ve written. But especially for the guidance in understanding Becky better and for the support in writing ‘A Hammer’.

Kate Tempest was born in London in 1985. She has published two plays, Wasted and Hopelessly Devoted , and two collections of poetry, Everything Speaks in its Own Way and the acclaimed Hold Your Own . Her epic poem, Brand New Ancients , won the 2012 Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. Her album Everybody Down was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Music Prize. She is a Next Generation Poet. The Bricks that Built the Houses is her first novel.