Read Online A Song for Joey by Elizabeth Audrey Mills - Free Book Online Page A

it was. I had no
coat, just the cotton dress given to me by Phylis, and I found myself shivering violently.
Somehow I needed to get warm.
    The street was still in darkness, punctuated with little pools of yellow light beneath the
street lamps, though the sky was beginning to lighten over to my left, with the first rays of
the sun. Looking around, I saw a light shining from the window of a small shop, and went
to see if there was any shelter. It turned out to be a baker's shop, but it was closed - the
light I had seen was coming through an open door inside, shining out from a brightly-lit
room behind.
    However, drawn by an appetising smell of fresh bread that wafted from the rear of the
building, I tiptoed around to the back of the shop, where I found an open door, which was
emitting those gorgeous aromas and the sound of men's voices in light conversation. I
stopped in the shadows beside the door, hidden from their view, feeling the escaping
warm air gently caress my arms and legs.
    Suddenly, unexpectedly, a man stepped through the door into the yard, where he
stopped to light a cigarette. When he turned, he saw me hiding.
"Now then, what have we here?" said sternly. Come to steal some cakes, have you?"
He was a stocky man, but tall, with broad shoulders. He wore just a shirt, with the
sleeves rolled up, over a pair of white linen trousers held up by braces.
"No, sir," I pleaded, "I was just cold and came to get warm."
"Better come inside with me, then." He turned to re-enter the shop, but I hesitated.
"Come on, don't be scared, I won't eat you."
I followed him inside, where he called out to his colleague working there. "Jacob, look
what I found outside."
The man addressed as Jacob turned and grinned at me. "What, you hungry, kid?"
"Not hungry, sir, just cold."
"I should think so, out in this weather dressed like that. Would you like a nice hot cup of
cocoa?"
I nodded, vigorously, smiling nervously, relieved that they were not hostile.
"Go and sit over there, then, and I'll bring it for you," he said, waving an arm towards a
couple of wooden chairs standing against the end wall.
-♪-♫-♪
    I did as instructed, and felt the heat of the ovens seeping into my body, driving out the
shivering cold. I watched him cross the room and pour some milk into a saucepan, which
he put on a big cooker in the corner by the window.
    While he was busy, I looked around the bakery. The other man had returned to his
cigarette outside, and I imagined that, to them, the cool night air must be a delight after
being in the heat of their workshop. It was not a big room, just enough space for the two
men to work side-by-side on a single, scrubbed wooden table on one long wall, while the
whole of the opposite wall was occupied by a massive oven with three steel doors. One
was open, revealing the glowing coals that were providing the heat that was thawing my
bones.
    He returned with my drink, and a little cake with a cherry on top. Then came the
question I had been dreading.
"Why are you out alone at night in the middle of winter, little one?"
It was asked in a kindly way, and I wanted to be honest, but I didn't want to explain in
detail about my situation, and I especially could not tell anyone what had just happened.
My mind refused to revisit that place. So, instead, I just said "We were flooded out of our
house."
"Well, you'll freeze to death in this weather with only that dress on. Where are your
parents?"
"My mum died, and my dad had to go somewhere," I mumbled. Best not to give too
much information.
"And why are you limping?"
"I sprained my ankle."
"So who is looking after you? And what's your name?"
"Belinda." Avoiding answering his first question.
"How do you do, Belinda," he said with mock formality, extending a plump, floury
hand, which I shook, smiling shyly. He sat on the chair next to mine.
"I'm Jacob, and that there is "Donkey." He grinned at his colleague, just re-entering the
bakery, after his cigarette. "His real name is Don,