Read Online Across a Summer Sea by Lyn Andrews - Free Book Online

better go and see to him. Sorry, Richie, it’s one of the penalties of being a mother, but I’m sure there are plenty of others just dying to dance with you. There’s one for a start.’ She looked over at Nora who was still standing by the door with longing plain in her face.  
    He laughed. ‘Oh, God! No thanks, I’ve only just got rid of her. She’s like a limpet.’  
    ‘Oh, you’re cruel. She’s mad about you. Do your good deed for the day and dance with the poor girl.’  
    ‘I’m not in the mood for good deeds, Mary.’  
    ‘Mam, come on !’ Katie urged, pulling her mother towards the door.  
    ‘It’s our Tommy. Apparently he’s unwell,’ Mary said by way of an explanation as she passed Frank, hardly noticing the look on his face.  
    Out in Nellie’s back yard a small group of boys were looking guiltily at a pale and definitely ill-looking Tommy.  
    ‘What’s the matter with you?’  
    ‘They’ve eaten all the ice cream Mrs Jones bought in Fusco’s!’ Katie said peevishly yet with a note of triumph in her voice. She was greatly aggrieved at such greediness. It was a long time since she had tasted ice cream and she’d not had the chance of even a mouthful.  
    ‘That will do from you, miss! Go inside and find Mrs Price and tell her to come out here this minute. I know whose idea this was!’ She glared at young Georgie.  
    ‘Oh, Mam, I feel shocking!’ Tommy wailed and was promptly and violently sick.  
    ‘Serve you right! Now the lot of you can get buckets of water and the yard-brush and clean this mess up!’  
    ‘Mam, I . . . I can’t!’ Tommy said, still looking green.  
    ‘I didn’t make no mess,’ Georgie muttered sullenly.  
    Nellie, followed closely by Hetty, appeared in the yard.  
    ‘This shower of greedy little pigs have scoffed all the ice cream, Nellie. I’m sorry but our Tommy’s just been sick. I’ve told them to clean up the yard.’ Mary glared at her son and Georgie Price.  
    ‘Do you know how much that cost me?’ Nellie cried. ‘And I was saving it for later on.’  
    Sweeping up her new red skirt Hetty stepped forward and boxed her son firmly around the ears. ‘I’ve had more than enough of you and your antics these past few days, Georgie! Get home to your da. He won’t be very pleased to see you, I can tell you! Christmas Eve and a pub to run on his own and now you acting the fool! I can’t get five flaming minutes to enjoy myself. This is the first time I’ve been out for weeks and you have to ruin it!’  
    ‘It’s the first time any of us has had something to enjoy for months , Hetty!’ Mary said irritably.  
    ‘Go on, get home! Here, give me that brush,’ Hetty demanded.  
    ‘You’ll ruin your good skirt, Hetty, leave it to me,’ Nellie instructed.  
    ‘ I’ll do it. You’ve got guests to see to, Nellie. Then I’m taking my lot home to bed. They’ve had more than enough excitement for one day!’ Mary stated firmly. ‘Katie, go and find Lizzie and get your coats.’  
    ‘Thanks, Mary, luv. You will be back, won’t you?’  
    ‘Of course. Now get back inside both of you.’  
    ‘You’re a real pal, Mary, and I’m sorry about Georgie and all . . . this,’ Hetty said, pushing her son towards the yard door.  
    While Katie went to do her mother’s bidding and Tommy sat dejectedly on the upturned washtub, Mary grimly set to and swilled the yard. She had no new red skirt that might get ruined. The only consolation was that Hetty had at least meted out some punishment, which made a change.  
    She took the children home and saw them into bed, promising there would be treats for all of them in the morning if they went to sleep straight away - even Tommy who she felt had been punished enough. He was abjectly sorry and still looked awful. Nellie should have made sure that bowl of ice cream was well out of their reach, she thought as she ran quickly up the back jigger towards the party. She hoped it would still be in