Read Online The Valley by Richard Benson - Free Book Online Page B

‘Young Lunness’ lost, but he was paid, and the match had a decent write-up in the boxing press. ‘Making a name for himself,’ says Millie. ‘You don’t know where it could lead.’
    Winnie knows where this leads, though. It leads to Millie dismissing Ernest as a wet blanket and championing the Juggler. ‘I don’t know why you don’t get on with him, instead of trailing after Ernie. Juggler’s a good feller, and he always asks after you.’
    Winnie flinches. There is a part of her that likes the idea of being the girl that Juggler Hollingworth asks after.
    She and Millie go down the street towards the cinema together and wait by the bridge. Outside the Empire, in the gaslight and blue cigarette smoke, Ernest meets Winnie, and Millie meets up with two girls and goes on to the dance. After the picture Ernest buys Winnie a bag of chips which they eat from the newspaper while walking towards the Parkins’ home. They talk about Ernest’s mother and father, and Winnie tells Ernest about the book she is reading, a romance set in the days of Henry VIII. The ladies-in-waiting were right gossips, she says, things don’t change do they?
    Suddenly, as they step from under a railway bridge, a man jumps from the bank beside them, stumbles on the path, and lunges at Ernest. Winnie squeals. Ernest pushes the man away and the figure reels back before gathering himself and coming at Ernest again.
    â€˜Harry?’ says Winnie. ‘Harry? What are you doing?’
    â€˜I’ve come to teach him to leave thee alone.’
    Winnie notices something in his right hand.
    â€˜Get on with you, Juggler,’ laughs Ernest.
    â€˜What’s that thing in your hand?’ says Winnie.
    â€˜That’s a knuckleduster!’ says Ernest.
    â€˜You can’t use a knuckleduster, can you?’
    â€˜Yes, I can,’ says Harry, but Ernest looks unconvinced. Harry’s hand drops to his side. ‘Shut thy cakehole.’
    Ernest shakes his head.
    â€˜Aw, what do you want to go with him for?’ says Harry. ‘He’s nowt. I love you.’
    â€˜It looks like it, hiding under bridges with that thing on your hand,’ says Winnie.
    But she is not put off. All her life Winnie will crave romantic love and toughness; she will try to fill herself with the sentiment of romances and greetings cards, but what she loves is open declarations. Possibly now, even accompanied by a knuckleduster under a railway bridge, she falls for it.
    â€˜You lying swine, Hollingworth,’ says Ernest, and pushes Juggler in the chest. Harry inexpertly swings the arm with the knuckleduster up into Ernest’s jaw. It cuts the skin and blood runs down into his white muffler.
    â€˜Oh hell, sorry cock,’ says Harry.
    Winnie tells them to stop. Ernest comes back and swings at him. Juggler sidesteps and swings again, connecting clumsily with the side of Ernest’s neck, and the fight peters out.
    â€˜Just leave me alone, you maniac,’ says Ernest, holding his bleeding face and retreating.
    â€˜He’s not a man,’ Harry informs Winnie. ‘You do as you like, but I love you,’ and turns and walks down the street.
    â€˜Get away with you,’ Win shouts after him. ‘You’re a bad ’un.’
    *
    The fight means Winnie is late coming in, and Walter bawls at her, but his back is bad, and in the end it all comes to no more than complaints.
    She stays away from Harry for a while but he pursues her, asking her out, sending messages via Millie, and she comes round. Within months Winnie is visiting the cinema with him and going off to the dances with Harry, Millie and Danny.
    One night Harry comes back to the Parkin home with Winnie and Millie, who is pregnant with Danny’s baby, and tells his jokes and charms them. ‘Sonny,’ he says, ‘I’m learning to play t’ drums so I can be in dance bands, does tha want a job helping me carry