Read Online Tiger Bay Blues by Catrin Collier - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Catrin Collier
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Jew –’
‘A regular box of liquorice allsorts,’ Tony King joked.
‘And no one there gives a toss about colour.’
‘Except for some of the constables and their families, who live in the Maria Street police station,’ Tony chipped in.
‘Most of them are fair blokes,’ Jed qualified. ‘Generally speaking, we’re like one big happy family.’
‘With a few black sheep.’ Tony nodded at Micah. ‘Take this one, for example. He’s too forgiving with the drunks and certain ladies –’
‘Tony, you’re not in the Pilot in George Street now,’ Jed interrupted.
‘I heard a lot of stories about Tiger Bay when I went to that party in Moore’s shipping offices with Bella and Toby.’ Edyth took a biscuit and broke it in half. ‘I’d love to walk around there and see the place for myself.’
‘What kind of stories?’ Lloyd enquired warily.
‘One of the clerks was telling us that he and his brother had been invited to someone’s house for supper, but they never made it. He said as soon as they left Bute Street and went into the side streets, everyone was singing and dancing, all the front doors were open and he felt as though they’d walked into one enormous street party. They ended up eating supper with total strangers.’
‘It can be like that around carnival time,’ Jed agreed, as relieved as Lloyd that Edyth hadn’t been referring to anything more risqué than the music that was played in the streets around the docks practically every night. ‘It only takes one person to bring out an instrument and start playing to get the whole neighbourhood joining in.’
‘With spoons, comb and paper, and saucepan drums, if that’s all they have.’ Micah flicked his cigarette into the ashtray on the table. ‘In Tiger Bay, music has an impromptu and international flavour.’
‘You’re welcome to visit any time you want, Miss Evans. My grandmother would love to make your acquaintance,’ Judy Hamilton offered shyly.
‘Thank you, Miss Hamilton. After your performance here today I suspect I’ll have the life plagued out of me until I bring the entire family down for a visit.’ Lloyd glanced at Glyn, who was almost asleep on the chair next to him. ‘It’s time the little ones were in bed.’
‘I’ll chase them.’ Sali left her chair.
‘I’ll give you a hand,’ Rhian offered.
‘We should round up the boys and head for home, Megs.’ Victor rose to his feet. ‘You did Bella proud, Lloyd, Sali. It’s been a wonderful day but my legs feel as though they don’t belong to me. I’m getting too old for dancing.’
‘Judging by the amount you’ve done since I met you, I’d say that you were born too old for dancing, my darling.’ Megan left her seat and slipped her arm around Victor’s waist.
‘Stay here, Uncle Victor, Auntie Megan.’ Harry finished his beer. ‘I’ll find the boys for you.’
‘I can see the smoke wafting over the shrubs by the gate the same as you, Harry.’ Victor squeezed Megan’s waist lightly.
‘Let me at least go down there and warn them that you’re on your way.’ Harry set his glass on the table.
‘You’re not one of the kids any more, Harry. Not now you have one and a half of your own. A grown-up’s job is to stop kids from having fun.’ Joey looked down at Ruth who was still fast asleep on his lap.
‘I’m trying to take over from where Granddad left off. Not that I could hope to fill an inch of his shoes,’ Harry said ruefully. ‘But he never allowed anyone to get caught doing something they shouldn’t at a family party.’
‘Possibly because he was usually the one instigating the naughtiness,’ Sali recalled fondly. Lloyd’s father had died four years ago, yet everyone in the family who was old enough to remember him still missed him, especially at get-togethers at Christmas, weddings and christenings.
‘Please, stay and have another drink,’ Lloyd pressed the musicians, who were leaving their seats. ‘Don’t feel that you have
‘A regular box of liquorice allsorts,’ Tony King joked.
‘And no one there gives a toss about colour.’
‘Except for some of the constables and their families, who live in the Maria Street police station,’ Tony chipped in.
‘Most of them are fair blokes,’ Jed qualified. ‘Generally speaking, we’re like one big happy family.’
‘With a few black sheep.’ Tony nodded at Micah. ‘Take this one, for example. He’s too forgiving with the drunks and certain ladies –’
‘Tony, you’re not in the Pilot in George Street now,’ Jed interrupted.
‘I heard a lot of stories about Tiger Bay when I went to that party in Moore’s shipping offices with Bella and Toby.’ Edyth took a biscuit and broke it in half. ‘I’d love to walk around there and see the place for myself.’
‘What kind of stories?’ Lloyd enquired warily.
‘One of the clerks was telling us that he and his brother had been invited to someone’s house for supper, but they never made it. He said as soon as they left Bute Street and went into the side streets, everyone was singing and dancing, all the front doors were open and he felt as though they’d walked into one enormous street party. They ended up eating supper with total strangers.’
‘It can be like that around carnival time,’ Jed agreed, as relieved as Lloyd that Edyth hadn’t been referring to anything more risqué than the music that was played in the streets around the docks practically every night. ‘It only takes one person to bring out an instrument and start playing to get the whole neighbourhood joining in.’
‘With spoons, comb and paper, and saucepan drums, if that’s all they have.’ Micah flicked his cigarette into the ashtray on the table. ‘In Tiger Bay, music has an impromptu and international flavour.’
‘You’re welcome to visit any time you want, Miss Evans. My grandmother would love to make your acquaintance,’ Judy Hamilton offered shyly.
‘Thank you, Miss Hamilton. After your performance here today I suspect I’ll have the life plagued out of me until I bring the entire family down for a visit.’ Lloyd glanced at Glyn, who was almost asleep on the chair next to him. ‘It’s time the little ones were in bed.’
‘I’ll chase them.’ Sali left her chair.
‘I’ll give you a hand,’ Rhian offered.
‘We should round up the boys and head for home, Megs.’ Victor rose to his feet. ‘You did Bella proud, Lloyd, Sali. It’s been a wonderful day but my legs feel as though they don’t belong to me. I’m getting too old for dancing.’
‘Judging by the amount you’ve done since I met you, I’d say that you were born too old for dancing, my darling.’ Megan left her seat and slipped her arm around Victor’s waist.
‘Stay here, Uncle Victor, Auntie Megan.’ Harry finished his beer. ‘I’ll find the boys for you.’
‘I can see the smoke wafting over the shrubs by the gate the same as you, Harry.’ Victor squeezed Megan’s waist lightly.
‘Let me at least go down there and warn them that you’re on your way.’ Harry set his glass on the table.
‘You’re not one of the kids any more, Harry. Not now you have one and a half of your own. A grown-up’s job is to stop kids from having fun.’ Joey looked down at Ruth who was still fast asleep on his lap.
‘I’m trying to take over from where Granddad left off. Not that I could hope to fill an inch of his shoes,’ Harry said ruefully. ‘But he never allowed anyone to get caught doing something they shouldn’t at a family party.’
‘Possibly because he was usually the one instigating the naughtiness,’ Sali recalled fondly. Lloyd’s father had died four years ago, yet everyone in the family who was old enough to remember him still missed him, especially at get-togethers at Christmas, weddings and christenings.
‘Please, stay and have another drink,’ Lloyd pressed the musicians, who were leaving their seats. ‘Don’t feel that you have
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