Read Online Tuppence to Tooley Street by Harry Bowling - Free Book Online

Killin’ people is wrong. The ’ole bloody war’s wrong. The way Ben sees it is that if everybody’eld the same views as ’im there’d be nobody ter fight the war. Trouble is, life ain’t like that. Nuffink’s gonna change. There’ll always be some bloody maniac ready ter start a war, an’ there’s no shortage o’ people ter do the dirty work. Maybe Ben’s got the right idea, I dunno. Good luck to ’im anyway. ’E’ll be all right at the tribunal.’
    Lucy smoothed the tablecloth and leaned back in her chair. ‘I’ve never heard you talk like this before, Danny. Everything was one big joke to you. You’ve got all serious.’
    Danny pushed his plate away and picked up his teacup. ‘I tell yer, sis, what I’ve seen of the war ’as made me fink. I lost a few good mates, an’ I’ve seen what the war does ter people, but d’yer know what shook me most of all? I was trampin’ along wiv our company, we were goin’ up ter relieve anuvver regiment. Casualties were bein’ brought back an’ we got off the road ter make room fer ’em. Right where we stopped was a stone memorial. There was plenty o’ names on that stone, I can tell yer. It was from the 1914 war. And there we was doin’ it all again twenty-six years later. I got ter finkin’, ’ow many more stones they gonna put up when this lot’s over? I tell yer, Lucy, I wanted ter run as far as I could, away from what I was seein’. Maybe Ben ’as got the right idea-I only wish most o’ the Germans agreed wiv ’im.’
    Lucy stood up and playfully ruffled his fair hair. ‘You know what Dad would say if he was here?’
    Danny laughed. ‘Put the kettle on,’ he mimicked.
     
    On the stroke of seven there was a knock on the front door and Danny went to answer it. A young sailor was standing on the doorstep. ‘I’m Jimmy. Is Connie there, please?’ he said with an eager expression on his face.
    Danny looked out of his bleary eyes at the slim young man who was a few inches shorter than his six feet. ‘I guessed who yer was. Connie’s bin tellin’ me all about yer bad ’abits.’
    Jimmy was abashed. ‘Oh!’ he breathed, still looking wide-eyed at Danny.
    Danny’s face relaxed. ‘C’mon in, I was only jokin’.’
    The young sailor stepped into the passage and removed his cap to reveal a mop of wavy blond hair. His baby face turned towards the stairs as Connie came hurrying down and took hold of his hand. ‘This is my ’orrible bruv, Danny,’ she said, looking at him affectionately. ‘’E’s bin out celebratin’, Jimmy, so ’e can’t see yer very well.’
    The two shook hands and Danny motioned to the parlour. ‘D’yer wanna cup o’ tea?’
    Connie put her hand on her brother’s arm. ‘Look, bruv, Jimmy’s only got a few days’ leave an’ I’m claimin’ all ’is spare time. Besides, I’m not gonna sit an’ listen ter you two men talkin’ about the war. C’mon, Jimmy, or we’ll miss the big picture.’
    Danny stood by the front door and watched as his sister walked up the turning holding on to Jimmy’s arm, chatting and laughing. The young cockney smiled to himself. Connie was his favourite, and he hoped that nothing would ever happen to mar her happiness.

Chapter Five
    The sun had left the room and slipped down behind the lop-sided chimney pots. Danny looked into the old faded mirror over the washstand and adjusted the knot of his tie. The clock showed twenty to nine. He patted down his hair with both hands and looked down at his polished shoes. His best grey suit felt tighter than it had when he left the hospital. He undid the buttons of the jacket and peered into the mirror once more. The fading light gave the room a sombre look and Danny felt a desire for company. He opened the door and heard his father’s voice talking to his mother. He hurried down the stairs and put his head around the parlour door. Frank looked up from his paper and Alice stopped sewing.
    ‘You’re not goin’ out again, Danny?’ she