Read Online Two Strangers by Beryl Matthews - Free Book Online Page A

Now, you’ll need a young girl to train and help you.’ Bob pursed his lips. ‘The choice is obvious, and that means I’ll have to advertise for a lad for the shop. Doesn’t it?’
    ‘Ah, you’ve noticed.’
    ‘Of course I have.’ Bob shook his head. ‘And so has everyone else, but we’ve kept our mouths shut. I believe she’s sixteen now, and it shows. How desperate the poor little thing must have been. How are we going to get round this, Flo?’

    Flo sighed. ‘I don’t know. I’ve felt several times she was on the point of telling me, but each time she’s backed off. Let’s leave it a while longer and see if she comes to us. The last thing I want us to do is frighten her and make her run away. If she does that, we might never find her again, and I couldn’t bear that to happen.’
    ‘Nor me. I think it would help if we make it clear we are offering her a job with you in the new shop. But it would be easier if she came and told us herself.’
    Flo nodded. ‘I believe she will.’
    ‘I hope you’re right.’ Bob stood up at the sharp rap on the side door. ‘That will be Harry. I asked him to drop round.’
    ‘Just in time for lunch.’ Flo smiled in amusement. ‘I swear he can smell the cooking right up the road. Good job I always cook too much.’
    ‘Well, he might have to pay for his dinner this time because I’m thinking of asking him to help in the shop until I can get a new lad.’ Laughing, Bob went down to let his friend in.
    ‘Smells lovely in here,’ Harry said, kissing Flo on the cheek as soon as he walked in.
    ‘Yes, you can stay for lunch.’ Flo poured him a cup of tea from the ever-ready teapot. ‘Sit down and tell us what you’ve been up to.’
    ‘Thanks.’ Harry looked round. ‘Isn’t your little helper in today, Bob?’
    ‘Gone to the market to do a bit of Christmas shopping, but he’ll be back in time for lunch. He isn’t in the habit of spending money, though. We know he’s been saving every penny possible.’
    Harry nodded. ‘Terrified about being turned out again, I expect.’
    ‘That will never happen,’ Flo declared forcefully. ‘We were never blessed with children, and we’ve come to love her like our own.’
    Harry narrowed his eyes. ‘You said her . Has she spoken to you, then?’
    ‘That was a slip of the tongue. I must be more careful.’ Flo regarded Harry with suspicion. ‘How long have you known?’

    ‘The moment I set eyes on her. As soon as Bob told me about his helper, I went to a pub I know in Poplar and got talking to some of the locals. When I brought up the subject of a young boy who had been turned out to fend for himself, they hadn’t heard of one, but they told me about a fourteen-year-old girl. Evidently, her brute of a father just kicked her out. As soon as I saw her I knew she was that girl.’
    ‘Why didn’t you tell us, Harry?’ Bob demanded.
    ‘Because deceiving you is worrying her, and she intends to tell you herself.’ Harry drained his cup, put it down and sighed. ‘I asked her why she was doing this, and she said it had been impossible to get a job because she was a girl, so she did the only thing possible and dressed as a boy. She was desperate.’
    Bob’s mouth set in a grim line. ‘The kid who came into our shop that day was just skin and bones, and could hardly stand up. But what courage! We saw what it took for her to just stay on her feet, and it was a relief to see her slowly gain in strength. How could a man do that to his own child?’
    ‘There are some bastards around. From the tales I was told about her father, he must be nothing short of a monster.’
    ‘I don’t doubt that, Harry.’ Flo refilled their cups. ‘For the time being, though, we must go back to thinking and referring to her as Jim. When he’s ready he will tell us, and until then we mustn’t even give a hint that we know.’
    ‘That’s best,’ Harry agreed, ‘but remember, that kid is very frightened. He thinks the world of you both,