returning to his comic, but Charlie had fewer inhibitions and swung from the table, making a beeline for Ernie. ‘What’s that on your leg, Ernie? Are you a pirate?’
Ernie tried to melt against Sally as he shook his head.
‘I’ve got a bad leg too,’ said Charlie, pointing to a graze on his knee. ‘Got it wrestling a shark.’
‘Charlie, don’t fib,’ said Peggy, as she took off her coat, fur and hat and tied on her apron. ‘And leave poor Ernie alone. Can’t you see he’s tired and out of sorts?’
‘Aw, Mum. Can’t I show him my treasure?’ He didn’t wait for a reply, and turned back to Ernie. ‘D’you like pirates? I’ve got a whole box of treasure downstairs. Want to have a look?’
Ernie relaxed his hold on Sally’s coat. ‘Pirate treasure?’
Charlie nodded. ‘I’ve even got a skull,’ he breathed. ‘D’you want to see it?’
‘A skull?’ Ernie forgot to be shy, and his eyes widened as he took a step towards Charlie. ‘A real one?’
‘It’s from a dead fox,’ muttered Bob. ‘There’re loads up on the hills. Granddad finds them all the time.’
Charlie rolled his eyes. ‘I never said it was a human skull,’ he said in exasperation. ‘Do you wanna see it, Ernie?’
‘I dunno.’ Ernie shot a glance up at Sally, who nodded encouragement.
‘Aw, come on. It’s only downstairs …’ He looked at Ernie’s leg, suddenly not so certain of himself. ‘I suppose I could bring it up,’ he said hesitantly, ‘but …’
‘I ain’t a cripple,’ muttered Ernie. ‘A few old stairs don’t bother me.’
Sally was about to intervene when Ron took charge. ‘But why walk when you can get a lift? Will you be trusting me to take you down there into the dungeon, Ernie?’
Ernie eyed him warily. It was clear to Sally that he was longing to see the skull, but was rather daunted by the old man who was now looming over him.
‘Sure, and it’ll not take a minute, and you might find you even enjoy it. Are ye man enough to sit on me shoulders, Ernie?’
Ernie giggled and took a hesitant step towards him. The last time he’d ridden on a man’s shoulders it had been his father’s.
Ron’s eyes twinkled and he winked at Sally before bending down and swinging little Ernie on to his broad shoulders. ‘Right, me hearties,’ he cried, as the child squealed with a mixture of terror and delight and clutched at his hair, ‘let’s be going in search of Charlie’s plunder.’ He ducked as he reached the entrance to the basement steps. ‘Mind your head, there, shipmate!’
‘You’ll have to excuse him,’ said Peggy in a fluster, as Ron and the boys thundered down to the cellar. ‘He means no harm, but I sometimes wonder if he’s ever grown up.’
Sally’s smile was nervous. ‘He will look after him proper, won’t ’e? Only Ernie ain’t strong.’
Peggy set the kettle on the hob. ‘Ron knows what he’s doing, dear. Ernie will come to no harm with him.’
‘Mum’s right,’ said Anne, closing the last of the exercise books with a thankful sigh. ‘Granddad’s the best playmate any child could have, but I should warn you, Sally, he’ll get all of them into mischief.’
Sally had little doubt of it but, as she returned Anne’s smile, she realised how nice she was, and wondered if they could become friends despite the differences in age and background. She glanced round the homely kitchen and took off her coat. It was wonderfully warm in here. ‘Can I help with anything, Mrs Reilly?’
‘Bless you, no. Everything’s almost done, and once Cissy gets back, we can eat.’
‘That’s your other daughter, ain’t it?’
Peggy nodded as she set out cups and saucers and filled the warmed teapot. ‘Cissy’s a year older than you, so I’m hoping you’ll get on. But she’s a strange one, and takes a bit of getting used to.’ She sat down, pulled a packet of Park Drive out of her apron pocket and lit up the first of the two cigarettes she allowed herself each day.
Sally sat beside her, intrigued. ‘Strange?’
Anne closed the bulging briefcase and set it on the floor before she too lit a cigarette. ‘What Mum means is that although Cicely works in Woolworths on the High Street, she’s convinced her destiny lies in Hollywood.’ She laughed softly, and shook her head, making her shining hair bounce on her shoulders. ‘She spends hours in front of the mirror and makes the house shake when she practises her dance routines.’
Peggy poured the tea. ‘Cissy models herself