Open Writing

The woman was busy tending her vegetable garden when she noticed a boy leaning against her fence, watching her. He looked drained and droopy. She wondered if he was ill.

When he noticed the woman watching him, he tried to straighten up and move on, but he swayed and had to grab the fence to steady himself.

The woman dusted her hands on her apron and approached the boy.

“Hello. What’s the matter, are you ill?” Her kind, rosy face concerned.

“I be all right, Mistress. I be getting on……”

The woman could see that the boy was not all right. He was slight and skinny, with bony arms and legs, and ill-clad for such a cold grey day. His face was pale and there were mauve circles under his eyes; eyes that were dark pools in a bleak face.

The woman pitied him.

“Where are you off to, then lad?”

The boy looked like a runaway waif. He gathered himself together and said firmly, “I be off to London, Mistress.’’

“Oh, you are, are you? London is a long, long way from here.’’

“I know, Mistress, that’s why I best be on my way.”

“You’ll get nowhere fast in that state. boy. Are you ill?”

“Just tired. I be all right.”

“Come in and have a cup of tea with me first. The kettle is on the boil. Come on, pet.’’

Hunger and weariness getting the better of him, the boy slowly followed her into the house. The woman had been baking and there were scones and loaves of bread cooling on wire trays in the kitchen. She hid a smile when she saw his nose twitch. She sat him down at the kitchen table and gave him a big mug of sweet tea and a couple of scones. He ate hungrily and took several deep sips of the hot brew.

“Thanks, Mistress. I be better now.”

She tried to keep him with her for a while longer, asking “Why are you off to London, boy? What will your mother say? She will worry.”

The boy remained silent.

“Where are you from? Your Mam will be worried.’’

Reluctantly, the boy said “She knows, Mistress. She told me best I go.’’

“But why, little one? Why would she say that? How old are you?’’

“I be nearly thirteen.’’

The woman was surprised. She thought he was much younger. He looked so small and lost.

“Why?” she asked him again. He was silent for a long time, then said softly, “My father don’t like me. He wants me gone.”

“Your father!” the woman exclaimed, shocked.

The boy said hastily, “Not me own Da. Me Da died a while back. I have a new father. He married my mother and now he wants me gone.”

“But how can your Ma let you go alone like this?” asked the concerned woman.

“It be best, Mistress.” He obviously didn’t want to talk about it but she persisted.

“Your Ma will worry for you, lad”

“It’s all right, Mistress. I go to London get a job. Then I come back for me Ma. I promised her.”

Ah, London, the woman thought when she heard the word again from the boy. A magical place for lots of folk. She remembered going to London, wearing her new bonnet and best Sunday clothes. She hadn’t liked it. She was glad to get back to her home where was safe and snug and quiet in the country.

“It’s a big, grey, busy city, boy. I’ve been there, once. I was frightened. You will be frightened too, little thing like you. You could get lost in London. It’s not a safe place for a young boy like you.’’

She broke off when she saw the eagerness in his face, the proud tilt of the chin. She did not want to spoil his dream. He had to make his own way in the world. Perhaps he could succeed, but few made it in the great city.

When he got up to leave she reached into her kitchen cupboard, finding a tin box and took from it two coins which she gave to the boy. He was reluctant to accept the money.’’

“Take them,’’ she urged. “They may bring you luck.’’

She saw tears in his eyes as he thanked her.

“You are kind, Mistress. I won’t forget you. Maybe one day I will pay you back your shilling, and more.”

“You haven’t told me your name,’’ she said.

“Dick,’’ he said.

“Well goodbye Dick. And good fortune in London.’’

With that the boy was away, a small, determined figure, walking off down the track. Just before the curve he turned and waved, then he was gone from sight before she could wave back.