Polly slowly walked back to the house, hugging her clothes to her body. She dug through her pockets looking for the keys, stopping suddenly when she saw a young boy stood outside the house.
"Excuse me?" he asked, "i'm looking for someone called Elizabeth Gray"
She froze.
"I was told she lived here at number 17" he took his cap off, fixing his hair. "I came last night but nobody was here"
"So i waited"
"What do you want with Elizabeth Gray?" she asked, her heart rate increasing. "I think she might be my mother"
The keys fell from Polly's hands. Micheal quickly knelt down, picking them up.
-
Tommy, Arthur and John sat inside the snug, Lottie reading a newspaper. Men lined up inside the Garrison.
"Next" Finn shouted.
A sheepish looking boy walked in, hat on his head. He took the hat off, looking at them.
"All right then" Arthur sat straight. "Name?" John asked. "Digbeth Kid" he nodded.
"The Dig-" Arthur began, looking over at John and Lottie.
"What are you, a boxer?" he asked. "Digbeth Kid like Billy the kid" The boy nodded. John stifled a laugh.
"Spend a lot of time at the pictures, eh?" Tom asked. "Cowboy pictures? Tom mix? Yeah?"
He nodded slowly. He pulled his jacket back, holding a gun. Lottie pulled the knife from her boot, Arthur getting ready to pull his gun.
"Wait, wait" he put his hand up, "it's not a real gun"
Lottie lowered her knife, frowning.
"Let's have a look then, eh?" Tommy stood, "Its made of wood" he told them. Tommy took it from the boys pocket.
He chuckled, pointing it at Arthur. "Very nice" Tom nodded. "Where did you get the gun belt"
"My sister made it out of an old blacksmith's apron" he held his hat tightly. "Mum did most the stitching"
"More than what i can do" Lottie sniggered, looking back at the newspaper.
"She's not my real mum, but"
"She does what mothers do" Tommy finished his sentence. "So she made you a gun belt"
"All right there mothers boy" Arthur interrupted. "There's the door on you to, we're looking-"
Tommy stopped him.
"You ever been arrested"
The boy shook his head. "Good"
"Your the first bloke we've had in here without a criminal record. Arthur we can stand him up"
"You know what that means?"
He shook his head again. "The new home secretary wants something done, about an illegal gambling"
"Damn right" John put out his cigarette. "So we help our coppers make their convictions by having men stood up to be arrested"
"Oh come on" Lottie scoffed.
"First offence you'll get a week inside, we'll give you five quid for your troubles"
"How does that sound cowboy?"
"Yeah" the boy nodded. "Good"
"Write your address down for Finn on your way out" Tommy instructed. "I can't write" he admitted. "It's alright Finn can't read" John told him.
"Don't worry, tell him your address, we'll send someone round"
"If..the sheriff don't run you out of town first" John joked. The boy walked out.
"He was interested" Lottie nodded.
-
Polly poured a cup of tea for Micheal. "How was it?" she asked. "I was starving, haven't eaten anything" he nodded.
"But really it was super"
"Super" she repeat his words, smiling. "So, are you a cook?" he asked. "Not a cook no"
"The man who came to the house, was driving a posh car, he looks rich"
"What does he do?"
"Works with horses" Polly lied. "Really?" Micheal asked. "I love horses" he added. "I've got a bay mare"
"No" she stopped him. "I ride it all the time" he smiled. "Then it's in the blood"
"Our Lottie will love you" she placed a hand over his. "Lottie?" he tilted his head. "Youngest niece," she told him.
"I've got about a million questions" he admitted.
"So do i"
"I've had different pictures in my head," he said. "Well here i am," she looked away, "it's okay that it's me, isn't it?" she asked.
"I don't have any choice" he joked. "You are who you are aren't you"
"We don't chose"
"Yeah that's right. God gave you to me. People took you away, and it is alright that it's me? Isn't it? In a place like this"
"I thought it'd be worse"
She laughed slightly.
"Run for the hills, it's Digbeth Kid" Arthur burst in, rubbing after John. "Get out of town kid or i will shoot your fucking head off" John joked.
Arthur pretended to shoot him and Johns eyes landed on the boy stood before them.
"You didn't go down John" Arthur said, then turning to what John was looking at. Lottie examined the boy, wondering who he was.
"This is Micheal" Tommy said as his brothers hid their laughs, putting the guns away.
"Your cousin, Polly's son"
Micheal stepped forward, putting his hand out for them to shake.
"Pleased to meet you"
"I'm Arthur you won't remember, you've met me. I used to throw you out the window so John could catch you" he teased.
"I used to put you in a shoe box and kick you down Watery Lane" John added.
"I bet your glad to be back" Tommy said.
"Welcome to the family" Lottie smiled.
The boys walked out, Lottie remained with Micheal and Polly. "They seem nice" he said.
Lottie took a seat.
"Nice suit" she smiled, "you like Small Heath?" she asked.
"It's..different" he nodded.
"Not nice is it?" she asked, "there's worse" he laughed.
-
"Polly said you own this place. A lot of businesses" Micheal followed Tommy through the pub. "You call her Polly or mum?"
"Can't get used to calling her mum yet"
Tommy sighed. "Who you calling?" he asked. "My mother."
"What are you gonna tell her"
"Where i am,"
"And now you're gonna tell her you going home" Tommy told him. "Polly said i could stay for a few days"
"You want to stay?"
"I only just arrived"
"What age are you Micheal?"
"Seventeen"
"Same age as our Lottie. Which means it's not up to you, right" Tommy said. "I'm eighteen in a few weeks i make up my own mind"
"You smoke?"
He shook his head.
"Drink?"
"No"
"You're gonna call your mother, tell her you're getting the next train home. When you get there write a letter to Polly saying when your 18 you'll come back here"
"I just told you" Micheal stopped him. "I make up my own mind"