Chapter 57: Linda Booth

Ashford: Sunday, October 12th

‘Linda. Is Linda in?’

Jack pushed past Ted, shouting for her.

‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ Linda ran down the stairs, pulling on her cardigan over her uniform. ‘I thought you were going back tonight.’ It looked as though he was; Jack was in full uniform even if he wasn’t as smart as usual.

‘You have to come.’ There were tears ready to spill over. He passed his hand over his short hair, agitated.

‘What’s wrong? I’m due in work in an hour.’

‘It’s William, he needs you.’

‘William?’ In the lounge, Ellen twisted around on the settee. ‘Our William! Why? What’s happened?’ She stood up.

‘There’s been an accident.’ Jack was tugging at Linda’s arm.

‘Whoa, steady on, lad.’ Ted put his palm on Jack’s chest. ‘What’s going on?’

‘William got in a fight.’

‘Never.’

‘It wasn’t his fault.’ Jack wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘It just happened.’

‘Where is he?’ Ted went into the hall and took his jacket from the stand.

‘At his girlfriend’s.’

‘Which is where?’ Looking up at Jack, Ted shoved his foot into his shoe.

‘I told you to find out where he’d gone!’ Ellen jumped up, screaming at Ted. ‘I told you!’

‘Be quiet, Ellen. And turn that bloody thing off. I don’t know why you’re watching it.’

‘I like Stars on Sunday.’ Ellen muttered, crossing to the television where Jess Yates’ face filled the screen.

‘You’re arguing about a TV programme at a time like this?’ Linda stared at them; she’d never heard her father speak to her mum like that. She turned to Jack. ‘How is William hurt?’ she asked. ‘I‘ll need to know what to bring.’

Jack looked from one to the other. He gulped, swallowing. ‘He’s been stabbed.’

‘What?’ Ted straightened up.

‘Oh, my God!’ Ellen slumped onto the settee.

‘How bad?’

‘I don’t know.’ Jack touched his shoulder. ‘Here. He’s bleeding.’

Ellen gave a loud wail.

‘Okay,’ Linda said, ‘I’ll get some things.’ She opened a cupboard in the sideboard and took out a box. ‘This is only a first aid kit, though. We’ll need to get him to the hospital.’

‘No! No hospital!’ Jack shouted. ‘William said we hadn’t to call for an ambulance. No hospital.’

‘Why?’ Linda was hurrying to the door. When she looked at him he bowed his head, shamefaced. ‘It’s you he had the fight with,’ she said, thinking she understood.

‘No.’

She turned from him. ‘Get the van, Dad.’

‘I’ve got his bike,’ Jack said, ‘William said for you to get there on his bike. It’s faster.’

Linda was astride the bike and holding on to Jack as Ted slammed the front door of the house.

‘What’s the address?’ Ted asked.

‘Two Bridge Street, Bradlow. Same street as the new supermarket, Payless,’ Jack yelled, opening the throttle. The bike lurched and wobbled before he regained some control of it and rode cautiously away.

‘I’ll follow in the van,’ Ted shouted after them, watching which way they turned onto Shaw Street.

‘I’ll come.’ Ellen had flung open the door and was on the step shoving her arms into her coat.

‘No, Ellen, you stay here. And ring Patrick and Jean. Jack was supposed to be reporting back to his regiment tonight. They’ll need to know he hasn’t got there. Though what they’ll tell the Army I wouldn’t know.’ He stopped to put his arms around her. ‘I’m sorry I shouted at you, love.’ He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth.

‘Bring him home safe, Ted. Bring our son back to me.’