Chapter 16 - Mrs Kilby

Meanwhile, back at my house, my mum was sick with worry. She knocked at Mrs Kilby’s house, next door, and was relieved that Mrs Kilby was in.

“I just called to see if you want a cuppa, Mrs K.”

Mrs Kilby smiled and ushered Mum in.

“Take a seat, Rene.” She pulled out one of the heavy oak, highly polished chairs and Rene sat down.

“I’ll make one for you instead,” said Mrs Kilby. “You look all in,” she added as she opened the small wall cupboard in the far corner of the room and took out two cups.

Rene burst into tears. “My Matty hasn’t come home yet.”

She took out a white handkerchief that was tucked in the sleeve of her dark-green sweater.

“There, there, Rene,” said Mrs Kilby, gently tapping her hand on Rene’s arm. “I’m sure he won’t be long now. He’s not a boy that’s disobedient.”

Mrs Kilby had been in the middle of making another rag rug when Rene called.

“I have a few more bits and pieces of old clothing,” said Rene, her eyes still streaming. “There will be enough to finish your rug off.” She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief again. “I will cut them into strips ready for pegging, and bring them around tomorrow.”

Mrs Kilby smiled, and nodded her head with gratitude.

Having our family living next door, popping in and out to her house, had been a great comfort to Mrs Kilby. Making rag rugs had also helped, as she met lots of other people who also enjoyed making them. Mrs Kilby and our family shared the same small backyard. Mum had to fetch water from the old pump in the corner of the yard for her as she couldn’t walk too well.

The bucket toilets we had were emptied every day by a man with a horse and cart. Every morning at five o’clock we could hear the sound of metal buckets clanking up and down our path. The stench followed the cart, I can tell you, but that didn’t stop the sewage men from whistling and singing. In fact, I think they liked the work. One of the men was called Ken. He would sing louder than the others and took no notice when he was told to be quiet. Let me say something else at this point about Ken. There was a small green called Peaches Corner near the causeway in my village, and some of us boys would get together there. This man, Ken, would sometimes be there on the wooden seat, head flopped backwards, absolutely drunk with loads of empty beer bottles around him on the grass, singing his heart out.

Rene decided to visit some of my friends’ houses, just to check I wasn’t there. She put on her headscarf and tucked in the last strands of her mousey hair.

‘I’ll just put a small amount of make-up on to hide the tears,’ she thought before going out.

Then she fed our black-and-white cat, Ted, before leaving. As she sat on the kitchen chair, she watched Ted eating his food. Her thoughts of me laughing and rolling on the floor with Ted and my dad, Reggie, left her tearful.

‘I must get out of the house,’ she thought.

She closed the front door behind her, and made her way to The Avenue.