Free East End Jubilee by Carol Rivers

from.’
    ‘Only Eddie can enlighten you on that score,’ Anita remarked dryly.
    ‘It’s a large amount of money.’
    Anita nodded, calculating swiftly. ‘Five hundred quid ain’t chicken feed and that’s the truth. It could feed you, pay your rent and settle all your bills for a year and still
leave you plenty left over.’
    Rose looked up. ‘Some of it must be the Parkers’.’
    Anita scowled. ‘You and your conscience, Rose Weaver. You gotta put your family first now.’
    ‘I don’t want people to think Eddie swindled them. By rights fifty pounds is theirs.’
    ‘You’re not thinking of giving the money back?’ Anita sucked in a sharp breath.
    Rose chewed on her lip. ‘There would still be plenty left.’
    Anita sighed and lifted her hands. ‘Well, I don’t know what Eddie would say about that. And anyway, won’t questions be asked as to where you got the money to give to
them?’
    Rose shrugged. ‘I’ll just say that after giving the matter some thought and as a gesture of goodwill, I’m returning the money they gave to Eddie.’
    They lapsed into silence,staring at the radiogram under which was hidden Eddie’s treasure. After a while Anita glanced at the wooden clock on the mantel. ‘I gotta go. Will you be all
right?’
    Rose nodded. ‘Are you cycling today?’
    ‘No, bussing it. Me back’s playing up.’
    ‘You should rest more.’
    Anita laughed coarsely. ‘Yeah, in me dreams. But I’m off tomorrow. We’ll have a nice long chat on the way to market. You are still coming, aren’t you?’
    Rose shrugged. ‘I suppose so.’ They always walked to Cox Street market on Saturday mornings to buy cheap veg and meat for the week.
    ‘I’ll take that as a yes.’
    At the front door Rose leaned forward and kissed her friend on the cheek.
    Anita looked surprised. ‘What’s that for?’
    ‘For listening to me.’
    Her friend smiled. ‘You’ve done the same for me often enough.’
    ‘We’re lucky to have you and Benny as friends.’
    Anita shook her head. ‘Do you remember when we first moved back to Ruby Street after our Dad died? Everyone gave us a wide berth, ’cos they classed Benny as black. And it
wasn’t until Eddie took my old man to The Lock and warned everyone they’d have to answer to him if they didn’t drink with Benny, that things changed. Your Eddie had the courage of
his convictions. We won’t forget that in a hurry.’
    Eddie’s generous nature was why Rose loved her husband so much. He treated everyone the same. He was first to approach the Indian family who moved into the Dobsons’ house two years
ago, when he’d marched down there one Saturday morning, knocked on the door and took Mr Patel’s hand. He didn’t care about colour or creed. As long as a person returned the time
of day, Eddie was happy. Just like the Parkers. Eddie hadn’t cared they were the odd couple. Rose knew he’d felt sorry for them too, just as she had.
    Rose waved goodbye. Her gaze went to Marlene and Donnie playing marbles in the street. She was filled with a love for her family that went deeper than anything she had ever known before. Despite
all their troubles, she believed in her husband’s innocence; he was an honest man and somehow she would prove it.

Chapter Five
    Anita called round on Saturday morning. ‘Did you buy yesterday’s Evening Gazette ?’ she demanded immediately.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Then you’d better see this.’ She produced a folded single sheet of newspaper and handed it over. ‘I’ve had it in my purse to show you.’
    Rose read the two short lines. ‘Oh, Neet!’
    ‘Well, it ain’t very much. Just what the charges were and that Eddie’s been remanded in custody. Not exactly headlines, love. Luckily they’re still banging on about the
Coronation.’
    ‘Do you think everyone round here read it?’ Rose asked dejectedly.
    ‘Everyone knew anyway.’ Anita replaced the cutting in her shopping bag before Rose could agonize again. ‘I thought it was