Free East End Jubilee by Carol Rivers Page A

best to show you and get it over with. Now, come on,
don’t look so glum, it ain’t the end of the world. In fact it was a blessing Eddie’s trouble arose at this time ’cos no one’s bothered about the small fry. All they
want to see is the Queen and the Royal Family, dressed up to the nines.’
    But Rose turned and walked to the kitchen. ‘I know what that poor Elaine Dobson felt like now. No wonder she kept herself to herself.’
    ‘Yes, poor cow, she had a lot on her plate,’ Anita agreed. ‘But you’re not in the same league as the Dobsons. They were a rough lot.’
    ‘Even so my sympathies are with her.’
    Anita caught her arm. ‘Listen, your situation is different altogether and you want to remember that. Now fetch your coat and we’ll go up the market.’ She frowned at
Rose’s apron and slippers. ‘Blimey girl, you look like Mrs Mop.’
    Rose shook her arm free. ‘You walk on, Neet. We’ll catch up.’
    ‘No you won’t,’ Anita guessed. ‘You’ll stay in and mope all day.’
    ‘Hurry up, Mum!’ Alan called from the open front door. He was the older of Anita’s two sons and at fifteen looked smart in his white cotton poplin shirt, slim jim tie and dark
trousers. He had combed up a quiff of dark hair and plastered it with Brylcreem. Fourteen-year-old David looked round his brother’s shoulder and gave Rose a cheeky smile. He was an inch or
two shorter than Alan but in looks both were a replica of Benny.
    Donnie and Marlene came tumbling down the stairs. They paused to stare at the boys then ran to Rose. ‘David and Alan are coming with us,’ Donnie whispered excitedly. Rose knew she
had a crush on David.
    ‘You girls all ready?’ Anita asked and they nodded, looking back shyly towards the front door.
    ‘It seems I’m outnumbered,’ Rose said resignedly. ‘I’ll get me bag.’
    Five minutes later they were on their way. ‘Life has to go on,’ Anita was lecturing her as they went. It was a dry, fine morning and the two girls were laughing and giggling as they
walked ahead with the boys.
    ‘I know. I’m just feeling a bit sorry for meself,’ Rose admitted.
    ‘Your Eddie wouldn’t want you upset. Put it out of your head for now, Rose.’
    Rose wanted to make the effort. It was a lovely morning and she didn’t intend to be a misery. ‘Your Alan is shooting up,’ she said, looking at the two solid frames of the young
teenagers striding out in front.
    ‘He’s costing us a fortune in trousers. Our Dave has always worn his brother’s but soon he’ll want his own.’
    Rose wondered how long it would be before Donnie asked for new clothes. Girls were more advanced than boys. In a couple of years she wouldn’t appreciate Rose’s hand-sewn
garments.
    ‘They look very smart.’
    ‘We had a real row over clothes the other day. Alan only favours these horrible new trousers called drainpipes. I told him if he thinks I’m buying that rubbish for him he’s got
another think coming. He’ll be wearing those ’orrible crêpe-soled shoes and gaudy ankle socks next. Or one of them long coats with the velvet collars that you see around
nowadays.’
    Rose nodded. ‘Don’t they call themselves Teddy Boys after King Edward VII, I think it was, who started the fashion?’
    ‘Yeah and what an idiot he must have looked.’
    Rose smiled. ‘Oh, I can’t see Alan as one of them.’
    ‘Give him half a chance and he’d be standing on the corner combing that damn quiff until it fell off his bloody head.’
    ‘Boys will be boys.’
    ‘Tell me about it.’
    The market stalls came into sight and Rose gave Donnie and Marlene a few pennies. They ran off and the two boys turned to their mother. ‘We’ll see you later then,’ Alan said,
grinning at two pretty girls who gave them the eye as they passed.
    ‘Make sure you do.’ Anita folded her arms across her chest and threw her sons a frown as they disappeared after the girls. ‘I don’t trust either of them further than I
could