Free On Mother Brown's Doorstep by Mary Jane Staples Page A

restin’ it,’ said Annie.
    ‘Yes, but where is it, upstairs on your bed?’ asked Will.
    ‘No, it’s at the doctor’s,’ said Annie, and Cassie burped a giggle she’d tried to suppress. Charlie grinned.
    ‘What’s it doin’ at the doctor’s?’ asked Will. ‘Havin’ an operation?’
    Nellie spluttered.
    ‘Annie, you’ve got it behind you,’ she said.
    Annie lowered it, and Will saw both legs then. Annie’s eyes danced, and she laughed.
    ‘Caught you there,’ she said.
    ‘Feelin’ better, are we?’ said Will.
    ‘She was ’aving you on, Will,’ said Charlie, ‘she said she’d give me an’ Cassie what for if we let on.’
    ‘Well, it’s my turn to laugh today,’ said Annie.
    Charlie said how’s your father to Will, and then told Annie he’d got to go out and bash Georgie Simmonds. He owed him one on his conk. Annie told him to stay where he was or she’d tie him up. Cassie asked Will if he’d just come from guarding the Tower of London. Will said no, that was a job for the Beefeaters.
    ‘’Ere, ’ave yer fired yer rifle a lot?’ asked Charlie.
    ‘Now and again,’ said Will.
    ‘Christmas,’ breathed Charlie, ‘ow many blokes ’ave yer shot dead?’
    ‘I hit an Indian elephant once,’ said Will.
    ‘Crikey,’ said Cassie, ‘did it fall down?’
    ‘No, it hit me back,’ said Will.
    ‘Oh, did it squash yer flat?’ asked Cassie in awe.
    ‘’Fraid so,’ said Will, ‘but I’m gradually fillin’ out.’
    Nellie let out a yell of laughter. Annie smiled.
    ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ she asked.
    ‘Thanks,’ said Will.
    Nellie brought a cup and saucer.
    ‘What’s in yer parcel?’ asked Cassie of Will.
    ‘Cassie, don’t be nosy,’ said Annie, pouring the tea.
    ‘But it might be the Crown Jewels,’ said Nellie, ‘’e might be mindin’ them.’
    ‘Cor, talk about bein’ up the pole,’ said Charlie.
    ‘You can sit down,’ said Annie to Will, ‘if you’d be so kind.’
    ‘Yes, Annie’s honoured you’ve come and asked after ’er,’ said Nellie.
    ‘Let’s see,’ said Will, ‘who’s got a vase?’
    ‘Oh, the Queen’s got lots,’ said Cassie.
    ‘Well, can you ask her to lend us one?’ said Will, unwrapping the daffodils and offering them to Annie. The golden blooms were a bright splash of colour against her dress. Annie stared.
    ‘Oh,’ she said.
    ‘Just to make up for dumpin’ you in the pushcart,’ said Will.
    ‘They’re for me?’ she gasped.
    ‘They just need a vase and some water,’ said Will, and Annie took the bunch and blinked at them. Will thought she looked very appealing in her surprise and uncertainty.
    ‘Oh, ain’t they lovely?’ said Nellie, and dashed to the parlour. She came back with a tall vase and half-filled it with water from the scullery tap. She put the vase on the mantelpiece and took the long-stemmed daffodils from Annie, who for once looked as if she didn’t quite know where she was. Nellie placed the blooms in the vase and spread them out. ‘Look, Annie, ain’t they a picture?’
    ‘Yes, they’re lovely,’ said Annie, feeling all funny. Funny nice, of course.
    Noting that Annie, vigorous in chastising him for some of his antics, didn’t seem all there, Charlie said, ‘I ain’t keen on flowers meself, I think I’ll go an’ bash a hole in a wall with Georgie Simmonds’ ’ead.’ And he vanished before Annie knew he was even on his feet.
    Will, drinking his tea, said, ‘You girls managin’? Is there anything I can do? Old soldiers like me can be useful.’
    ‘Old?’ Annie came out of not being quite herself. ‘Old?’ she said. ‘How can you be old?’
    ‘The Army puts years on blokes.’
    ‘Well, it’s not put any on you,’ said Annie.
    ‘Don’t you believe it,’ said Will, ‘I’m nearly a hundred in a way.’
    ‘What way?’ asked Annie.
    ‘Mrs Potter’s nearly an ’undred,’ said Cassie.
    ‘There you are, then,’ said Will, ‘some people do get to be that old.’
    ‘You’re