Free Love Changes Everything by Rosie Harris Page B

Fred.’
    â€˜I suppose I’ll have to do it even though hardly any of the women seem to want me to be the one looking after their dosh,’ Trixie said gloomily. ‘It’s where I’m going to keep it that worries me, so if you get any bright ideas then let me know.’
    â€˜Tell you what, when you bring Cilla round on Saturday to see my mum, why don’t you ask her?’ Ivy suggested as they parted outside the factory gates.
    â€˜Why don’t you ask her then she’ll have time to think about it and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that she’ll come up with a solution, because I’m worried silly about it,’ Trixie called after her.

Chapter Seven
    â€˜Don’t forget when you bring Cilla round this afternoon to ask my mum what she thinks you should do with the money,’ Ivy reminded Trixie as they left the factory on Saturday at midday. ‘By the way, what have you done with it in the meantime?’
    â€˜Tied it up in my hanky and put it down the front of my blouse,’ Trixie told her, patting her chest.
    â€˜So what are you going to tell your dad if he asks you where it is?’
    â€˜I’m hoping to be out of the house and on my way to see you before he gets home.’ Trixie grinned.
    She would have managed it, she reflected later, if she hadn’t stopped to change into a clean blouse.
    â€˜Well, come on then, girl, where’s all the money that Fred handed over to you for safe keeping?’ her dad greeted her as she came out of the bedroom.
    For a moment she was too taken aback to answer. She’d been thinking about it, ever since Fred Linacre had handed her the pile of sixpences and warned her to ‘guard them with her life’.
    She knew he was being sarcastic but his words had left her shaking. It was such a responsibility. Ten shillings was quite a bit more than she received in wages each week and she couldn’t help thinking about all the wonderful things that she could buy with it if it had been hers to keep.
    Out of the corner of her eye Trixie saw that her mother had come into the room carrying Cilla dressed ready to go out. She hoped she wouldn’t try to interfere because she was sure it would make things worse.
    She’d thought of saying that Fred had it but that was rather risky as her dad was cunning enough to ask Fred and if he found out she’d been lying then he’d belt her, there was no doubt about that, and Fred would also know that she told lies.
    When she’d changed blouses she’d made sure it was still safely stored there and now, as she faced her dad, she was scared in case his sharp eyes could see the bulge it was making.
    â€˜I’m in a hurry, I promised to meet a friend at three o’clock,’ she prevaricated as she reached towards the clothes horse for the piece of old sheeting that they used to cover the faded mattress in the pram. She’d washed it out the night before. She’d intended to iron it but it was too late for that now, and if she stretched it really tight over the mattress she hoped that would get rid of the creases.
    â€˜Stop fiddling about and listen when I’m talking to you,’ her father growled, snatching the piece of cloth out of her hands. His face was thunderous and she backed away from the overpowering smell of beer and cigarettes that enveloped her as he spoke. ‘Where’s the bloody money? I told you I’d look after it!’
    â€˜I know you did, Dad, but I think Fred expected me to do it myself,’ she said quietly. ‘Like you said when I told you about it, he’s probably testing me out to see if I can do it, and for your sake, I don’t want to let him down.’
    Sam Jackson’s eyes narrowed. ‘You taking the bloody mickey, my girl?’
    â€˜It is what you said, Sam,’ Maggie Jackson said quickly. ‘Give her a chance to see if she can do it, then if she can’t, I’m sure