Free Far From Home by Anne Bennett Page A

spread out with newspapers and magazines and people just sitting reading them. A rather stern-looking young woman was behind the high polished wood counter, dressed in a pale blue blouse that buttoned to the neck and was decorated with a cameo brooch. ‘Can anyone do that?’ Sally asked tentatively.
    The woman smiled, which made her look much more human, as she asked, ‘Do what?’
    â€˜Sit in there,’ Sally said, pointing to the room. ‘And read the papers?
    â€˜Certainly, they can,’ the librarian told her. ‘That’s what it’s for. It’s our reading room.’
    Sally couldn’t remember a time when she had been able to sit and read unmolested. Even when she had been at school, homework was one thing, but when that was done, just reading was not a thing her mother had much time for – she would always find a job for Sally if she dared pick up a book. So to sit down in a warm room, ensconced in one of the leather chairs, spread out a paper or magazine on the shiny wooden table in front of her and start to read was a treat for her.
    She left when her stomach told her that it was near dinner-time and retraced her steps back to the flat and made tea and toast for herself as Kate had instructed her to do that morning before she’d left. Then she tidied everything up, picked up the shopping list and basket, bought the things for tea and had a meal waiting for Kate when she came in.
    Kate was grateful, and said so, and then as they sat together at the table, Sally told her about the reading room in Erdington Village Library where she had spent the morning. ‘You can take books out as well,’ Kate told her. ‘And keep two books for a fortnight. It is nice to have a book to read in the evening sometimes. In fact, I have two to return this Saturday.’
    â€˜I will probably be on my way home by then.’
    Kate nodded. ‘More than likely,’ she said. ‘Though ifMammy got the letter this morning, the earliest we could get a reply would be Wednesday.’
    â€˜Unless she sent a telegram?’
    â€˜No,’ Kate said with a definite shake of her head. ‘Mammy wouldn’t use a telegram. I imagine she has a heap of things to say to you and she could hardly do that on a telegram. Rest assured, Mammy will send a letter.’
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    However, Wednesday came and went, but on Thursday, just as soon as Sally went back into the house, after spending another morning at the reading room in Erdington Library, she saw the envelope lying on the hall table. Her stomach flipped over in nervousness and she carried it up to the flat as if it was hot and might burn her. It was addressed to Kate. How much Sally wanted to steam it open and read what her mother had to say, but she didn’t dare, and, though she kept herself busy, the hours seemed to drag till she heard Kate’s key in the lock.
    And then perversely she didn’t want Kate to open the letter and read the dreadful things she knew her mother would say about her. Kate saw her agitation and guessed the reason for it and she said gently, ‘We have to know, Sally. Tell you what, let’s leave the meal for now. Just make a cup of tea and we’ll eat when we know what’s in the letter.’
    However, Kate was as surprised as Sally at her mother’s words. She first spoke of her shock and outrage at what Sally had done, which Kate had expected.
    Though I soon knew where she had gone for though her scribbled note told me nothing, Dinny Malone, you know him from the rail bus booking office, saw your father passing through town that same day and told him of yon lass booking her passage to Strabane and telling him she was going to England to see her sister. He thought your father knew all about it though I know he would find it strange that there had been no word of it before. Of course your father knew nothing and was so taken by shock and surprise he had Dinny repeat the tale