Free Shoes for Anthony by Emma Kennedy

eerie darkness which closes on the brain is a subject that often amuses me. Tonight, I bring a guest, Mr Gideon Barton, to tell you all about it. He’s here with me now, eyeglasses on a black ribbon, his face pinched and drawn, and when he tells you about the horrors that unfold, we shall satisfy our promise to bring you
…’
    A sudden, dramatic chord belted out from the wireless.
    â€˜Oh!’ cried out Bopa from the kitchen. ‘Makes me jump every time!’
    â€˜
An Appointment with Fear!
’
    A surge of dramatic strings punctuated the gloom, followed by a single, tolling bell.
    â€˜
It was a grim business
…’
    â€˜I’ll just go sit with Mam,’ I mumbled.
    Bopa and Mam were sitting on wooden chairs by the back kitchen fire. It wasn’t as comfy as the parlour, but was as good a gossiping spot as any. Father would only speak when he had something important to say, but Bopa had an endless capacity for chit-chat, and Mam loved to listen.
    â€˜
Where am I
?’ the voice of a young woman, agitated, cried out from the wireless behind me. ‘
My head feels queer and I want to cry
.’
    â€˜You were right, Anthony,’ said Bopa, balancing her teacup on her forearm. ‘Thomas Evans fractured his ankle. That’s twice in two months. He’s had another cast put on. Doctor reckons it was the same place as before. Hadn’t healed proper, like. It’s the lack of red meat. That, and being a right little bastard.’
    â€˜Bopa!’ said Mam, stifling a laugh.
    â€˜Well,’ said Bopa. ‘Thomas Evans. He’s an absolute terror. If it turns out it was him stealing the ration books, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. I watched him once, up the veg patches taking bites out of tomatoes. Didn’t pick them off and eat the whole thing like a normal person. Took bites out of them. Like a maggot. He’s not normal. I don’t know why you like him, Anthony.’
    I gave a shrug and leant against the kitchen table.
    â€˜
This isn’t an ordinary cell
,’ an older woman’s voice rang out. ‘
This is the condemned cell. They’re going to hang you in the morning.
’
    A terrible scream filled the room.
    â€˜I wish they’d turn that down a bit,’ said Bopa, with a shiver. ‘I’m going back to an empty house, later!’
    â€˜Might not be empty for long. Bethan reckons there’ll be Americans billeted round the valley,’ said Mam, wrapping a strand of wool around her finger. ‘P’raps you’ll end up with one? Be nice company.’
    â€˜Or more. I’ve got room for at least two. Maybe three if I have one bunk up with me!’ She gave a wink. ‘Can you imagine! Ha!’ She threw her head back and gave a deep, throaty laugh.
    â€˜Pipe down in there, you two!’ shouted Alwyn. ‘We’re trying to listen!’
    Bopa raised her eyebrows and leant in to whisper, ‘You know what they say about Americans, though, Em. Gangsters. The lot of ’em. With their rough talk and swaggering ways. We’ll have to have our wits about us. Make sure they don’t take us for Indians. Try and kill us.’
    â€˜That’s cowboys,’ I said.
    Bopa nudged Mam. ‘Cowboys,’ she said. ‘That’s it. We’ll have to get Ant to whittle us a bow and arrow. Protect ourselves, like.’ She laughed again.
    I drifted back towards the parlour. Bethan was sitting on the floor, clutching a cushion to her chest. Alwyn was on the sofa, leaning forwards, his head resting in an upturned hand. Father melted into the back of his chair, his fingers locked together, his eyes fixed on the fire.
    â€˜
Got herself mixed up with a thorough-going swine called Philip Gayle. Threw her over for a woman with money. They argued, he chased her out. She took a revolver, told him to beg for mercy. He raised his arms, she shot him. Cold and callous, in a way only a woman can be.