Nutty grinned. ‘Well now you know you might as well come along o’ me and see if anyone on Paddy’s Market needs a young fellow what’s quick and honest and hard-workin’. Or you could try the Great Homer Street lot.’ He looked up at the sky. ‘Looks like it’s goin’ to be a fine day, even though it’s cold,’ he said encouragingly. ‘Aw, c’mon, Jimmy. I bet Mrs Apply would be happy for you to help with deliveries.’ He paused, looking with renewed curiosity at his friend. ‘Where’s that kid sister of yourn? It ain’t often you see one without t’other; young Mo ain’t never far from your side. But acourse, knowin’ old Ma Huxtable, you’ll have taken care neither of you gets within swipin’ distance for a while yet. I reckon you’ve already got yourself a job an’ Mo’s holdin’ it for you while you find out about yesterday. That’s why you didn’t jump at the chance of a delivery job.’ He winked and patted the side of his nose with his forefinger as the two of them slid off the pile of orange boxes and set out along the Scotland Road. ‘Am I right?’

Jimmy sighed. So much for hoping to keep Nutty in the dark. He might have known his friend would guess what was up; best tell him what had happened, swear him to secrecy and pray to God that he kept it to himself.

Nutty was staring at him, his sandy eyebrows gradually climbing. ‘You can trust me, old feller,’ he said rather reproachfully as the two lads fell into step and headed for the markets. ‘Have I ever let you down? Have you ever known me blab? But we’d best gerra move on or we’ll neither of us have a job, ’cos Mrs Apply expects me to turn up just as soon as there’s light enough to tell a Brazil from a walnut.’

They had reached Great Homer Street and Jimmy was opening his mouth to admit that he and Mo would be working at one of the second-hand clothing stalls when Nutty gave a crow of triumph. ‘It’s awright, me old pal, you don’t have to say a word. I see Mo behind Harry Theaker’s stall, so I reckon you’ll be workin’ there once the customers start to come.’ He looked curiously at his friend. ‘What’ll you do for Christmas Day, old feller? You won’t want to go back to number four and the market will pack up, so no hope of a Christmas dinner there. But I’m sure me mam would let you come to our place. She’s bought a leg of pork, a big bag of sprouts and the nicest taters we’ve seen for a long while. There’s seven of us, but I reckon it’ll feed nine. What say, Jim old mate?’

Jimmy smothered a sigh. ‘Thanks very much; that’s real kind of you, and I’d love to accept but I dursen’t,’ he said regretfully. ‘We’ll not be coming near nor by Solomon Court until Cyril’s ship sails, and him with it. You don’t know what he’s like, honest to God you don’t. He near on broke young Mo’s arm last time he were home because he reckoned I’d took his share of a pie the old girl had bought cheap from Sample’s. If he thinks either one of us had anything to do with his fall, he’ll take it out on our hides.’