As she picked up her pace and ran along the corridor, Sarah looked behind her and caught a glimpse of her mother hard on their heels, hand raised in the air, ready to lash out with the cane. It was the last thing she saw before she turned and fled down the stairs, gasping with relief when her mum didn’t follow, but her foul language echoed down the stairwell as she threatened to shred the skin off their backs if they dared to come back.

Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she vowed never to return to her mother’s flat again.

Chapter 7

Annie paced the floor. Her daughter had really messed things up for her this time. She had no gin, no money and no customers. She knew it would be pointless to go begging to Cyril as he’d recently thrown her out of his pub, and on more than one occasion too. She could go cap in hand to Eddy, but after the slap she’d given him earlier, she doubted she’d get a welcome reception there either.

Feeling exhausted and exasperated, she slumped on the edge of the sofa and sat with her legs splayed, chewing her fingernails. The agitation caused by the need for a drink was driving her crazy. In a bid to calm herself and think clearly, she drew in a few long deep breaths and leaned back to rest. Sarah’s coat was over the back of the sofa, and as Annie laid her head on it, she felt something hard in the pocket.

She grabbed the coat and frantically began rifling through the pockets. Then, to her relief and delight, she found several coins. This is the least you owe me, Annie thought as licked her lips at the thought of buying some gin. She gathered the money and glanced around the flat. It felt strangely empty and lonely, but Annie was resolute. If her kids had the audacity to show their faces here again, she’d give them what for. Good riddance to ’em, she thought, and untied the key on the back of the door so they couldn’t get in. After all, Sarah was eighteen now, and hardly a child. Annie had done her bit to bring her up, and now she reasoned it was time the girl made her own way in the world and found out what life is really like.

It was getting dark and Sarah could see Tommy was tired and cold, especially as all he had on his legs was a pair of thin shorts. She wished she’d taken the time to at least grab their coats, but with the fear of their mother’s wrath, she hadn’t been thinking clearly.

‘Sarah, I’m so worn out. Can’t we go back home now?’

‘No, love, sorry. That’s not our home any more,’ she told him as she reached for his hand to gently pull him along.