George laughed. ‘You drive a hard bargain. Tell you what, I’ll give you a fiver for it. That way, you’ve got it sold and I’ve got me mother a bit of tom that she’s going to love. You’d be hard pushed to get rid of it round here. People ain’t got that sort of money going spare. You’d be better off going up town to flog something like this.’

‘No, a fiver is fine. Deal,’ Sarah said, relieved she would at last be able to feed herself and Tommy.

George handed Sarah a five-pound note. She’d never had so much money in her hand and studied the white piece of paper with its writing in black ink. It said, ‘Bank of England’ in fancy swirly letters and underneath was written, ‘promise to pay the bearer the sum of five pounds’. Sarah wasn’t sure if the money was real, and couldn’t afford to be ripped off.

‘What’s this you’re trying to fob me off with? Do you think I’m stupid, George?’

‘What do you mean? Of course I ain’t trying to fob you off. That there’s good money,’ George replied.

His tone of voice made Sarah think she’d hurt his feelings with her accusation, but she had to be sure she had real money. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Truth is, I’ve never seen a fiver before and didn’t know they looked like this. If I’m honest, I’d much rather you paid me in coins.’

‘Give it here,’ George said, tutting. ‘I don’t know, you women, there’s no pleasing you sometimes.’ He chuckled.

As George was sorting out some coins from his money belt, Tommy jumped up from the crate he’d been looking through. ‘Can I have this please? It’s really brilliant.’

George and Sarah looked at the man-sized khaki army jacket that Tommy was holding up, and both laughed. It almost reached to his feet.

‘If that’s what you want, but better check with your sister first.’

‘Can I, Sarah … please?’

Sarah saw the delight on her brother’s face. It wasn’t as if the child had much to be happy about, and she supposed it would at least keep him warm. ‘Yes, all right. Just make sure you thank George.’

Tommy dropped the blanket to the floor and put on the jacket, then spontaneously ran and threw his arms around George’s legs. ‘Thanks. This is the best coat I’ve ever had!’

‘You’re welcome,’ the man said, ruffling Tommy’s brown hair.

Sarah picked up the blanket, roughly folding it while thinking that George looked quite moved by Tommy’s display of affection. She saw him smile when Tommy began marching back and forth.

‘He’s a proper nice lad. A real credit to your mum and dad,’ George said.