‘I was looking for a pawnshop.’

‘I don’t think you’ll be able to sell it in there. Guaranteed they’ll think you’ve nicked it. Tell you what, save you getting into trouble, how about I sell it on my stall for you?’

‘Really? You’d do that for me?’

‘Of course I would, but it’ll cost you,’ George said and winked at Tommy.

‘I knew there’d be a catch. How much?’ Sarah asked.

‘A date … with me.’

Tommy giggled, but Sarah was taken aback. How could she possibly go on a date with anyone? She had Tommy to look after, and she had no clothes or anything, not even so much as a hairbrush. ‘I’m sorry, George, but I can’t.’

‘Go on, Sarah, yes, you can,’ Tommy urged.

‘Shush, Tommy. Who’d look after you, eh?’

‘Tommy can come too, it’ll be fun,’ George said.

Sarah still didn’t think it was possible. George knew nothing about her and had no idea they were destitute. Even if she could accept his offer, she didn’t really want to. He was a kind man, but she found it difficult to see past the dreadful scars on his face. ‘No, George, I can’t. Thanks for the offer, but can you tell me where the pawnshop is? I’ll offer it to them and the worst they can say is no.’

Tommy looked disappointed, and George must have noticed too, because he patted the boy’s head and said, ‘Don’t worry, Tommy. Your sister doesn’t want to date me, and who could blame her, but we’re still mates and I can still sell that watch for you.’

Sarah had upset George; she could see it in his eyes and his tone of voice didn’t sound quite as cheery, yet he was still willing to help her out, and she was grateful. ‘I really appreciate you doing this for us, but I think it would be fair if you take a cut from the profits of the sale,’ Sarah said, and held her head high. They might be penniless, but she still had her pride.

‘What, you mean like a commission?’ George asked.

‘Yeah, I think that’s what it’s called. That way, we both benefit from it.’

George rubbed his chin, as if deep in thought. ‘OK, I can see that would work. What sort of percentages are we talking here?’

Sarah’s eyes widened. She’d never understood percentages and didn’t know how they worked, but she didn’t want George to think she was stupid. ‘What would you suggest?’ she asked.

‘How about I take ten per cent, so, say I sell this for ten pounds, I’d take a pound and give you nine.’