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Chapters (77)
  1. Landing Page
  2. A TERRIBLE KINDNESS
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. ABERFAN
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. CAMBRIDGE CHOIR
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. FAMILY BUSINESS
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. 46
  54. 47
  55. 48
  56. 49
  57. MIDNIGHT CHOIR
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. 56
  65. 57
  66. 58
  67. ABERFAN
  68. 59
  69. 60
  70. 61
  71. 62
  72. 63
  73. 64
  74. 65
  75. Acknowledgements
  76. About the Author
  77. Copyright

‘She was a naughty little thing.’ For a moment William doesn’t know what Betty’s talking about. She turns and leans her hip into the sacks to face him. ‘Helen. She was in trouble last week for pinching a packet of Spangles from the newsagent, and last Christmas, in the chapel nativity, she moved the chair when Mary was about to sit down, and she hit the floor with one hell of a bump. Bruised her coccyx!’ All that’s left of Betty’s lipstick is a faint red line outlining her smile. ‘And she was a right little giggler.’ Betty stares past William and takes an other gulp of tea. ‘I hope she’s giggling now.’ The shine is back in Betty’s eyes. ‘There can’t be anything worse than losing a child.’ Her gaze drops to the ground, then she breathes in sharply and looks up at him again. ‘How old are you, William?’

‘Nineteen.’

‘Well, I hope your parents know what a fine son they have.’

William shakes his head and looks down. God, he’s tired! ‘I should get back.’ He puts his paper cup down on the sacks. ‘You take your time, but I should go.’

‘Have I upset you, William?’ She stands up straight too.

‘No,’ he says over his shoulder. ‘Come when you’re ready.’

9

‘Last push,’ Jimmy says, back at the chapel, ‘I’m assuming you’ll need to get back tonight?’

‘Not if I’m still needed.’ William walks to his station. As he passes the radio, he registers a murmuring voice. The heap of raggedy ripped clothes in the corner is now waist high.

‘There’s only three left to recover,’ Jimmy continues, washing down his table with a vigour that gives no hint of the exhaustion he must be feeling. ‘Harry can stay through the night and I’ll be here till it’s all done.’

‘Are you sure?’ William feels weak with relief. Soon, he can drive away, to his uncle’s calm mortuary, to a life with Gloria in it. Gloria who kissed him.

‘I’m sure,’ Jimmy says. ‘There’s one body in the chapel. Look after that, catch a few winks in the car first, and then be on your way.’ He turns to Harry. ‘Your turn for a break.’

‘Won’t say no.’ Harry walks to the door. ‘What have you done with Betty, William?’

The door swings open, nearly hitting Harry.

‘Whoops.’ Betty smiles at Harry who holds the door for her then leaves. She stands opposite William. He feels he ought to apologise, but her calm gaze lets him know she is not expecting anything from him.

‘There’s just one more for us to do,’ he says. ‘Can you get the buckets and sponges ready?’

‘Of course.’ She immediately turns to the wall against which the buckets are waiting.