‘What, you mean not at all, never? We can’t keep paying rent in a house we don’t live in forever, Tommy. Do you know how much money we have left?’

Tommy shook his head; he never did. Money was a mystery to him. All their married life he had handed his pay packet over to Maura. She had given him his spending money back and they had always had a roof over their head, had never gone hungry as many did, thanks to Maura being an expert manager and lucky down at the bingo. It was a system that had worked well and Tommy hadn’t had any intention of changing it until he took it upon himself to buy the Talk of the Town.

‘We have just over one hundred pounds left from the money we got from America and we made one pound and six shilling’s profit here last week,’ Maura said now.

Tommy felt guilt wash over him and in need of another drink. ‘I’m sorry, queen,’ he said.

‘Don’t you be sorry,’ said Maura. ‘We will turn it all around, you watch. I’m not touching that money, though, Tommy. If we had to leave and go back, it’s all we have. And we may have to make a decision soon, for you can’t keep milking Liam’s cows. That’s not a living.’

They sipped their drinks, searching for a way to justify continuing to pay the rent out of the money they had left. They both knew they couldn’t keep it up for much longer. Maura had never wanted her sons on the docks, but she was glad to keep the house for reasons unprobed and unidentified. Now, neither was willing to admit that they had made the biggest mistake of their lives.

‘They must have got wind that we aren’t living there, Tommy. It says here they prefer the house to be inhabited.’ She folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. ‘They don’t like to leave properties empty in case of burst pipes and irreparable and expensive damage.’

Maura shook her head. Her thoughts drifted to her house on the four streets. The carnival was coming. She remembered the excitement that surrounded the day, the games, the march and the knees-up in the Anchor pub when all the kids were in bed and being looked after by a variety of young girls who were allowed to stay up in order to babysit. It was always a highlight of the year. Maura organised the costumes, making a trip to the market for the fabric to supplement whatever fell off the back of the tramp ship.