‘See you tomorrow, Stan,’ Albie said, before quickening his pace. He just hoped Fishy Fanny hadn’t opened her big gob because he’d binned her.

Queenie poured Viv another brandy and paced up and down the front room like a woman possessed. ‘He was never good enough for you. I knew he weren’t to be trusted from day one. It wouldn’t even surprise me if it was him who got my Albie mugged that time. Slippery bastard, he is,’ Queenie ranted.

‘I hate him, Queen. Nobody makes a fool of me. I want nothing from him in the future, not a fucking bean. Let him spend it on her kid.’

‘Don’t talk about my dad like that,’ Lenny shouted.

‘Shut up!’ Vivian spat. ‘He’s never been a dad to you. I’ve been your mum and your bleedin’ dad.’

‘Your mum’s right, Lenny,’ Queenie added.

When Lenny burst into tears, Queenie gave Brenda a pound note. ‘Go and get him something to eat. That’ll cheer him up,’ she ordered.

‘Whatever’s wrong?’ Albie asked his daughter, having arrived in time to see Lenny bolt out the front door and run past him, sobbing.

‘All right, Dad?’ Brenda said calmly. ‘You’re not in trouble. Today Mum and Auntie Viv hate Lenny’s dad.’

Breathing a sigh of relief, Albie bowled inside the house. ‘Everything all right? I just saw Lenny crying.’ he said innocently.

Queenie picked up her umbrella and clouted her husband around the head with it. ‘How long you known about Bill Harris and his fancy piece?’

Albie clutched the left side of his head. ‘I dunno what you’re talking about, love.’

‘Don’t “love” me, you lying good-for-nothing bastard. How long you known? And I know you know, ’cause I was told earlier you know.’

Albie flinched as Queenie picked up the umbrella again. ‘I had an inkling, but I wasn’t sure.’

‘Cobblers! You were too scared to say anything in case Bill gave you a wallop. Once a coward, always a coward,’ hissed Queenie.

At that precise moment, Vinny strutted in. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Bill Harris has been knocking off Brassy Barbara who works behind the ramp in the Beggar. It’s been going on for the past six months or so, but your father failed to tell us, Vinny. Viv’s packed Bill’s clothes up in sacks. She don’t want no more to do with him, son.’

‘I didn’t know, not for sure. I’d heard rumours, but that was all. I never actually saw them together,’ Albie gabbled.

Vinny walked up to his father and stared him in the eye. It beggared belief they were father and son at times. They were so different. Vinny poked Albie in the shoulder. ‘Why don’t you sod off down the pub and get rat-arsed like you usually do, while I sort out Mum and Auntie Viv’s problems like I usually do.’

Later that evening, Queenie and Viv marched inside the Blind Beggar carrying Bill’s belongings in sacks. Unfortunately, Bill was nowhere to be seen, but Brassy Barbara was behind the bar serving.