Her sigh was weary. How she wished she could get another job …

‘Jen!’

The call from Ma had her rushing to the stairs. The old woman was balancing precariously on the top stair. ‘Come and give us a hand getting down these bleeding stairs.’

It was a slow and painful trip down, but eventually Ma was sitting at the kitchen table, muttering irritably under her breath.

‘Why don’t you let me make you a bed downstairs? Jenny suggested.

‘Not bloody likely! That’s the end of the line, girl. I’ve always gone upstairs to bed and I ain’t gonna change that now,’ she snapped.

After the night Jenny had just had, she was in no mood to put up with Ma’s sharp tongue, but rather than start an argument she turned away to put the kettle on the stove. ‘I’ve got some of that nice home-made bread left. Would you like some?’ she asked mildly. ‘I’ll cut off the crusts and soak them in a little milk, shall I?’

‘That’d be nice.’ Ma spoke softly. ‘Turn round, Jen.’

She did so and suffered the scrutiny of those sharp eyes.

‘Sorry I’m such a grump, ducky, but I gets frustrated not being able to do for myself. You look as if you’ve had a bad night. What’s happened?’

‘Ted Roper died of a heart attack at four o’clock this morning. Me and Glad have been there all night.’

‘Ah, I’m right sad about that.’ Ma shook her head. ‘He was a good man. It’s gonna be hard for Agnes and young Jimmy now.’

Jenny snorted in disgust. ‘Even harder than the last couple of years!’ She cut the crusts off two slices of bread and dunked them in a dish of milk to soften, then spread some of cook’s jam on the bread. She put the dish and plate in front of Ma, and poured her a cup of tea as well.

Ma sat staring at the plates, then lifted her head and glared at Jenny. ‘And where’s yours?’

‘Oh, I’m not hungry.’

‘Listen, my girl, if you think I’m going to eat while you sit there with an empty belly, then you’re very much mistaken! You’ll bloody well eat something!’

That was too much for Jenny’s troubled heart and she erupted. ‘Don’t you swear at me! I’m doing the best I can. People are dying around me and I can’t do a thing about it. I’ll have to go and beg to be allowed to scrub some of the fine houses’ steps. I’m just a burden on you and everyone else around here. I don’t know what else to do, Ma …’