‘Ask for Mrs Stannard. Tell her you’re from Forest Road and I’ve sent you.’ Jenny was as excited as they were with this bit of good luck.

Jimmy kissed her shyly on the cheek and shot out of the door, red-faced.

‘My goodness, everyone’s kissing me today.’

‘Ah, what it is to be young and beautiful,’ Glad teased. ‘Thanks for putting them up for the job. They’ll be right grateful for anything. Fancy a cup of tea?’

‘No, thanks, Glad, I must go and get Ma’s dinner.’ With a cheery wave, Jenny went next door, to find Ma fidgeting anxiously when she arrived.

‘You’ve been a long time! And what the blazes have you been up to? Where’s your ’at?’

Jenny recoiled at the sharpness in Ma’s tone, but she answered gently. ‘I’ve been to the council offices. I told you that was where I was going. My hat must have come off as I ran home and I didn’t notice.’ She edged towards the kitchen. She had expected Ma to laugh at the mess she was in, not react like this.

‘You stay where you are, my girl. I ain’t finished with you yet!’

Jenny sighed. ‘Ma, I’m wet through and gasping for a cup of tea.’

The elderly woman ignored her plea. ‘You should have waited until it stopped raining. You’ll catch your death of cold, Bessie.’

Nearly at the kitchen door, Jenny stopped and spun round so fast she nearly toppled over. Bessie? Ma’s eyes were brimming with tears, and her mouth trembling.

‘You could ’ave caught pneumonia,’ Ma cried. ‘And I couldn’t have stood that. You mustn’t leave me, Bessie.’

Jenny rushed over and knelt beside Ma, taking her trembling hands in hers. ‘I’m only wet. Don’t upset yourself, Ma. I’m never going to leave you.’

Ma closed her eyes for a moment and Jenny stayed where she was, terribly alarmed that she had called her Bessie – the name of the little daughter she had lost so long ago.

When Ma opened her eyes again, the tears had gone and she smiled. ‘I know you won’t leave me. You’re a good girl, Jen.’

Relief flooded through Jenny. It had obviously been a momentary lapse. She stood up. ‘Would you like a cup of tea first, and I’ll clean myself up after?’

Ma nodded, and gave her usual infectious laugh. ‘You’d better get in the tin bath with all your clothes on. You’ve got a hole in your stocking and mud all over your legs.’

Jenny joined in the laughter and went to make the tea. That had been a fright, but Ma seemed all right now.

‘Ma,’ Ivy said, rushing in. ‘Have you heard? Jen might have got Ron and Jimmy a job at the centre!’