‘It’s no trouble to me,’ Alfie said airily. ‘That’s what friends are for, right? And by the way, how’s your sister? She’s back home now, isn’t she?’

Something about the way the man asked the question made Tommy uneasy, even though Alfie’s expression hadn’t changed. He couldn’t put his finger on what it was, but he suddenly felt uncomfortable in his skin. ‘She’s all right,’ he said shortly. ‘I hardly see her, she’s at work all the time.’

‘Oh, that must be hard,’ said Alfie, oozing sympathy, but his eyes didn’t match his words as they stared at Tommy just a little too intently.

Tommy shrugged. ‘She’s happy enough,’ he said. ‘I must get on, Alfie. Got to tell Danny about my interview.’ He couldn’t wait to be gone now.

‘Oh, right,’ said Alfie, covering his disappointment that he wasn’t going to hear any juicy details about Kitty. ‘Yes, you’d best get back right away. Do say hello from me. And to Kitty, of course. Tell her I’m glad she’s back home after all this time.’ He gave what might have been meant as a broad smile, though it didn’t really look like one.

‘Okey doke, then, Alfie.’ Tommy turned and headed off, relieved to have got away from the man, though he couldn’t have said why. Then he brightened again as he rounded the corner into Empire Street. What was he worried about? He’d got the job. He’d have a red GPO bike for work and a smart uniform. He’d have to do PT drill first thing every morning with the other telegraph boys, and he’d be doing his bit. Life was getting better by the minute.

Sarah Feeny was about to go in through her front door when she caught sight of him. ‘Well?’ she demanded, coming across the street to greet him, her nurse’s cloak slung over her arm as it was too hot to wear it. ‘Did you get it?’

‘Course I did!’ Tommy was almost jumping up and down with pride.

‘Course you did!’ Sarah echoed. ‘That’s wonderful news, Tommy. When do you start?’

‘Next week.’ Then Tommy remembered his manners. ‘Please say thank you to Pop for getting Mr Mawdsley to put in a word for me.’

‘I will, but he was happy to do it,’ Sarah said, recalling that Pop had called in a favour from the husband of one of her mother’s close friends. Mr Mawdsley was a respectable civil servant, but he wasn’t above drinking the occasional pint in the Sailor’s Rest. His word would have carried some weight. Sometimes it was all about who you knew.

‘Guess who I just saw,’ Tommy said.

‘No idea.’ Sarah raised her eyebrows in encouragement.