大象传媒

Chapter Two
15th August 1914

Alfie walked slowly and methodically through the grimy streets of East London on his way home to his town house in Kensington from the dusty beaten track of West Side. He had left his excited friends, who were already planning on what prized possessions they were going to pack for the adventure ahead in Wales as he said he needed to be back in time for dinner. He had a lot more on his mind than photographs and letters from far-off sweethearts that were positively missing them after meeting them at a pub when they were on a school trip to Kent as he walked away.

What would his mother reckon about his reckless act on the spur of the moment? Would John beat him again, extra hard to punish him for this deed? Would Tommy care? Would he be proud, angry or concerned?

But how would Lucy react?

Yes, the others could wind him up about her all they liked. So what? He liked her. And not as a friend. But how on earth would he be able to tell her how he felt about her?

They'd always been good friends, since they were in Standard One back in 1903. They went together like peas and carrots on a Sunday Lunch. They played together, read together and he used to go round to her house in Cheapside when his father died and his own mother couldn't feed him because she didn't know how to cook, as the French chef she'd hired packed his bags once he realised that she couldn't pay for his services any more. She held his hand when Tommy got into trouble with the local Bobbie, and Alfie ended up being beaten by John as he reckoned that Alfie was the one who made Tommy get into the trouble he was in, and she even shared her parents with him. He doubted that her feelings towards him were more than just friendly. But often he wished and hoped that one day she'd tell him that she loved him.

He now was stood outside his Kensington home. Did he want to go in there? Why should he? Maybe he ought to go and see Lucy, like the others said he would. It wouldn't harm him. Besides, he was dead already, as far as John would be concerned when he did finally get in anyway. You only live life once, and I'm sick of being the scared chicken, Alfie thought to himself, it's about time I defied the system, take to the skies, close my eyes and leaped into the world, come what may and hell to pay.

So he turned away and walked quickly and haughtily back down the dull gray pavement where he had just come from. Soon he found Cheapside, one of the most under-privileged parts of London. Alfie carefully picked his way through all the rubbish and filth as the starved little children followed him like filthy mongrels, fighting viciously for his attention, with the pathetic hope for a six pence or a bit of bread. He then managed to send them on their way with a good pound to split between them before knocking on the door of 95, Grimsby Manor, East Cheapside, and waited impatiently for the withered old housekeeper to open the door.

芒聙聹Oh, Master McNeill! Well, Miss Lucy is in her room, can you make your way up there yourself?芒聙聺 Mrs. Williams asked in her normal raspy voice.

芒聙聹Of course Mrs. Williams,芒聙聺 Alfie replied hurriedly as he stepped inside, wiping his feet as he gingerly crossed the threshold, 芒聙聹Thank you very much.芒聙聺

Alfie ran up the stair as quickly as he possibly could, his emotions making him soar up the old creaky staircase.

Soon he got to the end of the staircase. Lucy's room was the first door on the right-hand side of the corridor. He peered around the doorway to find Lucy curled up in her favourite squishy arm chair, reading a battered copy of 'Little Women'.

She heard him walk into the room, looked up and smiled fondly at the sight of Alfie's face.

芒聙聹Hello Alfie,芒聙聺 she said softly. Although she was so sickly these days, to Alfie she still looked so beautiful. Her ebony- black hair had been cascading down past her neck whilst she had been reading. It was now cupped behind her ears so her sweet, oval face could be more emphasized. Her snow-white skin was completely taken over by the stark contrast of her bright emerald eyes. She had been unwell for a few weeks now, completely taken over with the 'flu that Alfie had suffered a few months ago. She was almost well, but only almost.

芒聙聹Hello Lu-Lu芒聙聺 Alfie said fondly, 芒聙聹Feeling any better芒聙聺

芒聙聹All the better now, because you're here to talk to,芒聙聺 Lucy replied, more brightly than it would have been expected for an ill person to say, 芒聙聹It gets terribly dull to just sit here, read and watch the world go by, with only Mrs. Williams for company.芒聙聺

芒聙聹Your family away on business?芒聙聺 Alfie asked, 芒聙聹I would be surprised if they are, seeming as there's a war starting.芒聙聺

芒聙聹Oh, no,芒聙聺 Lucy answered softly, 芒聙聹Father and Richard have signed up for the Army, so it leaves Mother, me and Mrs. Williams, but Mother decided that she'd train up as a Nurse, leaving me on my own, being too ill to 'do my bit', as it were.芒聙聺

Alfie suddenly felt terribly guilty. Now he was going to go, who would Lucy confide in? He had hoped that she would be proud that he'd signed up. He realised that he'd only make her worried and alone.

"Alfie, what is wrong?" Lucy asked worriedly. Alfie didn't answer. "Tell me what the matter is Alfred, or I'll have to get up and tickle it out of you!" she threatened cheekily.

Alfie took a deep breath, and said, "I signed up this afternoon, with my friends. There is no way that I can get out of it now. I go tomorrow, at the crack of dawn."

"That is so typical of you Al-Al," Lucy said fondly, "Always fighting for what you think is the right thing to do," She stood up shakily, then steadied herself on the arm of the arm chair, then continued, "If the boys hadn't of persuaded you to sign up, I would of done. It's the perfect way of proving to that boorish step-father of yours the man you can be...." She held her hands over her mouth, shocked at what she had let slip out of her lips.

Alfie stepped closer to her, and took her hand.

"There's something that I must tell you before I go"

"Yes?" Lucy said curiously.

"I have loved you ever since I saw you on that summer's afternoon back in 1912," Alfie said passionately, "I have loved you for two years, and I didn't have the will to tell you until today."

"And I will tell you that I have loved you for exactly the same amount of time, and, although I would rather that you did not go to war, I am so proud of the man you are about to become."

Alfie couldn't bear it any longer. He stepped close to her and kissed her lips so suddenly and passionately, that Lucy had to cling onto him for dear life as she kissed him back.

As Alfie stepped into the doorway of his house, he heard the smash of glass through the wall of the next room. Joseph Street was drunk again, Alfie knew it.

"ALFRED MCNEILL!!!!" Joseph screamed, "HOW DARE YOU COME HOME LATE, YOU LITTLE SOD!!"

Alfie stood defiantly at the doorway into the dining room. Now he had the knowledge of Lucy's love and the gentleness of her kiss, not to mention the bravery from signing up for the war, he could stand up to anyone, he wasn't afraid any more.

Joseph came at Alfie with his belt, ready to beat him senseless.

"I've joined the Army," Alfie said coolly, "I leave tonight to get to the train station at the crack of dawn. I'm leaving this mess of a family, and you, and there is nothing you can do to stop me doing my bit for the country," Alfie looked his drunkard step-father in the eye for the first time since he met the man, "And to escape from this hell."

Leaving his stunned family in the room, Alfie turned around and went up the stairs to pack his possessions, ready to leave that same night.