Joan Lingard - Across the Barricades

Joan Lingard

PUFFIN

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First published by Hamish Hamilton 1972

Published in Puffin Books 1973

Reissued in Puffin Books 2003

Copyright Joan Lingard, 1972

All rights reserved

Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-0-14-192670-4

Sadie! Sadie Jackson!

She looked round. For a moment she could not see who was calling her. The pavement was thick with people heading homewards. Then she saw him coming through the midst of the throng. Tall, dark, broader than she had remembered, but with the same bright spark in his eyes. She waited for him to reach her.

Kevin, she said. Kevin McCoy.

Its me all right. He was grinning.

Havent seen you for ages. It must be nearly three years.

Suppose it is. Its funny seeing you again after so long.

They only lived a few streets away from one another but it might as well have been a thousand miles. They stood and looked at one another and let the hurrying people push round them.

Fancy a cup of coffee? asked Kevin. Have you time?

Dont see why not, said Sadie. There were many good reasons why not, her mother would say, but Sadie was not one to be put off by reasons, especially her mothers.

They walked side by side to a coffee bar without talking. They felt a little awkward walking together but once inside the caf, seated across a table from one another, their tongues broke free again.

Hows Brede? she asked.

Hows Tommy? he asked at the same time, and they laughed.

Bredes fine, he said. Shes working as a nursery nurse.

She always was soft on kids, wasnt she? Tommys in the yard apprenticed as a welder.

They were silent for a moment, Sadie thinking of Kevins sister Brede and Kevin of Sadies brother Tommy as each had been three years ago. They had all been at school then, different schools. They had started as enemies, had even fought with stones and fists; then for a while they had been friends but eventually had drifted apart because of the difficulties of meeting.

And you, Sadie, what are you doing?

Me? She shook her long fair hair back over her shoulder in a gesture that he remembered. Well, first I went into an office she wrinkled her nose - and then I got a job in a linen mill

He laughed. You always were a restless one!

Look whos talking! They were used to sparring with one another; it came back to them easily. It was as if the three years had never been.

Ive had the same job since the day I left school, he said. So there!

Is that so?

Thats right. Im working for Kates da in his scrapyard. Remember Kate, Bredes friend?

Indeed I do. She used to fancy you, didnt she? Does she go with the job?

Sarky as ever, arent you?

She made a face at him. I think the scrap business would suit you rightly roaming the streets and all that.

The streets arent the same as they used to be. Plenty of scrap lying about not what were looking for.

Scrap in the streets: burnt-out cars and buses and armoured vehicles, torn-up paving stones, barbed-wire coiled to form barricades. And along the streets went soldiers on patrol with fingers on the triggers of their guns, men and women eyeing them watchfully, suspiciously, and bands of children playing at fighting and sometimes not just playing. Sadie and Kevin were quiet. The subject was too difficult to talk about, too difficult for them.

Its a dead-end job anyway, said Kevin. The scrap business. I wont stay in it.

Whatll you do?

He shrugged. What are you doing now? You havent told me yet.

Im working in a hat department, she said in an affected voice.

You!

We get a very nice class of customer. She arched one eyebrow.

Ill bet.

You should see some of the old bags. Sadie rolled her eyes. Smirking at themselves in the mirror and then asking you how they look.

Kevin chuckled. You never found it easy to tell a lie, did you?

Youd have to be a real phoney for this job. It is time I was looking for something else. My mother would have a fit if she heard me saying that.

Sadie, you must have given your ma a thousand fits, Im thinking. Then Kevin asked, Are you hungry?

Starving,

He went to the counter and bought them two hamburgers each. They ate hungrily, enjoying the warm thick rolls with the meaty centres. Outside, the sun shone on the opposite side of the street. Sadie finished her last bite and sighed with contentment.

Its a warm night, said Kevin. It would be nice up on Cave Hill.

It would that.

Would you like to go up there?

She nodded.

Now?

Yes.

He guided her out of the caf into the street and then dropped his hand from her arm. On the way to the bus stop they passed a newspaper billboard. SHOP GUTTED BY BOMB, TWO KILLED, ONE INJURED, it declared. They both looked away and talked instead of Tommy and Brede, remembering days spent at the seaside the summer they had all been friends.

When they reached the stop, Kevin stood with his back against the stance and looked at Sadie with a smile on his face.

Youre even better looking than I thought youd be.

Thanks very much! Sadie tossed her head, but not with anger.

At one time I thought you were going to make an all-in-wrestler. Do you remember the night you jumped on me when I slipped?

How could I forget it? Youd been wrecking our King Billy.

You could run, Ill say that for you.

Hello there, Sadie.

Sadie turned to see that a girl had stopped beside them. It was Linda Mullet, her old school friend, who lived in the same street.

Oh hello, Linda.

Linda looked pointedly at Kevin, waiting for an introduction. Sadie looked back at Linda.

Suddenly a frown knotted Lindas eyebrows. Ive seen you before, havent I? she asked Kevin.

Everyones seen him before, said Sadie. Hes a well-known man about town.

Oh you! Linda pouted. She hated to be teased. She continued to stare at Kevin.

He can wiggle his ears too, said Sadie.

Ive a few more tricks for by, said Kevin.

I know who you are, cried Linda triumphantly. Your names Kevin and youre She broke off.

Yes, hes said Sadie. So now you know. Im glad you dont have to sit all the way home on the bus with it worrying you.

Lindas round little mouth straightened into a taut line. She edged away. Ill be seeing you, Sadie.

No doubt.

Linda walked away swiftly.

She cant get back quick enough to spread the good news in your street, Sadie, said Kevin.