The Boy with the Latch Key. Cathy Sharp

a watery smile. ‘When I first started here in the kitchen I had more warnings than Billy Baggins, but I worked hard and I’ve made a place for myself here. I might have to stay off towards the end, but at the moment Dad and Cate are managing at night – and my younger brother is wonderful. The older one is off with his mates all the time, but he pays his share at home so I don’t try to force him.’

      ‘Well, I hope Mrs Mason will be better soon,’ Wendy said. She knew the words sounded foolish given that Kelly had just told her that her mother was dying – but what else could she say?

      Wendy poured herself a cup of tea and settled down to look at Paula’s reports for the day. No new cases had been admitted and they just had one case of measles and another had been treated for a tummy upset. Paula had done a check for nits and treated six of their children, who had picked it up at school. It was a constant battle against reinfection. Now and then the children presented with fleabites, caught when visiting their friends in slum properties infested with rats. The rats harboured the fleas and no matter how much the women scrubbed their homes, they couldn’t get rid of them.

      Wendy sometimes thought that the kids sent on to Halfpenny House were the lucky ones. Conditions were better in the country, because there was often better housing and fresher food. Although, Angela had told her they still had a few fleabites to deal with now and then, and apparently it wasn’t all honey down there. Angela said they’d had some trouble with the older boys, who’d been playing truant from school. Because of it they’d taken on a new carer who’d retired from his job as a headmaster and claimed he could soon sort their problems out. In Wendy’s opinion what they needed was to send for Sister Beatrice and let her talk some sense into the lads.

      ‘We’re quiet at the moment, Staff Nurse …’

      Wendy looked up as Sister Beatrice entered the ward. ‘Yes, I can’t remember when we had so few children presenting sick – but then, we used to have many more than we normally have now.’

      ‘Yes, although I believe we may have two brothers coming tomorrow.’ Sister Beatrice glanced at the report. ‘I think we have enough beds for them if they arrive – and I’ve decided that June Miller and her brother will be moved to Halfpenny House next week. James Benton is due to go too and Philip Manse. So we’ll send them all together.’

      ‘Yes, I think it’s better if several go together,’ Wendy agreed. ‘Are you going to send Susan Marsh too? She’s been here three months and seems quite well and happy now.’

      ‘That would mean sending more than one car,’ Sister Beatrice frowned. ‘I’ll see how many new admittances we have in the next week. I like to keep them here until I’m sure they can cope with another change in their lives … If only we had more resources so that we could keep them all here …’

      ‘I think we just don’t have enough staff to look after larger numbers, as we used to.’

      ‘Staff is a part of the problem,’ Sister Beatrice agreed.

      ‘Talking of staff – Kelly was telling me how ill her mother is …’

      ‘Yes, I feel most concerned for her,’ Sister Beatrice said. ‘I shall take on a temporary replacement if she feels she needs time off to be with her mother, but I would like her to return when she can.’

      ‘Oh, I think she will. Kelly has worked hard for her place here.’

      ‘Indeed she has. Well, I’m going home. You don’t need me this evening. We can only hope that things stay quiet for a while … though I shouldn’t tempt fate, should I?’

      ‘Oh dear, let’s hope she didn’t hear,’ Wendy said and laughed.

      Whether it was Sister Beatrice tempting fate or just the way things happen, they had a steady influx of children in need over the next ten days. First the two brothers, Ben and Malcolm, who had been picked up wandering the streets and were both suffering from malnutrition and the cold. They were admitted into the sick ward, because Sister Beatrice was horrified by the way their ribs were showing through their emaciated bodies. Neither of them would tell her, but she suspected they’d been on the streets for weeks. Their parents had apparently abandoned them and the boys had been wandering around London trying to find them and to beg for food.

      After they’d been dealt with, a girl of seven was admitted; Maggie Ryan had been sent on from the hospital that had treated her for a broken arm and severe bruising to her body. Her brutal father had been arrested and her mother was dead, so she would now be in the care of the orphanage until the Children’s Department decided where her future lay. Another three children were brought in from the streets, two having been found with evidence of severe beatings and another in a confused state – he didn’t know his name and needed special supervision from the nurses.

      Beatrice had decided that she would bring the date of the transfer of several children forward to the next day. She knew that she had to explain to Archie what was happening and to reassure him that he would be able to visit his mother, if a visiting permit was granted. Though so far no such permission had been forthcoming, as Sergeant Sallis told her when he visited that morning.

      ‘I’ve phoned them three times and they say they will let me know, but I understand it is irregular for an underage lad to visit a prisoner and I’ve said I’ll go with him. However, if they refuse I’ll visit myself and then let him know how she is …’

      ‘I’m afraid he won’t be here,’ Beatrice said. ‘I don’t like to make him leave London when I know how important he feels it to be near his mum, but we’re bursting at the seams. I just have to send them on.’

      ‘Would you like me to explain for you?’

      ‘No, I’m going to talk to him this afternoon when he gets in from school,’ Beatrice said. It was her decision and her responsibility.

      However, she found it harder than she’d imagined to look into Archie’s eyes and explain he was being sent to the country, not because it was better for him, but because she didn’t have the room to keep him and his sister indefinitely.

      ‘I am truly sorry, Archie,’ she said, ‘and I want you to know that we shall pay for your fares to visit your mother when an order becomes available. Sergeant Sallis won’t give up trying, and if a permit comes through he will contact you. I shall make sure you have the fares – and I think you will like it at Halfpenny House. They have playing fields and more facilities for sport than we have here …’

      ‘I don’t want to go. I’ve got to stay here,’ Archie said. ‘I’ve got a job on the market on Saturdays and I’m savin’ for when Mum gets home. She’ll need some money to get started …’

      ‘I’m sorry, Archie. You have to go. I really don’t have a choice – but my promise to you is that you will be able to see your mother if that permit comes. And it might be better for your sister to get away, don’t you think?’

      Archie looked rebellious and she thought he was going to refuse. She was wondering if she could possibly manage to keep them on when she saw his slight nod of acceptance.

      ‘It would be better if June wasn’t here,’ Archie admitted. ‘She hates it at her school, because they bully her, and she won’t listen to what I tell her. If we’re away from here she might settle down and not run wild …’

      ‘I’m glad that you are so caring towards your sister,’ Beatrice gave him an approving nod. ‘You will be leaving tomorrow, both of you – and please feel free to write to me if you have any worries. I am always here for you; do you understand?’

      ‘Yes, Sister,’ Archie said. ‘May I go now? I have to talk to June, make sure she understands …’

      ‘Of course,’ Beatrice said. ‘I’m very pleased you’ve behaved so responsibly and I shall do whatever I can for you in future – should you wish to return to London, as I’m sure you will once your mother is home. After all, yours is only a temporary situation, is it not?’

      ‘Yes, Sister …’