Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER
“Get out there NOW!!” A harsh, well-placed shove in Alfie’s little back snapped his shoulder blades back and he was propelled abruptly into the middle of the dingy pub’s floor.
“Dad, I don’t want to do this anymore!” wailed Alfie.
“You’ll sing for our supper, and I’ll hear no more about it!” snarled his father. More like ‘sing for your sup’, thought Alfie resentfully as he opened his mouth to begin earning the pennies for his father’s pints yet again.
“Three fishers went sailing out into the west…” Alfie began, battling to be heard above the raucous shouts of the crowd, and to be seen through the thick clouds of tobacco smoke wafting through the room.
Suddenly, a voice joined his, startling Alfie. He whipped his head around to see where it was coming from, and saw a young man in sailor’s clothes…..BILLY!! Home from leave!! Billy had been Alfie’s hero as long as he could remember, his eldest brother Tommy’s best friend. Then he upped and left Birmingham a year ago, preferring life on the sea to labouring in the rough streets around home. Alfie’s heart rose in his throat, and he raced through the song despite his father’s glowering looks so that he could talk with Billy.
“Ah, lad, I was so sorry to hear about your Mam”, Billy said, his warm eyes concerned. He could see at a glance what was happening now Mrs Swinbourne had passed on and didn’t like it one bit. He made a decision…..”Alfie, what say you come with me? I can get you onto a boat….”