THE DEPPRIVED... Chapter 2... Part 29.

A continuation of my book.

Sam had taken the position as his mother’s carer much to heart and was not keen as to whether he should go with Kilpatrick that afternoon to the market. It was only after Mary insisted that he should go and get some fresh air that Sam eventually relented and having Kilpatrick grasp his hand he allowed himself to be led off out of the archway.
“You see, young ‘un.” said Kilpatrick as they made their way up to the market. “There’s times when women wants to talk without the men-folk in attendance.”
Sam had agreed gravely as he took his small hand from Kilpatrick’s large paw in the understanding that he was now a man and in the company of another man.

 

“Why has he taken Sam today?” asked Beth, her eyes reproachful as she had watched Kilpatrick and Sam leave.
“Beth.” began Mary, seeking to broach the subject carefully. “I asked Kilpatrick last night to take Sam with him today as a favour to me because there is a need for me to speak with you.”
Beth, who stood with her eyes now losing sight of Sam and the tall figure of Kilpatrick, turned to look down at her mother who lay beneath the blankets. It was then she realised how pale and drawn her mother was, the pain marking her eyes to dark circles while spittle and blood caked the thinning lips.
“Sit down here beside me, Beth. I will speak to you of my coming event.”
Beth sat beside Mary and began stroking her mother’s hair.
“What is it, Mammy?” she asked, the fear causing her voice to tremble.
“Beth, dearest child. You have to understand that I’m nearing my time.”
“No Mammy! Don’t say that!” cried Beth, bursting into tears.
Mary reached out and patted Beth’s hand, her smile gentle.
“Beth dearest. You have the seeing of my health and know I can’t go on this way. You are young and I ask that you take Sam in hand and allow Kilpatrick to guard you in a right and capable spirit. Look to him as you cared for your own dear father. Beth dear girl, please stop your crying and know how I love both you and Sam.”
Saying this, Mary raised herself and threw her arms around Beth in a fierce hug before weakening and wheezing out her breath along with a fit of coughing.
“Mammy!” cried Beth.
Beth wiped carefully at the blood and spittle with a cloth and helped her mother to lay back down.
“You know Mammy, I shall always do as you say. In my heart’s feelings I will take care of Sam and look to Kilpatrick for the care of me and Sam. But I only say this to you as a strength to your will and that you stay with us till your body can take no more. On that I will swear!”
Mary raised a hand to Beth’s shoulder and looked at her earnestly.
“There’s one more thing I’m asking only of you.” she said. “When I’m took to the Lord I want you to promise me with all your heart that you won’t be tempted in the ways that I took. Promise me this, that your body is only for a loved one.”
“Oh Mammy.” said Beth.
Mary shook Beth’s shoulder, insistent.
“Promise me, Beth.”
“I promise you in that.” said Beth.
Mary smiled, looking at Beth with dimmed eyes before closing them in contentment. She was happy and slept.
Beth watched her mother sleeping for a while, lightly stroking at her hair before laying beside her and silently weeping.

 

“You see them boys to yonder, Sam?” asked Kilpatrick, pointing to a group of boys.
Some of the boys leaned nonchalantly against the walls of the buildings while others sat on the ground with their eyes searching among the moving crowd in the market square.
“Who are they?” asked Sam, his eyes taking in the ragged look of the boys.
“Them’s as has bad breeding and soon to be carted off to Newgit clink, you mark my words. And if them same boys come calling to you and asking for you to join them in a larking then you tell them what Kilpatrick says, that he will come and give such a clout to their ears as to knock them into a fine respectability. You tell them that, young ‘un.” finished Kilpatrick with a hearty nod which emphasised his mood.
“Who are they? Why would they come and talk to me?” asked Sam, his eyes intently taking in the ragged mob across the way.
“Them vagabonds yonder is called Street-Takers, rogues and urchins who are born natural thieves and desecrators of another’s soul is what they are. Them boys are sent out by Masters, to take strays such as them children who are lost of parents and alone. Such children are taken from the streets by them vagabonds and put to work in the muck of the River Thames, to the Mudlarking and scraping of cesspits, things of that nature. So you be watching careful of those kinds and stay close to me in all times. Do you understand me on that, young ‘un?”
Sam most readily agreed, once more snatching at Kilpatrick’s hand as the knot of ragamuffins rose and sauntered across the square to talk to a young girl who sold matches and soiled fruit which had been thrown away by the costermongers as unfit to eat. Sam watched the boys as they surrounded her, laughing and shouting, to wander away with the girl.
Kilpatrick had begun to help load up a barrow with its unsold wares and Sam trotted along beside him as the tall man trundled the cart along the cobbled streets to the lock-up, to receive a farthing in payment and an empty tomato crate.
“Now we nips back in fast time to take another stall and do the same again to a third.” instructed Kilpatrick as they hurried back to the closing market.
“It’s all in a day’s workings, young ‘un and puts a vittle or two on the table.” he assured the trotting boy who accompanied his long-striding step.