“Ma”. A juvenile voice broke the silence from behind her.
Mary turned to smile through reddened eyes. Clutching at his nightshirt William gazed uneasily back at her. His eyes darting round the kitchen, falling first on the upturned tin and then on the poker. With arms clutched round his waist he tiptoed, shivering to the hearth and picked up the poker. The embers flickered as he pushed it amongst them, pulling together those still offering hope of life.
“It’s almost out”. His mother whispered, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Don’t worry yer sen. I’ll soon get it going”. William said lifting himself up and smiling reassuringly at his mother. “Go and get dressed…it’s freezing. Tha’s doing no good sitting shivering”.
Mary walked wearily from the kitchen and once again mounted the stairs. After dressing she roused Emma and helped her to dress as she yawned sleepily. As her mother sat on the edge of the bed, smoothing down her brown cotton school dress, Emma gazed solemnly at the tear-stained face that smiled gently back at her. Pulling the fraying hem straight her mother tutted and shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “Don’t cry Ma”, Emma said softly. “‘It’s only a dress”, she added smiling.