On Christmas Eve Cathy dressed in her best for her shift at the pub and flirted with the customers. One man, who was a stranger to her was spending money freely and when she finished her shift he was waiting outside.' Come back to me place darlin' and I'll show you a good time!'
Cathy knew her two flatmates were going to be away for Christmas and so she agreed. 'My name's Jim Bates love, what's yours?'At work they called her Kitty and as he might well have heard that she stuck to it but gave her surname as Patterson. The flat he took her to had just one bedroom and was situated near the docks. 'I work on the ships you see and can be away for months at a time. Only got another week and then I'm off to America.' 'Do you ever have stowaways?' 'Some, yes but I wouldn't advise you to try it if that's what you were thinking, captain is not too kind to any he finds!' 'Me- I'm sick on the ferry!' lied Cathy. Jim had a stash of alcohol and he and Cathy took full advantage of it. When he finally collapsed on the bed she caught sight of his still bulging wallet sticking out of his pocket and stretched out her hand towards it. She felt her wrist being grabbed and held in a vice like grip. 'Steal a man's hard earned cash would yer?' 'N no. i was just going to put it in your bedside drawer for safekeeping.'
'Get out yer trollop before I set the law on you' he said catching her a glancing blow on the cheek. She grabbed her coat and ran for the door not noticing that her own purse with her night's wages including many tips had fallen from her pocket. She went home, let herself into her flat and discovered her loss. Although she still had her earnings from the shop and her savings that money would have given her extra security. Her share of the rent was due so next morning she ate a good breakfast and did what was becoming the norm for her packed her things and left before her flatmates return. She dare not risk returning to the pub in case Jim went looking for her. As there were no buses on Christmas day she walked to Bert's tea stall which was open as he liked to be there for his regulars even on this special day. 'Hello Cath, where are you off to?'
'I dunno really Bert i just fancied a change.' 'You can give me a hand if you like. Gladys has upped and left me in the lurch. I reckon you'd like a cuppa on the house eh?' 'Thanks Bert. I'll be glad to give you a hand.' 'Would you like somewhere to stay over the holidays or are you off to your sisters?' 'Not likely, her and the old girl wouldn't want me around so I'd be glad to stay with you for a while. She knew if she went to Milly's she'd have to explain where Stevie was. It had been over 2 years since she'd last seen him and she'd not so much as sent him a birthday card.
Miles away, Christmas day at the orphanage started much the same as any other day with lumpy porridge for breakfast. Steve was now six years old and had given up hope of seeing his mum again. He badly wanted to escape and go to Jojo and Mike but he had no idea how far away the village was or even what it was called. After breakfast each child was given a parcel wrapped in newspaper. They opened them eagerly disappointed to find only the usual pack of crayons and a colouring book with a cheap plastic vehicle for the boys and cardboard cut out dolls with paper clothes for the girls. Then there were one new pair of socks and underwear not new but the next size up. On the dinner table there was a bowl with one tangerine each.
The food was a little better than normal, a small slice of chicken, a chipolata sausage, one roast potato, plenty of cabbage and a spoonful of peas and sliced carrots all covered in thin gravy. To drink there was a glass of milk instead of water and a mince pie. afterwards the tangerines were given out and they each put on a paper crown which they had made themselves from painted newspaper.