𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 3

"Wake up—" Micheal shook his sister as the train came to a stop. She opened her eyes, squinting. "Come one.." he whispered, helping her up. "We're in Birmingham, Florence." She was slightly take aback by the name he'd called her but realised she'd have to get used to it soon.

Florence picked up her bag, carefully stepping off the train.

"Do you know where we are going?" she asked him. "Not at all, but it's okay we can ask people." he shrugged, walking away from the station. They asked multiple people along the way, some were clueless, some helped.

"Excuse me?" Micheal stopped a young girl. "Do you have any idea how we can get to Watery Lane?" he read the card once more.

The girl smiled. "Yes, if you go up toward that row of houses and turn right, go straight past the pub and you'll be there" she said softly. "Right, thank you." he nodded, placing a hand on Florence's shoulder and walking.

They eventually found the house and placed their bags down.

Florence knocked on the door. No response. "Do you think it's the right house?" she questioned. He double checked the address and nodded.

"Maybe she's not home?" he suggested.

Florence sat on top of her suitcase, sighing.

They had waited around thirty minutes before they saw a woman stumbling across the road. Florence stood straight. She dug through her pockets and stopped when she saw the two.

"Excuse me?" Micheal spoke. "I'm looking for someone called Elizabeth Gray. I was told she lived here at number 17." he removed his hat. "There was nobody here when we came, so we waited." Florence said.

The woman stopped. "What do you want with Elizabeth Gray?" She had gone pale in the face.

Micheal grew nervous. "I think she may be our mother.." The woman dropped her keys, staring at the two. That's when Micheal realised that was their mother. He sighed, picking up the keys from the floor and using them to unlock the door.

-

Polly had excused herself for a moment to clean herself up, leaving them both a sandwich. Florence looked around the room, admiring the decoration. Micheal sat nervously, his hat in hand.

Polly returned and placed a cup of tea in front of them. "How was it?" she asked, referring to the food.

"I was starving, i'd have eaten anything." Micheal spoke. "But really it was super," she smiled at the boys words. "Super.." she repeated.

She looked over at the quiet girl. "I loved it. Thank you," Florence said once noticing the woman's gaze.

"So are you a cook?" Her brother asked. "I'm not a cook, no." Polly breathed.

She sat beside them.

"The man who came to the house, he was driving a posh car, he looks rich. What does he do?" Florence asked curiously.

"He works with horses."

"I love horses," Florence said excitedly, getting embarrassed at her sudden outburst. Polly smiled at her. "We have a bay mare," Micheal said, "we ride it all the time." He looked down at his sister pleasantly.

"Then it's in the blood," Polly sipped her tea. "I've got about a million questions." Micheal said. "So do i." Polly agreed.

"I've had different pictures in my head.."

"Well, here i am." She nervously lit a cigarette. "It's all right that it's me, isn't it?"

"We don't have any choice," Micheal smiled. "I mean, you are who you are, aren't you? You don't choose and that's it"

"Yeah that's right. God gave you both to me, people took you away." she spoke. Micheal quickly glanced at his younger sister, checking she was okay. "And it is all right that it's me, isn't it?" Polly repeated her question. "In a place like this."

"I thought it would be worse.." Florence whispered.

"Run for the hills, it's Digbeth Kid!" Arthur burst in, running after John. "Get out of town kid or i will shoot your fucking head off!" John joked. The siblings heads shot over to the boys who had rushed inside.
Arthur pretended to shoot him and Johns eyes landed on the boy stood before them.

"You didn't go down John.." Arthur said, then turning to what John was looking at.

"This is Micheal and Florence—" Tommy said as his brothers hid their laughs, putting the guns away."Your cousins, Polly's kids."
Florence stood quickly, offering her hand. "It's nice to meet you," She smiled. John took her hand, shaking it.

Micheal stepped forward, putting his hand out for them to shake.

"Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Arthur you won't remember, you've met me. I used to throw you out the window so John could catch you.." he teased.
"I used to put you in a shoe box and kick you down Watery Lane." John added.

"I bet you're glad to be back." Tommy said. "I don't remember any of it," Micheal laughed. "All i remember is the day they took me away." Polly wrapped her arms around the boy, pulling the girl in too.

"Welcome to the Shelby family," Tommy squeezed Florence's shoulder as she pulled away. "Later we'll show you the ropes." Arthur added.

"Yeah we'll show you what's what." John nodded.

"Not Florence you won't," Tommy interrupted. "She's only fourteen."

The boys walked out, "They seem nice," Micheal said.

Florence took a seat. "They're funny." she added on.

Florence was unique in certain ways. She could be fairly quiet but then be full of energy within minutes.

-

"Polly said you own this place. A lot of businesses" Micheal followed Tommy through the pub. "You call her Polly or mum?"

"Can't get used to calling her mum yet." He admitted.

"Where's your sister?" Tommy sighed. "Back at the house with Polly." Tommy sighed. "Who you calling?" he asked. "My mother." Micheal sighed.

"What are you gonna tell her?"

"Where i am."

"And now you're gonna tell her you're going home." Tommy told him. "Polly said i could stay for a few days." Micheal corrected him.

"You want to stay?"

"I only just arrived."

"What age are you Micheal?"

"Seventeen."

"And Florence is fourteen, which means it's not up to you, right?" Tommy said. "I'm eighteen in a few weeks i make up my own mind." Micheal said. "It'll break my little sister's heart if we leave now."

"You smoke?"

He shook his head.

"Drink?"

"No."

"You're gonna call your mother, tell her you're getting the next train home. When you get there write a letter to Polly saying when you're 18 you'll come back here."

"I just told you," Micheal stopped him. "I make up my own mind. And i'm not ripping this away from my sister. She's waited for this her whole life."

"Do you know what we do, Micheal?" Tommy asked. "We Shelbys.."

"Yes, i think i know what you do. Florence figured it out quite quickly. My sister's smart." Micheal told him."Yeah, she's got smart eyes. But you're young so you think what we do is all right. It's not all right, people get hurt. Now call your mother, and i will drive you to the station." Tommy demanded.

"No." Micheal refused. "In my village, there's this little wishing well, it's made of white bricks. Right in the middle of the village green. Everybody says how pretty it is, but i swear to god, if i spend another day in that village. I'm going to blow it up with dynamite. Probably blow my hands off with it but it will be worth it. Just to see all those pretty white bricks spread over the pretty village green."

Tommy smiled at him, scoffing. "Yep you're Polly's son all right." he sighed.