Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale [10]
‘What is it, Mum?’ asked Johnny, still grasping the letter in his pocket. ‘Is it bad news?’
He could see that she was trying to compose herself, to reassure him that there was nothing to be concerned about. Then she looked him straight in the eye. ‘Johnny,’ she said, ‘I think you’re old enough to know. It’s from the landlord. The rent’s going up after Christmas. We’re going to have to find an extra three shillings a week.’
‘But that’s more than I make from the paper round in a fortnight,’ said Johnny.
‘Oh, darling, I wouldn’t ask you to pay it. I’ll just have to try to find an extra job.’ She started mumbling to herself: ‘But there’s not much work around. Maybe I could take in some washing. But how would I pay for the soap, and the fuel to heat the water?’
Johnny couldn’t help it. His eyes went to the Peace Mug on the high shelf.
‘No,’ said his mother. ‘We’re not touching the Christmas money. I’d sooner go without breakfast than use that. Anyway, it would only last a few weeks. It’s staying up there. I’m not even going to count it till December.’
Johnny was half relieved that his mother was unlikely to find out he had taken money from the mug, and half ashamed at what he had done. But at least he had his own letter, almost throbbing in his pocket, begging him to open it. At least Box 23 had replied. The money from the Peace Mug hadn’t been wasted.
Winnie pulled herself up from the chair, took off her hat and started slowly unbuttoning her coat. Johnny knew he should find some words of comfort, or come up with an idea for raising money, but he couldn’t wait to open his letter.
‘I’m just going to the lav,’ he said, striding out to the yard, where a tiny, damp shed housed the lavatory. It was getting dark, and he could only just make out the writing on the envelope. He tore it open. Inside was a piece of paper that looked as if it had been ripped from a notebook. It was folded into four, with The Secret of Instant Height is … written in heavy black ink on the outside. Now Johnny was scared. What would it be? Would he have to take medicine, or mix some chemicals? Where would he get them from? How would he pay for them? He couldn’t bear to open the note. But he had to know the secret. He had to find out how to grow taller. Maybe then he would be able to do jobs that brought in more money. Then he could help his mother with the rent. The lavatory seat didn’t have a cover, but he sat down without lowering his shorts and looked again. The Secret of Instant Height is … He unfolded the paper. There were just four words written inside: Stand on a box.
He couldn’t believe it. That was all it said. He had been tricked. He could feel the blood pumping round his ears as he blushed with shame. Two shillings and sixpence had been wasted – plus the cost of the envelopes and the stamps. He had stolen his mother’s money, and thrown it away just when she needed it most. And that wasn’t all. At any time Hutch might ask Winnie about ‘Auntie Ada’, and Johnny would have a lot of explaining to do. Everything would come out. He would be shown up as a fool, a liar and a thief. And now there was another thing. He had wet himself.
Chapter 6
CLEARING UP
Johnny stood with a blanket round his middle while his mother filled a tin bath with warm water, to wash him, and then his clothes. Winnie was sympathetic. She thought Johnny’s ‘accident’ must have been brought on by worry about the rent, and she blamed herself for telling him about it. He said nothing of how he had been tricked over the advertisement, and covered his