More of the adventures of Wayne the Irregular! Thanks to mrspencil for encouraging me to continue.
"Wayne, ya gotta try out yer skills. Ya need to have a way to get food." Wiggins said, beckoning the newest Irregular over.
"Don't Mr Holmes take care of that?" the boy asked. After a few days living with the Irregulars, he was looking much healthier.
"Mr Holmes don't always have work for us, and we need something to survive on. Get over here, ya need to show ya got what it takes."
"Alright, mate, keep yer hair on." Wayne sauntered over, and proceeded to slip his fingers into Wiggins's pocket. Wiggins grabbed his fingers. "Ya need more practice. Try harder this time."
Wayne, scowling, dipped his fingers into Wiggins's pocket again.
"Better," Wiggins said. "Still not good enough. Ya get caught, the peelers will jail ya, then yer in trouble. Let me show you."
Wiggins walked past one of the boys still eating at the fire, then turned and came back to Wayne, a grubby penny in his hand. Wayne laughed at this show of skill, then his look turned to fright as he looked over Wiggins's shoulder. "Who-who's that?"
Wiggins turned around, and chuckled. "That's just the doctor. Hallo Doctor!" He continued, as Watson walked into the warehouse, greeted with cheers from the assembled boys.
"I was just watching your stunning display of pickpocketing." Watson said. Wiggins blushed.