p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"strongChapter 3. The formality of the upper class /strongbr /Oliver was woken at 7 o'clock on Monday morning with a cup of tea and a nice, warm bowl of porridge with syrup. Then he was passed his smart looking clothes and was reminded that after he got dressed he should promptly go to the room that Mr Brownlow had made into a little classroom and office for Oliver and his friend's. Mr Brownlow had explained to Oliver a month ago that he thought it would be best for Oliver to be taught alongside other children as that created a friendlier environment and it would enable Oliver to socialize and make new friend's as he didn't have any already since he lived in the workhouse his whole life. While most upper class his age were taught alone by a governess at home, who would also be responsible for looking after the children nless they have siblings which Oliver didn't. A governess would be very strict and Oliver uncle felt that he and the maid could look after Oliver. However, a school would be too working class for Oliver as it would only teach him maths and English. also Mr brownlow said that Oliver would probably be made fun of by his class mates for being too naive as well as being posh. So as nether option was ideal Oliver's uncle had come up with an original idea which was that they would hire a tutor to come to their house during the week and would teach Oliver as well as five others who Oliver had been seeing on a regular basis as they all visited each other houses to play together. Oliver had even began to get a little friendly with them. Brownlow had managed to convince their parents that working with other children would be good for their child as it would mean that they interact with others on a regular basis instead of being cooped up all their childhood with them and a governess. It would be good for preparing for boarding school next year as well. It would also prepare their child socially for adult life. Oliver's uncle said he was hoping that he might persuade the parents that this arrangement would be good for all the years of education before university as Mr Brownlow did not approve of boarding schools. While this arrangement meant, the children could stay at home and continue to learn with the classmates they already knew. br /Oliver got dressed and went to the study. Sat on a chair and waited. Eventually William and Susan who were siblings arrived and sat down next to Oliver at his desk. It was rather quiet and rather serious which was rather uncomfortable Oliver thought. He looked at them they looked uncomfortable as well. Oliver decided that the first lesson they had together should not be this uncomfortable, so he thought he best change the mood. But how to do it. Though as well as school equipment Mr Brownlow had placed within their desk draws, bouncy balls, yoyo's, playing cards and sweeties Oliver did not think that those would lighten the mood as he knew from experience that William and Susan were both very serious about education so they would only play games once they were told lessons were over. So, what would lighten the mood. Oliver thought very, very hard on the matter at hand, so very hard in fact that he was actually frowning in concentration. No bouncy balls, no yoyo's, no running around games, in fact no games what so ever, no sweeties, no fantastical made up stories and no small talk as that board Oliver because there was never any thing to say. Oliver thought about how there was never anything interesting to say. How it wasn't quite true. br /There just weren't any very interesting conversations to be had about anything that happened recently. His meeting with Dodger last night was interesting, it was just not going to be a very long tale, also Oliver felt it was his special secret, no one else knew about, just him and Dodger. Live wanted to keep it that way. The first time he met Dodger was just as interesting, it wasn't really completely a secret, the police, Mr Brownlow and everybody they knew, knew that Oliver had gotten involved with a network of thieves who stole Mr Brownlow's wallet. That was when Oliver came up with a simply wonderful idea. He decided that he would tell his friends the real whole story of his adventure with Fagin's gang. He would tell them how he grew up in a workhouse, how he was sold to funeral directors just before he asked for more food, how he got into a fight and fled to London then meet the Artful Dodger, then meet the whole gang, he would tell them everything. Once he got going, the mood changed completely, Susan and William were enjoying it immensely. The other three all came in together and became gripped by Oliver's tale. Oliver had just gotten to the part just before he first met the Artful Dodger when the tutor with Mr Brownlow came into the room. Mr brownlow and the tutor went to the head of the classroom. Mr brownlow addressed the class " good morning children. Today is your first day together being taught by miss Stern wood. I want you all to know that miss Stern Wood will of cause be a strict teacher. She'll teach you lots of different subjects and she'll expect you to know it next lesson. She won't tolerate any silliness disrupting her lesson either. However miss Stern Wood is a extremely fair teacher. She won't expect any of you to know something before she knows that she has taught you it. And if any of you experience any difficulties in understanding a concept then don't be afraid to tell you. Because she'll take the time to make sure you do know it" Martha burst into the room and hurried over to Mr Browlow whispering something in his ear. "I'm dreadfully sorry but I must leave you all to it for now" Mr browlow apologised quickly adding " something most urgent has come up. So sorry" with that he dashed out of the room. Miss Stern Wood herself addressed the class " yes I don't want any of you to be frightened if you don't understand something just tell me as soon as you can and I'll go over it with you. Don't wait till the day after because I do expect everyone to know it after I have spent the trouble of teaching it to you. So lets begin with reading" br /Oliver was very glad that his uncle had hired a tutor to educate him two months ago before he was kidnapped. If he hadn't he wouldn't have been able to read at all and he would have been miles behind everyone else. The book that they all read a chapter of out loud was ' Pinocchio'. After reading was writing as miss Stern Wood thought that reading would inspire their ability to write. She got them all to write about the first exciting event I their lives that came into their heads. Oliver of course wrote about his adventure of first coming to London which was easy as he had just told the story to his class mates so he sort of already had the structure of the tale in his head. br /Mr Brownlow leaped into a taxi and got it to take him to his other nephew. He slammed open the door to his nephews office without knocking first and strode over to his nephew. Mr brownlow snapped in a still very controlled manor as was his way " how dare you Albert summoning me like a dog. This had better be important. Oliver was having his first day being taught by his new tutor with some of his friends. Oliver needed my support. It's probably very daunting for him". His nephew tapped the desk 6 times before replying in a very sarcastic tone of voice " oh yes we wouldn't want poor darling can do nothing wrong angelic Oliver to be a little upset now would we?. Not after his wonderful, loving great uncle has already taken him of the streets and given him a nice big warm house. Given him a servant, education, all the toys he used to be deprived of. He's even been given half. Half! Of the wealth in your Will that ought to have been mine by right. You didn't know he even existed until two months ago. Yet you make him as one of your inheritors in your Will. Yes poor Oliver not having you squeezing his hand when he's being given the best education money can buy. Poor. Poor Oliver i feel so guilty keeping you from him". br /This response shocked Mr Brownlow he knew that Albert felt entitled to all the wealth and he knew that leaving Oliver with half of the estate had upset him but Mr Brownlow had not known how much venom Albert felt towards Oliver. Perhaps if he explained the situation about Oliver's background it would reassure Albert that he still is loved. "please understand that Oliver is no more than a child who for his whole life was brought up in the workhouse completely separate from real society. He grew up without the love of his family, with no love at all. I now intend to give him that love that he was deprived of when he was younger. To be both his mother and his father so that when he is still of a young age he will have the guidance and the love that a young child needs. Albert please understand that I love you too. You are being deprived of nothing. I make him in my will because that is the law. If his mother lived she would have inherited half as well. So please understand that I will you always love you as my own son. Do you understand Albert you are always welcome at my home, your home Albert. Your place in my heart has not been taken by Oliver in any way I assure you. I love you both equally. When I die you will inherit half of my estate and Oliver the other half. Because you are brother's. It is natural for Oliver to become part of your life Albert". Mr Brownlow did not know what reaction he expected from Albert. If he reacted with wails of tears he would have understood perfectly, he would have comforted Albert and asked him to come back to his home. A outburst of anger he would also have understood. Albert was extremely unlucky in life. But the cold arrogance he did not expect.
Not in the slightest. Albert was smiling, the most arrogant smile Mr Brownlow had ever seen on a persons face. It was a half smile and to add further to unbelievable show of arrogance Albert was leaning back in his chair. " what are you thinking Albert? What do you think man?". Instead of answering Albert chose that moment to pour wine into his wine glass then took a long drawn out sip. Then after he had finished and put his glass down he answered " Oliver was managing perfectly well on his own. Living a little outside of the law perhaps, but then don't we all? You could have just sent him on his way. Maybe you could have gotten him a job as a servant for a rich family. Would have paid rather well. At least as far as he would be concerned. I mean he all he worked for was a roof over his head and some gruel. I was here first I know what I am missing. I deserve my wealth he had no idea he was entitled to this life until you told him. But I have some sympathies with my so called little brother. So uncle name me as your sole heir and Oliver will receive the best education i can pay for. In a boarding school in Paris. Excellent facilities there the very best or so I'm told. Its what his mother would have wanted uncle. To receive an education. To earn his wealth. Not have it be given to him by you". Mr Brownlow felt anger rising within him. So he leaped up and dashed for the door, putting his hand on the knob. He felt he ought to have another go and helping poor Albert, it's what his niece would have wanted. Facing Albert be tried again " he is your brother. Don't you have any desire to help him?. To be a brother to him? I have a terrible feeling in my bones that your businesses are dreadfully illegal and more importantly immoral. At the very least try to bond with your brother as payment to me. I am the reason your not in debtors prison. With all those gambling debts you should be there. Think about it" he walked out and shut the door. br /After writing Oliver and his classmates were given a 15 minute break so they all got served cookies and milk. They all demand2d that Oliver continue his tale. So Oliver did " so I was there in London all alone, hungry and extremely bewildered. When this boy my age dressed like a gentleman with a top hat and jacket asked me where I was from whether i was hungry. I was rather so I said yes I was so he bought me something to eat it tasted wonderful at the time though I didn't know what it was. The strange boy told me he's called the Artful dodger. Then he asked me where I'm sleeping I said I haven't the foggiest" Oliver continued the tale, his audience were completely captivated. considering who they were he decided to make fagins gang seem as awful as possible as they wouldn't understand that they were good people as well as thieves they would ask when they're getting hung or deported , making them seem evil would separate the story from reality so he wouldn't become cross and defensive to his classmates. He had just gotten to the bit where he was arrested for Mr Brownlow wallet being stolen, when miss Stern wood came back to teach them maths. Oliver was dreading maths as he wasn't very good at it. Nonetheless he better just put his chin up and accept that maths was what he was doing and he was going to be terrible at it. br /Memories and conflicts/p
p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"Every night Dodger had a nightmare that ended with his father. He made sure no one knew. He acted tough, tougher than he had ever done before. Barking orders at the others. Getting into numerous fist fights with the boy's, he tried not to fight with Lucy because he knew that she was a lot stronger than him, but if he lost he would be labelled as a sissy who could get beaten by a girl. Not good for his new tough appearance. Dodger even did more and more ridiculously dangerous and daring things, like stealing from a policeman then yelling "I've gotten your wallet Mr old and ugly " then running for his life away from a very angry copper. Fagin never seemed impress, even though as Dodger had worked out Fagin had been angry with him because he was a wimp. Dodger had no idea why he was having nightmares about his father. He used to beat Dodger a long time ago, before he joined Fagin, before he became known as the Artful Dodger. When he wore the name Jack Dawkins. He thought the memories of his father beating him b were buried deep under other happier memories. So that they were almost forgotten. So he had no idea why his father was appearing now within his dreams when for four carefree, adventure full years his father seemed to have been chucked along with his old clothes and his name. Dodger was remembering however. Remembering his abusive father and his quiet, strict mother though now Jack supposed she was just as imprisoned by his father as he was. Jack remembered how... br /His father was a cobbler which meant he made shoes. Jacks parents had 20 children all together. They had 11 children at first however they gradually all died due to illness. 9 more children were born. Jack Dawkins was the youngest. By 2 years of age Jack's 3 oldest siblings had left home for work. Jack was left with only five older siblings. Being a cobbler didn't provide a lot of money, but that was the only thing jacks father knew how to do . So to provide more money jacks mother used her skills of sowing and weaving to fix the other people in their neighbourhood clothes. She could only do simple stuff but that was all people wanted. No one had enough money to buy new clothes often so all they could afford was Jacks mother. It didn't produce much money but meant that they had enough to live on. Jacks mother job was never mentioned. H8s father became a alcoholic br /When he was 4 years old every morning his mother would wake him up and locked him outside with a shoe brush and polish, without having had any breakfast at all. If jack complained at all his mother would sternly tell him "Jack Dawkins, you ain't getting any supper if i don't see that box full". So, Jack would wander around with old, hole filled shoes that were two sizes too big for him, some trousers and a shirt even at winter, carrying around a money box which said "pay". little jack would shout out "wan your shoe shine" which wasn't very loud at all. A few people would notice and give him a shilling though mostly even less a ha'penny then jack would shine their shoes. He would shout so much saying " wan your shoe shine" that after an hour jack's voice felt sore his voice was hardly as loud as a whisper. A lot of days he didn't get any supper, as no one noticed him, he always got food on Sunday's as that was his day off. Sometimes his mother sent him out without the tools for shoe shining as a little beggar boy might invoke more sympathy. On those day's his mother didn't let him in the house at all so that throughout the night people might give him even more money, "if people were kind and if you're not a sinner then strangers ought to give you food my lad" his mother would explain. One day his box was full after having slept outside as a beggar in the night and had been polishing peoples shoes throughout the day. br /So he went home, his mother didn't let him in as lots of customers were going in either to see his mother for her clothes fixing business or his father for his cobbler business. So he just waited sitting on the step. It then occurred to the little 4 year old that no one mentioned all these people coming with clothes for his mother to fix. Neither did anyone mention any job that he and his siblings did either. Everyone just mentioned how his father had made some money. This seemed odd to Jack as he thought that money was money and it did look the same. The money that he, siblings and his mother made looked the same as what his father made. Jack thought that maybe the money payed for shoes was special money so it was more important when his father made money than when his mother or he made money. Though he wasn't sure. Jack had been out on the step for two hours before his mother came out and Jack showed her his box full of money so she let him for tea which was a bowl of porridge. Not yummy porridge with syrup. Plain, tasteless porridge. All his older siblings were having their normal fun of teasing Jack, Lilly said " I think cleaning is the only job Jack will be able to do when he's older", Ben smirked "I don't think he'll be able to do that either he'll get sent to the workhouse, with all that crying and wetting the bed that he does. You'd have thought he's a baby would'nt you. They'll be putting a nappy on him and putting him in a crib every hour" everybody burst out laughing. Jack couldn't take it any longer so he stamped his foot in frustration and with tears in his eyes he said sulkily "why does every body make fun of me. I do loads of work don't I. spend all day outside., beggin and people give money to me. You guys get to go inside more than me. Why don't nobody say nothin bout me workin. Everybody talks about faher, I do as much work as he does don't I? . Is it cause faher makes special money" his father thumped his fist on the table which made everyone jump. His father bellowed "I provide for this family. Not ya mother. Not ya siblings and god knows not you" Jack felt himself shaking. Felt his eyes starting to water with tears. Then his father shouted "so do I make myself clear" he thumped his fist again " well do I" jack thought he better answer before he started actually crying. So he answered in a very quiet voice "yes faher. Very clear Sir". Jacks father threw his bowl of porridge onto the floor spilling porridge all over the floor. speaking barely more than a whisper which was somehow more terrifying than when he shouted his father uttered his verdict on his youngest child "speak properly boy. Everybody makes fun of ya cause ya pathetic ain't cha there's nothin more to it than that to be perfectly honest. They're all older than you, they all earned their place at this table you haven't. Until you learn respect for this family you will receive no food at all. Until you stop wetting your bed and start speaking properly. Until you learn your place. instead of food you will receive three lashes from my belt. Starting now" his father indicated that he wanted jack to come to him. Come to him to receive three lashings from his belt. So, jack did. He did so for a whole month. Until he learnt his place. Because of those lashings, he learnt the rules. How no one is allowed to talk about everyone in their family having jobs, because that would be admitting that father wasn't making enough money for his family. His wife and children were providing more than him. Jack soon realized that his father was an alcoholic because he was ashamed of himself. Ashamed that his wife and children were the 'bread winners' of the family. Being a alcoholic meant he worked less providing less money, making him more ashamed and more depressed causing a very vicious cycle. br /On Saturday morning Dodger woke up. He woke up because he smelled pancakes. The others also woken to the delicious smell of pancakes. Dodger and all the others got dressed, dodger put on his hat and they all went in search of pancakes. Outside they found Fagin at the old pancake stand at the stove holding a pan making pancakes. When Fagin saw the children were up he crowed "ah your awake my dears. I don't suppose any of you want a pancake" all the children rushed forward yelling " I do. I do. I want a pancake. I want one Fagin. me first" Fagin bellowed " be quiet" once they had calmed down and backed a way a little he continued in his normal gentle tone " one at a dears. One at a time. Old Fagin will give all of you a pancake if you just wait your turn" Dodger had backed a way but only a little so he could if he dashed quickly he'd get to the pancake stand first. Dodger put his arm on the edge of the stand and did a half smile at Fagin " a pancake for your old pal if you please Fagin me old mate" Fagin chuckled and shook his head " ah Dodger ever the vulture taking advantage of a old fool like me" Dodger shook his head in mock surprise ""I'd never call you an old fool Fagin me old pal. I'd call you me mate. My nice little old man who I look after. But never an old fool" Fagin put the pancake on a plate and handed it to Dodger who grinned mischievously. "go on you little rascal. Go and bully another defenceless old man. " Fagin jokingly scolded Dodger. br /Dodger took his plate to a round wooden table near the stand, sat down and sprinkled sugar and lemon on his pancake. He gobbled it quickly. No one sat on Dodger's table not after his new violent streak. Dodger was however pleased with himself as Fagin seemed to finally see that Dodger was manly enough to be trusted. Dodger thought he'd fancy another so he started towards the stand to get another helping when none other than Tom blocked his path and punched Dodger in the stomach. Dodger doubled over with agonizing pain zig sagging throughout his body. Dodger bit the inside of his cheek till it bleed to bring himself back to reality. With clenched teeth dodger managed to gasp " why d you do that" Tom snarled " cause you was gonna prance over to the stand and get another pancake first weren't cha like you always do. Well I want my second pancake first. I don't think you'll be the high and mighty Artful Dodger Fagin's favourite for much longer d you. Not after it comes out that you have nightmares about your daddy beatin you. Don't look so shocked opened mouthed and all. I hear ya in the night whimpering "daddy don't hit me again daddy. Please I'll be good father. I won't be a sassy no more". Dodger stopped looking shocked. His expression hardened. Tom had humiliated him. He wasn't gonna let tom get away with it. He leaped up and threw his fist in Toms face. Tom fell, blood dripping from his nose, cheek badly bruised. Every child had formed a circle around Tom and Dodger to see how this fight ended. To see who would win. There had been many entertaining fights that week. Sometimes Dodger won. mostly he lost. The crowd cheered "yay. Yay. Yay. Get up Tom swing him one back. Then Dodger you return it again. Fight. Fight. Fight". Tom obeyed the crowd. He wouldn't let his enemy look better than him. Tom struggled up. Dodger instinctively wanted to help but Tom would just punch him again. Dodger did not want to be thought of as a sissy. br /Tom edged towards Dodger. Tom readied his fist to strike one against Dodger. Dodger prepared himself to hit Tom. Before any blows were received Fagin stepped in between the boys ending the fight. " what's going on my dears. Why all this meaningless violence? Dodger ears still fuming mutte3ed furiously " he started it" Tom kicked the ground " he started it first. Him and his "oh aren't I so marvellous" dodger tried to edge around Fagin but he held Dodger back with one hand, the other holding Tom back. " calm down my dears" Fagin soothed " I don't care who started it. All I want to happen is for you to end it. Today of all days is especially important". All the children were bewildered. Dodger as always voiced what everyone were wondering "Fagin what's special bout today exactly?" " why my dears today's important because of a new delivery of particularly valuables products that will be delivered outside of the old 'magpie inn' waiting for my signature to release the crates full of the merchandise" Lucy then asked Fagin a question " where did you get valuble products that get delivered exactly. And why only mention it now" . Fagin sighed despairing " why so many questions my dears. Doesn't old Fagin look after you. Doesn't old Fagin make sure your stomachs are full, your throats are moist and you all have a roof over your heads to keep out the cold and the rain. Doesn't old Fagin do everything in his power to make sure your all safe" the chidren all nodded, Fagin was almost now wailing his speech " why oh why doesn't anybody trust old Fagin. My dears, my little magpies everything I do is for you. I made a deal with a certain very rich gentleman who became so rich through the drug trade. I didn't tell you about it because you didn't need to knoe. Not yet then anyway. Why would you need to know as soon as I make the deal mmm. What if something happened to the delivery. What then mmmm. You'd have been disappointed wouldn't you. Have your little hearts broken for nothing. It's better I tell you now. So who wants a second helping" Every one did they all rushed forward grabbing a pancake, devouring it, the mystery of the delivery completely forgotten. Everyone also forgot that they were afraid of Dodger now a days so they sat with Dodger. It felt like it used to, Dodger felt like they were all friends, all family, even if he knew that after breakfast they would all go back to being jealous of him. br /They all went to collect the crates. Fagin then signed the necessary documents. There were in total a hundred crates. They had to all go back and forth many times. Four children for each adult to help lift a crate. They stored the crates in the cafe, the ticket stands, the train ride even the stand by the entrance. After all the heavy lifting Fagin made them put lots of cards which on one side said in small letters ' for pleasure and escape come to the jumping kangaroo inn on Saturday' on the other side 'pleasure and escape costs 30 shillings' in the fortune telling machines as well as a sign on the front gate. Then Fagin let them have fun in the fair ground. Shooting at bottles in the shooting galleries, the prize being all the money they could gather. They went on the roller coaster that head to their home., water squirted at them. They went on it 4 times. Though Dodger thought it probably would break soon as it kept on creaking and giving jerky movement when it was turning. For dinner Fagin made them a meal of bacon, eggs and only slightly mouldy bread, no butter. It was a terrific feast./p
Not in the slightest. Albert was smiling, the most arrogant smile Mr Brownlow had ever seen on a persons face. It was a half smile and to add further to unbelievable show of arrogance Albert was leaning back in his chair. " what are you thinking Albert? What do you think man?". Instead of answering Albert chose that moment to pour wine into his wine glass then took a long drawn out sip. Then after he had finished and put his glass down he answered " Oliver was managing perfectly well on his own. Living a little outside of the law perhaps, but then don't we all? You could have just sent him on his way. Maybe you could have gotten him a job as a servant for a rich family. Would have paid rather well. At least as far as he would be concerned. I mean he all he worked for was a roof over his head and some gruel. I was here first I know what I am missing. I deserve my wealth he had no idea he was entitled to this life until you told him. But I have some sympathies with my so called little brother. So uncle name me as your sole heir and Oliver will receive the best education i can pay for. In a boarding school in Paris. Excellent facilities there the very best or so I'm told. Its what his mother would have wanted uncle. To receive an education. To earn his wealth. Not have it be given to him by you". Mr Brownlow felt anger rising within him. So he leaped up and dashed for the door, putting his hand on the knob. He felt he ought to have another go and helping poor Albert, it's what his niece would have wanted. Facing Albert be tried again " he is your brother. Don't you have any desire to help him?. To be a brother to him? I have a terrible feeling in my bones that your businesses are dreadfully illegal and more importantly immoral. At the very least try to bond with your brother as payment to me. I am the reason your not in debtors prison. With all those gambling debts you should be there. Think about it" he walked out and shut the door. br /After writing Oliver and his classmates were given a 15 minute break so they all got served cookies and milk. They all demand2d that Oliver continue his tale. So Oliver did " so I was there in London all alone, hungry and extremely bewildered. When this boy my age dressed like a gentleman with a top hat and jacket asked me where I was from whether i was hungry. I was rather so I said yes I was so he bought me something to eat it tasted wonderful at the time though I didn't know what it was. The strange boy told me he's called the Artful dodger. Then he asked me where I'm sleeping I said I haven't the foggiest" Oliver continued the tale, his audience were completely captivated. considering who they were he decided to make fagins gang seem as awful as possible as they wouldn't understand that they were good people as well as thieves they would ask when they're getting hung or deported , making them seem evil would separate the story from reality so he wouldn't become cross and defensive to his classmates. He had just gotten to the bit where he was arrested for Mr Brownlow wallet being stolen, when miss Stern wood came back to teach them maths. Oliver was dreading maths as he wasn't very good at it. Nonetheless he better just put his chin up and accept that maths was what he was doing and he was going to be terrible at it. br /Memories and conflicts/p
p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"Every night Dodger had a nightmare that ended with his father. He made sure no one knew. He acted tough, tougher than he had ever done before. Barking orders at the others. Getting into numerous fist fights with the boy's, he tried not to fight with Lucy because he knew that she was a lot stronger than him, but if he lost he would be labelled as a sissy who could get beaten by a girl. Not good for his new tough appearance. Dodger even did more and more ridiculously dangerous and daring things, like stealing from a policeman then yelling "I've gotten your wallet Mr old and ugly " then running for his life away from a very angry copper. Fagin never seemed impress, even though as Dodger had worked out Fagin had been angry with him because he was a wimp. Dodger had no idea why he was having nightmares about his father. He used to beat Dodger a long time ago, before he joined Fagin, before he became known as the Artful Dodger. When he wore the name Jack Dawkins. He thought the memories of his father beating him b were buried deep under other happier memories. So that they were almost forgotten. So he had no idea why his father was appearing now within his dreams when for four carefree, adventure full years his father seemed to have been chucked along with his old clothes and his name. Dodger was remembering however. Remembering his abusive father and his quiet, strict mother though now Jack supposed she was just as imprisoned by his father as he was. Jack remembered how... br /His father was a cobbler which meant he made shoes. Jacks parents had 20 children all together. They had 11 children at first however they gradually all died due to illness. 9 more children were born. Jack Dawkins was the youngest. By 2 years of age Jack's 3 oldest siblings had left home for work. Jack was left with only five older siblings. Being a cobbler didn't provide a lot of money, but that was the only thing jacks father knew how to do . So to provide more money jacks mother used her skills of sowing and weaving to fix the other people in their neighbourhood clothes. She could only do simple stuff but that was all people wanted. No one had enough money to buy new clothes often so all they could afford was Jacks mother. It didn't produce much money but meant that they had enough to live on. Jacks mother job was never mentioned. H8s father became a alcoholic br /When he was 4 years old every morning his mother would wake him up and locked him outside with a shoe brush and polish, without having had any breakfast at all. If jack complained at all his mother would sternly tell him "Jack Dawkins, you ain't getting any supper if i don't see that box full". So, Jack would wander around with old, hole filled shoes that were two sizes too big for him, some trousers and a shirt even at winter, carrying around a money box which said "pay". little jack would shout out "wan your shoe shine" which wasn't very loud at all. A few people would notice and give him a shilling though mostly even less a ha'penny then jack would shine their shoes. He would shout so much saying " wan your shoe shine" that after an hour jack's voice felt sore his voice was hardly as loud as a whisper. A lot of days he didn't get any supper, as no one noticed him, he always got food on Sunday's as that was his day off. Sometimes his mother sent him out without the tools for shoe shining as a little beggar boy might invoke more sympathy. On those day's his mother didn't let him in the house at all so that throughout the night people might give him even more money, "if people were kind and if you're not a sinner then strangers ought to give you food my lad" his mother would explain. One day his box was full after having slept outside as a beggar in the night and had been polishing peoples shoes throughout the day. br /So he went home, his mother didn't let him in as lots of customers were going in either to see his mother for her clothes fixing business or his father for his cobbler business. So he just waited sitting on the step. It then occurred to the little 4 year old that no one mentioned all these people coming with clothes for his mother to fix. Neither did anyone mention any job that he and his siblings did either. Everyone just mentioned how his father had made some money. This seemed odd to Jack as he thought that money was money and it did look the same. The money that he, siblings and his mother made looked the same as what his father made. Jack thought that maybe the money payed for shoes was special money so it was more important when his father made money than when his mother or he made money. Though he wasn't sure. Jack had been out on the step for two hours before his mother came out and Jack showed her his box full of money so she let him for tea which was a bowl of porridge. Not yummy porridge with syrup. Plain, tasteless porridge. All his older siblings were having their normal fun of teasing Jack, Lilly said " I think cleaning is the only job Jack will be able to do when he's older", Ben smirked "I don't think he'll be able to do that either he'll get sent to the workhouse, with all that crying and wetting the bed that he does. You'd have thought he's a baby would'nt you. They'll be putting a nappy on him and putting him in a crib every hour" everybody burst out laughing. Jack couldn't take it any longer so he stamped his foot in frustration and with tears in his eyes he said sulkily "why does every body make fun of me. I do loads of work don't I. spend all day outside., beggin and people give money to me. You guys get to go inside more than me. Why don't nobody say nothin bout me workin. Everybody talks about faher, I do as much work as he does don't I? . Is it cause faher makes special money" his father thumped his fist on the table which made everyone jump. His father bellowed "I provide for this family. Not ya mother. Not ya siblings and god knows not you" Jack felt himself shaking. Felt his eyes starting to water with tears. Then his father shouted "so do I make myself clear" he thumped his fist again " well do I" jack thought he better answer before he started actually crying. So he answered in a very quiet voice "yes faher. Very clear Sir". Jacks father threw his bowl of porridge onto the floor spilling porridge all over the floor. speaking barely more than a whisper which was somehow more terrifying than when he shouted his father uttered his verdict on his youngest child "speak properly boy. Everybody makes fun of ya cause ya pathetic ain't cha there's nothin more to it than that to be perfectly honest. They're all older than you, they all earned their place at this table you haven't. Until you learn respect for this family you will receive no food at all. Until you stop wetting your bed and start speaking properly. Until you learn your place. instead of food you will receive three lashes from my belt. Starting now" his father indicated that he wanted jack to come to him. Come to him to receive three lashings from his belt. So, jack did. He did so for a whole month. Until he learnt his place. Because of those lashings, he learnt the rules. How no one is allowed to talk about everyone in their family having jobs, because that would be admitting that father wasn't making enough money for his family. His wife and children were providing more than him. Jack soon realized that his father was an alcoholic because he was ashamed of himself. Ashamed that his wife and children were the 'bread winners' of the family. Being a alcoholic meant he worked less providing less money, making him more ashamed and more depressed causing a very vicious cycle. br /On Saturday morning Dodger woke up. He woke up because he smelled pancakes. The others also woken to the delicious smell of pancakes. Dodger and all the others got dressed, dodger put on his hat and they all went in search of pancakes. Outside they found Fagin at the old pancake stand at the stove holding a pan making pancakes. When Fagin saw the children were up he crowed "ah your awake my dears. I don't suppose any of you want a pancake" all the children rushed forward yelling " I do. I do. I want a pancake. I want one Fagin. me first" Fagin bellowed " be quiet" once they had calmed down and backed a way a little he continued in his normal gentle tone " one at a dears. One at a time. Old Fagin will give all of you a pancake if you just wait your turn" Dodger had backed a way but only a little so he could if he dashed quickly he'd get to the pancake stand first. Dodger put his arm on the edge of the stand and did a half smile at Fagin " a pancake for your old pal if you please Fagin me old mate" Fagin chuckled and shook his head " ah Dodger ever the vulture taking advantage of a old fool like me" Dodger shook his head in mock surprise ""I'd never call you an old fool Fagin me old pal. I'd call you me mate. My nice little old man who I look after. But never an old fool" Fagin put the pancake on a plate and handed it to Dodger who grinned mischievously. "go on you little rascal. Go and bully another defenceless old man. " Fagin jokingly scolded Dodger. br /Dodger took his plate to a round wooden table near the stand, sat down and sprinkled sugar and lemon on his pancake. He gobbled it quickly. No one sat on Dodger's table not after his new violent streak. Dodger was however pleased with himself as Fagin seemed to finally see that Dodger was manly enough to be trusted. Dodger thought he'd fancy another so he started towards the stand to get another helping when none other than Tom blocked his path and punched Dodger in the stomach. Dodger doubled over with agonizing pain zig sagging throughout his body. Dodger bit the inside of his cheek till it bleed to bring himself back to reality. With clenched teeth dodger managed to gasp " why d you do that" Tom snarled " cause you was gonna prance over to the stand and get another pancake first weren't cha like you always do. Well I want my second pancake first. I don't think you'll be the high and mighty Artful Dodger Fagin's favourite for much longer d you. Not after it comes out that you have nightmares about your daddy beatin you. Don't look so shocked opened mouthed and all. I hear ya in the night whimpering "daddy don't hit me again daddy. Please I'll be good father. I won't be a sassy no more". Dodger stopped looking shocked. His expression hardened. Tom had humiliated him. He wasn't gonna let tom get away with it. He leaped up and threw his fist in Toms face. Tom fell, blood dripping from his nose, cheek badly bruised. Every child had formed a circle around Tom and Dodger to see how this fight ended. To see who would win. There had been many entertaining fights that week. Sometimes Dodger won. mostly he lost. The crowd cheered "yay. Yay. Yay. Get up Tom swing him one back. Then Dodger you return it again. Fight. Fight. Fight". Tom obeyed the crowd. He wouldn't let his enemy look better than him. Tom struggled up. Dodger instinctively wanted to help but Tom would just punch him again. Dodger did not want to be thought of as a sissy. br /Tom edged towards Dodger. Tom readied his fist to strike one against Dodger. Dodger prepared himself to hit Tom. Before any blows were received Fagin stepped in between the boys ending the fight. " what's going on my dears. Why all this meaningless violence? Dodger ears still fuming mutte3ed furiously " he started it" Tom kicked the ground " he started it first. Him and his "oh aren't I so marvellous" dodger tried to edge around Fagin but he held Dodger back with one hand, the other holding Tom back. " calm down my dears" Fagin soothed " I don't care who started it. All I want to happen is for you to end it. Today of all days is especially important". All the children were bewildered. Dodger as always voiced what everyone were wondering "Fagin what's special bout today exactly?" " why my dears today's important because of a new delivery of particularly valuables products that will be delivered outside of the old 'magpie inn' waiting for my signature to release the crates full of the merchandise" Lucy then asked Fagin a question " where did you get valuble products that get delivered exactly. And why only mention it now" . Fagin sighed despairing " why so many questions my dears. Doesn't old Fagin look after you. Doesn't old Fagin make sure your stomachs are full, your throats are moist and you all have a roof over your heads to keep out the cold and the rain. Doesn't old Fagin do everything in his power to make sure your all safe" the chidren all nodded, Fagin was almost now wailing his speech " why oh why doesn't anybody trust old Fagin. My dears, my little magpies everything I do is for you. I made a deal with a certain very rich gentleman who became so rich through the drug trade. I didn't tell you about it because you didn't need to knoe. Not yet then anyway. Why would you need to know as soon as I make the deal mmm. What if something happened to the delivery. What then mmmm. You'd have been disappointed wouldn't you. Have your little hearts broken for nothing. It's better I tell you now. So who wants a second helping" Every one did they all rushed forward grabbing a pancake, devouring it, the mystery of the delivery completely forgotten. Everyone also forgot that they were afraid of Dodger now a days so they sat with Dodger. It felt like it used to, Dodger felt like they were all friends, all family, even if he knew that after breakfast they would all go back to being jealous of him. br /They all went to collect the crates. Fagin then signed the necessary documents. There were in total a hundred crates. They had to all go back and forth many times. Four children for each adult to help lift a crate. They stored the crates in the cafe, the ticket stands, the train ride even the stand by the entrance. After all the heavy lifting Fagin made them put lots of cards which on one side said in small letters ' for pleasure and escape come to the jumping kangaroo inn on Saturday' on the other side 'pleasure and escape costs 30 shillings' in the fortune telling machines as well as a sign on the front gate. Then Fagin let them have fun in the fair ground. Shooting at bottles in the shooting galleries, the prize being all the money they could gather. They went on the roller coaster that head to their home., water squirted at them. They went on it 4 times. Though Dodger thought it probably would break soon as it kept on creaking and giving jerky movement when it was turning. For dinner Fagin made them a meal of bacon, eggs and only slightly mouldy bread, no butter. It was a terrific feast./p