Edith's First Christmas Play

1913

Edith: 4

Finn: 6

"I have a letter for you!" Edith shouts as she bursts through the front door of 6 Watery Lane, said letter clutched in her hand which was being waved in the air.

"Uh oh. What have you done wrong this time?" John teases, throwing Edith a wink as she huffs comically, shaking her head at her older brother.

"Nothing! It's about the Christmas play!" She exclaims, continuing to wave the letter in the air in front of Arthur's face.

"Christmas plays are for babies." Finn grumbles as he trails into the house behind Edith, dumping his school bag against his chair as he climbs up on to it, reaching forwards for the plate of bread and jam in the middle of the table. Tommy watches his sister as her face drops, bottom lip beginning to tremble as her eyes fill with tears, letter still clutched in her fist. Sliding his hands under her arms, Tommy lifts her swiftly on to his lap, tucking her body against his as he gently plucks the letter from her hand.

"Dear parents," he reads aloud, allowing Edith to tuck her head against his neck, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I am writing to inform you of our Christmas performance, being held on the 16th December. Your child, Edith Shelby, has been chosen to play a star in her class performance piece." Pausing, Tommy smiles down at Edith as John leans across the table, hand outstretched to give Edith a high five, which she enthusiastically gives, slapping her hand against her brothers.

"What do stars have to do then?" Arthur asks from the other side of Tommy, Edith turning to face him with a wide grin.

"We get to sing a song!" Edith exclaims, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. "And we wear a star costume! Do you think Aunt Pol can make me one?"

"I'm sure if you ask her nicely she'll do her best." Tommy replies, shifting Edith on his lap so that she could see all of her brothers. "Have you got a letter Finn?"

"Yeah." Finn mumbles around a mouthful of bread and jam, reaching down to pick up his bag, thrusting it in Tommy's direction. Sighing, Tommy takes the bag from Finn, rolling his eyes at John as he digs through the bag until he finds the letter. "I'm not doing it." Finn states as Tommy quickly scans the letter containing pretty much the same information as Edith's.

"Why the bloody hell not?" Arthur questions, fixing Finn with a stare as he shrugs, stuffing another mouthful of bread into his mouth.

"Says here you're going to be a shepherd." Tommy cuts in, laying the piece of paper flat on the table on top of Edith's.

"I'm not being a shepherd." Finn grumbles, sliding down in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. "I'm a Peaky blinder. Blinder boys don't play shepherds in school plays." John lets out a snort of laughter, covering his mouth with a clenched fist as Finn shoots him a glare, the older brother casting his eyes over to Tommy, who was shaking his head in amusement, and Arthur who, like John, was trying very hard not to laugh. With her brother occupied glaring at their older siblings, Edith slyly reaches forward, pulling the now nearly empty plate of bread slowly towards her, catching John watching her with a grin out of the corner of his eye.

"Firstly, you ain't a blinder yet, my boy." Arthur states, clearing his throat to rid his voice of laughter. Finn lets out a low growl of frustration, crossing his arms over his chest with a huff. "And secondly, come over here. Let me tell you something." Reluctantly, Finn slides off his chair, shuffling over to Arthur who lifts him on to his lap, smirking as his youngest brother crosses his arms over his chest once more. "All of us," Arthur begins, motioning to himself, John and Tommy. "We were in Christmas plays at school too."

"You were?" Edith pipes up, peering up at Tommy who nods, smiling at her shocked expression. Finn glances over at John who nods too, leaning forwards in his chair to whisper conspiratorially at him. "And do you know who Arthur was when he was your age?" Finn shakes his head, leaning towards John as he beckons him closer. "He was a sheep!" Edith lets out a shriek of laughter, falling back against Tommy's chest as a round of giggles escapes her, Finn soon following in his sister's tracks, looking back at Arthur with laughter in his eyes.

"You were?" He laughs, the pair falling into another fit of giggles as Arthur nods his head slowly, giving John a mock glare over the top of Finn's head.

"Only once!" Arthur protests, holding his hands up in surrender. "The next year I was a wise man." Edith lets out a coo of excitement, wiggling in Tommy's lap.

"What were you John?" Finn asks as he calms down, falling back to rest against Arthur's chest.

"I was a shepherd too." John replies, leaning back in his chair. "And so was Tommy."

"What was Ada?" Edith asks, allowing Tommy to wipe her sticky hands clean with a cloth as she pushes the now empty plate away.

"I'm sure she was a sheep too one year." Tommy states, dropping the cloth back into the sink behind her. "You'll have to ask her when she gets home."

"Now what do you think about this Christmas play, eh Finn boy?" Arthur asks, lightly tapping Finn on the cheek with his finger.

"It'll be ok, I suppose." Finn reluctantly agrees, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's going to be so much fun!" Edith exclaims, wiggling in Tommy's lap again.

"Do you think Uncle Charlie will come?" Finn asks softly, ducking his head down to fidget with his fingers.

"I'm sure he will. Why don't you go with Tommy later and ask him?" Arthur suggests, patting Finn on the back as he gives Tommy a small smile as he nods in agreement.

"And Aunt Pol?" Edith asks, peering up at Tommy who nods again.

"You can both ask her if she'll make you your costumes too." He tells them, pressing a kiss to the top of Edith's head as she settles back against his chest again.

—

"Look at her grinning up there." Ada laughs, leaning close to John to peer through the gap between the heads of the people in front of them.

"She's not stopped talking about this play for weeks." He teases in agreement, sticking his tongue out at Edith as she finds him in the crowd, catching his eye.

"John." Polly chastises, reaching over Tommy to slap John's arm as Edith copies him, sticking her tongue out at her older brother.

"Where's Finn?" Ada asks, swaying in her chair to search the group of children on stage getting ready to perform.

"There, on the right. Third row up." Tommy tells her, pointing his finger in the direction of Finn's group. Finn meets Ada's eye, blushing as she waves at him, blowing him a kiss from the audience, letting out a laugh as he ducks his head to focus on the ground.

"Don't embarrass him!" Arthur laughs, shaking his head as he slides into his seat beside Pol. "Poor kid."

"Their costumes look great, Pol." Tommy comments, letting out a laugh as Edith spots their Uncle Charlie and Curly dropping into the seats John had reserved beside him, rising on to her tiptoes to wave enthusiastically at the two men.

"I'm surprised Edith's didn't turn out wonky, the little rascal wouldn't stop moving for two minutes." Polly huffs teasingly, shaking her head as the older Shelby siblings let out a laugh, nodding in agreement.

"Sounds like our Edith." John agrees, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Won't be long 'til yours are up there too, John Boy." Charlie states, patting John's shoulder as he groans, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

"Shh, it's starting!" Ada hisses, nudging her elbow into John's ribs as he opens his mouth to reply, rolling his eyes sarcastically at his Uncle who gives him a smile in reply, settling back into his chair as a hush falls over the crowd.

—

Pushing her way through the crowds of adults, Edith stands on her tip toes, turning her head from side to side in search of her family. She huffs, tucking her hand back in Finn's to continue to drag him through the crowd.

"Finn! Come on." She hisses, ignoring his frustrated grumble as he shoves the last of his cookie into his mouth, reluctantly allowing his little sister to pull him around.

"Edith!" Ada shouts, ducking down to Edith's height as she waves to her younger sister from just ahead of them at the back of the hall. Edith lets out an excited squeak, picking up her pace to push her way towards her sister.

"Edith!" Finn grumbles, trying to pull his hand free of her tight grip as she continues on her path.

"There they are!" Arthur calls as the pair emerge through the crowd, swinging Edith up into his arms, the youngest Shelby letting out a shocked shriek as she clings to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

"You were great!" Ada coos, wrapping Finn in a hug which he quickly pulls out of, stepping towards Charlie who tucks the young boy under his arm, subtly slipping him a bag of sweets. Finn grins, unwrapping the paper bag and digging his hand into the bag, shovelling a handful of sweets into his mouth. Smiling down at him, Charlie runs a hand softly over the head of his nephew, glancing up to tune in to Edith reciting the whole performance to her older brothers.

"Did you see me, Uncle Charlie? Did you see me?" Edith calls over to him excitedly, bouncing in Arthur arms as her uncle lets out a chuckle, nodding his head in reply.

"I did! You were brilliant, Edith." He states, pulling a second bag of sweets out of his coat pocket to pass to the youngest Shelby.

"Charlie." Tommy draws out, voice laced with mock exasperation, shaking his head as their uncle shrugs.

"Just a little treat, Tom. No harm done." Charlie replies, reaching out to pinch Edith's cheek lovingly as she thanks him for the sweets, letting out a long yawn, dropping her head to rest on Arthur's shoulder.

"I think it's time we get these little ones home." Polly states, holding her hand out to Finn who reaches up, tucking his hand in hers, suddenly overcome with tiredness, leaning his body against hers as they all head for the exit and slowly make their way back to Watery Lane.

—

When they finally make it home, Finn having been picked up by Tommy half way down the road, the siblings bid goodnight to their Uncle and Curly, before carrying Edith and Finn up to bed.

"Here, let me take her." John says softly, reaching out towards Arthur who carefully slides Edith into John's arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead as John shifts her to rest against his chest.

"John?" Edith mumbles sleepily as John gently lowers her on to the bed she shared with Finn. Humming in response, John kneels down beside the bed, brushing her hair out of her face as she blinks up at him. "Do you think mama would be proud?" Balking at her question, John casts his eyes up towards Tommy who was frozen in place, half way to straightening up from where he had been laying Finn down in the bed.

"Ada said mama would be watching." Finn yawns as he rolls on to his side, tucking his arms around Edith who snuggles into his embrace.

"Do you think she's proud of us?" Edith asks again, turning to glance up at Tommy who swallows hard, shoving his hands in his pockets as he nods slowly.

"Yeah." He mutters, clearing his throat as he rounds to her side of the bed. "Of course she is." Content with her brother's answer, Edith nods with a hum, dropping her head back to the pillow, letting out a long yawn.

"Good night John. Good night Tommy." She mumbles, pulling the covers up around her chin. "I love you."