Chapter Six: Nancy and Bet

Kathryn awoke to the sound of knocking at be front door. She heard someone shout "Plummy and slum!" from outside and Fagin running to open the door.

Poking her head out of the curtain, Kathryn watched as two women entered the room. One looked to be several years younger than the other; she wore a tattered red skirt and an apron that used to be white. Her brown shoes were scuffed and dirty and her faded blue shirt was patched in several places. Her long, black hair was tied in two pigtails on each side of her head with red bows.

Kathryn looked at the other woman as she greeted Fagin. She noticed that this woman was more prouder and more confident than the other girl. She had long, light brown hair plaited in one long braid that fell down her back. Her boots were black and not nearly as scuffed as the girl's. She wore a cream colored blouse with dirty red jacket and a faded red skirt.

Kathryn was startled from her observations by Dodger speaking, "That is Nancy and Bet," he said, "Nancy's righ' pret'y, ain't she?"

"Please, which one is Nancy?" Kathryn inquired.

"Nancy's the on with the long braid," he answered, "but don't you be stealin' 'er from me. No' tha' I 'ave 'er anyway. She belongs to Bill Sykes." Dodger shook his head. Kathryn supposed he didn't think Bill Sykes was good enough for Nancy.

Soon they heard Fagin's voice calling them to get up because "the ladies," as they were affectionately called, were here. Dodger and Kathryn quickly pulled themselves out of bed and into the main room. Nancy, Bet, and Fagin were already seated at the table drinking gin.

When Kathryn and Dodger walked in, Nancy said, "Who is this, Fagin? I don't remember seein' 'im last time."

"Ah, yes, Nancy. This is our newest member of the gang. His name is Alexander Darby." Kathryn bowed to Nancy and Bet while Dodger tried not to laugh.

Kathryn and Dodger sat down as Charley and the Davis boys walked in. "'ello Charley, Will, Ben," said Nancy as the three sat down at the table, "wot you been up to?"

"Oh, jus' the usual, Nancy," Charley answered as he reached for the sausages. Ben and Will fought over who got to sit by Charley until Kathryn pointed out that they could sit on either side of him. They were satisfied and were soon happily munching on their sausages.

The other boys made their way in over the course of the next five minutes. Nancy greeted each boy with, "'ello mate!" as they made their way in. Kathryn could see that Nancy adored the boys and they adored her.

When everyone had finished eating, Nancy stood up and declared, "I think we should give Alexander a show," she said.

"Oh yes, Nancy," Fagin agreed, "give us a free show."

"'ere Dodge," said Nancy as she moved to the center of the room, "let's show 'em 'ow to be ladies and gentlemen."

"Righ' Nance. Where should we star'?"

"'ow about at the bowin' and 'ats off?"

"Righ' you are," said Dodger as he took her hand and began to sing about how he'd do anything for her. As she listened, Kathryn couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Nancy.

Soon the song was over and Dodger and Nancy took a bow. Nancy walked over to Fagin as he said, "My dear, I do believe you should be gettin' back to Bill before 'e wakes up."

"You're righ', Fagin," she replied, "come on Bet! We've go' to ge' back. See you la'er, boys. Be careful on the job today, ya 'ear?" There was a unanimous "yes Nancy" heard throughout the room as Nancy and Bet walked out of the room.

"Now my dears," said Fagin once the ladies had left, "We must ge' ou' to work." Everyone groaned like they had the day before. However, the work had to be done if they were going to live and everyone knew it.

As they walked out the door, they sang the same 'Be Back Soon' song that they sang the day before. Kathryn assumed this was their little work song that they sang every day.

Kathryn was alone again today. She wasn't really disappointed because she had enjoyed herself the day before. Off she went to the middle of London humming 'Be Back Soon' as she walked along. I hope I see Ginger again today, she thought.

Scanning the streets for her first victim, she spotted Ginger tied to a post outside of a small pub. Kathryn walked over to her and fished deep in her pocket for the roll that Fagin had given her the day before. "Here girl," she said, holding the roll out to the horse, "I bet that tastes good to you. I wonder when you ate last?" The only response she got was Ginger happily munching on her roll.

Kathryn stood there for a long time before tentatively putting her hand up to gently touch Ginger's neck. Ginger jumped a bit and Kathryn suspected it was because she had not been touched with a gentle hand in a long time. Gently stroking the horse's neck, Kathryn said, "That feels good, doesn't it girl?" Ginger nodded her head vigorously. Kathryn laughed as she continued rubbing Ginger's neck.

Their happiness was soon interrupted by the cart driver's appearance as he walked out of the pub. "You get your dir'y li'l 'ands off my 'orse!" he shouted.

"Sir, your hands are much dirtier than mine and cruel too." Kathryn retorted. She was surprised at her own courage. Usually, she would be much too scared to even think about talking that way to anyone. I suppose it's because of Ginger, she thought, I want to protect her from the cruel hands of her driver more than I've ever wanted anything in my whole life! If talking to him like this means it will help Ginger at all.

Kathryn was snapped back to the world by the sharp pain of a whip slashing her shoulders. "Take that, you little rat!" She heard the cart driver shout as he cut her again with the whip. Now I know how Ginger feels, she thought with a shudder.

As the cart driver cut her a third time with the dreadful whip, she decided she wasn't helping Ginger any by letting herself get hurt. Running into an alley, she hid in the shadows until she heard the cart driver drive away.

Sitting down on a broken barrel, she began to cry. I must stop, she thought, I must bring the most things back to Fagin so that I will get the extra food for Ginger. Standing up, she wiped her eyes and lifted her chin. Marching out of the alley, she started looking for people to pickpocket.

By noon, Kathryn had stolen two wallets and a pocket handkerchief. Proud of herself, she made her way back to Fagin, expecting to be the first to arrive. Instead, when she walked into the main room, she found Dodger sitting by the fire attempting to pick the initials out of a handkerchief.

Slowly, Kathryn walked up and sat down on the stool next to him. "I could help you with that," she said softly. Dodger looked up, surprised. He slowly handed her the needle and handkerchief as he watched her face to see if she was merely playing with him.

Kathryn took his work and deftly picked out each stitch until he couldn't tell they had ever been there. "'ow?" he asked, looking bewildered, "'ow did you do tha'?"

Kathryn shrugged, "I guess it's just practice," she said, wincing at the pain of shrugging. Her shouldered were very sore from the beating the cart driver had given her earlier. Dodger saw this and immediately forgot what they were talking about. "Wot 'urts?" he asked, looking worried.

"It's nothing," Kathryn replied. Dodger didn't believe her.

"Le' me look at your back. I know somefin' 'urts back there." Kathryn was petrified. If he took off her shirt...she didn't even want to think that far.

"I'm serious. I'm perfectly fine." Dodger was about to reply when the door opened and Charley, Will, and Ben walked in.

"Don't think I'll forge'," Dodger whispered in Kathryn's ear, "I know ther somefin' wrong and I don't wan' you 'urting for no reason." Kathryn knew she would have to figure out how to keep him from taking her shirt off but that would have to wait. Right now she had four boys to teach how to take stitches out of handkerchiefs.