31st August 1939
A police officer walked down the street with a strained expression and led two teenagers off. What he did not notice: behind his back a person climbed over the wall.
Light-footed, Elizabeth came up on the other side. She took off her cap and shook her shoulder-length hair, which she hid underneath, while she examined her prey: it was just a sweater, but the owner had always positioned police around his shop. Probably because there was stolen more often.
"I'm impressed, Liz!" Jim, a young and well-built man who was about 21 years old, stepped out from behind a wall. "You have talent. Normally everyone is caught on this task... just like the other two idiots."
"This isn't that 'ard, you just 'ave t' look when someone is inattentive. The other two were just too impatient- that's all" her tone was monotonous and you could tell these tasks bothered her.
"We still have a task for you. Do you pass, you have our full respect. But if you fail... ", he smiled diabolically "we never want to see you here again! "
"Agreed!" Normally, Elizabeth wouldn't do such things, but this was a large group of people whose boss was Jim, who were like her. They also understood her better than anyone else in this city and she wanted to prove herself. She would not be forced out of her neighbourhood under normal circumstances, but the group had people everywhere, so she really had to prove herself. And unfortunately she had to join them too. "What do I've t' do?"
"I like your determination! Come with me" he put his arm around her shoulder and led her out onto the street "you know the stand over there, right? The one with the lighters"
"Yea', that's Bert's."
"The guy is always at his stand and has his eyes everywhere... I don't know anybody who is harder to steal from! Even if he has nothing special in it is a difficult final exam. But you, sweetie… I think it'll be very easy for you. So please bring us three lighters", in the end he hit her on the back so hard that she almost fell on the street.
Elizabeth just stood there when she regained her balance. Everyone knew how well she and Bert got along and that he trusted her. She felt unwell at the thought of stealing something from him, especially since he could really use every coin right now.
He was thinner than before and not that happy anymore. He would never admit the latter openly, but Elizabeth knew him too well. The many jobs made him tired, despite his love for his job. But how did he say to her: you have to think of yourself. Determined, she looked at Jim: "All right."
"Very well!"
Elizabeth put on her casual facade and walked with her hands in her pockets to the other side of the street: "'ey Bert!"
"'ello Lizzy."
"What are ya sellin' today?" She tapped her foot, trying to look as normal as ever.
"Lighters, so nothing you need," he winked, making a rather poor allusion to their magical abilities.
"I don't know what ya mean," she played with the joke.
But then she noticed something that could not have been more convenient: "Is that Mary back there? With the kids?" And in the moment Bert turned around, she grabbed the three lighters and let them disappear into her pocket.
"Indeed!"
Then, when another customer came to the booth, she took the opportunity to say goodbye: "I don't wanna bother ya any longer... See ya."
Fortunately, it was not uncommon for her to greet him and then disappear again.
After a little detour, she arrived back in the backyard, from which she had just come and was already expected. "'ere, your lighters," she threw them in Jim's hand.
While she was being praised, she did not listen properly. She just thought of what she had just done: she has stolen something from the human being who was like a father to her, whom she trusted. And he trusted her! She just felt shabby!
In addition, there was the fact that he was currently really poor. She could slap herself!
"Here," Jim threw her a pack of cigarettes and one of the lighters, "you've earned these."
"Thanks," she murmured as she lit a cigarette.
Smoking- a habit that Mary and Bert weren't allowed to know! Of course, she was already addressed by them because of the smell that hung on their clothes, but she always lied and said that it was from the other people.
As soon as Jim was gone, she hit her fist against the nearest wall and kicked it. She was aggressive and loathed herself!
She leaned against the stone wall and ran her hands through her face, "Why am I doin' somethin' like that t' Bert?"
As Elizabeth thought about her actions, one person in the park has to put together the right words: Bert had to cancel his dinner with Mary and he knew how much she had been looking forward to it.
For months there was a certain tension between them. They did not argue, but it just felt strange.
Or as Mary would call it: she did not feel like home anymore.
This was also the reason why she increasingly took jobs outside of London again - she hoped the gap would be good for them. However, when Bert suggested last week to go for a leisurely meal, she got hope again. Mary could also put her on Tuesday so that she could reserve a table only for the 1st. As the children she was taking care of played, she walked over to Bert.
"Hello Bert," she gave him her best smile.
"'ey..." he gave the change to the customer he was serving before turning to her. His eyes were tired and so was his smile.
"Everything okay? You look tired ... "
"Yes, I 'ardly slept the night", he scratched the back of his head "Mary, listen t' me... I..."
"Let me guess: You don't have time tomorrow," she cut him off.
"Yea'... I'm sorry, but I 'ad t' take over Timothy's job tomorrow... Believe me, I really would like t' go out with you, but it's important. You understand that, don't ya?" As he spoke, he walked around the stand and took her hands in his.
"Alright." The nanny could feel that he was really sorry and uncomfortable. She hated to see him lost in front of her and she wanted to hug him at that moment. But she stayed at a distance. She was not disappointed anymore, because lately he preferred the work to everything. Besides, she couldn't to be angry or disappointed because she was not better: she left him again and again because she preferred to work as a nanny and then she was gone for a good half decade.
"But please come over... I should be finished by half past nine and if ya want we could drink tea or rum punch?"
"Gladly...", one of the children called her name, "I have to go now, we still have some plans today. See you tomorrow."
"See ya tomorrow, Mary." They both held their hands until the distance separated them. In Mary's eyes, this was something symbolic ...
The rest of the day she thought about how to make tomorrow's night. Did a relationship between two people work more than anything else work? Did they even have a classic relationship? How long could they continue this? Should she just accept everything?
But again and again her thoughts screamed that she should finally talk to him about her feelings.
To be continued…
"We used to be closer than this" Funnily, that was just in a song and it fits perfectly hehe
As always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter :)
I'll upload part 2 of this chapter tomorrow ;D Unfortunately, I'm not too happy with these chapters, but otherwise my plan would not work out... So just be curious about xD