Chapter 1
Eli is 12
"Only if you can catch me!" Eli yelled back to her best friend as she sharply turned the restricted corner of Birmingham Street. They had been outside all afternoon and the sun was beginning to set over the gray stoned houses.
"Oi Eli! you'd best be getting home before it gets dark." Isaiah yelled behind her.
"I'm not falling for that this time, 'saiah!" Her voice echoed as the path she was on approached a dead end. "Shit." Eli scoffed as she had just realized her mistake of turning one street too early.
"You know," Isaiah stated victoriously as he slowly monologues his way down to the spot she was occupying, "I thought you'd know the street names by now and not make such," he reached out his hand to tag her, "an amateur decision."
Eli huffed a defeated sigh; but then released a mischievous smirk, "You know, Isaiah, I may have mistaken the street, but, if I'm not wrong" She paused, "you never said no take backs." Just then she lifted her hand up and tapped him right on the bridge of his nose. Taken off guard, he froze. "Tag." Eli snuck underneath his arm and shouted back behind her "Noooo take backssss!"
The sun had now been in its home resting for a few hours, when Eli had finally decided to go home. Since Isaiah had not come looking for her again after she'd run off, she had figured that he had gone back home to his family. Elizabeth had gotten clear instructions from her older brother Thomas at lunch to come home before the sun had set; but, despite the warnings of her brother it was well past nighttime before she made her appearance at 6 Watery Lane.
"Eli." Eli heard a deep voice call her name from the eating area. She panicked knowing which of her brothers possessed that voice. Fear resonated through her bones when she heard her name again, this time a little louder, "Eli." This time she weighed her options. She knew that running away and out of the house at this hour would mean that she would be punished; but, staying would also result in a lecture from Tommy. "Elizabeth." She heard her name again, however time she turned to face a man now standing only a couple feet away from her.
"Tommy, I - " She stuttered and tried to fabricate some lie that might get her out of the enormous amount of trouble she was in. "Tommy I, um, well see Isaiah and I were out and -"
He cut her off, "Do you know what time it is Miss Shelby?" Thomas questioned her, knowing full well that even if she did not know the time, she did know that it was well past time to come home. Eli had looked down and mumbled under her breath. "Oi," Tommy put his hand under her chin and their eyes met, "I asked you a question, Eli, answer me proper now, come on."
"We just lost track of time, Tommy … and then, well, you see, our game got out of hand and then I was trying to come home-"
"Eli," She stared at him, hoping that all would be forgiven and she could just go to bed - truthfully, the young girl was exhausted and the interrogation from Tommy was not helping. "I asked, 'do you know what time it is' not 'why are you late.'"
"'m sorry Tommy." Eli broke the icy blue eye contact and spoke softly, "I don't know what time it is, but it's late and passed when I should have been home. I know that I disobeyed you and I'm sorry, Tommy." She turned back at her older brother. Thomas just stared at the surprising amount of honesty from his youngest sister. After a few moments he turned, sat in the nearest chair, lit a cigarette between his fingers and brought it up to his lips.
"So, what happens now, Eli?" Tommy huffed the smoke filled air out of his lungs and spoke gently to his sister. Eli looked down at the ground again and pondered for a few moments before meeting his eyes.
"I go to bed?" She questioned hopefully, desperately wanting Tommy to put the matter behind them and move on. Thomas chuckled and pointed his cigarette in her direction.
"Nice try, little outlaw." He pointed at the chair across from him, "Sit." Eli made her way over to the seat and slumped down. Tommy's eyes maintained constant eye contact with her, but her eyes managed to never meet his cold stare. He cleared his throat hoping to gain her attention.
"Tommy, I already said that I am sorry," She looked up and stated bodly, "Now please let me fucking sleep."
"Oi, language Elizabeth." She rolled her eyes and was rewarded with a cuff on the ear.
"Ow, that hurt!" The girl whined while grabbing her ear.
"That's kind of the point." He said under his breath, as he tapped the extra ash away from his cigarette. "Alright, well you broke the rules of my home -"
"Your home? You mean our home, Thomas." She defended.
Thomas? What the fuck was going through her mind? He thought to himself. Eli had not called him Thomas since she was a little girl like when Tommy would get tied up in betting business and miss story time with Eli. She would normally only refer to him as Thomas until he made up for it in some way or another — usually through biscuits.
"Thomas, eh" He repeated back while raising one eyebrow; trufully, he was a little amused now. Eli took note in the shift of his mannerism and slightly smiled in his direction. "You haven't called me that since I missed our story times." He half smiled with only one corner of his lip raising.
Eli's attitude stiffened and the smile escaped her face, "Well, Thomas I am not a little kid anymore and this is not only your house." She started to become more passionate with each word she spoke, "If anything this is Aunt Polly, Finn and I's home." Her voice raised in irritation, "Half the time you're not even here! You're busy with some fucking peaky blinders business" Eli stood up and raised her finger at him, "or," She paused and looked him up and down, "busy with some fucking whore."
At this, Tommy stood up and grabbed the 12 year old finger pointed at him. It was then that Eli knew she had crossed a line at her already not happy brother and her eyes widened in fear as her lips began to shake. "I - I'm sorry Tommy, I di-"
"Sit your arse back in that fucking chair right now Eli, or I'll be giving you a thrashing so painful that you won't be able to sit in any chair for a week." She pulled her finger into her lap and promptly sat back down into her seat. Another wave of silence overtook the two as Tommy leaned back in his chair once more and lit another cigarette. Just then they turned their attention to the chimes of the clock —
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Shit! She thought. It was already past ten?
Ding! Past eleven o'clock!
Ding! The final chime struck her. It was 12 o'clock?
No wonder Tommy had been so angry with her when she had come home! At that moment, the older brother took out his timepiece, examined it, and shoved it back into his vest. "Well, Eli it's late, so would you rather get this over with now, or in the morning?" His question had pierced her once more. Get what over with? Why wait? Would it be worse to wait or better to get it out of the way now? Which leads back to the question of get what over with? Thomas saw her compilations and decided to make the decision for her. "Alright little outlaw, come 'ere." He motioned for her to come and stand by him. When there was no movement he stated once more, "C'mere Eli, now, you know that I'm not going to repeat myself."
She swallowed the lump growing in her throat and sauntered over to her brother's chair where she was locked between his knees. "Now, here's what we are going to do. Tomorrow after school, I want you to come straight home, do you understand?" She nodded her head. "I want you to come straight home and sit," He pointed to his chair, "Right in this fucking chair. Do you understand Elizabeth?" She nodded her head again. "Now, if I'm not here, sit down and wait for me. Do your school work if you get bored, but your arse had better be in this chair when I walk through those doors," He pointed at the office doors, then back at her.
"Yes Tommy," Eli answered "But what if yo-"
"No buts Eli," He shook his head, "Here when I come home, understood?" He put his finger under her chin.
"Yes Tommy." She responded, less than happy at her newly found restrictions; but, nonetheless, at least it wasn't an immediate tanning.
Tommy released her and straightened himself up while taking another huff of smoke into his lungs. "I'm not gonna do anything tonight Eli, so relax. Go on to bed now." He could tell she was exhausted and on the verge of tears — which was something that he did not want to deal with tonight.
"Tommy," She responded, "Will you please read me a story?" Her face brightened at the possibility of him saying yes. Her blue gaze gave him the largest puppy dog eyes that he'd ever seen, and he couldn't help but let out a little smile. Eli burst into smiles when he put out his cigarette, lifted her into his arms, and began to climb the stairs leading to her room.
"Which story will it be tonight then, 'eh?" He asked as he reached the top of the staircase.
"Black beauty?" She smiled, knowing full well that Tommy could never say no to a book about horses.
"Alright," He returned the grin, "But only until you're asleep, Miss Shelby." He said, tucking her into the covers and Eli nodded. Tommy grabbed Black Beauty off of the top shelf and began to read, "The first place I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear-" And before he had even finished the first sentence Eli was asleep, dreaming about the same pleasant meadow.
The Next Morning
"Eli? Are you awake?" She heard her older brother's voice pierce her eardrums like a bullet ringing through the darkness.
"Yeah Finn," she rubbed her eyes, "I'm awake."
"Where were you last night?" He questioned. Though Finn was only older than her by a year, everyone treated them as if they were twins.
"I was just running late." She said back to him casually.
"Well, was everything okay?"
"Yeah, Finn, I'm okay," she paused, "I promise."
He shook his head back at his sister and proceeded to make his way into his own room to get ready for school. Eli did not want to be late for school today or be late coming home for that matter. She had almost forgotten everything that had happened the night before, but as she was getting dressed Eli could remember everything she said. I cannot believe that I said that to Tommy. She thought to herself as she slipped into some of Finn's hand-me-down pants and an oversized buttoned shirt.
As the two made their way down the stairs to eat breakfast, Aunt Polly was waiting for them with their school bags in hand.
"You two had better not be late today," She chided the siblings, "You've been tardy almost everyday this week." Polly brought the cigarette to her lips and let out a huff of smoke.
"Yes, Aunt Polly." The two said in unison.
"Where's Tommy?" Eli's soft voice broke through the sound of the forks hitting the glass plates.
"I think that he is in his office," Aunt Polly answered her with a questioning look, "Why are you looking for Thomas at such an early hour?"
"No reason," Eli answered very fast. Almost too fast for Polly's comfort.
"Uh-huh."Polly paused and let another huff of smoke out of her lungs and into the morning air. "Well you two has best be going." Aunt Polly said as she began to grab their dishes and clear the rest of the table.
"Okay! Love you Pol!" The two answered, once more in unison.
As they made their way through the streets of Small Heath the siblings took note of the dark grey storm clouds that looked as if they were going to create a massive thunderstorm overhead.
"I hope that we are back before we have to walk through that storm." Finn noted as his sister nodded her head in agreement.
The Classroom
As the school day droned on, Eli could not help but think as to what was awaiting her at home. She wanted to apologize to Tommy before she left for school to both soften the blow of her punishment and because she was sincerely sorry for all she had said to him the previous night.
As Eli sat in her chair she started to think about how everything in her life had kind of been out of hand lately. After the boys came home from the war she knew that some things might change, but she was not expecting how drastic the changes might be. For instance, she had not been able to hang out with Isaiah as much anymore, and besides Finn, he was her best friend.
Above that there were other restrictions that bothered Eli more, like having to come home before it was dark, no drinking even little sips of whisky on school night and her new found bed time of 10 o'clock. It was all so unfair.
Tommy Shelby had always been the little girl's best friend when she was younger and now with everything on his plate, the only time he seemed to see her was when she was in trouble. It made Eli so angry. She loved her big brother and just wanted the version of him before he left for the war to return.
Just then a voice broke her out of her absent minded daze and back into the cold classroom of reality. "Eli, I asked you a question." Mr. Simon's dead voice rang through her entire body. She hated him. He was the worst teacher in the whole school, to Eli, that is. She had learned that his dad used to teach her brothers back in the day and their hatred for him was almost as strong as Eli's. Not only did he dislike the young girl, but he also made it his goal to embarrass her and Finn whenever the opportunity presented itself.
The voice rang out again, this time in a harsher tone, "Elizabeth Shelby!"
"Yes?" she responded, "Oh, I do apologize, Mr. Simons." Sarcasm riddled her voice. "I was too busy daydreaming to listen to your boring arse lecture about, what was it again?"
Anger boiled inside of his body as he hastily grabbed his ruler and took long strides over to young Eli's desk. She had not even relaized what she had said to him, until there he was - standing over her with that fucking ruler in his hands. Fuck.
"Hand's out." His voice hissed throughout the classroom. All of the other students simply stared at Eli and Mr. Simmons. They could have cut the tension with a knife. Silence pursued as the young Shelby student simply shook her head, indicating 'no.'
"Eli Shelby you put those hands out on your desk right now," She could tell there was an 'or else' heading her way, "Or else there will be something worse than a ruler."
Eli was so tempted to yell, 'guessed it!' or something along those lines; however, she was already in trouble at home, and, well, truthfully did not want to make anything worse than it already was. She slowly extended her hands out on top of her desk and waited for Mr. Simmons to react. Without any warning the ruler came down on her knuckles.
Thwack! One. The ruler smacked across both of her hands simultaneously. Thwack! Two. Thwack! Three. Ouch, she thought, that one really hurt. Thwack! Four. It did hurt but Eli would never let him have the satisfaction of knowing that he won. Thwack! Five. One more, she reassured herself. Thwack! Six. This time she let out a small sign of relief. Mr. Simmons smirked at her and hit her a seventh time - with no warning. Thwack!
"Ah." Eli released a quiet small sound. Dammit. In response, Mr. Simons let out a satisfied huff and proceeded to go back to his lesson.
"Pay attention this time, Eli." He stated smugly and victoriously.
"A bad winner, I never would have guessed." Eli mumbled to herself under her breath, whilst rubbing her knuckles under her desk to help appease the pain without being seen.
"What was that Elizabeth?" He questioned, stopping his lecture once more to listen to her excuses.
"Nothing." She quickly responded back to him.
"She said that you're a bad winner!" One of the younger students piped up. Eli's head snapped in his direction, while he slowly shrunk back into his chair realizing the mistake of crossing a Shelby sibling. Mr. Simmons looked at Eli, then looked at the student, and then once more back in Eli's direction.
"Is that right, Eli." He asked, as smug as a person can be.
"I mean," She hesitated knowing the consequences, but, man, did she want him to shut up "Yep. You know Mr. Simons … you are a poor winner," She stated victoriously. His face dropped as he never expected her to speak up again after just smacking her knuckles moments before.
"Get out of my classroom." The entire class froze, even Eli. "Get yourself to the principal's office, before I smack those knuckles again." She gathered her things and exited the classroom.
Her walk to Mrs. Walden's office was quite enjoyable. Despite the fact that Tommy would most likely be pissed. Shit. Tommy. She remembered. He is going to kill me.
As she made her way into the principal's office, knocking slightly on the door before entering.
"What brings you here today, Miss Shelby." She asked without looking up from her papers.
"How did you know it was me?" Eli asked somewhat questionably.
"Your knock." She replied. "Whenever you come into my office, you use that same knock." Mrs. Walden looked up from her work and studied the girl who stood in front of her. Hands were behind her back. Most likely hiding them due to a smacking. Feet were squarely positioned. Indicating that she was not afraid of adult confrontation. Although, her face was angled down at the ground. Perhaps indicating that she was slightly afraid or ashamed. This was not the first time that Eli had visited her office, thus she had become somewhat of an expert in studying the behaviors of the youngest Shelby.
"Take a seat, Elizabeth." She pointed to the chair in front of her desk. Eli grabbed the arm of the chair and plopped herself down on the cushioned seat. Her hands shifted from behind her back to their usual position on top of her lap.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" Mrs. Walden went to reach for the phone to dial home.
It felt like an eternity for someone to finally answer the Shelby residence telephone. She was hoping, praying, that anyone but Tommy would be on the receiving end of the phone. Five rings later there was a voice, though she could not make out who it belonged to. There was a mumble.
"Good afternoon, is this the Shelby residence?"
Another mumble.
"Ah, hello Mr. Shelby"
Please let it be Arthur or John. Please. Anyone but Thomas. Eli pleaded. Arthur had always been more lenient to his sister and John would make fun of her for a while, but certainly would not tell Tommy of her mistakes.
"Well, I am very sorry to inform you, but it seems that your younger sister, Eli, has landed herself in a bit of trouble here at school again, an-" She was cut off by the deep voice on the other line.
"Oh perfect! Alright then, see you soon Mr. Shelby." She hung up the receiver and looked at Eli, "He will be here soon."
She could not hold her curiosity any longer. "Who, um, answered the phone?" She questioned looking up at her principal. Mrs. Walden's voice hit her like a bag of bricks. Thomas. Fuck. Eli's curiosity had transformed into sheer anxiety.
"Just sit there and wait for him to arrive." She responded. Thomas had never been called to come into the school, but since this was her fourth time visiting the school's principal in just over a month, she supposed they had to call the parents.
Eli did not exactly know what to expect, however she presumed that her conversation with Tommy later would now not only be about her late arrival to 6 Watery Lane.
It felt like a lifetime before she heard Thomas approach the front of the school building. She just wanted to scream and run away from the building as fast as her legs would allow; but, she knew that it would just make everything worse.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Eli's whole body froze as she heard the knock similar to her own.
"Come in!" Mrs. Walden exclaimed. "Ah, hello Mr. Shelby." Her hand gestured towards him to receive his handshake.
"Hello, Mrs. Walden. Good to see you again." His voice made Eli's bones freeze. She just looked forward in an attempt to entirely block out the figure of her brother. However, this attempt seems futile as after greeting the principal both of his hands landed on Eli's shoulders. "So, what happened?" He questioned the principal, while his grip seemed to tighten on her shoulders. Shit. That really hurts! She thought to herself. She didn't dare to open her mouth as she knew that Tommy was silently pissed.
"Why don't you take a seat, Mr. Shelby?" She gestured towards the open chair next to Eli.
"No, actually thank you, but," Thomas pulled out his pocket watch, "I have a meeting very soon and need to get back to my business." He stated whilst returning the timepiece into its home.
"Well, if you are in a rush, I understand," she began to stand, "But Eli may not return to class today due to her behavior." This time it was Thomas who froze. Her behavior? What the fuck did she do? "Mr. Sheby?" She spoke, breaking the silence.
"Ah, yes, alright," He said while tapping Eli's back, "Let's go." As Tommy turned to exit, Eli's feet could not move. She certainly did not want to leave with Tommy, but she wasn't quite sure if she wanted to stay there either. "Elizabeth, now." His voice broke through her train of thought.
"Coming." Her voice cracking as she said the word. As she followed Tommy out of the office and outside of the school building the two walked in silence. The streets of Small Heath seemed never ending and all Eli wanted was to be home and away from everyone. "Tommy?" No answer. "Tommy?" She called out to him again.
"Keep walking Eli." His face unchanging. "Shit." As Tommy was pulling another cigarette out of the metal box it had slipped out of his hands and fell to the ground in the small puddle on the street.
"I got it Tommy." Eli reached down to grab the box, accidentally revealing her ruler slapped hands. She did not think that Tommy had seen her hands so she handed the box back to Thomas with her hand palm up.
"Thank you." He stopped and pulled another one out of the box. "Do you want to tell me what happened with your hands?" Tommy said as he gestured towards her red and blistered hands.
Her face followed her chin as she lowered her head. "Tommy, he hurt my hands really bad." She presented her hands to her big brother. He reached for her hands to examine them.
After a moment, Tommy released them and lowered himself to his sister's height. "Eli." She immediately looked up at him with tears lining the lower lids of her eyes. He took her chin in his hand, "Why did he smack your hands?" His voice was stern and concerned.
"I maybe cursed at him a little." Eli's voice was barely audible, but Tommy had heard what she said.
He stood up in front of his little sister and took another huff of his cigarette. "Well then, Eli, it sounds like you probably deserved this one then, 'eh?" His stare was fixated on his sister but her eyes remained straight. How could he say that? "Come on then, Eli." His eyes finally moved off the girl, and back towards the direction of home. "In case you forgot about our conversation last night," He paused, "We still have some unfinished business." Thomas took another huff of his cigarette. Eli only looked up at him, however now she was unable to hold back her tears. She hated crying in front of anyone - especially her brothers, but she couldn't hold back the sadness anymore.
All of the sudden Eli's legs picked up and she ran at her brother fully engulfing him in a hug. 'Tommy, I - I, am" her words were barely comprehensible through her sobs, "SO sorry about last-t night." Eli's wails began to fill the silence in the streets. Tommy bent back down to receive his hug. He began to rub the back of her head - something that had always helped her to calm down when she would cry. After Eli was more relaxed she muttered out the rest of what she had been wanting to say. "I didn't mean anything last night, Tommy! I promise!"
As she began to break out of the hug, he gently responded to his sister. "I know Eli, I know." The two stood up and Thomas thought for a second as to what to do next. "Why don't go home Eli, wait for me in that chair," he checked the time once more, "And I'll be home right after I am done with my meeting, okay?" She nodded and headed for home.
"See you at home, Tommy." Eli ran in the direction of home and out of her brother's sight.
The Garrison
As she passed the Garrison, Eli paused for a moment to think. Maybe John or Arthur are in there! I should check. The doors of the Garrison opened revealing a mostly empty bar. But then Eli heard an oddly familiar sound. Arthur. I know that laugh anywhere. "Arthur?" She called out while raising her hand to knock on the door. "Arthur?"
The doors swung open revealing a partly typing Arthur, and a fully drunk John. "Eli! How the hell are you little sis?" He hiccuped. "Wait, aren't you supposed to be with Finn in school right now?"
"Oi! Yeah Arth's right." John piped up.
"Wow Arthur, he must be really drunk, because he never agrees with you." She quipped and the room broke out in an uproar of laughter.
"Well, now that you're here, why don't ya stay with your brothers for a little bit?" Arthur asked Eli and she quickly weighed her options. Tommy wouldn't really care if she was with her brothers, right?
"Okay Arthur!" She responded smiling. "Can I have some?" Her hand gesturing towards a bottle of expensive Irish Whisky.
"Oi, ain't it a school night Arthur?" The drunken voice of John chimed in.
"She isn't in school right now John, is she?" Arthur replied, reaching for a glass, "So I'm sure that it will be alright."
The glass was about a fourth of the way full and Eli downed it in one solid swig.
"WHOO! That was so good, Arth!" She had always loved the way that the smoothness of Irish whiskey made her feel.
"Another!" John was talking about getting himself another drink, but the now tipsy Arthur thought that he meant for Eli, so he filled her glass up again.
After a couple hours in the Garrison, there was a loud THUD! Causing all of the people in the bar to turn their heads. "OUTTT!" The voice echoed through the entire building. It was empty in less than a minute leaving the three Shelbys alone in the private room. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Eli thought, knowing exactly who that voice belonged too.
"Eli, what in the fucking hell are you doing here!" The room fell silent. Eli, who had made her way up onto the table, slowly turned to face her brother.
"Thomas!" She chuckled and turned to Arthur, "Man he looks fucking pissed." Arthur's laughter broke through his fake straight face. Tommy rubbed his face and then pointed at his sister.
"Get down off of this fucking table Eli and come here." There was nothing but anger in his voice.
"Actually, Tommy, I can't. You see," Almost falling off of the table, she continued, "I know what will happen, maybe, possibly, when we leave, and you can't punish me tonight BECAUSE I'M DRUNK." She was the only Shelby laughing as Arthur and John were no longer in a joking mood as they could feel Thomas' anger radiating off of him and they didn't dare want to be the recipients of any of it. He lit a cigarette, for what felt like his one hundredth of the day, and began to smile at her.
"So you need to sober up, huh?" Without any warning, he threw his younger sister over his shoulder and sat her down on top of the bar.
"Tommy, no wai-" Eli screamed when the bucket full of spit hit her in the face. No fucking way. "Thomas are you fucking kidding me? The spit bucket!" She examined her clothes in disgust, "Ugh, Tommy!"
"Well I was going to ask you where you've been but you know," He waited for her to look at him, "I think that you're done getting a chance to explain anything to me Eli." She sat in silence listening to the words of her brother. "I mean you broke the rules of the home last night, got sent home from school today, and the directly disobeyed me when I told you to wait for me in the fucking chair!" Thomas was no longer maintaining the silent and scary anger he often held, but was now full on yelling at his sister. He paused for a second trying to maintain his composure. "Get the fuck out of my sight and get your ass home right now." He snapped in Arthur's direction signaling to take her home. Then he proceeded to walk towards Eli and grabbed her chin to look up at him. "This time," his voice was cold and angry, "you'd better be there when I get there." Her chin was released and there was a hand on her arm.
"Come on, Eli, let's go home." Arthur gently grabbed her arm and led her out of the bar and back to the home.
6 Watery Lane
When they had reached the doors of 6 Watery Lane, Eli ran inside as she ignored the calls of her sibling Finn from upstairs and went to sit down in the chair that Thomas had pointed to last night and waited.
It was dinner time before he busted through the door. "Tom!" Aunt Polly called, "Just in time for dinner!"
Choosing to ignore Polly, Tommy made his way over to his sister. "Stand up, Elizabeth." A heavy silence fell over the room. All of the family's eyes were on her. Thomas went to grab another cigarette while he waited for her to stand. "Alright Eli, why don't you inform the family as to what time you returned home last night."
Hesitantly, she replied, "12." Her eyes were fixated on the floor boards of their home.
"WHat?" Polly's voice uproared. Thomas put a hand up indicating that he wanted silence.
After the room had settled down, he took another puff and asked, "And what happened at school today?" Another silence fell over the room. "Go on, then." Thomas' stare locked Eli's eyes. Both sets of ocean blue iris were focused on the other.
"I accidentally, um, cursed at my teacher," Eli's tone almost sounded like a question, "Then Tommy had to come and pick me up early."
As soon as she finished Thomas spoke up, "Yes. And what just happened at the bar?" Eli mumbled under her breath. "What was that Eli?"
"I just said that you already know what happened, Tommy." She mumbled again, a little louder than before.
"Man, Eli, you just really don't know when to shut up, do you?" Arthur's voice resonated sadly.
Tommy's stare hardened as he threw his cigarette onto the ground and made his way over to his youngest sister.
"Fine!" She called back while stepping out of reaching distance from her brother. "I went to the Garrison and I asked for one too many drinks, is that what you want to hear?" Eli's sarcasm truly broke the last straw for Tommy. Realizing what she had just said to her brother, she tried to increase the distance between the two of them, but as she stepped back John's body prohibited her from moving any farther. As Eli began to scan the room for possible escape routes, the young girl saw that there may be no way out of this one.
"Alright," Tommy lowered himself down to her level once more, "Is that how you want to play this, eh?" He glanced up at John and Arthur standing near Eli. She gulped knowing that there was only one option. "Come 'ere Eli." Tommy reached out his hand to accept hers.
Eli panicked. Her heart beat faster and before she knew it she had dodged underneath the table. "Fuck you, Tommy." She didn't mean the words and they came out faster than she meant them too, but regardless of intention, she had still said the words. "Ouch!"
Aunt Polly had grabbed hold of her ear and was walking her around to Tommy who was now standing over the girl.
"Wrong choice, Eli." He stood still facing her, "Now I would ask you to go and grab the strop yourself, but I think you might be stupid enough to run off again … so instead," he paused rolling up his sleeves, "I'll get it myself." John and Arthur held her shoulders waiting for Thomas' return.
When he finally entered the room Eli's eyes began to fill with tears, "Wait, Tommy I am so so-"
"Bit too late for apologies Eli, now," he paused, "Come on." Eli wanted to go to her brother to have it all over with, but her legs couldn't move. She was stuck in her spot. Frozen in fear. "Eli," He had made his way over to her grabbing her chin, "You won't like it if I have to repeat myself, eh?"
"To-ommy," her eyes filling with heavier tears, "Pleas-se." No answer. Reassuring herself with courage, she took a step towards her brother and the couple made their way outside towards the back of the house. as the families eyes fell sadly atop them. Once the pair had stepped outside, Tommy turned his sister to face him.
"I only plan on saying things one time," He grabbed the strop so that it was doubled over momentarily. "Hands on the wall, Eli." Tommy's voice made her fly back into reality. She hated getting thrashed by Thomas, but she hated when Tommy was mad at her more. Slowly she faced the wall and put her hands against the cold bricks. "I want you to count 'em out, Eli."
She slightly nodded her head as she felt the razor strop hit her.
"O...one," She mumbled, squeezing her eyes shut at the first lash.
"T-two!" Eli's voice cried out as she came to realization that her brother had no intention of going easy on her.
Her lips began to bleed and she tried to hold in the sound of her pain. Eventually, they finally came close to the end "Nine." Eli mumbled. At this point, tears had fallen down on her cheeks, but she was determined not to sound weak. "AH. Fucking! - "
"That's not a number, Eli." He gave her a second to regain herself and count the number.
"Eleven."
"Alright, last one." The razor strop came down one final time across her backside.
As she released her hands from the wall, the final number crossed past her lips, "Twelve."
"Come 'ere" Thomas' voice broke the sound of her tears, he ordered, letting his sister crash into his chest. "Do you know why that happened Eli?" She nodded her head against his body. "Why?" he lowered himself down to her height, and wiped some of the tears from her eyes
"S...so m-many reasons, Tom," Her chest was rising and falling rapidly. "I-I'm so s...sorry,"
"Oi, look at me outlaw," He said, not unkindly, taking her chin in his palm, "Tell me why you got a thrashing Eli." She nodded and tried to regain some composure.
"B...because I c-came home t-to late and got in t-trouble at school and didn't o...obey you when you t...told me to come back home!" She cried out, holding eye contact with her brother as he ran a hand through her hair.
"That's right, Elizabeth." He began, nodding, "When I tell you to do something, you had better fucking do it, you hear me?"
"Yes sir," She whispered, crashing her head back into his chest. It was about five minutes later when her crying had finally made it way down to a low hum and Tommy pulled her away from his body.
"I love you outlaw," He said sadly, bending down to kiss her forehead. "I see these rules to protect you, not because I fucking hate you. You know that right?"
Eli nodded, looking at him perplexed. "It's just hard because this stuff didn't matter as much before you came back," Her voice trailed off.
"Well, guess what Eli?" He said putting a hand on her forehead so she had no choice but to meet his icy eyes. "I'm home. I'm fucking home." Tommy smiled, as he saw his sister grin. "And if it takes me thrashing you every night until you can get that in your head, then so be it. Is that what I'll have to do? Please tell me no, eh?"
Eli quickly shook her head, "No, no, no Tommy, I promise." She sniffled, "Please forgive me Tom Cat," He smiled at the nickname. "Please don't hate me." Eli's voice was quiet.
"Never Eli," He whispered into the top of her head. "I'll never hate you."
Eli grinned sadly against his cotton coat. She smelled the scents of whiskey, smoke and ink. And for the first time since her brother had returned home, she knew that he, Thomas Shelby, her brother, was actually home.