You’re going to be Little Black Sambo. My mam read that to me when I was little…And I’m sorry for what I did to your brothers and sisters…but I guess you don’t know about that,’ Jake looked at the kitten. Little Black Sambo was fast asleep.

Presently, so was Jake, but not before remembering back to when he had a mother who read to him. For a moment or two he thought of her.

V

‘This came in the post for you last week,’ Mrs Pearson handed Jake an envelope. ‘I suppose you better have it, although I must say it’s a cheek on the part of the authorities to think they can expect me to deliver your letters.’ She didn’t specify which authorities. ‘It’s only out of the goodness of my heart I’m letting you have it. Not that it says much.’ Jake reached for his letter. ‘What d’you say?’

‘Thank you very much, Mrs Pearson,’ muttered Jake.

‘I would have thought someone living in the old country would know the King’s English better than your father seems to,’ she sniffed. ‘It would seem he doesn’t miss you too much.’

Jake saw his letter had been opened. He guessed it had been read by all three Pearsons. He said nothing more and shoved the letter in his pocket. ‘Thank you,’ he said again.

‘Aren’t you going to read it?’

‘I haven’t got my glasses, Mrs Pearson. I’ll read it later.’

‘I can read it for you,’ she smirked.

‘I’ll read it later,’ he repeated.

‘Please yourself.’ She wiped the smirk from her face with a loud sniff.

The letter burnt a hole in his pocket but he wouldn’t give her, her husband or her son the pleasure of further invading what scrap of private world was left to him.

He knew the letter wouldn’t say much. He knew the limits of his father’s ability. It wouldn’t matter what was written. It would have been hard labour indeed, with God only knew which neighbour or friend being called in to give a hand with the spelling, addressing the envelope and, quite likely, making sure the stamp was stuck the right way up!

My dear son Jacob

How are you. I am well. It is getting cold even if it is still said to be summer and it’s not. How goes it with you in your new land. Is there a lot of milk and honey ha ha. I hope you be good for the good folks who give you a good place. You must let me know and right a letter soon so we know. I miss you more than we can say but one day we will see. You are in a best place.

The leg is coming on and I do well with it the wood one that is. Hop hop ha ha. When it gets me down I have a beer ha ha. Your old man can still get to fox and grapes hop hop.

Yours truly

Your loving father Jim

Over and over and over again, Jake turned his letter in his hand while Little Black Sambo played with the envelope. He read his letter ten times. He read it twenty times. He heard his father’s laugh.