Lingard041

39

Tommy stood up^.and pushed back his chair. "Are you coming, Linda?"

She followed him out. "You don’t even speak back^up for yourself,"
she said with annoyance.

"I don’t see why I have to^should. Steve doesn't have to tell me what
to do."

"But the other men won't like you^it Tommy, if you don't join in
with them."

"Why should I care about that? Anyway, not everybody belongs
to the Orange Order just because they're Protestants. Lots of lads
in the yard don't."

"But most of the men in the street do."

"Leave^Forget it, Linda," he said quietly.

"Ohh^{All right}" She sighed.

He saw Sadie and Kevin ahead before Linda did. For a minute
he thought of wheeling Linda about and taking her back along the road
but it was too late. TShe had seen them too.

"Isn't ^that Sadie?" she said excitedly.

Sadie and Kevin were standing at the end of the street. They
turned as Tommy and Linda approached.

"Hello, you two." Sadie's voice was loud and defiant.

"Hello, Tommy," sai Kevin spoke more quietly.

"Hello, Kevin."

For a moment there was silence. Tommy and Kevin looked at one
another, each wishing to spoke^speak, h not knowing what to say.

"How've you been?" asked Kevin at last.