Lingard080

74

And the blood would be Kevin's.

"Kevin," he said," I think you should get on home. I know you don't
want to fight my father."

"Course not."

"And I'm taking Sadie home. Now!"

Tommy jerked his head towards the end of the street. Both Sadie
and Kevin noticed and what he meant ^{got his message}. The two older men^{Mr Jackson} had not seen the others approaching^{that reinforcements were at hand}.

"You're right,Tommy, " said Sadie. "It's time we were getting
^{called it a day}. Good night, Kevin."

He^Kevin hesitated a moment.

"Good night, Kevin," she said again, her eyes on the approaching
men.

"Good night Sadie." He^{Kevin said good night to Sadie and Tommy then} walked quickly off in the opposite direct-
ion. Tommy held back his father. Mr Mullet required no restraining;
his feet were already turning homewards.

Kevin took the first turning and then zigzagged through the streets
towards his own area. He had not wanted to leave in a way. but His
old instinct of wanting to fight it out had been there very strongly,
but he knew it would have been stupid. He didn't want to fight
Sadie's father and brother. Not that Tommy would ^nothave fought him any-
way. ^{They had no reason to fight one another.}

He looked up and saw a glow in the sky. A fire. Oh well, there were often fires.^{There was noise ahead too: the sound of rioting.} He skirted the barbed-wire barricades. Spoke to

^Two policeman who asked him where he was going. Home, he said.