The Petticoat & the Evacuee Scene 9

Alice is removed from the tub and given a towel and Billy gets in. He’s never been scrubbed so hard in his whole life and fears the hard bristled brush might actually remove his skin. The brutal host puts a large bar of green soap in his hand and tells him to wash his hair. As he does so, Mrs Postlethwaite opens his case and roots through the few tatty items of clothing he’s brought. “I assumed you’d worn your old clothes for the journey but it appears they were your best.” she sneers as she pokes her finger through the hole in his spare jumper and frowns at the patches that hide the wear and tear on the back of his shorts. “These won’t do… they won’t do at all!” she says as the boy rinses the soap from his eyes.