TWENTY-ONE
The toe caps of his boots flapped open like gutted fish.
The next morning, the kids kept out of Norman’s way, he was hungover and irascible, and he prowled around the house like a caged bear, liable to lash out at anyone who upset him.
Olive cooked up some ribs of lamb and mashed potato and cabbage, and after his lunch Norman said he was off, out again down to the 'Bulls Head'. Olive wondered how he had money to go out drinking all the time but did not dare to ask.
Actually, Norman had been a big winner on the 'Crown and Anchor' board run (illegally) by Dennis Stanley in the barracks, winning more than ₤5, enough to pay off his debts from all the times he had lost and still have ₤2.10s in his pockets.
After drinking all afternoon and early evening, he found himself in the '
