THE BONDAGE OF LOVE by Yelena Kopylova

Australia. And me eldest daughter, Lucy, is away too. And then
    there's Frank." She pointed to the other card player.
    "As for those two layabouts," she had swung round now to where the earlier occupants of the couch were sitting on the front room chairs, and she grinned at them as she said, 'these two layabouts are Sep and Harry.
    And Sep," she nodded at Katie now, 'is starting work on Monday, and if I'm to believe what I hear through Daisy, your dad is Mr. Bailey, the contractor, isn't he?"
    "Yes. Yes, he is." Katie now turned and looked at the young man who was smiling shyly at her, and she said to him, "Who are you going to be under?"
    "I ... I don't know yet, miss. I just met a Mr. Ormesby. He comes into the club, you know, and he says he'll have me set on. I'll have to do odd jobs at first, run around, you know."
    "Tea boy." This came from Mike.
    "Tisn't tea boy, Mike. I won't be a tea boy. Mr. Ormesby said I could be apprenticed, either carpentry, or bricklaying, whichever I'm needed on most.
    You--' " Now, now, Sep. " His mother waved towards him; then swung round on her elder son, crying, " I'll slap your mouth in the open for you one of these days, I will that. Why don't you get yourself to hell out of it and look around? But no, you're too big for your boots. "
    The young man now turned on his mother, and in a voice as loud as hers, he yelled, "I was apprenticed, Mam, don't forget. Three years I was
    apprenticed, and look at me. For two years I've been going the rounds, and the big boots are worn out. Well, I'm going round no more.
    They can bloody well keep me. "
    "I'm sorry. I'm sorry about this." The little woman was nodding towards Sammy and Willie now. Then turning to Katie, she muttered, "I am indeed, miss. I'm sorry about this. Family rows should be kept for private times.
    But... but apart from being bone idle, some of my lot are bone ignorant, and it's me that says it." She now put her forearm under her high breasts and heaved them up, before ending in a softer tone, "Drink your tea, lass."
    Katie was about to take a drink from the cup when she gulped on it as Daisy's voice, from behind her, said, "I told you, didn't I? I told you."
    Katie now laid the cup and saucer down on the table in such a way that the tea spilt over from the cup. And turning on Daisy, she said, "Yes, you told us. Well, I can say the same to you when you come and visit us, because as Sammy's father would have said, " There's often the divil's fagarties," if you know what that means. Miss Gallagher. And it goes on in our house, I know. I've got an adopted sister, much younger but she causes rue tions.
    Willie there ... well, when he starts, he doesn't know when to stop. As for my dad. Oh!" She turned from glaring at Daisy now and, her gaze and voice softening, she looked at Mr. Gallagher again as she said, "As I said, as for my dad, I bet you couldn't hold a candle to him when he gets going. Bawling Bill Bailey, they call him at the works. And Bawling Bill Bailey he is at home at times. But there's another one of us, and that's my brother who is now in London, studying to be a doctor. And all I can say about Mark is, God help his patients, because he hasn't patience with himself or with anybody else. Willie and he' - she now thumbed over her shoulder 'used to go at each other's throats. So, you see' - she looked about her now 'it's nothing new to us, family get-tog ethers As for myself, in my time I think I have caused more ructions than all of them put together." She gave a little laugh.
    Then, turning to Sep again, she said quietly, "If Mr. Ormesby recommended you, you'll be all right. And you'll get on like a house on fire, if you're willing. All dad's foremen on the different jobs want young lads who will work for them. He's very loyal to those who are loyal to him. Anyway, we would all like to know how you get on."
    "Thank you, miss. Thank you." The pale-faced boy nodded towards Katie as he asked, "D'you know Mr. Ormesby well,