My name is Tommy, Tommy Bloggs, I'm almost 17 now, life has been tough, I'm one of 11 children but only 4 of us have survived, Mum had me first at 19 years old, 3 brothers were stillborn after me, then came Albert, Arthur, George, Lucy, Mary, Edna and baby Lesley. Albert, Arthur, Lucy and Edna were taken away by TB, Mum looks worn out but keeps us all smiling the best she can, Dad is away for months on end, we never know when he will return, last time he said he was going off to build houses up North. I hope he returns soon, I can show him what I've been doing at the workshop.It's 6 o'clock now and Mr Robinson says I can go home to help look after my family, I'll run home, its not far, maybe 2 miles through the dark streets, think I'll go past the butchers and look at the pheasants hanging in the shop, maybe one day when I've saved up some pennies that Mr Robinson pays me I'll be able to buy us one for Sunday dinner.
