Kathleen O'Connor had lived a few houses down from the Blackes some ten years now. Her husband worked for the railway, like Bill, and her eldest had found work at the Teeside. She was on good terms with the Blackes, even if she wasn't above sharing their misfortunes with willing ears. She made up for it by offering Lottie all the ins and outs of other people's lives. Today however, she had come down to number _ to inform Lottie of the misfortunes of her own life. Her Michael had come home with some shocking news and it was her duty to make sure Lottie was aware, before she made her round to all her other neighbours.

Wearing a bright red coat and a grave face, she approached the Blacke's front door and knocked.