She scoffed. "Oh aye, ye'll kick 'is arse for me and we'll run away together and ye'll look after me, aye?" she said gleefully offended. "'Ave ye 'ad a good look at me, Eugene? Have a real hard look! 'Ave ye ever seen me lookin' so fine? Why d'ye think I come to see ye now. Why d'ye think we're sittin' 'ere, ye great thickhead! I've got means. I've made me own way. I don't need ye. I've got a new man, a rich feller. Now, I can 'elp ye, when ye get out. That's why I came. But ye can't go associatin' with them anymore. They don't know about me new situation yet, and I wanna keep it that way for as long as I can."

Eugene smiled "yeah I had noticed Ruth. Your looking well. I just look like shit......fuck I look like a prisoner. Of which I am" his head slumped into his hands "3 months. 3 months. And I had no idea where to turn when I got out of this place. Part of me toyed with the workhouse. Part of me toyed with the idea of the fishing boats just so I had some place to sleep"

He thought for a moment "but when I was offered the chance to train as a cobbler I jumped at the chance. Maybe do something useful with my life. Save up some cash and start up my own business. A lost soul repairing lost soles" he joked. "But I have been thinking about a fresh start. Away from the family. I honestly don't think my return would be greatly appreciated anyways. Our parents would just see another mouth to feed or not feed. How can you help me Ruth? And how can I repay you?"

Ruth looked at what what left of her brother with disgust. What a whiner. With bad ideas too. Thank God someone else had offered him something better. She had once looked up to Eugene and trusted him. Ruth had realized that she could never trust him again. She was smarter than to trust anyone but herself now that she was old enough to look after herself. But she had hoped that she could still love and respect him. She wasn't so certain.

She hesitated. "Well... I thought ye might need a place. But maybe not, now that ye got a job or som't. Anyway, I wouldn't be able to afford ye anything nice. Just somethin' that's not the streets. But like I said, ye may not need it."

Eugene nodded "I'll take what ever I can get Ruth. Even if it's just a room. Anything is a step up from here. I'll know more about the cobbler job soon. From what I understand it will be a quick turn around from me being released to me starting for them." He looked at Ruth "what do you need from me?"

Ruth looked at him, hesitating. The question was not unexpected. What was she getting out of it? She had asked herself that question time and time again. Why bother with a brother she didn't need anymore? Why was she here? Why was she offering help? Eugene was of no use to her.

She was quiet, trying to come up with some witty reply that excused her from answering the question. No quip came to her, but the excuse entered dressed in uniform. "Time's up!" he shouted.

Ruth rose to her feet and was happy to turn away from her brother to face the guard. "I know some powerful people with good lawyers. If I hear of you lot beating my brother one more time, I swear to God, I will bring the full strength of the law down on you, and you can experience what its like to be on the other side."

Eugene looked over as the guard shouted. He looked at his sister "first of February" as he spoke and stood up the guard walked over and Eugene put his hands behind his back. The guard placed the metal cuffs on his wrists and spoke "time for you to go back to his cell" as he was led off he thought to himself. Deep down he had pushed everything to the back of his min but now he realised he actually missed his sister. It wouldn't be long till he saw her. 3 more months he thought to himself as he walked.