BRITISH COMICS
THE BOYHOOD of
BERNARD BRIGGS
Episodes 1 – 5
Episode One of: The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs taken
from The Wizard
|
When he was eleven, Bernard Briggs already had the sturdy build and
quick eye that were to help him to become But fame seemed
a long way off during Bernard’s boyhood. Both his parents were dead, and he lived
with his uncle, George Soovley, who was a scrap metal dealer in the
industrial town of |
|
|
STARTS TODAY—Everything was a struggle
for Bernard Briggs, but when the odds were greatest that was
the way Bernard liked it. |
Bernard didn’t let his hard life
get him down. He was popular with the customers, who liked his impudent grin. One
lady gave Bernard a chunk of bread pudding, and he smacked his lips over it as
he rode on. It made a welcome addition to the slice of bread and jam, which was
all that he had had for his tea. Fred, Uncle George’s crony, was waiting for
Bernard at the warehouse. “There it is,” said Fred, who looked as grimy as his
surroundings. He pointed to a bulging sack on the floor. “Tell Soovley that I
want top price. It’s good stuff!” Bernard struggled to lift the sack into the
carrier of his bike, without any help from Fred. “Must be gold bars!” thought
Bernard. “It’s heavy!” He rode away with the sack. Watching him, Fred was
startled when a policeman called to Bernard. “Blimey, what does the law want?”
muttered Fred. He had his own reasons for not wanting the police to get too
interested in the sack. The policeman had only stopped Bernard to tell him that
his front wheel needed tightening. “O.K. I’ll fix it,” said Bernard. “By the
way, you get around, Bernard,” the constable went on. “If you see any lead on
your trips to the junkyards, let us know.” “Thieves stripped the roof of St
Gregory’s Church last night. “I’ll keep my eyes open mister,” promised Bernard.
He tightened the wheel and rode on. His pals were still playing football, with
a goal chalked against a high wall. They yelled to him to take over in goal.
“Reckon I’ve got a few minutes to spare,” said Bernard.
He was kept busy in goal. All the
boys wanted to put one past Bernard. Alf slammed in a header but Bernard jumped
and tipped it away. “You’ll have to hit ‘em harder than that, Alf,” he grinned.
He bounced about his goal as if he had springs in his legs. Shots came in from
all angles, and he stopped every one of them. Dave Evans tried a low one, and
Bernard dived flat to take it. “Bernard’s fearless!” exclaimed Alf. “Fancy
diving on a concrete pavement.” Lew Cotter came swaggering up. He was two or
three years older than Bernard and several inches taller. “I’ll show you how to
do it,” he shouted. He belted the ball in. Bernard moved across, positioned his
body behind the ball and took it cleanly. Cotter rushed at him, trying to
hustle him into dropping it, but Bernard turned a shoulder, and Cotter bounced
off. “You want to read the rules, mate!” said Bernard. Cotter got his breath
back, and swung a fist. “You rag-and-bone clown, I’ll flatten you!” he snarled.
Bernard ducked under the punch. He came up again and his fist shot out. Cotter
took it on the chin and went down with a thud. “You’re no good at boxing,
either!” jeered Bernard. Cotter went slinking away. Bernard decided it was time
he went home—if Uncle George’s scrapyard could be called home. Alf called after
him as he pedaled away. “See you at school tomorrow, Bernard. Maybe you’ll be
picked for the team. “Not a chance,” answered Bernard. “The teacher likes his
keepers to be little gents! Besides I got work to do at home. As he turned the
corner, there was a bang, and his front tyre went flat. The patched rubber had
given way at last. Taken by surprise, Bernard skidded. He ended up in the
gutter, and the sack fell from the carrier. It took more than a toss from his
bike to upset Bernard, but he got a surprise when he jumped to his feet. The
sack had burst open, and strips of lead were poking out. “Lead!” he muttered.
He examined the contents of the sack and scowled. “This must be stuff from St
Gregory’s roof! I knew Fred was a crook, but my Uncle George must be in on the
racket as well!”
NO HOME FOR BERNARD
Uncle George was waiting in the
yard when Bernard rode in. Bernard had mended the puncture, but the carrier of
his bike was empty. “Where’s that stuff from Fred?” demanded
Uncle George. “I took it back!” said Bernard. “You took it back to Fred?”
snapped Uncle George. “What are you playing at?” “Not to Fred,” said Bernard.
“I took it back to St Gregory’s Church! I left it in the porch with a note
saying, ‘This is yours!” Then I rang the bell. “I hung about until I saw the
vicar come out and collect it, then I pushed off.” Uncle George’s mouth sagged
open. He struggled to speak. “You—you interfering little brat!” he spluttered.
“What did you do that for?” “The stuff was pinched, Uncle George,” said
Bernard, solemnly. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to handle stolen goods!” Uncle
George’s face went red to match his nose. Bernard dodged as a grubby fist swung
at him. “I’ll kill you, you little rat!” roared Uncle George. “After all I’ve
done for you! I don’t want anybody with your soft ideas around here!” Bernard
jumped on his bike and pedaled for the gates. “O.K, I get the message!” he
called. “I’m off!” And so, at the age of eleven, Bernard was on his own. He
pedaled round the streets until he came to a demolition site where an old hut stood.
“That’ll do me for tonight,” he decided. I’ll get some sleep and decide in the
morning what to do next.” He found some old sacking in the hut, and settled
down. He slept well, but got a rude awakening the next morning, for the hut
began to collapse about him. Bernard sat up and through a gap in the wall he
saw a bulldozer. Bernard scrambled out as the driver of the bulldozer stared at
him. “Crikey!” said the driver. “I had orders to fetch that place down. I
didn’t know there was anybody inside. I might have run over you, son!” “Glad
you missed me!” said Bernard. “But now I’ll have to find a new home after
school.” Bernard had a wash in an old horse trough, and hurried away to school
where Mr Moult, his class teacher, was waiting at the door. Mr Moult was in
charge of the school football team, but Bernard’s skill as a goalkeeper didn’t
make him teacher’s pet. “You get scruffier every day, Briggs!” blared Mr Moult.
“Your clothes are a disgrace! Did you sleep in a dustbin?” Bernard didn’t try
to explain. He knew from past experience that if he said anything, Mr Moult
would be on at him again for answering back. Lessons started, and Bernard was
in trouble again. He was a bright lad, and there was little wrong with his
school work, but Mr Moult could always find something. Prowling round the class
as the boys worked on some arithmetic problems, Mr Moult gave Bernard a jab
with a ruler. “Am I expected to read this scrawl?” he demanded. There was a
snigger from Cyril Dallow, who liked to keep in the teacher’s good books.
Bernard scowled. “I ain’t likely to write copperplate if you nudge me!” he
said. That earned him a clout on the head with the ruler. “I don’t want to hear
another word from you, Briggs!” snapped Mr Moult. The next lesson was history
in which Mr Moult asked questions about Napoleon. Bernard sat quiet and let the
other boys answer. “Please, sir, ‘ know, sir!” said Cyril Dallow, waving his
hand in the air. “I’m sure you do, Dallow,” said Mr Moult, his voice becoming
heavily sarcastic. “But suppose we ask Briggs to join us? Would you like to
contribute something from your vast store of knowledge, Briggs?” “You said you
didn’t want to hear another word from me,” said Bernard. That didn’t please Mr
Moult, either and Bernard had a sore head by the end of the day. Bernard
decided he had had enough of school for one day. Hurrying off, he saw some of
the boys kicking a ball about. “Want a game, Bernard?” one of them called.
“Sorry, Charlie,” Bernard answered. “I’ve got to find something to eat and a
place to sleep. I ain’t had a bite since yesterday.” The boy pushed a hunk of
bread and cheese into Bernard’s hand. “Here, have this, Bernard. I brought it
for the break, but I didn’t eat it.” “Cor, ta!” mumbled Bernard, gulping the
sandwich down. “Smashing! I feel better now. Where’s that football?” Once again
the goal was chalked on a wall and Bernard took up his position as Charlie ran
in and shot. Bernard leapt across the goal and clawed the ball down. “This is
the life!” he grinned. He slung the ball away and a shot came hurtling back.
Bernard went down on one knee on the hard stone flags, gathered the ball and
slung it away high. One of the players rushed in and hit it back hard with a
header. Bernard went up like a rocket and punched it away. The ball rose high
and soared over the wall. “O.K, I’ll get it,” grinned Bernard.
DUCKING FOR TWO
He ran at the wall, jumped, and caught the top. Scrabbling the toes of
his battered shoes against the bricks, he hauled himself up. On
the other side of the wall was a canal, with the towpath running under the
wall. The ball was floating in the canal.
Bernard saw something else that
made him scowl. A mongrel pup was struggling in the canal. Two guffawing young
louts stood on the towpath, throwing stones at the dog. “Hey, leave that pup
alone!” yelled Bernard. He dropped on the towpath as one of the louts turned.
“Want to join the pup, kid?” he sneered. Bernard went at him head down. The
tough doubled up with a gasp as Bernard’s hard head hit him in the middle.
Staggering back, the lout fell into the canal with a yell. The other tough went
at Bernard, fists swinging. Bernard swayed and a fist grazed the side of his
head, but he did not even blink. He hit out, and the tough joined his pal in
the canal. They looked at Bernard standing on the towpath with his hands on his
hips, and decided to find a safer place to land. They splashed away, and
Bernard called to the pup. “Come on, pal! Over here!” The pup struggled to the
side. Bernard knelt on the towpath and hooked it out. The dog squirmed in his
arms, wagging its tail, then it licked Bernard’s face. “You’re all right, pup!”
grinned Bernard. “A bath never hurt any dog. Coo, you’re a funny-looking mutt,
ain’t you?” The pup seemed to be a mixture of breeds, with big paws and a
comical black patch over one eye. But its expression was alert, and its bright
eyes were intelligent. “Reckon we’re in the same boat, as you might say,”
Bernard went on. “Here hang on while I get the ball.” He put the dog down. It
stayed close to him while he found a stick and pulled the ball in to the side.
Bernard fished the ball out and slung it over the wall. He walked along the
towpath with the dog trotting at his heels. He had noticed an old barge moored
further along the canal. “This might suit us, pal,” he told the pup. The barge
had a neglected look about it. Some of its timbers were rotting and it was
obviously a long time since it had last left its moorings. “Seems to be
abandoned,” said Bernard. “I don’t reckon anybody would object if we moved in.”
He climbed aboard, and the dog jumped after him. Bernard peered into the dark
cabin, where there was a smell of bilge water. He heard squeaks and scurryings.
“This’ll be home, sweet home, when I’ve tidied it up and got rid of the rats,”
he said. The dog slipped past him, and plunged into the cabin. Bernard gave a
shout. “Hey, come out of there, pup! Those rats will eat you for supper!” He
heard the pup give one quick growl. There was a sudden scuffle in the shadows,
and a medley of squeaks. The pup trotted out again with something in its jaws
then dropped a dead rat at Bernard’s feet. “Well, blow me down!” gasped
Bernard. “You’ve killed one of the rats! We’re going to be a proper team, pup!
I think I’ll call you ‘Tiger’!” “This is all right, Tiger!” grinned Bernard.
“We’ve got a home, and I’ve got a bit of cash from that firewood I sold
yesterday. We’re going into business, pal, you and me!”
NEXT WEEK—Bernard
sets
out to find
himself a job.
Episode Two of: The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs taken
from The Wizard
|
A slice of dry bread and a raw onion might not be everybody’s idea of
a good breakfast, but Bernard Briggs made the best of it. “Cor, that’s
strong!” he mumbled, his eyes watering, as he bit into the onion. He was sitting
on the deck of the derelict old barge that was his home. At the age of eleven
he was on his own. His parents were dead, and his Uncle George, a shady scrap
dealer, had turned him out. It was not a promising beginning for the boy who,
in later years, would be |
|
|
The skidding car’s wheels are only
inches away as Bernard Briggs risks his life to save Tiger. |
An excited yapping made Bernard
look round. Tiger had caught sight of a passing cat and the pup shot out of the
shop in pursuit. The cat swerved across the road, and Tiger followed. “They’ll
be run over!” gasped Bernard. “Tiger, come back.” He plunged out of the shop as
the cat leapt in front of a lorry and reached the opposite pavement. Bernard
hurled himself into the roadway in a full-length dive. His outstretched hands
grabbed his pup and pulled Tiger back from the wheels of the lorry. A taxi
swerved to miss Bernard, and there was a crash as the taxi hit Bernard’s
bicycle. Mrs Smith and the woman customer screamed. Mr Smith went pale. Bernard
got to his feet, still clutching the dog. The cat had escaped, and the lorry
rolled on. Bernard hurried back to the pavement outside the shop. “The boy’s
all right!” gasped Mrs Smith. “He risked his life to save his dog! That was
brave!” “Tiger needs some training!” said Bernard. The taxi stopped. Bernard’s
bike had been flung on to the pavement, a twisted wreck. The taxi driver
hurried across. “Sorry son,” he said. “But it was you or your bike, when you
did that bit of goalkeeping in the road.” “I reckon you picked the right one,
mister!” said Bernard. Mr Smith mopped his brow, then handed Bernard a hunk of
fresh cheese and a couple of apples. “Here have this, son,” he said. “That’s
taught me not to judge by appearances! I’d like to have you work for me, but
you’re too young. The law wouldn’t allow it. “This grub’ll come in handy,” said
Bernard. “Thanks, mister!”
He pointed to an errand boy’s bike
that leaned against the shop wall. A plate fitted to its frame under the
crossbar had the words, “L. Smith. Grocer,” and there was a basket in the
carrier. “I’d like to have you work for me.” “I’ll work for you before school
and after
BUSINESSMAN BERNARD
Mrs Smith had a big mug of tea and beans on toast waiting for Bernard.
He gulped it down and set to work, leaving Tiger with a bone in Mr Smith’s
shed. Bernard was kept busy for a couple of hours, pedalling about the
district, the carrier on the bike was piled high with grocery orders.
He had plans for the bike, and he
started putting them into operation when he had finished the errands. “That’s
all for tonight, Bernard,” said Mr Smith. “Just throw those old jamjars in the
bin, then you can push off home. Here are some left-overs, that’ll only go
stale if you don’t have them.” Thanks, Mr Smith,” said Bernard. I’ll just
finish this sign for the bike before I leave.” Bernard had two pieces of
cardboard, the sides of an old cardboard box that Mr Smith had thrown out. On
each piece Bernard wrote: “B. Briggs. Dealer.” He fixed the signs on the bike,
over the signs that carried Mr Smith’s name. Bernard rode away with Tiger in
the carrier basket. His pals were gathering at a football pitch in the park,
and Mr Robinson was with them. “Glad you could get here, Bernard,” said Mr
Robinson. “I’ve dug out some gear for you.” “Hallo, what’s that sign on your
bike? I didn’t know you were a dealer!” “I’m starting my own scrap business,”
said Bernard. “It runs in the family, you might say. I’ve picked up a few ideas
from helping my Uncle George. The only difference is, I’m going to run my
business honest!” The goalkeeping jersey that Bernard put on came down almost
to his knees, and he stuffed it inside his shorts. His hands were lost to sight
in the sleeves until he rolled them up. Leaving Tiger tied up outside the hut
that served as a dressing-room. Bernard trotted out with the scratch side from
his school. The team from
NEXT WEEK—Bernard
clashes
with Mr Moult
again but this
time on the
football field.
Episode Three of: The
Boyhood of Bernard Briggs taken from The Wizard
|
Bernard Briggs followed the postman and the milkman into Fastened under
the crossbar of the bike was a sign which said, “B. Briggs. Dealer.”
The bike belonged to Mr Smith, a local grocer. Bernard had the loan of it in
return for making deliveries for Mr Smith after school. At the age of eleven,
Bernard was on his own, trying to make enough to keep himself and his dog in
food. After being turned out by his Uncle George, a scrap dealer who was
Bernard’s only living relative, the youngster had made his home on an old
barge abandoned on the canal. It was not a promising start for the lad who
was to become |
|
|
Mister Moult was laying down the law to
Bernard until Tiger made his own mark on the game. |
“Briggs!” snapped Mr Moult. “What
are you doing here?” “Er-sorry!” said Bernard, retreating. “Wrong house!”
“Clear off, you scruff!” Mr Moult called after him. “This is a respectable
neighbourhood! We don’t want your sort round here!” Tiger yapped angrily.
Bernard swung into the saddle and pedaled away. “Cor!” he said. “I didn’t know
old Moult lived there! Never mind, Tiger, maybe we’ll be able to do business
with that neighbour of his tonight.” Reaching school, Bernard left Tiger in the
cellar, an arrangement he had made with Mr Robinson, the friendly janitor who
was encouraging Bernard’s interest in football. Bernard went into the classroom
to face another day with Mr Moult. “Pay attention, Briggs!” said Mr Moult. “You
won’t be able to spend your whole life cadging! Try to learn something to fit
yourself to make an honest living!” Mr Moult began droning on and Bernard’s
attention wandered. Trying to make a living on his own gave him plenty to think
about. “Mr Harvey gives me bones from the butcher’s shop cheap for Tiger,”
pondered Bernard. “I reckon I can get by on ten bob a week for the two of us.
Well, better say a quid—” He sat up as he heard Mr Moult rasp out his name.
“Briggs!” ordered Mr Moult. “Repeat what I’ve just said!” Bernard’s pals looked
at him sympathetically. Mr Moult had a triumphant expression on his face. He
thought he had caught Bernard day-dreaming and it seemed that another
punishment was coming Bernard’s way.
Bernard thought fast. Mr Moult had
written the word ‘Bronze’ on the blackboard. “Er—you were talking about
bronze,” said Bernard. “It’s a metal made from tin and copper. Used a lot after
the Stone Age. Hence the expression, the Bronze Age!” The disappointed look on
Mr Moult’s face showed that Bernard had picked up the clue correctly. Bernard
was a lot brighter than Mr Moult would admit. Baffled Mr Moult gave a grunt and
went back to his lecture. Mr Moult could have made the adventures of Morgyn the
Mighty sound dull, but from then on Bernard paid careful attention. Classes
ended at last and Bernard and his pals lost no time in getting out. A new
notice had been pinned to the noticeboard. “Hey, look at this, Bernard!” called
Oily Potter. “You’ve been picked to play in goal for the Possibles against the
Probables in a trial to pick the school team.” “Wonders will never cease!” said
Bernard. “I bet Mr Robinson had something to do with that. He’s talked Mr Moult
into it somehow.”
SENT OFF!
Mr Robinson was standing on the
touchline when Bernard trotted out on to the school pitch with the Possibles.
Bernard stopped to speak to him. “Thanks, Mr Robinson,” said Bernard. “What
for, son?” asked Mr Robinson. “For getting me a game,” said Bernard.
“Well,
yes, I did mention your name to Mr Moult,” said the janitor. “Between you and
me, Bernard, I think he only agreed because he hopes you’ll be a complete flop!
You show him, son!” Mr Moult trotted out. He was dapper in the gear of a referee,
and he gave an impressive toot on his whistle. Bernard took up position in
goal, with Tiger sitting near. “We’re going to have a solo performance on the
whistle, Tiger!” said Bernard. “Never mind, it’s worth putting up with Mr Moult
to get a game of football!” From the kick-off, the Probables attacked strongly
and worked the ball along the left wing. Bernard watched the winger get his toe
under the ball and loft it over into the middle. Peter Green, the
centre-forward for the Probables, ran in to take it. “That cross is too high,”
thought Bernard. “Pete will never get it under control.” The ball came down and
Pete lashed out. The ball shot past Bernard into the goal. Mr Moult gave a
blast on the whistle. “You were slow there, Briggs!” he smirked. “You were slow
on the whistle!” Bernard retorted. He ran out and grabbed Pete’s wrist. There
was a muddy mark on Pete’s palm. “Look at this!” said Bernard. “Pete brought
the ball under control with his hand! That was no goal!” “He’s right, sir,”
muttered Pete. “I’m sorry, but I did handle!” Mr Moult scowled, but he had to
give the free kick. Bernard dabbed the ball down. “Get upfield, mates!” he
shouted. “I’ll shift it!” He took a couple of paces and booted the ball. Mr
Robinson watched the ball soaring away into the opposing half. “For a lad,
Bernard’s a terrific kicker of a dead ball,” muttered Mr Robinson. Bernard’s
forwards scrambled round the goal area, but the Probables had a tight defence.
The ball came out, and the left-back cleared. The Probables were away again.
Bernard’s defenders crowded back towards him. “Out of my way!” bellowed
Bernard. “Give me a bit of room in the six-yard box!” The ball came over and
Bernard plunged out into a tangle of players. “Shift!” he roared to his backs.
Leaping into the air, he scooped the ball down. He dodged a charge from one
forward, and stood firm as another of the Probables rushed at him. They met
shoulder to shoulder. The other lad bounced off and sat down. “You could get
hurt doing that, mate!” grinned Bernard. He was about to boot the ball away,
when the whistle shrilled. Bernard looked at Mr Moult in surprise. “What was
that for?” he asked. “Cut out the chat, Briggs!” snapped Mr Moult. “Keep your
mouth shut, or you’ll be booked for ungentlemanly conduct!” “Cor!” said
Bernard. He prepared to take the kick again, but Mr Moult held up his hand.
“Play has been halted,” he said. “I’m giving a dropped ball!” There was a
flurry of flailing feet as Mr Moult dropped the ball and Peter Green broke
clear. As Bernard moved out to narrow the angle, the right-back of the
Possibles hurled himself across. He slammed into Pete and brought him down. Mr
Moult whistled, and pointed to the penalty spot. “You nut!” Bernard told the
back. “No need to give away a penalty! I was all set to stop his shot!” Pete
put the ball on the spot, and it rolled forward. “Ho!” said Bernard. “Put it
back, mate!” “I’ve warned you Briggs!” said Mr Moult. “All right, Green, put
the ball on the spot!” Pete positioned the ball correctly. He ran up and hit
it. The ball whirled to Bernard’s right so that he had to dive at full length.
His hands clamped on the ball and stopped it on the line. “Great save,
Bernard!” shouted Mr Robinson. Bernard sat up to see Mr Moult was pointing to
the centre. “Hey, that was no goal!” said Bernard, scrambling to his feet. “The
ball was over the line!” snapped Mr Moult. “I stopped it dead on the line!”
said Bernard. “All the ball has to cross the line for a goal! You want to read
the rules, Mr Moult!” Mr Moult went red, and he marched towards Bernard. “How
dare you speak to me like that!” he fumed. Yapping angrily, Tiger ran on to the
pitch. The pup jumped, and its teeth closed on the seat of Mr Moult’s shorts.
“He though you were going to attack me!” exclaimed Bernard. “Down, boy!” “Ow!”
shrieked Mr Moult. “Get the brute off me!” Although Bernard grabbed Tiger and
pulled him away, Mr Moult was not grateful. “Get off the field, Briggs, and
take that mongrel with you!” he shouted. Bernard trudged away, carrying Tiger.
Mr Robinson watched him go. “Mr Moult doesn’t know a football from a Christmas
pudding!” muttered Mr Robinson. “There goes the best goalkeeper the school has
ever had!”
BIG DEAL
Later that evening, Bernard cycled
into
The
woman he had spoken to that morning opened the door to him, and called her husband,
Ted Foster. “My wife said you were in business in a small way, and she was
right!” grinned Mr Foster, looking down at Bernard. “Everybody’s got to start
somewhere, mister,” said Bernard. “Come on then, son,” said Mr Foster, leading
the way to the back yard. “I like your spirit. You can have this, if you can
take it away.” Bernard stared, for Mr Foster was pointing at an old car. It was
a model of the 1920’s, with scratched paintwork and tears in its canvas hood.
“For years I’ve been planning to get this old chariot roadworthy, but I’ve
never had the time,” explained Mr Foster. “It’s just cluttering the place up.
It’s yours!” “I don’t want something for nothing,” said Bernard. “Tell you
what, mister, I’ll try to sell it, and I’ll give you half of what I get.” Mr
Foster gave him a hand to push the car into the road. “You won’t get this to a
buyer on your own,” said Mr Foster. “You said I could have it, if I could take
it away,” answered Bernard. “I’ll manage somehow.” He looked along the road and
gave a shout. Oily Potter and two more of Bernard’s pals were strolling along.
“Give us a push, mates!” Bernard yelled. His pals hurried to him and put their
shoulders to the car. It trundled away, with Bernard reaching inside to steer
it, and Tiger sitting in the passenger seat and enjoying the ride. A curtain
twitched in the front room of Mr Moult’s house, then Mr Moult appeared on the
step, and spoke over the fence to his neighbour. “About time you got rid of
that junk, Foster!” he said. “It’s been an eyesore for far too long! But,
whatever deal you struck with Briggs. I’ll wager he’s got the best of it! I
know that young ruffian!” “He struck me as a nice lad,” said Mr Foster. “A bit
rough and ready, but straightforward. He’s promised to give me half of what he
gets for the car.” “That’s a likely story!” scoffed Mr Moult. “You’ll never see
him again!” Bernard and his pals turned the corner into Holly Grove, and
stopped for a rest. A large, glossy car came gliding by. The man sitting in the
back gave them a casual glance, then shouted to his chauffeur. “Henry, I
believe that’s a 1924 Lance, one of our first! Stop!” The car halted and the
man jumped out and hurried across to Bernard. “Who owns this car, lads?” he
asked. “I do,” said Bernard. “At least, I’ve got permission to sell it. I’m B.
Briggs. Dealer! And I’m open for offers, mister!” “And I’ll make you one!” the
man smiled. He walked round the car, studying it. “Yes, all it needs is a bit
of attention. I’m the managing director of the Lance Motor Company, and this is
one of our earliest models. Just what we need for our museum! What do you say
to one hundred and fifty pounds, B. Briggs?” “I thought we’d have to push the
thing all over town to get ten quid! You’re on, mister!” Meanwhile, Mr Moult
was still talking to his neighbour, Mr Foster, who had tried yawning and
looking at his watch, but it made no difference. Bernard came strolling up with
his mates. Mr Moult’s eyes bulged as Bernard waved a wad of notes. “That scrap
of yours was dead valuable, Mr Foster!” said Bernard. “Look, the Lance Motor
Company gave me one hundred and fifty pounds for it!” “Crikey!” said Mr Foster.
“That’s a nice little windfall for both of us, Bernard!” “Not me, mister,” said
Bernard. “I couldn’t keep seventy-five quid!” “But if you’ll let me have a
fiver, I can give my pals a quid each for helping me push it!” Mr Foster
started to protest but Bernard peeled off five pounds and pushed the rest of
the money into Mr Foster’s hand. “Ta!” he said. “Nice doing business with you,
Mr Foster! Let me know if there’s anything else I can shift!” The boys walked
away as Mr Foster turned to Mr Moult and held up the money. “And that’s the lad
you said couldn’t be trusted!” he grinned. “If you can sum up character, you
seem to be getting a few of your sums wrong, Moult!” Mr Moult scowled and began
muttering to himself as he slammed into his house. When Bernard got back to the
barge that was his home, he was carrying a couple tins of paint and a
paintbrush. “That money will help us smarten up the old home, Tiger,” he said.
He began slapping paint on the walls of the cabin. “It’s looking better
already!” he said. The door opened, and a man in a dark suit looked in.
“Bernard Briggs?” he said. “I’m the Welfare Officer. Your teacher told me about
you. He’s quite right, this isn’t a suitable place for you to live! I’m sorry,
my boy, but you can’s stay here. You’ll have to come with me to the Children’s
Home!”
Is this the end of
Bernard’s
independence? Will
he be
separated from
Tiger? Find
out the answers in
NEXT
WEEK’S exciting
story.
Episode Four of: The
Boyhood of Bernard Briggs taken from The Wizard
|
The Children’s home was an old, rambling building with a forbidding
look about it. Bernard Briggs paused in the gateway, leaning on his bike
while he studied the place. “I ain’t going to like it here, mister,” he said.
“Now, now, Bernard,” said Mr Ganley, the Welfare Officer. “This is for your
own good. You’ll be better off here than in that old barge of yours.” Tiger, Bernard’s
mongrel pup, frisked round them and gave a yap that seemed to suggest he
disagreed with Mr Ganley. The Welfare Officer put a hand on Bernard’s
shoulder and conducted him to the massive front door. At the age of eleven,
Bernard was on his own. His only relative, his Uncle George, had turned him
out, and Bernard had set up home in an old abandoned barge on the canal.
Fending for himself, Bernard had found work making deliveries for Mr Smith, a
local grocer, outside school hours. In return, Mr Smith had loaned the delivery
bike to Bernard, who had set himself up as a dealer, ready to buy and sell
anything. But Bernard was not popular with Mr Moult, his teacher, who had
reported Bernard’s way of life to the authorities. As a result, the Welfare
Officer had arrived to take Bernard to the Children’s Home. It was not a
promising beginning for the boy who was later to become |
|
|
Supperless and locked in a cold room,
Bernard learns it will be a hard life for him in his new home. |
The room Bernard was taken to had a
cot with one blanket. There were bars to the windows. “What’s this, solitary
confinement?” said Bernard. “Ain’t there any more kids in this place?” “You’re
a bad influence!” said Mrs Sprott. “You’ll be allowed to mix with the other
boys when you’ve learned some manners.” She slammed out, banging the door
behind her. Bernard put out his tongue.
He had landed in a pretty cheerless place, but he wasn’t going to start moping.
People like Mrs Sprott didn’t frighten him. He was used to making his own way
in a hard world. “Might as well do my homework,” he decided. It was cold in the
room, and he rolled himself up in the blanket without taking his clothes off.
Bernard worked steadily at his work, but soon dozed off. About
BERNARD THE BARRIER
Bernard was allowed out early the
next morning. He had a quick wash in cold water, and made for the main door.
“I’ve got work to do,” he told himself. “I’ll have to skip breakfast.” He was
slipping outside when Mrs Sprott came flapping down the stairs in down-at-heel
slippers, her hair in curlers. “Where are you sneaking of too, Briggs?” she
called.
“Mr Smith, the grocer, is expecting
me,” said Bernard. “I’ve got some deliveries to make for him.” He fetched his
bike from the shed and jumped on. Mrs Sprott stood on the step and yelled at
him. “I haven’t given you permission to go out! Come back you little ruffian!
I’ll keep you in for a week!” Bernard pedaled away without looking back. “I
don’t know who Mr Sprott was, but he’s got my sympathy!” thought Bernard. Down
at Mr Smith’s shop, there was work waiting. Bernard swept the shop out, then
pedalled round with some early-morning deliveries. His good turn had taken
time, and the bell was ringing as he pedalled into the school playground. “Hey
Bernard!” called Mr Robinson, the school janitor. “Can you play against the
Welfare Home tonight? I’ve fixed up a friendly.” Mr Moult, Bernard’s teacher,
was in charge of the school football team, but Mr Robinson arranged games for
lads like Bernard who were not the teacher’s pets. “I’ll be there, Mr
Robinson,” said Bernard, jumping off his bike. “Can’t stop! It’s all go this
morning!” Bernard slid into his desk as the bell stopped ringing. Mr Moult
frowned at him. “Just in time, Briggs!” he said. “They haven’t taught you
punctuality at the Home yet! But we’ll lick you into shape between us!” Mr
Moult’s method for licking Bernard into shape was to flick him on the head with
a ruler. Bernard got several flicks during the day. He was a bright lad, and
there was nothing wrong with his work, but Mr Moult could always find an excuse
for a bit of ruler work. “Let’s see what you know about geography, Briggs,”
said Mr Moult, unrolling a wall map. He pointed to a large island off the coast
of
NEXT WEEK—Bernard
and
Mr Smith, the
grocer, are in
trouble for
breaking the law.
Episode Five of: The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs taken
from The Wizard
|
At the age of eleven, young Bernard Briggs found himself behind bars.
He was locked in a small room at the top of the Children’s Home in
Manningham, and the bars were at the grimy window. The furniture consisted of
a cot with one blanket, and a small, rickety table. For company he had two or
three spiders, and several dead flies. Bernard had no
family, and he had been fending for himself. With his pup, Tiger, he had set
up home in an old barge. Mr Moult, Bernard’s teacher, had reported this to
the authorities, and Bernard had been taken to the Children’s Home. He soon
left again, because he had promised to make some deliveries for a local
grocer. The Welfare Officer and Mrs Sprott, the matron of the Home, had
finally caught up with Bernard at a football match he had been playing in.
Bernard had been hauled back, and here he was, locked up in solitary
confinement. It was not a promising start for the lad who was later to become
|
|
|
It looks a certain goal—but Bernard
doesn’t bother about it! |
She slapped an exercise-book down. “And you needn’t
think you can just idle your time away in here. Mr Moult has sent you some
homework to do. You’re lucky to have a teacher who takes so much interest in
you.” She went out, locking the door behind her, leaving Bernard to wolf down
the bread and a swig of water. He was still hungry, but it wasn’t the first
time he had been short of food. His policy was to keep busy and take his mind
off his hunger, so he started on his homework. Mr Moult had set an essay, and
Bernard scribbled away. There was no light in the room, and Bernard just managed
to finish as darkness came down. After that, there was nothing left to do but
to go to bed. Lying on a lumpy mattress with only one blanket wrapped round
him, Bernard spent an uncomfortable night. He got up once or twice to flap his
arms and touch his toes, trying to warm himself up. Morning seemed a long time
coming, but at last it grew light. Bernard heard the rattle of Mrs Sprott’s
keys outside. “The Goddess of Dawn came shyly peeping in!” muttered Bernard,
remembering a poem he had read at school. Mrs Sprott didn’t look much like a
shy goddess as she clumped in with another helping of bread and water. She put
it down and went out without a word. Bernard was kept locked up until it was
almost time to leave for school. As he set off on the bike loaned to him by Mr
Smith, the grocer, the matron had a final farewell for him. “Straight to
school, Briggs!” she ordered. “The committee will be sending for you, so don’t
you try to run away again.” “I told you, missus. I didn’t run away,” said
Bernard. “I ain’t afraid of your committee!” Bernard made two calls on his way
to school. First he stopped at the barge where he had been living. His dog was
still there. Tiger frisked round him, tail wagging. Satisfied that the pup was
all right, Bernard pedalled on to Mr Smith’s shop. “Sorry I couldn’t get away
to work for you this morning, Mr Smith,” said Bernard. “I’ll do extra tonight,
after school.” “Sorry, Bernard, you’re finished here,” said Mr Smith. “I’m in
enough trouble already because of you! I’ve got to appear before the Welfare
Committee!” “I didn’t mean to land you in trouble, mister,” said Bernard.
“Don’t you worry, we’ll sort it out somehow. If I ain’t working for you any
longer, you’d better have the bike back.” Bernard raced away on foot. The
school bell was ringing as he reached the gates. The toot of a horn made him
look round. Driving by was a man who had refereed the match that Bernard had
played in the day before. Bernard returned Mr Owen’s wave. He approved of the
way Mr Owen controlled a game. Bernard ran on into the classroom, where the
other boys were sitting down. Mr Moult was at his desk. “Scruffy as ever,
Briggs!” said Mr Moult. “They haven’t been able to improve your appearance at
that place. And I suppose you’ve got some excuse for not doing your homework,
Briggs?” “No need for an excuse,” said Bernard. “Here’s the homework!” He put
the exercise-book on the teachers desk. Mr Moult opened the book and glanced at
it. “Hm’!” he said. “I’m sure the Welfare Committee will be interested in what
you’ve written here! All right, go to your desk. And you were late, so you’ll
stay in during the lunch hour!” With Mr Moult, Bernard just couldn’t win. When
his pals rushed off at the end of the morning’s grind, Bernard was left alone
in the class to work out some sums that Mr Moult had left him. Bernard was
slogging away at the work when Mr Robinson, the school janitor, looked in.
“I’ve been searching for you, Bernard,” said the janitor. “Come on lad, I’ve
fixed up a practice for the school team, and I want you to keep goal against
them.” “I’m supposed to be in detention, Mr Robinson,” said Bernard. He
hesitated, but not for long. “Okay, I’ll be there! Just give me a couple of minutes
to finish off these sums,” Bernard rushed through the rest of the work, slapped
his papers on Mr Moult’s desk, and raced out. Down on the pitch, the two teams
were loosening up. Mr Robinson was watching them. “You’ve got time to change,
Bernard,” said Mr Robinson. “Mr Owen’s agreed to referee, and he’s not here
yet.” “I’ll play as I am, Mr Robinson,” said Bernard. “I ain’t got a strip of
my own, and I reckon I’d spoil Mr Moult’s lunch if I asked him to loan me one
from the school store.” “Hello, mister,” said Bernard. “Glad to see you again!
Good refs don’t grow on trees!” “Hallo, Bernard,” replied Mr Owen. “I expected
to see you keeping goal for the school team.” “You get a game of football at
either end,” grinned Bernard. The practice started. The school team came
swarming down, eager to prove themselves. The centre-forward broke through and
shot, but Bernard dived and clamped his hands on the ball. “You’ll have to hit
‘em harder than that!” he said. Bouncing to his feet, he cleared with an
overarm throw. His team made ground, but the defence closed up. A big boot
landed the ball back in Bernard’s goal area. A forward strode to collect it.
Bernard got there first. Racing out, he hurled himself on to the ball.
Clutching the ball to him he went over to a complete somersault, came to his
feet again, and kicked a long one out to the wing. “Move it, Bill!” he yelled.
The winger picked up speed, running the ball along the touchline. “Over here!”
roared a familiar voice. Bernard was sprinting down the middle. He had taken
the defence by surprise, and he was unmarked. The winger was surprised as well
when he saw his goalkeeper up level with him, but he lifted the ball across.
Bernard trapped the ball as a defender lunged at him, and Bernard dodged the
ball round him. The winger was cutting in. Bernard slid the ball to him along
the ground. The winger hit it, and it shot between the posts, leaving the
school goalkeeper flat-footed. “Goal!!” yelled Bernard. “Nice one, Bill!”
“Bernard’s certainly unorthodox,” Mr Owen remarked to Mr Robinson, as the teams
walked back. “But he’s a great lad! A really whole-hearted player.” Bernard had
no more opportunities for surprise sorties as he was kept busy defending his
own goal. He clawed shots out of the air, punched shots clear, dived at the
feet of rampaging forwards. Nothing got past him. The school team was beginning
to get desperate. The ball came sailing over again. The school centre-forward
turned his back on the referee and swung a fist. He punched the ball into the
goal, with Bernard standing and watching it fly inside the post. The triumphant
yells of the school team were stopped by the shrilling of Mr Owen’s whistle as
he signalled for a foul. Bernard gave a thumbs up sign to the referee. “I knew
you wouldn’t miss that one, mister!” grinned Bernard, and booted the ball away.
Bernard’s forwards were not quick enough to make anything of it, and back
surged the attackers round Bernard’s goal. This time a school forward curved
the ball towards the far post. His winger came rushing in and Bernard dived. He
fell on the ball, and the winger fell over him. Bernard was pinned down with
the winger lying on top of him. Two of the school forwards rushed in. Boots
swung at Bernard as they tried to prod the ball out from underneath him. Mr
Owen’s whistle shrilled out. “Are you trying to kick his ribs in?” shouted Mr
Owen. The forwards drew back. Bernard gave a heave, and shoved the winger off.
“I’m O.K. ref!” he grinned, bouncing to his feet. “How much time left?” “Thirty
seconds!” said Mr Owen. “Crikey, the lads will have to hold on without me!”
said Bernard. “Look who’s here!” Mr Moult marched on to the pitch and grabbed
Bernard by the arm. “So this is where you are, Briggs!” he snapped. “I left you
in detention! That’s something else the Welfare Committee will hear about! Come
on, you ragamuffin, they’re waiting for you!”
REF TO THE RESCUE
Bernard stood in the committee room
with Mr Moult at his side. Behind a table sat the committee, two men and two
women. “This is the boy, ladies and gentlemen,” said Mr Moult. “As you can see,
he’s dirty and unkempt.
“He ran away from the Home
yesterday. He was late for school this morning, and he broke detention during
the lunch hour. “I’d finished the work you set me,” said Bernard. “You’ll have
a chance to state your case later, Briggs,” said the chairman of the committee.
“But first we’ll examine these charges in detail. “One of our members has not
yet arrived, but there are enough of us to arrive at a decision. Mr Moult
please asks Mr Smith to come in.” “Mr Smith entered. The grocer looked nervous
as he faced the committee. “Mr Smith, we’ve been told Briggs worked for you,”
said the chairman. “Don’t you know you require a permit to employ a boy of
school age?” “Well, yes,” mumbled Mr Smith. “But it’s like this—” There was an
interruption as the door opened and the missing member of the committee hurried
in. Bernard stared. “Cor!” said Bernard. “Mr Owen!” Mr Owen had changed out of
his referee’s strip. He went quickly to his seat. Mr Owen studied the paper he
was handed, then got to his feet. “I know Bernard Briggs,” he said. “He’s dirty
because he’s been playing football. For his age he’s brilliant and absolutely
fearless. You don’t end up looking like a tailor’s dummy if you keep goal the
way Bernard does! He only left the Home yesterday because he wanted to keep
faith with Mr Smith. The grocer doesn’t employ him, Bernard works for nothing.”
“What Mr Owen says about Bernard working for nothing is quite true,” declared
Mr Smith. “That’s what I was trying to explain. He takes deliveries for me, and
in return I let him use the bike. He doesn’t get paid. He’s a good lad.” “Then
there seems no reason to detain you, Mr Smith,” said the chairman. “You have
done nothing illegal. Thank you for helping us to clear up that point.” Mr
Moult hadn’t finished yet. He flourished Bernard’s exercise-book. “I’d like the
committee to see this,” he yapped. “An essay written by Briggs on the subject,
‘How I Spent Last Night.’ “It’ll show you that you can’t believe a word Briggs
says!” “Dear me!” said one of the ladies. “In this essay the boy says he was
locked in solitary confinement with bread and water! But we knew he spent the
night at the Home! What’s this at the end? It goes off into a scribble I can’t
read!” “It says I can’t see to write any more because it’s getting dark, and
there’s no light in my cell, lady!” explained Bernard. “The boy’s impossible!”
snapped Mr Moult. “Suppose we ask the matron?” suggested Mr Owen. He opened the
door and Mrs Sprott strutted in. She smirked at the committee and gave a little
bob like somebody being presented at court. “Mrs Sprott, was Bernard Briggs
locked up last night in a barred room with only bread and water?” said Mr Owen.
The abrupt question took the smirk off Mrs Sprott’s face. “I – er – I had to
make sure he didn’t run away again,” she spluttered. “Really?” said Mr Owen. “I
suggest the committee visits the Home and sees the conditions in which Bernard
Briggs was detained last night.” “The boy’s a trouble-maker!” Mrs Sprott burst
out. “Everybody knows that! Mr Moult warned me against him! I had to use a firm
hand. “He was living rough on an old barge,” said Mrs Sprott. “That’ll show you
the kind of boy he is.” “I’d got the barge done up all right,” said Bernard.
“I’d painted it and everything! I’d have made a go of it on my own, honest!”
“That’s the barge down by
Bernard’s boots
land him in
a bit of bother in
goal, NEXT
WEEK.
The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs 20 episodes appeared in The Wizard
© D. C. Thomson & Co Ltd
Vic Whittle 2006