Honour Thy Father

by Honour Thy Father (retail) (epub)

  ‘If you mean those two, I can tell you they don’t need any encouragement. It’s plain what they’re after and I can tell Boris now he’s not on,’ Laura said bluntly. ‘If he thinks that chatting me up and buying a few drinks means he’ll have sex with me, he’s got another think coming.’

  Claire had obviously been offended by her plain speaking although she had only said that she was going back to Jason and to the dance floor. Laura had avoided Boris and after a while he had decided to cut his losses and she saw him with another girl.

  Later Claire said that she would probably stay in Southport instead of going back to her grandmother’s house. ‘Jason will give me a lift,’ she said, not meeting Laura’s eyes, so Laura had driven home alone. She had wondered what was happening with Claire and Jason but decided that Claire could look after herself.

  Now as she walked through the gardens she thought that she and Claire would probably remain friends on the surface but the nightclubbing in Southport had ended.

  Dusk was falling and she went back to her car, feeling depressed and lonely, then she thought defiantly that she had one true friend in Mary who was worth six of Claire. Her cousin David had always been a good friend too and they were on the same wavelength; Terry had singled her out and seemed to like her best of the relations he had met for the first time. She drove home feeling much more cheerful.

  Her mother was alone watching television when she arrived home but she turned the sound down.

  ‘Hello, love. I’ll make a cup of tea,’ she said brightly.

  Laura said, ‘I’ll make it. Watch your programme.’

  ‘It’s rubbish anyway. I was only watching to pass the time,’ Anne said, standing up and following Laura into the kitchen. ‘Did you meet anyone you knew?’ she asked.

  ‘I didn’t go out to meet anyone,’ Laura snapped then felt ashamed as she saw her mother’s face. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean to snap.’

  ‘I only thought you might have met some of your friends. People from the church perhaps or other friends getting some fresh air. It’s such a lovely evening. Did you go to the shore?’

  ‘Yes. To the gardens. You should have come with me, Mum. It was lovely down there.’

  ‘I should,’ Anne agreed. ‘Better than sitting indoors watching rubbish. Dad’s been catching up on his paperwork and he’s gone to bed. Having an early night for once.’

  Laura smiled but she knew that her mother would not have gone with her in case she spoiled her chances of meeting an eligible young man, or friends who might lead to such a meeting. I can’t understand her, she thought. I’d expect her to be warning me off marriage after her own experience, not to be trying to marry me off as soon as possible. Perhaps she just wants to be sure that I marry someone very different from Dad and I’ll be happy.

  They talked together companionably for a while then Laura went to bed but she felt too restless to sleep. She tried to read but she was unable to concentrate so she sat by the open window looking at the white flowers glimmering in the borders and scenting the soft night air which flowed through the window but nothing soothed her troubled mind.

  The train of thought started by her mother’s innocent words made her question all that was happening in her life and her attitude to other people. Was she really always out of step with everyone else and narrow-minded and intolerant too?

  She and Julie had joined the Young Christian Workers at their local church soon after their arrival in the parish and Julie had made many friends there but Laura was often involved in arguments with other members. It was a time of change in the Catholic Church and there were many discussions which quickly became acrimonious when Laura joined in.

  She thought about that now and remembered that she had stopped attending the meetings after someone told her she had a closed mind. But it isn’t true, she thought indignantly. I just thought the changes were too many and too sweeping and should have been introduced gradually and I had the courage to state my views. I’m sure many of them agreed with me but weren’t honest enough to say so.

  It was the same at work. She was sure that she was not the only one who found parts of the programme That Was The Week That Was obscene and sacrilegious but no one had the courage to agree with her. They were afraid to be thought old-fashioned or fuddy-duddy, she thought. Today they’d been discussing easier divorce and living together before marriage and about a famous actress who had announced the birth of her ‘love child’.

  ‘Life’s better for everyone now,’ a girl named Barbara had announced. ‘People are more broad-minded and anything goes.’ She looked at Laura and laughed. ‘Except for people like Laura. You’d never move in with a feller, would you, Laura?’

  Laura’s reply had been a curt ‘No’. She was not going to tell this crowd that she would never leave her mother and was saving hard to provide a home for her and take her away from her bullying husband.

  She had gone on to tell them that a lot of these changes in attitude were all talk. Arty people in London might behave like that but if any of the office staff had a baby outside marriage they would find that attitudes had not really changed. Anyway even in her grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s time some people were tolerant and helpful to girls in that situation.

  ‘I remember when I was only a child, my nana and grandma were making baby clothes for a neighbour’s daughter who was having a baby and wasn’t married. My grandma’s old friend said she shouldn’t encourage the girl because she was bad and my grandma said, “Bad girls don’t have babies, Peggy. They know what to do about them”,’ Laura told them.

  Olive had only said that some people had been like that but Barbara seemed angry. ‘We’re all on the pill,’ she said, ‘so how would your grandma class us?’

  Break was over before Laura could think of a reply but she felt that the other girls had treated her coolly for the rest of the day.

  I was only speaking the truth, she thought now and I’m not going to stop doing that no matter who it offends. That’s my way and if people don’t like it, they can lump it. She went back to bed and soon fell asleep.

  Unknown to Laura, her mother had confided her worries about her to Gerry and a few weeks later he produced tickets for the Cabaret Club in Litherland. ‘Pete Taylor’s group is on and he gave me these complimentary tickets. Margaret and I can’t go but will you and Mary use them? Should be a good night,’ he said.

  Mary and Laura were pleased to accept the tickets and, on the night, they were met in the entrance foyer by Peter’s quiet friend, Phil Casey. He took them to join a large group of people, introducing them to Peter’s girlfriend Gail, the wife of the group’s drummer and the road manager.

  Two other girls paused briefly to speak to Gail and then said that they must go back to their own crowd. ‘Rhoda from our place is getting married next week and her feller’s out on a stag night tonight so we’re having a hen night for Rhoda. Fair’s fair,’ one girl said.

  There was another couple at the table and Phil introduced them. ‘Maurice and, er…’

  ‘Brenda. Hi,’ the girl volunteered then neither of them spoke again either to each other or to anyone else.

  Gail was related to Danny, Mary’s boyfriend, and she and Mary began to talk about Danny’s studies. Laura told Phil that Gerry was unable to come because he was enrolling for another course that night.

  ‘He wants to train as a teacher,’ she explained. ‘He’s a changed man since that accident or perhaps it’s since he started going out with Margaret. I think she suggested the teacher training.’

  ‘Good on him anyway,’ Phil said. ‘He’s such a good drummer though. It’s a shame he didn’t get into a good group like Pete.’

  ‘He still does the odd gig,’ Laura said, ‘so he’s got the best of both worlds.’

  She found Phil very easy to talk to and discovered that he, too, was studying, in his case for banking examinations, and had recently been promoted. ‘It nearly always means a move though,’ he said ruefully. ‘I
thought I might have to leave Liverpool but luckily I was only moved to the Allerton Branch. It suits me because I’m living in Woolton.’

  ‘At home?’ Laura asked and Phil told her that his family lived in Bebington on the other side of the Mersey. ‘I share a house with three other fellows and a girl.’

  Gail and Mary had been listening to their conversation and Mary said she supposed that the girl did all the cooking and washing up.

  ‘You must be joking!’ Phil exclaimed.

  ‘You haven’t seen her,’ Gail laughed. ‘Six foot tall and a real women’s libber. They’re all terrified of her.’

  ‘We’re not,’ Phil protested. ‘Jody’s all right but she won’t stand any messing. She drew up a rota and she sees that we stick to it. Only fair anyhow.’

  The road manager had stood up and Gail turned to him and began to talk urgently. Under cover of this Phil said quietly to Laura, ‘Do you hear from your Canadian cousins?’

  ‘No. I refused to write to Rilla. We’ve got nothing in common. She asked for Peter’s address but we didn’t give it to her.’

  ‘Good job,’ Phil said with a heartfelt sigh. ‘She’s been writing to Pete at his mum’s house but luckily Gail doesn’t know. She’d kill her if she did, as well as giving Pete a hard time.’

  ‘Does he answer the letters?’ Laura asked.

  ‘No. He asked his mum to burn them. He’s hoping she’ll get fed up if he doesn’t answer.’

  ‘She’s a pain,’ Laura began but Gail had turned back to them and dropped into the empty seat on the other side of Phil.

  ‘I want Decco to ask Peter to come and see me but I know he won’t,’ she said. ‘Will you go and tell him, Phil?’

  ‘They must be getting ready to come on if Decco’s gone backstage,’ Phil said. ‘Leave it till later, Gail.’

  Gail’s eyes were glittering and her cheeks red with temper. ‘You all think I can be pushed around. Well, I’m not having it,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll go backstage myself.’

  ‘Don’t, Gail,’ the drummer’s wife urged. ‘They’ll be all hyped up to come on. You’ll upset everything,’ but Gail seemed determined.

  ‘All right. I’ll go,’ Phil said and went off.

  Gail stayed in the same seat with Phil’s empty chair on her right, glowering at the stage, and the drummer’s wife whispered to Mary, ‘She wants him out here so everyone knows he’s hers before he comes on stage.’

  Laura could have spoken across the empty chair to Gail, but decided if she wanted to sulk, she could, and turned to Mary.

  Within a few minutes Phil came back with Peter who said angrily to Gail, ‘What’s up? What’s so important?’

  ‘I wanted to give you a kiss before you went on,’ she said, flinging her arms round his neck and her lips on his.

  He pulled away and said brusquely, ‘OK, I’ve got to go. See you later,’ and dashed away but Gail settled back with a satisfied smile and a complacent glance round the audience.

  The silent Maurice spoke at last to suggest that they moved to fill the road manager’s chair so that all would have a good view of the stage, and by some adroit manoeuvring on Gail’s part, Laura found that Phil was at the end, Gail on his right, Laura next to Gail and Mary next to Laura.

  ‘That was crafty,’ Mary whispered to Laura but the cabaret began and they all watched the stage.

  When Peter’s group came on there were squeals from a group of girls who were near the stage and some of them threw flowers and packets of sweets on to the stage.

  Gail was obviously furious but Laura leaned forward and said curtly, ‘For God’s sake, Gail, you know it goes with the job. If you don’t like it, you’d better find a fellow who doesn’t have to get up on a stage for his living.’

  ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ Gail said angrily. ‘I suppose you’ve got your eye on Peter.’ She spoke loudly and people were looking towards their group.

  Nell the drummer’s wife hissed, ‘Look. Can we listen to them?’ and Laura and Gail said no more.

  When the cabaret was over the lights went up and people began to move around. A group of young men, obviously celebrating, passed their table. Two of them paused. ‘Hi, Phil,’ they said and Phil waved to them.

  ‘Drinking mates from the Elephant in Woolton,’ he explained but the two men lingered and he was forced to introduce them. ‘Nick and Dave,’ he said and to the men, ‘Mary and Laura. Gail and Brenda and Maurice you know.’

  Nick held out his hand to Laura. ‘Nick Clegg,’ he said, then shook hands with Mary, and Dave shook hands with both girls.

  Nick was a tall, dark man with a beaky nose and a determined chin but Dave was as fair as Phil, with the same blue eyes.

  ‘Bit far from the Elephant tonight, aren’t you?’ Phil said. ‘What brings you here?’

  ‘Celebrating a birthday. Owen’s twenty-first. A crowd of us from Christ’s and this was his choice,’ said Dave, while Nick stood looking at Laura. ‘He’s going home to Wales at the weekend,’ Dave went on while Nick still silently stared at Laura. ‘They’re all teetotal there so all he wants tonight is drink and plenty of it. Isn’t that right, Nick?’

  Nick only nodded and Laura was silent but Mary said brightly, ‘Is it Christ’s College Woolton you’re at? The teacher training place?’

  Dave said it was.

  ‘That’s where Gerry’s hoping to go, isn’t it Laura?’ Phil asked.

  ‘Yes, but he’s not qualified yet,’ Laura said.

  Nick spoke at last. ‘Who’s Gerry?’ he asked.

  ‘My brother,’ Laura said.

  Phil added, ‘Gerry Redmond who was the drummer in the Merrymen when Pete Taylor played with them. Remember him?’

  The lights dimmed again and dancing began. Gail grabbed Phil’s arm. ‘Ooh, come on, Phil, I love this,’ she cried, and they all moved to the dance floor, Mary with Dave and Laura with Nick.

  ‘A strong silent type you’ve got there,’ Mary whispered to Laura, giggling, and Laura felt that she was right.

  She could see Mary chattering away to Dave but Nick made only monosyllabic replies to her efforts at conversation so she said no more. When they returned to the table, Phil and Gail were already there with Peter and Gail and Peter seemed to be having a heated argument. It seemed that Peter’s group were going on to another gig at Burscough and Gail wanted to go with them but there was no room for her.

  Peter looked harassed and Gail tearful and as she was quickly becoming hysterical Peter seemed desperate. He turned to Phil. ‘Could you bring her in your car, Phil? I know it’s a lot to ask but there’s no way we could fit her in. Please mate.’ He was gripping Phil’s arm.

  Phil nodded and said quietly, ‘OK, Pete.’

  Gail’s tears dried as though by magic and Peter said gratefully, ‘Thanks, Phil. It’s a good way off, means you’ll have to stay to bring her home as well.’

  Phil only said, ‘That’s all right.’

  ‘Thanks, pal,’ Peter said again. ‘I’ll owe you.’ He went backstage and Gail went off for her coat.

  Mary said to Phil, ‘Where’s Burscough exactly? Quite a long drive isn’t it?’

  ‘I think so,’ Phil said. ‘I’ve got maps and an A to Z in the car.’

  ‘Rather you than me,’ Dave said frankly. ‘I don’t know why Pete puts up with her tantrums.’

  Phil only shrugged and the next moment Gail returned but before they left Phil said to Laura, ‘Nice to see you again. I hope things work out for Gerry. I’m really sorry to go now.’

  Laura smiled at him. ‘Yes, Peter’s luckier in his friend than in his girlfriend. I’ll give your message to Gerry.’

  He went off with Gail who was waiting impatiently and Mary exclaimed, ‘Laura! I’m sure she heard you.’

  ‘I don’t care if she did. It’s the truth.’

  ‘She’s bad news,’ Dave said. ‘We see her and Pete occasionally in the Elephant and she can be very fetching, looks quite tasty, but it must be like sitting on a powder keg for Pet
e.’

  ‘Maybe that’s the attraction,’ Laura said.

  ‘Probably,’ Nick agreed.

  ‘He speaks! He speaks!’ Dave said, pretending to fall back in amazement but Nick only grinned and suggested drinks.

  While the men were at the bar, Mary told Laura that Dave had said he was engaged to a girl in his home town of Morecombe. ‘I don’t know what the score is with Nick,’ she went on. ‘But I can’t imagine he’d say enough to propose to anyone. I’m sorry, you seem to have drawn the short straw with him but they’ll probably be going on somewhere with their mates so we’ll be shut of them.’

  ‘He’s all right. Just very silent,’ Laura said, laughing.

  ‘And how!’ Mary exclaimed.

  Dave and Nick came back accompanied by Owen who was trying to persuade them to go to another club in Liverpool.

  ‘Bring the girls,’ he cried waving his arms and nearly overbalancing.

  Mary said quickly, ‘Oh no, we have to go soon, but you go with him, lads. It is his birthday.’

  ‘No way,’ Nick said suddenly. ‘Take Owen back to the gang, Dave.’ He looked at Laura. ‘Have you got time for another dance?’ he asked.

  Laura went with him to the dance floor, looking back to see Mary leaning back in her chair helpless with laughter. She soon joined them on the dance floor with Dave. ‘He found his tongue when it mattered,’ she murmured to Laura. ‘Maybe he’s all right after all. Do you want to stay?’

  Laura shook her head and as they went back to the table she said quietly, ‘Tell them we’ve got to go because of Danny and they can go on with their friends.’

  Dave made no protest when Mary told him and she said to Laura, ‘I’ll go for our coats. I’ve got the tickets.’

  Dave went with her and Nick said abruptly to Laura, ‘I’d planned to take you home. Is there any reason why I can’t?’

  ‘Only that I don’t want you to,’ Laura said sharply, irritated by his tone.

  He looked startled but persisted, ‘Then can I see you again? You’re not married or anything, are you?’