Nobody's Girl

by Kitty Neale

  Pearl took in the clean white sheets, the soft blankets and choked, her eyes watery as she said, ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’

  ‘Leave it out, girl. Now get yourself and Johnny to bed and we’ll talk again in the morning.’

  Bessie left then and, after settling Johnny, Pearl climbed into her own bed. She had done it; she had got away from Dolly. But now she shivered. Bessie was right: as soon as Dolly found her gone, she’d come looking for her and she dreaded it.

  Pearl wanted to remain hidden, but Bessie wouldn’t stand for it. ‘You can’t stay up here for ever, love. If Dolly comes over here, stand your ground. She doesn’t own you and can’t drag you back.’

  Reluctantly Pearl followed the woman downstairs, but as she settled Johnny in his pram and glanced out of the window, her heart skipped with fear.

  ‘Oh God, Dolly’s already on her way over.’

  ‘Now then, don’t run away. As I told you, stand your ground, girl.’

  Pearl wanted nothing more than to flee, but moments later the door flew open, crashing back against the wall. Ramrod straight, her hair still loose and flying wildly around her shoulders, Dolly marched into the shop.

  ‘I don’t know what your game is, but you can bring that child back to the café.’

  The noise woke Johnny up and he began to cry, but as Dolly moved towards the pram, Pearl barred her path. ‘Keep away from him.’

  ‘You must be mad, girl. I’m not having my grandson living in this dump!’

  ‘Oy, watch your mouth, Dolly Dolby,’ Bessie said, moving from behind the counter.

  ‘Shut up!’ Dolly shouted, her hand coming out as though Bessie was a fly to swat away.

  ‘Don’t you dare touch her!’ Pearl screamed.

  Dolly stayed her hand, saying with a scowl, ‘Huh, I wouldn’t touch her with a bleedin’ bargepole.

  She made for the pram again, but Pearl bent swiftly, snatching Johnny up and holding him tightly to her. ‘Stay away from my son!’

  ‘I’ll do no such thing! He’s my grandson and his place is with me.’

  Pearl felt her body swelling, stretching, and from somewhere inside she felt imbued with strength. ‘No, Dolly, his place is with me, his mother! I’ll decide where he lives, not you, and we’re staying here.’

  ‘You heard her. I want you out of my shop, Dolly Dolby, and now.’

  ‘I told you to shut your mouth, Bessie Penfold! I ain’t going anywhere without my grandson and if you get in my way I’ll smash your bleedin’ face in.’

  When Pearl heard the threat it was the final straw. She had lived in fear of this woman, allowed herself to be ordered about like a servant, but she wasn’t going to let Dolly take her son. Johnny was still wailing, but her voice rose above his cries. ‘You lay one finger on Bessie, or my son, and I’ll call the police.’

  ‘You wouldn’t dare!’

  ‘Oh yes I would.’ And playing what she hoped was a trump card, she added, ‘And I’m sure the locals would love to see another Dolby being carted off to gaol.’

  ‘You little bitch,’ Dolly spat. ‘All right, I’m going, but I ain’t finished with you yet!’

  The breath left Pearl’s body in a rush as Dolly marched out of the shop, slamming the door behind her.

  ‘There, there, it’s all right,’ she soothed, patting Johnny on his back. His cries turned to little hiccuping sobs, and then finally stopped.

  ‘Well done, love,’ Bessie said. ‘She was like a bleedin’ Amazon, but you sorted her out.’

  ‘Yes, but for how long?’

  ‘You’ve got the upper hand now, and it won’t take her long to realise that if she wants to see her grandson, she’ll have to behave.’

  Pearl smiled at last. She had done it. She had stood up to Dolly and from now on, nobody was going to walk all over her again.

  Dolly was fuming as she marched across the road, but saw many eyes looking at her, and heard sniggers of laughter. Her hand flew up, touching her hair, and she suddenly realised that she had dashed out without giving any thought to her appearance. Christ, she still had her slippers on! Head down she surged forward, almost running to the sanctuary of the café.

  The postman had been and a few letters lay on the floor. She swept them up, still sick with shame as she flicked through them, but then stayed her hand as one caught her eye. It was addressed to Pearl, the writing spidery, and she frowned, wondering who it was from.

  Well, sod the girl. She had run off, taking Johnny with her. Without hesitation, Dolly tore the envelope open. Her mouth gaped in disbelief as she read the contents. She then smiled slyly. She’d keep this bit of information to herself and it would serve Pearl right. Dolly stuffed the letter into her pocket and went upstairs.

  ‘She wouldn’t come back then?’ Bernie said.

  ‘No, and she even had the cheek to threaten me with the police.’

  ‘Blimey! Why did she do that?’

  ‘Oh, I dunno. Probably because I threatened to give Bessie Penfold a clout.’

  ‘Bloody hell – what did you do that for?’

  ‘Cos the old cow told me to get out of her shop.’

  Bernie shook his head. ‘Dolly, it sounds to me like you went in there like a bull into a china shop.’

  ‘Yeah, well, maybe I did, but Pearl can’t keep me away from my grandson.’

  ‘Dolly, she can, and we can’t do anything about it.’

  ‘Huh, we’ll see about that. I’ll go to a bloody solicitor if I have to.’

  ‘It won’t do any good. We have no legal rights over Johnny.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. We’re his grandparents.’

  ‘As the law stands at the moment, it doesn’t make any difference.’

  Dolly sunk onto a chair, her mind turning. So, they had no legal rights, but she wasn’t going to give in. ‘I’ll tidy myself up and go over there again.’

  ‘It might be better if I speak to her.’

  ‘No, I’ll sort her out.’

  ‘Dolly, if you aren’t careful, you’ll frighten her off. There’s nothing to stop her leaving Bessie’s, and if she does we’d lose track of her.’

  Dolly frowned. Bernie was right. She didn’t want the girl bolting and needed time to think, to plan. In the meantime, Bernie might be able to calm things down.

  ‘All right, you talk to her. She always did have a soft spot for you.’

  Bernie left half an hour later. Awaiting his return, Dolly paced the floor. She wanted out of this area, but had no intention of leaving without her grandson. A plan began to form, and as she went over it, Dolly decided it could work. But would Bernie agree?

  A lot depended on how quickly they could sell the business, but then, struck by a thought, she stopped pacing. The letter that had been delivered for Pearl might put a fly in the ointment. Grabbing her coat from the back of the chair, she pulled the crumpled envelope out of the pocket.

  As she read the contents again, a small smile of satisfaction crossed her face. The woman was ill, too ill to travel, and that suited Dolly fine. There was no chance of her turning up for the time being, no chance of any interference, and with any luck they would be long gone before she showed her face.

  She went over the plan again, a little unsure if Kevin had any legal rights. He must have, he was Johnny’s father! It might be for the best if Bernie approached him. He could tell Kevin that Pearl was an unfit mother and that Johnny was in danger. It was rubbish, of course, but Kevin loved his son and would want to protect him.

  Dolly frowned, unsure of this stage of her plan, but then her back straightened. Even if Kevin wouldn’t co-operate, it could still work. They’d have to change their names, of course, but just in case Bernie baulked at the idea, she’d wait until they had a buyer for the café before telling him. He might not like it, but she’d get round him, and if not, well, sod him. She’d do it on her own.

  Bernie sat in Bessie’s living room, relieved that Pearl had agreed to speak to him in private, his eyes soft as he gazed at his
grandson. The lad was growing fast, sitting up now and a happy baby, with chubby arms and legs that waved with excitement at the sight of his toy.

  ‘Dolly is really sorry, Pearl, but when you went off without telling us, she nearly went out of her mind.’

  ‘That’s no excuse for coming over here and threatening Bessie.’

  ‘I know, but she’s come to her senses now. All she wants is to be allowed to see the nipper now and then.’

  Pearl shook her head. ‘I’ve already told you. Kevin warned me to move out and to keep Johnny away from his mother.’

  ‘That doesn’t make any sense, love. Dolly may not be perfect, but who is? And she loves Johnny. It would be cruel to stop her seeing him.’

  ‘You’ll be moving out of the area as soon as you’ve sold the café.’

  ‘If you’re not coming with us, I doubt she’ll go.’

  Pearl was quiet for a while, her head down, Bernie unaware of her thoughts. She wanted Dolly to leave, to be free of the woman, yet it would be Johnny who kept her here. ‘Do you think she’ll agree to go if I allow her access to Johnny?’

  ‘Well, she might, but living in the West Country it won’t be easy.’ He scratched his head. ‘It’s too far to drive down for the day. We’d no sooner get here than it would be time to return. If you’d let us have him for weekends it might work.’

  ‘No, I can’t allow that.’

  ‘It’s that or we stay here.’

  Pearl once again became quiet as her mind turned. She didn’t want Dolly near her son, sure that somehow she had turned Kevin’s mind. Maybe she could pretend to agree. Once gone they couldn’t do anything about it when she changed her mind. ‘All right, Bernie, you can have him for the occasional weekend.’

  ‘Thanks, love. Dolly’s sure to agree now and, in the meantime, until we move, can we see the lad?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so, but I don’t want Dolly left alone with him.’

  ‘Blimey, I think you’re taking this a bit far.’

  ‘It’s that or nothing, Bernie. I want you there with them the whole time, and you can only have him for a couple of hours. If you agree, you can pick him up tomorrow afternoon and then maybe again in a day or two.’

  He exhaled loudly. ‘All right, I’ll make sure I don’t leave the nipper alone with Dolly, but it still doesn’t make any sense.’ He rose to his feet, leaning over to kiss Johnny on his cheek. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, bruiser.’

  Johnny waved a chubby fist, and Bernie’s eyes saddened. Christ, he was going to miss the boy, but at least he’d talked Pearl into giving them access.

  When Bernie went downstairs he found Bessie standing behind the counter, her arms folded across her chest.

  ‘Now you listen to me, Bernard Dolby. I ain’t having your wife marching in here again, shouting like a bloody fishwife, and you can tell her that from me.’

  ‘It’s all right, Bessie. Pearl has agreed to let us see the baby and it won’t happen again.’

  ‘The girl’s too soft for her own good.’

  ‘He is our grandson, Bessie.’

  As the old woman gazed at him, Bernie shivered. Her eyes looked strange, unfocused, almost as though she was seeing through him and into the distance.

  Her head cocked to one side as she spoke. ‘Pearl tells me that you’re leaving the area. Is that right?’

  ‘Yes, as soon as we sell the business.’

  ‘She’s up to something,’ Bessie murmured.

  ‘Who’s up to something?’

  ‘Your wife.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘I saw something, a vision, but it was just a flash. Yeah, she’s planning something.’

  Bernie shook his head impatiently. Visions. What a load of rot. He wasn’t going to stand around listening to this nonsense. ‘’Bye,’ he said shortly.

  As he left the shop, Bernie’s eyes took in the market, and a couple of costermongers lifted their arms to wave. Would he miss the area? With a shake of his head he realised he wouldn’t. The only thing he’d miss would be his grandson. Without him and Dolly, he hoped to God that Pearl would be able to cope – financially.

  His thoughts continued to turn. The café was in a prime location and should fetch a pretty penny. When they brought a small tearoom they’d have plenty left over and maybe he’d be able to persuade Dolly to drop Pearl a few bob. After what she’d been through she deserved it, and maybe they could put some money in trust for Johnny.

  Bernie went into the café, locking the door behind him and then gazed around the dining room. For a moment it seemed to echo with memories – the customers, the waitresses that had come and gone – and seeing that the room looked dusty and unused, he smiled sadly as he thought about their cleaner, Nora. Like Madge and Gertie, they hadn’t given a thought to the poor woman and her wages, something he was ashamed of but had now put right.

  With a shake of his head he headed for the stairs, hoping they had all managed to find jobs. Dolly was waiting, and he smiled, glad that he was able to give her some good news.

  ‘Pearl is letting us have Johnny for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon.’

  ‘Well done, love,’ she said, and Bernie’s chest swelled. ‘In the meantime, let’s get this place on the market.’

  37

  Pearl was enjoying herself as she reorganised the shop. Bessie was happy to give her a free rein, and with Johnny in his pram behind the counter, he got most of the old woman’s attention.

  She had given the place a good clean, afterwards putting the stock into sections: clothes racks in one area, furniture in the other, arranged to resemble a room. Most had been improved with a good polish, and already they had managed to shift a dining-room table and a sideboard.

  The clothes got her attention next, and Pearl made sure that everything on offer was clean and pressed. Bessie had moaned at the garments spread over lines in the upstairs flat to dry, but it resulted in more sales.

  Pearl’s nose wrinkled. There was still a musty smell in the air and she knew it came from the piles of old blankets and quilts, but washing such large items presented a problem.

  She turned to Bessie. ‘Maybe we should get rid of this lot. They won’t sell in this state.’

  ‘Get rid of them! Leave it out, girl. Not everyone is as fussy as you, and the blankets are worth a few bob each.’

  ‘In the two weeks I’ve been here they haven’t sold. Is there any way to wash them?’

  ‘I suppose you could take them to the laundry baths, but if you ask me it’s a waste of time.’

  ‘You said that about the clothes.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I must admit we’ve shifted a lot since you sorted them out, but look at you. All this washing is wearing you out and you’re up half the night ironing.’

  ‘It’s been worth it, and I’ve nearly finished now.’ Pearl frowned. ‘I suppose the laundry is the answer for these blankets, but I’d be stuck down there for hours.’

  ‘Well, I ain’t taking them. That place is full of gossiping old biddies and—’

  The door opened, cutting Bessie off in mid sentence, and both smiled as Nora came in.

  ‘Hello,’ Pearl said.

  ‘Hello,’ she replied, her eyes puzzled. ‘What you doing here?’

  ‘I work here now. What about you? Have you found another job?’

  ‘No,’ she said, her eyes flicking to the pram. ‘That your baby?’

  ‘Yes, and his name is Johnny.’

  Nora leaned over the counter, and as she pulled faces at him, he chuckled, dribble running from the corner of his mouth. ‘He likes you, Nora.’

  ‘What can we do for you, love?’ Bessie asked.

  ‘Want new coat. Mummy gave me this,’ she answered, holding out two shillings.

  Involuntarily Pearl glanced out of the window. September was drawing to an end, but thankfully it was still mild. They didn’t have many winter coats, and with just two shillings Nora’s mother must be expecting a miracle. Moving across to the rack
s, she flicked through them, finding only one that might fit the short, chubby woman. Now that everything was priced, she checked the tag, but it was too expensive. ‘I’m sorry, Nora, but at the moment we’ve only got one that will fit you and you haven’t got enough money. We may get more in later.’

  ‘Mummy said get coat now.’

  Pearl glanced at Bessie but, obviously reading her mind, the woman shook her head.

  ‘We can’t reduce it. I paid good money for that coat and there’d be no profit if we let it go for two bob.’

  With an appeal in her eyes Pearl continued to look at Bessie, but to no avail.

  ‘Now don’t look at me like that. We’re not a charity and we’ve got to eat.’

  With a sigh, Pearl put the coat back on the rack, but was then struck by an idea. ‘Nora, do you know how to use the machines at the laundry?’

  ‘Yes. I does our washing.’

  ‘Bessie, she could take the blankets. Freshly laundered, they’re sure to sell and we could let her have the coat for two shillings as payment.’

  ‘Oh, all right then. Gawd, if I ain’t careful I’ll end up as soft as you.’

  ‘I tell Mummy, then come back,’ Nora said.

  ‘What have you got us into now?’ Bessie complained as the door closed behind Nora. ‘If those blankets don’t shift we’ll have wasted money having them laundered, let alone letting Nora have that coat for two bob.’

  ‘Don’t worry, they’ll sell,’ Pearl assured her, praying she was right as she bent to the pile, selecting those in the best condition. ‘Poor Nora, it’s a shame she hasn’t found another job. Do you know her mother?’

  ‘Yes. Lily’s a nice woman. She had Nora late, when she was in her forties and must be getting on a bit now. Let me see, I’m sixty-six, so Lily must be coming up to seventy.’

  Pearl looked at Bessie in surprise. Somehow she had thought her older, the woman’s skin lined and her hair grey. ‘What about Nora’s father?’

  ‘He died a few years ago.’ Her eyes took on a thoughtful look. ‘Lily was often in the market, but I ain’t seen her lately.’

  ‘Perhaps she’s ill.’

  ‘Yeah, that could be it. I’ll ask Nora when she comes back.’