by Joan Jonker
‘Well, come on, out with it, what happened?’ Jack asked. ‘Nellie will be here before yer know it.’
‘All ended well, sunshine, ’cos while Tony removed the chickens from the counter, Ellen came through from the storeroom, and she was carrying a chicken in each hand, which she’d prepared while me and Nellie were doing the rest of our shopping. She’d chopped their heads off, plucked them and cleaned them. They were all ready to put in the roasting tin. And she’d slipped a piece of dripping inside each one. Whether Tony knew about that I don’t know. I didn’t mention it in case we got Ellen into trouble. But me and me mate were more than satisfied with the way things worked out. As Nellie said when we were walking home, “Not bad at all, eh, girl? A chicken all cleaned ready for the oven, plus the dripping to roast it in, and all for a shilling each. That’s what I call a good day’s work. But yer know why Tony’s so generous with us, don’t yer? Yeah, yer must do ’cos it’s sticking out a mile every time he looks at me. It’s me voluptuous body what does it.”’
Nellie stood on the Bennetts’ top step and brought the knocker down hard. It was the second time she’d knocked without getting any response. ‘Are they all bleeding deaf?’ she muttered. ‘I know they’re in ’cos I can hear them.’ She waited a few seconds, then stepped down on to the pavement. ‘Bugger this for a joke.’ She walked to the window, balled her fist and banged on one of the panes of glass. ‘They’ll hear that all right, unless they’ve all pegged out during the night.’
‘What the hell are yer playing at, Nellie?’ Molly looked down at her mate. ‘Yer nearly put the window in! I’m fed up telling yer to use the knocker on the door. That’s what it was put there for.’
‘Well, all I can say, girl, is that whoever the silly bugger was what put the knocker on the door, he must have thought we were all giants. I have to stand on the top step and stretch me arm out of its socket to reach up to it.’
Molly bit on the inside of her mouth to keep herself from laughing at Nellie’s face. ‘Well, sunshine, if I have a choice between one of my windows being smashed, or your arm being stretched out of its socket, I’ll settle for the latter. That way it won’t cost me anything.’
‘How many times do I have to tell yer that being sarky doesn’t suit yer? It doesn’t go with yer face. Anyway, girl, aren’t yer going to ask me in?’
Molly shook her head as she reached for her coat from a hook on the wall. ‘No, I’m all ready, sunshine, so we can be on our merry way.’
The little woman stepped back a pace. ‘Yer mean ye’re not inviting me in? Have yer forgotten it’s Sunday?’
Molly stepped on to the pavement and pulled the door shut behind her. ‘Even if me and Ruthie hadn’t gone to church this morning, I’d know it’s Sunday. But seeing as your curtains were still drawn when me and Ruthie passed on our way to ten o’clock mass, I’m surprised yer haven’t still got sleep in yer eyes.’ Molly smiled and linked her arm through Nellie’s to show she was only kidding. ‘The reason I didn’t invite yer in, sunshine, is because Jack is clearing the dinner table and Ruthie is washing the dishes. The place is a mess and I’d have been ashamed if yer’d have seen it.’
Nellie’s face cleared and she squeezed Molly’s arm as they began to walk up the street. ‘Girl, if yer think your place is bad, yer should see mine. It’s like a muck midden. We all slept in this morning ’cos it was after twelve when we got to bed. Once our Paul starts gabbing there’s no shutting him up. Him and his flaming dancing, it’s all he thinks about.’
‘And Phoebe, sunshine; he thinks the world of her. She’s been a good influence on him. He’s slowed down a lot since they started courting. Is there any mention of marriage yet?’
‘They are supposed to be saving up, girl, but our Paul likes gadding about, so whether he’s saving up I wouldn’t like to say. Phoebe is, I know that. She goes to the post office every week and puts money away. But our Paul, well, I don’t think I’ll be needing a wedding hat in the near future.’
Molly chuckled. ‘Yer’ve still got the two wedding hats from when the girls got married, and your Lily. Yer don’t need to buy another.’
Nellie brought her to a halt. ‘Listen, girl, when our Paul gets married I’ll definitely be pushing the boat out. Nothing but the best for the last one of me children to leave home.’
‘And what makes yer think he’ll be leaving home when he gets married?’ Molly asked. ‘Where would he and Phoebe live? They couldn’t move into Corker’s, ’cos there’s no room. There’s six living there now; they’d have to knock a wall down if they took anyone else in. Besides, a newly married couple need some privacy. And they’d get that in your house. Plus they wouldn’t need to buy any furniture because Paul’s room is already furnished. All they need to do is get married and walk into yours.’
‘Bloody hell, girl, yer’ve got all that figured out, haven’t yer? All I’m thinking about is getting a new hat, while you’ve got them married off and living with me.’
‘It was just a thought, sunshine, for Paul and Phoebe have been courting over a year now. And it’s not as though they’re not serious about each other because never a night passes that they aren’t off out together. They walk down the street arm in arm and gazing into each other’s eyes. If they aren’t crazy about each other, then all I can say is they are ruddy good actors.’
Nellie was giving serious thought to Molly’s words, her lips in a straight line and her eyes narrowed. ‘I have known for a long time that they would eventually get married, girl, but never gave a thought about them coming to live with me and George. It wouldn’t half put a halt to my gallop.’
Molly tutted. ‘Yer’ve got time to think of a new hat for yer son’s wedding, but no time to consider, or wonder, where he and his new bride will live. And it wouldn’t be a case of them putting you to any trouble if they did move in with you, ’cos Paul lives with yer already. The only difference is that a double bed would be required to replace the single already in the room.’ Molly was getting into her stride now. ‘Phoebe Corkhill is a smashing girl, everyone in the street likes her. Paul couldn’t find himself a better wife. She’s pretty, well mannered, a good worker and very quiet. What more do yer want?’
‘That’s the only thing I’m afraid of, girl, she’s too quiet.’
Molly gasped. ‘Too quiet! How can anyone complain because a girl is too quiet? I’ve heard of some objections from mothers whose son or daughter wants to get married, but that one takes the cake, Nellie, it really does. Yer don’t half come up with some cockeyed ideas.’
‘I’ve got nothing against Phoebe, girl, I think she’s lovely and will make Paul a good wife. But yer know what I’m like. I don’t like quietness.’
‘She’s not a mouse, sunshine, Phoebe does talk and laugh like the rest of us.’
‘Even when she’s in bed, girl? That’s where I do most of my laughing. Me and George have high jinks nearly every night. If there was someone lying in the next room, it wouldn’t half put me off me stroke.’
‘Paul sleeps in the next room to yer now, always has done, and Steve did too before he married Jill. So what difference would Phoebe make?’
‘The snoring, girl, that’s the difference. Yer see, all the men in me family snore so loud it’s like an orchestra playing. We didn’t half notice the difference when Steve went to live at Lizzie’s. George and Paul still made a racket, but the orchestra didn’t sound as loud without the trumpet.’
It only took Molly one second to realize she’d been taken for a ride. But seeing the devilment in her mate’s eyes, she couldn’t help but roar with laughter. ‘Nellie McDonough, what am I going to do with yer? Yer really had me going there. I fell for it like a ton of bricks. Just wait until I get home and tell Jack.’
Nellie hadn’t finished with her yet, though. ‘We could tell Flora. She could do with a good laugh.’
Molly’s mouth opened in horror. ‘Don’t yer dare, Nellie McDonough, or I’ll never speak to yer again. Flora Parker is an old-fashioned la
dy, and she’d be shocked if yer repeated talk like that in front of her. So when we get there … if we ever do … keep your mouth firmly closed, d’yer hear me?’
‘I heard yer, girl, I’m not deaf.’ Nellie walked with her head down, muttering under her breath, ‘No sense of humour, that’s her trouble. It’s a good job we don’t live next door to each other, or she’d be complaining about lack of sleep because of the noise. Me and George would probably end up on the living-room floor.’
Molly cocked an ear, and pretended she hadn’t heard every word. ‘What did yer say about the floor, sunshine?’
‘Not the floor, yer daft nit. Yer need yer ears cleaning out. What I said was that I hoped I’d remembered to close the front door.’
Molly chuckled inwardly, thinking her mate was as crafty as a boxload of monkeys. ‘I’m sure yer did, sunshine, I’m sure yer did.’
Chapter Eight
Flora Parker felt a stab of fear when she heard the knock on the door. It was Sunday afternoon, she wasn’t expecting visitors, and the street would be deserted, as parents didn’t allow their children to play out on the Sabbath. What if it was the burglar? He knew she was old and lived alone, and if she opened the door he could push her inside and close the door without being seen by any of the neighbours. She gripped the arms of her rocking chair and told herself to stay where she was. Whoever it was would go away when their knock wasn’t answered.
Outside, Molly and Nellie looked enquiringly at each other. ‘She might be lying down, girl,’ Nellie said. ‘A lot of people do on a Sunday after a big dinner.’
‘Yer could be right, sunshine, but on the other hand, it could be she’s nervous about opening the door. After the fright she’s had, it’ll be a long time before she trusts anyone.’ Molly glanced at the window. ‘I don’t like peeping in, but I’ll give a light tap on the glass.’
‘Why don’t yer shout through the letter box, girl, to let her know it’s only us?’
‘I’ll do both, sunshine.’ Molly stretched her arm and tapped on one of the panes of glass. Then she bent down and lifted the letter box. ‘It’s Molly and Nellie, sunshine. But if yer don’t feel up to visitors, we’ll leave yer in peace and call back tomorrow.’
They heard the shuffle of feet, then the bolt being drawn. ‘I’m sorry I kept yer waiting,’ Flora apologized as she held the door wide. ‘It’s a terrible way to live, but the fact is, I don’t trust anyone now.’
Molly gave her a hug. ‘Me and Nellie understand, sunshine, yer don’t need to apologize to us. We did think yer might not want to be disturbed on a Sunday, but as we have good news for yer we decided it would cheer yer up.’
Flora waved a hand towards the couch. ‘Sit down and make yerselves comfortable. I’m glad to see you, ’cos it gets very lonely when ye’re on yer own, with no one to talk to. The neighbours have been marvellous, but yer can’t expect them to be here all the time. After all, Sunday is a day of rest, with no work for the husbands and no school for the children.’
‘We haven’t passed one soul on our way round here,’ Molly said. ‘Have we, Nellie? The place is like a graveyard.’
Nellie decided a wooden dining chair would be easier to get off than the low couch. And as she pulled a chair out from under the table, she said, ‘If yer’d given me a chance to answer yer, girl, I’d have said we hadn’t seen a body, never mind a soul.’
‘I have had one visitor today,’ Flora told them. ‘It was this morning, before I’d had time to make meself presentable. Yer know Annie Cosgrove, Molly, who lives at the very top of the street?’
Molly nodded. ‘Yes, I know her. A little woman who scurries along as though she hasn’t a minute to spare. I’ve never seen her walking yet; she always seems to be in a hurry.’
The chair Nellie was sitting on began to creak in protest when her body shook with laughter. ‘She’s got a gang of children, that’s why she never stands still for long.’
‘I know she’s got five or six children, sunshine, but what’s that got to do with her always being in a hurry?’
The chair was really suffering now with eighteen stone of shaking fat on top of it. ‘I know why she’s always on the run, girl, it’s ’cos she’s frightened to stop. She thinks if she stands still for a minute, her feller will creep up on her and make her pregnant again.’
Molly wanted to laugh but didn’t think she should. Flora, however, had no such inhibitions and she laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks. ‘Oh, Nellie McDonough, yer never change, do yer? Always quick with an answer for anything that comes your way.’ The old lady ran the back of a hand across her eyes. ‘I know yer’ve got three children, so does that mean your husband caught you standing still three times?’
Afraid that if encouraged, her mate might come out with something really shocking, Molly said, ‘Careful, Flora, don’t lead her on or yer might regret it.’
Nellie was in her element. There was nothing she liked better than to make people laugh. The groans from the chair told her that it wasn’t laughing, but she ignored it by silently saying it wasn’t much of a chair if it couldn’t carry an eighteen-stone woman what had a voluptuous body. ‘Just the opposite, Flora; it was my feller who was frightened to stand still. If I’d left it to him, we wouldn’t have had no children. It’s me what’s filled with passion, girl; my George is all for a quiet life. Not that he gets it, like, but he’s man enough to keep me happy.’
Time to interrupt before she brings Paul and Phoebe into the conversation, Molly told herself. It was good to see Flora laughing, and she’d had a good chuckle too, but now a change of subject was called for. ‘Yer said yer had a visitor early this morning, sunshine, so d’yer want to tell us what Mrs Cosgrove called for before we give yer our news?’
Flora was eager to pass on the information. ‘Annie said she didn’t know anything about me being robbed until this morning. She doesn’t bother with the neighbours much; having a husband and five children to care for keeps her busy. But she walked home from church with Lily this morning, and that’s when she found out. And guess what? She actually saw the robber coming out of my front door. Only she didn’t know he was a robber, she just thought he’d been visiting me.’
‘Go ’way.’ There was surprise in Molly’s voice. ‘Is she sure about this? I mean, did she have the time right, and that it was your door he came out of?’
‘She’s positive. There was no one else in the street; that’s how she came to notice him. She even walked past him. He banged my door shut and began to walk up to the main road, while she was going down to the corner shop.’
‘Well, I’ll be blowed.’ Molly pulled on the lobe of her ear. ‘Did she say what he looked like?’
Flora nodded. ‘She said he had a cloth cap on, pulled down low on his forehead so she didn’t get a good look at his face. Young, though, she said, about twenty. Yer can’t blame her for not taking much notice of his appearance, ’cos it wouldn’t occur to her, or anyone else for that matter, that he was a burglar.’
‘She would have known if he lived round here, though, wouldn’t she? Even if she didn’t know him to speak to, she’d have known him by sight.’
‘I asked her that, Molly, but as far as she can remember she’d never set eyes on him before. She was really upset about it, said she’d have kicked up a right stink if she’d known, and he would have been caught.’
‘She’ll have to go and tell the police,’ Nellie said. ‘They ask the proper questions, and they’d get more out of her than she thought she saw. A lot could come back to her, yer know, when she has a good think.’
‘I can’t see her walking into the police station, queen, she’s not the type.’ Flora jerked her head in disgust. ‘Come to think of it, we’re all the same. We live a respectable life, do the best we can with what we’ve got, and never think about burglars or police. It’s the way we’ve been brought up.’
‘I’d go to the police station with her if she didn’t want to go on her own. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Th
e police are here to help us, and we should tell them all we know,’ Molly said. ‘If she doesn’t fancy going to the station, we could always ask that nice young bobby to call to her house.’
Flora became very flustered at the idea, and her hands waved her objection. ‘Oh, don’t do that, Molly, for heaven’s sake. The poor woman would die of fright if she opened her front door and found a policeman standing there.’
‘We all would, sunshine, because a copper usually brings bad news with him. But I still think the police should be told about the bloke because what Annie saw might just help them. Otherwise we’d all be guilty of withholding information.’
‘Leave it as it is for now, Molly, and I’ll have a word with her when I can.’ Flora didn’t like the idea of involving someone against their will. ‘She passes here every morning on her way to the shops, so I’ll keep an eye out for her.’
‘Her back yard door must be facing Lizzie Corkhill’s if I’m not mistaken,’ Molly said, seeing the top entry in her mind’s eye. ‘Yeah, it is. I can remember bumping into Elsie Flanaghan one day when I was going on a message for Lizzie, and Elsie lives next to Annie.’
Nellie bristled at the very mention of her sworn enemy’s name. ‘God help her if she lives next to that Flanaghan woman. She’s a cow, that one.’
‘Nellie, sunshine, I’m sure Flora has got more on her mind than listening to you telling of the tussles yer’ve had with Elsie.’
That remark cut Nellie to the quick. ‘Tussles, did yer say? It’s not tussles with me and Elsie Flanaghan, it’s all-out war.’
‘Have it your way, Nellie, but let the matter drop. We still haven’t told Flora why we came, and I’m sure she’s wondering but too shy to ask.’
‘I’m sure yer’ll tell me in your own good time, Molly. And I’m in no hurry, for I’ve nowhere to go. But I could make yer a nice cup of tea.’ The old lady saw Molly’s mouth open to protest, and she got her words out first. ‘I’m longing for a cup of tea meself, so yer wouldn’t be putting me to any trouble.’