Eve of the Isle

by Carol Rivers

  ‘What shall we do if he says she ain’t there?’ said Peg, stopping on the cold and draughty stairs, her head tilted to one side. Eve could hear the sounds of the residents of Bambury Buildings waking up. The smell of the lavatories was overpowering.

  ‘Don’t know,’ said Eve.

  ‘Can’t hear a ruckus,’ whispered Peg, pulling her coat tighter round her. ‘And you couldn’t miss Joan’s old Hobson’s choice.’

  ‘She might be inside.’

  Peg grimaced. ‘Yeah, strangling the floosie.’

  ‘She might just have wanted her clothes,’ said Eve doubtfully as they continued to ascend the stairs.

  On the fourth floor they looked along the balcony. It hadn’t improved, thought Eve as she stared at the peeling railings and dirty brown doors with small opaque glass windows. Two small children came out of the lavatory at the end. The door banged, followed by a dreadful smell.

  ‘Brace yerself, gel,’ said Peg, raising her fist.

  The knock echoed around the tenement. Eve waited with baited breath. Expecting to see Harold, Eve was shocked when a woman opened the door.

  ‘Where is he?’ demanded Peg rudely, staring belligerently into the crudely made-up face under dyed yellow hair.

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘None of yer business,’ snapped Peg. ‘Now are you gonna get him or do I have to push me way in.’

  ‘He ain’t here, so push off.’ The woman folded her arms.

  Peg thrust the woman against the wall and marched in, going from room to room, calling for Joan. ‘’Ere, what’s all this about?’ called the woman after her.

  ‘Peg’s looking for her sister,’ said Eve trying not to inhale the unhygienic smell that came off the woman. At least when Joan was here, she kept herself and the place clean.

  ‘She won’t find her here,’ sniffed the woman, untroubled by the noise that Peg was creating as she searched the rooms.

  ‘Have you seen her?’

  ‘Huh!’ the woman scoffed. ‘’Course we seen her. She was hammering on the door at first light. ’Arry had to get out of bed, to see to it. Reckon she’s off her trolley, looked as though she should be locked up.’

  ‘It’s not Joan that needs locking up,’ answered Eve angrily. ‘It’s you that don’t belong here.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh. He booted her out.’

  Overhearing, Peg pulled her roughly by the shoulder. ‘You won’t be here long, dearie, you’ll be out on your arse just as soon as he’s tired of you. Now tell us what happened.’

  The woman looked startled. ‘All right, all right, but let go of me.’ She brushed her shoulder. ‘She barged her way in and got a right eyeful. Saw him and me enjoying a bit of slap and tickle.’ There was a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

  Eve reached out to stop Peg from grabbing the woman by the neck. ‘Calm down, Peg. She’s not here. Let’s look somewhere else.’

  There were shouts from along the landing.

  ‘Shut up you noisy cows! This is Sunday morning!’

  Eve pulled Peg onto the balcony.

  As they stood there, the woman shouted, ‘He was going to take her down the Sally Army. That’s where they keep all the elephants’ trunks, ain’t it?’ The door slammed.

  Once more there were loud protests. A man stood on the balcony in his trousers, bare-chested. He shook his fist at them. ‘We’ve had enough to put up with this morning. Shut your gobs once and for all or I’ll come up there and shut ’em for you.’

  ‘Don’t worry, we ain’t stopping,’ cried Peg angrily as Eve hurried her down the steps.

  When they were outside, Eve caught Peg’s arm. ‘What if he did take her to the Salvation Army?’

  ‘She wouldn’t have gone willingly,’ said Peg shakily. ‘He must have cut up rough.’

  ‘We’d better try there.’

  As they made their way to Poplar High Street, Eve couldn’t help thinking that Harold Slygo was a man to be given a wide berth and that Joan was better off without him.

  To Eve’s relief, the first face she saw at the Salvation Army Mission Hall belonged to Clara Wilkins. She was wearing her bonnet and full uniform as she stood at the door.

  ‘Mrs Kumar, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes and you’re Clara.’

  ‘Did you get back to your cottage?’

  Eve smiled. ‘Yes, thanks.’

  Peg stepped forward. ‘Have you seen me sister?’

  Clara looked puzzled. ‘The lady from Bambury Buildings?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Clara shook her head. ‘No, but I’ve only just come on duty.’

  Eve glanced quickly at Peg. ‘Mrs Slygo hasn’t been very well,’ said Eve diplomatically. ‘She’s staying with us. But today she went off and someone said she might be here.’

  Without asking more, Clara nodded. ‘Come in and we can look.’

  Eve and Peg walked into the big hall where two rows of beds were placed to the left and right leaving an aisle down the middle. Men and women dressed in dirty, patched clothing were sitting on the beds or on wooden chairs. The air was pungent with tobacco smoke and the aroma of vegetable soup.

  ‘We’ve just served up a hot meal in the canteen,’ said Clara as they walked slowly down the aisle to a chorus of coughs, sniffs and breaking wind.

  Eve followed Clara to a bed at the end where the occupant was asleep under a grey blanket. Clara lifted the cover and shook her head. Turning to Eve, she whispered, ‘An elderly woman beset by the demon drink.’

  Eve was about to walk away when she stopped. Clara had only seen Joan when she looked smart and wore make-up. Would she recognize her now if she saw her?

  ‘Would you mind if I had a look?’ asked Eve as Peg came to join them.

  Clara stepped back and Eve went to the bed. She lifted the cover. A strong wave of alcohol fumes wafted up. It was so overwhelming that Eve had to turn away. But she had seen enough. Returning to Peg and Clara, she nodded. ‘It’s Joan.’

  Clara looked shocked.

  ‘As I said, Joan hasn’t been well. Do you have any idea who brought her here?’

  Clara shook her head.

  Peg went over and also looked under the cover. She sat down on the side of the bed, her head bowed. Eve knew she would be trying to stop the tears.

  ‘Clara, we want to take her with us.’

  Clara looked doubtful. ‘I could get her some soup to sustain her. Wait here and I’ll see what I can do.’

  When Clara had gone, Eve went to stand at the bedside. ‘I hope we can get her to walk.’

  Peg nodded as she blinked red rimmed eyes. ‘Something ’ot in her stomach will help.’

  ‘It’s only a small setback.’

  ‘That bloody Harold. I bet he gave her the booze. She would never have come here of her own accord.’ Peg shook her sister. ‘Wake up, Joan.’

  ‘Go away!’

  ‘You’re coming with us.’

  Joan pulled the blanket over her head just as Clara arrived with the soup. ‘Mrs Slygo, you must eat this.’

  There was no reply. Peg stood up and took off her coat. Determinedly she rolled up her cardigan sleeves. ‘We could do it the easy way, Joan, but you ain’t getting the better of me.’ She took hold of Joan’s shoulders and forced her to sit up. Joan’s bleary eyes bulged in her ashen face.

  ‘Now drink this, or I’ll tip it down yer throat meself.’

  Very soon the bowl was empty.

  ‘Right, gel, whether you like it or not, you’re in for a spot of fresh air. Now let’s get you on your feet.’

  ‘But it’s a long way,’ protested Clara as they helped Joan up the aisle.

  ‘We’ll be all right,’ Eve shouted over her shoulder, determined to attempt the long walk home.

  They were half way home when Joan refused to walk another step. She slumped down on the cobbles, her dress stained from where she had been unable to control herself.

  ‘Just look at the state of you!’ cried Peg, close to tears.

  P
assers-by were staring at them. Eve knew that although she wouldn’t admit it, Peg was embarrassed.

  ‘I don’t need yer help, you interfering old cow.’

  ‘What are you going to do, sit there all afternoon?’ screeched Peg at the end of her tether. ‘At this very moment, I could willingly put me hands round yer neck and squeeze.’

  Joan suddenly began to cry. It was a soft moaning, not the loud wail that Eve was accustomed to. All the dramatics seemed to have left her and she looked a broken woman.

  Suddenly a horn sounded and Eve looked round to see a van pulling up. It was Charlie’s van, but it wasn’t Charlie who jumped out. It was George. For a moment Eve wished that the earth would open up and she could fall into it.

  Eve and Peg followed George as he assisted Joan into the front room. He wouldn’t allow either Peg or herself to help, other than to close the van doors behind him. When they were inside, he lowered her to the couch, pulling a cushion behind her head. ‘There you are, my dear, you’ll feel better soon.’

  Peg quickly wiped a tear from her cheek. ‘God bless you, son.’

  ‘I hope so,’ grinned George, giving her a big smile. ‘I can do with all the blessings I can get.’

  ‘I don’t know what we’d have done if you hadn’t passed by.’

  ‘Do you want me to get the doc?’

  ‘No,’ said Eve quickly, ‘she just needs a good rest.’

  Peg pulled a cover over Joan who had fallen asleep again exhausted by her efforts.

  ‘Come into the kitchen and I’ll make you a cup of tea,’ said Eve.

  ‘Oh, don’t trouble on my behalf.’

  ‘It’s no trouble.’

  George followed Eve into the kitchen. ‘You’ve got a nice, cosy place here, Eve.’

  She smiled as he sat down. ‘We’ve had a lot done to it after the flood.’

  ‘Charlie said you had to move out,’ nodded George, smoothing back his dark hair which, Eve noticed, wasn’t quite as dark as Charlie’s. He was also very tall, and when he sat down, Eve stood only a little higher. His lean face was softened by gentle brown eyebrows above clear blue eyes.

  ‘Did he tell you that it was him that rescued us in the boat?’

  ‘Really?’ George smiled. ‘Charlie don’t talk much about his work. Don’t know why, as he was very keen once, but these days it seems to have taken a back seat. However, he talks a lot about Samuel and Albert and how keen they are on football.’ He looked round. ‘Ain’t they about today?’

  ‘I expect Jimmy, our lodger, has taken them up to the park.’

  ‘Charlie says they could play well one day.’

  ‘Does he?’ Eve was surprised George knew so much. ‘Charlie has been very good to them.’

  ‘They’re twins, aren’t they? Like me and Joe. And like us, look chalk and cheese. Was they the same at birth?’

  ‘No, Albert was the biggest and the first to be delivered.’

  George was nodding. ‘Yeah, that’s what happened to us. Mum says as the biggest I took up more space inside her and jumped the queue to get out.’

  Eve looked into George’s smiling gaze and laughed with him. She liked this easy going man very much. They seemed to have a lot in common.

  ‘Did Charlie tell you our sister-in-law Pam has just had her fifth?’

  ‘No, when?

  ‘Two days ago.’

  ‘I haven’t seen Charlie this week. Was it a girl?’

  ‘Yes, and you know how much Pam and Joe wanted one as they’ve got all boys.’

  Eve placed the tea in front of him and sat down. ‘Did the birth go well?’

  ‘Yes, I hear the baby weighs almost ten pounds and is going to be called after her gran, Dulcie. I’m just off over to see them now. Pam and Joe live in Blackheath so I have to cross the river. Which is why I was passing your way today.’

  ‘We would have been in trouble if you hadn’t turned up,’ Eve admitted. ‘You see Joan is Peg’s sister and she lives at Blackwall. But her husband . . .’ she hesitated, reluctant to share this with George whom she didn’t know well, but she felt he would understand, ‘. . . he took up with another woman.’

  ‘Oh, poor soul.’

  ‘So she came to live with us.’

  George sipped his tea thoughtfully. ‘So what happened today to get her so upset?’

  ‘This morning she got up early before we were awake and went back to where she lived. We think it was because she wanted to – well, see this other woman. She’s been thinking about Harold and I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t want to give him a piece of her mind.’

  ‘It’s a wonder she didn’t want to knock his block off.’

  Eve smiled. George was easy to talk to. ‘Harold must have got her drunk and took her to the Sally Army.’

  ‘The scoundrel!’

  Eve nodded. ‘We couldn’t leave her there.’

  George beamed her a smile. ‘Now is there anything else I can do for you?’

  Eve was touched at his kindness. ‘Tell Pam I send me regards to her and the baby.’

  He finished his tea and stood up. ‘Well, I’m sorry to have missed the nippers.’

  ‘They’ll be sorry to have missed you too.’

  She walked out with him. Eve couldn’t hear Peg or Joan and hoped that the closed door of the front room meant that Joan was still sleeping and not being throttled by Peg.

  ‘Now, if ever you need a ride and Charlie ain’t about,’ said George as he stood on the pavement, ‘Joe and me or even me dad will help you out. Didn’t like to see you in distress today.’ He smiled and jumped in the van, waving from the window as he drove off.

  Eve breathed a deep sigh as the peaceful Sunday afternoon settled round her. George Merritt was as nice a person as his brother, Charlie. He could have driven by today, but he’d stopped to help. Eve hadn’t spoken much to him before and had thought he might be a bit stand-offish, but she knew now that he was quite the opposite

  She had been embarrassed at the scene that she, Peg and Joan had presented on the pavement, but George had done everything to set her at ease, and had carried Joan in his big arms, laying her in the back of the van without commenting on the appearance or smell of her. Eve wondered, though, whether he had really meant it when he had offered to help whenever Charlie was absent. She hoped so.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Charlie took Eve’s arm and guided her through the sea of furs, satins and silk-covered female forms that crowded the entrance to the Diamond Club just off Piccadilly. He hadn’t been here before, as the club was newly opened, but there was a buzz about it at work. He strongly suspected it was the Yard boys who had put the word about, as most of the beat coppers couldn’t afford the West End prices. But Charlie had wanted to do something special for Eve’s birthday and without her knowledge he had made arrangements for the night’s entertainment. Though her birthday was the following day, the Saturday evening meant that they would be able to dine and dance and drink to the accompaniment of the singers and dancers.

  Charlie glanced down at Eve as they walked into the reception lobby where a hat girl stood behind a small counter. He put his arm around Eve’s shoulders and politely offered to take her scarf. He couldn’t see a more attractive woman in the room, despite the obvious affluence. Eve had swept her lovely dark hair up and curved a glossy wave over the side of her head. Since she was small, the style became her, as did the heels of her shoes that brought her another few inches higher. The sleek amber dress that she wore with slim cut straps that, despite their delicacy, seemed almost too heavy for her bone china skin, outshone every other woman around them. Her lovely eyes, always so expressive and wide, were a perfect match to the colour of her gown. They sparkled, their golden glints and dark purple flecks quite stunning. He couldn’t believe that he was finally alone with her.

  He gave their things to the attendant for safe keeping and received a ticket in exchange. He’d borrowed George’s evening suit as he hadn’t one of his own. George was a couple of in
ches taller, but the trousers fitted. The jacket was roomy, but quite well fitting. George had suggested the outfit when Charlie had told him they were going to the West End for Eve’s birthday. It was then that Charlie had realized that Eve had made a big impression on his brother. As Charlie tried on the suit, George had told him about the day he’d given Eve, Joan and Peg a lift back to Isle Street. George and Eve had got on like a house on fire. This had reassured Charlie no end, as he’d had no real feedback from the family. He knew that his mother had been charmed by Samuel and Albert. But very little else had been said about the sudden blossoming of their son’s love life.

  Charlie smiled to himself. Love life indeed! He’d not had much of one in the past few years. He’d had a few girls but nothing serious. He’d never wanted much more on a Saturday or Sunday than to play football. He adored his nieces and nephews, and was happy enough to share in their family life, without feeling the need for children of his own.

  ‘Is my hair all right?’

  Charlie came quickly back to the present. He was looking into Eve’s beautiful face, but he had been thinking about his love life. ‘Yes . . . yes, it’s lovely.’

  ‘Only you’re smiling and staring at me.’

  ‘Was I? Sorry. I was just thinking that it’s a bit of a crush out here. Shall we go inside? Here take my arm.’

  They made their way through the bow ties and glittering frocks to the big silver and gold doors where a girl in a very short skirt and pill box hat was taking the tickets. As Charlie had his tucked in his top pocket, he whipped them out and presented them.

  ‘Good evening, sir, madam,’ the girl smiled. ‘Please go in and turn to your right. Table fifteen is up on the balcony, as you’re having supper.’

  Charlie smiled and led the way into the softly lit room with lights shining up onto the stage. The musical instruments were already there in front of a geometrically designed backdrop. The glass and chromium tables were decorated with ashtrays and fan shaped vases with a rose in each one. They ascended the stairs and together with the other diners, took their place above the rest of the room. There was music playing in the background that he recognized as the new craze from America, jazz.