The Bells of Bow

by Gilda O'Neill

  As Evie left the drab greyness of the wartime London street and stepped inside the doors of Rainbow Corner, it was as though the world had suddenly been painted with Technicolor. Her mouth fell open.

  ‘It’s just like yer said,’ she whispered to Gina. ‘It is Paradise.’

  Gina laughed. ‘That’s how it takes all the girls when they first come here.’

  ‘And Ray …’ Evie rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. ‘He is so handsome.’

  ‘My Eddy ain’t bad either, is he?’

  ‘He’s gorgeous.’

  ‘Yeah. And I mean to hang on to this one.’

  ‘What are you girls whispering about?’ asked Eddy, draping his arm round Gina.

  Gina smiled up at him. ‘We were just having a bit of girl talk.’ She pointed to one of the many doorways. ‘Come on, Eve, we’ll get rid of our hats and jackets over there and check our faces.’ She winked at Eddy. ‘Then we can talk about these two in peace.’

  As Gina led her over to the Ladies, Evie stared about her at the brilliantly colourful posters and pictures of America that covered all the walls, and gawped at all the activities that were going on, and at all the things like Coca-Cola machines which she had only ever seen in the films.

  ‘I don’t think I can take all this in.’ Evie stared at herself in the sparkling mirror over the sink as she handed the lipstick back that Gina had lent her. ‘I’ve been out with plenty of GIs since they’ve been over here, but I ain’t never seen nothing like this place.’

  ‘Glad yer like it.’ Gina twisted round to check the seams of her stockings in one of the elegant full-length mirrors.

  ‘And I wanna remember every bit of it all to tell Babs.’

  ‘You’ll remember it,’ Gina said. ‘Now come on, Ray and Eddy’ll be getting fed up waiting out there.’

  When she and Gina closed the door of the Ladies behind them, Evie didn’t need to turn on her dimpled smile as Ray and Eddy came towards them; she was smiling fit to burst already. She thought Ray was quite the most dazzling man she had ever seen. Not quite as tall as Albie had been, but still much taller than she was, he had thick, dark brown hair, eyes as blue as her own and teeth that were so gleaming white they could have doubled as a warning in the blackout.

  Eddy nudged Ray and nodded to Gina and Eve. ‘Worth the wait, huh, feller?’

  Ray nodded back enthusiastically. ‘Worth every moment,’ he agreed.

  Gina and Evie took their partners by the arm. As they walked through the bright corridors, crowded with GIs and their girls, Evie and Ray told each other about themselves while Ray pointed out to her the various rooms and the different things they could do. There were films to see, sports to watch or play, two sitdown restaurants and a cafe that sold a bewildering range of unfamiliar, exotic-looking items; there were quiet places to sit, music to listen or dance to, and everywhere there were delicious, unidentifiable scents and aromas – perfume maybe, Evie thought at times, or perhaps some sort of food, but whatever they were, they made her feel as though she had tumbled into a giant Aladdin’s cave.

  ‘That’s about it,’ Ray said. ‘End of tour.’

  ‘It’s … smashing,’ Evie said.

  Ray smiled happily at Eddy. ‘“Smashing”, hear that?’ He looked at Evie. ‘You like it then, huh?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Good. How about a little dancing?’

  Evie smiled excitedly – she loved the way he spoke – and turned to Gina to see what she should say.

  Gina grinned. ‘Smashing,’ she said.

  Evie nodded. ‘Smashing.’

  ‘In here then, ma’am.’ Ray ushered them through another door. It led into a bustling, boisterous dance hall. In the middle of the ceiling was a spinning mirrored ball that sent out sparkling rainbows of light over the band and the dancers gyrating below.

  Eve turned to Ray, barely able to contain herself. ‘I love it here,’ she said.

  ‘Can you jitterbug?’ Ray asked her.

  ‘Can she jitterbug?’ Gina began, intending to brag about her friend’s dancing skills, but Evie silenced her with a coy smile.

  ‘I can try, Ray,’ she said demurely. ‘If you’ll show me. I’m a quick learner.’

  Gina laughed as Eddy swept her away in his arms. ‘Yeah, she’s a real quick learner, that one.’

  After their first dance together, Ray was stunned. ‘Honey, you’re terrific. A natural. I never saw anyone dance the jitterbug so good.’

  ‘I’ve gotta be truthful with yer,’ Evie said shyly, looking up into his big, deep blue eyes. ‘I didn’t pick it up just like that. It was me sister, the one I told yer about. With the baby, you know.’

  Ray nodded.

  ‘See, she was seeing a GI for a while and he taught her how to do it. And she showed me.’

  Ray laughed. ‘Beautiful and honest. I’ve hit the jackpot!’

  Evie flashed her dimples. She lowered her lashes and peered up at him, coyly nibbling at her bottom lip. ‘I can sing too. In fact, some people reckon I can sing better than I can dance.’

  ‘Wow! You should be on the stage.’

  ‘I could sing now if they’d let me.’

  ‘Let you?’ Ray guided Evie over to the band.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Eddy asked Gina.

  ‘Wait and see,’ she laughed and shook her head. ‘Them Bell twins, can’t stop ’em if there’s a bit of music.’

  ‘You said twins? She’s a twin?’

  ‘Yes, Ed, she’s a twin.’ Gina folded her arms. ‘But don’t you get no ideas.’

  Eddy smiled and kissed Gina on the cheek. ‘Why should I want hamburger when I’ve got steak?’

  ‘Yer a smooth talker, Ed. Come on, we might as well get up the front and cheer her on.’

  By the time they had pushed their way forward, Evie had already launched into an achingly sweet rendition of ‘A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square’.

  As the final notes died away, Evie closed her eyes and gave a little bobbing curtsey and the room exploded into applause. She opened her eyes and beamed at the saxophone player who grinned back in reply and immediately burst into a rousing swing version of ‘Yes, My Darling Daughter’.

  Evie had them eating out of her hand.

  When she had finished, Ray proudly swung her off the stage while everyone around them clapped and whistled and frantically shouted for more.

  ‘Jeez,’ Ray said. ‘Is there nothing you can’t do?’

  ‘I dunno, Ray.’ Eve looked up at him, a picture of girlish innocence. ‘Depends what yer’ve got in mind, don’t it?’

  Ray knew exactly what he had in mind but he didn’t have the chance to tell her. Any suggestions he was about to voice were interrupted by a young GI who came careering into the ballroom, shoved his way through the crowd and launched himself with a great leap onto the stage. He grabbed the microphone and yelled at the top of his voice, ‘Paris just got itself liberated!’

  And the whole place went wild.

  It was almost half past eight on Saturday morning when Evie eventually got home.

  Babs was in the kitchen cooking fried bread and tomatoes for breakfast while Betty sat in the big tin bath, chatting away to herself as she played with the soap and flannel.

  Babs looked up from the frying pan. ‘Yer home then?’

  Evie ruffled Betty’s hair absent-mindedly, dropped onto one of the kitchen chairs and hugged herself. ‘Yeah,’ she sighed happily. ‘And yer’ll never guess what.’

  ‘Yer’ve met a bloke yer really like.’

  Evie frowned. ‘How d’you know?’

  ‘Lucky guess. Get Betty dried, will yer? This’ll be ready for her in a minute.’ Babs pointed the fish slice at the fried bread. ‘Want some?’

  Evie shook her head and yawned. ‘No thanks, Babs, I couldn’t eat a thing.’ She got up, took the towel off the table and lifted Betty from the bath.

  ‘Blimey, yer must be in love. I’ve never known you refuse grub.’

  ‘It ain’t that,�
�� said Eve, standing Betty on the chair to towel her dry. ‘I had so much to eat last night, I’m still full up.’

  Babs turned the two slices of bread and the single, sliced tomato. ‘Nice was it, the food?’

  ‘Unbelievable. They’ve got these two dining rooms. Two. And yer can’t imagine the food. And then there’s a snack bar where they do these waffle things. And you can get hamburgers. They’re great, full of all bits and pieces and mincemeat made into little rissole things. And sandwiches – well, that’s what they call ’em, but I ain’t never seen sandwiches like ’em.’ She held Betty’s knickers out for her to step into them, then pulled her vest over her head. ‘And there’s this machine, it makes doughnuts with holes in the middle. And yer can get Coca-Cola. You’d like that, Babs.’

  ‘Me?’ said Betty.

  ‘Yes, you’d like it and all,’ Evie said. She buttoned up the back of Betty’s dress and lifted her down to the floor.

  ‘This don’t look much, does it? Not now yer’ve said all that.’ Babs dished a slice of fried bread and a few slices of tomato onto two plates and put them on the table for her and Betty.

  ‘Looks all right,’ said Evie unconvincingly.

  Betty clambered back onto the chair and got stuck into her breakfast.

  ‘What’s he like then?’ asked Babs, sprinkling salt over her food to try and make it a bit more interesting. ‘This soldier boy of your’n?’

  ‘Ray? He’s dreamy. He’s ground crew with the, let me get it right, USAAF.’ She said the letters slowly, with a meaningful rise of her eyebrow. ‘Been here a few months now, he has. And I think he really likes me. When I wanted something to drink, he just gave his mate, that’s Ed, a handful of money and said, “There y’are. Take it out of that.” And his voice, Babs, yer should hear it, really deep and sexy it is. And he called me Honey, and Sugar and Doll Face.’

  Babs pushed her plate away from her. She had hardly touched her food. ‘How about making us a cuppa then, Doll Face?’

  ‘Doll Face,’ mimicked Betty with a little laugh.

  Babs could hardly believe her eyes as Evie got up and filled the kettle without a murmur of protest.

  ‘Yer know,’ she said as she swilled hot water round in the pot, ‘I reckon this might be me big chance at last.’

  Babs reached across and wiped a dribble of tomato from Betty’s chin with the hem of her apron. ‘How d’yer mean?’

  Evie giggled. ‘It’s obvious, ain’t it? Soon as the war’s over, I’ll go to the States and get into films. I’ve got the looks and yer know I’ve got the voice. The Yanks loved me, Babs. All of ’em. And I’ll bet Ray knows all sorts of people what can help me get on over there. I could be a star, Babs.’

  ‘Is that tea ready?’

  Evie brought the tea to the table. ‘I’ll have to see if Ray can get you into Rainbow Corner with us one night. Yer’d love it. Yer know, even Glenn Miller’s played there. The Glenn Miller.’ She pushed Babs’s cup towards her. ‘Well, ain’t yer got nothing to say?’

  Babs slowly stirred her tea. ‘Yeah, I’ve got something to say. Does he know about …’ She nodded towards Betty. ‘This one?’

  Eve pulled a surprised face. ‘Who, Glenn Miller? I shouldn’t think so.’

  ‘Don’t be clever, Eve,’ Babs snapped at her. ‘You ain’t showing off to some bloke. It’s me, yer twin, yer talking to.’

  Evie didn’t answer, she just picked up her bag and stomped upstairs to the bedroom.

  ‘Evie’s cross,’ said Betty quietly.

  Babs drew in her breath. ‘Yer mustn’t call yer mummy that, Betty. Mummy yer have to call her. Mummy.’

  That evening Evie went out with Ray again, and the next day, Sunday, she was full of excitement because not only did Ray want to see her yet again, he was actually coming to the house to collect her.

  ‘These Yanks, Babs,’ she giggled, as she studied her profile with her hair piled up and then with it left loose around her shoulders. ‘They think places like this dump are cute. Cute. Can yer imagine? And full of history, Ray says. Bloody barmy, if yer ask me. Still, who cares, eh?’

  ‘Not you, Eve,’ said Babs as she put the ironing away in the dressing table drawers. ‘That’s for sure.’

  ‘Yer know, I was gonna hide where I come from, but he’ll love it.’

  ‘If he gets in here.’

  ‘Eh?’

  ‘Ain’t yer noticed? Dad’s down in the front room staring out the window like a dock copper at the gates. He don’t seem very happy about a Yank coming round for yer.’

  ‘Sod it.’ Evie’s voice was hard. ‘If he dares spoil things for me …’

  She crashed down the stairs and into the front room. ‘Dad, I wanna talk to you.’

  Georgie ignored her. He was standing at the window with the net curtain pulled back. Ray had just arrived at the door and was about to knock.

  ‘I don’t like the look of him,’ said Georgie. ‘Look how he’s standing there. Can’t he even keep his back up straight?’

  ‘He’s smarter than a Tommy any day.’

  ‘Huh.’

  ‘And they know how to treat a girl. He said I was beautiful enough to be a spy.’

  Georgie turned on her. ‘What sort of stupid talk is that? Full of shit, the lot of them.’ He almost ripped down the curtain as he pulled it back in place. ‘I’m going on duty.’ He strode furiously out into the passage, flung open the street door, and barged past Ray who was standing patiently on the step.

  Georgie was halfway past the Simpkins’s house next door when he stopped in his tracks, turned and looked Ray up and down.

  Ray straightened up smartly. ‘Good evening, sir.’

  Georgie shook his head and snarled by way of response and stormed off along the street.

  ‘Ignore him,’ said Evie with a flap of her hand.

  Ray shrugged. ‘He’s a protective father. I’d be the same if I had a beautiful daughter like you.’

  Evie sighed contentedly. ‘Yer say the nicest things.’ She lifted her jacket off the banister, linked her arm though his and called over her shoulder, ‘See yer then, Babs. Don’t wait up.’

  Later that evening, while Babs was getting Betty ready for bed, someone banged loudly on the street door.

  ‘Hang on, babe,’ Babs said, sitting Betty on the edge of the bed. ‘You wait there and I’ll go down and see who it is.’

  As she skipped down the stairs, she thought to herself, ‘I’ll bet that’s Evie. She’s had a row and come home with her tail between her legs. She’s always the same, always mad about the latest and then, five minutes later, fed up with ’em.’

  When she opened the door, Babs was really surprised to see that it was Queenie standing there.

  ‘I’ve brought some stuff for Betty,’ she said. Then she paused, and stared challengingly at Babs. ‘And I’ve decided to take her out for a bit.’

  Babs frowned. ‘This time of night?’

  Queenie jerked her head towards the car that was standing by the kerb. ‘Chas fetched me round here in the car. She won’t be outside in the night air.’

  Babs kept a firm grip on the edge of the door and stood her ground on the step, making sure she was blocking the passageway. ‘Yer can’t.’

  ‘You what?’ Queenie leaned close to Babs and stuck her finger nearly in her face. ‘You listen to me. I wanna see my granddaughter now. And I mean to take her with me. I’ve had just about enough of the carryings on in this place. Now fetch her.’

  Babs swallowed hard; her mouth was dry. ‘I can’t,’ she said. ‘She’s out.’

  Queenie’s face was distorted with rage and disbelief. ‘She’s out. Who the hell with?’

  ‘With her mum of course, who else?’

  ‘You lying little mare. I thought you at least was a bit decent, but I might have known. You Bells, yer all the same. No better than yer whore of a mother and no better than that little scrubber of a sister of your’n.’

  Babs blinked. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I�
�ve heard all about that little tart. Hanging around with all them Yanks. And I ain’t having it. It’s no way to bring a child up. Especially my grandchild. And I mean to do something about it.’

  Babs took a deep breath and then very quietly and slowly said to Queenie, ‘Now listen here, you. What Evie does is none of your business. And if you think you can come round here saying what yer like about her, well, yer’ve got another think coming. It’s only ’cos she feels sorry for yer that she lets yer see Betty at all. So I’d be careful if I was you.’

  Queenie laughed in her face, a dry mirthless sneer. ‘It’s you what wants to be careful, darling. Yer wanna mind yer tongue, ’cos I ain’t very happy. I don’t like the thought of my granddaughter living in this knocking shop. And yer can tell yer little brass of a sister that from me.’ She gestured over her shoulder towards Chas. ‘I know a lot of people, some right hard nuts who are only too pleased to do me favours when I ask ’em. And if things don’t change sharpish, you and yer sister are in for a very nasty surprise. I’ll have that baby off yer so fast yer won’t know what’s hit yer, you see if I don’t.’ She looked round at Chas and nodded for him to open the car door for her. Then she turned slowly back to Babs. ‘I’ll be back and I’ll be keeping an eye on what’s going on round here,’ she said in a low, menacing growl. ‘Don’t you worry about that. But next time I might not be so nice.’

  As Babs watched the car pull out of the street, she felt sick, unable to move.

  ‘That was Albie Denham’s mother, wasn’t it?’ Alice called across from her doorstep where she was sitting knitting in the late evening sun.

  Babs didn’t answer.

  Alice dropped her knitting onto the pavement beside her chair and trotted over to Babs. ‘Oi, I asked you a question.’

  ‘Go away, Alice,’ said Babs, trying to close the door.

  ‘Don’t you talk to me like that, you trumped up little madam,’ she said, sticking her bony foot in the door. ‘I’m having to take a tonic for my nerves as it is, what with that dog of your’n barking night and day and that sister of your’n keeping me up all hours.’

  Babs looked down at Alice’s foot then raised her eyes to the woman’s mean little face. ‘Yer’ve got a choice,’ Babs said, ‘You either move that foot of your’n or I stamp on it.’