by Carol Rivers
‘It will always remind me of you, me best mate.’
‘Just so long as it don’t remind you of Mrs James’s fur hat,’ Hattie said, controlling her laughter, ‘and if one of the boys dares to say I’ve cut a bit out of it, I’ll strangle them!’
Chapter Nine
The party was in full swing. Lily had opened her presents and placed them on top of the piano for her guests to see. A scarf and leather gloves from Josie, a musical box that played Debussy from Uncle Noah. Handkerchiefs, a bottle of eau-de-cologne and a jar of sweets from her friends and neighbours.
Uncle Noah was hand-cranking the phonograph and Enrico Caruso’s voice rang out on the heavy seventy-eight revs per minute recording. As Lily walked in the parlour, a dispute began. Her mother had requested a Marie Lloyd number, but her uncle was guarding the phonograph, refusing all requests in favour of his own.
Lily slipped away, threading a path through her guests. Mollie and Hector Flock and their children had commandeered the couch. There was bald-headed baby Isaac, eight-year-old Suzie and her ten-year-old brother, Freddie, all yelling as loud as each other.
Elsie Barker, the Flocks’ neighbour, grabbed a sandwich from the plate Lily offered. ‘Lovely party, Lily. And don’t you look the dog’s dinner in that dress. What’s that on your collar?’
‘A lucky rabbit’s foot. It’s from Hattie.’
‘Yer, well you need all the luck you can get in this life, ducks.’
Lily glanced at herself in the big bevelled-edge mirror above the mantel. The tiny brooch peeped out from under the white ruffled neckline of her blue frock, which, like the rest of her wardrobe, had been discovered at market. But this time the previous owner had been Lily’s size and height and no alterations had been required other than a thorough wash. The pale blue of the bodice matched the blue of her eyes and the calf length swirling skirt made it the perfect party dress.
‘When’s the knees-up starting?’ Mollie Flock shouted above the din in the room.
‘As soon as we roll back the carpet.’ Although Lily enjoyed Caruso she hoped Uncle Noah would soon change the record. People were eager to dance and let their hair down.
‘Can’t understand a word that bloke is singing,’ complained Mollie, whacking one screaming child over the head with a cushion to quieten them.
‘It’s Caruso,’ Lily tried to explain, ‘a famous Italian opera singer.’
‘Italian?’ roared Hector Flock whose big paw landed on the last sandwich. ‘Mollie ain’t even learned to speak English, yet.’
Once more Mollie’s hand stretched out whizzing past her husband’s ear.
‘Can I have another slice of roly-poly?’ Dark-haired Suzie Flock wiped her nose on her sleeve. ‘Me brother pinched mine.’
‘The roly-poly’s all gone, love.’
‘It ain’t fair. I didn’t have any.’
‘Well, I’m lighting the candles on the cake in a minute,’ Lily said, giving her a cuddle. ‘I’ll see you’re the first to have a slice of birthday cake.’
‘Fanks, Lil.’
Someone tapped Lily on the shoulder. It was Ted Shiner, looking uncomfortable. ‘Lil, I need a Jimmy Riddle. And the door of the lav is locked. Has been for the past ten minutes.’
‘Did you give it a good push?’
‘Not ’arf. But all I heard was laughing. If it’s kids in there, they need turfing out.’
‘I’ll go and see who it is.’
Lily made her way out. In the hall she found Pedro talking to Grace Padgett from number forty. Grace was middle-aged and often called the Merry Widow, as she had lost three husbands in quick succession. One in the war, another to the flu epidemic and the last in an accident on the Mile End Road. She didn’t let her troubles show, however, as she always had a smile on her face.
‘Are there any seats left?’ Grace frowned into the noisy front room.
‘Yes, just inside.’
‘Thanks for inviting me, gel. You got any good-looking blokes in there?’
Lily laughed. ‘There’s one standing beside you.’
Pedro gave a chuckle, twirling the ends of his black moustache.
‘Happy birthday, Lily. Here’s your present,’ said Grace, giving her a large box of chocolates. ‘They’re nice ones an’ all.’
‘Oh, thank you, Grace.’
Pedro rocked on his heels. ‘Watch they don’t make you fat, Lily gel.’
‘They won’t hang around long enough to get fat on. How was market today?’
‘Sold that set of china cups and the toasting fork.’
‘I’ll bet Reube was pleased.’
‘Oh, didn’t see much of him.’
‘Where did he go?’
‘Said he had to see a man about a dog.’
Lily knew that Reube would have taken his leave quickly as he could only take Pedro in small doses. Reube got irritated when Pedro, in his slow and precise manner, talked to the punters at length. It always amused Lily to hear him, but she knew it could be a bit irritating.
‘By the way,’ said Pedro, scratching his head. ‘A bloke asked about you today.’
‘Who was that?’
‘Some gent in a posh coat and brown hat.’
Lily suddenly felt weak at the knees. ‘Did he give his name?’
‘No. I was talking to me customer at the time, telling her about the china, where it come from, you know, the old lady from Cahir Street who was—’
‘Yes, I know where it came from Pedro, but what did he say?’
‘Nothin’ much.’
‘But he asked for me?’
Pedro frowned, his long, thin face pensive. ‘Must of done. ’Cos I said you wasn’t there.’
‘Did he say he’d come back?’
‘No.’
Lily felt both elated and cheated. Today was the one day that she had taken off in years and it was the day that Charles chose to call. And Reube, who would have known Charles, hadn’t been there either.
She tried again. ‘Can you think of anything else he said – anything at all?’
Pedro frowned, stroking his black moustache and twirling the ends. Lily caught a whiff of the hair dressing he used on it. ‘Just said you was off for the day, that’s all.’
‘So he didn’t buy anything either?’
‘Didn’t see the going of him as I was on me own and this punter came up, wanting to know how much I’d sell the fork for and as there weren’t no ticket on it . . .’
Lily wasn’t listening as Pedro’s voice droned on. Charles had actually come by to see her again! She felt suddenly as if her life had been filled with joy again. Oh, why had she taken the day off? If she had been at the market, she would have seen his handsome face once more.
‘Lil?’ Grace was looking at her. ‘You all right?’
‘Er . . . yes, just a bit hot in here, that’s all.’
‘You’ve gone a bit pale.’
‘Why don’t you both go and sit down whilst there’s seats free?’ Lily didn’t want to talk, she wanted to think about what Pedro had said.
‘Get yerself in there, gel,’ said Pedro, pushing Grace in front of him.
When they had gone, Lily made her way to the kitchen. Why had Charles come to the market? Was it to ask her to help him again? Or, dare she hope that it was for something of a more personal nature?
On her way out to the washhouse, Lily found Ted again. He gave her an urgent look. Mrs James was reading his grandmother’s palm at the table in the kitchen. Her heavy features were knitted together in concentration under her fur hat. Freda Shiner’s big shoulders dwarfed the figure of Hattie’s father, Len, who sat next to her. At the other side of the table, was Mrs Parks and Sylvester. Lily thought that poor Sylvester looked like death warmed up. She hoped all the noise and talking wouldn’t set him off. He rarely took a step outside his own front door and she’d been surprised the Parks had brought him at all.
Freda Shiner smiled up at her grandson. ‘You wanna have your fortune told, ducks,’ she cried
, her fat chins wobbling. ‘I just got some good news. There’s a tall dark stranger on me horizon. He’s going to take me away from all you lot.’
‘Let me know when you’re off, Gran, and I’ll pack yer sandwiches and a map,’ Ted shouted back as he pushed his massive bulk through the chairs.
‘Cheeky blighter,’ his grandmother laughed.
‘I’m still waiting to go,’ said Ted, out of the corner of his mouth. ‘I’ll have find a spot in the yard, if that khazi door ain’t open soon.
Lily nodded and opened the back door. The darkness was illuminated by Uncle Noah’s Tilley lamp hanging in the yard. As Marie Lloyd’s voice echoed from the phonograph, two young people broke out from the closet. Laughing, they rushed through the kitchen past Lily and Ted.
‘Who the flipping ’eck were they?’ demanded Ted.
‘That’s Billy Bird and Maggie Novaks,’ Lily giggled. ‘We all dance together at the Dockland Settlement. They’re very good at the Charleston.’
‘Looks like the Charleston ain’t the only thing they’re good at either,’ Ted chuckled.
‘They’re only having a bit of fun.’
‘I don’t blame ’em, girl. I was the same at their age. But I’ll be glad to see the inside of that khazi.’
Lily closed the back door and listened to the laughter. Before Pedro had told her about Charles, she had resigned herself to not seeing Charles again. Now, all her hopes had been brought back to life. Charles wanted to see her! She didn’t know why, but she didn’t care. It was enough to know that he had tried to reach her. Would he call round the house? What would he think of all these people if he did?
It was half an hour later when Ben arrived. ‘Sorry I’m late, Funny Face.’ He wore a light-coloured suit and snappy blue tie that Lily hadn’t seen before. ‘I’ve only just finished on the lorry. Here’s your present.’
She smiled, taking the gift.
‘Then it took me half an hour to wash and change. Want to look me best for my favourite gal. Good job me nose straightened up after that ding-dong with the Blackshirts.’
‘I hope you don’t go fighting again.’
Ben laughed. ‘If I do, I’ll be quicker to get out of the way. Now, go on, open it.’
It was easy for Lily to guess what was inside the parcel. A large, shiny record slipped into her hands.
‘Surprise, surprise!’ said Ben. ‘Bet you didn’t think you was getting that.’
‘No, I didn’t.’ It was the popular song ‘’S Wonderful’, from the musical Funny Face, which was no surprise at all, seeing as how he was always singing it to her.
Ben did a little twirl, humming the tune and giving her a Fred Astaire foot shuffle. Reube appeared behind him with Hattie on his arm.
‘Happy birthday, Lil. Blimey, I didn’t ’arf miss you at the stall today. Pedro talked me ear off.’
‘He said you wasn’t there.’
‘Didn’t think he’d notice the way he was rabbiting. Anyway, stick these somewhere, gel.’ He gave Lily a bunch of flowers wrapped in newspaper. ‘Grew them meself specially for you.’
‘And I’m the Queen of Sheba,’ Hattie giggled, stretching out her arms. ‘Give them to me and I’ll find them a home. Ben, take her in the parlour and put that record on. The girl is supposed to be dancing. It’s her twenty-first.’
Ben grabbed her hand as Hattie took the flowers. He pulled Lily into the parlour. ‘Here you are, Mr Kelly, can you play this?’
‘What is it?’
‘A tune we can dance to.’
Her uncle squinted at the label. ‘Oh, the one you’re always trying to sing,’ he muttered. ‘Go on then, boy, pull the carpet back and we’ll start the knees-up.’
Lily watched Ben and Hector Flock roll back the carpet, but her thoughts were still on Charles. If only Pedro had asked him what he wanted. Or taken a message that she could reply to. It wasn’t beyond her to call at his house. The thought made her weak at the knees.
‘Dancing room only!’ Ben shouted, as everyone squashed back against the walls. ‘Come on then, Lil, let’s show them how it’s done.’ He reached out and drew her into his arms.
How she wished it was Charles she was dancing with. If only she was dressed in a long silk dress and they were somewhere up West, in one of those posh hotels, dancing the night away. She let her imagination roam, closing her eyes as she pretended that Charles was holding her against his strong chest and guiding her around a softly lit dance floor. Lily was in another world, far away from Love Lane and the rough and tumble of everyday life. Her body was close to the man who had lit up her life with his presence. She was not gazing into Ben’s soft grey eyes, but another pair, dark and mysterious. As the lovely song flowed, all she could think of was Charles.
Finally the melody came to an end. Ben swung her out at arm’s length and Lily made an elegant arc of her body as she always did. Slowly he curled her back to his chest and on the final bar, he whispered, ‘Happy birthday, Funny Face, you’re swell!’
Lily smiled, even though these weren’t the words she wanted to hear and Ben wasn’t the man whose arms she craved to be in.
But the surprise came when in front of the whole room, Ben bowed his head and kissed her passionately.
A cheer went up. Lily tried to push herself away but he refused to let her go. When he finally did, he kept his arm around her waist, hugging her to him as everyone began to clap.
It was past midnight when the party ended. The Parks and the Jameses were the last to leave and Hattie, Reube and Ben remained to help with the clearing up.
When Josie and Uncle Noah had gone to bed, Hattie helped Lily to clean the kitchen and do the washing-up. It was left to Reube and Ben to restore order in the parlour.
‘It was a wonderful party, Lil,’ Hattie said as she swept the last of the crumbs into a pan.
‘I hope everyone had a good time.’ Lily took the pan from Hattie who collapsed on to a chair.
Hattie laughed. ‘Dancing with the Flocks’ kids wore me out.’
Lily was still in shock after what had happened with Ben. Afterwards, he had followed her around and not left her side all evening. It was clear that he intended people to think that now they were a couple.
Hattie stretched and yawned. ‘So are you pleased with all your presents?’
‘They’re lovely.’
‘You and Ben were getting on all right tonight.’
‘We always get on.’
‘You know what I mean. It was nice to see you both together –’ Hattie added quickly, ‘in that sort of way.’
‘You above all people, Hat,’ Lily replied anxiously, ‘should know that Ben and me are just friends. There ain’t nothing romantic going on. I’ve told you that before.’
Hattie just shrugged. ‘That kiss looked genuine to me.’
‘It was only a peck.’
‘A what?’ Hattie exploded, sitting up. ‘Your lips looked they were glued together!’
Lily was embarrassed. ‘Listen, Hat, I don’t know why Ben – well, kissed me. He’s never done it before and to be honest I was annoyed that he did such a thing in front of everyone.’
‘There’s always a first time.’
‘It’s going to be the last as well,’ Lily said, getting annoyed now.
Hattie sat forward, looking up at Lily with a puzzled expression. ‘Look, Lil, that kiss shows just how much he thinks of you and he’s proud to announce the fact to the world. He’s crazy about you and by the way you kissed him back, you’re nuts about him too.’
‘I didn’t kiss him back,’ Lily protested. What was Hattie suggesting?
‘Then I must have been watching another girl.’
Lily hadn’t meant to let him kiss her, but how could she have stopped him? It had happened so quickly and all her thoughts had been on Charles, that she had been in a state of shock.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ demanded Hattie, jumping to her feet. ‘Why don’t you just admit it?’
‘There’s nothing to
admit,’ Lily said as she faced her friend. ‘I’ve told you time and again that me and Ben are just friends.’
‘So you keep insisting. But actions speak louder than words. And what we all saw tonight, was not a handshake, Lil. Can’t you see you’re special to him – he worships the ground you walk on. If ever there were two people meant for each other it’s you two.’
With a sinking sensation Lily realized why Hattie had been so against Charles. It wasn’t because he was a stranger, but because they had all assumed it was Ben she would marry.
‘Hattie, please listen to me,’ Lily pleaded, desperate to make Hattie understand. ‘What Ben did tonight came as a big surprise. I never encouraged him. Honest. I don’t know what’s happened.’
But Hattie just stared at her coldly. ‘The trouble with you, Lil, is that you’ve got high falutin’ ideas now you’ve met that posh bloke. But remember, it was Love Lane you were born in, not Buckingham Palace. And it’s Ben and Reube and me who are your true friends, not someone like him who only wants one thing from you.’
Lily felt sick. How dare Hattie say that? ‘He’s got a name Hattie, it’s Charles. And he’s never once suggested anything improper.’
‘Not yet maybe, but he will.’
‘How can you say that?’
‘What does any bloke like him want with a girl that ain’t of his station? It’s obvious, but you’re just too daft to see it.’
Tears filled Lily’s eyes. She couldn’t believe her best friend was saying such spiteful things. ‘Are you trying to make me feel guilty about liking him?’
‘So you do like him?’ Hattie gulped. ‘I thought so! I told Reube you did but he said it was just a silly girl’s crush and would wear off.’
‘You’ve talked to Reube about us?’
Hattie looked defiant. ‘Why shouldn’t I? You’re not like the old Lil. And it’s him who’s turned you against us.’
Lily tried not to show how much Hattie’s remarks were hurting her. A big lump came in her throat; she felt betrayed.
‘They say love blinds people and it’s certainly made a fool of you, Lily Bright.’
‘I . . . I didn’t say it was love,’ Lily stammered, close to tears. ‘I haven’t had chance yet to know how I really feel. I’ve been too busy trying not to upset me friends. But now I see that whatever I say or do won’t make you happy. Not unless I stop seeing him.’