MB03 - Sweet Rosie O’Grady

by Joan Jonker

  ‘What d’yer think about Nobby?’ Molly asked, setting the tea tray on the table. ‘I got the shock of me life.’

  ‘Ay, it’s a sad business all round.’ Corker took the cup from her and placed it on the floor between his feet. ‘I’ve never had any time for Nobby Clarke, as yer well know, but I’m grateful to him for settin’ Ellen’s mind at rest. We haven’t been able to discuss it at length because the kids were in and out, but from what she told me, and by her whole attitude, I know she’s more at ease with herself than she’s ever been.’

  ‘It’s over a week since we were there, I never thought he’d last that long. Every day I’ve been expecting Ellen to get word to say he’s gone.’ Molly sipped on the piping-hot tea. ‘I’ll tell yer what, Corker, I take me hat off to Ellen. She’s got more guts than I ever gave her credit for. I only went along to give her some support, and for a while she really did need it. But when it came to the crunch, she handled it far better than I could have done. To tell yer the truth, I was bawling me eyes out while she was as composed as anything, makin’ her peace with Nobby.’

  ‘We’re going to see him tomorrow.’

  ‘You are!’ Molly quickly recovered from her surprise. ‘I’m glad about that, Corker. I haven’t been able to get his face out of me mind, and God knows, he probably won’t even know ye’re there. But no one, no matter how bad they’ve been, should die thinking there isn’t a soul in the world who cares.’

  Jack leaned forward, his face serious. ‘Molly’s right. At least yer can go through life knowin’ yer did the decent thing.’

  ‘We’re not going until the afternoon because Ellen won’t take a full day off. So if we’re not back in time for the kids comin’ home from school, will yer keep an eye to them, Molly, please? I know Phoebe is old enough and capable to see they come to no harm, but I’d feel better if I knew they had someone to turn to if need be.’

  ‘Of course I’ll keep an eye on them. There’ll be a warm fire ready for them to come in to, and a hot cup of tea. And if by any chance you’re really late gettin’ home, I’ll send down to the chippy for somethin’ for them to eat.’

  ‘Thanks, Molly, ye’re a pal.’

  ‘You’re welcome, Corker. After all, what are mates for?’

  It was the same nurse as the week before, and as he locked the door behind them Ellen asked, ‘How is he?’

  ‘Very low, Mrs Clarke. We rang the phone number you left with us and they said they would see you got the message, but you must already have been on your way here.’

  The nurse was looking up at Corker, thinking he’d never seen such a big man in all his life. And with that thick moustache and beard, he looked as though he’d stepped out of the story-book the nurse read to his son every night. Standing beside him, her elbow cupped possessively in a massive hand, Ellen looked like a doll. The nurse could contain his curiosity no longer. ‘Are you a member of the family, sir?’

  ‘In a manner of speaking.’

  When Corker didn’t volunteer any more information, the nurse had no other option but to say, ‘Follow me, please.’ After all, it would be a foolhardy person who asked this giant too many questions.

  They were met at the ward door by Dr Jefferson. ‘Ah, Mrs Clarke, I was just about to ask if you had been notified.’ He looked up at Corker, his reaction not too different from the nurse’s. What a fine-looking man! I wonder what the connection is? ‘You are … ?’

  ‘James Corkhill, a friend of Mrs Clarke’s.’ Corker met the doctor’s eyes. ‘Does my being here bother you?’

  ‘Not at all! I’m glad Mrs Clarke is not alone. I’ve just been to see her husband, and I’m sorry to say his life is ebbing fast and I expect the end any minute.’

  Corker placed his arm across Ellen’s shoulders. ‘We’d like to see him.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  When they reached the bed, Ellen stepped away from Corker’s arm and leaned over the bars. Oh dear God, she prayed, help me to be brave. She forced herself to stretch out a hand and stroke the face that was now just bones with skin stretched across. ‘Nobby,’ she said softly, ‘it’s me, Ellen.’ The lashes flickered but the eyes didn’t open. She looked across the bed at the doctor, her eyes questioning as she mouthed the words, ‘Can he hear me?’

  ‘He’s unconscious, Mrs Clarke, and opinions are divided on whether a person in that condition can hear. I believe not, but there are those who would believe otherwise.’

  Ellen moved her hand to stroke the wisps of white hair. ‘God bless, Nobby, from me and the children.’

  Corker watched, feeling more helpless than he ever had in his life. He had seen many heart-rending sights during his years at sea. In places such as India he’d seen people dying of starvation and disease, lying at the side of the road. And beggars with bodies so deformed you had to look away as you threw them a few coppers. But the pity he’d felt for them was nothing to what he was feeling now.

  ‘Mrs Clarke, would you leave the ward, please?’ The nurse appeared from nowhere as the doctor moved towards the bed. ‘Wait outside, I’ll be with you shortly.’

  Corker led Ellen away. ‘I think he’s gone, love.’

  ‘I hope so, Corker, for his sake.’

  They stood in the corridor for five minutes before the doctor joined them. ‘Your husband has passed away, Mrs Clarke.’

  Ellen squared her thin shoulders. ‘I’m glad I got here in time. And I believe Nobby knew, I believe he could hear me.’

  ‘Perhaps you’re right, Mrs Clarke. Now, do you want to see your husband again when the nurse has attended to him?’

  Ellen shook her head. ‘No thank you, Doctor. But I would like you to tell me what happens now.’

  ‘Then come along to my office and I’ll organize a cup of tea for yourself and Mr Corkhill.’

  ‘It’s a good job Corker’s home, isn’t it, girl?’ Nellie’s head went to the left, her chins to the right. ‘’Cos if he hadn’t come home, she wouldn’t have been there at the end.’

  ‘No, there is that to it.’ Molly pushed her finger along the chenille cloth, making a ridge. ‘Ellen’s upset that Nobby’s got to go in a pauper’s grave, but there was nothing else for it! She hasn’t got a family grave he could be buried in, no insurance and no money! So the hospital are seein’ to all the arrangements an’ Ellen and Corker will be goin’ to the funeral.’

  ‘How can Corker go? How long’s he home for?’

  ‘The funeral’s on Monday, and he joins his ship again on Wednesday.’

  ‘We could have a whip-round an’ buy a wreath for him, yer know, girl. Can’t have the man gettin’ buried without even a single flower.’

  ‘It’ll have to be a whip-round between the two of us, sunshine, ’cos none of the neighbours are bein’ told. Corker agrees with Ellen that it’s best to wait until the kids are a bit older an’ don’t hate their dad so much.’

  ‘Poor little buggers, yer can’t blame them. They had a lousy life with him. No food in their bellies, no clothes on their backs, no fire in the grate and their hair walkin’ with fleas because Ellen had no money for soap.’ Suddenly a grin creased Nellie’s face. ‘Ay, girl, d’yer remember when Nobby had your Tommy by the throat and was nearly choking him to death because he said he’d kicked a ball through their window? D’yer remember that?’

  Molly didn’t answer right away, thinking it wasn’t respectful to speak ill of a man who had just died. Then she decided it wasn’t disrespectful to tell the truth. ‘Second-best fight of me life, that, so I’ll never forget it! I was frightened at first ’cos I really thought he was goin’ to kill our Tommy. Then I got mad, an’ when you told me to put me arm across his neck and press hard so he couldn’t breathe, I did it with relish. Then after you’d got his hands off our Tommy’s neck an’ he fell to the ground, I felt like givin’ him a good kick. I know yer shouldn’t say such things of the dead, but yer’ve got to be honest, haven’t yer? There were quite a few times I wanted to give Nobby Clarke a kick, particularly when I
saw the state of Ellen the mornings after he’d given her a goin’-over and her face, neck and arms were black and blue.’

  ‘Ay, girl, yer said that was the second-best fight of yer life – what was yer first?’

  ‘Oh, you know what the best fight was … you were there! I’m not daft enough to get in a fight when I haven’t got you with me, sunshine, I wasn’t born yesterday, yer know! You remember, it was the night the Bradleys started a fight up at the top end and the whole street was out. You did yer famous balancing act with Mrs Bradley on top of yer head.’

  ‘Oh ay, yeah! Ay, that was a good night, wasn’t it?’ Nellie’s bosom bounced up and down on the table as she shook with mirth. ‘She was hanging on to the back of Jack’s neck, nearly throttling him, an’ you got hold of her legs and lifted her up backwards, while I got me head underneath! Yeah, that was certainly the best fight we’ve ever ’ad. When yer come to think of it, life’s been pretty dull since the Bradleys did a flit. We haven’t had a fight with anyone for ages! We’ll be gettin’ rusty if we’re not careful!’

  ‘Nellie, there’s a flamin’ big fight goin’ on! Has nobody told yer yet that there’s a ruddy war on?’

  ‘Thank God today’s over.’ Ellen sank into the chair, her mind and body weary. Phoebe and Dorothy, her two eldest children, had just gone up to bed and at last she was alone with Corker and they could talk without fear of being overheard. ‘I’ve been terrified of slipping up in front of the kids.’

  ‘Well it’s all over now and you can put it behind yer.’ Corker patted the empty space next to him on the couch. ‘Come and sit here, love.’

  Ellen sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. ‘It wasn’t as bad as I expected, Nobby being buried in a pauper’s grave. It was a grave just like any other, and there was a priest there to say a few prayers which I was glad about.’

  ‘I was worried too, thinking it would be cold and heartless, with only you and me there. So I was pleased when I saw Dr Jefferson and the nurse turn up, it was good of them.’ Corker wound a strand of her hair around his finger. ‘And the grave won’t look bare with our wreath, the one from Molly and Nellie and the flowers the hospital staff sent. So Nobby had as good a send-off as anyone.’

  ‘Except his children weren’t there.’

  ‘I know, love, but we did talk it through and I think it’s best this way. After all, they’re only kids and would be all confused about their feelings for him. When they’re older and the scars have had time to heal, they might find it in their heart to forgive him, as you have.’

  Ellen moved away from him so she could look into his face. ‘Ay, what about lettin’ the solicitor know? He doesn’t have to go ahead now with trying for a divorce.’

  ‘I’ve been thinkin’ about that, but I haven’t had time to go into town to see him. I’ll have to go tomorrow because I’m due back on the ship early Wednesday morning.’ Corker gently put his huge hand on the side of Ellen’s face and pressed it to his breast. ‘There’s nothing to stop us gettin’ married now, love. And you don’t have to worry about being seen out with me. Oh, I’ve watched yer face every time we’ve walked down the street together, yer looked that guilty anyone would think yer’d robbed a bank!’

  ‘Well you know what neighbours can be like when they’ve got somethin’ to gossip about. They’d never believe there’s been nothing between us, no one would.’

  ‘I’ve told yer before, don’t worry about what the neighbours think. While they’re talking about us, they’re leavin’ someone else alone. We’re the ones that count, you an’ me, an’ we know we’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.’ Corker put a finger under her chin and lifted her face. ‘Mind you, you can take the credit for that. I’m not as good-livin’ as you, love, an’ if it had been up to me, I’d have had my wicked way with yer long before now.’

  ‘Corker, yer’ll not be havin’ yer wicked way with me until we’re married, and that won’t be for some time. Until we’ve told the children, an’ the neighbours, that Nobby’s dead, there can be no wedding bells for us.’

  Corker sighed. ‘Ye’re a stickler for doin’ what’s right, aren’t yer, me darlin’? But I love yer all the more for it.’

  It had been weeks since Ellen smiled, but she did so now. ‘Perhaps yer’d be better off lookin’ for a flighty piece for yerself? Someone who is more generous with her favours?’

  ‘You’re the only one for me, love, always have been. I’ve waited twenty years – another year won’t kill me.’ Corker put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘But I can’t wait another year for a kiss, so how about it?’

  Ellen cupped his dear face. ‘Yer’ve been so good to me, Corker, and I do know how lucky I am to have you. You have my love and my heart, and I ask you to be patient with me a little longer.’ She pursed her lips and moved towards him. ‘I do love you, my gentle giant.’

  Chapter Nineteen

  Her head cocked to one side, Nellie gazed across the table at her friend. ‘Ay, girl, d’yer know ye’re gettin’ quite a lot of white hairs in yer head?’

  ‘Considerin’ all the worry, it’s a wonder I’m not snow-white!’ Molly said. ‘What with one thing an’ another, it’s enough to send yer to an early grave.’

  Nellie lifted her massive bosom and laid it on the table so she could lean forward in comfort. ‘Ay, ay, girl, don’t be so ruddy miserable! What worries have you got that we haven’t all got?’

  ‘Knowin’ everybody’s in the same boat doesn’t make it any easier when ye’re traipsing round every day looking for something to make a decent meal with! Coupons for this, coupons for that, it’s enough to drive yer round the twist.’

  ‘Oh, it’s not that bad, for cryin’ out loud! We’re not starvin’, are we?’ Nellie chortled. ‘It wouldn’t do me no harm if we were. In six months I’d have a figure like Jean Harlow.’

  Molly grinned. ‘In six months? You’re bein’ a bit optimistic, aren’t yer, sunshine? You could live a couple of years without food with the fat you’ve got! Jean Harlow indeed!’

  Happy to see her mate smiling, Nellie laced her fingers and rested her chin on them. ‘A good laugh does yer as much good as a pan of scouse, girl!’

  ‘Ay, an’ those ruddy air-raid sirens are as good as a dose of Andrews’ Liver Salts!’

  ‘But we haven’t had no real air-raids, have we, girl? Only planes goin’ over. My feller said they’re rec … recog … recognition planes, come to spy out the lie of the land.’

  ‘The word is reconnaissance, but I know what yer mean. Still, we’re not to know that when the siren goes, are we? For all we know they might start droppin’ bombs on us an’ that’s what yer’ve got to think about. We’re told to treat every alarm as a real one, and run to one of the shelters. We’d look well, standin’ in the street lookin’ up at the planes, when one of them started droppin’ bombs.’

  ‘I wouldn’t let yer come to no harm, girl,’ Nellie said, her face wearing a serious expression. ‘If I saw a bomb comin’ down towards you, I’d catch it in me arms.’

  Molly’s vivid imagination went to work. ‘Nellie, if you an’ me saw a bomb comin’ towards us, we’d run like the ruddy clappers to the nearest shelter. I can just see us pushin’ each other out of the way to get there first. Best mates or not, it would be a case of survival of the fittest.’

  ‘Yeah, ye’re right there, girl.’ The chair began to creak under Nellie. ‘I’ll have to start carryin’ a clean pair of knickers with me all the time, just in case I ’ave an accident with fright.’

  ‘Trust you to think of that!’

  ‘Well, I was remembering what they used to say in the Girl Guides; always be prepared.’

  ‘I never knew you were in the Guides.’

  ‘Didn’t yer, girl?’

  ‘No! All these years an’ yer’ve never mentioned being a Guide!’

  ‘I had my reasons.’

  ‘What reasons?’

  The creaking of the chair became louder. ‘Because I wa
s never in the Girl Guides.’

  ‘Nellie McDonough, ye’re the biggest liar on God’s earth!’

  ‘Ah, that’s goin’ a bit far, that is, girl! I’ll admit to bein’ the biggest liar in this street, but the whole world? Never!’ Content now that her friend was in a happier frame of mind than when she’d arrived, Nellie pointed to the teapot. ‘Is there another cuppa in there?’

  Molly put her hand under the knitted cosy. ‘It’s not very hot.’

  ‘I don’t care as long as it’s wet and warm.’

  As Molly poured the tea her brow furrowed. ‘How come it’s my house every mornin’ for yer elevenses? Tea’s on ration, yer know, we should share.’

  ‘Yer’d be makin’ yerself a cuppa at this time, wouldn’t yer?’ Nellie asked. ‘Yer only need the same amount of tea for two as yer do for one.’

  ‘Well why don’t I come up to yours? You’d be makin’ yerself one, wouldn’t yer?’

  Nellie shook her head, her chins going in all directions. ‘No girl, I wouldn’t.’

  ‘Yer wouldn’t? Why not?’

  ‘’Cos I go up to me mate’s every morning for elevenses.’

  Molly put the teapot back on its stand before letting her laughter erupt. ‘Nellie McDonough, ye’re as crazy as a coot!’

  ‘That I may be, girl, but seein’ as it’s your tea I’m drinkin’, then it just goes to show that bein’ crazy doesn’t mean ye’re stupid.’

  Just to get her own back, Molly said, ‘Ye’re not gettin’ any sugar ’cos we’re runnin’ short.’

  ‘Oh, are yer, girl? D’yer want me to lend yer some? Yer can pay me back when yer get yer ration.’

  ‘No thanks, I can do without sugar in me tea, it doesn’t bother me.’ Molly leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. ‘Ye’re not suggestin’ by any chance that I should borrow sugar off you so yer can put it in that cup of tea?’

  ‘The thought had crossed me mind, girl, but I can see by yer physog that yer don’t take kindly to the idea, so I’ll drink it as it is an’ suffer in silence.’ Nellie shifted her position, causing Molly to pray the chair would stand up to it. ‘Ay, did yer tell Jack what happened yesterday, about us joinin’ that queue at the fish shop?’