by Joan Jonker
‘I think yer’ve got yer sums wrong, Nellie,’ Molly said. ‘You’ve got six inches to every one we’ve got.’
Nellie screwed her eyes up. ‘Is that right, girl? In that case I’m better off than any of yer.’
‘I’m not sayin’ anything, Nellie McDonough, ’cos yer’ve got one of yer funny half-hours on.’ Molly watched Jack struggle with the heavy looking-glass as his eyes sought the best place to stand it. ‘Hang on a minute, love, and I’ll move one of the dining chairs. If yer stand it against that wall at an angle, and Nellie stands well back, she’ll be able to see herself full-length.’
Nellie inspected herself from every angle and was delighted. The dress was in navy blue with a small white leaf pattern. And Doreen had done a good job on it; it fitted her perfectly. ‘By the stripes, girl, yer’ve done me proud, I look like a ruddy film star.’
‘I’m glad you like it, Auntie Nellie.’ Doreen, like the rest of the family, loved the big, cuddly woman. The dress had been the devil of a job to make, Nellie’s measurements being practically double her own, and there’d been times she thought she’d never get a perfect fit. But she had, and she was proud of herself. ‘I’ve cut the jacket out, but I’ll have to tack it before I can try it on yer.’
‘It looks lovely on you, Auntie Nellie,’ Jill said. ‘You’ll outshine everyone at the wedding.’
Steve, sitting next to Jill and holding her hand, smiled widely, his dimples deepening. ‘Yer look a cracker, Mam! It suits yer better than any dress yer’ve ever had. In fact, yer can keep it for when me and Jill get married.’
‘Not on yer ruddy life!’ Nellie jerked a thumb at Molly. ‘Me mate here is gettin’ dressed to the nines for your wedding, big picture hat, high-heeled shoes, the lot! So I’m not goin’ to be the poor relation, she’s not goin’ one better than me! I’ll be dressed like the flamin’ Queen of Sheba for your wedding, son, just you wait an’ see.’
The room erupted with laughter and Nellie gazed around with a puzzled look on her face. ‘What ’ave I said that’s so funny?’
Jack, his hand pressing at the pain in his side, looked over at Molly. ‘Will you tell her, or shall I?’
‘You tell her, love, I’m too busy enjoyin’ meself.’
‘Nellie,’ Jack tried to keep his face straight, ‘the Queen of Sheba didn’t wear a dress.’
Nellie gaped. ‘She didn’t! Well, the dirty little faggot! Fancy goin’ around with no dress on, an’ her a queen! Didn’t nobody tell her she couldn’t go around bare-arsed? Her bein’ a queen, like?’
‘Nellie, she didn’t go around bare … erm … she didn’t go around with no clothes on.’ Molly knew her friend was having them all on, but she wasn’t going to spoil her fun. God knows, they could all do with a laugh to offset the horrors that were happening in the world. ‘She wore one of those flimsy things, like Cleopatra did when we saw her in that picture.’
‘Go ’way!’ Nellie shook her head as though in disbelief before turning to Doreen. ‘Ay, girl, d’yer think yer could make me one of them flimsy things for the wedding?’
Steve was used to his mother; she was always funny. But she was never as funny as when she was with Auntie Molly. They had the same sense of humour and their jokes seemed to bounce off each other. ‘Mam, I don’t mind yer lookin’ like Cleopatra for Uncle Corker’s wedding, but me and Jill will settle for something less … less … what word shall I use?’
Molly chuckled, ‘How about outrageous?’
‘That’s it, Mrs B., yer’ve hit the nail on the head.’ Steve squeezed Jill’s hand, thinking how lucky they were with their families. In fact the Bennetts and the McDonoughs were one big happy family.
Nellie surveyed herself once more. ‘All I need now is a pair of gloves to set the outfit off. What d’yer say, girl?’
‘Yeah, I need to get gloves as well.’
‘Well how about goin’ to Paddy’s Market tomorrow?’ Nellie asked. ‘We could pick up a pair cheap there.’
‘It’ll have to be in the afternoon, Nellie, with Jack working in the morning. Say about two o’clock.’
Nellie nodded before giving a last twirl in front of the mirror. She smiled in satisfaction, then made her way to the kitchen. ‘I’d better get undressed in here.’ They heard her laughter before she shouted, ‘If Jack saw me in me birthday suit he’d bring his dinner back. An’ we can’t have that, can we, girl? Not after you slaving over a hot stove all day.’
‘They’re the largest size gloves we’ve got in navy blue,’ the market-stall man said, trying hard to keep his patience after Nellie had tried unsuccessfully to squeeze her chubby hands into every pair of navy gloves he had. ‘I’m afraid I can’t help you.’
Nellie looked so down in the mouth Molly felt sorry for her. She’d been lucky finding a pair to match the beige dress she’d had made, but then her hands weren’t as big as Nellie’s. Then Molly had an inspiration.
‘White gloves would look nice, Nellie, they’d set off the white pattern on the dress.’
‘Ay, that’s an idea, girl!’ Nellie brightened up. ‘Have yer got a bigger pair in white?’ she asked the man.
The stallholder groaned inwardly. She’d separated every pair of navy gloves on his stall – now she was going to start on the white! ‘I doubt it. Yer’ve just got big hands, missus, it’s not my fault.’
‘It’s not my fault either!’ Nellie’s voice rose. ‘I can’t help the way God made me. An’ I’m flaming well sure that He wouldn’t make anyone that couldn’t get a pair of gloves to fit them!’
Molly was rummaging in the pile of gloves that was now topsy-turvy. She brought out three pairs of white gloves. ‘Try these on, Nellie.’
The second pair Nellie tried were in a soft, brushed cotton, and although she had to struggle, she finally got them on. They were too tight and very uncomfortable, but what the hell – she’d only be wearing them for half an hour. ‘How much are they?’
‘Yer can have them for a tanner.’ The stallholder would have given her them for nothing, just to get shut of her. But she’d been such a ruddy nuisance he might as well try and get something for his trouble. ‘An’ that’s cheap at twice the price.’
Nellie beamed. ‘I’ll take them.’ She pulled at the ends of each of the fingers but the material was stuck to her flesh and the glove wouldn’t move. She tried the other hand; same thing. ‘Oh, come on, yer stupid things!’
Molly could see the stallholder was fast losing his patience and customers were waiting. ‘Give us yer purse, Nellie, and I’ll pay the man.’
Nellie was still wearing the gloves as they pushed their way through the crowds. ‘I look a right ruddy nit with me old coat on, a turban on me head and snow-white gloves on me hands!’
‘Wait till we get outside, we’re gettin’ crushed to death in here.’ Molly cupped her friend’s elbow and steered her into the street. ‘Now, take it easy an’ don’t be gettin’ all hot and bothered.’
But Nellie was hot and bothered. And as she pulled at the end of each finger in turn, all she succeeded in doing was stretching the material until it appeared she had two-inch-long nails. ‘I give up,’ she snorted, ‘I’ll have to cut the blasted things off when I get home.’
‘Just hold yer horses, sunshine, an’ don’t be losing yer rag.’ Molly took hold of one of her friend’s hands. ‘Let’s see if we can do it this way.’ Starting at the wrist, Molly eased the material over Nellie’s palm. ‘I’ll hold the glove, you pull yer thumb out.’
Two minutes later Nellie was standing with the creased gloves in her hand and sweat running down her cheeks. ‘Phew! Honest to God, I thought I’d be sleepin’ in them tonight. The best thing I can do is throw them away, I wouldn’t go through that again for a big clock.’
‘Nellie, if yer hadn’t got yerself so het up, yer wouldn’t have had to go through that! Yer’ve got no patience an’ go at everything like the ruddy clappers.’
A smile lit up the flushed face. ‘That’s what my feller says in bed at night
!’
‘I dunno what I’m goin’ to do with you,’ Molly tutted. Then she burst out laughing. ‘How come that no matter what we’re talking about, we always end up in your bedroom?’
‘Because that’s where me mind always is, girl! I can’t help it if I’ve got a passionate nature, can I?’
‘You could keep it to yerself,’ Molly said, linking her arm. ‘How about callin’ to see how Denis and his mam are?’
‘That’s a good idea, I could do with a cup of tea, me throat’s parched.’
Nellie’s hip brushed Molly’s as she waddled from side to side. ‘As long as we’re ’ome in time to make something to eat for my lot … hungry buggers they are.’
The front door was wide open at the Latimers’ house, so Molly called down the hall, ‘Anybody home?’
‘Well, what a pleasant surprise! Denis was only talking about you last night, said it was ages since we’d seen you.’ Monica Latimer stood aside and beckoned them in. ‘He’ll go mad when he knows he’s missed you, he’s taken the children to the matinée. But I’m really pleased to see you.’
‘Well we couldn’t go to the market without calling,’ Molly said over her shoulder as she walked down the hall. ‘We often think about yer.’ She stood inside the door of the living room and her face showed surprise when she saw a man sitting on the couch with Deborah, the baby, on his lap. ‘Oh, yer’ve got a visitor, Monica, we won’t stay.’
‘Don’t be silly.’ Monica pushed her forward. ‘James isn’t a visitor, he’s a friend.’
Molly smiled a greeting but felt like an intruder. Nellie on the other hand had no qualms. ‘Hiya, James, nice to meet yer.’
As soon as James smiled, Molly relaxed. He had a mop of thick dark hair, hazel eyes and a strong, square jaw. He would have been handsome but for his nose, which was on the big side. But his eyes were warm and friendly and Molly quickly decided she liked him.
‘I’ve heard such a lot about you two, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person,’ James said, as Deborah clambered from his lap and made a beeline for Nellie. ‘Denis has a very high opinion of you, he says you’re his fairy godmothers.’
‘Some fairy I am, eh, James?’ Nellie chuckled as she swept the little girl up in her arms. ‘More like a flamin’ elephant! We’ve just been to the market an’ d’yer know what? I couldn’t even get a pair of gloves to fit me!’
‘You did in the end,’ Molly said. ‘If yer had a little more patience we wouldn’t have had to spend an hour at the ruddy stall.’ She turned to Monica. ‘This one separated every pair of gloves on the stall, the poor man was nearly tearing his hair out.’
‘He didn’t have no hair,’ Nellie laughed, ‘the poor feller was as bald as a billiard ball. At least he was when we left, I can’t remember whether he had any hair when we first got there.’
Molly gasped. ‘Nellie, the man had a full head of hair!’
‘Did he hell’s like!’ Nellie was tickling Deborah’s tummy and the little girl’s squeals of delight filled the room. ‘Yer want to get yer eyes seen to, girl, I think yer need glasses.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with—’ Molly stopped in mid-sentence and closed her eyes. Would she never learn to recognize when her friend was pulling her leg? She opened her eyes just in time to see Nellie giving James and Monica a broad wink. ‘Ay, I saw that, clever clogs!’
Deborah, at nineteen months, was getting too heavy for Nellie, so she put the girl back on James’s lap before grinning at Molly. ‘Yer might know every big word in the dictionary, girl, but yer still don’t know when someone’s havin’ yer on.’
James was thoroughly enjoying the exchange. ‘Denis told me about you two, but I thought he was exaggerating. Are you always like this?’
‘It’s not me!’ Nellie said. ‘I’m perfectly normal when I’m not with me mate here, it’s her what eggs me on. She’d argue with Our Lord, she would.’
Before Molly could reply, Monica stepped in. ‘When you two have finished sparring, will you sit down and I’ll make a cup of tea.’
‘D’yer know, Monica,’ Nellie said as she pulled a chair from under the table, ‘I thought yer’d never ask.’
‘I haven’t had the chance to open my mouth!’ Monica grinned, finding herself in the same position as Molly often did – being wound up by Nellie. ‘You are both crazy.’
‘Did yer hear that, James?’ Nellie rested her elbows on the table. ‘Some friends I’ve got, eh? Me best mate says I’m a liar an’ Monica says I’m two sheets to the wind!’
‘They both mean it in the nicest possible way,’ James said, a smile covering his face. ‘I think you and your friend make a good comedy act.’
‘Me friend’s name is Molly, an’ I’m Nellie, so now yer know. Tell me, do you always get yer full title, James? If yer lived round our way yer’d get Jimmy whether yer liked it or not.’
‘Nellie, for heaven’s sake, don’t be so personal!’ Molly said. ‘Leave the poor man alone.’
‘I don’t mind,’ James said. ‘If you want to call me Jimmy, that’s fine by me, but I usually get me full title, as you call it.’
Nellie fell silent. She was dying to know what he was doing in Monica’s house but didn’t know how to go about finding out. She thought for a while as she listened to Monica pottering about in the kitchen, then she decided the only way to find out was to ask. ‘Are you a relation of Monica’s? Brother, cousin?’
‘Nellie, you’re goin’ too far!’ Molly felt uncomfortable. ‘Leave him alone and don’t be so nosy.’
‘It’s all right, Molly.’ Monica appeared at the kitchen door. ‘James is a friend, a good friend. He worked with my husband and I’ve known him a long time.’
‘Does that satisfy your curiosity,’ James asked in a kindly way, ‘or is there anything else you’d like to know?’
‘Yeah, there’s stacks more I’d like to know!’ Nellie laid her palms flat on the table before meeting his eyes. ‘I’m not bein’ nosy just for the sake of it, but because me an’ Molly are interested in Monica and the children; we care about them.’
‘I know, I’ve heard how good you’ve been to them.’ James pulled on an ear lobe as he looked at Monica. When she nodded, he went on, ‘My wife died in childbirth ten years ago. The baby was stillborn. So I live on my own and believe me, it’s a lonely life.’
Molly’s heart went out to him. ‘That’s very sad. And I can imagine it is very lonely for yer. Have you no other children?’
James shook his head. ‘It would have been our first, and when I lost my wife and the baby, I was devastated.’
‘Oh, yer would be!’ Nellie said, her eyes brimming with tears of sympathy. ‘Fate certainly dealt you a cruel blow.’
‘For years I went around with anger and hatred in my heart,’ James said. ‘I kept asking myself why it should happen to me. But time is a great healer. You don’t forget – no, you never forget, but the wounds heal.’
‘You’re a good man, James, I can see that,’ Nellie said. ‘A kind man and a good man.’
James smiled at her, then at Molly. ‘What is it about you two? I set eyes on you for the first time about twenty minutes ago, yet I’ve told you more than I’ve ever told anyone, except Monica.’
‘Well, ye’re both in the same boat, aren’t yer?’ Molly said. ‘Yer’ve both lost someone yer loved, so yer know what the pain and suffering is like.’
Monica sat down. ‘You will get your cup of tea, Nellie, I promise. But first I’d like to clear the air. I hadn’t seen James since my husband died, until about four months ago. I bumped into him at the shops and we talked for a while. He was buying his food in to last him for a week, and he told me he does his own cooking and cleaning. I invited him round for a cup of tea, and we’ve been friends ever since. And it’s made such a difference to both our lives, we no longer feel lost and alone. We’ve even been to the pictures together a couple of times, leaving Denis to mind the children.’ She waved her arm around the room. ‘As you can see, the place has bee
n decorated since you were last here, all thanks to James.’
‘I noticed yer’d gone all posh, but I didn’t like saying anythin’.’ Molly looked around at the pictures hanging on bright walls that had been bare the last time they’d called, and the ornaments on the mantelpiece and sideboard. ‘It looks really nice, yer’ve done a good job on it, James.’
‘It was a pleasure to do, gave me something to fill me time in. It was only by chance I met Monica, but it was a chance meeting that changed my life. She’s allowed me into her home for which I’m grateful, and the children accept me and treat me like one of the family. Before, I had nothing to interest me, nothing to look forward to except an empty house full of memories.’
Monica rose from her seat. ‘I’d better make the tea or Nellie will have me guts for garters.’
Walking down the street arm in arm, Nellie said, ‘Yer know, girl, I feel really happy for Monica an’ the kids. He’s a smashing feller, a real gentleman.’
‘And what a difference he’s made to the house,’ Molly said. ‘Remember the first time we went? It looked poverty-stricken. Now it’s as good as yours an’ mine.’
‘I wonder if anythin’ will come of it?’ Nellie said.
‘I hope so,’ Molly answered. ‘They’re a nice couple and they deserve a bit of happiness after what they’ve been through. It hasn’t half cheered me up, I’m glad we went.’
‘I hope they get married.’ Nellie nodded her head vigorously, setting her chins bouncing. ‘They’re both young, an’ it must be a long time since they—’ Nellie gave a cry. ‘What did yer pinch me arm for?’
‘Because I had a feeling we were heading in the direction of the bedroom.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘Yer don’t know what’s goin’ to happen next, do yer, girl? Talk about don’t blink or yer’ll miss it, isn’t in it!’ There was no smile on Nellie’s chubby face as she sat opposite Molly for their elevenses. In fact, smiles and jokes had been in very short supply for weeks now as the two friends, like everyone else up and down the country, were left reeling from the shocks that had come thick and fast in a very short time. First came the surrender of Holland, then the horror of the evacuation of Dunkirk, where many British soldiers lost their lives. Belgium was the next to surrender, and now France had capitulated. The country was stunned. For so long it had been called the phoney war as so little was happening: now they were unprepared for the success of the German army in capturing one country after another with an ease and speed that left people gasping. ‘There’s only us now,’ Nellie went on, putting her cup back in its saucer. ‘Just us against Hitler an’ the whole of ruddy Europe! Mind you, if he starts his shenanigans with us we’ll soon show him what for.’