by Joan Jonker
Ruthie was pulling on her mother’s skirt. ‘Mam, can’t I go over for Bella?’
‘I’m sorry, sunshine, but the house is bursting at the seams now! She can come over later when all the young ones are going next door. Will that suit yer?’
Ruthie nodded. ‘I’ll go over an’ tell her.’
Steve had his arm around Jill’s waist and was steering her towards the door. ‘Come on, let’s sit on the stairs.’
But his mother had heard and she grabbed his arm. ‘Instead of sittin’ whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears, why don’t yer make yerselves useful? Go next door an’ help dish out the eats an’ the drinks.’
‘Sure, I can make meself useful as well, so I can,’ said Rosie. She was perched on the arm of the couch where Bridie and Bob were sitting with Miss Clegg. ‘If they come in the front door, I can hand them a plate and a serviette all right. They can fill their plates and go out the back door.’
Corker turned at the sound of the lovely Irish lilt. ‘Sweet Rosie O’Grady, prettier than ever. Sure yer’d steal the heart of any man, so yer would. But tell me, has any boy stolen your heart while I’ve been sailing the seven seas?’
A beaming smile lighting up her beautiful face, Rosie tapped the side of her nose. ‘Now that would be telling, Uncle Corker, an’ Rosie O’Grady isn’t a girl to tell tales.’
Tommy, standing near, felt that familiar pang of jealousy again. Every time he saw her it was the same. He’d tried to create an opportunity to ask her to go out with him, but she didn’t give him an opening. She was very offhand with him these days, never passing him any compliments like she used to.
Pretending he didn’t care one way or the other, Tommy said to Steve, ‘I’ll give yer a hand if yer like.’
He was halfway down the hall when the nudges and winks began. There wasn’t a soul in the room who didn’t know of Rosie’s ploy. In fact the only person who wasn’t in the know was the lad himself.
The table was laden with food. Molly and Nellie had stayed up until the early hours making trifles and jellies, and they’d been up at the crack of dawn making the sandwiches with the help of the girls. Corker had supplied all the food, including sausage rolls and meat pies which came with the goodwill of a friend who happened to know someone with a bakery. And he’d supplied the barrel of beer and bottles of port and sherry. Molly had been astonished at the sight of it all, and had remarked to Nellie that ‘it isn’t what yer know, it’s who yer know’. To which Nellie had replied, ‘Ask no questions, girl, an’ yer’ll be told no lies.’
‘Doesn’t the table look grand, indeed?’ Rosie said, her eyes wide. ‘Sure it’s a shame to spoil it, so it is.’
Tommy sidled up to her. ‘Yeah, me mam an’ Auntie Nellie have done a good job, it looks great.’
Jill gave her brother a dig in the ribs. ‘Ay, me and our Doreen did our share.’
Steve grinned. ‘If we’re all bragging, I may as well add that our Lily gave a hand with the sarnies an’ I helped carry the drink.’
Rosie turned a cool eye on Tommy. ‘And can I ask what you were doing, Tommy Bennett, while all this to-do was goin’ on?’
‘I helped Steve carry the drink,’ Tommy said, feeling gawky under her gaze, all awkward limbs. ‘And then we went to pick Phil up from the hospital.’
Rosie nodded as though satisfied. ‘I’ll fold the serviettes and you can put them in between the plates. And don’t you be dropping any now, ’cos some of them are Auntie Bridget’s and she wouldn’t be at all happy if any got broken.’
Tommy felt it was time to stick up for himself. ‘I think yer forget, Rosie O’Grady, that your auntie Bridget happens to be my nan.’
‘Sure I’m not forgettin’ that at all.’ Rosie folded a paper serviette and handed it to him. ‘Isn’t the dear woman always singing yer praises?’
They heard a sound in the hallway and Steve said, ‘Here’s our first customers. You see to the food, Jill, and I’ll pour the drinks out.’
The four of them burst out laughing when their first customers turned out to be Ruthie, dragging a very frightened-looking Bella behind her. ‘Me mam said it was all right,’ Ruthie sounded defiant, ‘so can we have somethin’ to eat, please?’
‘Ruthie, I bet me mam never said anything of the sort,’ Jill said, trying to look stern. ‘I think you’re telling fibs.’
Her sister scowled. ‘She would ’ave said it was all right if I could ’ave got near her, but there’s that many people in the ’ouse I couldn’t even get in the door.’
‘Give them plates, Rosie,’ Jill said, ‘but not the best ones.’
‘I’ll ’ave two of those,’ Ruthie pointed to the trifles, then moved her finger to the stand the jellies were on, ‘an’ two of those.’
‘Don’t be greedy, you’ll have one of each and some sandwiches.’ Jill began to fill the two plates held out to her. ‘And you can sit on Mrs Clarke’s stairs and eat them.’
Ruthie took the plate before sticking her tongue out. ‘She’s not Mrs Clarke any more, so there! She’s Mrs Corkhill now.’
‘Oh dear, I forgot,’ Jill said. ‘Stupid of me really, ’cos if she was still Mrs Clarke we wouldn’t be standing here now.’
And they weren’t left standing for long when the trickle of guests began. Doreen and her friend Maureen were the first of the grown-ups, and they filled an extra plate for Phil. After that the foursome were kept on the go, with Tommy taking over the giving-out of the plates while Rosie helped Jill serve the food and Steve was kept busy filling glasses.
It was a happy occasion and everyone was in a cheerful party mood. Especially Tommy. He was like a pup with two tails being able to stand so near Rosie, and he felt a thrill of excitement every time their hands touched accidentally. Lately he’d found himself being drawn towards her, but couldn’t have said why. But now he was seeing things he’d never noticed before, and he was captivated by her. The black, finely arched eyebrows that he would swear had never seen a pair of tweezers. The complexion that was flawless, no spots or pimples to mar it. Deep blue eyes that twinkled when she smiled and a tinkling laugh that brought a smile to everyone’s face. Why hadn’t he seen all these things before? Why were the very things that used to irritate him now drawing him to her, as though a spell had been cast over his heart?
There was a lull as the long queue came to an end and Steve took the opportunity to give Jill a hug and steal a kiss. And the special look that passed between them wasn’t lost on Tommy. He gazed at them with envy, wondering how it would feel if Rosie looked at him that way. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn’t see Nellie waiting for him to hand a plate over. ‘Come on, Tommy! Me tummy’s rumbling with ruddy hunger!’
‘Sorry, Auntie Nellie, I was miles away.’
‘Now don’t be shoutin’ at him, Auntie Nellie,’ Rosie said. ‘Sure hasn’t he been a grand help to us?’ She bestowed upon Tommy a smile that was both coy and teasing, sending his mind whirling, his pulses racing and his tummy doing somersaults.
After Nellie had filled her plate, she ran an eye over the table. ‘Not much left now, is there? Why don’t yer pile the stuff on to a couple of plates and let any latecomers help themselves? Yer’ve done very well, the four of yer, so clear the table an’ come next door and join the party.’
‘We were waiting for the plates to come back so we can wash them,’ Jill told her. ‘Better get them out of the way and done with.’
‘An’ I can’t just walk away and leave all the drink here, Mam,’ Steve said, patting the top of the barrel. ‘All the kids in the street would be in, helping themselves.’
Nellie demolished a sausage roll in one mouthful. ‘I’ll tell yer what,’ she said, wiping the back of a hand across her lips. ‘I’ll get two of the men to carry all the drink next door. That’s where it should be now, anyway! We can’t have the men coming in here every time they want a pint, it would be a waste of drinkin’ time.’
‘You do that, Auntie Nellie,’ Rosie said, sliding t
he remains of a plate of ham sandwiches on to a half-empty plate of cheese ones. ‘Jill and Steve can go now, I’ll wait for the dirty plates and wash them.’
‘I’ll stay and help,’ Tommy said, for once not caring that his blush reached his forehead. ‘We’ll do it between us.’
Nellie quickly lowered her eyes. Keep that mouth of yours closed, girl, she told herself. The lad’s embarrassed enough without you taking the mickey out of him. ‘I’ll go an’ get it sorted out.’ She ran her fingers over her now empty plate and gathered in the crumbs to pop in her mouth. ‘It’ll take Corker an’ Jack to carry that barrel, so I’ll send them in.’
Steve didn’t wait for his mother’s back to disappear before he was around the table and holding Jill tight. ‘Mmm, I love you that much, Jill Bennett, I could eat yer.’
‘Behave yourself,’ Jill laughed nervously, ‘we’ve got an audience.’
‘Oh, Rosie and Tommy don’t mind.’ Steve nuzzled her neck. ‘Tommy might pick up a few hints.’
‘And what makes you think Tommy needs hints?’ Rosie was quick to defend him. ‘Sure, I’ll bet he’s got a few girlfriends of his own on the quiet.’
Tommy opened his mouth, had second thoughts, and closed it again. If he said he had girlfriends then Rosie would chase him if he asked for a date, and if he said he hadn’t then Steve would have the last laugh. This was one situation where it was better to say nowt.
Corker and Jack arrived, made two journeys with the drink, and within ten minutes Rosie and Tommy were on their own. Both were ill at ease, so Rosie made a suggestion. ‘Tommy, why don’t you go next door and collect the empty plates? The sooner they’re washed an’ out of the way, the sooner we can join the party.’
Tommy gazed into the deep blue eyes and could feel goose-pimples running down his spine. Her cherry-red lips were parted and with a certainty he’d never known before, he knew he wanted his first ever kiss to be with Rosie O’Grady.
They heard footsteps running along the hall and Phoebe and Dorothy came in, their faces aglow. ‘Me dad said you two are to go next door.’ The pride Phoebe felt at having Corker for a father was written all over her face. ‘Our Gordon an’ Peter are collectin’ the dirty dishes an’ me and Dorothy are goin’ to wash them.’
‘Would yer not be wanting me to give yer a hand?’ Rosie asked. ‘It’s a lot of washing.’
‘Uh-uh!’ Dorothy smiled. If she’d been asked to wash a mountain of dirty dishes it couldn’t diminish the warmth in her heart. ‘Me dad said ye’re to go now.’
‘Well, partner,’ Rosie smiled at Tommy, ‘we’d better obey orders.’
Tommy was disappointed when the girls put in an appearance: he’d been hoping for some time alone with Rosie so he could pluck up the courage to ask her for a date. But when she called him ‘partner’, his disappointment turned to joy.
However, his joy was to be short-lived. For as soon as they set foot in the Bennetts’ house Rosie left him without a word and went to sit beside Bridie and Bob. The room was alive with chatter and laughter, and with Corker and Jack replenishing the glasses as soon as they were empty, it wasn’t long before the party was in full swing.
‘Shall I give yez a song?’ Nellie moved to the centre of the room. ‘I don’t mind bein’ first turn.’
‘Can you leave it for a while, sunshine?’ Molly chuckled. ‘Say for a couple of hours, when we’re all pie-eyed.’
Nellie put a hand where she thought her heart was. ‘Honest, girl, yer’ve cut me to the quick. Here I am, prepared to give my all to stop the party from bein’ a flop, and all I get in return is insults.’ Her hand went to her forehead now, in a Greta Garbo pose. ‘I want to be alone to nurse my wounds.’
Amid hoots of laughter, Molly shouted, ‘Nellie McDonough, you are incorrigible.’
Nellie’s hand dropped and her eyes narrowed. ‘What did you say I am, Molly Bennett?’
‘I said, sunshine, that you are incorrigible.’
Nellie’s eyes darted around the faces until she spotted George. ‘Hey, George, did yer hear what she called me?’
George nodded. ‘Yeah, I heard.’
‘Well, what are yer goin’ to do about it?’
‘Why should I do anythin’ about it?’
Nellie placed her hands on her ample hips and huffed. ‘Are yer a man or a mouse, George McDonough? You’re supposed to protect yer wife, not sit there an’ let her be insulted.’
It took will-power, but George kept a straight face. ‘Who insulted yer, light of my life?’
‘This one here!’ Nellie jerked a thumb at Molly. ‘You heard what she called me.’
‘I heard what Molly called yer, but I didn’t hear her insult yer. Mind you, I might have heard wrong, so tell me what she said.’
‘She said I was incon … incom … incot …’ Nellie scratched her head and looked at Molly. ‘What did yer say I was, girl?’
‘Incorrigible.’
‘That’s it,’ Nellie grinned, ‘ye’re proper clever with words, you are, girl.’ She turned her head and addressed George. ‘Is that an insult, or not?’
George shook his head. ‘In your case, I’d say it was a compliment.’
Nellie beamed. ‘Oh well, that’s all right, then. An’ for paying me a compliment, Mrs Bennett, I agree not to sing until you’re all legless. How about that, eh?’
While the room rang with laughter, Corker noticed that Phil’s smile was cut short, to be replaced by a grimace of pain. Not wanting to draw attention, Corker picked up his glass and casually made his way over to the wheelchair. ‘Are yer feelin’ all right, son? Not tired, are yer?’
Doreen was sitting on the floor at the side of Phil’s chair and he now handed her his empty glass. ‘Get us a drink of water, love.’ He waited until she was out of earshot before answering the big man. ‘I had an injection for the pain before I left the hospital, but it’s wearing off now and the pain’s getting worse.’
‘D’yer want us to see about gettin’ yer back to the hospital? Me and Jack will take yer.’
‘I don’t want to go yet, Mr Corkhill, it’s so good to be back with all me friends – I’d like to stick it out for another half-hour.’
‘I bet Miss Clegg was glad to see yer.’
‘That’s putting it mildly,’ Phil said. ‘The boys took me over there first for half an hour and I got more kisses in that short time than I’ve had in me whole life. And in between the kisses she kept apologizing for that big table shelter she’s got in the room.’
Corker laughed. ‘She’s not the only one who’s complaining; me ma and Bridie have done nothing but curse the things. But I’m grateful to Molly for getting them, even if they are a nuisance, ’cos I think they’ll have cause to be glad of them when things start hotting up.’
When Phil winced and gripped the arms of the chair, Corker leaned down and said quietly, ‘Look, son, there’ll be other days – don’t push yer luck on yer first day out. There’s a taxi coming at nine o’clock, we’ll take you back to the hospital then. Me and the wife are going to a small hotel in Mount Pleasant for the night.’ The big man grinned and stroked his beard. ‘Doesn’t that sound good, me an’ the wife? It’s taken me over twenty years, son, but I made it in the end. And you will, too, I promise yer that. I know yer’ve had a bad time, I’ve spoken to some of the lads that were at Dunkirk, but things will get better; just be patient.’ He leaned closer to whisper, ‘An’ yer couldn’t get a prettier or nicer girl than Doreen, nor a better family than the Bennetts, they’re the salt of the earth. They’ll see yer right.’
‘I know, I’m very lucky.’ Phil smiled when Doreen appeared at his side with a glass of water. ‘Mr Corkhill’s been tellin’ me how lucky I am to have landed a pretty girl like you.’
Doreen smiled and winked. ‘I’m the lucky one, Uncle Corker, landing a handsome brute like Phil.’
Ellen turned in her seat to nudge Corker’s arm. ‘A bit of quiet, please, for the singer.’
Rosie was standing in front of t
he fireplace, her eyes dancing and a glow lighting up her face. ‘This is a special request from Uncle Bob for me auntie Bridie.’ She glanced at the couple who had treated her like a daughter since the day she’d arrived from Ireland, and whom she had grown to love dearly. She saw them joining hands and when she began to sing, the emotion she felt came through in her voice.
‘I wandered today to the hills, Maggie,
to watch the scene below,
The hills and that creaking old mill, Maggie,
where we used to love, long ago.
The green grass is gone from the hills, Maggie,
where once the da-a-aisies sprung,
But to me you’re as fair as you were, Maggie,
when you and I were young.’
There was complete silence as Rosie’s clear voice filled the room. And when Molly saw her mother wiping a tear from her eye, she reached for her own hankie. Doreen was gripping Phil’s hand, Steve held Jill close, and even the usually undemonstrative George had his arm across Nellie’s shoulders as she sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her nose.
‘That was bloody marvellous,’ George said, as the thunderous applause died down. ‘I’ve always said that was the best song ever written, and when it’s sung by someone with a voice like Rosie’s, well, I don’t think yer can beat it.’
‘I won’t beat it,’ Corker said, putting his glass down and wiping traces of beer from his moustache, ‘but I’ll sing a little song especially for our lovely Irish colleen.’
Ellen grabbed his arm. ‘Corker, yer can’t sing!’
‘Love,’ he bent to kiss her lips and she flushed with embarrassment, ‘I know I’m no Al Jolson, but I’ll do me best.’
The big man smoothed his moustache and beard. ‘It won’t upset me if any of yer want to cover yer ears.’ He crossed to where Rosie was standing with a look of delight on her face. ‘This is just for you.’
After a cough to clear his throat, Corker began to sing. And to everyone’s amazement, his voice wasn’t bad at all.