by Joan Jonker
‘My wild Irish Rose,
the sweetest flower that grows.
You may search everywhere, but there’s none can compare, with my wild – Irish – Rose.’
After the first verse Bridie joined in, followed by Bob and Molly. And within seconds the rafters were ringing as every single person in the room added their voices. Even Tommy, who didn’t know the words, watched his mother’s lips and sang with gusto. What did it matter if he was a word or two behind everyone else, when he was enjoying it?
And through it all, Rosie’s dancing eyes and laughing face gave meaning to the song.
Ellen was dreading taking leave of her friends. She knew she’d get her leg pulled soft about spending the night in a hotel, and the thought terrified her. She’d slipped home a few times with Corker to make sure the children were all right, and on their last visit they’d said their goodbyes, so she had that part behind her. Now she waited with trepidation for the arrival of the taxi. But much to her relief her fears proved to be groundless, as Phil was the centre of attention, taking everyone’s mind off the newly-weds.
His wheelchair was pushed to the side of the taxi and instead of the trouble Steve and Tommy had had getting him out of the chair and into the taxi when they’d brought him home, it proved to be a doddle for Corker. The big man lifted him up in his arms as though he were a mere boy, and placed him with infinite care on the back seat. The wheelchair was folded and placed in the space next to the driver, and the engine roared into life. Then they were returning the waves of their friends and blowing kisses. And so Ellen and Corker started their married life, and Phil returned to the hospital filled with hope that very soon he’d be back home for good.
‘Well,’ said Molly as the taxi disappeared from view, ‘it’s been a day and a half today, that’s for sure.’
‘You sure said a mouthful, girl!’ Nellie tucked her arm into her friend’s and squeezed. ‘I’ve got a feelin’ in me water that we won’t have another day like it for a long time. Still, we’ll have something nice to look back on.’
Miss Clegg was waiting inside the living-room door. ‘You don’t mind if I go, do you, Molly? It’s been a long day and I’m tired.’
‘Of course I don’t mind, sunshine! Our Doreen will take yer across an’ see ye’re safely tucked up in bed.’
‘We’ll be on our way too, lass,’ Bob said, helping Bridie to her feet. ‘Old age is creeping up on us, we can’t keep up with the young ones like we used to.’
Tommy’s face fell. If his grandparents went, so would Rosie. ‘Ah, ray, Grandad! It’s only half past nine!’
‘There’s no need to break the party up just because we old fogeys can’t stand the pace,’ Bridie said. ‘You carry on an’ enjoy yourselves, you’re only young once.’
Rosie looked disappointed but went to the hall-stand for the coats. When she came back Bridie said, ‘There’s no need for you to come with us, sweetheart, you stay and enjoy yourself.’
Molly had been quick to note the look on her son’s face and she stepped in to help the course of true love. ‘You won’t have to walk home on yer own, Rosie, our Tommy will take yer.’
‘Sure I must be goin’ a bit deaf,’ Rosie said as she helped Bridie on with her coat. ‘I didn’t hear Tommy offer.’
Feeling all eyes on him, Tommy said gruffly, ‘I’ll walk yer home.’
But that wasn’t good enough for Rosie. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t dream of putting yer out, Tommy Bennett! If it’s too much trouble then sure, yer don’t have to bother.’
‘I’ve said I’ll walk yer home, so I’ll walk yer home.’
Rosie turned her head so he couldn’t see the mischief in her eyes. ‘Only if yer really want to, Tommy Bennett.’
‘All right then, I want to!’
Nellie leaned closer to Molly. ‘Thank God for that! He’s too bloody slow to catch cold, is your Tommy. I was just about to give him a kick up the backside.’
Molly put a finger to her lips. ‘Shut up an’ listen.’
There was no gloating in the smile Rosie bestowed on Tommy, just genuine pleasure. ‘Thank yer kindly, Tommy! Sure I’ll be happy to let you walk me home, so I will.’
‘Don’t stay too late, though, sweetheart,’ Bridie said. ‘It’s early Mass in the morning.’
‘Sure I’ll not be that long after yer, Auntie Bridget. I can hear the sandman calling me already, and it wouldn’t do for me to fall asleep and leave poor Tommy to carry me home.’
‘It wouldn’t be very ladylike to have to be carried home.’ Bob kissed her cheek as he passed her on his way to the door. He turned to wink at Tommy before adding, ‘But I think my grandson would be up to the task.’
After moving some of the furniture back into place and clearing away empty glasses, the few people left at the party were too tired to do anything but sit and discuss the events of a day that had been long but well worth while in every respect. Doreen listened and feigned interest, but her heart wasn’t in it. So after a while she pleaded tiredness and made her way upstairs, intending to lie on her bed and think of Phil. But sleep came quickly and soon she was lost in a dream where he was holding her in his arms whispering words of love. And next door, where her sister undressed in the darkness, quietly so as not to wake Phoebe or Dorothy, Jill’s mind was filled with her own tender thoughts. Steve had managed to get her on her own in the kitchen and she could still feel his arms around her and hear his vow to love her until the end of time.
Rosie was ready to take her leave. ‘I’ll gladly wash these few glasses for yer, Auntie Molly, before I go.’
Tommy was on his feet, eager to be away. He’d rehearsed what he wanted to say so many times, he was word-perfect. But if she didn’t hurry up, he’d lose his nerve.
Molly got to her feet, stretched her arms and yawned. ‘No thanks, sunshine, me and Nellie will see to them. I’ll see yer to the door.’
‘I’ll come with yer.’ Nellie smoothed the front of her jacket. ‘Get a bit of fresh air in me lungs. Me throat’s sore with all the singin’.’
Jack chuckled. ‘Singing, Nellie? Is that what it was?’
Nellie jerked her head at George. ‘Sort him out, will yer?’
Her husband nodded. ‘Right away, my pet, right away. Shall I give him a fourpenny one, or shall I strangle him?’
‘Whichever is the quietest and the cleanest, ’cos we don’t want no mess on me mate’s floor.’ With that, Nellie hotfooted it down the hall to join Molly at the door. ‘Goodnight you two! An’ no goin’ down the entry, Tommy Bennett, keep to the straight an’ narrow, d’yer hear?’
Molly gave her a sharp dig in the ribs. ‘For once in yer life, Nellie McDonough, behave yerself and keep yer mind out of the midden.’
‘Oh, don’t be so bloody miserable, girl, it’s only a joke!’ Nellie curved a hand round her mouth and bawled, ‘Don’t do anythin’ I wouldn’t do!’
Tommy turned his head and called back, ‘That gives us a pretty wide scope, Auntie Nellie, ’cos there’s not much you wouldn’t do.’
Nellie dropped her hand in surprise. ‘Well, the cheeky beggar!’
Molly giggled. ‘You asked for that, sunshine! My son is growing up and learning fast.’
‘Well I hope he doesn’t grow up as strait-laced as you, girl, ’cos one in the family is enough.’ Nellie gave a low howl of pleasure and slapped an open palm on her forehead. ‘I’ve got just the word for you, girl! It’s the only word with more than four letters in that I’ve ever been able to remember an’ I’ve been waitin’ ages for the opportunity to use it. Parsimonious, that’s what you are!’ Nellie folded her arms, pleased with herself for getting the word right first time.
‘Yer cheeky thing!’ Molly cried. ‘I’m not tight with me money!’
‘Who mentioned money?’ Nellie sounded surprised. ‘I never said yer were tight with money.’
‘Parsimonious means a miser, a skinflint.’
‘Go ’way! Trust me to get it wrong! Well, it serves me right for bein’ so c
ocky with me best mate.’
‘The word yer should have used was sanctimonious, an’ I’m not that, either! Anyway, get in, Nellie, before I clock yer one.’ Molly pushed her friend backwards down the hall. ‘I’ll buy yer a ruddy dictionary for yer next birthday.’
‘A fat lot of good that would be! Yer’ve got to know how to spell a ruddy word before yer can flaming well look it up in a dictionary!’
Tommy heard his mother slam the front door and grinned. ‘Me mam and auntie Nellie are a treat when they get going. There’s never a dull moment when they’re around.’
‘’Tis lucky yer are with yer family and friends, Tommy,’ Rosie said. ‘I love every one of them.’
Tommy moved closer, narrowing the distance between them. As they turned the corner of the street, he watched the way Rosie’s arm was swinging and moved his in the opposite direction. Pretty soon their hands collided and he was quick to grab hers and held on tight. He was expecting some opposition and when none came he found the courage to ask, ‘Will yer come to the pictures with me one night, Rosie?’
‘Yer mean with you and Ginger?’
‘No, just you an’ me.’ They were nearing his nan’s house now and Tommy was glad to see the place in darkness. He loved his grandparents dearly, but this was one time he didn’t want them to put in an appearance. ‘Will yer come?’
Rosie had withdrawn her hand and was rummaging in her bag for her front door key. ‘Are yer asking if yer can walk out with me, Tommy Bennett? Be my boyfriend?’
Tommy coughed. ‘Yes.’
‘Then yer’ll have to do it proper. Yer can call tomorrow and ask me auntie Bridget for her approval and me uncle Bob for his permission.’
‘But they’re me nan and grandad!’ Tommy croaked. ‘I can’t ask them, I’d look a right fool!’
‘Me mammy always says that if yer want a thing bad enough, then yer should be prepared to fight for it.’ Rosie slipped the key in the lock before looking over her shoulder. ‘If I’m not worth suffering a little bit of embarrassment for, then yer can’t think much of me.’
Tommy kicked the pavement with the toe of his shoe. ‘I think it’s daft that yer can’t make up yer own mind whether yer want to go out with me or not, but I’ll come and see me nan tomorrow if it makes yer happy.’
‘Oh, I made up me mind a long time ago, Tommy, and the truth of it is I do want to be your girlfriend. And seeing as I have no secrets from me auntie Bridget and me uncle Bob, they know all about it. Sure ’tis over the moon they’ll be, all right.’ Rosie pushed the door open. ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow, Tommy.’
‘Rosie?’
‘Yes, Tommy?’
Tommy screwed his eyes up tight. If he didn’t ask, he knew he wouldn’t sleep tonight. ‘Will yer give us a kiss?’
Rosie turned, and without saying a word she closed her eyes, tipped her head back and puckered her lips.
Tommy looked down on the upturned face and wished he knew what to do. How did you go about kissing a girl? Just get on with it, came the answer. Put your lips on hers, just like Clark Gable or Tyrone Power does, and see what happens.
Keeping his arms to his sides, Tommy bent his head and let his lips find Rosie’s. Then a thrill of pleasure rippled through his whole body and a million stars seemed to explode in his head like fireworks. The sensation was breathtaking: he felt giddy and thought his legs were going to give out on him.
Rosie was the first to break away, leaving Tommy swaying like a drunken man. ‘Goodnight to yer,’ Rosie said, her voice low and husky, ‘an’ I still say, Tommy Bennett, that ye’re the finest figure of a man I’ve ever met in me whole life, so yer are.’
It was the gentle closing of the front door that brought Tommy back to the present. He stood for a moment, disappointed that Rosie had gone without giving him the chance of a second kiss. Then it dawned on him that she had promised to be his girl, so tomorrow they could repeat the performance, and the day after and the day after. He punched the air with his fist and attempted a Charlie Chaplin jump. Then he thrust his hands in his pockets and walked away with a spring in his step and whistling loudly, ‘Sweet Rosie O’Grady.’
Standing behind the closed door, Rosie touched her lips lightly, a wide, blissful smile on her face. Sure Tommy had been slow, right enough, there was no getting away from that! She’d had to wait a long time for him to realize what she’d known from the moment she’d set eyes on him – that they were made for each other.
But sure, hadn’t it all been worth it in the end?