by Joan Jonker
‘Only the night before last. It wasn’t easy, ’cos I’m not like you, I’m shy and blush at the least thing. But when the time came, I remembered what yer’d said, pictured your nice bright living room in me mind, and plucked up the courage. Arthur agreed without even giving it any thought, for he was too busy with the job in hand. I don’t think he even heard properly what I was asking, ’cos he agreed right away.’
Ada wore a sly look when she said, ‘So, the night before last was a night of passion in the Watson household, eh? And was a good time had by all?’
Hetty blushed. ‘If ye’re waiting to hear all the details, girl, then yer can forget it. Suffice to say it worked and I’m getting me room decorated. I’m very grateful to yer for that, but apart from my thanks, ye’re not getting anything else.’
‘Then yer’ve still got a lot to learn, sunshine, that’s all I can say. Getting what yer want is fine, and I’m delighted ye’re getting yer room decorated – as long as it’s not nicer than mine, that is. But forget the ruddy decorating, ’cos if that’s all yer got out of a night of passion, then there’s something radically wrong with yer. Somewhere along the line, you are not doing the right thing and ye’re missing the best part.’ Ada knew it was naughty of her to make her best friend wriggle with discomfort, but she couldn’t resist. After all, she’d be doing her a favour by introducing her to the delights to be had in the bedroom. ‘Me now, I always get two bites of the cherry. When Jimmy has agreed to whatever favour I’ve asked of him, I then go on to enjoy meself. After all, why should he have all the fun? Then, when I come down off the cloud, I go to sleep with a smile on me face.’
Hetty’s head quivered with indignation. She couldn’t stand by and let that pass, not without sticking up for herself. ‘I’m not exactly made of stone, Ada Fenwick. Seeing as I have two children, I must have my moments, the same as every other wife. I just don’t think they’re a subject for discussion outside of the house.’
‘In that case I’m not going to give yer any more hints or advice on how to improve yer love life. What’s the use of me giving yer good, sound advice, if I never find out whether the advice was taken, or whether it was successful? If yer went to a doctor or a dentist for advice, they’d charge yer a lot of money. Now I don’t want money, but the least yer can do is let me in on the pleasure and success my advice has given. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, in fact I think my fee is very reasonable.’
The two friends were standing in the tiny hall, and they jumped with fright when there came a loud knock on the door. Ada’s body was almost touching the door, and such was the start she got, her heart began to pound. ‘My God, that was enough to give me a heart attack.’ She opened the door with a hand pressed to her breast.
‘Did I give yer a fright, Ada?’ Edith Benson looked up from the pavement. ‘I didn’t think I knocked hard.’
‘It wasn’t your fault, sunshine, it was me standing right next to the door. I was seeing Hetty out, yer see, that’s why.’
‘Can I come in a minute?’ Edith asked. ‘I won’t keep yer long ’cos I know, like meself, yer’ll have work to do.’
Ada stepped back. ‘Of course yer can come in, sunshine, I don’t charge.’ As she closed the door, she said, ‘Me and Hetty were having a laugh before we go back to our dolly tubs. But go in, we’re not in that much of a hurry. We’ve been watching the new neighbours moving in. That’s how nosy me and me mate are.’ She waved to a chair. ‘Sit down and take the weight off yer feet. I don’t charge for that, either.’
Edith didn’t move from the doorway as her eyes took in the newly decorated room. ‘Ooh, it’s lovely, Ada. I know yer told me yer were made up with it, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so nice and bright. I like the paper, and the white paintwork doesn’t half make a difference.’
‘Yeah, I am pleased with it, but right now I’d like yer to sit down and pretend ye’re at yer granny’s. I may as well tell yer that me and Hetty were going to call over to yours later, to see what yer first impression of yer new neighbours was. Yer see, we saw yer talking to the woman who we thought was the mother.’
‘That’s why I’m here,’ Edith told them. ‘Jean isn’t in, so I’ll see her when she gets back from the shops. The truth is, I don’t know what to make of the new people. At least the two I’ve seen. The girl is very pretty, and I did manage to get a half-smile from her. But not the mother, she didn’t want me at the door, and she made it plain. She only spoke about half a dozen words, and that was because she had to. I’d gone to ask if they’d like a pot of tea, but the woman couldn’t get me away from the door quick enough.’
‘She was probably flustered, sunshine,’ Ada said. ‘Moving house is no joke, especially if yer husband isn’t there. And it could be that she’s a shy person.’
‘I’ve thought, and I’ve made excuses for her being so unfriendly, and that’s why I wanted to talk to one of the gang, to see what they thought. I could understand her not wanting to be bothered when she was up to her neck, but most people would have thanked me and explained they were too busy. But she kept looking down the street as though she didn’t want anyone to see me talking to her. If it is because she’s shy, and I hope so, then she is the most shy person I’ve ever seen in me life. The word I’d use to describe her is timid. She kept clasping and unclasping her hands, as though she was frightened.’
‘Didn’t the young girl say anything?’ Hetty asked. ‘Not even to thank you for offering to make them a pot of tea?’
‘There was no conversation at all. I said why I was there, the mother said they’d already made tea, and while I was telling them I hoped they’d be happy there, there were just nods and a few low grunts in reply. Oh, when I was walking away, the young girl did thank me. But to tell the truth I was sorry I bothered.’
‘If I were you, sunshine,’ Ada said, leaning forward, ‘I’d give them the benefit of the doubt. It wouldn’t be fair to condemn them on one brief meeting. When they are settled in, they may turn out to be smashing neighbours. Let’s hope so, anyway, for all our sakes.’
Ada didn’t mention the new family to Jimmy because she knew he didn’t understand why she was interested in what went on outside the house. He thought the family was the main concern, not strangers. Not that he classed their close neighbours as strangers, but anyone outside their little circle of friends was of no interest to him. However, he was the first to bring up the subject.
‘I saw the bloke that lives in Eliza’s house this morning. And a young boy, who must be the son. The father was wearing overalls, but the lad had his rolled up under his arm.’
Ada was careful not to show too much interest. ‘Oh, ay, did they have anything to say to yer?’
‘I shouted “good morning” and he waved back. No one’s in the mood for talking at that time of the morning, they just want to get to work on time.’
‘I haven’t seen sight nor light of anyone since the day they moved in. And then it was only a glimpse of the mother and a girl of about seventeen.’ Ada chose her words carefully. ‘Mind you, they’re probably still at sixes and sevens. It’ll be a while before they settle in and get their bearings.’
‘The girl sounds interesting, Mam.’ Danny’s eyes danced. ‘What’s she like to look at, and does she seem the type who likes to dance?’
Ada’s eyes went to the ceiling. ‘Is that all yer ever think about, son? Well, I’m sorry I can’t answer yer question, but if I see the girl I’ll make it me business to ask if she can dance. I’ll ask which is her favourite dance if yer like, and does she have a boyfriend? Any more yer’d like to know about her, before I draw a line under the list?’
‘Well, a name would be useful. She’d think I wasn’t brought up properly if I said, ay, you with the long blonde hair.’
‘She wouldn’t only think yer were ignorant, sunshine, she’d think yer were colour-blind as well. Yer see, she’s got auburn-coloured hair.’
‘Thanks, Mam, that’s a start.’ There was laughter in Danny�
��s eyes. ‘Perhaps yer noticed whether she was tall and slim, or small and tubby?’
‘No, I didn’t, son, ’cos I only saw her for a few seconds, and she had her back to me. One thing I did notice, though, was that she had hazel eyes.’
Young Paul didn’t see his dad’s shoulders shaking with laughter, for he was too busy wanting to know, ‘If yer only saw her back, Mam, how could yer tell what colour her eyes are?’
It was Danny who answered. ‘Because our mam has got special powers, that’s how. She can see over rooftops, and round corners, places where no one else can see.’
Paul grunted in disgust. ‘Ye’re crazy, you are. All yer ever think about is girls and dancing. I don’t know why yer have to go chasing girls when yer’ve got Sally next door. She’s better than any other girl, and yer can’t see it ’cos ye’re too daft.’
‘All right, let’s not have any squabbles at the dinner table. And Paul, what makes yer think Sally would want to go out with Danny, even if he asked her? She’d probably tell him she’d rather live to be an old maid than go out with him.’
Paul was bouncing up and down on the chair seat, wishing he’d thought of saying that. He wasn’t quick-thinking enough to get the better of his big brother, but his mam was, she had an answer for everything. ‘Yeah, like me mam said, Sally would tell yer to get lost.’
Danny didn’t mind being the butt of a joke, he quite enjoyed it. ‘There’s only one thing wrong with that ever happening, our Paul.’
‘What’s that?’
‘She’d have to find me first, and I’m pretty nifty on me feet.’
Ada tutted. ‘If Sally could hear you two talking about her like that, she’d be really upset. And for your information, yer Auntie Hetty thinks Sally has already got a boyfriend. She hasn’t brought him home to meet the family yet, though, as she says she wants to get to know him better first. She thinks she’s too young to court seriously, as well. Which I think is very sensible of her. And Jane Bowers has got a boyfriend as well. She’s been to his house, but hasn’t brought him home to meet Jean and Gordon. She’s waiting until she’s sure he’s Mr Right.’
Jimmy nodded his agreement. ‘Two sensible girls, they are. They’ll know when the right one comes along, like yer mam did with me. She knew I was a good catch, and she snapped me up before one of me other admirers got their claws into me. She’s got her head screwed on, has yer mam. She knew she’d never get another as good as me.’
There was tenderness mixed with humour in Ada’s eyes when she retorted, ‘Don’t let yer head get too big, sunshine, or yer’ll never get through the door. And just to set the record straight, I gave you one hell of a run for yer money.’
‘Yer did that, love. I had quite a fight on me hands. There were a couple of blokes I had to fight before I won your hand. And they weren’t midgets, either, they were hefty blokes. But it paid off in the end, and the seven and six I had to pay for the marriage licence was well worth it.’
The laughter round the table in the Fenwick house was echoed by that of the Bowers family living opposite. The evening meal was always a happy affair, with tales of the day’s events being exchanged. They were a close family, with Jean and Gordon being good parents to daughter Jane, who was seventeen and working in an office in the city, and fifteen-year-old David, who had a job as an apprentice with a building firm. Gordon was telling them about a mate at work who had come in that morning with a black eye. Apparently he’d gone out for a pint the night before, met a bloke he hadn’t seen since they were at school together, and failed to notice the hands on the clock moving round. So he was in the pub until closing time, and not quite steady on his feet. In fact it was fair to say he’d had a couple more pints than he was used to, and couldn’t even find the keyhole to let himself in.
‘He was fumbling to find the keyhole when his wife opened the door,’ Gordon told them, his laughter hearty. ‘Apparently she took one look at him, and called him everything she could lay her tongue to. Her hand must have been very steady, for her fist had no trouble finding its target. She put some force behind it, as well, ’cos he had a real shiner. He tried the old lame excuse that he’d walked into the door, but the lads wouldn’t buy that, and they pulled his leg so much, he ended up telling them the truth just to shut them up.’
‘I suppose you were one of the lads making his life a misery, were yer?’ Jean asked.
‘Of course I was, love. He looked so sorry for himself we all thought it was hilarious. He’d have laughed his head off if it had happened to one of us.’
‘It better hadn’t happen to you,’ Jean said, her bonny face having trouble with a smile that wanted to show itself. ‘If you ever come home the worse for wear, rolling down the street blind drunk, I’ll give yer more than a black eye.’
Jane, the image of her mother, asked, ‘Would it be two black eyes, Mam? Or would yer take the door off its hinges and hit him over the head with it?’
They were never to hear Jean’s reply, for a heavy crash against their wall had them sitting up straight in their chairs. The crash had been so loud, they thought the ceiling or wall was about to cave in.
‘What was that?’ Jean gasped, her eyes wide with fright. ‘Did it come from in here?’
Gordon shook his head. ‘It came from next door, love. They must have knocked a chair against the wall. Or dropped something heavy.’
‘But it was against our wall, Dad,’ David said. ‘If they’d dropped something, it wouldn’t have made that noise. Not against our wall, anyway.’
Jane’s hand had gone to her mouth when the crash happened. Now she took it away to say, ‘Something heavy was thrown against that wall. If they’d just knocked a chair over, it wouldn’t have been so loud. I thought the wall was coming down.’
‘I wonder if I should knock and ask if everything’s all right?’ Jean asked her husband. ‘I haven’t had a chance to talk to them since they moved in, ’cos I’ve never seen any of them around. This might be a good chance to introduce meself.’
‘I don’t know about that, love, it may not be the best time. They might think ye’re complaining about them making a noise, and that wouldn’t be a good way to try and make friends with them. Perhaps tomorrow yer could give a knock and introduce yerself.’ Gordon shrugged his shoulders. ‘It’s up to you, love, if yer want to go now.’
Jean was pushing her chair back when they heard a loud, male voice shout, ‘Get that bleeding thing out of me sight before I belt yer.’
Then a softer female voice, ‘Leave him alone, he’s not doing you any harm.’ Whoever the voices belonged to, they must have moved away from the wall, for their words became fainter and no longer clear.
‘Forget it, Jean,’ Gordon said. ‘This is not a good time to come face to face with our new neighbours.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of going!’ Jean felt shaken. ‘I hope to goodness there’s a good reason for what we’ve just heard. I’d go mad if I had to put up with that very often. I’ve been looking forward to meeting the people who’ll be our neighbours, but from the sound of things I’d be best keeping away.’
‘Now don’t start that, love,’ Gordon told her. ‘Yer don’t know the circumstances, it could be a one-off. Give them a break, for they haven’t had time to settle down and feel at home. Wait a few days, then call and introduce yerself. Or, if yer’d rather I broke the ice, I’ll pay them a visit.’
‘We’ll leave well alone for now, see how things go,’ Jean said, pulling a face. ‘I’m glad I’d finished me dinner, or it would have put me off. I hate rows and loud voices, and I can feel a headache starting now. I’ll be going to bed early tonight, give meself some time to say a special prayer that our new neighbours don’t turn out to be bad ’uns.’
Chapter Ten
‘I’m starting me Christmas clubs today, sunshine,’ Ada said as she bent her arm for Hetty to link. ‘Butcher’s, greengrocer’s and sweet shop.’
‘It’s funny yer should say that, girl. I think yer must be a mind-reader.’
Hetty snuggled her hand in her mate’s arm. ‘I was going to mention it meself, ’cos we’ve usually started well before now.’
‘That’s because we had other things to do with our money. We’ve both got posh living rooms now, and yer can’t have yer cake and eat it. We’ll make it up by putting a few extra coppers in each shop. It soon mounts up, and every little helps.’
‘How much are yer putting in each shop, girl, and I’ll put the same.’
‘I’ve got it all sorted out in me head, sunshine, so I won’t be running around like someone demented on Christmas Eve ’cos I’ve forgotten something, or run out of money. I’m putting a shilling in the butcher’s, and that should cover me meat. Sixpence in the greengrocer’s will cover potatoes, veg, and fruit. And I’m putting sixpence in the sweetshop. I’m not joining the club at the baker’s this year, I’m going to make me own cakes. Which just leaves having to buy something to wear. Danny said he’ll give me an extra sixpence every week to help with that. He’s nineteen in a few weeks, and he’ll be getting a rise in pay.’
‘He’s very good is your Danny. There’s not many lads would fork over more than they have to. My two girls wouldn’t think of giving me extra.’
‘There’s a big difference in your circumstances and mine, sunshine, which yer seem to forget. I’ve got two children still at school, while yours are working and handing over part of their wages. Not that I begrudge yer getting more than me, ’cos I don’t, I’m just pointing it out.’
‘Yeah, I know, girl, and I understand how lucky I am. Have yer brought the money with yer to open the clubs today?’
Ada stopped in her tracks. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, sunshine, I should have mentioned it before we left the house, to make sure yer had enough money on yer.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve got enough with me. If I run short, I can always cadge a few coppers off you until we get home.’
‘Yer’d have a hard job to borrow off me, Hetty, ’cos I’ve got me money sorted out to the last penny. If Ronnie’s scale goes an ounce over three-quarters of a pound of stew, he’ll be told to take it off, I can’t afford it.’ Ada chuckled. ‘Unless he takes pity on me, and I can’t see that happening, somehow, can you, sunshine?’