The Girl From Number 22

by Joan Jonker

  ‘It is queer, though, Mam,’ Ben said, his mouth half full of mashed potato. ‘If he’s working overtime every night, then he must be rolling in money. And having money in his pocket, why isn’t he out boozing every night like he used to be? It makes yer think.’

  ‘Your father has always been a dark horse, son. I didn’t realise before I married him that he was a loner. I never noticed he had no friends then, and to my knowledge he’s never, ever, had a real mate. He treated me all right when we were courting, so I never gave any thought to such things. I certainly had no inkling he would turn out the way he has. And it was only after we’d been married for a while that it struck me he didn’t have one friend, and didn’t allow me to have one.’

  ‘I’m not surprised he’s no friends,’ Jenny said, ‘he’s a miserable man, with no sense of humour. He goes out on his own and comes back on his own.’ She nodded to the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘Look at the time now, it’s half seven and there’s no sign of him. He must know yer’ve got a dinner ready for him, and it won’t be worth eating by the time he shows his face. It serves him right if it’s all dried up.’

  ‘It’s all right you saying that, our Jenny,’ Ben said, ‘but it’s me mam he’ll take it out on.’

  Annie shook her head. ‘No, son, he won’t be taking his spite out on me. Not ever again.’

  ‘But what if he walked in now, Mam, and started throwing his weight around? You know, like, if he went back to how he was before.’ Ben set his knife and fork down on his now empty plate. ‘What should we do? Sit quiet and say nothing, or what?’

  ‘If he does decide to honour us with his presence, and he starts any shenanigans ’cos his dinner isn’t fit to eat, then we’ll all move away from the table. And without saying a word, we’ll put our coats on and walk out of the house. If he’s spoiling for a fight, then let him fight himself. And if his dinner is ruined, then let him starve. I’ve given up worrying about what mood yer father’s in, for I’m not afraid of him any more.’ Annie glanced across to the window. ‘I haven’t drawn the curtains over yet, and with the light being on, anyone can see in. Not that there’s much to see, but I always feel uncomfortable thinking people passing can see in.’

  ‘Stay where yer are, Mam, I’ll draw them.’ Jenny scraped her chair back. ‘If folk are nosy enough to peep in, they wouldn’t be able to see much through the net curtains because the aspidistra is in the way.’ She was pulling the draw curtain over when the door opposite opened and Danny Fenwick stepped down on to the pavement. Her breath caught in her throat for a second as her heartbeat raced, but she quickly drew the curtain while telling herself not to be stupid, she hardly knew the lad. Besides, although he’d been friendly towards her on the few occasions they’d met, it was only because he was that type of person. He was the same with everyone. And knowing what her father was like, he probably wasn’t really interested in her as a person. Not as a girlfriend, anyway. And who could blame him for that? ‘Danny’s just come out, Mam. He must be off to a dance as usual.’

  ‘Are you not going out tonight, sweetheart?’

  Jenny shook her head. ‘No, I’m having a night in.’

  ‘Why don’t yer go to the dance? Yer don’t have to go with Danny, yer could follow him on. He wouldn’t think anything if yer walked in a quarter of an hour after him. I’m sure lots of girls go on their own. And boys.’

  But Jenny wasn’t persuaded. ‘No, I’ve made up me mind to stay in tonight. I’ll be going out with me mates from work one night this week. I always have a good laugh with them, they’re really good company.’

  Annie sighed. She’d done her best, she couldn’t do any more. But her daughter would never meet a nicer lad than Danny Fenwick.

  Danny was gliding down the dance hall with Dorothy, really enjoying the strains of a slow foxtrot, and the harmony of his partner’s steps. They were dancing as one, and it was bliss. But his concentration was broken when Tony danced alongside him and called, ‘Ay, Danny, I had Jenny all to meself on Saturday night, it was great.’

  Danny’s step faltered and he trod on Dorothy’s toe, causing her to groan. ‘Oh, thanks very much, Danny, yer’ve only broken me blinking toe.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Dot, but it wasn’t my fault, it was that stupid nit for putting me off me stride.’ Danny glared at Tony, who was dancing on the spot with a pretty brunette. ‘What did yer do that for? Yer should have more sense than to act daft in the middle of a dance. Yer’ve got a queer sense of humour, that’s all I can say.’

  Tony was enjoying the situation, and intended to milk it for all it was worth. ‘What are yer getting all het up for, Danny? I only told yer I had the pleasure of dancing with Jenny on Saturday night at the Grafton. I didn’t expect yer to be daft enough to stand on one of poor Dorothy’s toes.’

  ‘Me toe’s all right now,’ Dorothy said, pulling on Danny’s arm. ‘If yer don’t mind, and if it’s not too much trouble, can we get on with the dance, please? It’ll be over before we get halfway round the flipping floor.’

  Danny raised his brows at Tony. ‘I’ll see yer when the dance is over.’ Then he smiled down at Dorothy. ‘Sorry about that, Dot, but Tony likes winding me up. He’s always pulling someone’s leg. The trouble is, he’s not grown up proper.’

  Falling into step with her partner, Dorothy chuckled. ‘Oh, yer’ll not find many in this room to agree with that, Danny. He’s a very popular lad, is Tony. Almost as popular as you are.’

  The dimples in Danny’s cheeks deepened. ‘Yer redeemed yerself just in time there, Dot. For a minute I thought yer were going to say I wasn’t in the meg specks.’

  Dorothy’s timing was perfect as the couple navigated the corner. ‘I’m saying no more, Danny Fenwick, ’cos ye’re big-headed enough as it is.’

  When the dance was over, Danny walked Dot back to where her friends were standing, then looked around for Tony. He finally spotted the blond head and made his way towards it. ‘What d’yer think ye’re playing at, Tony? Right in the middle of a dance and yer start acting daft. Dorothy’s going to have a sore toe all night because of you and yer jokes.’

  ‘I wasn’t joking, mate, I just thought yer’d be interested. I went to the Grafton on Saturday for a change, and blow me if Jenny didn’t turn up with some friends from work. It was a good night, we enjoyed ourselves.’

  ‘Yer don’t half exaggerate,’ Danny said, while a little voice in his head asked why he was concerned anyway. After all, it was a free country. ‘Yer’ve only met Jenny once, yer don’t know anything about her. Even if yer are telling the truth, which I’m beginning to doubt, I can’t see how yer could spend the whole night with her and her mates.’

  Tony shrugged his shoulders as though he couldn’t care less what Danny thought. But inwardly he was smiling. ‘I don’t care whether yer believe me or not, it’s no skin off my nose. I wouldn’t be bothered telling lies about something so trivial. After all, anyone that goes into a dance hall intends to dance. And that’s what Jenny and me did on Saturday. Oh, and I danced with her mates, as well, ’cos she asked me to.’ He forced out a sigh. ‘I don’t know why I bothered saying anything to yer about it. I wouldn’t have done if I’d known I was going to get the third degree. What’s it got to do with you if Jenny happens to be in the same dance hall as me, and I ask her to dance? I mean, she’s not yer girlfriend, is she?’

  ‘No, she’s not me girlfriend,’ Danny admitted. ‘She lives in the same street as me, and my mam is a very good friend of her mam. That’s why I like to keep an eye on her, and make sure she’s all right. Just to be neighbourly, like.’

  ‘That’s all right then,’ Tony said, ‘’cos she’s promised to meet me here one night this week. And seeing as ye’re not romantically linked, I’m going to ask her for a date. She’s a nice girl, is Jenny. The type yer could take home to meet yer mam.’

  Danny’s dimples appeared when he laughed. ‘Now I know ye’re kidding. Yer’ve met the girl twice, and now ye’re talking about taking her home to meet yer
mam! That’s a good one, that is.’ He turned away when the music started up. ‘I’ll believe it when I see it with me own eyes, Tony.’

  ‘Ay, Danny Fenwick, if you think I’d let yer come with us when I take Jenny to meet me mam, then yer’ve got another think coming.’

  Danny stopped and turned round. ‘Don’t count yer chickens before they’re hatched, Tony, ’cos yer might be in for a surprise. Jenny might have set her sights elsewhere, for she’s a good-looking girl and could have her pick. Yer might find yerself in a long queue.’

  After making sure there was no one in the entry, Tom Phillips opened Bella’s door and stepped into the yard. He was a regular nightly visitor now, preferring to spend his sixpence on pleasures of the flesh rather than hand it over the pub counter. He didn’t have to make an appointment with the prostitute, he was a regular and expected. She would tap on the window or come out to him when she was ready, and while he waited he lit up a cigarette. He’d been instructed to stand in the lavatory, out of sight of prying eyes, and whatever Bella told him to do, he did without question. He was delighted with the way his life was now. His appetite for sex was being fed as it had never been before, and it filled his mind each day. The irony of the situation never entered his head. Where he had once been the slave driver, he was now the slave. And a very willing one.

  He’d only taken a few puffs on his cigarette when he heard the kitchen door opening, then Bella’s high-heeled shoes tapping on the cobbled yard. He quickly threw his cigarette down the lavatory, expecting to be told she was ready for him. However, as he made to step into the yard, Bella put a hand on his chest and pushed him back. In a low voice, she said, ‘I’ve got a punter inside, a bloke I’ve never dealt with before. I don’t usually take a chance on bringing a stranger back to me house, but he’s nicely dressed and seems a decent enough bloke. And I can use the money. But as yer can’t always tell when a bloke is going to turn nasty, I want yer to keep an eye out for me. Will yer do that?’

  Tom’s chest swelled with importance. ‘Yer want me to stand guard in the kitchen again?’ He didn’t mind, he’d done it a few times now and got a kick out of hearing the sounds reaching him from the living room. Sounds that whetted his appetite, making his heart pound and raising his desire. ‘Of course I’ll do it, anything to help yer.’

  Bella jerked her head. ‘I’d better get back or he’ll be wondering what’s keeping me. Give me a minute, then come up to the kitchen. But don’t make a sound, d’yer hear?’

  ‘I never have so far, so yer’ve nothing to worry about. I’ll not let yer down.’

  As Bella turned away, she whispered, ‘I’ll make it worth yer while. Yer’ll get special treatment tonight.’ With that she was gone, only the tapping of her heels still audible. But what she’d said was going round in Tom’s head. After he’d let himself into the kitchen as quietly as he could, he leaned back against the sink and rubbed his hands together. Special treatment, eh? He hoped it meant something he’d been longing for, but had so far been denied.

  Bella was good at what she did, and no punter ever left feeling let down. At the tender age of fifteen, she’d been lured into prostitution by a mate, who’d been on the game for a while. It was the money that drew Bella, for her family were very poor and many’s the time there was no food in the house. The only clothes on her back were rags, and the prospect of money was too great an attraction to turn down.

  Tom knew all this because Bella had told him. And the reason for her telling him, was to put a stop to his pleading for full sexual intercourse. He’d tried to touch her breasts one night while she was attending to his needs, and she pushed his hand away. In no uncertain terms she had told him she had only had sexual intercourse with two men in her whole life. Hence the two children. No man had ever got near her since, and no man ever would. She treated her clients like children, slapping them when they tried to touch her. She had respect for the money they handed over, but none for them. But as Tom listened to the sounds reaching his ears from the living room, his desire became strong, and he hoped that this time she would allow him to be the dominant one. If she would only give him the chance, he knew he could satisfy her.

  The mumble of voices had Tom moving away from the sink. The session was over, and the punter would be leaving when he’d paid his money. A sneering smile crossed Tom’s face as he muttered, ‘That poor bugger’s had his fun, now it’s my turn.’

  The kitchen door opened. ‘Yer can come in now.’ Bella passed him to wash her hands. ‘He was a decent bloke. Nicely spoken and well dressed. And so satisfied, he’s coming again tomorrow night.’

  This didn’t please Tom. ‘I’m coming again tomorrow, so what time’s he booked?’

  Bella reached for the towel to dry her hands. ‘Same time as tonight. I did ask him to come earlier or later, but he’s on his way home from work and the other times wouldn’t be convenient. And I wasn’t going to turn down another sixpence, so I’m hoping yer’ll do the same as tonight.’

  ‘I’m on me way home from work, too, yer know. Why couldn’t he come half an hour later?’

  Bella could read Tom inside out. There was very little she didn’t know about men, and she was adept at worming them round. ‘Ah, I didn’t think yer’d mind, not when yer get better treated than any of me other clients. It’s a case of I rub your back, you rub my back.’

  Tom grew two inches in stature. ‘Do I get extra special treatment now?’

  ‘Yer get extra time, lad, that’s all. I know what ye’re hankering after, but yer may as well get it through yer thick head that it will never happen. If ye’re not satisfied with what yer get from me, then I suggest yer try one of the other women.’ Bella put her face closer, and her voice was husky and coaxing, for this was one punter she didn’t want to lose. He was too useful to her. ‘I don’t want yer to go to another woman, I’d rather yer stayed with me. But I can’t make yer stay if ye’re not satisfied.’

  And Tom fell for it. ‘I don’t want no other woman, they’re dirty and as ugly as sin. No, I’ll do as yer say. And if yer get more offers, then I don’t mind standing in the kitchen to see yer come to no harm. After all, yer treat me very well.’

  When they were in the living room, Bella pushed him down on to the couch. It was always covered in a clean cloth, for she kept her house, and herself, clean. She watched him fumble with the buttons on his fly, and wondered about him. How could he come here every night and stay the extra half-hour? Didn’t his family worry about what time he got home? ‘Doesn’t yer wife have anything to say about yer getting home at different times every night? She must have a dinner made for yer.’

  ‘Me and the wife don’t see eye to eye. There’s no love lost between us, never has been. She’s a cold fish in bed, thinks sex is dirty. She doesn’t care what time I get in, and for meself I wouldn’t care if I never saw her again. She does make me a dinner every night, but half the time it goes in the bin.’

  ‘Have yer any children?’

  ‘Yeah, a boy and a girl, both working. I’ve no time for them, either, they’re all for their mother. We don’t get on at all.’

  Bella knew exactly what she was doing when her hands began to work on his body. ‘So, I’m not keeping yer away from yer family by asking yer to stay here sometimes?’

  His whole body tingling, Tom would have sold her his soul. ‘I’ll be here whenever yer want me. Every night, if yer like.’

  Under the influence of Bella’s expert hands, Tom Phillips’s mind was incapable of any thought beyond his desire for sexual fulfilment. Bella’s head, however, was very clear. She was used to the sounds made by men in various stages of satisfaction; they meant nothing to her except bread on the table and clothing on the backs of her children. But Tom Phillips was someone who gave her food for thought. He was a sucker if there ever was one. And she was sure that if she treated him right, fuelled his ego, he would come in very useful to her.

  Danny was thoughtful as he ate his dinner. Because he was usually so talkative a
nd full of humour, his preoccupation brought a frown to Ada’s forehead. ‘Ye’re very quiet tonight, sunshine. Are yer all right? No trouble at work, I hope?’

  ‘No, I’m okay, Mam, no trouble at work. I was just thinking about what a bloke at the dance said last night. Yer’ve heard me talking of Tony? Well, he said he’d seen Jenny and a couple of her mates at the Grafton on Saturay night. Nothing wrong with that, like, and he wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. But I’ve been thinking about it today, and it doesn’t seem right. He’d only met her the once in Blair Hall, and yet he said he was with her all night in the Grafton, and she’s promised to come to Blair Hall one night this week. And if she does he’s going to ask her for a date.’

  Ada pretended to scratch her nose to hide the smile which threatened. Oh dear, she thought, this sounds like jealousy raising its ugly head. ‘Well, if he’s a nice lad, there’s nothing wrong with that, sunshine, is there?’

  ‘But she hardly knows him, Mam! I mean, I get on all right with him, but then I’m a bloke. How he treats girls, I really can’t say.’

  ‘Yer can hardly tell Jenny who to go out with, and who not to go out with. She’d be within her rights to tell yer to take a running jump. On the other hand, she may tell this Tony to take a running jump. It’s up to her, isn’t it?’

  ‘If you say this Tony is all right, son,’ Jimmy said, ‘then why worry? I’m sure Jenny will be able to look after herself. She seems a sensible enough girl to me.’

  Danny was shaking his head. ‘I still think she hasn’t known him long enough to go out on a date with him. I mean, she hasn’t got a decent father to keep an eye on her, so she should be warned about going out with strange boys.’

  Ada’s brows shot up. ‘There’s nothing strange about the lad, is there? I mean, he’s not common, or tough, is he?’