The Girl From Number 22

by Joan Jonker

Annie had a hand to her mouth as she surveyed the room. In all her married life she’d never been allowed to live in a house long enough, or given enough money, to have a room looking like this. The wallpaper was light beige, with a small green leaf pattern, and the glossy paintwork and ceiling were white, making the room look light and airy. It was all too much for her, and she couldn’t keep the tears back. ‘God was certainly looking after us when we got this house. We’ve never before had neighbours who befriended us like you have.’ There was a catch in her voice. ‘I haven’t got the words to thank you enough.’

  Ada went to stand beside her and put an arm across her shoulder. ‘Come on now, sunshine. Just look at the faces on my feller, and Arthur and Danny. They’ve worked their guts out for the last four nights, and what happens? You cry yer ruddy eyes out!’ She could feel Annie’s body shaking, and gave her a squeeze. ‘It’s been our privilege and pleasure to get to know yer, sunshine, and you and the kids are part of our gang now. But if yer don’t stop crying, yer’ll have us all at it. The room looks lovely, the men have done a grand job, so let’s all be happy that everything has turned out well. And finished in time for Eliza’s visit.’

  Ben was struck dumb. He was too young to know what to say, and could only look around the room with wonder. But Jenny was so happy that something nice had happened for her mother, she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand, then plucked up the courage to cross the room and stand in front of Danny. ‘We had a deal, Danny, and you kept your part.’ She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. ‘Now I’ve kept my part.’

  ‘Blimey!’ Danny feigned a look of disgust, but deep down he was thrilled that Jenny had kissed him in front of everyone. And after all, a peck was a kiss really, wasn’t it? ‘Yer don’t call that a kiss, do yer?’

  Jimmy and Arthur were grinning. ‘Ay, son,’ Jimmy said, ‘don’t push yer luck. A kiss from a pretty girl is not to be sneezed at. What do you say, Arthur?’

  ‘Oh, I agree, Jimmy. If it was me what had been kissed, I’d be going to sleep tonight with a smile on me face.’

  Jenny didn’t hesitate. She crossed to where the two men stood and planted noisy kisses on their cheeks. ‘Thank you, from me, me mam and our Ben.’

  Ada gave a little nod, well satisfied at the way everything had worked out. ‘I think it’s time to call it a day. And Hetty’s not going to be too pleased at me leaving her with my two children for longer than the minute I promised. Yer know how she hates to miss anything. So let’s away to our homes, families and beds. We’ll all sleep soundly, knowing there’s been a job well done.’

  On New Year’s Eve, Eliza’s son, John, brought his mother by taxi to the house she would always look on as home. She was well looked after where she was now, with her own room for privacy, and well cared for and loved by himself and his wife. But the small two-up-two-down terrace house had been her home for sixty years, and there were times when she pined for the house and the memories it held for her. And when she was helped from the taxi her eyes lit up at the sight of the number twenty-two.

  Ada and Hetty were in Annie’s waiting for Eliza, and they were pushing each other out of the way to get to the door first. Edith and Jean knew she was coming, but had wisely said they would wait for half an hour to give the old lady time to settle down. And Annie and Jenny waited in the kitchen, so Eliza could be welcomed by two of her best-loved neighbours.

  ‘Come in, sunshine, and get a warm.’ Ada and Hetty had taken an arm each, and their faces were lit up with pleasure. ‘Hasn’t Vera come with yer, John?’

  John was gazing around the room as he took his hat off. And out of habit he was about to put it on the sideboard when he realised this was no longer his mother’s home, or her sideboard. ‘Our grandchildren have some friends coming to see the New Year in, so Vera thought she’d better stay to help out. But she sends yer her best wishes, and she’ll be up to see yer soon.’

  ‘The house looks well cared for.’ Eliza was nodding her head in approval. ‘I’m glad the new people are looking after it.’

  ‘Talking about the new people,’ Ada said, once the old lady was seated, ‘I think it’s about time yer met them. They’re standing in the kitchen waiting to be called in.’

  ‘Oh, they shouldn’t have done that. This is their home.’

  Hetty called, ‘Come in, Annie, and meet the woman we’ve been talking about all week.’

  Annie came in, followed by Jenny and Ben. She took one look at Eliza and fell in love with her. The old lady was frail, but her eyes were alert and friendly. No wonder she’d been well loved by everyone in the street. You only had to look at her to know she was a real lady. ‘I’ve heard so much about yer, I feel I know yer. And yer’ve given me the hard task of trying to live up to yer.’

  Her hands folded in her lap, and looking completely at home, Eliza smiled. ‘I’m sure yer’ll do well here, my dear, and be as happy in this house as I was for most of my life.’ She looked past Annie to where Jenny and Ben were hovering. ‘And yer have a very pretty daughter and a handsome son. I bet they’re looking forward to the jollity there’ll be in the street tonight when the bells ring in the New Year.’

  It had been decided that Tom Phillips’s name wouldn’t be mentioned in case it upset Eliza. She belonged to an age where if you got married, you stayed married for life. So Ada helped to skirt round the issue by changing the subject. ‘Edith and Jean will be on pins, sunshine, they were just giving yer time to settle down before coming in. I’ll knock on the walls and let them know ye’re ready to receive them.’ She grinned as she hammered on Jean’s wall with her fist. ‘That’s what the Queen does, Eliza, she receives people. She doesn’t have mates in, like us common as muck folk.’

  The time passed quickly after that. The men came home from work and had their dinner, then men and women alike put on their best bib and tucker. And still Eliza made no move to leave. ‘Mam,’ John said, ‘we’d better be going. Vera will wonder what’s keeping us.’

  ‘I don’t want to upset yer, son, or have yer think I don’t appreciate all that yer’ve done for me. You and Vera, and the grandchildren, are marvellous, and I love yer dearly. But, for the last time in me life, I would love to be the one to let the New Year in, in this house. That’s if you and Vera wouldn’t be upset, and Annie would let me.’

  ‘We’d love to have yer, sweetheart,’ Annie told her. ‘But it’s up to yer son.’

  ‘I’ll go home now and tell Vera.’ John set his hat on his head. ‘I’ll order a taxi for half past twelve and come and pick you up. So try and stay awake, Mam, and have a good time with all yer old mates. I’ll see yer later.’

  So it was that when the bells rang out on the stroke of twelve, and the ships and barges on the River Mersey hooted their horns to welcome in the New Year, Eliza felt like a young woman again as she knocked on the door of number twenty-two. Surrounded by all her old friends, the Fenwicks, Watsons, Bowerses and Bensons, and welcomed as a first footer by a smiling Annie, she was as happy as could be, and her heart was at peace.

  Danny felt quite emotional as he watched Eliza from the back of the crowd. ‘I’ve loved that old lady all me life.’ Then, through the crowds of neighbours who were hugging, kissing and singing, he pulled Jenny towards the street lamp. ‘I want to see what I’m doing. So, can I have my New Year’s kiss, please? And pecks are not on the menu. I want a proper kiss.’

  And when Jenny lifted her face, and Danny’s lips met hers, Cupid worked his magic. They saw stars twinkling, heard fireworks going off, and their heartbeats felt like the beating of a drum. When Danny finally lifted his head, he said, ‘I feel dizzy. Me head is going round.’

  Jenny said softly, ‘I feel faint.’

  ‘Don’t you dare faint on me, Jenny Phillips. Not until yer’ve given me another kiss, and an answer to me question.’

  ‘What question is that, Danny?’

  ‘Will yer be my girl?’

  ‘That’s a daft question, Danny Fenwick. Of course I’ll be your gir
l. I might not have known it at the time, but I think I’d made up me mind on that the first time I set eyes on yer.’

  His dimples deep, Danny put a finger under her chin and lifted her face. ‘That’s all right then. And now it’s official, will yer stop talking so much and give us a kiss to seal our bargain?’