Meadow Lane

by Maureen Reynolds

  As she took the cups over to the sink, Eliza said, ‘For heaven’s sake, you’ve got cakes on the brain.’ Putting the dishes away she wondered about the new neighbours, this young couple from the Western Isles plus a new baby. That should make the lane a bit more lively.

  Meanwhile Martha was trying to read the Radio Times without her spectacles. ‘I can’t find my specs, Eliza, have you put them somewhere?’

  Martha’s specs were a bone of contention as she was forever breaking them by sitting on them or dropping them on the tiled hearth. She certainly got her money’s worth with the National Health optician on the Hilltown.

  ‘Well, that’s what the National Health is for,’ she would say when Eliza got annoyed with her. ‘It was established for people like me who have to be treated nicely in their old age and I’m just glad someone is thinking about my health and wellbeing.’

  6

  When Albert got home he hung his wet coat and hat over the kitchen chair. The fire needed some more coal which he took from the brass box by the side of the fire, picking up each lump with the brass tongs.

  Although Jean had been dead since coronation week in 1953, he still carried on with her housework routine. Monday was laundry day, on Tuesday he polished the furniture and the rest of the week he did the daily chores that had never changed in the forty years they had been married.

  Later, he placed his sausage roll in the oven. One thing he did miss was her cooking which she tackled with the same precision as her household cleaning. Monday was mince, Tuesday macaroni, Wednesday sausages, Thursday egg and chips, Friday was fish and the weekend was steak pie which was served over two days.

  He couldn’t lie to himself that the marriage had been deliriously happy but there had been contentment, at least on his part. Jean was always too stressed to be able to relax, especially if she couldn’t finish the ironing or polishing the brasses. Albert sincerely hoped she was resting in peace in whatever heaven she had entered.

  The noise of the letterbox broke his reverie. It was the Evening Telegraph delivered by the skinny wee lad who lived on the Hilltown. He passed the window and Albert saw that he was wrapped up against the rain, his balaclava pulled so low over his eyes it was hard to imagine he could see ahead, but he hurried on so Albert thought he must be all right.

  Earlier in the day he had been chatting to Anna in the bakery and she told him that she was worried about her husband. The weather was playing havoc with his sore leg and he wasn’t sleeping very well with the pain. He liked Anna and Thomas and their lassie Thomasina and he wondered if he would feel the same about his new neighbours when they arrived next door. That empty house had been the main topic of conversation in the lane for the past month, ever since old Mrs Prior died in the infirmary with pneumonia and her son had arrived from Glasgow to clear out her belongings.

  Folk in the lane had been outraged that he hadn’t visited his mother in years. Martha had said what they all felt when she stated, ‘When he hopes to make a bob or two with the furniture he’s no long in hot footing it up to Meadow Lane.’

  After eating his tea, he opened the newspaper. He loved reading all the news, especially the local stories and the death column. Sometimes he recognised a name and he was grateful that he was still hale and hearty. He tried to skip over any troublesome news as his motto was there was nothing new under the sun, and unfortunately the world would always be a terrible place for so many people and reading about it wouldn’t help them. There would always be wars and earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and starving people. He thought about all the carnage this country had suffered with the two world wars and the recent conflict in Korea.

  Albert tried not to dwell on his own horrors in the so-called Great War, the war to end all wars. Well, that was a lie for a start. Although he didn’t want to recall it, the thoughts came unbidden to his mind and he was back in the mud and stench of the trenches in Loos.

  He remembered Davie Bell, Bella’s fiancé. They had joined up together, both of them full of patriotic fervour and eager to do their bit for King and Country. He tried to recall how long it had taken them to realise the terrible reality of war. He remembered the fear when the officer had blown his whistle and the futility of going over the top. The lads had charged over the muddy ground, straight into the German machine guns. They never stood a chance.

  Suddenly he stood up to switch on the wireless. He loved the Light Programme unlike Jean who liked listening to the Home Service. A blast of music filled the room and was soon followed by the cheery banter of a comedian. Sitting back in his chair he began to laugh at some of the funny jokes. This was how life should be lived, he thought, a comfy chair, listening to a comedian telling outrageous tales about his mother-in-law.

  Albert smiled. He could tell some tales about his late mother-in-law and they would be funny all right but not funny ha ha.

  7

  Grace, Evie and Tommy liked to go to the pictures on a Friday night but on this particular night Bill had been called out to a frozen pipes job and by five-thirty he still hadn’t returned.

  ‘Does that mean we can’t go?’ Evie asked.

  Grace looked uncertain. She always liked to have Bill’s evening meal over by the time they set off but there was no certainty when he would be home. She saw the look of dismay on the two girls’ faces and made up her mind.

  ‘I’ll put your dad’s tea in the oven and I’ll leave him a note,’ she said, placing the steak pie and potatoes in the oven before going to the lobby to put on her coat. ‘Put on your scarves and gloves as it’s gotten much colder.’

  As they stepped out into the lane they noticed that ice had formed on the ground and the air was so frigid it made their faces sting with the cold.

  ‘You had better watch your step, I don’t want you to fall,’ said Grace, taking their hands as they walked either side of her.

  ‘Maybe we’ll meet Dad on our way there,’ said Evie, but there was no sign of him as they slowly made their way down the Hilltown towards the Plaza cinema.

  Grace, with her mind still on the meal she had left behind, said, ‘I hope we don’t have to stand in a queue as we’ll be frozen by the time we get in.’

  However by the time they reached the cinema they were able to make their way to the admission kiosk right away. Tommy was excited that they were going to an Abbott and Costello film as she was a fan of the comic duo’s antics but then she noticed that the other film on the programme was a cowboy film starring Hopalong Cassidy.

  When they were seated, she said, ‘My dad’s nickname is Hopalong so that also makes him Hopalong Cassidy. It was when he worked on one of the Hydro Electric dams and a rock fell on his leg and broke it in two places. That was before he married Mum and that’s why he walks with a limp.’

  Grace said it was such a shame but then the lights dimmed and the first film began. She had bought her favourite bar of Dairy Milk chocolate while the girls had their bags of sweeties. With the warmth of the auditorium and the entertaining and funny film she soon relaxed and forgot about leaving Bill’s tea slowly drying up in the oven.

  Later, as they left the cinema, Grace was dismayed to see that it had been snowing and the pavement was covered with an inch of snow. She debated giving the chip shop a miss but she knew the girls always enjoyed their bags of chips so they walked as fast as they could to Dellanzo’s fish and chip shop before hurrying home with their hot parcels.

  Bill was sitting in front of a blazing fire and was fast asleep. He woke up when Grace moved around making cups of cocoa. Leaning forward he helped himself to some of the chips, much to Evie’s annoyance as she was nearest to him.

  ‘Mum, give Dad some of your chips as he’s eating all mine.’

  Bill pretended to look hurt. ‘Sorry but I’m still hungry after my dried-up meal. The tatties were shrivelled up and the steak pie was almost cremated.’

  Grace looked mortified. ‘I’m sorry, Bill. When did you get home?’

  He laughed. ‘I’m just joking. I
finished work on Mrs Cotton’s pipes and I was home by six o’clock.’

  Evie rolled her eyes. ‘Honestly, Dad, you had us all feeling sorry for you.’

  ‘Well obviously you didn’t feel sorry enough for your poor old father as you begrudged me a couple of chips.’ But he was laughing as he spoke. ‘Oh by the way, Grace, Tommy’s mum came in an hour ago to say that Maryanne was ill again and Anna wondered if you could maybe look in and see her.’

  ‘I’d better go in now and see her.’ She turned to the girls. ‘Do you want to play a game of Monopoly or do you want to come home with me, Tommy?’

  ‘I’d like to stay a bit longer if that’s all right as Mum usually lets me stay up late on a Friday night.’

  Grace put on her coat and scarf and headed out of the door. The snow was still falling and the wind was freezing cold. When she reached Maryanne’s house she opened the door and called out, ‘It’s just me, Maryanne.’ Anna was sitting by a meagre fire, wearing her coat and hat as the room was very cold. She stood up and put a finger to her lips and pointed to the settee which was placed against the wall. ‘She’s fallen asleep at last but she been having a lot of pain. She had to come home early from her work today but she still hasn’t seen the doctor.’ Maryanne was covered with a pink quilt but her face looked thin and drawn.

  ‘Heaven’s above, this room’s freezing. I’ll put some more coal on the fire.’

  Anna shook her head. ‘There isn’t any coal in the bunker, I’ve checked.’

  Grace opened the door and headed back home, saying, ‘I’ll just be a minute, Anna.’ When she entered the kitchen, Bill and the girls looked up. Before anyone spoke, she said, ‘Bill, can you fill up a couple of buckets of coal and take them to Maryanne’s house? She must have missed the coalman this afternoon.’

  Bill did as he was told and as they carried the buckets along to Maryanne’s house, Grace said, ‘I don’t think she’s had the money to buy coal because Anna said she came home early from work and she would have been in when he called.’

  Bill shivered when he went inside. ‘God, this room is like an icebox.’ He began to shovel coal on the barely burning fire. ‘Still, we’ll soon have the place warmed up.’

  Anna stood up. ‘I’ll have to go home as Thomas will soon be home from the pub and he’ll need his supper.’

  Grace said she would stay. ‘Tommy’s playing Monopoly with Evie unless you want her to go home.’ Anna said she could stay but to send her home by ten o’clock.

  Bill asked Grace, ‘What are you going to do about Maryanne?’

  Grace had no idea but she decided to stay with her until Maryanne was awake and maybe when she was in her bed she would feel better.

  ‘You can go home, Bill, and get Evie to bed by ten and send Tommy home. I’ll wait here for a wee while longer to see if she’s able to stay on her own.’

  Bill nodded and went out. ‘I’ll bring more coal later on.’

  By now the room was warmer and Grace went over to the settee. Maryanne opened her eyes and a spasm of pain crossed her face. Grace helped her up and placed a cushion behind her head. ‘How are you feeling now?’

  Maryanne tried to stand up and the quilt fell at her feet. ‘If I go to bed I’ll be all right,’ she said but she no sooner spoke when another spasm made her sit back down and Grace saw the film of sweat on her face.

  ‘I’ll call the doctor out to see you as it’s clear you’re not well.’

  Maryanne was mortified. ‘Oh don’t do that. I just need some more Rennies and to get a good night’s sleep.’

  Grace went through to the small bedroom and was worried as she realised it was even colder than the kitchen. ‘I think you should sleep on the settee tonight and I’ll stoke up the fire to keep you warm. Anna said you came home early from work.’

  Maryanne’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m worried I’ll lose my job, Grace, as the factory is paying off workers.’

  Grace didn’t know what to say but she tried to reassure her that as she had worked at Keiller’s for many years surely her job was safe. ‘Do you want me to make you something to eat or a hot drink?’

  Maryanne shook her head. ‘No, I just want to sleep.’

  Grace went and stoked up the fire and placed the quilt back on the settee. ‘I’ll be off then but I’ll look in later to see how you are.’ Maryanne immediately closed her eyes and Grace tiptoed to the door. No one in the lane ever locked their front door until bedtime so it would be easy for her to pop back in again before she went to bed.

  Back in her own house, Bill was reading the paper and Evie was in bed. ‘What do you think is wrong with her?’ he asked.

  Grace shook her head. ‘I’m making sure she goes to see the doctor tomorrow morning as she can’t go on suffering these pains any longer, and another thing I noticed is that her cupboard is almost bare so she’s either not eating or she hasn’t any money to go to the shop.’

  Bill said he would see the coalman on his way to work in the morning and order a couple of bags of coal which meant her house would be warm at least.

  But as it turned out, things were to take a dramatic turn for the worse when Grace popped in at eleven o’clock to find Maryanne collapsed on the floor and in terrible pain. Hurrying home she got Bill to phone for an ambulance which he did from the telephone box in Ann Street.

  The ambulance arrived within half an hour and Maryanne was taken out on a stretcher. The snow was wet and slushy as she was taken along the lane and the curtains from the Potter house were pulled aside. Eliza opened her door and saw Grace walking alongside the patient. ‘What’s the matter with Maryanne?’

  Grace started to explain when Martha’s voice called out, ‘What’s going on, Eliza?’ Grace said she would see them after seeing Maryanne safely into the ambulance.

  ‘I’m worried about leaving the house,’ said Maryanne as she was being placed in the vehicle. ‘I also need to let my work know.’

  Grace promised she would see to everything. ‘Now you’re not to worry about anything but just concentrate on getting better.’

  Maryanne tried to smile but another spasm of pain made her gasp out loud. The driver shut the door and slowly drove off, sending a stream of wet snow onto the pavement and almost covering Grace’s shoes. Eliza was still at her door and Martha was still calling out.

  ‘I can only wait a minute, Eliza,’ she said as she sat on the fireside chair. Martha was dressed in her nightgown, a full-length blue flannel garment, and she had her hair covered by dinky curlers. Her eyes were gleaming with the thought of some juicy gossip.

  ‘Maryanne’s been taken to hospital as she’s not been well for some time. I don’t know what’s wrong with her but we’ll probably hear soon.’

  Martha looked disappointed by this meagre bit of news and she yawned loudly. Eliza went over and helped her to her feet and for a moment Grace thought Martha looked like a stranded whale. Eliza walked her mother to the comfy looking bed in the corner of the room.

  As she walked home, Grace passed Anna’s house but since there was no light shining in the window she hurried into her own house and warmed her hands at the fire. Bill went and made some hot tea and Grace sat back in the chair and thanked her lucky stars that she had her husband by her side. Not like poor Maryanne who, for as long as she had been her neighbour, had lived on her own. Her daughter Sadie had been married and living in America when the Gows moved into Meadow Lane but she had seen a photograph of her and she was a lovely looking woman.

  However there was no photograph of any husband.

  8

  Maryanne was frightened as she was wheeled into the ward. Everything was quiet as most of the patients were asleep. The nurse pulled the screen around her bed and a young, serious looking doctor appeared at her side.

  ‘You’re suffering from severe pain I believe, Mrs Roberts?’ he said, leaning over her and pressing a cold hand over the painful area. She called out as the pain radiated over her abdomen and the doctor looked thoughtful. ‘How long hav
e you had this pain?’ he asked and she told him a few weeks. ‘It’s your gall-bladder and I suspect a stone has got lodged in the tube.’ Maryanne was almost frightened to ask what that meant but he continued to speak to the ward sister who had now also appeared. ‘Mrs Roberts will need tests and surgery as soon as possible so I’ll put her down for tomorrow.’

  The sister nodded and the doctor gave Maryanne a quick smile before leaving. As she was already in her nightdress the young nurse got her settled into bed. The ward sister said she would bring her something to make her sleep before she disappeared around the screen. Maryanne lay in this strange bed with the cold white sheets and closed her eyes against the bright light that shone above her head.

  Soft footsteps and the rustling of a starched uniform made her open her eyes again. The young nurse was standing with a glass of water and a pill in a small plastic container. She helped Maryanne to sit up and after she swallowed the pill, the nurse busied herself with the blanket and pillows, making sure her patient was comfortable before slipping away silently.

  Maryanne was left to ponder and worry about the future. The thought of maybe losing her job and God knew how could she cope with no income plus how would she manage in the house after this operation? Then there was the worry over Sadie and her unhappiness with her marriage in America. Where was it all going to end?

  She listened to all the strange noises in the ward. Someone was snoring but thankfully not too loudly and another patient was mumbling some incoherent words. Someone further up the ward had a coughing fit and she heard soothing words as the nurse attended to the unknown woman. It was certainly an alien world for Maryanne as she had never been in a hospital before. Thankfully the pain had eased to a dull ache before she slowly relaxed as the sleeping pill took effect and she was soon asleep.

  Back at Meadow Lane, Grace was unable to sleep so she got up and went to sit by the fire. She didn’t want to waken Bill as he had work to go to in the morning but she was worried about Maryanne. It was clear that she hadn’t been eating and the fact that the house was cold and the cupboard empty was obviously because of the lack of money. It looked like she didn’t get paid when she was off work which had been quite often over the past few weeks.