Winners and Losers

by Linda Sole

  ‘Could I get you two ladies a glass of orange?’

  ‘Not for me,’ Ann said. ‘But thanks all the same. You were wonderful.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind a lemonade,’ Sarah said. ‘I thought you were brilliant. You should be a singer, Connor. You would be famous.’

  ‘I’m not that good,’ he said and grinned. ‘Besides, I couldn’t do that for a living. I have a job. I’ll get us some drinks . . .’

  Tiddy was at the bar. He grinned as Connor came up to him.

  ‘You were all right, mate. What is she like? Bet she don’t go outside with you later.’

  ‘I shan’t ask. I like her. She isn’t the sort you take outside for a quickie against the wall.’

  ‘Getting serious, is it?’ Tiddy leered at him. ‘Wait until she finds out there’s no money. You’ve got no chance. I’m after Jenny Briggs tonight.’ He patted his back pocket. ‘I came prepared. I ain’t going to get caught out. I ain’t ready to get married just yet.’

  ‘No, well, you please yourself, but I’d rather wait for the right girl.’

  He bought two glasses of lemonade and a beer for Tiddy and then walked back to Sarah. Phyllis had brought her partner over and Ann had accepted an offer for the next dance.

  ‘Shall we go over to the window and get some air?’ Connor asked. Sarah looked startled and he grinned. ‘I’m not asking you to go outside. I like you, Sarah. If I wanted something like that, I’d know who to ask . . .’

  ‘Oh!’ Her cheeks went pink. ‘Thanks. I suppose you think I’m a bit old-fashioned?’

  ‘As a matter of fact I prefer girls like you. I want a girl who thinks something of herself.’ He hesitated. ‘I don’t suppose you would come to the flicks with me one day this week?’

  ‘Oh . . . I’m not sure . . . Yes, all right, there is a film I want to see. You might not like it – it’s Judy Garland.’

  ‘I don’t mind what I see if it is with you,’ Connor said and Sarah went pink. ‘Shall we say Friday? I’ll meet you outside at a quarter to seven.’

  ‘Yes, all right.’ Sarah smiled shyly. ‘It’s the first time I’ve been to the pictures with a man. I usually go with my friends . . .’ She blushed again. ‘You must think I’m silly. I bet you take girls out all the time.’

  ‘I’ve been out with one or two,’ Connor admitted. ‘But not many – and none of them were as pretty as you, Sarah.’

  ‘Hey, Connor!’ He turned his head as the band member came up to him. ‘I wanted to ask you a favour . . .’

  ‘I’m not coming up again tonight,’ Connor said. ‘I’m with someone.’

  ‘We’re doing a gig next Thursday night in Cambridge and our lead singer is going to be away on holiday. Would you stand in for him? We would pay you, of course – five pounds.’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ Connor frowned. ‘I haven’t done all your stuff. I might not be any good.’

  ‘You could learn. You could practise with us this weekend if you like.’

  ‘I’m not sure. No, I don’t think so. I’m a bit busy.’

  ‘If you change your mind, give me a buzz.’ Terry thrust a crumpled-looking card into his hand. ‘You’ve got a good voice and you could be a big asset to the band.’

  Connor shoved the card into his pocket. ‘Thanks. I’ll think about it and let you know.’

  Sarah looked up at him as Terry moved away. ‘Why didn’t you say yes? I think Rock ’n’ Roll groups can earn a lot of money.’

  ‘If they hit the big time,’ Connor said. ‘The Bad Boys are just a local group. I doubt if they get paid much. You heard what he offered.’

  ‘Five pounds isn’t bad for one night’s work,’ Sarah said. ‘You never know where it would lead.’

  Connor wasn’t going to say so, but the money had been a big temptation. If he’d been on his own when Terry offered, he might just have accepted, but he wasn’t sure he had the time. When Dan got back they would start harvesting and he would probably be asked to help out at neighbouring farms – especially during the potato harvest – and that wouldn’t leave him much time for anything else.

  ‘Shall we dance again?’ he asked. ‘I could walk you home later if you like – unless you want to go with your friends?’

  ‘I’d like it if you took me home. I have to be back by half past ten – is that too early for you?’

  ‘No, it’s fine,’ Connor said. ‘I have to get up early myself so I usually leave around that time.’

  It wasn’t quite the truth, but he would have left whenever she said, just for the pleasure of walking her home.

  Connor walked Sarah to her front door, kissed her on the cheek and reminded her of their date the following Friday. He had wanted to kiss her properly, but he knew she would be nervous of kissing him for the first time and he wanted to get to know her better.

  He was smiling, well pleased with the world when he strolled back to the yard behind the club where he had left his van. Tiddy was standing by it, kicking at the ground and looking fed up.

  ‘You’re back, then. I thought you would be ages.’

  ‘I just walked Sarah home. I told you, I’m not interested in anything else for the moment. How did you get on?’

  ‘Bloody Brian Bates beat me to it,’ Tiddy said gloomily. ‘Come on, let’s go. I’ve had enough.’

  ‘Connor – just a moment!’

  Connor hesitated as he was about to get into the driving seat. He saw Terry striding across the yard towards him.

  ‘I’m glad I caught you. Look, I know I didn’t offer you much earlier. What if we gave you ten pounds for the night? It is important and I know you could do it. I’ll come over and go through the songs with you – on Sunday if you like?’

  ‘Yes, all right,’ Connor agreed, surprised at himself. ‘If I can learn your stuff in time, I’ll do the gig – but I can’t promise anything else.’

  ‘Thanks, mate,’ Terry grinned. ‘You’ve saved my life. That gig in Cambridge is the best thing we’ve been offered since we started. Phil is as sick as a pig at missing it – but he’s going to Spain with his girlfriend and her parents and he can’t get out of it.’

  ‘If I were him, I wouldn’t want to,’ Connor said. ‘Bloody hell! That’s the trip of a lifetime!’ Most people went to Bournemouth, Devon or Blackpool for their holidays, if they were lucky.

  ‘Yeah, well, it would be for most of us,’ Terry agreed. ‘But once we hit the big time the world is our oyster – and the Bad Boys are going places, believe me. We’ve got another six gigs lined up already, and a performance at a seaside show.’

  ‘Well, I hope I don’t let you down. I’ll meet you outside the shop in Stretton High Street on Sunday at three. We’ll go somewhere quiet and practise together . . .’

  ‘Sure thing,’ Terry said. ‘Your gear looks great. You won’t need anything different for the gig.’

  ‘Right.’ Connor nodded and got into the car.

  Tiddy looked at him as he started the engine. ‘What was all that about, then?’

  ‘They want me to do a gig next week because their lead singer will be away.’

  ‘You never agreed?’ Tiddy stared at him. ‘I know they like you down the club but it will be different at a real gig.’

  ‘Singing is singing,’ Connor said. ‘It is just for a laugh. I’m only going to do it the once.’

  He sensed that his friend was jealous. Tiddy hadn’t liked it because Sarah had danced with him all evening and then let him walk her home. He had encouraged Connor to go on stage at the club, but now he was talking him down – perhaps because he sensed that Connor might be growing away from him.

  ‘What will Dan say? He won’t think much to it if you’re out every night at a gig.’

  ‘No, he wouldn’t,’ Connor agreed. ‘But it won’t happen. I told you, it is just the once.’

  He was thoughtful as he drove them back to Stretton and dropped Tiddy in the High Street before heading off down the road that led to the fen and home. Ten pounds was almost as much as he earne
d in three weeks with Dan. He would have to see how things worked out, because that sort of money didn’t grow on trees. He had no idea how much the rest of the band was earning, but as far as he was concerned it was riches!

  He grinned as he let himself into the house. It would probably be just the once, but if he got the chance, he wouldn’t mind doing a few more gigs. If he was serious about Sarah, he had to find a way of earning more money, because she would expect him to take her out. And if it came to marriage – which wouldn’t be for several years – he would need a bit in the bank.

  He had never thought of using his voice to earn him money. It hadn’t occurred to him that his love of jazz and Rock ’n’ Roll could be a way of earning a few extra quid. Even if the Bad Boys didn’t need him more than once, there were other bands. Dan might not like him taking time off but they could talk about that if it happened . . .

  Sarah walked in to find the house quiet. Her mother usually watched the television when she was on her own, but there was no sound and no sign of her either. Remembering that her mother had seemed a little odd before she went out, Sarah ran upstairs to her mother’s bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. She tapped the door softly.

  ‘Mum . . . are you all right?’

  There was no answer so she pushed it open and went in. Her mother was lying sprawled on top of the bed. She was obviously sleeping and as Sarah moved carefully towards her, she snored loudly and flung out an arm.

  ‘Are you feeling ill, Mum?’

  Sarah bent over. She noticed the small brown bottle on the chest beside the bed and picked it up, frowning as she saw that the prescription was for sleeping tablets. She hadn’t known her mother took them. Perhaps she’d had a terrible migraine?

  ‘I’m sorry, Mum.’ Sarah bent and kissed her on the forehead. She could smell something but wasn’t sure what it was, though it smelled a bit like whisky. She noticed the glass on the dressing table and picked it up, sniffing at the strong smell. Surely it wasn’t a good idea to drink whisky at the same time as taking tablets? She went back to the bed feeling anxious.

  ‘Mum . . .’ Sarah shook her shoulder. ‘Mum – are you all right?’

  Her mother moaned and her eyelids flickered. Sarah shook her again and she opened her eyes.

  ‘Sarah – what is the matter?’

  ‘I was worried. You didn’t take those tablets with whisky, did you?’

  ‘Of course I didn’t,’ her mother said. ‘I’m not that stupid, Sarah. I had the drink and went off without them. I wish you hadn’t woken me. I shall have one of my headaches now.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I was worried.’

  ‘Silly girl! Go to bed, Sarah. I need to rest.’

  ‘Yes. Sorry, Mum.’

  Sarah went to her own room. She forgot about the incident with her mother as she undressed, smiling as she brushed her hair and thought about the dances she’d had with Connor Searles. He was different from all the other men she knew – exciting. She had wanted him to kiss her properly, but he’d just given her a peck on the cheek. He’d treated her with respect, and she believed he really liked her.

  Getting into bed, she thought about their date for the following Friday. She could hardly wait for the days to pass.

  ‘Are you in debt?’ Frances asked, her eyes on her brother’s face. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’

  Dan lowered his gaze, his neck flushed with embarrassment. Frances had been pleased to see them, and generous, but he felt a distance between them, and it was almost like talking to a stranger at times. He didn’t know his eldest sister as well as he ought. He thought that perhaps she’d never forgiven him for not believing her when Sam Danby had been bullying her just after the war.

  ‘I hate asking for a loan, Fran. I wish I didn’t have to do it now – but I need fifteen hundred, or two thousand if you could manage it.’

  ‘That is a lot of money.’ Frances frowned. ‘I don’t understand why you need it all of a sudden. I thought you had almost finished paying off the bankruptcy?’

  ‘Yes, I have, but things have been difficult and I need stuff for the farm – and I want to buy some cars to do up. I should like to take on more repair work for other people. I get asked to repair tractors and engines all the time, but for that I need equipment.’

  ‘Are you talking about the garage you want?’ Frances smiled. ‘You should have asked before, Dan. I would have helped you to start in business for yourself ages ago. I approve of someone trying to get on in life.’

  ‘I will pay it back,’ he said, his shirt collar unaccountably tight. ‘I don’t want you to give it to me.’

  ‘I can make it a loan if that’s what you want,’ Frances said. ‘I don’t want any interest and you can pay me when you like.’

  ‘You’re a brick,’ Daniel said, feeling a little sick inside. He could imagine what Frances would say if she knew that half of the money would be going to pay Maura for keeping her mouth shut. ‘I hate to ask, but I do need it quite soon.’

  ‘I’ll write you a cheque. You can pay it into the bank when you get home. Does Alice know you’re going to start the garage?’

  ‘I haven’t told her. It won’t be a garage with a forecourt just yet, but I have plenty of room for cars in the yard and I can leave most of the land work to Connor and the lad now. His name is Joe and he is a bit slow but he works hard and we don’t pay him much.’

  ‘That’s a bit mean. You should pay poor Joe a proper wage – especially since you will be earning more now.’

  ‘Yes, you are right. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. It’s a waste for me to be on the land when I could earn more as a mechanic.’

  ‘You didn’t want to ask for a loan.’

  ‘You won’t tell Alice about this?’

  ‘Not if you prefer to keep it between us,’ Frances said. ‘I’ve enjoyed having you all to stay. You must come again soon – and bring the rest of the family.’

  ‘You would find the whole brood rather a lot,’ Daniel said and laughed. He had dreaded asking Frances for the loan, but there was no other way of paying Maura off – and by asking for a bit more he had a chance to start making some money: the more he made, the sooner he could pay back the loan.

  ‘I love to see my family. Emily doesn’t come down enough – and Connor hasn’t been for years. Tell him I would like to see him when he has the time.’

  ‘I’ll tell him, but he is his own master. You probably still think of him as a boy, but he is a man now. I suppose he will be thinking of getting married one of these days.’

  ‘I’m only surprised he hasn’t got a girl already.’

  ‘They all run after him, but I don’t think he has thought about it seriously.’ Dan frowned. ‘He is the only one of us who hasn’t got anything. I should like to give him the fields on Stretton Road one day, but I can’t afford it until I can get my garage up and running.’

  ‘Well, I think you should have a good start now,’ Frances sat down at her desk and wrote swiftly. ‘Just sign there – it is just to say that I lent you two thousand pounds. I’ll write you a cheque and we’re done.’

  Daniel was a little surprised that his sister had put the agreement into writing, but he signed it immediately. Frances would keep her word and he could pay it back a bit at a time.

  ‘You’re so generous,’ he said. ‘Thanks a lot, Fran – this is really important to me.’

  ‘Don’t worry about paying it back until you’re ready,’ Frances said and slipped the agreement into her desk. ‘I would have given it to you if you’d asked, but I know you’re more comfortable this way. All I ask is that you visit me sometimes.’

  ‘Of course we will. I know Alice has enjoyed herself and the sea air was good for her.’

  ‘She does look better than when she came,’ Frances said. ‘I took her to have her hair cut and it suits her. She should keep it like that – and you should give her money for clothes, Dan. She hasn’t got much that’s really nice in her wardrobe. I offered to buy her
a new dress from a good shop, but she wouldn’t let me.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose she would.’

  Daniel felt a bit guilty. It would have offended Alice’s pride to take such a gift from Frances. She had insisted that he bought his sister a nice present for having them to stay. He could just imagine what Alice would say if she knew that he had borrowed two thousand pounds from his sister. She hated taking charity and only the knowledge that she really needed a break from the children had persuaded her to come this time.

  ‘Well, you spoil her a bit once you’ve got the business up and running,’ Frances said. ‘You wouldn’t want to lose Alice . . .’

  ‘She would never leave me,’ Daniel said too quickly, and frowned as Frances raised her brows. ‘I try, Frances. Maybe I have let things slip a little where Alice is concerned – but she knows I love her and the kids. We’re all right together.’

  ‘I thought Marcus loved me when we got married, but he changed so much during the war. You had a rough time too, but don’t forget that Alice loves you.’

  ‘I know, but in a way I was lucky. I didn’t see much real fighting – just some guerrilla stuff and then the inside of a prisoner of war camp.’

  ‘You make light of it but I know it must be there inside you,’ Frances said. ‘You are stronger than Marcus. I just want you and Alice to be happy.’

  Daniel caught an odd look in her eyes. ‘Is something wrong, Fran? I know you had a bad time after Marcus died. I wish I’d known what that devil was up to sooner. I would have made him leave you alone.’

  ‘Most days I can forget it,’ Frances said, but for a moment an odd, haunted look was in her eyes. ‘I’m all right, Dan – when I’m not I’ll tell you.’

  ‘You know you can count on me if you need me.’

  ‘Yes, I know. You and Emily have been good to me. Connor was too young to know what was going on – and Clay didn’t care.’

  ‘Clay only thinks of himself.’