The Sunday Girls

by Maureen Reynolds

  As it turned out, this was to last till Sunday lunchtime when another confrontation loomed out of the blue. I was eagerly getting ready to go home and was packing a bag of the cook’s scones into my suitcase. They were a present for my grandparents. One niggling worry was the non-appearance of my wages so I went in search of Miss Hood.

  Her pale eyes opened in surprise when she saw me. ‘I would have thought a girl of your class would be out the door like a shot instead of hanging around her job.’ She sounded so sarcastic.

  I was determined to be polite. ‘I’ve come for my wages, Miss Hood – my ten shillings.’

  A sudden but triumphant expression flitted over her wrinkled face. ‘Your what?’

  I repeated it. ‘My ten shillings.’

  ‘Well you’re out of luck madam. You get paid monthly here and I haven’t forgotten about the burnt bread. It had to be thrown in the bin and that costs money. I’ll be deducting that plus the beanfeast you had here on that first morning.’ She smirked and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

  I couldn’t believe that anyone could get so much pleasure from cruelty but this woman could. I did a mental count of my finances which were nil and apart from having to walk all the way home to the Overgate because I didn’t have the bus fare, this all paled into insignificance against the thought of Granny’s face. She was depending on this money.

  There was no way I was going to throw myself on the housekeeper’s mercy but, on the other hand, I needed my wages desperately. I was really angry with this old dragon because I had worked so hard and had done all the chores she set before me.

  Her cold unblinking eyes stared at me and I realised where I had seen a look like that before – on a dead cod on the marble slab of Horatio Leslie’s fishmonger shop.

  With tears pricking the back of my eyes, I picked up my suitcase and headed for the kitchen. Mrs Peters was still busy. She normally left a hot Sunday lunch for the two women plus a cold supper for later. She tossed some diced carrots into a large pot of soup on the stove. She turned brightly when I entered. ‘Well this is your first day off, young Ann, and you’ll be looking forward …’ She stopped when she saw my face. ‘Don’t tell me she’s not letting you off?’

  By now, because of the sympathy, tears began to trickle down my cheeks and I brushed them away with an embarrassed hand. ‘It’s just that Miss Hood tells me that I’m on a monthly wage but I can honestly swear that Mrs Barrie mentioned ten shillings every week and there was no mention of getting it every month.’

  The cook pursed her lips, an expression she constantly used every time Miss Hood’s name was mentioned. She went over to her coat which hung from a peg on the back door.

  Taking her purse from her pocket, she said, ‘I can let you have five bob, Ann. I know your granny is depending on it.’ She took out two half crowns and handed them to me.

  I was mortified and wished I had kept quiet. I put my hands behind my back. ‘Oh, no, Mrs Peters, you need your money as much as I do. Don’t worry, we’ll manage somehow and Granny is aye short of money so another three weeks won’t take too long to pass.’ Although the words sounded brave, I was almost on the point of despair. Lily was growing bigger every week and she now needed to be fed on something more substantial than milk. She was also growing out of her clothes and, although Granny bought most of these from a small, second-hand shop in the Westport, they still cost money.

  The cook looked doubtful. ‘I wish you would take it, Ann. We’ve a few bob saved up and I hate the thought of you not having any money for three weeks. It’s a bloody disgrace, that’s what it is. After all, I get my wages every week and it’s been like that since I started here.’

  I tried to smile at her. ‘It’s really good of you offering but we’ll manage somehow.’

  I waited till she hung up her dishcloth and collected her coat and message bag. As we opened the back door, Miss Hood appeared with a smirk as she headed for the soup pot. No one said a word but I was secretly pleased that I managed to hold my head up high.

  Outside in the yard, the cook exploded. ‘You know there’s times when I could cheerfully throttle that old besom. I bet you a tanner, Ann, that Mrs Barrie doesn’t know a thing about your wages. She seems to leave everything to her precious Lottie.’

  She stopped to tie her scarf over her head. ‘You mark my words, that Miss Hood has been feathering her nest since she came here. She’s bought a wee cottage in Monifieth on the strength of living here and saving all her wages.’

  ‘Oh, if only she would go and live there,’ I said, with little charity.

  We went down the path that skirted the front garden. Someone was sitting on the edge of the wall and I was delighted to see it was Danny. Although it was a pleasure to see him, I wasn’t unduly surprised because I had an idea he would be here – our personal telepathy again. He turned round when he heard our voices, his delightful smile washing over his face like a summer sun.

  Even Mrs Peters was bowled over by it. ‘So you’re Danny?’ she said. ‘I’ve heard all about you from your cousin. She did say you looked like a Greek god. I didn’t believe it but she was right.’

  Danny blushed so hard that his face almost matched his auburn hair.

  The cook laughed. ‘I’m just teasing you, son. Never mind me.’ She pulled a pair of furry gloves over her hands, put her message bag over her arm and smiled again. ‘Well, Ann, I’ll leave you with Danny as you’ll want to have a blether. I’ll see you on Tuesday morning.’

  Her plump figure departed down the road and I was once again grateful that she was a safety buffer for me. My nightmare with Miss Hood was still fresh in my mind and I had the bruise to show for it. My shoulder still throbbed painfully.

  Then suddenly, a voice called my name. We both turned to see Mrs Barrie at the upstairs window. She called again and beckoned me. ‘Come up, Ann, I want to see you. Use the front door.’

  Danny raised his eyebrows as I darted up the path and, as I went through the front door, my heart was pounding as I was scared that I might meet Miss Hood. I ran swiftly up the stairs in case there was an emergency but I still dreaded the thought of running into the housekeeper.

  Mrs Barrie was sitting in her high-backed chair, looking quite normal. If there was an emergency, I couldn’t see it. She called me over. ‘Come and sit down for a moment. I won’t keep you long because I see your boyfriend is waiting on you.’

  I did as I was told, explaining that he was my cousin but I didn’t add that he was well liked by Maddie, who I later found out was her goddaughter.

  Mrs Barrie opened a capacious handbag and withdrew a tapestry purse from its depths. ‘Now, Ann, I want to give you an extra half crown for your sister,’ she said, handing over the coin.

  I hesitated for a moment before gratefully accepting it. ‘Thank you, Mrs Barrie. I’ll give it to my granny and she’ll spend it on Lily.’ I stood up to leave but suddenly I had the courage to speak – a courage born from desperation. ‘Mrs Barrie …’ I stopped, my throat tightening with apprehension. ‘Mrs Barrie, I didn’t think I would be on a monthly wage when I came here to work. I thought it was weekly but Miss Hood says it’s not.’

  The sweet placid look shifted slightly and a glint came into her soft eyes. Oh, no, I thought, I’ve said the wrong thing. I prayed that I didn’t get dismissed on the spot. But, to my utter surprise, she withdrew a crisp ten-shilling note from her purse and handed it to me.

  ‘No, Ann, you’re right – I did say it was a weekly wage but Lottie doesn’t realise this. What we’ll do is this. Every Sunday, come up here to be paid and, when Miss Hood gives you the wages, then you can repay me.’

  It took all my willpower to stop me running over and giving her a hug but instead I simply thanked her.

  She had an impish look on her face, like a small child with a great secret. She tapped the side of her nose and said, ‘This will be our little secret from Miss Hood.’ She laughed heartily. ‘Now run along for your time off and get down the stairs before she calls m
e for my lunch.’

  I could still hear her laughing when I ran downstairs, still keeping a watchful eye out for Miss Hood. I was in the small vestibule when I saw her through the pane of glass in the inner door. She swept into the hall, a smug, self-satisfied expression on her face. It gave me great pleasure to see her looking like a cat with the cream instead of the cat that lost the mouse – a mouse, moreover, that had twelve and a tanner in her hand.

  Danny was admiring the scenery when I came back down the path. It was another grey day with a sharp, strong wind that pushed gigantic waves on to the beach with a muffled roar. It was like the sound of thunder.

  He tucked my arm in his and we set off for the bus stop. ‘This is a different world from the Overgate, Ann – nothing but the sound of the sea.’

  I turned sharply to look at him, my senses alert. Although his voice was light, I sensed he was worried about something.

  ‘It’s Lily – she’s not well,’ he said when I tackled him. ‘She’s had a very bad cold and Granny thought she was also teething but she’s not eating or sleeping very well.’

  I was suddenly grateful for the money in my pocket. If we had to call out a doctor, then we could pay his fee, even if it meant putting other things on hold.

  By the time we reached the Overgate, my imagination was working overtime but I was taken aback by the explosion of noise that hit me like a slap on the face. After ten days at the Ferry with only the sounds of the sea, wind and rain, coming home to this cacophony of noisy humanity felt alien somehow. Then I realised I would have the same feeling in reverse when I left on Tuesday morning.

  Lily was sitting on Granny’s lap and I could see she had been crying. Tear streaks were still visible on her little cheeks and small bubbles of mucus erupted from her red nose. She didn’t hold out her arms when she saw me and I had a terrible thought that she might have forgotten me. I was also alarmed to see how tired my grandparents looked so I went over and picked her up.

  Granny looked relieved when she saw me. ‘Oh, it’s good to see you, Ann. Poor Lily is not herself these days and she’s had this awful cough. I was convinced last week that she had whooping cough but it’s not that and she’s a wee bit better now.’

  Another worrying fact was the coldness of the room, especially after the warmth of Mrs Barrie’s house. Although a fire was lit, it wasn’t a big blaze. On seeing my expression, Granny explained, ‘I have to eke out the coal. I was expecting your dad to hand some money in over the last week but he hasn’t shown up.’ She sounded as evasive as Danny had been on the journey home. I was sure of that.

  Grandad lay asleep in his chair by the fire. Every now and again a sleepy grunt would escape, followed by a melody of snoring ripples.

  Danny shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at his feet before saying, ‘I’ll get away now, Ann. I have to visit Ma Ryan and Kit this afternoon but I’ll see you later.’ He stopped at the door. ‘Oh, by the way, Maddie wants to see you so we’ll both come over tonight.’

  I ran after him. ‘Danny, before you go. Do you remember I mentioned Ma’s warning about a blackbird? Well, there’s loads of them at the Ferry and I’m really scared of them. Can you ask her what she meant?’

  He promised he would and, for the first time ever, I suddenly realised he was thankful to be leaving. Something was going on and I intended to get to the bottom of it – only don’t let it be Lily, I prayed silently.

  I made some milky Farola for her and began spooning the creamy mixture into her mouth. She cried and stretched, almost knocking the spoon from my hand but slowly, as she focused on my face, she relaxed and ate it all. Afterwards she fell sound asleep.

  ‘Well, that’s unbelievable,’ said Granny. ‘I could honestly swear it’s you she’s missing, Ann, and, now that you’re back, she’s settled.’ She went over to the gas cooker only to find the meter needed pennies. ‘Honestly, if it’s not chucking coal on the fire, it’s stuffing this meter with money. But Danny’s been good to us. He bought a bag of coal last week for us but, with Lily not being well, we had to keep the fire burning day and night.’

  She stepped down from the chair after placing three pennies in the meter which lay on the top shelf above the sink. She lit the flame under the kettle. ‘Still we’ll feel better after a strong cup of tea and you can tell me all about your grand job.’

  I handed over the big bag of scones that had been a present from Mrs Peters and I noticed she had also included a small slab of butter. Granny was overcome by this unknown woman’s kindness and I was instructed to make her thanks known on Tuesday.

  Later, with Lily asleep in the pram, I gave Granny the twelve and sixpence and the look of delight on her face was a joy to behold. ‘Oh, Ann, this is a godsend and no mistake but you’ll need some money for yourself.’ She sounded evasive. ‘And what about some for your dad?’

  ‘No, Granny, maybe when you’re a wee bit better off, then I’ll take something for myself but all I want is my bus fares for next week.’ As for Dad, well I was angry at him for not supporting Lily. ‘I’m not sure about Dad. He should have brought some of his dole money to you and Grandad.’

  Granny murmured sadly, ‘Well, we all know what he’s like so we’ll see.’

  Later that night I got Lily ready for bed. Granny had placed the bottle of camphorated oil on the fender by the fire. I rubbed a few drops into her chest and back. Its pungency almost made my eyes water but it was good for chesty colds and was nearly always used on children during the winter months. Grandad made a huge bowl of saps for her – a large slice of bread covered with hot milk and sugar. Although I hated this dish, Grandad assured me that this delicacy was a huge hit with Lily.

  By now, I was beginning to think I had imagined the tension and I put the evasive feeling down to my over sensitivity which itself was a legacy of Miss Hood’s strangeness. Anyway, one minute there were just the four of us in the room and I was beginning to relax and the next Bella bounced in, followed immediately by Hattie. As usual Bella got to the comfiest chair first. On seeing two visitors, Grandad said he was going to the toilet at the end of the lobby. I thought of my own little bathroom at the Ferry and wished my grandparents had a lovely house with all the amenities instead of this constant struggle for survival.

  Hattie was behaving strangely. She was making signs to Granny but stopped suddenly when she saw me looking at her. She fiddled with the piece of fur around her neck. This long-dead animal was a loathsome-looking thing with glassy, beady eyes that gazed unblinkingly at me. Bella, on the other hand, was looking at the two women with a malicious gleam and I realised that, for some unknown reason, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

  As for the tension, well, it was so thick that I could almost cut it. No sooner had I started to speak than Hattie began in the same instant. We both stopped but, when I looked at her, she remained silent. She looked at Granny with a will-I-or-won’t-I-tell-her look. To say I was now truly worried was an understatement and I looked at Granny with my puzzled face. Bella didn’t quite rub her hands together but I got the feeling she did it mentally.

  Granny squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and looked straight at me. ‘Ann, there’s something I have to tell you.’ My heart thumped painfully at the thought of bad news. ‘It’s about your dad.’

  I jumped up from my chair and ran over to her. ‘He’s all right, isn’t he? Has he been ill or hurt?’ I shouted, aware my voice sounded loud in the confines of the small room.

  Granny held up her hand. ‘No, he’s fine. It’s just that …’ She stopped and looked helplessly at Hattie. ‘It’s just that he’s getting married again … to a woman who lives in Ann Street – a Mrs Davidson.’

  ‘Better known as the Merry Widow,’ said Bella gleefully.

  Hattie pursed her lips and looked at her in disgust. ‘You would say that, wouldn’t you?’ she said sharply.

  But Bella wasn’t going to be ousted from her moment of glory. ‘Well, that’s what she is. She’s put three men under the grou
nd and collected their insurance policies. That came to few bob, I bet.’

  Granny was now annoyed. ‘For heaven’s sake, you both make her sound like Dundee’s version of Lucrezia Borgia. Mrs Davidson’s men were hardly murder victims. The first two died in the war and the last one fell overboard from a boat and was drowned.’

  Although I didn’t contradict Granny, I couldn’t see how these tragic deaths could possibly be classed as natural causes.

  ‘She’s a scarlet woman,’ said Bella, obviously with a bee in her bonnet about this woman who was still unknown to me. ‘She’s the one that wears her lipstick right up to her nose and she plasters on the powder and rouge – a real painted-up madam if ever there was one. Trying to attract a man by false pretences and now she’s landed another sucker.’

  Poor Bella, I thought, she was certainly jealous of the other woman’s prowess on the attraction scales. I felt sorry for Bella – all the rouge and powder in the world wouldn’t improve her plain looks.

  Although shocked by this news, especially so soon after Mum’s death, I still couldn’t understand all the hostility. Surely they all wanted Dad to be happy.

  Hattie had remained silent after her abortive attempt to speak but she now butted in. ‘She’s a really common person and her neighbours all say that her house is a pigsty. Mind you, if she’s always on the lookout for a man, then she’ll not have time to clean the house.’

  Bella, who waited impatiently for Hattie to stop speaking, now produced her trump card. She looked at me slyly. ‘Of course, she doesn’t want any dealings with you or Lily. It’s just your father she wants – no encumbrances is how she’s putting it around the Hilltown. Another thing, she doesn’t think your father should pay a penny towards Lily’s upkeep. It’s your responsibility now that you’ve got a job, Ann.’

  Anger exploded inside me like an erupting volcano. I looked at Granny but she just shrugged her shoulders and glared at Bella. ‘Well, maybe the woman didn’t say these things, Ann. You know what the gossip is like on the streets.’