Dream a Little Dream

by Joan Jonker

  Abbie searched her friend’s face. The fair hair wasn’t in plaits like it used to be, it was cut in a fashionable short bob and suited her. Her complexion was rosy and her blue eyes as full of devilment as they’d always been. Even when she was getting told off by a teacher for talking in class she never looked scared like the other girls did. ‘You’ve changed though, Amelia Jamieson,’ Abbie said cheekily. ‘Where’s your blinking plaits?’

  ‘If you tell me where yer Shirley Temple curls have gone, I’ll tell yer where my plaits went. And that’s on the kitchen floor when me mam decided to take the scissors to them when I was going for an interview for me first job. She made such a mess of me hair I had to go to the hairdresser’s to get it cut properly.’

  They made an attractive couple standing together holding hands. Both girls were the same height, both with slim figures maturing into womanhood. Abbie began to giggle, and in a childish voice, said, ‘If I lend you my skipping rope, Milly, will you let me play with your top and whip?’

  Milly pouted her lips. ‘Only if yer let me have a go on yer scooter. I’ll only go to the bottom of the street on it, honest injun.’ She stamped her foot in pretend anger. ‘Ye’re a meanie, you are, Abbie Dennison, and I’m not going to be your friend any more. So there!’ Once again she stamped her foot, bringing forth laughter from those watching.

  Then Beryl said, ‘Did yer not notice we’ve got another stranger in the camp, Milly? If you say hello to him, and yer Uncle Bob, then perhaps we can all sit down.’

  ‘Hello, Nigel.’ The girl became shy and couldn’t think of what to say. The last time she’d seen this man he was a ten-year-old boy in short grey trousers and he used to chase after her to pull her hair. The best she could come up with was, ‘You haven’t half grown tall.’

  ‘And you’ve grown very pretty, Milly,’ Nigel told her. ‘Pretty as a picture.’

  ‘Ay, what about me?’ Bill Jamieson asked with a smile. ‘All these compliments flying around and not one’s come my way!’

  Abbie went to give him a kiss. ‘Next to my dad, you’re the most handsome man in the whole wide world, Uncle Bill.’

  ‘That’s more like it, I hate being missed out.’ He winked at his wife. ‘My one used to pay me compliments, didn’t yer, love? But what was it yer said to me the other night? That we were getting too old now to be soppy?’

  ‘D’yer know what, Bob? The older he gets, the dafter he gets! Because the mirror doesn’t tell him he’s handsome, he expects me to tell him. I’m supposed to lie through me flaming teeth, just to keep him happy!’

  ‘Well, I’m going to take him for a pint now, Beryl, so I won’t forget to throw the odd bit of flattery in now and again.’ Robert was thinking how easygoing the talk was in this house compared to the one he lived in. No stiff, unnatural conversation here, just a happy family being themselves. ‘Is that all right with you, Bill?’

  ‘I thought yer’d never ask, Bob! We’ll leave the young ones to catch up on old times. Is Nigel coming with us?’

  ‘Can I follow you on?’ Nigel asked. ‘There’s something I’d like to do first. But where will you be if I need to find you?’

  ‘Turn left at the bottom of the road and yer’ll find us in the first pub yer come to. Yer can’t miss it, it’s on the corner of the street.’

  When the two men had left, Beryl cast an enquiring glance at Nigel. ‘Have you got a heavy date that yer dad doesn’t know about?’

  He blushed, hoping she didn’t dig deeper and find he had never had a date with a girl. At his age, it was normal to have a girlfriend. ‘No, Auntie Beryl, I haven’t got a date. I was hoping to meet up with Bobby Neary, if that’s possible. I’d really like to see him again for old times’ sake and to find out how life is treating him.’

  It was hard to say whose laugh was the loudest, Beryl’s or her daughter’s. ‘Yer won’t find Bobby in, son, he’s out every night, jazzing. With his blond hair sleeked back, his dance shoes under his arm, he’s a real lady-killer. Takes a different girl home every night and yer never see him with the same one twice.’

  ‘So he won’t be in, then?’

  ‘Not a chance, love.’ Beryl chuckled. ‘His mam said she’s given up on him and doesn’t think he’ll ever settle down. She told me in a joke that she’d thought of tying him to a chair with the clothes line, just to keep him in one night, then decided he’d probably bite through the rope. “If he had to miss one night’s dancing, I think he’d have a bleedin’ heart attack.” That’s what Rose said. It’s all he lives for.’

  ‘He can’t half dance, though, Mam,’ Milly said. ‘He’s the best I’ve ever seen, and all the girls swoon over him.’

  ‘You go to the same dance halls, do you, Milly?’ Nigel asked, more eager than ever to see his old friend. ‘Local, or in town?’

  ‘Right now, Bobby Neary will be thrilling some girl with his dashing waltz or passionate tango. And it’s only a matter of yards from where you’re sitting. He’ll be in Balfour Hall on the corner of the street.’

  ‘Why don’t you go down there?’ Beryl asked. ‘Give him the surprise of his life.’

  Her daughter pulled a face. ‘Mam, nothing in this world would surprise Bobby Neary. Anyway, it’s dark in the hall, Nigel would never recognise him.’

  ‘Well, you and Abbie go with him! Yer’ve no need to stay once yer’ve got the two boys together. Do you dance, Abbie?’

  ‘Never been to a dance in my life, Auntie Beryl, and neither has Nigel.’ Abbie decided Bobby Neary sounded just what her brother needed. Someone of his own age who enjoyed life, who would get him out of the stifling relationship with his mother and older sister. ‘But I don’t mind going with them so he can see his friend.’

  Milly was looking at her with mouth agape. ‘Yer mean to tell me yer’ve never been to a dance! What the heck do yer do with yerself then?’

  ‘Not much,’ Abbie told her truthfully. ‘I’ll tell you about it some time. Right now, though, let’s go with our Nigel.’ She reached for her friend’s hand. ‘I’ve found you again – let’s help him find his old mate.’

  ‘They’ll charge yer at the door, yer know,’ Beryl said. ‘Yer’ll not get in for nothing just because yer want to see someone in there.’

  ‘That’s all right, Auntie Beryl,’ Nigel told her. ‘I’ve got money on me. We’ll be back before you know it, because if Bobby’s as keen on dancing as you say, he won’t want to be bothered by me. But at least I can try and make arrangements to see him another night.’

  ‘OK, come on, then.’ Milly jerked her head. ‘We won’t be long, Mam.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that, sweetheart, yer might just get a click. If yer do, though, make sure there’s something other than fresh air between his ears. Not like the last boy yer brought home, he was as thick as two short planks.’

  Her daughter grinned. ‘He was nice-looking though, and yer can’t have everything, Mam.’

  ‘It helps to have a brain, sweetheart,’ Beryl said, wanting, like every other mother, only the best for her beloved daughter. ‘Now go on, poppy off.’

  ‘You go in, I’ll wait out here,’ Abbie said. ‘Nothing usually puts the wind up me, but I just can’t bring myself to go in there.’

  ‘Don’t be such a daft nit.’ Milly took her arm in a tight grip and dragged her forward. ‘It’s usually crowded so yer won’t even be noticed.’ She gave Nigel a knowing look. ‘It’s tuppence each to get in and there’s a man on the door to take yer money. You pay while I drag yer suddenly shy sister in – by the hair if necessary.’

  Nigel wasn’t feeling very brave himself, but he knew there was a first time for everything and if he wanted any sort of life at all, he had to make the effort. He took a silver sixpence from his pocket and handed it to the man standing just inside the door. ‘Three, please.’

  The man put the money in a box before spotting the two girls. ‘Hello, Milly, ye’re late tonight.’

  ‘These are two friends of mine, George, who I haven’t seen for ten
years. So we’ve been gabbing. Tell me, is Bobby Neary here?’

  ‘That’s a daft question,’ the man chuckled. ‘Have yer ever known him miss a Wednesday yet? Dance mad, he is.’

  ‘Well, we won’t hold him up for long. My friends just want a word with him.’

  Abbie held on tight to her friend’s arm when they entered the darkness of the hall. ‘Don’t you dare leave me.’

  Milly’s eyes were travelling over the dancers. Some couples on the floor were learners and just walking around, while the good dancers twisted and swayed as though dancing on air. Then she saw who she was looking for. ‘There he is, dancing with the dark-haired girl in the blue dress.’

  While Nigel stared as though he didn’t believe his eyes, Abbie gasped, ‘That’s not Bobby Neary, surely?’

  ‘The one and only,’ Milly laughed. ‘The world couldn’t cope with two like him.’

  ‘He’s a very good dancer,’ Nigel said, remembering the boy who didn’t care whether his trousers had a hole in them, or whether he had a tide-mark around his neck. ‘Who would have thought it?’

  ‘He’s not a bad-looking lad,’ Abbie said. ‘He used to be smaller than you, Nigel, but I’d say you’re about the same height now.’

  ‘The record’s coming to an end,’ Milly said. ‘I’ll nab him as he leaves the floor.’ She waited until the dancers were returning to their seats, then walked on to the floor and put a hand on the arm of the unsuspecting young man. ‘Hi, Bobby.’

  ‘Milly! I’ve been looking out for yer. Will yer have the next foxtrot with me?’

  ‘I haven’t come to dance, Bobby, I’ve got a surprise for yer. Someone yer haven’t seen for a long time is waiting to meet yer.’ Without further ado, or explanation, she pulled the lad to where Nigel and Abbie were standing. ‘Well, is this a surprise or not?’

  Bobby, shoulders and eyes on a level with Nigel’s, stared hard. It only took a couple of seconds for recognition to dawn. ‘Well, I’ll be darned. Nigel Dennison!’ He looked as pleased as Punch as he thrust out one hand and gripped Nigel’s arm with the other. ‘Me old mate! Me old slide-down-the-embankment-and-tear-our-kecks mate! Well, I never expected to see you again – I thought yer’d forgotten I existed. I know yer’ve gone up in the world ’cos I see yer dad’s posh car now and again.’ His face split into a wide grin. ‘I thought yer’d gone all stuck-up and toffee-nosed.’

  Nigel’s cup of happiness was overflowing. In the space of an hour or so, he had been reunited with his beloved grandparents, and now the only real friend he’d ever had was smiling and looking genuinely pleased to see him. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Bobby, but stuck-up and toffee-nosed I am not! And anyway, when have you ever worried what a person had or didn’t have? You weren’t that fussy at school if I remember rightly. When you were getting the cane off the history teacher, I never heard you say that if you had to be caned, you would prefer the headmaster did it.’

  Bobby was so pleased to see his old friend he was rubbing his hands and grinning like the cat that got the cream. ‘It’s great to see yer, mate.’ He glanced down at Abbie. ‘Is this yer girlfriend?’

  Abbie found her voice. ‘It’s not that flipping dark in here, Bobby Neary! Would yer like me to show you the bald patch on my head where you pulled my hair out?’

  ‘Well, I’ll go to the bottom of our stairs.’ Bobby was really taken aback. ‘If it isn’t little Abbie! Only ye’re not little any more, yer went and growed up. Well, well, well! I’ll tell yer what, kid, yer couldn’t half run. By the time I caught up with yer, I didn’t have enough strength to pull yer flipping hair.’

  Abbie pointed an accusing finger. ‘You could have fooled me! I wouldn’t let you see it, but I sometimes went home crying.’

  ‘If I promise not to pull yer hair, will yer have this dance with me? I did ask Milly, but that would mean you dancing with yer brother and I know yer wouldn’t want that.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t dance. And neither can Nigel.’

  ‘Can’t dance!’ Bobby’s voice rose in disbelief. He looked at Nigel. ‘What the heck have yer been doing with yer life, mate? Everybody can dance!’

  ‘Everybody but me and Abbie,’ Nigel told him with a grin. ‘But we can both ice-skate.’

  ‘Ice-skate! Yer can’t ruddy ice-skate on this floor, mate!’

  Abbie was chuckling inside. ‘I can do hand-stands, Bobby.’

  ‘Well, you could certainly do that here, and I’m sure all the blokes would love yer to. But I think George would take exception and throw yer out.’

  ‘Look, we don’t want to spoil the night for you,’ Nigel said, ‘so why don’t you have a dance with Milly while we watch. Then we’ll go and leave you to trip as many light fantastics as you like.’

  ‘No, yer don’t have to do that. I don’t mind missing a few dances, honestly.’

  ‘I never thought the day would come when I’d hear you say that, Bobby Neary,’ Milly said. ‘I’ve seen yer here when yer were dying of a cold, with a bright red runny nose, when yer should have been at home in bed. Then another time, at Star of the Sea, two of yer fingers were in splints ’cos yer’d broken them at work. But even that didn’t stop yer dancing.’

  ‘I don’t dance on me nose, or me fingers, clever clogs. Anyway, come and finish this dance off with me, and don’t gab all the time ’cos it puts me off me stroke.’

  Brother and sister watched Bobby lead Milly on to the dance-floor. ‘He hasn’t changed a bit,’ Nigel said fondly. ‘Always laughing and full of fun.’

  ‘Don’t lose him now you’ve found him again,’ Abbie told him. ‘You need a good mate, someone who can take you to places and show you how to have a good time. You’ve been stuck with Mother and Victoria too much and have been missing out on life, so grab the chance while you’ve got it. I know I’m going to.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ll be seeing much of Bobby, not if he goes dancing every night. Just look at him, he’s really very good. And Milly doesn’t have any problem keeping up with him, either.’

  ‘If you and I intend to get any enjoyment out of life, then we’re going to have to learn to dance, Nigel, like everybody else our age. Rowena goes dancing but I’ve never been with her because I knew if I asked Mother I’d be scoffed at for going to such common places. But I don’t care what she says now, I’m going to start enjoying myself. So, brother dear, you and I are going to learn to dance as well as Milly and Bobby can.’ She saw her brother look at the dancers with dismay, and giggled. ‘No, I don’t mean making a fool of ourselves here. There are dancing schools where you can have private tuition, and that’s what we need. We’ll have a word with Dad, and if he approves we can find where the nearest dancing school is. Does that appeal to you?’

  Never as outgoing as his sister, Nigel looked apprehensive. ‘Would we be able to go together?’

  ‘I don’t know any more than you do, I’ve never even thought about it before. But I imagine we could be taught as a couple, and that would be great. We could practise at home, then, and learn much quicker.’

  This cheered her brother up. ‘That sounds great, Abbie, as long as we go together.’

  The dance finished and Milly and Bobby joined them. ‘Yer don’t know what ye’re missing, Abbie. Dancing is a wonderful feeling.’ Milly linked her friend’s arm. ‘If yer’ve got a good partner who’s light on his feet, it’s like floating on clouds.’

  ‘I hope that’s not a dig at me, Milly Jamieson.’ Bobby put on a bulldog expression. ‘I’m noted for me light feet, and all me partners tell me they feel as though they’re floating on clouds.’

  ‘That’s because the stuff yer put on yer hair smells so strong it probably makes them feel light-headed,’ Milly said in an effort to take him down a peg or two. She began to sway from side to side. ‘Like this, yer see.’

  ‘Keep still, yer daft nit, ye’re making me feel seasick.’ Bobby spread out his hands to Abbie. ‘I suppose yer know this mate of yours is two sheets to the wind? She works in an office,
too, but I’ll never know how she keeps her job. Mind you, for all we know she wheels the tea trolley around.’

  ‘Where do you work, Bobby?’ Nigel asked. ‘I remember you used to say you wanted to be a train driver.’

  ‘I’m at Owen Peck’s, the wood merchants. Been there since I left school. Do you work?’

  Nigel thanked heaven he was able to say, ‘Yes, I work for my dad.’

  ‘Have you got a Bentley, too?’

  Once again Nigel was thankful he didn’t have to tell an outright lie. ‘No, I am not the proud owner of a Bentley. Not yet, anyway.’

  ‘Don’t be so ruddy nosy, Bobby Neary,’ Milly said. ‘Yer’ll be asking him how much he earns next.’

  ‘No, I’ll leave that until the next time we meet. He’s caught me unawares tonight, but it won’t happen again. I’ll have a list of questions for him next time. Like when is he going to pay me back the bull’s-eye I gave him? He needn’t think he can give me the old one back ’cos he’ll have licked all the colour off by now. So I want a new bull’s-eye, or I’ll settle for two liquorice sticks instead.’

  ‘I bet you’d be childish enough to eat them, too!’ Abbie was completely relaxed now and enjoying the exchange. ‘I remember you always had something stuck in your mouth.’

  ‘I still have.’ Bobby pushed out his tongue. ‘See, it’s been stuck in me mouth all me life and I’m quite attached to it, if yer see what I mean.’

  ‘Ye’re wasting yer time trying to get one over on him,’ Milly said, knowing from experience how sharp the lad was. ‘He’ll have the last word if it kills him.’

  ‘I wouldn’t, yer know, not if it was going to kill me. I’m too young and too good-looking to die. Think what some poor girl would be missing if I did?’ He squinted an eye at Nigel. ‘Have you got a girlfriend?’