by Joan Jonker
‘Yer’ve never talked like this before, sweetheart. I’d be very upset if I thought Bob wasn’t happy in his marriage. He’s been so good to us over the years, better than any son. In fact, in my eyes he is our son.’
‘Yes, we’ve got to count our blessings there. And it’s through him we’ve got to see our grandchildren again at last. Two of them, anyway.’
Joe, whose chair was facing the window, sprung to his feet. ‘They’re here, sweetheart.’
His wife flew into the hall, pulling her jumper down and smoothing her skirt. The smile on her face when she opened the door told of her happiness. ‘It’s good to see yer. I thought today would never come.’
Abbie wrapped her arms around the frail figure and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘Grandma, you look so pretty!’ Then she caught sight of Joe standing by the living-room door. ‘And who is that handsome man I see?’
Nigel was getting impatient standing on the step. ‘Come on, Abbie, give someone else a chance.’
When kisses and greetings had been exchanged, Robert was at last able to enter the house to pass on his compliments. ‘You both look splendid. I bet you’ll be the best-looking couple in Southport.’
Ada pushed him playfully in the chest. ‘D’yer think if me and Joe pretend we’re not together we might get a click?’
‘If a woman so much as glanced at Joe, you’d scratch her eyes out, Ada Brady. You’re a one-man woman.’ Robert looked from the elderly couple to his two children. There were three generations in the small room, and his heart was full that he’d been able to bring them together. ‘Get your coats on and let’s be on our way.’
When Ada reached for the coat hanging ready over the back of a chair, Nigel took it from her and held it out for her to slip her arms in. And Abbie helped Joe on with his. There were tears glistening in his faded eyes, but he wasn’t going to spoil the day by allowing them to fall. ‘It’s been a long time since me and the wife were waited on, isn’t it, sweetheart?’
‘It is that, love, but I could get used to it if I was coaxed enough.’ Ada fastened the buttons on the navy blue coat which had cost five shillings at the market. It was in quite good condition, but then it should be, five shillings was a lot of money. And Joe’s black overcoat cost seven and six, which was a fortune!
When Robert was opening the car doors, several neighbours came out to stand on their front step. ‘Hello, Bob, how’s things?’ one woman called.
‘I’m fine thanks, Betty, how’s the family?’
‘Everyone’s fine, even that lazy sod of a husband of mine.’
‘Take no notice of her, Bob.’ Another woman, her arms folded across her tummy, was shaking with laughter. ‘That’s not a husband she’s got, he’s a gift from God. She doesn’t know she’s born. I’ve told her I’ll swap hers for mine, then she’d really know what a lazy sod is.’
Florrie, another neighbour, said, ‘If it’s lazy sods we’re talking about, I’ll bet my husband would beat theirs hands down. He’s that bleedin’ lazy, he doesn’t even turn over in bed. I’m waiting for the day when he asks me to breathe for him.’
Nigel, who was helping his grandparents into the car, had his ears cocked. His dad was obviously very well liked in the street he was born in. That was because he hadn’t changed, was still the same person he’d always been. He didn’t put on any airs and graces. ‘Granda, would you rather sit in the front seat, and I’ll sit in the back with Grandma and Abbie?’
‘No, son, I’d rather sit with the wife. You sit in the front.’
When they were all settled, Robert waved to the women. ‘Betty, Nellie, Florrie, look after yourselves and remember me to your husbands.’ He slid into the driver’s seat and turned to make sure those in the back were comfortable. Abbie was sitting in the middle so her grandparents could look out of the windows, and the happiness on the three faces brought a lump to his throat. ‘Right, off we go.’
Robert decided to drive down the Dock Road so Joe could see the big ships being loaded and unloaded. And it turned out to be a good decision because the old man was excited as he pointed out the various ships to his wife, telling her their country of origin. ‘That’s very interesting, Joe, how do you know all this?’
‘I’ve always been interested in ships, Bob; they fascinate me, even though I’ve never set foot on one. So the week I retired from work, I bought meself a book which tells everything about them, in words and pictures. The number of funnels they’ve got, the colours of the flag they sail under, the knots they do and even the tonnage. And I’ll tell yer, lad, I’ve had me money’s worth out of that book, it’s helped pass many hours away.’
‘I’d like to see that book sometime, Granda,’ Nigel said, turning his head to smile at the old man, who, with his wife, was giving a lot more meaning to life. He felt a sense of belonging now that he hadn’t felt since he was a young boy. ‘You’ll have to show it to me and explain the difference in the ships and what part of the world they come from. It’s all part of my education, and you can be my teacher.’
Joe looked as proud as a peacock. ‘I’ll do that, son, and get a real kick out of it. My wife is so fed up with me trying to get her interested in the book, she’s threatened a few times to throw it on the fire.’
Ada leaned across Abbie to cover her husband’s hand. ‘Now yer know I wouldn’t really do that, love, I’ve only ever said it in jest. I wouldn’t dream of throwing something on the fire that means so much to yer.’
‘It doesn’t mean as much to me as you do, sweetheart.’
‘Away with yer, yer’ll have the children thinking ye’re a soppy old man.’
‘Ah, no we won’t, Granda!’ Abbie felt like hugging them both to her, to make up for some of the love she’d lost in the time she didn’t even know they still existed. But she knew they were sentimental, like herself, and that they’d end up weeping buckets. ‘I think it’s lovely when people express their feelings for someone. If that means being soppy – well, I hope the man I marry is very soppy.’
‘Better make sure of that before you marry him, my dear, otherwise you might get a big disappointment.’ Robert’s tone was light, but there wasn’t a person in the car who didn’t know that he was speaking from experience. ‘Once you get the ring on your finger there is little you can do if you find things not to your liking.’
‘There’s always divorce, Dad!’ Nigel was laughing so his words wouldn’t be taken seriously, but he’d been asking himself recently how much longer his father could tolerate the life he was leading. That the marriage was loveless was plain to anyone who was in the company of his parents for five minutes. They never exchanged a look that said they even liked each other, never mind loved each other. Never kissed, hugged or held hands. And Nigel didn’t need anyone to tell him it was all down to his mother. He couldn’t remember the last time she kissed him, or his sisters, or showed any affection. In fact, she didn’t seem capable of any emotion. His father was always civil to his wife, even though she was disrespectful, constantly complaining and humiliating him at every opportunity. ‘I know a divorce is not easy to come by, but at least it’s worth a try and better than two people living together in misery.’
‘Oh, I don’t think it’ll come to divorce with yer grandma and me,’ Joe said. ‘I mean, the ruddy book doesn’t mean that much to me.’
Robert had turned the car around and they were driving back the way they had come. Through Seaforth, then Waterloo to Crosby. Now it was Ada’s turn to point excitedly through the windows at the big posh houses. ‘I’d buy yer one of them, sweetheart, but they’d be a bit big for the two of us.’
Joe laughed. ‘We could always get a cat and dog to help fill the place up.’
Nigel sat back in his seat only half listening to the conversation. He was carrying a dark secret around and it was weighing heavily on his mind. Yesterday, after dinner, he had retired to the drawing room with his mother and Victoria. He didn’t feel at ease with them now, and would have preferred not to be in their co
mpany. But he was in the drawing room before he realised his father had gone to his study to enjoy a cigar, and Abbie had gone straight up to her room. While he was thinking up an excuse to leave, his mother had asked him to go to her bedroom and bring down the book from the side of the bed. He’d picked up the book and was on his way out of the bedroom when he noticed the light was on in the dressing-room. The switch was inside the dressing-room, and it was when he was reaching in to flick it off that he noticed the single bed was made up and a pair of pyjamas were folded neatly on top. This had saddened him so much, he’d run down the stairs, practically threw the book at his mother and left the room without bothering to make an excuse. And it had preyed on his mind ever since. He knew things were not good between his parents, but for his father to be reduced to sleeping on a tiny bed in his dressing-room was just too much to take in. How long had things been this bad? And Agnes must know his parents were no longer sleeping together because she’d be the one to make the bed up. His mother certainly wouldn’t, she’d consider such a menial task beneath her.
‘That was a deep sigh for such a young man,’ Robert said. ‘It sounded as though you have the troubles of the whole world on your shoulders.’
‘No, not at all.’ Nigel didn’t realise he had sighed. There was no way he would want to add to his father’s worries. ‘It was a sigh of contentment, Dad. Being chauffeured in a very comfortable car, in the company of my father, sister and grandparents. What more could a man ask for?’
‘Well said, son.’ Ada leaned forward to pat him on the back. ‘I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’s a day me and Joe will spend the whole week talking about. And the neighbours will be knocking first thing in the morning, wanting to know all about it.’
‘Then we’d better make sure you have plenty to tell them,’ Robert said. ‘In fact, you’d better write it all down so you don’t leave anything out. You see, although we arranged this as an outing for you and Joe, it’s also a treat for my two children. Nigel was twenty-one a few days ago, and Abbie is eighteen in two days’ time. I bought Nigel a car for his birthday, but so far Abbie hasn’t made up her mind what she’d like. However, both were quite definite they didn’t want a party. So to celebrate a number of occasions, I thought we’d have tea at Matti and Tissot’s on Lord Street. Does that meet with your approval?’
‘Ooh, er,’ Ada said. ‘Is that as posh as it sounds, son?’
‘Nothing is too posh for us, my dear. I promise you’ll love it.’
Ada wasn’t so sure. ‘Do all the ladies wear hats?’
Abbie giggled and squeezed the old woman’s hand. ‘Grandma, I haven’t got a hat on. So if they throw you out, they’ll have to throw me, as well.’
They were now driving through the country and the big houses with their massive gardens had Ada gasping. ‘Just look at that one, Joe, isn’t it beautiful!’
‘It is that, sweetheart. Our whole street would fit into the garden. Whoever lives there must be rolling in money.’
Just in time, Nigel bit back the words that would tell them the Dennisons’ back garden was just as big. He didn’t want to hurt them by letting them know the daughter who had disowned them lived in the lap of luxury.
The delight shown by Ada and Joe at everything they saw, made the day especially happy for Robert and his children. He parked the car and they strolled along the promenade, stopping at the marine lake to watch the swans gliding gracefully by. Then they walked to Lord Street with its expensive shopping arcades. Everything was new and exciting for the old couple. The shops weren’t open as it was Sunday, but Ada was fascinated by them. ‘My God,’ she said, giving Joe a dig in the ribs. ‘Look at the price of that dress! It’s more than we get to live on for a year, and there’s no more than three yards of material in it. If anyone paid that for one dress they must have more bleedin’ money than sense.’
Robert was standing behind them, highly amused. He stuck his head between theirs and said, ‘They’d want their bleedin’ bumps feeling, wouldn’t they, Ada?’
She pulled a face at him. ‘Ay, ye’re not supposed to be listening, so if yer hear me swear it’s yer own look-out.’
Nigel and Abbie were looking in a jeweller’s window near by. ‘How can Mother not want to see the two wonderful people who are her father and mother?’ Abbie asked. ‘I’ll never be able to understand her. I love the bones of them.’
‘What I can’t understand is why she is so different from them,’ Nigel said. ‘They are warm, affectionate and funny, and she’s so cold and aloof. It’s hard to believe she’s their flesh and blood.’
‘I’m glad Dad never let them down, or they’d have been on their own all these years without a soul to call on if they were cold and hungry. I’m proud of Dad, he’s a smashing man and I love him very much.’
‘I’m proud of him, too. He’s a truly remarkable man.’ Nigel would have loved to confide in his sister, but it wouldn’t be fair to worry her. Nor would it be fair on his father. ‘He’s put up with more than you or I will ever know.’
Robert called to them, ‘Come along, time for Matti and Tissot’s and their delicious, mouthwatering cakes.’
Ada hardly opened her mouth during the next hour. Her eyes were agog at the fashionable coats and hats on the people sat at tables around them. And they spoke so far back she kept nudging Joe’s knee to make sure he wasn’t missing anything. When Betty and Florrie called in the morning she was relying on him to remember what she’d forgotten. Not that she was likely to forget anything, the afternoon had been a real eye-opener for her. I mean, how could she forget the bone china cups they were drinking from, the real silver cutlery, the serviettes and the two glass stands on the table covered with cakes the likes of which she’d never seen before? And although the cakes really were delicious, it has to be said the three Dennisons got more pleasure out of watching her changing expressions.
Ada’s quietness lasted until they were back in the car, then right through the drive home she had them in stitches. Adopting a haughty expression, and posing with a pretend cigarette-holder between her fingers, she took off one of the women who’d been sat at the table next to theirs. ‘Oh, my dear, I know! It was ab-so-lute-ly dreadful!’ Then she lowered her hand and leaned forward to impersonate the woman’s companion. ‘I could not believe it, darling, I was truly horrified! One doesn’t expect that sort of behavior from a friend, does one?’
After waiting for the laughter to die down, Ada moved to the table situated on the other side of them. Her fingers laced together under her chin, her voice sugary sweet, she drawled, ‘My dear Dorothea, Guy is quite the most charming man. A real poppet.’ To which darling Dorothea’s companion answered, ‘Yes, I agree, Penelope, the man is charm itself. And very popular, I might add. Always invited to the best parties – and the gels simply adore him!’
Ada bent her head and hugged her tummy as she rocked with laughter at her thoughts. ‘I can’t see that lot having a jars out, knees-up do, what us common folk have. I can imagine the look on their faces if they were offered a bottle of milk stout and a brawn sandwich. They’d reach for the smelling salts and take to their bleedin’ beds.’
Robert took a hand from the steering wheel to wipe his eyes. ‘You don’t envy them, then, Ada? Wouldn’t swap places with them?’
‘Swap places with them! Not on your nellie I wouldn’t! They don’t know what life is, that lot. They’re too polished for my liking. And I’ll tell yer what, this Guy feller might be charming but he’s not a patch on my Joe.’
The love for his wife shining for all to see, Joe said, ‘And for all their fancy clothes and their posh talk, you’d knock spots off them any day.’
Ada had quite enjoyed talking posh, and decided to have another go. To practise it, like, ready for the neighbours tomorrow. ‘Oh, my darling Joseph, that is so sweet of you! But next time we have a party we really must invite Guy, he is so charming and such a poppet.’
The car turned into Arthur Street with loud laughter coming
through the open windows from five happy people. ‘It’s been a grand day, Bob,’ Joe said as he was being helped out of the car. ‘Me and Ada will be talking about it for a long time to come.’
‘There’ll be many more days, Joe, so while you’re talking about this one, you can be looking forward to the next. Now you go inside while I fetch something from the boot.’
When Robert entered the living room with two large brown bags, Ada was being helped out of her coat. ‘Ye’re going to stay and have a cup of tea and a bite to eat, aren’t yer.’ She’d bought a quarter of boiled ham, which was a rarity in the small house, and some cakes and biscuits. And she still had plenty left out of Bob’s five pound note to entertain visitors for the next month or so. That the visitors would be her grandchildren filled her heart with joy. ‘I can’t promise yer china cups or posh cakes, but the cups will be clean and the cakes from Allerton’s.’
‘Of course we will.’ Robert placed the bags on the table and began to undo his coat. Not for the world would he disappoint her. He’d got to know her very well over the years and was aware that she would have bought food she wouldn’t normally buy, just for their benefit. ‘Nigel and Abbie will be going straight to Balfour Road from here, so a sandwich will make up for them missing their dinner.’
Ada rolled up the sleeves of her jumper and said briskly, ‘Well, move those bags off the table so I can make a start.’
‘I’ll give you a hand, Grandma,’ Abbie said. ‘I can make quite a good pot of tea, and I’m capable of buttering bread.’