Can Dreams Come True?

by Oliver, Marina

  'The Castle Bromwich club is talking of moving there. But I liked Walsall. It's in the open country, plenty of space, and the people there were very welcoming.'

  'You went for the official opening, didn't you?'

  'Yes, last year at the beginning of July. They had a wonderful display. Kronfeldt was there with his glider.'

  'Amazing fellow. Wasn't he suggesting there could be a five horsepower plane cheap enough for anyone to own?'

  'Yes, but I don't think I'd like to go lower than my hundred horsepower! As for favouring Walsall, it might be more convenient than here. Besides, they have some interesting events planned. Very enterprising.'

  Charles laughed. 'And some attractive girls? Is that the reason? I'll have to see if I can spot the one that's caught your fancy, old chap.'

  Robert tried to smile. No girl seemed attractive at the moment. 'There were some at the opening,' he admitted. 'Flyers, too. Mrs Patterson and Miss Rees both had Hawks. Now let's go. And hold on. I'm in the mood for throwing this baby around today, see what she can do.'

  He scrambled up into the captain's seat, cutting off further conversation. He was in no mood for Charles's speculations, and he knew that if his friend as much as suspected his preoccupation with a girl, he would badger away until he forced or tricked Robert into some revelations. Kate, and the memory of her, were too precious to him to reveal to Charles's jocular attitude towards girls and love.

  The thought brought him up short. Love? Where had that word come from? Did he love Kate? It was too difficult a question to answer and he forced his mind to concentrate on the interior checks before nodding to the club engineer to swing the propellor, and taxiing down the field.

  During the rest of the short flight he made Charles pay for his comments by a series of loops and spins, so that his friend was slightly green and not eager for further teasing. Concentrating on the visit to the Clubhouse, where they were made very welcome, he managed to push all thoughts of Kate to the back of his mind.

  'I might join too,' Charles commented as they walked back to the Tiger afterwards. 'I've never bothered to learn, since I can always come up with you, but their rates are very reasonable. Would you teach me, old chap? You got the Instructor's certificate didn't you? And the Pater's firm's doing well, he's feeling generous enough to buy me something. Look how he lets me have time off on a Monday to come up with you.'

  'That was because I'll be off to Paris for a few weeks on Wednesday. Get another Instructor, I'm too uncertain about being here. But don't buy until you qualify,' Robert warned, and frowned as the thought crossed his mind that without Charles, and when he was not in Paris, he would have plenty of opportunity to ask Kate to fly with him.

  *

  Walter stayed with Kate, proving surprisingly adept in the kitchen as he made a pot of tea, while Barny, who said that he lived in the same road and knew Maggie better than Walter did, went to tell her about Alf. Within half an hour Maggie, her eyes swollen with weeping, came in and she and Kate clasped one another and wept afresh.

  'I'll be all right now,' Kate said when the storm of weeping was over. 'You need to go back to work, Walter. You've been a real friend, Barny too. I don't know what I'd have done without you both, but we can manage now.'

  'I said I'd stay. Barny had better go, but the boss can do without me fer an hour or so more.'

  Kate tried to make him go when Barny left, but Walter, losing his shyness with her, insisted he meant to stay.

  'What if yer Ma comes in raving like she was in the market? She could do you more harm. There's a right bruise on yer cheek where she kicked yer. Good job it weren't yer eye.'

  'What's this?' Maggie asked. 'Ma raving? Kate, let me look. That needs some witch hazel. Have you got any?'

  'No. I don't think so. I'll be all right, it's not very painful. She was upset,' Kate said quickly, but Walter snorted in derision.

  'She was off her head, screaming and punching you, blaming you, when you'd been nowhere near. If they hadn't pulled her off she'd have done yer some real damage.'

  'Is that true?' Maggie demanded. 'Oh, I know she's hard, but this is too much!'

  'What can I do?' Kate asked.

  'Come to me,' Maggie said. 'You'll have to sleep in the kitchen, we've only two rooms, but I won't leave you here on your own.'

  Kate was protesting that she would manage, Mum would not attack her again, and this time, anyway, she'd be prepared, able to hold her off, for Hattie was not a big woman, when there was a knock on the door. They all froze, and then Kate laughed shakily.

  'Mum wouldn't knock.'

  Walter went across to the door and opened it warily. It was one of the market women, and she pushed past Walter and came in without invitation.

  'I come ter see if yer was all right, Kate,' she said. 'Lass, I'm so sorry about yer Pa. He was tryin' ter do a good deed.'

  'Where's Ma?' Maggie asked.

  'They've took 'er to hospital, said 'er needed proper care. In such a state, she were, screamin' and cryin'. I said I'd come and tell yer. Yer can go and see 'er tomorrow, they said. Mebbee she can come out then.'

  'That settles it, you'll come home with me,' Maggie said after the woman and Walter had departed.

  Kate shook her head. 'If she won't be here, I'd be better off staying here. You haven't the room.'

  Maggie looked at her, then nodded. 'Well, what's here to eat?'

  Kate shook her head. 'I couldn't! I keep thinking of Dad, lying there so still and with blood all over his face. I'd be sick.'

  'You'll be sick if you starve. I'm going fer fish and chips.'

  Kate didn't feel hungry, but when Maggie returned she began to eat slowly. She was soon feeling better, able to think more clearly.

  'Maggie, I haven't had a chance to tell you. It was only yesterday.'

  'What was?'

  Kate told her all about Moaner Mac, the revelations about his mother who had pretended to be his sister, and the parents who were removing their daughters from the school. She shook her head when Maggie exclaimed in dismay, and hurriedly went on to explain about the job she had been offered, the forged reference, and Mrs Carstairs' accusations.

  'And she said you weren't to come back to work. Oh Maggie, I'm so sorry! I know you liked her, liked working there, and it's all my fault.'

  'Who did forge the reference?' Maggie demanded.

  'It must have been Daphne, but I wasn't able to speak to her. She was trying to help. But everything's gone wrong, and now Dad! Maggie, I've been thinking. Mom can't run the stall on her own, so we could help her, Sam too. It doesn't make a lot, and I don't know anything about it, but I'd learn. We'd learn together, and we'd need Sam at least to push the cart first thing when it's loaded with fish. We could probably manage to push it back in the evening, downhill, and when we've sold the fish.'

  'You think Sam would be reliable? He's never there when he's wanted,' she said bitterly. 'But that's going to change!'

  'Surely he'd help, at least some of the time?'

  'Kate, I'd love to help you, but I can't.'

  'Why not?'

  'Sam, for once, has stirred himself and got a job.'

  'A job? But Maggie, that's marvellous! What is it?'

  Maggie sighed. 'That's the trouble. It's a steady job, but it's in a car factory in Coventry. A mate of his who went there last year took him. I'll make sure he stays there and makes the most of this chance. So you see, I wouldn't be able to work for Mrs Carstairs any more. I hope we can find a couple of rooms to rent, and I can get a job in a factory too. That'll pay better than cleaning. Maybe, later, when we're settled, you could come and live with us too.'

  'What about Mum?'

  'I suppose she'll have to come, we're all she's got. But not until I'm settled and we can afford a house perhaps, with more rooms. I think we may stand a chance of a council house there.'

  'I'm glad for you,' Kate said. 'Perhaps we can find a man to push the cart, and I'm sure Mum and I will be able to do the rest.'


  'I ought to go,' Maggie said. 'I left the little ones with a neighbour, but the others'll soon be out of school. Will you be all right on your own?'

  Kate gulped. 'Of course. It'll be strange having the place to myself.'

  It would be the first time, she thought, and the first time she would have the bedroom to herself for the whole night. But she's willingly have endured the overcrowding for ever if only Alf had still been alive.

  *

  It was odd being alone in their rooms, Kate thought, knowing neither Alf nor Hattie would be coming in. She'd often been alone while they were working, but never all night. She heard all sorts of sounds she'd never noticed before. The front door of the house, when it slammed, made her jump and for a moment think it was Alf, who had always come in gustily. Footsteps in the rooms above seemed unnaturally loud, and the street noises, instead of being comforting, announcing there were people about, sounded menacing.

  She went to bed almost as soon as Maggie left, but could not sleep. When her eyes closed from sheer exhaustion, she saw Alf's face covered in blood, and began to imagine the other injuries on his body, which had been hidden from her. Trampled, the crowd had muttered. Run over by the wheels of the cart, too, in all probability. How many bones had been broken? How many internal organs had been smashed, battered and bleeding inside him?

  Kate forced herself to think of other things. How would Hattie treat her when she returned? Ought she to go to the hospital and see the woman she'd thought of as her mother all her life? What about the stall?

  She sat up in sudden alarm. What had happened to the stall? There had been no one to see to it. Her father's new cart, which had caused so much dissension between Alf and Hattie, had been left unattended. The regular market traders would, she knew, have respected it, but there were always dubious characters around. No doubt the fish on the cart had quietly vanished, unscrupulous or desperately poor people helping themselves. And if there had been any left there were plenty of scavenging cats and rats who would have a feast. Kate shuddered. Was the cart itself still there, instead of safely locked away in the shed Alf had shared with several others?

  As soon as it was light she would have to go and see, and if it was still there persuade someone to help her push it back to the shed. Until Hattie was home and rational they could not decide what to do. Hattie had that right, even though she had previously only worked with Alf and done what he had ordered. Besides, Kate would not be able to manage alone, but she was determined that from now on she would have an equal say in their lives, for she would, she realised, have to make the major effort to earn them a living.

  *

  Maggie sat before the window of the kitchen to catch the evening light. The children were all in bed, and Sam was making the most of his last few weeks of freedom. His new job didn't start until the beginning of September, which gave Maggie time to regain all her strength after the birth, and make what preparations she could for the move to Coventry. One was to do all the small mending tasks which she had neglected for the past few weeks, and she was busy darning socks for the children.

  She heard a slight sound behind her and swung round. It was Jeannie, clutching the rag doll she had treasured since she was two years old.

  'Mom, will us go to school in Coventry?' she asked.

  Maggie opened her arms and Jeannie ran to cuddle into them. 'Yes, of course, and you'll enjoy it,' she said.

  'I'll have no friends there.'

  'You'll soon make new ones.'

  'I'm scared.'

  Maggie thought fast. They had so little money, only the few shillings Sam reluctantly handed over to her from his casual work, but surely she could spare a few coppers to help this timid daughter.

  'There's no need, love. Tell you what, next week I'm going there to see about renting some rooms. Would you like to come as well, and we can go and see your new school?'

  Jeannie gulped and nodded. 'Won't the others want ter come too?'

  'Yes, but they'll have to wait. Yer Dad can look after them fer the day, mebbee take them to a park as a treat.' They can walk there, she thought, and it would do Sam good to have to take some responsibility for once.

  Jeannie nodded, and yawned. 'That'll be nice,' she said sleepily, 'just you and me.'

  Maggie rocked her until she was asleep, and then lifted her to take her back into the bedroom. The child was so thin, barely heavier than her younger brothers. Maggie gritted her teeth. In Coventry they would make a new start. For one thing, no more babies for her, whatever Sam said. He might want to claim his rights, as he called them, but she'd had enough of being submissive. He would keep this job, this unexpected opportunity of security, and she would be able to get better-paid work too. And she had the money Mrs Carstairs had sent, which she had hidden from Sam and was determined to keep intact, to pay rent in advance and give them a proper start in Coventry. A few pence from that would not make so much difference. Then perhaps she could help Kate too.

  She had just returned to her seat by the window when Sam pushed open the door and stepped inside, somewhat unsteady on his feet.

  'Ah, Maggie me love, what a great picture yer makes! Come and kiss yer loving husband, gal. It's bin a long time.'

  Maggie stood up and fended off his groping hands. 'And it's going to be even longer,' she said, the bitterness in her voice penetrating even his clouded senses.

  'Now, Maggie, yer knows that's wicked! I'm yer loving husband, and I deserve a bit of comfort, 'specially as I'm going to work hard now and make all our fortunes in Coventry, where the streets are paved with gold.'

  'You'll work hard, that's for sure. I'm telling you, Sam, it's your last chance. I've put up with you when I should have stood firm years ago. But Ted's a good man, not like most of your pals, and he'll not lead you astray, not now he's found you this job.'

  'Oh, you're a hard woman, me love. Come here, let's seal it with a kiss.'

  Maggie shook her head and moved away from him, putting the old deal table between them. 'I mean it, Sam. Have you heard about me Dad?'

  'Alf? What about him?' Sam asked, coming to rest on the chair Maggie had vacated. 'Is he making trouble? What's yer Ma egged him on to now?'

  'He's dead.'

  Sam blinked, trying to take this in, then shook his head to clear it, and stared at Maggie. 'What's that? Dead? What do you mean? He can't be, he's fit fer his age, apart from that bronchitis, and it's hot summer now, he can't have that.'

  'He got trampled by a runaway horse, in the market this morning.'

  Maggie, who had borne up for her children, felt tears come into her eyes. Angrily she brushed them away. This was no time to cry. But when Sam rose and came to her, clasping her to his chest, she gave way, relaxed, and allowed him to comfort her.

  'Tell me. Were you there? Is yer Ma hurt? Or little Kate?'

  Maggie regained her calm, though her voice trembled as she told him all she knew. 'And Ma went mad, attacked Kate, punching and kicking and blaming her for it, though God knows what reason she had fer that. They took her to hospital, but how she'll be when she's let out, I dread to think.'

  'It'll be all right, you'll see. It was probably fright, grief. Hattie won't let it get her down. Now come ter bed, love. Yer needs a cuddle.'

  Maggie pushed him away. 'No, Sam, I don't need more than this. I'm going to get things straight between us, once and fer all. And the first thing is, you don't come near me until you've proved yer can keep a job.'

  He began to protest indignantly, but she raised her voice.

  'Shut up and listen. I'm going on the bus to Coventry in a few days, when Mom and Kate are sorted, to find us somewhere decent to live. I'm taking Jeannie. Poor lass, she's fretting about a new school, so I said she could come and see where she'll be going. You'll have ter look after the others.'

  'I can find us somewhere, there's no need fer you ter bother,' he began, but again Maggie cut him off.

  'Not likely! I'm not living in a slum, which is all you'd look at. It's going to be
a decent neighbourhood, where we can keep clean and respectable. And I'm going to see the people about the chances of a council house. If you keep your job, maybe we could have enough space, with a garden for the kids, and a bedroom of our own,' she added.

  Sam's eyes brightened. 'That'd be grand! It's not right, sleeping all together, the kids likely ter wake any minute, and us having ter be quiet all the time fer fear of disturbing them. Especially with our Jeannie growing up.'

  'No,' Maggie said, suppressing a grin. Little he'd cared whether he woke the whole neighbourhood, but perhaps the promise of sharing a room just with her, and what he expected to follow, something she had no intention of allowing, would keep him amenable for a while, until they were properly established.

  *

  Robert stood by the rail of the cross-channel ferry, looking down into the sea. He'd be away for a couple of weeks, looking at the possible sites their agent in Paris had selected, sites for starting a new factory to supply the French car industry with instruments. His previous enthusiasm for the project, which he had pushed against his father's initial doubts, had waned.

  He straightened his shoulders. This would not do. He had to make a success of this, to show he was capable of running the business. His father was old, had suffered from a variety of ailments during the past few years, and would want to retire soon. Unless the old man was certain Robert was fit to take over, however, he would put off his retirement.

  He worried about Kate. Was she in danger from her violent father? He had kept away from her, knowing that if he were seen near her home it would be the worse for her, but he could not rest for his concern. Nor could he simply dismiss her as a delightful, pretty companion, in the way he had dismissed from his thoughts all the other pretty, charming girls of his acquaintance.

  The best way to resolve his concern, he decided as the coast of France came into view, was to work every hour possible in Paris, so that he could return home soon and do something about it.

  *

  Hattie came home two days later, subdued and tearful. She made no apology for attacking Kate, and Kate wondered whether she even remembered it. Hattie went straight to bed, saying she was deathly tired. She made no enquiry about the stall or the cart.