Sadie Was A Lady

by Joan Jonker

  ‘No need for that,’ George said, before his wife could answer. ‘I’ll wait up for yer.’

  ‘You’ll do no such thing!’ Lily turned on him, angry at the lustful way he was eyeing his daughter. It was his leer that turned the tide in Sadie’s favour. ‘Go on, get out,’ she said, wanting the girl out of her sight. ‘We’ll leave the back door on the latch. But don’t think yer can come sneaking in at all hours ’cos I’ll be listenin’ for yer.’

  ‘I won’t, Mam.’ Sadie beat a hasty retreat. ‘I’ll go out the back way.’ After a quick glance in the spotted mirror she was on her way to her first dance.

  ‘Is this it?’ Sadie couldn’t hide her disappointment as she stood with Alec outside the wooden building. She’d imagined dance halls to be bright fashionable places, not little wooden huts. ‘It doesn’t look like a dance hall to me.’

  ‘It belongs to the church and it’s not so bad inside.’ Alec steered her forward. ‘If yer want to learn to dance without makin’ a fool of yerself then this place is as good as any.’

  Inside the door a man sat behind a little card table taking the money and giving tickets in return. It cost fourpence each and the man told Alec to hang on to the tickets because he’d need them to get a cup of tea and biscuit in the interval.

  ‘It’s bigger than it looks from the outside,’ Sadie said, watching with envy the couples dancing to the tune of a waltz. ‘They can’t half dance – they’re certainly not beginners.’

  Alec laughed. ‘No, the ones sitting down are the beginners. They won’t venture onto the floor until it’s packed and no one will notice them tripping over their feet.’

  ‘Aye, well, here’s their mate. I don’t fancy makin’ a fool of meself, either.’

  ‘You’ll be all right.’ Alec squeezed her arm. ‘I’m not much of a dancer but I do know the basic steps an’ all you’ve got to do is follow me.’

  ‘Is that all!’ Sadie watched the ease and grace of the dancers as they circled the floor, their steps perfectly matched and their body movements in time with the pianist Sadie could now see sitting in the corner of the room. ‘Shall we sit down for a while an’ I can watch to get some idea of how it’s done?’

  Alec glanced around the room and then down at Sadie. She had to be the best-looking girl there. ‘We’ll wait for the next waltz,’ he said as they walked towards two vacant chairs. ‘The next dance will be a slow foxtrot an’ that’s the hardest to learn.’

  ‘I’ll be glad if I can learn to just put one foot in front of the other, that’ll do me for one night.’

  ‘Yer’ll do more than that, Sadie.’ Alec slipped his arm across her shoulders. ‘There’s only three basic steps to a waltz – yer’ll learn them by the time yer halfway down the floor.’

  He wasn’t far wrong, either. Holding her slightly away from him so she could see his feet, Alec kept repeating, ‘One, two, three … one, two, three.’ And in no time at all, Sadie had picked up the rhythm and was grinning all over her face. ‘I’ll be all right until we come to a corner.’

  ‘There’s one coming up, Sadie.’ Alec was very patient as he manoeuvred them around the corner. He was also very conscious of the admiring glances coming Sadie’s way and he revelled in the fact that he was the envy of half the blokes in the room. But to remind them that she belonged to him, he pulled her close. ‘Yer don’t need to see me feet now yer’ve got the steps off.’

  ‘If yer start any fancy footwork, Alec, I’ll leave the floor.’

  ‘As if I’d do that to you!’ While he was smiling down into her face, Alec took the opportunity of moving his hand sideways from her shoulder blade, just far enough for it to be an easy distance for his thumb to travel to the side of her breast. He casually moved it up and down as he continued to talk. ‘Yer’ve got a natural rhythm, Sadie, it won’t take yer long. I bet within a few months yer as good as anyone here tonight.’

  ‘I wonder if I’ll be as quick as you, Alec?’ Sadie’s eyes left him in no doubt of what she was talking about. ‘I think you are very quick off the mark.’

  Alec kept smiling and his thumb kept moving slowly over her breast. He was quite certain she wouldn’t cause a stink in the dance hall. ‘If yer not quick in this life, Sadie, then yer get left behind.’

  ‘I’ll remember that, Alec.’ Sadie let him have his pleasure. After all, it wasn’t really doing her any harm and he had paid fourpence for the privilege. He was using her and she was using him; they made a good pair. But she’d make sure that in future the privilege would cost him more than fourpence. And she’d make sure he never got what he was really after.

  The interval was over and Sadie waited patiently for the pianist to play a waltz. She’d been on the floor several times and was excited about her progress. ‘Will yer bring me again next week, Alec? I’ll be practising every chance I get, so I should be a lot better by then.’

  ‘Yeah, okay! But can yer make it Saturday? Otherwise I’ve got to borrow off me mam.’

  Sadie thought of Harry and pursed her lips. ‘Can I let yer know through the week? I’ve half-promised to go somewhere on Saturday.’

  ‘Who with?’ Alec felt a pang of jealousy. ‘Yer haven’t got another feller on the go, have yer?’

  ‘Don’t be daft! It’s only a neighbour, but I did promise.’

  ‘You can get out of it. Yer would if yer really wanted to.’

  ‘I’ve said I’ll try, Alec, so let’s leave it at that, eh? I’ll let yer know for sure at the beginning of the week.’ When she saw the droop of Alec’s mouth, Sadie thought, My God, he’s another Brenda. Sulks like a child when he can’t get his own way.

  The pianist struck up with a waltz and Sadie was on her feet before Alec. ‘Come on, I want to get in as much practice as I can.’

  An elated Sadie was clapping at the end of the dance when she noticed the clock on the wall. ‘Alec, it’s half-past ten! I’ll have to go.’

  ‘Oh, come on, Sadie, there’s only another two dances before the last waltz. Yer can stay till then, surely?’

  Sadie shook her head. ‘It’ll be eleven o’clock by the time I walk home, and if I’m any later than that I’ll get a thick ear.’

  ‘Is it always goin’ to be like this? You dashin’ off and leaving me in the lurch without even a good-night kiss?’

  ‘It won’t always be like this, but right now me and me mam are not seeing eye to eye. I’m sixteen on Monday and I think that as long as I tell her where I’m going, and with who, then she should trust me. Anyway, I haven’t got time to argue the toss now, so if yer want yer good-night kiss yer better walk me out. Yer can always come back in again – there’s plenty of unattached girls.’

  Alec had already noted that. There was one in the far corner who’d been giving him the eye all night; she’d probably be generous with her favours. She wasn’t in the same class as Sadie for looks, but in a dark doorway he wouldn’t see, or care, what her face was like. ‘I’ll see yer to the top of the street and come back for the last few dances.’

  There was an entry before they came to the top of the street and, despite her protests, Sadie was pulled into its shadows. Alec wasted no time. His lips came down hard on hers and his hands travelled over her body. It took all Sadie’s might to free herself, but she remained in control of her feelings. ‘As I said, Alec, yer quick off the mark.’

  ‘Yer don’t give me time to be anythin’ else!’ Alec’s desire was roused. ‘One of these days perhaps we’ll get half an hour alone together.’

  ‘Could be, Alec, could be. But right now I’ve got to run. I’ll see yer in work tomorrow.’

  Alec watched her slim legs cover the ground for a while before walking back to the dance hall. He crossed the room to where the girl he had in mind was sitting. When he saw her face light up with pleasure, he knew she was going to be a walkover. Close up, he could see she had a face like the back of a tram, but it wasn’t her face he was interested in. If he closed his eyes he could make believe she was Sadie.

  Sadie had
her shilling pocket money clutched in her hand as she stood looking into the chemist’s window. She had to pay Mary Ann the money she owed her, so she was left with sixpence to spend. She was badly in need of a comb, but they were only a penny. It was what to do with the other five pennies that she was deliberating. Did she need scented soap more than a lipstick? It would have to be the soap because there wasn’t any in the house and she’d had to swill her face in cold water before she came out. Even if her mother bought a block this afternoon after getting her wages it would be that horrible smelly scrubbing soap. So it would have to be the soap and she could wait until next week for the lipstick.

  Sadie had her foot on the shop step when she had a change of heart and went back to looking in the window. All the girls in work wore lipstick but she’d never used it in her life. And Monday was her birthday, she was going on the ferry with Harry. She really wanted to look grown up for that. Oh, dear, what to do? Then with a determined step she entered the shop. The soap was more essential. And anyway, if it was scented she would smell nice.

  ‘Can I have a penny comb, please?’

  ‘What colour would yer like, love?’ asked the assistant. ‘Black, white, red or blue?’

  Sadie lowered her head as she considered the options and there in front of her on the counter was a wicker bowl containing tubes of lipstick. And a sign attached to the bowl read Lipstick … all colours … 3d. They can’t be much good, Sadie thought, because even in Woolies a tube of lipstick costs sixpence. She looked at the waiting assistant who was moving from one foot to the other, a bored look on her thin pale face. ‘I’ll have a blue comb, please. And can yer tell me how much a bar of scented soap costs?’

  The girl turned to slip a comb out of the card hanging on the wall behind her. ‘All prices from tuppence to sixpence.’

  ‘Do the tuppenny ones have a nice smell?’ When the woman nodded, Sadie said, ‘Yer see, I’ve only got sixpence on me and I was just looking at these lipsticks. They’re very cheap, aren’t they?’

  ‘Yeah, they’re a good buy. Me boss is having a clear-out of old stock, that’s why they’re so cheap. There’s nowt wrong with them – I’ve bought two meself.’

  Sadie felt like rounding the counter and giving the girl a hug. ‘I’ll have a tuppenny bar of soap and a lipstick then.’

  The assistant grinned. ‘White or pink soap?’

  ‘Pink please, to make the boys wink.’

  The woman pulled a bag free of the string it was hanging on behind the counter. She put the comb in, then passed a bar of pink soap over to Sadie to smell before putting it in the bag with the comb. ‘Now what colour lipstick d’yer wear?’

  ‘I wouldn’t know,’ Sadie said truthfully. ‘I’ve never had a lipstick before.’

  ‘There’s not many shades to choose from, but there’s a pale pink one that would just suit your colouring. Here, I’ll get one for you.’ The assistant came to the front of the counter. She picked two tubes out of the bowl and took the tops off. ‘This bright red one wouldn’t suit yer at all, it’s too showy. But this pink one, now I think it’s ideal for yer.’

  Sadie left the shop feeling as though she was walking on air. She’d got the three things she wanted and still had Mary Ann’s sixpence. It was by sheer chance she chose that shop to go in, and wasn’t she lucky?

  The smile was still on her face when she got to Mary Ann’s stall. It was busy as usual, and the stall-holder was serving two customers at the same time. Sadie crept up quietly behind her, put her arms around her waist and lifted her up before beginning to sing.

  ‘Oh, we ain’t got a barrel of money,

  Maybe we’re ragged and funny,

  But we’ll travel along,

  Singing this song,

  Side by side.’

  One by one the customers joined in, linking arms and swaying as the market rang with the sound of happy, laughing songsters.

  ‘In the name of God, girl, what’s got into yer?’ Mary Ann struggled to find a foothold. ‘If I didn’t know better I’d think yer’d been on the ale.’

  ‘Oh, don’t be such a misery guts, Mary Ann!’ a woman shouted. ‘I enjoyed that, I did. And the bleedin’ song’s right! We ain’t got a barrel of money, and some of us are ragged an’ funny, but we can still bleedin’ enjoy ourselves.’

  Mary Ann grinned at the woman. ‘Have yer been goin’ to night school, Fanny? I’ve never heard yer string one sentence together before, never mind six.’

  ‘Ho bleedin’ ho!’ Fanny folded her arms and hitched up her bosom. ‘Listen to brain box talkin’. I bet yer any money yer can’t spell encyclopedia.’

  ‘Can you?’ Mary Ann asked.

  ‘It’s me what asked the question, Mary Ann, so don’t be tryin’ to wriggle out of it. It doesn’t make no difference whether I can spell it or not.’

  ‘It does to me, Fanny.’

  ‘Oh, come off it, yer silly sod. Yer can either spell it or yer can’t.’

  ‘Well, it’s like this, Fanny.’ Mary Ann gave Sadie’s arm a squeeze. ‘If you can spell it, then I can’t. But if you can’t, then I can!’

  ‘In the name of God will yer listen to the woman!’ Fanny tutted. ‘Yer only doin’ this to confuse me, Mary Ann, but I’m not goin’ to let yer.’

  Mary Ann was shaking inside with laughter. ‘I’ll tell yer what, Fanny, an’ this is fair. You spell it first an’ then I’ll spell it after yer. Yer see, I don’t think yer can do it.’

  ‘Oh, that’s where yer wrong, Mary Ann, ’cos I can spell it.’

  ‘Okay, Fanny, I’ll give yer two bob if yer spell it for us.’

  The woman standing next to Fanny gave her a dig in the ribs. ‘Oo, er, Fanny! Two bob! Quick, take her up on it before she changes her mind.’

  Fanny was lumbered but she wasn’t going to go down without a fight. After all, nobody could spell encyclopedia so they wouldn’t know if she got it right or wrong. ‘It’s E N S I K L …’

  A man in the crowd tapped her on the shoulder. ‘That’s not right, madam. There’s no S or K in encyclopedia.’

  ‘Who the hell are you!’ Fanny’s face was red as she fought down the urge to pull his trilby hat down over his ears. ‘An’ who asked yer to stick yer nose in where it’s not wanted?’

  ‘I was only trying to help,’ said the well-dressed man. ‘I didn’t mean to offend.’

  Mary Ann the peacemaker held up her hand. ‘Excuse me, sir, but I don’t think you come to the market very often so you won’t know that Fanny and I go through a funny ten minutes every week. It gives us all a laugh and no harm done.’

  The man raised his hat to Fanny. ‘Madam, I apologise for spoiling what was a very funny episode. Please accept my apologies.’

  Fanny had never been spoken to so politely in her life and didn’t know whether to kiss him or thump him one. In the end she gave him her best smile. ‘Apology accepted, sir.’

  Sadie lifted the sixpence up to show Mary Ann before she slipped it into her apron pocket. ‘Can I put this bag in yer special box, Mary Ann? Then I’ll serve a few people for yer.’

  ‘Hey! Come back here an’ tell us what yer were so happy about!’

  Sadie put on a stern look and wagged a stiffened finger. ‘Business before pleasure. I’ll tell yer when trade slackens off. Right now I can see at least a dozen people waitin’ to be served … enough to keep your feller in ciggies for a week.’

  Mary Ann went back to Fanny with a smile on her face. ‘Cheeky little monkey she is, but I’m beginnin’ to love the bones of her.’

  ‘She seems a good kid, even if she nearly did start a flamin’ war by singin’ that song.’ Fanny leaned over the counter and lowered her voice, ‘Mary Ann, just out of curiosity, an’ between me an’ you, can yer really spell encyclopedia?’

  ‘Sod off will yer, Fanny! I never got any further than C A T, cat, at school. And since this is just between ourselves, out of curiosity, like, are yer goin’ to buy that bleedin’ blouse yer’ve been waving about for the last half-hou
r? Yer’ve had more wear out of it than the ruddy owner ever did!’

  Fanny tittered. ‘Yeah, I’ll mug meself seein’ as it’s only tuppence.’

  ‘Blimey! Pricing me goods for me now, are yer?’ Mary Ann held her hand out and took the two pennies. She slipped them into her pocket as she asked in a casual voice, ‘Did yer say it was for yerself, Fanny?’

  Fanny preened. ‘Yeah, it’ll go nice with me navy skirt.’

  Mary Ann eyed the mountainous bosom and sighed. ‘I’ll tell yer what, Fanny, I always think of meself as bein’ an optimistic person, but I’m not in the meg specks compared to you. If you think yer’ll get into that blouse then yer the most optimistic person I’ve ever met.’

  Fanny got on her high horse. ‘Of course I’ll get into it! Anyone would think I was the size of a house to hear you talk.’

  ‘Have yer got a magic wand at home, Fanny? ’Cos that’s the only way yer’ll get into it … that or with the help of a shoe-horn.’

  Fanny held the pink blouse aloft. ‘I bet yer I’ll get into that with no trouble at all.’

  Mary Ann let out a deep pretend sigh. ‘Yer must have a very sharp bread-knife at home then.’

  Fanny lowered the blouse, her brow creased in a frown. ‘What the hell’s a bread-knife got to do with the ruddy thing?’

  ‘ ’Cos the only way that blouse will go near yer is if yer cut off those bleedin’ big things that stick out in front of yer. I bet they enter a room two minutes before the rest of yer body.’

  Fanny chuckled. ‘Yer only jealous, Mary Ann, ’cos you haven’t got no bust. Ye’re as flat as a bleedin’ pancake!’

  ‘Oh, so that’s why my feller’s always tryin’ to eat them.’ Mary Ann hit her forehead with the heel of her hand. ‘He thinks they’re a couple of ruddy pancakes!’

  Sadie appeared at her side. ‘I’ve served about twenty customers and you’re still with Fanny!’

  ‘Then yer shouldn’t be so bleedin’ quick, should yer? Anyway, I’ll see yer next week, Fanny. Me and my assistant are going to have a quiet five minutes to ourselves.’ As her customer turned to walk away, Mary Ann called, ‘If I don’t recognise yer, Fanny, give me the eye eye. Or, better still, wear the flamin’ blouse. ’Cos if I see yer in that I’ll know damn well yer’ve done a hatchet job on yerself.’