Sadie Was A Lady

by Joan Jonker

  ‘I should bleedin’ well think it is! D’yer remember when yer started to work here, I told yer if yer did well I’d give yer an increase in wages?’

  ‘I remember, Auntie Mary, but yer didn’t make any promises so don’t worry about it ’cos I manage all right.’

  ‘Oh, what am I goin’ to do with you! You can be as daft as a brush sometimes, girl, yer drive me to distraction. Yer’ve got to be more pushy in this life or yer’ll never get on.’ Mary Ann raised her eyes to the heavens and said softly, ‘God give me strength.’ Then she pushed her face close to Sadie’s. ‘Yer know how well yer superior-quality clothes stall does, so why don’t yer ask me for a rise?’

  Sadie stared back. ‘Because I know I don’t have to ask. If you can afford it I know yer’ll give it to me.’

  Their noses were almost touching now. ‘In that case,’ said Mary Ann, ‘I’ll put yer wages up to ten bob a week from this Saturday.’

  Sadie’s jaw dropped and it was several seconds before her eyes began to sparkle. ‘Ten bob a week? I don’t believe it. Ten whole shillings a week! Oh, you wonderful, wonderful woman!’ She grabbed Mary Ann around the waist and twirled and twirled until the stall-holder begged for mercy.

  ‘That’s the last bleedin’ time you get a rise,’ Mary Ann gasped when she found her feet. ‘I’m glad I didn’t have no dinner, otherwise it would have come back again.’

  Tony had been watching with interest from the shoe stall opposite. He liked Sadie; in fact, all the stall-holders liked her, you couldn’t help it. She was always happy and polite and would run an errand for anyone. And she was a joy to look at. ‘Hey, what’s the celebration? If there’s to be a party then I want an invite.’

  Sadie beamed across. ‘I’ve just had a rise in me wages, Tony, isn’t that the gear?’

  ‘It sure is, kiddo. And yer deserve it, too.’

  ‘Ay, Tony Henshaw, don’t you be fillin’ her head, now.’ Mary Ann wagged a finger at the laughing market man. ‘She’ll be askin’ me for a rise every week if yer keep tellin’ her how good she is.’

  ‘No, I won’t, Auntie Mary.’ Sadie was over the moon. She’d have five whole shillings for herself every week. No she wouldn’t, she’d give an extra shilling to her grandma for her keep. Or, better still, she’d buy her and Grandad a little present every week, a little luxury they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Oh, she’d be rich with all that money in her pocket every week.

  Mary Ann snapped her fingers in Sadie’s face. ‘Wake up, girl, it’s time to clear away. For all the business we’ve done today we may as well have stayed at home.’

  ‘Are yer sure yer can afford to give me that rise, then?’ Sadie’s spirits had dropped; she’d rather manage on what she was getting than take money that Mary Ann couldn’t really afford to give her.

  ‘Of course I can! Don’t take any notice of me moanin’, it comes natural to me. And a good moan does yer a power of good. We always have slack days through the week, but we make it up at the weekend.’

  ‘Would yer think I’m cheeky if I make a suggestion on how I think yer could take a bit more money on the stalls? Yer can tell me to get lost if yer like, but I think it’s worthwhile talkin’ about it.’

  ‘If it’s another superior-quality clothes stall yer’ve got in mind, girl, then yer can sod off because we don’t get that many good clothes in.’

  ‘No, it’s not that. Yer know Rita, the one who has the second-hand clothes stall just further down? Well, it was looking at her things that gave me the idea. She has everything in piles on the ground and the people have to bend down and rummage through them. Some of her stuff is quite good but it’s mixed in with all the tatty stuff and people aren’t going to root through a pile of rags.’

  Mary Ann put a hand over her mouth to stop a chuckle from escaping. ‘Don’t tell me, yer in the money now and yer going to buy Rita out?’

  ‘Stop messin’ around, Auntie Mary. It’s nearly going home time and I don’t want to be late ’cos I’m seeing Geoff. So will yer just listen to what I’ve got to say, think it over in bed tonight, and tell me tomorrow what yer think?’ She waited for her friend’s nod before going on. ‘Sometimes when I’m going through the bundles to pick out the gear for my stall, I come across a blouse or a jumper that I hum-and-haw about. It looks too good for thruppence but not quite good enough to charge sixpence for. So why don’t we have a fourpenny stall? It would bring a few extra coppers in every week to help to pay my wages, and we wouldn’t be doing the customers; we’d only sell a thing for what we think it’s worth.’ Sadie put up her hand when Mary Ann looked as though she was going to speak. ‘Don’t say anything now, just mull it over in yer mind. We’re luckier than Rita, we’ve got all these tables to spread the things out on and make them look nice. The customers appreciate that, yer can tell by the way the clothes on my stall sell.’

  ‘I don’t need to think it over, girl, we’ll give it a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But I’m going to leave it to you to sort the stuff out, okay?’

  ‘Auntie Mary, yer a little love. And if I’ve got anything to do with it, yer’ll get that fur coat one of these days.’

  Mary Ann grinned. ‘There’s a woman in our street got a fur coat an’ it would be the price of me if the neighbours said the same about me as I say about her. “Oh aye, look at the state of her. All ruddy fur coat and no knickers!” I don’t say it to her face, of course. I’m not that brave or that daft ’cos she’s about twenty stone. I know me limitations, girl.’

  Sadie was deep in thought as she hurried home. It was only a five-minute walk from the market, much easier than the half-hour or more it used to take her when she lived in Toxteth. It had been quite a hectic and eventful day, what with seeing their Jimmy, getting the unexpected wage rise and having Mary Ann agree to rearranging the stalls. She hoped she was right about the fourpenny stall – she’d hate it if her idea turned out to be a flop.

  Sadie sensed someone walking beside her and turned her head to see Peter Townley keeping in step with a huge grin on his face. It was getting to be a regular thing now, and Sadie was convinced it wasn’t just accidental. She was about to ask him if he had nothing better to do than lie in wait for her every night, but Peter got in first.

  ‘I think you must be following me, Sadie.’

  Taken by surprise at his audacity, for a second Sadie was at a loss for words. Then she raised her dark eyebrows and threw him a look of scorn. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I said yer must be following me ’cos we keep bumping into each other.’

  ‘Just how big-headed can yer get, Peter Townley? If yer think I’ve got nothin’ better to do than follow you, then yer’ve got another think coming.’

  ‘I did wonder about it,’ Peter said, his face straight but his eyes dancing. ‘I keep asking meself why yer would follow me when yer courting strong.’

  ‘Well, next time yer havin’ a conversation with yerself, try and remember what I’m going to tell yer. I have never had any interest in Peter Townley, I have none now and I never will have. Can yer remember all that or shall I write it down for yer?’

  ‘I’ll keep repeatin’ it in me head so I won’t forget.’ The grin on his face told Sadie he was really enjoying himself. ‘But seein’ as we have accidentally on purpose bumped into each other, I’ll mind me manners an’ ask how yer are.’

  Sadie was mentally giving him ten out of ten for perseverance. No matter how rude she was to him, it didn’t put him off. She slowed down as they reached Peter’s house. ‘I’m very well, thank you, Peter. And how is yerself?’

  ‘Fit and well, thank you, Sadie. And just out of neighbourly interest – nothing else, mind – are yer still courting strong?’

  ‘Yes, Peter, I’m still courting strong.’

  ‘Yer will let me know if there’s ever a change in yer courtin’, won’t yer? Like if the strong becomes a bit weak and yer feel like givin’ him the elbow?’

  ‘I’ll write and let yer know immediately.
’ Sadie knew she’d burst out laughing as soon as she got behind her own front door. He was a comic, no doubt about it. ‘I might even send yer a telegram.’

  ‘I’d rather yer just knocked on the door, Sadie, ’cos me mam would die if the postman turned up with a telegram in his hand. She’d think the worst, you know, like maybe our dog’s been run over.’

  ‘I didn’t know yer had a dog.’

  ‘We haven’t, but she wouldn’t remember that with the shock. People have been known to die when they receive a telegram, yer know, and that’s before they open it!’

  Sadie just couldn’t keep the laughter back. ‘Peter Townley, you are a real head-case. Do yer ever talk sense?’

  The smile dropped from his face. ‘I’m talking sense when I say I think yer a real nice girl, Sadie. Yer look nice, yer talk nice and yer act nice. Me mam was only saying the other day what a difference yer’ve made to the old couple next door. Yer’ve brightened their lives up no end.’

  ‘And they’ve done the same to mine. I love the bones of them.’ Sadie moved away. ‘I’d better get me skates on, I’m going out in half an hour.’

  ‘Just before yer go, when we were talking about yer we got to wondering how yer came to be their granddaughter? With them having no children, like, it seems unusual that they should have a granddaughter!’

  Sadie’s heart flipped. ‘I think if yer want to know any of me grandparents’ business, yer should ask them instead of discussing it behind their backs. I certainly have no intention of telling yer anything.’ With a toss of her head she walked the few steps to the next door. Inserting the key in the lock, she said coldly, ‘Ta-ra, Peter.’

  Peter stood rooted to the spot. What had he said to change her mood so quickly? He felt like kicking himself. They’d been getting on so well and he had to go and put his foot in it. Now they were back to square one and he didn’t know why.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Sadie closed the door and leaned back against it, her heart in her mouth. If people were starting to ask questions it was bound to come out about her past. Was she never going to get away from it? Was it going to haunt her for ever, no matter where she went?

  ‘What’s up, sweetheart?’ Sarah had seen Sadie pass the window and had come out to see what was keeping her. ‘Are yer feeling all right?’

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine, Grandma.’ Sadie put a smile on her face as she walked down the narrow hall. ‘I was just catching me breath.’ She kissed the wrinkled face as she did each day, and gave Sarah a gentle hug. ‘Something smells nice.’

  ‘I made a steak and kidney pie, I know it’s yer favourite.’

  Sadie entered the living room and put her bag down on the sideboard before crossing the room to give Joe his kiss and cuddle. ‘You two are spoiling me. I’ll be as big as a house the way yer feed me.’

  ‘It’s good to have someone to spoil, queen.’ There was tenderness in Joe’s eyes. ‘It makes a nice change for me an’ my Sarah.’

  ‘Here yer are, sweetheart.’ Sarah carried a steaming plate through and put it on the table. ‘Get it down yer while it’s nice and hot.’

  Sadie pulled out a chair and sat down. She hadn’t had anything to eat all day and had been ravenous until she’d met Peter. What he’d said had taken her appetite away. She looked up at Sarah who was standing beside the table and the love she felt for the old lady brought tears to her eyes. ‘I’m not really all right, Grandma. I was fine until I bumped into that clown from next door and he said something that upset me. And I think you an’ Grandad should know what people are saying.’

  Sarah seated herself opposite Sadie. ‘I don’t think for one moment that Peter would knowingly say something to upset yer, sweetheart, he’s not the type. And what are people saying that yer think Joe and me should know about?’

  ‘He didn’t say other people were saying it, only his family. But if they’re talking, then yer can bet yer life the rest of the neighbours are, too.’

  ‘But I’ve known these neighbours for years, love, they’re not going to talk beind me back. If they had anything to say, they’d say it to me face. I can’t imagine what Peter’s said to upset yer so much.’

  Sadie was close to tears. ‘He said I’m not yer granddaughter.’

  Sarah tutted. ‘I’m sure he didn’t say it like that, Sadie.’

  ‘Well, those weren’t his exact words; he said because you didn’t have any children then yer couldn’t have a granddaughter.’

  Joe leaned forward to tap the bowl of his pipe against the top bar of the grate. ‘Well, that’s true, isn’t it, queen? I mean, all the neighbours know that, it’s no secret.’

  ‘But who do they think I am, then?’

  ‘Our granddaughter once removed.’ Joe smiled to try and ease the hurt in eyes that were as blue as the sky on a summer’s day. ‘Me and Sarah knew there’d be questions asked, so we were ready for them. We said yer were her sister’s granddaughter, and when her sister died you adopted us. I’m surprised that Peter mentioned it because his mam was the first one we told.’

  ‘He said it to make a liar out of me and I hate him. Just because I won’t go out with him, that’s all.’

  ‘Yer should never say yer hate anyone, child, because the day might come when yer regret it. And once a word is spoken yer can never take it back.’ Sarah pointed to the plate that was still untouched. ‘Eat some of yer dinner, sweetheart, I made it specially for you. I’ll be upset if I have to throw it on the fire.’

  Sadie picked up her knife and fork. Rather than upset her grandma she’d eat it even if it choked her. ‘I don’t hate Peter, Grandma, I just don’t like him. And being yer adopted granddaughter is just as good as being a real one, isn’t it?’

  ‘I would have thought it was better,’ Joe said, filling his pipe from the battered tin he’d had since he retired. He could afford to buy his Golden Virginia by the tin then, but now he had to buy it loose, half an ounce at a time. ‘Yer can’t choose yer family, queen, yer have to take what comes. But when yer adopt, yer’ve got the pick of the best. And that’s what we got when we got you … the best.’

  Suddenly the steak and kidney pie tasted good. Grandad was right, Sadie thought. You can’t choose your family – and she should know that better than anyone. And she felt a warm glow inside, knowing she was here because they wanted her.

  ‘You and Peter have never hit it off from the word go, have yer, sweetheart?’ Sarah was heartened to see the girl tucking into her dinner. ‘I can’t understand the reason for this ’cos he’s the easiest-going person I’ve ever known. D’yer think it might be your fault? That yer made up yer mind not to like him from the start and so he can’t do anything right in your eyes?’

  ‘No! That’s not true!’ Sadie licked her lips and put down her knife and fork. She stared at the plate for a while then met Sarah’s questioning eyes. ‘Yes, it is true, Grandma. I wouldn’t pass the time of day with him if it wasn’t for him being one of yer neighbours.’

  ‘But why, sweetheart? Yer can’t look at a person for the first time and make up yer mind there and then that yere not goin’ to like them! Yer not doing justice to them or to yerself.’

  Sadie pushed her plate out of the way and leaned her elbows on the table. ‘I told yer about Harry, didn’t I? The boy who lived next door and was so good to me? Well, Peter is the spittin’ image of him, except that Harry has dimples. At first I didn’t want to know Peter because he reminded me of Harry and it upset me. Later, I didn’t want to get too friendly in case he started asking questions and found out about me background. That’s how my life has always been, afraid to get too close to anyone because I knew when they saw where I lived they’d run a mile. And I couldn’t bear the shame of being hurt and rejected. Better not to get involved with anyone, then I couldn’t be hurt.’

  ‘But what about Geoff? Yer’ve been going out with him for a long time and he hasn’t rejected yer.’

  ‘I think Geoff and I will be parting company soon, Grandma. He keeps asking me why
I won’t take him home to meet me parents, and I can’t keep putting him off. I promised him weeks ago that I’d bring him to meet you and Grandad, but what’s the use? Some time or another he’s going to find out the truth and that’ll be the end of it.’

  ‘You can’t be sure of that. If he loves yer enough he’ll not let yer family stand in his way, no matter how bad they are.’

  ‘Ah well, yer see, Grandma, I don’t love him. He’s as nice a bloke as yer’ll find in a month of Sundays, but he’s not the boy for me.’

  ‘Then yer should tell him that, sweetheart. Yer shouldn’t let him be living in hope when there is none.’

  ‘That’s right, queen, yer shouldn’t string him along.’ Joe’s pipe was drawing nicely and he had the look of a contented man. ‘Wouldn’t be fair to the lad.’

  ‘I’ve never strung him along, Grandad. I’ve told him a few fibs about me family, but I’ve never told him I love him, nothing sloppy like that.’

  ‘Maybe not, queen, but if yer keep going out with him, that’s the impression he’s going to get.’

  Sadie sighed. ‘I’ll tell him tonight, but I don’t relish the idea. I’m a bit of a coward, but I will tell him.’

  It was Sarah’s turn to sigh. ‘Think it over carefully, sweetheart. Make sure yer know what yer doing ’cos he’s the only friend yer’ve got.’

  ‘That’s not a good enough reason to lead Geoff on, is it, Grandma? And I could have plenty of dates if I wanted them. There’s loads of young lads working at the market and I think every one of them has asked me out.’

  Sarah leaned across the table, a smile on her face. ‘And there’s always Peter to fall back on.’

  ‘No, Grandma, don’t be matchmaking me with Peter. It wouldn’t be long before he started askin’ me where I come from and why I wasn’t living with me family. He lives too close for comfort. If I fell out with him it would only cause unpleasantness between you and his family. I’ll stick to the odd date here and there, a case of love ’em and leave ’em.’ Sadie scraped her chair back. ‘I’d better get meself ready, but I’m not looking forward to tonight. In future I won’t go out with nice boys then it won’t be so hard to say goodbye.’