by Joan Jonker
‘Geoff, could we go to that little dance hall, you know, where I first met yer? It would make a change from going to the pictures.’
‘Yeah, that’s a good idea.’ Geoff looked pleased as he tucked her arm in his. ‘It’s been ages since I went to a dance, I’ll probably be rusty.’
‘I hope yer are, then yer won’t notice how bad I am. If yer rusty, and I’m as stiff as a board, we should make perfect partners.’
‘I won’t be that bad,’ Geoff laughed. ‘Once yer learn to dance yer never forget. And anyway, even if you couldn’t put one foot in front of the other, Sadie, yer’d still be the perfect partner for me.’
Sadie groaned inwardly. She didn’t want him to be too nice to her, she felt bad enough as it was. If he was all lovey-dovey she wouldn’t have the heart to tell him she wasn’t seeing him again. It was a shame really, because she enjoyed going out with him. He always treated her well and never expected anything more than a good-night kiss. But she knew his intentions towards her were getting more serious with each passing week, and it wasn’t fair to lead him on. No matter how long they courted, she knew she would never grow to love him because the spark was missing. She’d never been in love but she felt there had to be more to it than the feelings she had for Geoff.
The dance hall was quite crowded and Sadie scanned the room nervously for sight of Alec. He wouldn’t come near her, not with Geoff by her side, but nevertheless she’d die of humiliation if she came face to face with him.
‘D’yer want to try this slow foxtrot?’ Geoff’s dark brown eyes were appealing. ‘All yer’ve got to do is follow me.’
‘I’ll make a holy show of yer.’
‘I’ll take a chance if you will. Yer’ll never learn if yer don’t try.’
‘On your own head be it.’ Sadie allowed herself to be led onto the dance floor and it was so crowded her nerves soon disappeared. Who was going to notice her in amongst this lot? Anyway, she could see several couples who were more or less just walking around; at least she was making an effort to keep up with Geoff.
When the dance was over, Geoff kept his arm around her waist as they walked from the floor. ‘I think yer did very well. Yer’ve got the makings of a good dancer, Sadie – yer’ve a sense of rhythm and yer body movements are nice and easy. We should come dancing at least one night a week instead of going to the pictures.’
Sadie smiled and nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He was so nice, why couldn’t she feel more for him? Was she capable of loving any boy, or had her twisted father poisoned her mind against all men?
When Geoff heard the strains of a waltz he grinned and held his arms wide. ‘I believe this is your favourite?’
Sadie grinned back. ‘If yer see me lips moving don’t think I’ve flipped me lid, I’ll just be counting, one-two-three, one-two-three.’
They danced every dance, with Sadie gaining confidence in response to Geoff’s whispered words of encouragement. He told her she was coming on in leaps and bounds and she felt very proud of herself. In fact, she was enjoying herself so much she was sorry when the evening came to an end. She was laughing with pleasure when they stepped into the street. ‘I am delighted with me little self! I think I did very well, even though I say it as shouldn’t.’
Geoff pulled her close and his handsome face was a picture of happiness as he smiled down at her. ‘I don’t want yer to think I’m bragging, Sadie, but I deserve some of the credit for that. After all, the pupil’s only as good as the teacher.’
‘You’ve got a nerve, Geoff Barnes. The best teacher in the whole world is no good if the pupil’s as thick as two short planks, an’ I’ll have you know I’m not as thick as two planks, long or short.’
‘Okay, let’s say that because you were such a good pupil, yer made me look good. How does that suit yer?’
‘That’s more like it.’ Sadie turned her face away from him. She couldn’t finish with him tonight, not when he looked so happy; it would be cruel. She’d have to leave it until another night when he was in a more serious mood. If he wasn’t so easygoing she could try and pick an argument with him and walk off in a huff, but it would be a waste of time because he wouldn’t argue with her. Anyway, that would be a cowardly way out and he deserved better than that.
Sadie sighed inwardly. She’d have to be honest with him and tell him to his face. While he was taking her out, under the impression they were courting, he was missing the chance of finding a girl who was right for him. One who would really love him as Sadie knew she never could. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it tonight, not when his spirits were so high. On Friday night, she vowed, I’ll definitely do it then.
‘Good morning, girl.’ Mary Ann’s smile was radiant. ‘Or, as they say in dear old Ireland, “the top of the mornin’ to yer, me darlin’ ”.’
Sadie grinned, thinking what a pleasure it was to come to work these days. ‘Yer looking very pleased with yerself, Auntie Mary. If yer licked yer lips yer’d look like the cat that got the cream off the top of the milk.’
‘I’ve got to admit that I am in a happy frame of mind, sunshine, and so will you be when yer get a dekko of the gear my feller picked up in Woolton yesterday. He had a real good day, the best he’s ever had.’
‘All good stuff is it, Auntie Mary?’
‘Good? I’ll say it is! It’ll give yer an idea of how the other half live when yer see what they’ve thrown out.’ The stall-holder removed a strand of hair from the corner of her eye. ‘Not that they threw them out exactly, ’cos my feller has to fork out for them. But there’s good winter coats here that must have cost about six or seven guineas when they were new, and all they got for them was the price of a pair of lisle stockings.’
‘Yer not complaining, are yer, Auntie Mary? As long as they’re satisfied, why should you worry?’
‘I ain’t worried, sunshine, I’m over the moon. And yer should have seen my Tom’s face – as pleased as Punch he was, right proud of himself.’
‘I hope yer gave praise where praise was due, Auntie Mary? There’s nothing worse than thinking yer’ve done well and someone comes along and puts a damper on it. I hate it when someone does that to me.’
‘Oh aye, girl, are yer by any chance tellin’ me how to keep my feller sweet? Go an’ teach yer grandmother how to milk ducks, sunshine, ’cos I know exactly how to make my man happy, and I can assure you he was amply rewarded.’
Sadie waited for her blush to spread after that last remark, but thankfully it didn’t put in an appearance. ‘Shall I begin sorting it out? It’ll take a bit longer with us starting the new fourpenny stall.’
Mary Ann was keeping her patience with the greatest of difficulty. She’d hardly slept all night, tossing and turning as she tried to imagine the expressions on Sadie’s pretty face when she saw the contents of the two big bundles. They were under one of the tables and she now pointed to the nearest. ‘Start on that one first and put to one side anything that yer fancy for yerself.’
Sadie now had an idea why her friend looked so happy. ‘Yer know there’s something in there that I’d like, don’t yer? What is it this time, Auntie Mary? A jumper for me or something for one of the kids?’
‘Yer’ve only just given them a pile of clothes.’ Mary Ann tutted loudly. ‘I don’t begrudge them anything, sunshine, honest I don’t. If the truth was known I feel heartily sorry for them. But it’s time yer started looking after yerself and there’s a few things in there that’ll look a treat on yer. And it’s not as though yer don’t need them, ’cos yer do. I’ve warned yer what it’s like here in the winter. Yer need some warm clothes or yer’ll bleedin’ freeze to death.’
Sadie stood to attention, clicking her heels together as she saluted. ‘Aye, aye, sir! Right away, sir!’
‘Ay, I’ll have less of that lip, yer cheeky little monkey! You just lift that bundle up and get crackin’. And seein’ as yer’ve just promoted me to Captain, I’m going to stand and watch every bleedin’ move yer make.’
Sad
ie chuckled. ‘Captains don’t swear, Auntie Mary.’
‘Not usually they don’t, girl, I’ll grant yer that. But I’m not just any old run-of-the-mill Captain, I’m more yer Long John Silver type.’
‘Auntie Mary, Long John Silver had a wooden leg.’
‘What d’yer think I wear a long skirt for, sunshine, if it isn’t to hide me wooden leg?’ Mary Ann made a fist and shook it in Sadie’s face. ‘I’ll be takin’ it off and hitting yer with it if yer don’t get a move on.’
Sadie swung the bundle onto the empty table. There must be something special in here, she thought, as she untied the knots in the top of the sheet. Mary Ann seldom gets excited about clothes that are brought in, but she’s all keyed up right now. The knots untied, Sadie let the sides of the sheet fall away, and there on the very top of the pile, all neatly folded, was the cause of the stall-holder’s sleepless night.
‘Don’t stand there gawping, girl, lift it out! Honest to God, yer’ve got me bleedin’ nerves shattered. I won’t be a bit of good all day after this.’
Sadie lifted the coat out and held it up, the delight spreading across her face more than compensating Mary Ann for her loss of sleep. The coat was in navy-blue velour with collar and wide revers in navy velvet. She’d agreed with her Tom that it was the finest item of clothing he’d ever had the good fortune to pick up on his cart. It was almost brand new, not a mark on it and no sign of wear around the button holes or deep pockets.
‘It’s beautiful, Auntie Mary.’ Sadie found her voice at last. ‘Really beautiful.’
‘Well, don’t be wearin’ the bleedin’ thing out by just looking at it. Try it on before me heart gives out on me.’
Sadie didn’t need telling twice. As she was slipping her arms into the silk-lined sleeves, she was telling herself she had to have this coat – she’d fallen in love with it on sight. But she wouldn’t wear it to work in the market, it was too good for that. Besides, she’d stand out like a sore thumb in anything so grand. She’d find another one for work – one that had been well worn and wouldn’t cost so much.
‘Oh girl, it looks the gear on yer.’ Mary Ann tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, a habit she had when inspecting something. ‘Anyone would think it had been made for yer – it fits yer like a glove. Remember when yer told me, in a joke, like, that yer were Princess Sadie of Sefton Park? Well, yer certainly look the part in that coat. Talk about being proper posh isn’t in it.’
Sadie was stroking the soft material, a faraway look in her eyes. The mention of Sefton Park had brought back memories of Harry. She could imagine the look of admiration in his eyes if he saw her in this coat. His dimples would deepen as he smiled and took her hand, telling her how nice she looked.
‘Hey, come on, girl.’ Mary Ann was getting impatient. There were lots more surprises for Sadie in that bundle. ‘Have I got a sale, or haven’t I?’
‘Oh, definitely, Auntie Mary. I love it. No matter how much it—’
‘Two bob,’ the stall-holder interrupted. ‘And cheap at half the price.’
‘It’s worth more than that.’ Sadie’s voice rose. ‘Yer can’t keep giving me things on the cheap, it’s not fair!’
‘I said two bob and I meant two bob. Anything else yer want, yer can pay me a fair whack for, but I’m standing firm on the price of the coat, so don’t argue. It’s my own little way of saying “thank you” for working so hard and bringin’ more business to me stall.’
Sadie threw her arms around her friend. ‘I love you, Auntie Mary, I really do.’
Mary Ann snorted, ‘Stop bein’ so sloppy, yer daft ha’porth.’ But deep down she was pleased. She couldn’t have cared for Sadie more if she’d been her own daughter. ‘Get the rest sorted out on the double, girl, ’cos yer never know, we might even get a bleedin’ customer before the day’s out.’
Sadie picked out two jumpers that would have gone on the new fourpenny stall, and two warm cardigans that would have found their way to the superior-quality stall. ‘That’s just on four bob I owe yer, Auntie Mary.’ She was smiling with pleasure. ‘I’ll bring the money in with me tomorrow and we’ll be quits.’
‘The weekend will do, girl, I’m in no hurry.’
Sadie shook her head. ‘Tomorrow, Auntie Mary. I can be just as stubborn as you.’
‘I’m not stubborn, girl, just bloody-minded.’
‘It’s funny you should say that.’ Sadie slipped out of the coat and began to fasten the buttons before folding it neatly away. ‘I did hear that as well as having a wooden leg, Long John Silver was bloody-minded.’
‘Will yer tell me his life story some other time, girl, like next year? Right now I’d like yer to sort those clothes out and get the stalls looking a bit more inviting than they are now. The way we’re shaping it’ll be time to pack in before we’ve even started!’
Mary Ann was wiry, quick of mind and movement. But Sadie left her standing. With a quickness of eye and a deft hand, she sized each garment up for price and had them on the appropriate stall in no time, and arranging them to attract the eye of passing potential customers. ‘How’s that, Auntie Mary? All present and accounted for.’
‘Talk about the hand being quicker than the eye, girl, I missed half of what yer did. Yer make me look as though I’m standing still, like a bleedin’ statue.’
Sadie laughed as she rubbed her hands together. ‘All we need now are the customers.’
‘I’ll see to any customers, girl, don’t you worry. They won’t get past me ’cos I’ve brought me big hook to pull them in. You see to that other bundle, there’s a good girl.’ Mary Ann had deliberately left the second bundle till the last for a reason. It was all good-quality children’s clothing and she knew Sadie would have pounced on some of the items for her brothers and sisters. It didn’t matter now because the girl had bought things for herself, things she badly needed, and Mary Ann had no intention of letting her change her mind. She admired Sadie for caring so much for her family, and for her generosity. But enough was enough and she had to start thinking of herself.
‘Good morning, girl.’
Mary Ann spun round at the sound of the familiar voice. ‘Maggie! Thank God for that. I was beginning to think the whole of Liverpool had emigrated to Australia. The bleedin’ market’s deserted, like a flippin’ ghost town.’
‘It’s hard-up day, girl.’ Maggie put her basket on the ground between her feet and rested her elbows on the clothes piled on the tuppence with a hole stall. ‘It’s two days to pay day, everyone’s skint and happy.’
‘I hope yer haven’t come just to tell me yer’ve no money, Maggie? Yer know I love the bones of yer, being as yer one of me best customers, but I’ve got a living to make. If yer want to feel sorry for someone, then feel sorry for my feller ’cos he’s gone to work this morning with the arse hanging out of his kecks.’
Maggie’s top set of false teeth dropped when she laughed. ‘That’ll be the day, Mary Ann!’ She straightened up, folded her arms across her tummy, hoisted her ample breasts and, feeling more comfortable, settled herself once again to rest on the clothes. ‘If yer trying to tell me yer skint, don’t bother wasting yer breath ’cos I wouldn’t believe yer. I bet yer a pound to a pinch of snuff that yer’ve got a long stocking stashed away somewhere.’
‘Maggie, if I had a long stocking stashed away, d’yer think I’d waste me time standing here nattering to someone who has no intention of buying anything? Not on yer bleedin’ life I wouldn’t.’
‘Yer wrong there, Mary Ann, ’cos I have come to buy. So you just be careful how yer treat me or I’ll walk down to the next stall.’
Mary Ann laced her fingers together and held them out as though begging. ‘Forgive me, Saint Margaret, I make myself humble before you. Your wish shall be my command.’
The table was pushed forward a few inches as Maggie’s tummy shook with laughter. ‘Yer a head-case if ever there was one, Mary Ann. That’s the first belly laugh I’ve had since I was here on Saturday.’
‘Ri
ght! That laugh is goin’ to cost yer an extra penny on whatever it is yer goin’ to buy. And if yer don’t hurry up and tell me what yer after, I’ll add another penny on for me time.’
Maggie was unmoved by the threat. ‘Yer can add on what yer like for all I care, girl, it won’t make no difference to me ’cos all I’ve got in me purse right now is sweet Fanny Adams.’
‘I wish yer’d make up yer mind, Maggie. First yer want something, now yer don’t. Yer’ve got me fair flummoxed trying to keep up with yer. And while yer going through this “I will, I won’t” lark, Sadie’s had to leave what she was doing to serve a real live money-in-the-hand customer.’
‘The bloody cheek of you! I’m a real live money-in-the-hand customer, Mary Ann, so you just mind yer manners. I’ve come on a message for the old lady who lives next door to me. She can’t get out herself ’cos she’s crippled with rheumatism. She wants a nice thick cardi to keep her warm; she feels the cold something chronic.’
‘What size is she, Maggie, and how much does she want to pay.’
‘It’ll have to be one without a hole ’cos she can’t darn. I’d say she was about your size, near enough. Do what yer can for her, Mary Ann, she’s a nice old soul.’
‘Let’s see what we’ve got on the thruppenny stall.’ Mary Ann moved to the next table and Maggie left her comfortable perch to follow. ‘How about this one? It’s in pretty good nick, not a break in it.’
‘Nah!’ Maggie’s chins moved in the opposite direction to her head. ‘Pale blue is not a good colour for her. She needs a dark one that won’t show the dirt.’
‘We’ve got a fourpenny stall now, Maggie, with a better selection. Could the old lady run to fourpence?’
Maggie looked doubtful. ‘She only gave me a thruppenny joey and I wouldn’t like to ask her for more ’cos she’s as poor as a church mouse.’
Mary Ann raised her eyes to the heavens. ‘Tell me, God, why do I get all the sob stories? Have I got a sign on me forehead with “sucker” on it?’