by Joan Jonker
‘Don’t you be taking off on me, Mary Ann Worsley! I only came for a thruppenny cardi, like I’ve been doin’ for years and never had this malarky before.’
‘And yer won’t be having any malarky today, Maggie, me old friend. I see Sadie has finished with her customer so I’ll call her over. Two heads are better than one.’
Sadie was told the story of the little old lady who was so crippled with rheumatism she couldn’t walk, was as poor as a church mouse and wanted a nice warm cardi for the winter to keep body and soul together because she could only afford to buy half a bag of coal a week. And as Maggie listened to Mary Ann, her face showed real concern, as though she’d never heard the tale before and didn’t know the old lady from Adam. In fact, so convincing was the stall-holder, if she’d asked for a whip-round to help the poor old soul, Maggie would have been the first one to get her purse out.
‘I think we’ve got just the thing for her, Maggie,’ Sadie said. ‘It only came in today and hasn’t been put out yet.’
‘What’s that yer say, girl?’ Maggie’s eyes blinked rapidly as realisation began to dawn. ‘Oh yeah, that would be champion.’
The cardigan was a thick woollen one in black cable stitch. It buttoned up to the neck and had two deep pockets. It had obviously been worn a lot ’cos it had that lived-in look, as though someone had found it comfortable to wear. But there was still plenty of life in it. ‘That should keep her nice and warm, Maggie,’ Mary Ann said. ‘Just the job for the winter.’
Maggie was highly delighted but had no intention of letting it show until they’d told her the price. ‘How much?’
Sadie looked at Mary Ann for guidance. ‘What d’yer think, Auntie Mary?’
‘Well, it was goin’ on the fourpenny stall, but seeing as it’s for Maggie’s neighbour she can have it for thruppence. But only on one condition, Maggie.’
‘What’s that, Mary Ann?’
‘That yer promise to come and visit me when I’m in the bleedin’ workhouse.’
‘I’ll visit you any time, any place, girl.’ Eager to be off to show her neighbour how clever she’d been, Maggie pushed the cardigan into her basket and backed away. ‘Even in Walton Jail.’
‘You cheeky sod!’ Mary Ann shouted after her. ‘That’s the last favour I’ll do for you.’
Maggie turned and waved. ‘See yer on Saturday, Mary Ann.’
‘Okay, Maggie. You look after yerself now.’ The stall-holder was smiling when she turned to face Sadie. ‘She’s gone home as happy as Larry, thinking she’s pulled a fast one on us and got herself a bargain.’
‘She has, Auntie Mary. That cardi was going on me sixpenny stall.’
‘Yer what? Why didn’t yer open yer flamin’ mouth an’ tell me?’
‘I did ask yer, but yer sounded so sorry for the old lady I wasn’t going to argue with yer. Anyway, why worry? We’ll make up the difference on the new stall, so yer haven’t really lost anything.’
‘No, yer right, girl, I’m getting ahead of meself. Too greedy, that’s my trouble.’
‘No, yer may be many things, Auntie Mary, like Long John Silver, but never greedy.’ Sadie looked around to make sure there were no customers waiting before asking, ‘Can I buy some of the children’s clothes that were in the other bundle?’
Mary Ann shook her head vigorously. ‘No, you can not. We agreed a sale over the other stuff and I’m keeping yer to it. On no condition am I going to let you change yer mind, so put it out of yer head.’
Sadie looked puzzled. ‘I haven’t changed me mind, I still want the clothes I picked for meself. But I’d like some of the kids’ things because we don’t often get them in such good condition, and there’s a strong pair of boots that would fit our Jimmy.’
‘You can’t afford to clothe four children, sunshine.’ Mary Ann’s face was sad as she took a deep breath. ‘You’re sixteen, love, only a child yerself. With your looks yer should be dressed in all the latest fashions, and God knows yer work hard enough to deserve to.’
‘I’ve got the money to buy them, Auntie Mary – I’ll use me savings.’ Sadie saw the troubled look in the green eyes and hurried to reassure her. ‘I’ll make it up in the next few months ’cos I’ll have nothing else to buy. I’d give our Jimmy the boots for him to wear in the bad weather, but I’d put the other clothes away to give them as Christmas presents. Please, Auntie Mary?’
Mary Ann was in a dilemma. She’d encouraged Sadie to put some money away each week in case of emergency. Anything could happen to Sarah and Joe at their age, and Sadie would find herself out on the streets because no landlord would rent a house to a sixteen-year-old who only earned ten bob a week. But she’d never voiced her fears because she knew how much the girl loved her adopted grandparents and she didn’t want to mar her happiness. For the first time in her life, Sadie was enjoying a warmth and love she’d never known before, in a house that was truly a home.
Mary Ann sighed. ‘Yer can have the clothes by all means, girl, but I want yer solemn promise that from this Saturday yer’ll put a certain amount aside every week, without fail, come what may.’
‘I’ll do better than promise yer, Auntie Mary, I’ll give yer half-a-crown out of me wages each week to mind for me. How about that?’
‘I’m goin’ to be strict with yer, sunshine, but it’s for yer own good. I’ll mind the money for yer on the understanding yer add to it every week, and not ask for it back, until yer’ve got a little nest egg behind yer.’ Mary Ann wouldn’t rest easy until she knew Sadie had a few pounds at the back of her. Then, if anything did happen to Sarah and Joe, God forbid, she’d be in a position to find decent lodgings. ‘If I hang onto the money yer won’t be tempted to spend it, and mark my words, yer’ll be surprised how quick it mounts up.’
Sadie grinned. ‘First yer were me friend, then me boss, after that me Auntie, and now yer me banker.’ Her smile faded. ‘I wish most of all that yer were me mother.’
‘I’m as good as yer mother, aren’t I?’ Mary Ann decided to keep the tone light, otherwise they’d both be as miserable as sin all day. ‘Who else but a mother would look after yer financial affairs, now tell me that?’
Sadie’s smile reappeared. ‘Yeah, yer do look after me like one of yer own, and I love yer to bits.’
‘Just don’t start calling me “Mam”, that’s all. Otherwise I’ll be doing an inspection on yer every morning like I do with my two, making sure they’ve washed behind their ears and haven’t got a tide mark around their necks.’
‘Ay out, Auntie Mary, we’ve got two customers. You take Lizzie and I’ll see to Florrie.’ Sadie winked broadly as she walked away. ‘Yer see, things are picking up. I bet we have a good day after all.’
‘Huh!’ Mary Ann grunted. ‘Forever the bleedin’ optimist, you are. Two swallows do not a summer make, sunshine – have yer never heard that old saying?’
‘I have that, Auntie Mary, and I’ve also heard the one that goes “Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone”.’
‘Well, I never! Did yer hear that, Lizzie? She’s gettin’ too big for her boots is that young assistant of mine from the superior-quality clothes stall. I’ve a good mind to put her back on the tuppence with a hole stall. That would put her in her place, bring her down a peg or two.’
Lizzie caught Sadie’s eye and winked before saying, ‘Go on, Mary Ann, yer’d be lost without her and you know it.’
‘Keep yer voice down, Lizzie, or she’ll be asking me for another bleedin’ rise.’ Mary Ann’s tummy was shaking with laughter at what she was going to say. ‘Now, Lizzie, before we start, have you got a neighbour who is very old, who is so crippled with rheumatism she can’t walk, is as poor as a church mouse and can only afford to buy half a bag of coal a week?’
Lizzie scratched her head and frowned in bewilderment. ‘I haven’t got no neighbour like that, Mary Ann.’
‘Thank God for that, Lizzie! You and me are very lucky women that you haven’t got a neighbour like that. So what ca
n I do yer for?’
Chapter Nineteen
Sadie was laden down as she walked home that night. All the clothes she’d bought were wrapped in a sheet Mary Ann had lent her, and her arms were aching as she carried the heavy load in front of her. But she was so delighted with her purchases she kept herself going by saying it wasn’t that much further and a few aches and pains were neither here nor there. She couldn’t wait to show off her new coat to her grandparents, and in her mind’s eye she could picture herself posing by the sideboard, all dressed up to the nines.
‘Here, I’ll carry that for yer, Sadie.’
Sadie was so startled she missed a step and nearly went flying. ‘Oh, not you again, Peter! Will the day ever come when I can walk in this street without seeing your ugly mug?’
‘There’s only one way I can help yer there, Sadie, and that’s to ask me mam to move to another street. She wouldn’t take kindly to the idea, seeing as she’s lived here for over twenty years and likes it, but I’ll see if she’ll discommode the whole family just so you won’t be inconvenienced.’
Sadie smiled in spite of herself. He really was very funny. ‘I can’t stop to argue with yer, Peter. As yer can see, I’ve got me hands full.’
‘Let me take it off yer, don’t be so flippin’ stubborn.’
Sadie knew she’d be cutting her nose to spite her face if she refused, because her arms were nearly dropping off. ‘Thank you, Peter,’ she said primly. ‘I could have managed but I appreciate your offer and accept.’
Peter took the bundle from her and when he felt the weight, asked, ‘What on earth have yer got in here?’
‘Mind your own business.’ Wild horses wouldn’t have dragged the truth from Sadie. She had visions of herself walking down the street, nose in the air and dressed to kill. How soft she’d look if he knew everything she had on had come from Paddy’s market! She’d die of shame. ‘Because I’m letting you help me, it doesn’t mean I want to be pally with yer.’
‘I was hoping to see yer, Sadie, to apologise for what I said the other night about yer grandparents. I didn’t mean to upset yer, and I only said it to keep yer talking a bit longer. We were getting on great, then I had to go and put me big foot in it and you stormed off in a huff. I kicked meself all the way down our hall, honest I did. In fact, I’ll show yer the bruises if yer’ll hold this bundle for a minute. Black and blue me shins are, and even a bit of yellow in parts.’
Sadie threw her head back and her laughter rang out loud and clear. ‘Yer tuppence short of a shilling, you are, Peter Townley. As soft as a blinking brush.’
Peter turned his head to look at her. God, but she was beautiful. ‘Are we friends again, then, Sadie? I know yer courting strong, yer don’t have to keep telling me that, but I’d still like to be friends with yer.’
Sadie had no intention of going into detail about Geoff, so she let it pass. ‘Okay, Peter, we’ll call a truce.’
He let out a loud exaggerated sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad about that, Sadie, ’cos I’m a growing lad and I need me sleep. You’ve been stunting me growth since yer moved into the street. I can’t get to sleep for thinking about yer.’
‘Peter Townley, if you lose any sleep because of me then yer need yer bumps feeling because I’m not worth it.’
‘I have given that very subject a great deal of thought, Sadie. And after much soul-searching and deliberation, I have reached the conclusion that you are worth losing sleep over. And to prove how much confidence I have in the outcome of my deliberation, I lie awake every night just gazing at the cracks in me bedroom ceiling. Twenty-four there are, by the way; I counted them.’
They were outside Sadie’s house by this time and she stared at him, open-mouthed. ‘Have you swallowed a blinkin’ dictionary, Peter Townley?’
‘Yeah.’ He rested his chin on the top of the bundle, his face smiling and his brown eyes dancing with mischievous laughter. ‘The pages weren’t that bad to swallow, but the hard back cover was murder. Couldn’t get it past me Adam’s apple, yer see.’
Sadie doubled up with laughter. He might be a blight on her life but he was a comical one. There’d be no miserable faces in his company. ‘Wait until I knock on the door, then I’ll take that load off yer.’
But the door opened before her hand reached the knocker. ‘I saw yer passing the window, sweetheart.’ Sarah looked surprised when she saw who her companion was. ‘Are you two on speaking terms again?’
‘He’s a nutcase, Grandma, a real head-the-ball.’ Sadie grinned. ‘But he’s been very good carrying me bundle for me, so I’ll not insult him by saying more.’
‘She won’t tell me what it is I’m carrying, though.’ Peter rolled his eyes. ‘Must be ill-gotten gains.’
‘No, I won’t tell yer what it is, and neither will me grandma. So I’ll thank yer kindly and take it off yer hands.’
‘I’ve carried it this far, I may as well finish the job off properly and put it on me Auntie Sarah’s table for yer.’
Sadie gaped. ‘Auntie Sarah? She’s not yer Auntie!’
‘She’s been me Auntie Sarah since the day I was born, and she’ll always be me Auntie Sarah whether you like it or not.’
Sarah could see a fight brewing and decided she wasn’t having any. They could play silly beggars if they liked, but not in front of her. ‘Can’t we have one night where you two say good night as friends? Every time yer see each other yer end up fighting! Behave yerselves, the pair of yer, and act yer age.’
Peter grinned while Sadie looked shamefaced. ‘I will if she will, Auntie Sarah.’
‘Oh, all right, we’ll be friends,’ Sadie said. ‘So will you take me bundle inside, Peter, please? And then I’ll say ta-ra and let yer get about yer business. I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is.’
Peter nodded and grinned at Sarah. ‘She has too, yer know. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t know we had twenty-four cracks in me bedroom ceiling.’
The old lady looked puzzled. ‘Yer’ve lost me there, son. I don’t know what your bedroom ceiling’s got to do with anything.’
‘Take no notice of him, Grandma, or we’ll be here all night. Just let him put the bundle on the table and I’ll stand here until he comes out.’
Sadie was waiting when Peter came out of the house minus the bundle. ‘Good night, Peter, and thank you.’
‘Are we friends then, Sadie? I’m only asking so I’ll know whether to speak to yer next time we just happen to bump into each other. It makes things awkward when yer don’t know whether to say “hello”, or just pull tongues.’
Oh, he really was the limit, Sadie thought. But she couldn’t help smiling. ‘Don’t you dare pull tongues at me, Peter Townley!’
‘So we’re on speaking terms, I take it, Sadie?’
‘Yes, Peter, we’re on speaking terms.’
‘Thank God for that! Those twenty-four cracks can look after themselves tonight, I’ve stood guard long enough. It’s a good night’s sleep I’ll be having tonight, and I bet I’ll have grown another two inches by the time I get out of bed. Me growth will no longer be stunted.’
‘Good night, Peter, enjoy yer sleep.’
‘Good night, Sadie. At least yer can’t fall out with me when I’m asleep.’
Sadie was chuckling when she closed the front door. That was one bloke you couldn’t fall out with – he wouldn’t let you!
‘Oh, sweetheart, yer look absolutely beautiful.’ There were tears in Sarah’s eyes. ‘A lovely coat for a lovely girl.’
Sadie did a little twirl. ‘I thought yer’d like it, Grandma. What about you, Grandad? Could yer fall for me in this rig-out?’
‘I could fall head over heels for you in anything, queen, but in that I’d do a double somersault.’ Joe couldn’t have been more proud of Sadie if she’d been of his own flesh and blood. In fact, there were times when he forgot she wasn’t. ‘If yer were old enough I’d take yer down to the pub with me, to show yer off to me mates.’
‘Over my dead body, you wou
ld.’ Sarah’s eyes flashed. ‘Nice girls don’t go in pubs, Joe O’Hanlon, so don’t you be leading her astray.’
‘Before you two come to blows, can I show yer me coat properly?’ Sadie took Sarah by the arms and sat her down. ‘It’s not often I get the chance to swank, so let me enjoy meself.’
Sarah smiled and clasped her hands in her lap. ‘We’re all eyes and ears, sweetheart.’
‘See how these lapels, or revers, are lying flat, Grandma?’ Sadie ran the back of her hands down the soft velvet, liking the feel of luxury. ‘Well, when the weather’s cold I can fold them over and they’ll fasten up to me neck to keep me nice and warm. It’s a shame to hide the velvet, but when it’s fastened up it doesn’t half feel good next to me skin.’ She smiled and hugged herself. ‘I wonder if the girl who it was bought for loved it as much as I do?’
‘That’s something we’ll never know, queen,’ Joe said, ‘but one thing’s for sure, it couldn’t look any better on her than it does on you.’
‘She must belong to a monied family.’ Sarah spoke softly, as though to herself. ‘It cost a pretty penny, did that coat.’
‘These must have been hers, too.’ Sadie held one of the jumpers aloft. ‘I wonder if she knows how lucky she is?’
‘She’s made you a very happy girl, so yer can thank her for that.’ Sarah pushed herself up from the chair. ‘Now, young lady, if yer don’t shift everything off the table, yer dinner won’t be fit to eat. Yer can show us the rest after yer’ve had yer meal.’
‘Oh, the rest of the things aren’t for me, they’re for me brothers and sisters.’
Sarah’s eyes widened. ‘But yer’ve just given them a stack of clothes, sweetheart. It’s your mother’s place to see to them, not yours.’
‘Grandma, I’ve had one lecture off Mary Ann, so don’t you start on me, please! I know everything yer saying is true, but neither you nor Mary Ann know just how bad things are at home. And none of it is the fault of the kids. Believe me, their life is like a hell on earth, and they’re too young to do anything about it or help themselves. I know exactly how they feel because I had to go through it, too. All I ever thought about was the day I would be old enough to walk away from it. But I can’t just abandon the other kids, put them out of me mind as though they don’t exist. I couldn’t live with meself if I did that.’