Sadie Was A Lady

by Joan Jonker

  ‘All right, sweetheart, don’t be getting yerself all upset. Clear the table and I’ll bring yer dinner through.’

  ‘I’ll nip upstairs with some of these, get them out of yer way.’ Sadie grabbed an armful of clothes and made for the stairs. On her way down again the smell of liver and onions assailed her nostrils and the hunger pangs began. ‘Ooh, that smells delicious, Grandma, me mouth’s watering.’

  ‘It’s nice and tender, sweetheart, just the way yer like it.’

  There wasn’t a word spoken as Sadie tucked in with an appetite that was envied by Sarah and Joe. They used to eat big meals like that right up until Joe finished work. But as they grew older their need for food diminished. They still had a hot dinner every day, Sarah insisted on that, but their plates were no longer piled high.

  ‘Grandma,’ Sadie rested her knife and fork, ‘yer won’t tell Peter what was in the bundle, will yer? I’d hate him to know all me clothes are cast-offs.’

  ‘Not a word will cross my lips, sweetheart, I promise.’

  ‘He will ask, yer know. He’s cheeky enough for anything. No matter what I say to him, how rude I am, he won’t leave me alone.’

  Sarah bit on her lip to keep a smile away. ‘Will yer give yer tongue a rest and finish that dinner before it gets stiff? With the weather getting colder yer’ll need plenty of nourishment inside yer to stand in that market all day.’

  ‘So me Auntie Mary keeps telling me.’ Sadie was thoughtful as she pushed her fork through the mound of mashed potato. ‘Has Peter Townley got a girlfriend? He’s old enough to have one, and if he has why is he pestering me?’

  ‘From what I saw, Sadie, he wasn’t pestering yer tonight, he was helping yer. And as for him having a girlfriend, well I wouldn’t know. And he’s not that old, yer know, only a couple of months older than you. I’ve seen him with plenty of girls – they hang around the top of the street waiting for him. After all, he’s a nice-looking lad. But as to whether he’s got a regular girlfriend, well, yer’ll have to ask him that yerself.’

  ‘I wouldn’t be bothered doing that.’ Sadie pushed a fingernail between two bottom teeth to dislodge a piece of liver. ‘He’d think I was interested if I asked him something personal like that.’

  ‘Yer’ve just asked me, sweetheart, so yer must be a bit interested in him.’

  ‘I am not!’ Sadie sounded indignant. ‘I only wondered because he seems to be always following me. He’s like me blinkin’ shadow.’

  Joe wasn’t due for a smoke, but with the excitement of Sadie’s new clothes and everything, he decided this was a special occasion that called for a treat. It would mean one less tomorrow, he told himself as he rubbed the tobacco between his palms, but he’d worry about that when the time came. ‘This situation with you and Peter, queen, it’s like one of these serials yer see at the pictures where yer have to go back the next week to see what happened. It just gets to an exciting part when it says “To be continued”.’

  Sadie raised her brows. ‘Excitement, Grandad? I would have thought nuisance was more like it.’

  Joe drew on his pipe and a look of contentment settled on his lined face. His old briar was one of the few pleasures left in life. The other two were looking at him now, his beloved wife and the young girl who’d come into their lives and brought a ray of sunshine. She’d given them so much. The days didn’t seem so long now they knew she’d be home at six every night with her bright smile lighting up the room. But on the matter of young Peter, he didn’t agree with her. ‘Me and Sarah have known Peter since he was a babe in arms, queen, and I think she’ll bear me out when I say he’s a good lad. One of the best, eh, Sarah?’

  His wife nodded. ‘They don’t come any better than Peter. But then it wouldn’t do for us all to be the same, would it? We each have our own likes and dislikes, and that’s the way of the world. If Sadie doesn’t like Peter that’s her business; she’s entitled to her own opinion, Joe, even if we do think she’s wrong.’

  Sadie gazed from one to the other. ‘I don’t dislike him. In fact, I’d think he was a smashing bloke if he’d just leave me alone. I mean, if it was only now and again, and we could have a good laugh, I’d get on well with him. But never a night goes by that he doesn’t pop up from somewhere like a blinkin’ Jack-in-the-box.’

  ‘I think he’s taken a shine to yer, sweetheart,’ Sarah said, ‘and yer should be flattered, not annoyed. But let’s forget about Peter now. Tell us how yer got on with Geoff last night. Yer were in such a rush this morning I didn’t get a chance to ask yer.’

  Sadie pulled a face. ‘I didn’t tell him, I didn’t have the nerve. We went dancing and we had such a really good night, I just couldn’t do it. He’s one helluva nice bloke and I don’t know why I can’t fall for him. I’m beginning to think I’m not made right.’

  Sarah’s wise old eyes were serious. ‘Don’t stay with him just because yer feel sorry for him, sweetheart, that wouldn’t be fair to him or to you. If yer let it go on too long yer’ll end up marrying him because that’s what he’d expect, and, child, yer’d regret it for the rest of yer life. Yer can’t turn love on like a water tap; it’s something yer feel inside of yer when real love comes along. Yer’ll meet the right boy some day, the one that’s meant for yer, and believe me, sweetheart, yer’ll know him right away. Yer heart will beat faster and sing every time yer see him and your tummy will feel as though there’s a million butterflies flying around in there. There’s no other feeling like it in the world, sweetheart, and it’s worth waiting for.’

  ‘Oh Grandma, that was lovely, what yer said.’ Sadie pushed her chair back and rounded the table to hug the old lady. ‘It sounded real romantic.’

  ‘And every word was true,’ Joe said. ‘I can vouch for it. I still feel the same way about yer Grandma as I did the day I met her. I never look at her without me heart turning over.’

  Sarah’s look was tender. ‘Yer an old softie, Joe O’Hanlon, but if Sadie gets one as good as you she won’t go far wrong.’

  ‘I’ll tell Geoff next time I see him.’ Sadie gave the frail shoulders a gentle squeeze before returning to her chair. ‘And I’ll wait for that special Mr Right to come along. Someone like Grandad, so we can live happy ever after, like they do in fairy stories.’

  ‘It’s a Prince Charming yer after, is it, queen?’

  ‘No, Grandad, just an ordinary bloke will do me fine, as long as he loves me. That’s all I ask.’

  Sadie’s heart sank when she saw the pleasure on Geoff’s face as he came to meet her. Oh dear, she wasn’t looking forward to this at all. All day she’d been rehearsing what she’d say to him, but the real thing was going to be much harder than the rehearsal. It would be best to get it over with right away, otherwise she’d be on pins all night.

  ‘Where d’yer want to go, Sadie?’ Geoff cupped her elbow. ‘Shall we go dancing again, or would yer rather go to the pictures?’

  Sadie swallowed hard to try and get rid of the lump in her throat. ‘Can I have a word with you, Geoff, before we go anywhere?’

  The tone of her voice told him that all was not well and his smile changed to a look of concern. ‘Why, what’s wrong?’

  ‘There’s nothing really wrong.’ Sadie could feel her inside shaking. ‘It’s just that I worry sometimes about us going out together so often. I don’t want yer to get serious about me because I’m too young to be courting seriously with anyone. I’m only sixteen and that’s too young to know me own mind. And while yer going out with me it’s stopping yer from meeting someone who’s ready to settle down, someone a bit older.’

  ‘Don’t yer like going out with me, Sadie?’ Geoff’s voice was low. ‘Is that what it is?’

  ‘No! I like going out with yer, Geoff,’ Sadie said honestly. ‘I always enjoy meself with yer and yer always treat me nice. But I know I’m not ready to settle down yet and I don’t think it’s fair to let yer keep on spending yer time and money on me without me telling yer how I feel.’

  ‘Don’t stop seein�
� me, Sadie, please. I like going out with yer and I’d miss yer.’

  ‘But yer’d soon meet another girl, Geoff. Yer’ve got everything going for yer! Yer’ve got good looks, a smashing personality, a caring nature and a happy disposition. The girls will be falling all over yer, pushing each other out of the way to get to yer first.’ She managed a weak smile. ‘And yer can’t half dance.’

  ‘But I’m not the one for you, am I?’ Geoff kicked at a piece of paper that had been blown along by the wind. ‘Is there someone else, Sadie?’

  Sadie shook her head. ‘I’d tell yer if there was, Geoff. I’d been out with a few boys before I met you, yer know that, but none since.’

  ‘Then there’s no reason why yer can’t come out with me now and again, is there?’ Geoff coaxed. ‘We can just be friends, if that’s what yer want. Or we could even be dancing partners, there’s no harm in that.’

  ‘Yer’d have to teach me to dance first.’ Sadie’s heart was feeling lighter now the worst was over. She wouldn’t mind going to a dance with him now and again, in fact she’d enjoy it. It would mean she had something to look forward to without the worry of him having the wrong ideas about her. ‘I’d like that, Geoff, as long as yer know how I feel.’

  ‘I’ll teach yer to dance, Sadie, and when we’re good enough we’ll go to all the big dance halls and go in for competitions.’

  ‘Ah, ay, Geoff, don’t be getting any big ideas. I’m not Ginger Rogers, yer know!’

  ‘Yer will be when I’ve finished with yer.’ The tension had lifted and Geoff smiled. ‘How about going to the dance tonight and beginning our partnership?’

  ‘As long as you understand how I feel, Geoff, ’cos I don’t ever want to let yer down. If you meet a girl that yer like, or if I meet a boy, then we part company the best of friends. Is that okay with you?’

  Geoff nodded. ‘Purely a dancing partnership.’

  Sadie smiled as she took his arm. ‘I think we’ll concentrate on me learning the slow foxtrot first, eh? And in a couple of weeks we’ll be able to show the others how it should be done.’

  Sadie rubbed her arms briskly. ‘Yer were right about it being cold here, Auntie Mary. I’m freezing! I’ve got goose-pimples on top of me goose-pimples.’

  ‘Just wait until it gets really cold.’ Mary Ann nodded her head knowingly. ‘It’s only November now, the worst weather has yet to come. When the snow and sleet come down it gets cold enough to freeze the you-know-what off a brass monkey. It’s half-a-dozen vests yer’ll want on then, girl, and fur-lined bloomers.’

  ‘I’ll borrow me grandma’s fleecy-lined ones with the elasticated legs. No one will see them and they’ll keep me really warm.’

  Mary Ann grinned. ‘Just remember not to bend down in them, girl, ’cos the legs will come down to yer knees and yer’ll not look so glamorous with half a yard of pink fleecy-lined bloomers showing.’

  ‘Warmth comes before vanity, Auntie Mary, I’m finding that out.’ Sadie looked down at the shapeless brown coat she was wearing. ‘I look like Granny Grunt in this thing, but I’d be lost without it. It was a blessing it came in, otherwise I’d have to wear me nice navy-blue one and I don’t want to do that, ’cos I keep that for best.’

  Mary Ann was looking over Sadie’s shoulder and she jerked her head when she saw one of the young stall-holders approaching. ‘Ay out, sunshine, here comes Romeo.’

  ‘Good morning, Mary Ann, is it cold enough for yer?’ Tommy Seymour worked on a second-hand tool stall further down the market. He managed it alone through the week while his dad went out with a cart collecting old tools and any scrap he could get. Tommy was seventeen and had had his eye on Sadie since the day she came. He’d asked her for dates and been turned down so many times Mary Ann wondered how he had the nerve to keep coming back, but she admired his perseverance.

  ‘Is it me yer’ve come to see, Tommy?’ Mary Ann asked. ‘Or have yer come for yer daily refusal from Sadie?’

  Tommy grinned, not in the least put out. ‘Yer a mind-reader on the quiet, Mary Ann. I think yer should make a career out of it, yer’d do well. People pay a tanner to have their fortunes told, did yer know that?’

  ‘I’m sure you wouldn’t pay me a tanner just to tell yer what Sadie’s answer will be, would yer, Smart Alec?’

  ‘Auntie Mary!’ Sadie blushed. She didn’t like to see anyone made a fool of, especially when she was involved. ‘Leave the lad alone, yer embarrassing him.’

  Tommy threw his head back and roared with laughter. He was a tall, lanky lad with a mop of ginger hair and wide grey eyes. His face was weatherbeaten with being outside all the time and he looked the picture of health. ‘It would take more than that to embarrass me, Sadie. I’ve got the skin of a rhinoceros.’ Then he narrowed his eyes. ‘But yer could stop her from embarrassing me if yer wanted to.’

  Mary Ann pulled a face and rolled her eyes. If Sadie fell for that one she’d fall for the flaming cat. But no, she wasn’t that daft. She was naive for her age, granted, but she wasn’t that blinking naive.

  ‘What d’yer mean, Tommy?’ Sadie asked. ‘I couldn’t stop Auntie Mary from doing anything she wanted to do.’

  ‘Yer could, yer know.’ Tommy crossed his fingers for luck. ‘Yer could say yer’d come to Blair Hall tonight with me an’ Spike.’

  There was no immediate refusal like there usually was, as Sadie pursed her lips in thought before saying, ‘Yeah, okay. But I’m not paying for meself.’

  Mary Ann’s eyes and mouth were wide open. ‘Well, I’ll be buggered!’

  ‘I never knew the meanin’ of that saying, Mary Ann, it never made sense to me before. But now I think I’ve got the general idea.’ Tommy was jubilant, his grin stretching from ear to ear. ‘Me and Spike will pay for yer, Sadie – it’s only right when we asked yer to come. Shall we pick yer up from old Sarah’s about half-past seven?’ He waited for Sadie’s nod before hurrying back to his stall, whistling with delight. Patience had certainly paid off in this instance. It just went to show that you should never give up if you really want something.

  ‘Don’t look so surprised, Auntie Mary. I’m only goin’ to a dance with them.’

  ‘Surprised? Yer could knock me over with a bleedin’ feather! An’ I’ll tell yer this, sunshine, I’m not half as surprised as Tommy is. He must think it’s his birthday. After all the times he’s asked yer, what made yer agree to go with him this time?’

  ‘A couple of reasons, really,’ Sadie said. ‘First, Spike will be with us so I won’t be on me own with him. Second, because I like dancing and never get the chance to dance with anyone but Geoff. I want to find out if I can manage the steps with someone else.’

  ‘Are you and Geoff still just dancing partners?’

  Sadie nodded. ‘Always will be, Auntie Mary. I’ve cut our dates down to two a week now, hoping he’ll go dancing on his own and find himself a nice girl.’

  ‘Well, yer’ll enjoy yerself with Tommy and Spike, they’re good lads. Even if they can’t dance it’ll be worth it for the laugh.’

  Sadie shivered. ‘The only part of me that isn’t cold are me feet. And that’s because Grandad put a couple of layers of newspaper in me shoes. It hasn’t half made a difference.’ She tilted her head. ‘I should get those boots to our Jimmy, he could do with them in this weather. Would yer let me have an hour off one afternoon, Auntie Mary, and I can meet him coming out of school?’

  ‘I’ve been having a little think about time off, girl, and there’s no reason why we couldn’t both have a day off. There’s nothing doing on a Monday and Tuesday, only sorting the clothes out, so we could have one of those days each. I managed the stall on me own for years so I could do it again, and I know you could manage on yer own standing on yer head.’ It was Mary Ann’s turn to tilt her head. ‘How does that sound to you?’

  ‘It sounds marvellous, Auntie Mary, but yer the boss, not me.’

  ‘Yeah, I am, aren’t I? Lucky old me! So, in that case, if yer want to scoot off home now, and pick up thos
e shoes for yer brother, yer can do. Yer’ll have plenty of time to get a nice warm by the fire and have something to eat before it’s time to go to the school. Then after yer’ve seen yer brother there’ll still be a couple of hours spare for yer to titivate yerself up for yer big date tonight.’ Mary Ann struck up a pose, licked each of her thumbs in turn, then lifting her skirt and humming a fast tempo song, she gave a very good account of herself in a demonstration of the Charleston. Tony from the shoe stall saw her and began to clap, joined within seconds by other stall-holders.

  ‘Atta girl, Mary Ann,’ Tony called. ‘Show a leg there, love, give us all a treat. There’s nothing better to warm a feller up on a cold day, than the sight of a pair of garters.’

  ‘Don’t you be looking at me Auntie’s garters,’ Sadie said, shaking a finger at the laughing stall-holder. ‘Keep yer eyes to yerself.’

  Mary Ann stopped, red in the face and gasping. She turned her back on the watching eyes and bent from the waist down, as though trying to catch her breath. But when she stood up and Sadie saw the shaking shoulders she knew Mary Ann had a trick up her sleeve. And she wasn’t wrong.

  Mary Ann spun around and lifted one of her arms high in the air. In her hand she had a pair of home-made elastic garters which she waved at Tony. ‘Here yer are, sunshine, put these on yer stall and yer’ll be warm all day.’

  Tony’s laugh was the loudest. ‘Thanks, Mary Ann, I appreciate the gesture. Give them to Sadie to bring over, there’s a good girl. Oh, and will yer do us a favour, Mary Ann?’

  ‘For you, Tony, my love, anything.’

  ‘Then before yer send the garters over, will yer put yer legs back in them?’

  ‘Get away with yer, yer cheeky sod! I pity your poor wife, I really do. Sex mad, that’s what yer are.’