Sadie Was A Lady

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Looks aren’t everything, Geoff. In fact, they can be very deceiving. And I don’t think you should dance with me any more tonight, it’s not fair on her. Besides, I’ve already got two partners.’

  ‘Some partners. The first dance and you ended up on the floor!’

  ‘I saw the funny side of it, Geoff. In fact, I thought it was hilarious. They’re as crazy as two coots but I’m not half enjoying meself with them.’ The music was coming to an end so Sadie spoke quickly. ‘Look, d’yer want to skip seeing me on Saturday night so yer can take Ruby out?’

  Geoff shook his head. ‘No, I’ve got a date with you an’ we’ll leave it at that.’

  ‘Don’t be daft, I wouldn’t mind. Give the girl a chance, Geoff. She’s never taken her eyes off yer since we started dancing, so she must like yer. You take her out on Saturday, I’ll see yer here next Wednesday and yer can tell me how yer got on. I’ll come with the boys so I won’t have to play gooseberry.’

  Geoff walked her back to where Tommy and Spike were standing. ‘Are yer sure that’s what yer want, Sadie?’

  Sadie smiled at him. ‘I’m sure, Geoff. You an’ me are good mates and I want to see yer getting the best out of life.’

  Apart from an odd wave as they passed on the dance floor, Sadie had no more contact with Geoff that night. But she didn’t miss him because she was too busy enjoying herself. Spike’s dancing was on a par with Tommy’s – atrocious. But what they lacked in experience on the dance floor, they made up for with their constant chatter and joke-telling. Sadie did have a passing notion that she could perhaps teach them what little she knew, but she dismissed the idea before it could take root. It would take a better one than her to teach these two scallywags how to trip the light fantastic. Unless it was the Sailor’s Hornpipe or an Irish jig – they’d be brilliant at throwing their arms and legs about. Even on their way home they didn’t let up. Down every entry they passed lurked a huge green monster, just waiting to pick Sadie up. But the lads vowed to protect her even if it meant being slain themselves. Their acting was so over-dramatic, by the time they reached her front door her face was stiff with laughing and she was pressing at the stitch in her side.

  ‘Well, we didn’t get much done in the way of dancing, but I’ve had a whale of a time. Thanks very much, boys.’

  ‘Yer enjoyed it, then, Sadie?’ Tommy asked. ‘I mean, yer not going to close the door on us and breathe a sigh of relief, saying, “Thank God that’s over”?’

  Sadie laughed. ‘No, Tommy, I really did enjoy meself.’

  ‘Come with us again next week, then?’

  ‘Yeah, okay, but I’m not paying for meself. How soft I’d be to fork out good money just to be thrown on the floor! I’d have to be a head-case, like you two.’

  ‘Oh, we’ll pay for yer, Sadie, with pleasure.’ Spike jerked his head at Tommy. ‘I’ll have a word with one of the fellers in the band and ask him not to play a tango, then this madcap can’t repeat tonight’s performance.’

  ‘There’s no fear of that, I’ve learned me lesson.’ It was dark in the street so Sadie couldn’t see Tommy’s face clearly, but she’d bet he was wearing a grin. ‘No, I thought I’d try that other thing next time – you know, where the feller holds the girl’s arm high in the air and she spins around and around while he stands watching her? I mean, I couldn’t come to no harm just standin’ there, could I?’

  ‘Uh, uh,’ Sadie grunted as she shook her head. ‘The tango is off-limits for you from now on, Tommy Seymour. Yer not the only one who’s learned a lesson.’

  ‘I’m cut to the quick, Sadie, I really am. Me pride’s been dented.’

  ‘Well, will yer go home to mend yer pride, Tommy, ’cos I’m going in now, it’s way past me bedtime. I’ll see yer both in the morning, and thanks again for takin’ me out.’

  ‘Will yer practise that spin in the meantime, Sadie?’ Tommy didn’t want the evening to end, he liked being with Sadie. ‘An’ I’ll practise standing like one of the dummies in Burton’s window, with me arm in the air and pretending to hold yer fingers while yer spin around.’

  ‘Spike, will yer take him home, please? I’m dead beat.’

  ‘Anything to oblige.’ Spike took his friend’s arm. ‘Come on, an’ no messing ’cos we’ve got to be up early.’

  Tommy sighed. ‘The night’s still young, I’m not a bit tired.’

  ‘On yer way, pal.’ Spike dragged on his arm. ‘It doesn’t mean that because yer not tired everyone else has to be full of the joys of spring. Good night, Sadie.’

  ‘Good night, Spike, good night, Tommy.’

  ‘Ta-ra, Sadie, see yer tomorrow.’ Tommy waved before turning on his friend. ‘Yer like a ruddy wet week, you are. A real misery guts.’

  ‘Anything you say, pal, I’m too tired to argue.’

  Sadie was just about to close the door when she heard Tommy say, ‘No, yer definitely look more miserable than a wet week. More like it’s rained every day for a month and yer shoes are lettin’ in and yer haven’t got an umbrella.’

  Spike thought it was time to retaliate. ‘D’yer know who yer a dead ringer for? Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster … only he had more brains than you.’

  ‘Nah! Yer need yer eyes testin’, you do. Boris Karloff hasn’t got ginger hair! And he’s got a whopping big screw sticking out of his neck an’ he walks funny, as though someone’s wound him up.’

  Spike nodded. ‘Just as I said, yer a dead ringer for him. In fact, yer could be twin brothers.’

  Sadie turned into Penrhyn Street the following night and was immediately confronted by Peter Townley. ‘In the name of God, Peter, yer frightened the life out of me, I nearly jumped out of me skin!’

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t want yer to do that, Sadie, ’cos yer skin suits yer. It fits yer that well anyone would think it had been made for yer.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh, Peter, ’cos the muscles in me face are sore from laughing too much last night.’

  ‘Funny yer should say that, Sadie, ’cos that’s what I want to talk to yer about.’

  Sadie’s eyes widened. ‘What is it yer want to talk to me about?’

  ‘Don’t look at me like that with those big blue eyes of yours. It makes me go all weak in the knees.’

  ‘Peter, will yer get on with it, please? Me grandma will have me dinner on the table an’ she’ll go mad if I’m late and it goes cold.’

  ‘Where did yer go last night that made yer muscles sore?’

  ‘Pardon? What’s it got to do with you where I went?’

  ‘It was only a friendly enquiry, Sadie. If you wanted to ask me a question, as a friend, like, I wouldn’t bite your head off.’

  Sadie gave this some thought before saying, ‘I went to a dance, if yer must know.’

  Peter nodded, his face solemn. ‘I thought as much. Now, when I ask me next question I want yer to remember that yer still in the witness box an’ yer’ve sworn on the Bible to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’

  ‘Peter, what am I going to do with you? If my dinner’s ruined I’ll clock you one.’

  ‘This matter is very serious, Sadie, so think on. It’s so serious I was back last night to counting the cracks in me bedroom ceiling.’

  ‘Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.’ Sadie resigned herself to eating a cold dinner. ‘What is it now?’

  ‘Who were those two strapping lads yer went out with last night?’

  Sadie gasped at the cheek of him. ‘As I said before, what’s it got to do with you?’

  ‘Well, it got me thinking that it was naughty of yer to go out with two strange men when yer supposed to be courting strong. I didn’t think yer were the type of girl to two-time a bloke. And if yer are that type of girl, then why can’t yer two-time him with me? I’d be perfect to two-time somebody with.’

  Sadie bit so hard on the inside of her mouth she could taste blood, and the smile she was trying to keep back turned into a grimace. ‘Seeing as me life seems to have become a hobby wi
th yer, I’ll bring yer up-to-date. I mean, I’d hate yer to miss out on anything. First, me and the boy I was goin’ out with have decided not to see each other so often. I’m too young to be going serious with anyone. So I’m not two-timing him, see? I’m fancy free and can go out with who I like, when I like. And now you can answer me a question. How did yer know I went out with two blokes last night?’

  ‘Because I watched yer,’ Peter grinned. ‘I saw them passing, heard them knocking on yer door, then I went up to me mam’s bedroom and kept watch through the window. I sleep at the back of the house, yer see, so it wouldn’t have done me no good to look out of my bedroom window. I’d have sat there all night and seen nothin’, only the woman who lives in the house at the back getting undressed and putting her red flannelette nightie on.’ He pretended to shiver. ‘And I can tell yer that’s not a pretty sight. It’s enough to put yer off women for life.’

  ‘It doesn’t seem to have put you off.’

  ‘Ah well, yer see, you don’t look like the woman who lives at the back.’ He leaned forward and gazed into her eyes. ‘Please tell me that yer don’t wear a red flannelette nightie, Sadie – I couldn’t bear it.’

  ‘Yer a cheeky beggar, Peter Townley, and nosy. I’ve a good mind to go and see that woman at the back and tell her she’s being watched by a Peeping Tom.’

  ‘Yer could do better than that; yer could do her a big favour by putting a stop to it. If I was taking you out I wouldn’t have time to spare, would I? So do Mrs Thingamajig a favour an’ say yer’ll come out with me?’

  Now was a chance to get her own back on him. ‘Can you dance, Peter?’

  ‘Can I dance? Yer’d have to see it to believe it, Sadie.’

  ‘I’m going to Blair Hall on Saturday night if yer interested.’

  ‘If I’m interested – I’ll say I am! What time shall I pick yer up?’

  ‘The two strapping lads you saw, they’re calling for me at half-seven.’ Sadie’s eyes were pools of innocence. ‘Is that all right with you?’

  ‘Sadie,’ Peter groaned. ‘Don’t do this to me. I want to take yer out on me own.’

  ‘What yer want in this life, and what yer get, are two different things, Peter. Yer have to settle for what’s offered. But don’t worry if yer not interested, it was only a thought.’

  Peter didn’t take long to decide. After all, it was better than nothing and at least he’d be in her company. ‘Would I get a dance with yer?’

  ‘Of course yer would.’ Sadie hesitated for a second. ‘Any dance except a tango. I’m hopeless at that.’

  ‘Ah, what a shame. I’m better at a tango than anything.’

  Once bitten twice shy, Sadie thought. Tommy had said the same thing last night and he was a disaster. ‘There’ll be plenty of girls for yer to dance with, don’t worry. Give us a knock at half-seven on Saturday an’ we’ll be ready. That’s if me grandma doesn’t throw me out tonight for being late for me dinner. I’ll tell her it was your fault for keepin’ me talking.’

  ‘Wouldn’t Auntie Sarah like to go to Blair Hall with those two strapping lads, and me and you could go to the pictures?’

  ‘I seem to have gone deaf, Peter, can’t hear a thing. I can see yer lips moving, but that’s all. So I’ll say ta-ra for now.’

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sadie sat at the table wrapping Christmas presents in the coloured paper she’d bought at sixpence for twenty sheets. It was the first time in her life she’d ever bought presents, and her excitement and pleasure were shared by Sarah and Joe who watched with smiles on their faces. It was as much a treat for them as it was for Sadie.

  ‘Have yer got all yer presents in now, sweetheart?’

  ‘All except Auntie Mary’s – I don’t know what to get her.’ Sadie laid her hand on the parcels already wrapped. ‘Ludo for our Les, gloves for Ellen and Jimmy, and the doll for the baby, Sally. She won’t know what’s hit her, Grandma, she’s never had a doll before. And it looks lovely in the clothes you made for it; they don’t half make a difference.’

  ‘Why don’t yer buy a tortoiseshell comb for Mary Ann? You wouldn’t go far wrong with that because she’s always got one in her hair.’

  Sadie pursed her lips and wagged her head from side to side. ‘I have thought of that, then I couldn’t make up me mind between a comb or a scarf. I don’t mean a scarf for work, but a pretty one that she could wear when she goes out.’

  ‘I’d settle for the scarf, queen, she’d be over the moon.’ Joe offered his suggestion with a knowing nod. ‘It’s something she’d think twice about buying for herself because of the money, so it would be a nice surprise.’

  ‘There speaks the man of the house.’ Sarah ran a finger gently down her husband’s wrinkled cheek. ‘And I think he’s right. Mary Ann would be delighted with a pretty scarf.’

  ‘Right, that’s settled then, yer’ve made up me mind for me. I’ll get it this afternoon on me way to meet Ellen comin’ out of school. This is me last day off before Christmas ’cos Auntie Mary said we’ll be mad busy next week.’ A frown creased Sadie’s brow. ‘I don’t know how I’m goin’ to get the things to the children. I won’t be able to take time off to meet them outside school, and I don’t want to give them to them now, it’s too far off Christmas and it wouldn’t be the same.’

  Sarah and Joe exchanged glances. ‘Me and Joe have been talkin’ about that, sweetheart, and we wondered if yer wouldn’t like one of them to come here and pick them up? It would save yer a lot of worry.’

  ‘But I don’t want them to know where I’m living, Grandma, in case me mam and dad find out. I could trust our Ellen and Jimmy to keep a secret if it wasn’t for me dad being such a wicked article. If he found out they knew where I was, he’d belt it out of them.’

  Sarah sighed. ‘It was only a thought, sweetheart, but you know best.’

  There was a loud rat-tat at the knocker and Sarah made to rise. ‘That’ll be the rent man.’

  ‘You stay where yer are, Grandma, I’ll go.’ Sadie scraped her chair back and picked up a rent book off the sideboard. ‘Is the money inside?’

  ‘Right to the penny, sweetheart, as usual. Give George my regards.’

  George Scott was turning the page in his ledger when he looked up and saw Sadie standing on the top step, holding the rent book and money out to him with a huge smile on her pretty face. It was the first time she’d been home when the rent man called so they were strangers to each other.

  ‘My God, Sarah, yer don’t half look well.’ George stepped back and feigned surprise. ‘What have yer been taking, rejuvenating pills or something?’

  Sadie chuckled. ‘Yeah, but I went overboard. It said on the bottle to take one every morning, but I thought I’d speed the process up and took six.’ She waved a hand downwards. ‘This is the result.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be blowed.’ George ran his fingers through dark hair which was showing signs of white at the temples. He was a portly man in his forties, with a ruddy complexion and a happy disposition. ‘Whatever will they think of next? You don’t happen to have the bottle handy, do yer? I wouldn’t mind a tanner’s worth of those pills.’ He threw his head back and his roar of laughter could be heard the length of the street, causing heads to turn. ‘On second thoughts I’d better make it a shilling’s worth; there’s no point in me going back to me childhood if the missus doesn’t come with me.’

  Sarah’s voice floated down the hall. ‘I’m listening, George Scott! Don’t you be leading me granddaughter astray, d’yer hear? Yer get paid to pick up the rent money, not pretty young girls.’

  ‘Ah, if only I could, Sarah. The only thing I can pick up is a heavy cold.’ George dropped the money in the large leather bag which hung from a strap on his shoulder and handed the book back to Sadie. ‘So, you’re a granddaughter? Are yer staying with Sarah?’

  Sadie nodded as she folded her arms and hugged herself. It was a bitterly cold day and her jumper gave little protection from the wind. ‘Me name’s Sadie, and yer have
n’t seen me before because I go out to work. Today’s me day off.’

  ‘Well, it’s been nice meeting yer, Sadie, and yer’ve brightened me day.’ He closed the ledger and tucked it under his arm. ‘Pity about those pills, though. I had visions of being twenty-one again.’

  ‘If yer were, would yer change anything about yer life?’

  ‘No, I suppose not. I’m a lot better off than some.’

  ‘There yer are, then.’ Sadie grinned even though her teeth were chattering. ‘I’m happy, you’re happy, God’s in His heaven and all’s right with the world.’

  Sadie did the last of her Christmas shopping on her way to meet Ellen coming out of school. She chose a voile scarf with a pretty floral design on for Mary Ann, a pair of warm slippers and an ounce of tobacco for Joe, and a pair of gloves and a slab of Cadbury’s for Sarah. She’d have to sneak them in and hide them in her wardrobe until she had time to wrap them properly. The presents for her grandparents would be going under the tree on Christmas Eve. She’d already ordered the tree off one of the men at the market but hadn’t said anything at home because she wanted to surprise them.

  Sadie’s happiness gave her a warm glow inside as she walked towards the school, but after standing outside the gates for ten minutes she was dithering with the cold. There was nowhere to shelter from the wind, only the entry on the opposite side of the street, but she was afraid to move in case she missed her sister. Ellen didn’t know she was coming so wouldn’t be watching out for her. It seemed ages before the doors finally burst open and a stream of noisy girls poured out, pushing and elbowing each other out of the way to be first across the playground and out through the gates.

  ‘Ellen!’ Sadie waved frantically, afraid she wouldn’t be seen or heard above the din. But her sister had spotted her, and with a look of determination on her thin face she barged her way through the heaving mass.

  ‘I had a feelin’ yer’d come today, Sadie.’

  Sadie hugged her tight. ‘I’m like an iceberg standin’ here; let’s go in that entry out of the wind.’