by Joan Jonker
Ellen linked her arm. She had so much to tell her sister she couldn’t wait to get it out. ‘Me dad said if yer send any more clothes for us, he’ll put them on the fire. He went mad over those boots yer gave our Jimmy. He was on his way out to the bin with them but our Jimmy stood in front of the door and wouldn’t let him out. Me dad was like a raving lunatic, he would have killed our Jimmy if me mam hadn’t stopped him.’
‘What happened to the boots?’ Sadie asked, her voice tight with anger.
‘Me mam calmed me dad down and took the boots off him. She gave them to Jimmy and told him to take them upstairs out of sight. He’s wearing them, but yer can tell by me dad’s face that he’s still blazing over it. He’s just dead jealous that he hasn’t got a pair of boots as good as those.’
‘He would have if he didn’t spend all his money in the pub.’ Sadie tucked her hands into the sleeves of her coat. ‘So, I can’t give yer any more clothes, eh?’
‘That’s what me dad said, that he’d burn them. And he would, too, Sadie, ’cos he’s a bad, wicked man.’
‘Has he been leaving you alone?’
Ellen lowered her head. ‘I told him everything yer told me to, Sadie, but he said I could go to the police if I wanted, he didn’t care. He said they’d put me in a children’s home and they’d keep me there until I was eighteen.’ Her face flushed, she faced her sister. ‘I was frightened, Sadie. I don’t want to go in no home.’
‘Is he still doing things to yer?’
‘When he gets the chance he puts his hand up me knickers.’ Tears were threatening as she went on. ‘Our Jimmy doesn’t leave me alone with him if he can help it. And I go to bed at the same time as him every night so I’m not on me own with me dad.’ A tear trickled down her pale face. ‘I hate him, our Sadie. When he touched me the other night I almost picked the poker up to hit him with.’
Sadie ground her teeth in anger. ‘I’ve got Christmas presents for you and the others, Ellen, and I’m bloody determined that yer get them and yer keep them.’ It was so unusual for Sadie to swear, Ellen’s eyes flew open. ‘I’ll think of something, don’t you worry. Even if I have to bring them meself, you’ll get them.’ Sadie’s mind was whirling. She had no idea how she could manage it, but with her anger came determination. ‘Don’t say a word to anyone except our Jimmy. I want both of yer to stay in the house on Christmas Eve, don’t go out under any circumstances. It’s important, Ellen, do you understand?’
‘What are yer goin’ to do, our Sadie? Me dad will kill yer if yer come to the house.’
‘That’s my worry, Ellen – I’ll sort something out. Come hell or high water, you and the other kids will get yer Christmas presents. And I promise yer they won’t be put on the fire by our loving father.’
When Sadie saw the worried looks on the faces of Sarah and Joe, she was ashamed that she was the one who had put them there. ‘I wasn’t going to tell yer, but I had no one else to talk to. I can see I was wrong now. I’ve no right to be bringing trouble to yer door after yer’ve been so good to me.’
‘Nonsense, child! We’re family now and families stick together through thick and thin. I don’t know that me and Joe can be much help to yer, but we’ll do our level best.’
‘I only want some advice, Grandma. I’ve gone over and over it in me mind and there’s no way I’m going to let the kids down. I’ll take all the stuff up meself on Christmas Eve. I don’t mind doin’ that, I’m not frightened of me dad. But I need somebody with me just in case he tries to take it out on the children after I’ve gone. I need someone to put the fear of God into him. Not only about the clothes and presents, but also for the way he treats the kids.’
Joe puffed on his pipe, wishing he was fifty years younger so he could sort the bugger out himself. ‘What had yer in mind, queen?’
‘I was wondering what yer thought about me asking Tommy and Spike to come with me? It would mean me telling them me business, which I never have – they don’t know anything about me. But I’m desperate and can’t afford to feel ashamed of me home and me parents. The lads wouldn’t have to come in the house, as long as they stood outside and me dad knew they were there. He thinks nothing of belting a child, it makes him feel brave, the great “I am”. But a big strong man would be a different proposition. He’d grovel before he’d stand up to someone his own size.’
‘It sounds a good idea, sweetheart, and I’m sure the boys would jump at the chance to help yer. But I’d be worried about yer putting yerself at risk by goin’ in the house on yer own. If the boys were outside they wouldn’t know what was going on inside. Yer father could be belting hell out of yer.’
Sadie grinned. ‘Grandma, I’ve got a good set of lungs on me. If he so much as raised his hand they’d hear me screams down at the Pier Head.’
‘Well, have a word with Tommy tomorrow an’ see what he says.’
‘I won’t have time tomorrow, it’s Auntie Mary’s day off and I won’t be able to leave the stall. Besides, it’s not the best place to have a private conversation. And I won’t be able to mention it on Wednesday when we go to Blair Hall ’cos Peter will be there. I don’t want him knowing.’
Sarah shook her head and tutted. ‘He’d be the first one to offer to help yer, sweetheart. He thinks the world of yer.’
‘I know that, Grandma, and I think he’s a smashing lad. But I don’t want him to see where I’ve come from. Yer should hear me dad’s language when he starts, it’s enough to make yer hair curl. And me mam’s no better. I don’t mind Tommy or Spike, they’re more rough and ready, but not Peter.’
Joe leaned forward and tapped the bowl of his pipe against the grate. ‘Why not ask them to come here, then? Yer’ll feel more at ease in yer own home, and yer’ll have me and Sarah at hand for moral support.’
‘That would be the best thing all round,’ Sarah agreed. ‘And yer’ve no need to make a big issue out of it, just give them the bare details. You ran away from home because yer dad’s a drunken bully, and yer worried now that he won’t let you in to give the children their Christmas presents. That’s all they need to know and yer wouldn’t be telling them no lies.’
‘You make it sound so easy, Grandma. I just hope yer right.’
‘Listen to me, queen,’ Joe said, a twinkle in his eyes, ‘if those two lads are prepared to slay a dragon for yer, then facing up to your dad should be a piece of cake.’
‘I hope they don’t have to stand up to him, Grandad. I’m banking on the size of them frightening the living daylights out of him.’
‘Well, Tommy and Spike are big strapping lads, queen, they don’t come much bigger. You and I know they’re as harmless as kittens, but yer dad doesn’t.’
‘Don’t you believe it.’ Sarah squared her shoulders, folded her arms and set her lips in a thin line – all signs indicating that she was going to say something of great significance. ‘I’ll have you know that young Tommy can handle himself. I was standing by their stall one day when a bloke insulted his father, and before yer could say Jack Robinson, Tommy had the bloke by the scruff of his neck. There was a crowd around in no time ’cos this feller was a known big mouth and troublemaker, and they were all egging Tommy on to belt him one. He would have done, too, if his dad hadn’t stepped in. Even then Tommy wouldn’t leave go of the bloke until he’d apologised to his dad.’
Sadie’s mouth gaped in surprise. ‘Go ’way, Grandma! Well, yer do surprise me.’
‘Doesn’t surprise me,’ Joe said, his nod saying that his mind agreed with his mouth. ‘Yer can tell by lookin’ at him that he can take care of himself. Him and Spike might act daft but, believe me, they’re nobody’s fools.’
Sarah tilted her head, her eyes tender. ‘Joe O’Hanlon, will yer stop giving that empty pipe the glad eye and put some tobacco in it? Yer look like a fish out of water when yer not puffing away at the ruddy thing.’
‘I can’t do right for doin’ wrong, can I, queen?’ Joe gave Sadie an over-the-top wink. ‘If I light up I get accused of burnin’
money and filling the room with smoke. If I don’t light up I look like a ruddy fish! There’s just no pleasing this wife of mine.’
Sadie sighed with pleasure as she laced her fingers and laid her arms flat on the table. Her eyes travelled the room and she told herself that this was what you called a home. A fire crackling in the grate, comfortable lived-in furniture and a kettle keeping warm on the hob. And most importantly of all, the two wonderful people who had made this place what it was with their love and warmth. They had taken her into their home and into their hearts. She idolised them, and for herself asked nothing more of life than to stay in the shelter of their love.
The market was crowded, as it had been every day that week. It seemed everyone wanted something new for Christmas, even if it was second-hand. Sadie had never seen anything like the mass of heaving bodies as they jostled for position near the stalls. She was worried at first, as the tables were pushed further and further back, but the crowd were so good-natured, so full of the festive spirit, she left her worries behind and began to enjoy herself. The Christmas tontines had been paid out and the women were eager for bargains on which to spend their hard-saved money. All year they’d been passing over coppers they could ill-afford to a collector, now they were reaping the benefit and thanking God they’d persevered with those weekly payments.
‘Have yer got anythin’ for me, Sadie?’ Elsie pushed her way between two women who were arguing about which jumper to buy for their mother. ‘I’m relying on yer, girl, for somethin’ nice to wear to a party me and my feller have been invited to.’
Sadie winked. ‘Can yer hang on a minute, Elsie, until I’ve served these two customers? They won’t be long, will yer, ladies?’
‘It’s not me, queen, it’s me sister here what’s being long-winded. She wants to buy this green jumper for me mam when she knows bloody well me mam thinks green is an unlucky colour. Me Auntie Fanny bought a green coat once, and didn’t she go and die the very next day? Me mam’s refused to have anythin’ green in the house since, and soft girl here knows that.’
‘Ooh, I feel the same way as yer mam, girl.’ Elsie thought she’d hurry the proceedings along. ‘My neighbour says that it’s unlucky to say that green’s unlucky because God made all the trees and the grass green. But me, I wouldn’t take no chance. Best to be on the safe side, that’s my motto.’
The doubting sister gave in, but not gracefully. ‘Oh, all right, have it yer own way or I’ll never hear the end of it. If anyone in the family pegged out I’d get the blame.’
Sadie gave a sigh of satisfaction as she pocketed their sixpence. The two women had been so long making up their minds anyone would think they were in George Henry Lees and debating about jumpers costing pounds instead of coppers. ‘Thank heaven for that, Elsie. I was beginning to think they were here for the day.’
Elsie grinned. ‘It was sad about their Auntie Fanny dying the day after buying a new coat, though, wasn’t it? Poor woman never even got the chance to put it on her back. I was goin’ to ask them what happened to it ’cos I rather fancy a green coat meself, but I thought it might sound a trifle indelicate.’
‘Especially when yer’d put them off buying green. I only hope they don’t pass when I’m showing yer the blouses I’ve put away for yer to look at. Two of them are green.’
Elsie eyed the stall. ‘Yer don’t seem to have much left, Sadie. Have yer been busy?’
‘That’s putting it mildly, Elsie – we’ve been rushed off our feet. But I’ve got a few nice things put away for me best customers, so will yer keep yer eye on the stall for us while I fetch them?’
‘Bring whatever yer’ve got, Sadie, ’cos I’ll have a couple of things off yer, and me neighbour said if yer had anything exciting to get it for her.’
On her way to the box under the back table, Sadie stopped by Mary Ann. ‘How’s it going, Auntie Mary? Busy enough for yer, is it?’
‘Best week I’ve ever had.’ Mary Ann patted her cheek. ‘It’ll be a ten-pound turkey we’ll be having this year.’ She looked at the customer she was serving and narrowed her eyes. ‘Yer didn’t hear that by any chance, did yer, Milly? I don’t want you turning up on me doorstep on Christmas Day with your gang.’
‘That’s charming, that is! Yer a cold-hearted cow, Mary Ann Worsley, so yer are.’ Milly stretched herself to her full height. ‘I wouldn’t lower meself to come where I’m not wanted. Me and me husband, and the six kids, will make do with a quarter pound of corned beef for our Christmas dinner. We may be poor but we’ve got our pride.’
‘I didn’t know yer had six children, Milly,’ Sadie said. ‘I thought yer only had two.’
‘She has only got two, she’s pullin’ yer bleedin’ leg.’ Mary Ann thought Sadie had come a long way in the last six months, but it was still easy to pull the wool over her eyes. ‘And don’t be losing any sleep over her havin’ corned beef for her Christmas dinner, either. She’s just been braggin’ about how well off she is. The turkey’s paid for, she’s been in a club at the greengrocers, the corner shop and the sweetshop. She’ll be havin’ a better Christmas than any of us. Isn’t that right, Milly?’
‘It is right, Mary Ann, but would yer mind letting me do me own bragging? Yer see, I hadn’t finished! On top of all the things yer’ve mentioned, we’ve also got a bottle of port wine and a bottle of sherry.’
‘My God, Milly, there’s no flies on you, they’re all ruddy bluebottles! But I hope yer have a lovely time and I apologise for doing yer braggin’ for yer. I don’t know what came over me, stealing yer thunder like that.’
‘That’s all right, Mary Ann, I’m not about to take the huff when it’s a time of peace on earth and good will to all men.’
‘Bloody hell!’ Mary Ann turned to Sadie. ‘Twenty years I’ve known Milly, an’ she hasn’t noticed I’m not a flamin’ man.’
‘Now, now, Auntie Mary, peace on earth and all that, remember?’ Sadie grinned. ‘Anyway, I’ve left Elsie minding the stall. I’d better scarper.’
There were six blouses in the bag Sadie took back to her table. One, in pale blue with long sleeves and a tie neck, she hung over her shoulder. ‘I put this one away for meself to wear on Christmas Day. These others are all in your size, Elsie, and yer goin’ to have a job to choose ’cos they’re all nice.’
Elsie took all five. ‘I’ll have three and me mate will have the other two.’ She passed three shillings over. ‘Keep the tanner change as a Christmas box for yerself. Yer’ve been good to me and I appreciate it. All the best to yer, Sadie, an’ I’ll see yer in the New Year.’
Sadie felt quite choked. Next year she’d make sure she gave each one of her regular customers a greetings card. Just a small token to thank them for their continued support and for making a friend of her. She filed the idea away in her mind as she served the never-ending stream of customers. At three o’clock her stall was nearly empty and she had nothing to display.
‘Auntie Mary, can I get some more stuff out? My table’s as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.’
Mary Ann shook her head. ‘If yer put any more out, sunshine, we’ll have nothing left for tomorrow, and it’s going to be busier than it’s been today. We can’t have people coming first thing to find we’ve nowt to sell. So just clear yer table and come and give me a hand.’
That suited Sadie down to the ground. There was nothing she liked better than working alongside her friend. Moving between the tuppence with a hole and thruppence without a hole, laughing and joking with the customers, her excitement began to mount. This was going to be her first year for celebrating Christmas and she felt like a child again.
‘I’m collecting the tree when we’ve finished, Auntie Mary. Tommy picked it out for me and he said the branches are nice and thick and it’s four feet tall.’
‘That’s nice, girl. Sarah and Joe are in for a big surprise, aren’t they?’
Sadie felt as though her heart would burst with happiness. ‘I’ve got some tinsel and some silver balls hidden in me wardro
be, and a little fairy to go on top of the tree.’
‘Yer could have sat on top of the tree yerself, girl, and saved yerself a few coppers. Yer’d make a good fairy.’ Mary Ann’s brow creased. ‘I suppose yer have got something to stand the tree in, haven’t yer?’
Sadie looked puzzled. ‘How d’yer mean, stand the tree in?’
‘Well, yer not expectin’ the bleedin’ thing to stand on its own, are yer?’ The stall-holder raised her eyes to the sky. ‘Yes, that’s exactly what she is expecting.’ She looked at Sadie. ‘I hate to burst yer bubble, sunshine, but yer need a bucket of sand or something like that to keep it standing steady.’ She spun around. ‘Maggie Malone, will yer stop yer coughin’ and sneezin’ all over me good clothes? I’ve got to sell them, yer know.’
Maggie wiped the back of her hand across her nose. ‘I didn’t have no cold when I left our house, Mary Ann Worsley. It’s only come on me since I’ve been standin’ here freezin’ to bleedin’ death while you two are nattering away as though it was a summer’s day and folk like me have got nowt else to do but wait around until yer decide to favour us with yer assistance.’
‘My God, Maggie, for someone who’s pretending to be dying of pneumonia, yer can’t half talk. I’ll be with yer in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, but in the meantime don’t be coughing all over me customers, if yer don’t mind. They’re me bread and butter, and if you put them in a sickbed I won’t be gettin’ any bread and butter.’
Mary Ann put a hand on Sadie’s arm. ‘You run and see the man who’s selling the trees and ask if he’s any suggestions, while I see to Moaning Minnie before she lays a duck egg. And will yer just look at the gob on the one standing next to her? In the name of God, Vera, yer face would stop a ruddy clock! Anyone would think yer were in agony.’
‘Ooh, I am, Mary Ann.’ Vera turned her head from side to side to make sure no one was listening over her shoulder. After all, it was a very delicate problem, not one to be discussed in front of strangers at a stall in Paddy’s market. ‘It’s me bleedin’ piles – they’re torturing me something chronic.’