by Joan Jonker
‘He’s older than you, sweetheart.’
‘Only three years, and lots of girls have boyfriends older than themselves. Mavis, one of the girls in work, her boyfriend’s three years older than she is.’
‘Doesn’t Peter have any say in the matter?’ Sarah didn’t let her smile show. The girl was young and naive, she didn’t understand the ways of boys. ‘Will yer take a bit of advice from an old woman, sweetheart? Never throw yerself at a boy. If yer do, yer’ll scare him off and he’ll run a mile. Just be natural with Peter, don’t gush over him. If he’s goin’ to fall for yer, let him do it in his own time.’
‘But he doesn’t even see me when our Sadie’s around.’
‘Bide yer time, queen, bide yer time.’ Joe was of the opinion that Sadie’s cool attitude towards Peter would gradually wear him down and he’d be looking for pastures new. But Ellen was very young, perhaps too young for the boy to take seriously. ‘Take yer grandma’s advice and let things take their course.’
While he was being discussed inside the house, Peter stood outside with Sadie. ‘I don’t feel any different now I’m seventeen than I did yesterday, at sixteen. Wouldn’t yer think nature would be kind and make yer feel more grown-up?’
‘Don’t be wishing yer life away, Peter. Enjoy yer youth while yer’ve still got it.’
‘Right, I’ll do that, Sadie. And can I begin to enjoy meself by taking what yer promised me, a kiss on yer chin?’
Sadie tipped her head back. ‘Be my guest, Peter.’
The lad took the liberty of kissing her on the chin then moving his lips down to kiss her neck. ‘I was lying in bed last night and it suddenly came to me that yer neck might be on this points system of yours, so I decided to get it over and done with. Now on our next date I should get a proper kiss. And yer can’t say I haven’t been patient, Sadie, ’cos I think I’ve been a flippin’ saint.’ He held her hand in his, suddenly feeling shy. ‘When’s your birthday? Perhaps we could go out together then?’
‘Not for another six or seven weeks.’ Sadie tried to erase the pictures that filled her mind of the outing she’d had with Harry on her last birthday. It was over ten months now since she’d seen him and there wasn’t a day passed that she didn’t think of him.
‘Blimey! Have I got to wait that long to get a proper kiss?’
‘No, you can have it now.’ Sadie made up her mind so suddenly she surprised herself. But since her conversation with Mary Ann, she’d asked herself many times why she couldn’t feel more towards the boys who, given the slightest chance, would be her sweetheart. Was it the way she was made? Was there something missing in her make-up?
‘Are yer pulling me leg, Sadie?’
‘Of course I’m not pulling yer leg.’ Peter was as nice a boy as she’d find and she was fond of him. If she allowed herself to, could she become more than fond of him? Would a kiss awaken feelings she didn’t know she had? ‘But it doesn’t matter if yer don’t want to.’
Peter ran the back of a hand across his lips before pulling her into his arms. ‘I’m not givin’ yer time to change yer mind.’ His lips covered hers, soft and smooth. The kiss lasted several seconds and when Peter lifted his head he was grinning with pleasure. ‘It was well worth waitin’ for, Sadie. Better than a cream bun any day.’
But for Sadie there had been no stirring of the senses, no shiver running down her spine. It seemed she was incapable of romantic, loving feelings, and she was incapable of pretence. She wouldn’t allow the thought to linger in her head that she’d been spoilt for any man by one with deep brown eyes, dimples in his cheeks, a crooked grin and a caring, loving disposition. ‘I’d better get in, Peter, ’cos our Ellen won’t go to bed without me. I’ll see yer tomorrow.’
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. ‘Sleep well, fair maiden.’ Then he chuckled. ‘I’ll sleep like a top tonight with a grin on me face. I’m glad I filled in the cracks in me ceiling. I couldn’t be bothered countin’ them tonight, I’ve got more pleasant things on me mind.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Business at the market was booming as lightweight blouses and dresses were sought for the glorious summer weather. The busy time put a stop to the mid-week day off for Sadie and Mary Ann, but neither of them minded as they thrived on the hustle and bustle, the laughter and the smiles on faces of satisfied customers.
Sadie’s superior-quality clothes stall did very good business, particularly on a Saturday when she usually sold out. One of her best customers was her sister. Ellen had been working for two months now, and every Wednesday, on her half-day off, she would make straight for the market to see what Sadie had set aside for her to add to the wardrobe she was building up for herself. The girl had good dress sense and was always well turned out. She turned a few heads, too, as she blossomed into a very pretty girl.
But Sunday was Sadie’s favourite day. Jimmy came for dinner regularly now and stayed until after tea. They were like a big happy family then, with a grandma and grandad the children respected and adored. Peter still came in for a game of cards and a laugh, but Sadie hadn’t dated him since the night of his birthday. No amount of coaxing or wheedling could change her mind and Peter had by now given up hope. They still went to Blair Hall every Wednesday with Tommy and Spike, but the two market lads usually got off with a couple of girls and would walk them home. Sadie was glad for them, and she certainly didn’t want for dancing partners or offers to walk her home. But she always turned the offers down and said she was already spoken for. Peter had so far kept to the old routine of walking home with her, but one day he too would find someone who took his fancy.
On this particular Sunday, after they’d finished their dinner, Sadie asked Jimmy to give her a hand in the kitchen. ‘I want to have a talk with me brother, it’s ages since we had a really good natter. So you three can relax, put yer feet up and read the paper.’
‘I’ll give yer a hand,’ Ellen said. ‘He’s my brother, too, yer know, an’ I’d like to have a natter with him.’
‘You can talk to him as much as yer like when we’ve finished the dishes,’ Sadie told her. ‘But right now do as yer told and make yerself scarce. Go upstairs and titivate yerself up for Peter coming.’
This had the desired effect, and as Ellen made for the stairs, Jimmy grinned. ‘She fancies him, doesn’t she?’
‘I think yer could say that.’ Sadie grinned back. ‘The only one who doesn’t seem to know is the lad himself. He either can’t see or doesn’t want to see.’ She slipped a stack of plates into the warm water in the sink. ‘Now, how’s things at home, sunshine?’
‘Just the same. The house stinks, there’s never enough food, me mam and dad are always shoutin’, an’ the air’s blue with their language.’
‘But me dad doesn’t hit yer any more, does he? Or the other kids?’
Jimmy shook his head. ‘He hasn’t laid a finger on any of us since the lads give him that black eye. But I hate them, Sadie, an’ I still want to leave when I’m fourteen. Yer will keep yer promise, won’t yer? I mean, yer will help me?’
‘I’ll do me best, Jimmy, I promise.’ Sadie could see by her brother’s face that her answer wasn’t definite enough. ‘If I tell yer what I’m hoping for, yer won’t tell anyone, will yer? Yer see, I haven’t even told Grandma, and it mightn’t come off, anyway.’
‘I can keep a secret, yer know that, our Sadie. I know when to keep me mouth shut.’
Sadie spoke in a low voice. ‘Yer know the old lady next door, Mrs Benson? Remember she was very ill a few months ago? Well, her daughter wants her to go and live with her family and they’re trying to talk the old lady into it. So far she won’t hear of it, and in a way I’m glad because me and our Ellen couldn’t afford to rent that house on our own. But if she hangs out until you leave school we could afford it with three wages comin’ in. It would be a struggle, but I wouldn’t mind that if we were together.’
Jimmy nearly dropped a plate in his excitement. ‘Ooh, ay, our Sadie, wouldn’t that
be the gear! Just fancy, you, me and our Ellen livin’ in our own house.’ Then he thought of something that took the sparkle from his eyes. ‘But what about Grandma and Grandad? They wouldn’t like yer to leave, would they?’
‘No, they wouldn’t, sunshine, and I wouldn’t want to leave them. But I can’t be all things to all men, can I? You need help and I made you a promise. And we’d only be next door. We’d be seeing each other every day and we’d be on hand if they wanted anything or one of them got sick and needed help. They’re part of my life, Jimmy, and they always will be.’
Jimmy had another dark thought. ‘Would the rent man let us have the house? I can’t see him renting it to three kids, ’cos that’s all we are.’
‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. And until then, not a word to a soul.’ Sadie passed him a plate to dry, and as she did so, she met his eyes. ‘Jimmy, how come yer never mention our Dot? Yer talk about Les and Sally, but yer never mention yer big sister. Why is that?’
‘ ’Cos I’ve got nothin’ to say about her. She just comes an’ goes as she pleases, never hardly speaks to anyone. She gets in from work, has whatever there is to eat, then she’s off out an’ I’m in bed by the time she comes ’ome.’
‘Who does she go out with, a girlfriend or boyfriend?’
‘I honestly don’t know, Sadie, she never talks to anyone. Even me mam doesn’t know where she gets to ’cos I’ve heard her tellin’ me dad.’ Jimmy bent to put the plates away in the kitchen cabinet. ‘She doesn’t hit us no more, that’s one good thing. And she doesn’t put so much muck on her face. Honest, she used to look like a clown when she went out, with two big round patches of that red stuff on her cheeks. If she hadn’t been me sister I’d have been laughing an’ pokin’ fun at her.’
‘Don’t ever do that, Jimmy, ’cos after all, as yer said, she is yer sister.’ Sadie’s voice was so low as she bent over the sink, Jimmy had to cock an ear to hear what she was saying. ‘Whatever our Dot is, me mam and dad made her that way. I know she’s hardfaced and not very nice, but don’t forget she had a lousy childhood, same as us.’ She swished her hand around in the water to make sure she hadn’t missed any small items of cutlery, then pulled out the plug and leaned against the sink to watch the water drain away. ‘Let’s forget about Dot, now. Have yer no other news?’
‘Only that I earned an extra penny at the market yesterday. Yer know Tommy and Spike usually give me a penny each for runnin’ messages for them? Well, they gave me a thruppenny joey between them yesterday ’cos they said I’d worked hard.’
‘Good for you! Yer could get a nice summer shirt with that from the market. Yer’ll need one with the weather picking up.’
‘Nah, I’m goin’ to save it to buy yer a present on yer birthday. I’ve never bought yer a present before ’cos I’ve never had the money.’
Sadie dried her hands on the towel hanging from a nail on the kitchen door. ‘You spend yer money on yerself, sunshine – yer worked for it. Don’t be worrying about me, I’ve got everything I want or need.’
Jimmy gave her a mischievous grin. ‘Just wait and see, yer won’t half get a surprise.’
Sarah came to the kitchen door. ‘It’s takin’ a long time for yer to wash the dishes. I hope yer haven’t washed the pattern off the plates.’
‘We’ve finished now, Grandma, the dishes and our little talk.’
‘Well come along in, Peter’s here.’
Ellen waited for her sister to sit down before asking, ‘Can I come to the dance with yer one night, Sadie?’
Sadie glanced across at Sarah. ‘What d’yer think, Grandma? Is she too young?’
‘That’s up to you to say, sweetheart.’
‘Go on, let her come,’ Peter said. ‘She can’t come to no harm while she’s with us.’
‘Don’t be mean, our Sadie,’ Ellen pleaded. ‘Let me come with yer on Wednesday, go on, please?’
‘Oh, all right. If I say no I’ll never hear the last of it.’
‘Well, instead of playing rummy, why don’t we teach her a few dance steps?’ Peter said with a smile on his face. ‘Just in case some poor fool asks her for a dance.’
Ellen was bobbing up and down on the chair. ‘Ooh, yeah, that would be brilliant.’
Joe and Sarah were all for it. ‘Push the table right back, queen, and make more room,’ Joe said. ‘Me and my dear wife might have a go as well. They say yer never too old to learn.’
Sarah chuckled. ‘Yes, we might come with yer to Blair Hall, as well.’
The table and chairs were pushed right back, and amid laughter and cheers, Ellen had her first dancing lesson.
Jack Young watched his reflection in the mirror over the fireplace as he straightened his tie. ‘I won’t be out long, love, just a pint to whet me whistle.’
‘I don’t mind yer goin’ out, yer know that,’ Florrie told him, then laughed. ‘As long as it’s only every Preston Guild.’
‘I wouldn’t bother, meself, but when I met Bill Curtis on the tram coming home from work and he asked me to go for a pint with him, I didn’t like refusing. Like meself, he’s not a drinker, so we certainly won’t be there until the towels go on.’ Jack turned to his son who was sitting at the table reading. ‘D’yer feel like comin’ out for an hour, Harry? Just down to the pub on the corner?’
‘No, Dad, I don’t feel like it,’ Harry said, ‘but thanks for asking.’
‘Oh, go on,’ Florrie tutted, ‘don’t be so flamin’ miserable. It’s a lovely night, the fresh air will do yer good.’
Harry grinned. ‘It’s about thirty steps away, Mam, about six breaths of fresh air and we’d be there. I’m not being miserable, I just don’t feel like it. Yer know I’m not a drinker, I wouldn’t care if I never saw the stuff.’
‘Okay, son, it was only a thought.’ Jack kissed his wife on the cheek. ‘I’ll be gone an hour or so, love.’
Florrie went to the door with him. ‘Yer’ve no need to hurry back. God knows it’s not often yer go out. But a warning, Jack Young, don’t you come rolling home.’
Jack laughed as he walked away. ‘Fat chance of that, love.’
Bill Curtis was sitting in a corner of the pub, his coat over a chair to reserve the seat for his friend. ‘Sit yerself down, Jack, and I’ll get the drinks. Pint of bitter, is it?’
‘I’ll get them in.’
‘No, this is my round.’ Bill moved his coat from the chair. ‘Park yer backside an’ take the weight off yer feet.’
The two men had been neighbours for years and had a mutual respect for each other. As they sipped their pints, conversation came easy. They discussed the weather, their jobs and their families. ‘Talkin’ about families,’ Bill said, leaning closer, ‘there’s a miserable specimen of manhood standing at the bar who could do with a few lessons on how to raise a family.’
Jack turned his head to see George Wilson leaning on the counter. ‘You’re telling me. He’s a bloody disgrace, and that’s putting it mildly. And a bloody mystery! One of his daughters went missing nearly a year ago, and now it seems another one has left home – just disappeared into thin air. No one knows where they are, an’ he goes around as though he hasn’t a care in the world.’
‘Can yer blame them for wanting to get away from that house? I certainly don’t. And the blonde one seems to be doing all right for herself. She looks better since she got away from his clutches. She’s a fine-lookin’ girl, and a worker.’
Jack looked surprised and puzzled. ‘Yer mean yer’ve seen her?’
‘Yeah – I’ve seen her a few times. She works in Paddy’s market.’
‘Go ’way!’ Jack’s heartbeat was racing but he didn’t want to sound too interested. ‘What does she do there?’
‘She works on a second-hand clothes stall for a woman called Mary Ann. Everybody knows Mary Ann, she’s a well-known character around Scottie Road. Very popular she is, with a sharp wit and a smile for everyone. Good businesswoman, too. Her stall does a roaring trade.’
‘And Sadie works for her?’
Bill looked puzzled. ‘Who the hell is Sadie when she’s out?’
Jack nodded to the figure holding up the bar. ‘The queer feller’s daughter, the blonde one.’
‘Oh, I get yer now. Yeah, she works there, I’ve seen her with me own eyes.’
‘Have yer spoken to her? Has she seen yer?’
‘ “No” to both questions, Jack. I never spoke to her while she was livin’ in the street, so she’d think it was queer if I went out of me way to speak to her now. And she’s never seen me, ’cos the market’s so crowded yer can’t see anyone. It would be like lookin’ for a needle in a haystack.’
‘What do you go to Paddy’s market for? I would have thought St John’s market would be nearer for you from here.’
‘It probably is, but I enjoy the atmosphere at Paddy’s market. I go there for lots of things, like second-hand tools, bits of wood if I’m makin’ something, any old odds and sods. There’s nothing yer can’t get there, and for only a few coppers.’
‘I see.’ Jack wanted to rush home to tell Harry, but he had to get his round in first. ‘I’ll have to try it some time.’ He picked up the empty glasses. ‘Same again?’
Over the second pint, Jack thought things through and decided not to say anything to his son until he was sure of his facts. It would devastate Harry to have his hopes raised and then dashed again. He’d go to the market and see for himself first.
So in bed that night, Jack told Florrie of what he’d learned. ‘I’ll go on Saturday afternoon, just to make sure and see how the land lies.’
‘I’ll come with yer.’ Florrie couldn’t rid herself of the guilt she felt. If she hadn’t been so down on the family next door, Harry would have brought his feelings for Sadie out into the open. She was responsible for the change in her son and she deeply regretted it. ‘We’ll go together.’
‘No, love, don’t be rushing at it like a bull at a gate. If we don’t get things right, we’ll do more harm than good. One might go unnoticed at the market, but not two. Let me do it my way, love, and trust me.’