A Place To Call Home

by June Francis

  ‘You look very nice,’ he said, without looking up from the envelope he was addressing.

  Her lips tightened. ‘Is that the best you can do?’

  ‘I’m not one for fancy words.’

  With a provocative smile she sashayed up to him and pressed herself against him. ‘The girls have gone to the first house at the pictures so we’re all alone. Any suggestions how we can spend the time?’

  He stamped the envelope. ‘Perhaps you’d like to go dancing?’

  Edith stared at him in astonishment. ‘Good God, at last I’ve got a reaction after weeks of trying. I didn’t know you could dance.’

  ‘I wasn’t asking you, Edith. I was making a suggestion,’ said Harry, looking her straight in the eye. ‘I’m sure you’ll find someone who’ll ask you onto the floor if you went along to the Grafton.’

  She laughed lightly. ‘How ungallant of you, Harry. And there’s me being nice to you. I’ve even kept my mouth shut so far about that night we slept together.’

  ‘I question that,’ he said harshly. ‘Otherwise, I’m sure Rene would have popped in. I know she’s got Jeff but … ’

  ‘Jeff! Who’s Jeff?’ Edith’s eyes were alight with interest. ‘She’s never mentioned a Jeff to me! But then we’re not bosom buddies. She’d have me out if she could.’ Harry understood why. How he regretted ever going along to see Edith. He had been a fool and felt certain his love life would have been different if he had not taken pity on her. ‘Well?’ said Edith.

  ‘He’s my wife’s brother. A merchant seaman. We haven’t seen him since the beginning of the year.’

  Edith was taken aback. ‘You do surprise me. Well, if she’s got someone why are you worried about me having told her our secret. Why don’t you be nice to me because, honestly, I have kept my mouth shut … cross my heart! Take me dancing, please?’ she cajoled.

  Harry gazed at her for a long moment, then said, ‘OK! But you’ve to behave yourself.’

  She ignored those words and said with a catch in her throat, ‘It’s a long time since I’ve danced.’

  ‘Me too, but if it’s like riding a bike it’ll come back to us as soon as we get on the dance floor. Ever been to the Grafton? The floor bounces.’

  She stared at him in silence and then moved to kiss him lightly on the lips. ‘You romantic ol’ thing. Let’s bounce together.’

  He gazed down at her, his craggy face expressionless. ‘I said behave yourself. I’ll go and get changed. I won’t be long.’

  Two hours later Harry was asking Edith where she had learnt to dance after a charming, middle-aged gentleman, dressed in full evening gear, had complimented her on her style.

  ‘I thought I told you I’d been on a cruise ship,’ she said, fluttering her eyelashes at Harry. She had imbibed three port and lemons in the pub opposite the Grafton and was feeling good.

  ‘Can’t remember. How did that come about?’

  She tapped him on the arm playfully. ‘You men! Do you ever listen to us women?’

  He smiled. ‘Sometimes. So tell me more?’

  ‘I was in service and I accompanied Mr Lawrence and his sister, who was a war widow, to Egypt. It gave me a taste for the good life.’

  Harry steered Edith round the dance floor. ‘Sally was in service. The family name was Armstrong. She helped look after the children and kept in touch even after we were married. After she died, one of the children came looking for her. Alex ended up staying with us. I think I’ve mentioned him to you.’

  She laughed. ‘I don’t remember but the name sounds familiar. But honestly, Harry, when we get to repeating ourselves as we seem to be doing it makes me feel like a half of an old married couple.’

  Harry muffed his step, recovered himself and said, ‘I don’t think I repeat myself that many times.’

  ‘No?’ She shrugged and said in vague tones, ‘So tell me more about this family? Where did they live?’

  ‘Out Crosby way.’

  ‘Oh!’ Her expression altered. ‘I was in service not far from Crosby. Perhaps that’s why the name’s familiar. Do you know any more about the family?’

  ‘The father lost his money and Alex ended up in an orphanage. There’s an uncle but he didn’t treat the lad well. His mother’s in America and his sisters are in Wales somewhere.’

  ‘My Mr Lawrence is training recruits.’ She sighed, hiccupped and put a hand to her mouth. ‘Beg pardon! I didn’t have a proper meal before I came out.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I couldn’t be bothered. Our Win’s the cook in the family and with working on shifts I don’t expect Rene to do it for me.’ She sighed and her eyes took on a faraway look. ‘Happy days when I danced aboard ship in frocks better than this one. At least my Mr Lawrence was generous where money for clothes was concerned. An extra bonus he called it. Although, the money probably came from his sister.’ She yawned. ‘God, I’m hungry and sleepy.’

  ‘I’ll buy you some chips on the way home. Want to go now?’

  ‘Anything you say, Harry!’ She slipped a hand through his arm.

  He escorted her from the dance floor to the cloakroom, removed her ticket from her handbag and handed it to the attendant, in exchange for her jacket. He took her outside. It was just getting dark. He bought chips from a shop on West Derby Road before turning the corner on which Ogden’s tobacco factory was situated.

  Edith tore open the newspaper and began to eat the chips. Harry watched her, wondering what she would make of his news. She’d probably explode because she had come to him expecting more than he was prepared to give her. ‘I’ve had my call up papers,’ he said abruptly. It was a lie; he had volunteered. ‘I’ll be leaving Liverpool soon for a training camp in Wales.’ He expected an immediate reaction but there was nothing, so he repeated his words.

  ‘I heard you the first time, Harry,’ she said, scrunching the newspaper between her hands. ‘Is that why you took me dancing and poured drink down me? Expecting a farewell bit of loving?’ she said sarcastically.

  He said grimly, ‘I thought you deserved an outing.’

  ‘What!’ She stared at him in surprise.

  ‘You heard me. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you what you wanted.’

  A mirthless laugh escaped Edith. ‘The conceit of you men! You were just a consolation prize, Harry. I’ve never stopping wanting my Mr Lawrence. My husband couldn’t match up to him. I’ll admit I was attracted to you but that’s all.’ There was a silence. Then she said, ‘Have you told Greta?’

  ‘Not yet! I’ll tell her tonight.’

  ‘What about Rene?’

  He did not answer. If it had not been for Jeff, he might have chanced his arm.

  ‘Where’ve you been, Dad?’ asked Greta, looking up from darning a stocking as he entered the kitchen. Winnie, who was spooning cocoa into a jug glanced his way and then at Greta, who added, ‘You’re looking serious. Something gone wrong at work?’

  He hesitated, ‘No, luv! But you’re not going to like what I’m going to say.’

  She dropped her mending in the basket and moistened her lips. ‘I know what it is! It’s Alex! He’s been killed!’ Her face was white.

  ‘No, luv!’

  ‘It’s Gran then, isn’t it? She’s had a heart attack climbing Snowdon and is dead.’

  Harry shook his head, knowing he should not smile, but the image of his mother-in-law climbing a mountain was a funny one. ‘No, luv! It’s me. I’ve had my call up papers and I’m going in the army.’

  Greta’s reaction was what he had expected. ‘So that’s what that letter was that came for you. I thought you were too old for them to take you!’ she said rapidly. ‘It’s not fair! I don’t want you to go.’

  ‘I’ve got no choice, luv.’ He felt terrible for lying to her but felt he had to get away and do his bit.

  Her bottom lip quivered and she swallowed. ‘I’m going to miss you, Dad. I’ll not stop worrying.’

  ‘I’ll miss you, as well, luv.’ He put an arm round her shoul
ders and squeezed her. ‘You mustn’t worry, though. They’re hardly going to put me on the front line, not when they’ve got trained younger men. Besides, I survived the blitz, didn’t I?’

  She nodded and sighed deeply. ‘When are you going? And where?’

  ‘A training camp in Pembrokeshire … and within a fortnight.’

  Greta’s eyes filled with tears and there was an emotionally charged moment, which was broken by Winnie. ‘What about me, Mr Peters? Will I have to leave this house now?’ Her dark eyes were anxious and wisps of soft brown hair clung to her flushed cheeks as she handed a cup of cocoa to him.

  He reassured her swiftly, ‘I wouldn’t see you homeless, Winnie. You must know that. Besides Greta will want company. We don’t know when her grandmother’s coming home. She’s never said that she wanted to live in Wales for the rest of her life but at the moment it looks like she’s going to stay there. I’ll write to her and explain things.’

  ‘What about Alex, Dad?’ said Greta softly.

  Harry looked across at her. ‘Write to him by all means, luv.’

  ‘I will but … what if he comes home? Will he still be able to stay here?’ Her expression was anxious.

  Harry hesitated. ‘I want to say this is his home as long as he needs it but with you two young girls on your own in the house people will talk. Although, I suppose … ’ He paused, undecided.

  ‘What is it, Dad? You got an idea?’ said Greta eagerly.

  He nodded. ‘Winnie’s mother! If your gran doesn’t want to come home then I suppose Edith might be prepared to move back in here when I’m gone.’

  Winnie made a noise in her throat but no words came out.

  Harry sat down and downed half the cup of cocoa and then said, ‘Sorry, Winnie! I know you and your mother … have a few problems.’

  ‘I’m not her favourite,’ mumbled Winnie. ‘She doesn’t appreciate me the way you do, Mr Peters. She’ll criticise me and I’ll start eating too much all over again.’

  ‘You mustn’t let her get you down,’ said Greta firmly, adding hastily, ‘Not that I want her living here.’

  ‘I think you’ve got no choice in the matter,’ said Harry seriously. ‘I think you’ll find her contribution to the housekeeping will be essential. Although, I’ll send you some money to help you out but soldiers don’t earn that much.’

  The two girls looked gloomy.

  Harry sighed. ‘She is your mother, Winnie, and Greta, you still need an older woman around. There’s a war on so we all have to make sacrifices. Besides, from what she said to me, she and Rene haven’t been getting on. Probably it’ll be better all round if she moves in here. I’ll ask her tomorrow.’ He did not doubt Edith would jump at the opportunity. He was right.

  When Rene was told the news that Harry had been called up and that Edith was moving in next door to keep her eye on the two girls, she did not know what to say. Her emotions were all mixed up and she wanted to burst into tears. It seemed so unfair that, at his age, he should be acceptable to the forces just because he was a man. Surely she would hear any day now that Edith and Harry were getting married and half expected them to tie the knot before he left for the training camp in Pembrokeshire but it did not happen.

  Rene was at work when Harry said his goodbyes so she never did get to wish him all the best. She thought of all the soldiers, airmen and sailors’ girlfriends and wives in Liverpool who waved off their men folk on a regular basis, never knowing if they would return. She thought of young Greta in love with Alex, remembering that last time she and Harry’s daughter had spoken she had said that it was a while since she had heard from him but was trying not to worry.

  15th November 1941

  Dear Greta,

  Thank you for your letters. Plenty of surprises there! Glad you enjoyed the Welsh hills. I’m disappointed you had no time to look up my sisters but I understand. I feel real fed up about the whole thing. Still, while there’s life there’s hope of my finding them. Pity about your dad breaking his arm but relieved it wasn’t worse. Amazed to hear that Mrs Cox and her daughter are now living with you and that your dad is in the army. He’ll be a great asset I’m sure. I see it’s the other daughter who’s staying with you. The Blonde Bombshell as you call her having joined the WAAF. I bet she’s breaking hearts there.

  Now for my apologies. Sorry I have not written for ages. You must have been wondering what has happened to me but I’m glad you never gave up on me. Our ship was hit by a torpedo but managed to stay afloat. We were lucky that a fog came down which meant the U-boats could not see us. We drifted for a while. Not the best fun I’ve ever had. Fortunately we were spotted and towed to some of the crew and I were taken off and assigned to heading for to pick up and go to. Then I caught malaria and was out of my head for a while and afterwards was sent to convalesce. I’m feeling much better now but have no idea when I’ll get home leave so I can get on with trying to find the girls. This war’s a real pain! We’re doing a lot of ferrying about.

  How’s Rene taking it all? Any news of your Uncle Jeff? Give my best wishes to Rene, Wilf and your dad and gran when you write to them. I hope you had a happy sixteenth birthday in October. I enclose a photograph taken somewhere hot.

  Love Alex. X

  Greta placed the letter back under her pillow and sighed, wishing the paper kiss could have been a real one. She closed her eyes and dozed off, dreaming of Alex.

  ‘Right, madam, stir yourself and get up!’ The bedcovers were whipped off Greta and flung over the board at the foot of the bed.

  The girl groaned and ignored the words, crawling down the bed and seizing the covers. She dragged them over her and curled up at the bottom of the bed. She wanted to get back to her dream about Alex. Now she was sixteen she felt certain he would see her as more of a femme fatale, the way she imagined herself in her dream. She should get her photograph taken and send it to him. She loved the one of him in shorts and singlet; otherwise she could so easily have forgotten what he looked like. She had managed to get together a box of goodies: hand knitted socks, chocolate, fruit cake and a couple of second-hand H Rider Haggard adventure books and had sent it to his shipping company, keeping her fingers crossed that it would get to him and not be sent to the bottom of the ocean.

  ‘Are you deaf?’ said Edith, gripping the covers and attempting to remove them again. ‘There’s the ironing waiting to be done.’

  ‘I’ll do it! just let me have a few more minutes in bed,’ murmured Greta, hanging on to the bedclothes for dear life. Every weekday she got up at half six, lit the fire and prepared breakfast. Then came the housework and the shopping, the washing and the cleaning. Saturday and Sunday she liked a little lie-in.

  Exasperated, Edith thumped the humped figure in the bed. Fortunately the bedcovers cushioned the blow but Greta still felt it. She wondered what was getting to Edith. Whatever the reason for her being in a mood, it wasn’t right for her to lash out. For months they had managed to rub along OK but yesterday a slap had left the imprint of her fingers on Greta’s arm when she had given Edith backchat.

  ‘Get up!’ Another thump.

  ‘I’ll get up when you get out of the room,’ said Greta, her voice muffled by the bedcovers. ‘I like a bit of privacy.’

  Edith drew in her breath. ‘There’s nothing you’ve got, girl, that I want to see.’

  ‘Good! Then you’ll get out!’

  ‘You really have got a cheek!’

  ‘Got three,’ said Greta cheerfully.

  ‘That is rude. I don’t know what your father would think.’

  ‘I’ll write to him and ask him. I’ll tell him that you’ve started lashing out at me, too.’

  ‘You do, girl! A lot of good it’ll do you. Think he’ll rush home because you go whinging to him?’

  Greta knew she was right but longed for the days when her grandmother, Dad and Alex had been home and they had been happy together. Cissie had written saying that she couldn’t come home just yet as Megan was having another baby and wou
ld need her help.

  Edith interrupted her reverie. ‘I’ll expect you downstairs in ten minutes. I’ve got to go out and I want to make sure you’re up before I leave.’

  Greta poked her head out of the covers. ‘Going anywhere nice?’

  For a moment Edith’s eyes warmed and then she said sharply, ‘Mind your own business.’

  ‘In that case, why have I got to get up? Winnie’s at work. You’re going out. I’ve got plenty of time to do the ironing and the shopping.’

  Edith hesitated. ‘Joyce has got a pass and is hoping to get here from Leicester.’

  Greta raised her eyebrows. ‘You surprise me. I thought you’d be staying around with her coming to visit.’

  ‘Well, something has turned up.’

  ‘Must be important.’

  Edith made no answer but left the bedroom.

  The girl wriggled back up the bed and lay on her back, gazing up at the ceiling, irritated because she was going to have to stick around and be nice to the blonde bombshell. She had visited once before and that had been enough for Greta, because Joyce was as beautiful as she remembered but as selfish as Winnie had said.

  Greta sighed and, wide-awake now, decided to get up. She found Edith dusting her face with the dregs of the face powder in her compact. The girl had to admit she looked smart in a black suit with a white jumper. On her newly dyed hair was perched a black hat with a white flower and a tiny veil. ‘You look nice.’

  ‘Thanks!’ Edith applied lipstick with a trembling hand. ‘There’s no milk by the way.’

  ‘OK. I’ll nip out and get a bottle.’

  Edith glanced at her. ‘If I’ve gone by the time you come back, remember what I said about making Joyce welcome. If she wants to stay put clean sheets on the bed.’

  ‘Of course! I don’t need telling.’ Greta picked up the empty bottle, took some money out of a jar in the sideboard cupboard and left the house.

  She paused on the step to look up at the sky. It was a clear blue streaked with peach and silver edged mackerel clouds. There was a definite wintery feel to the day as she walked to the dairy. Rene was coming out of the shop as Greta approached. ‘How are you?’ said the girl solicitously. ‘I don’t see much of you these days. I hope Mrs Cox living at ours doesn’t put you off dropping by.’