by Joan Jonker
‘I’d better be going, too,’ Phil said. ‘I want to make sure Aunt Vickie got herself to bed all right. I don’t like her going up those stairs on her own, but yer know how stubborn and independent she can be.’
‘I’ll come over with yer for half-an-hour.’ When Doreen stood up and looked down into his handsome face, her heart flipped. This was the man she couldn’t wait to marry and spend the rest of her life with. ‘Yer don’t have to worry about a brain with me, ’cos I haven’t got one. But my lips are in good form.’
After seeing the two couples out, with strict instructions to be careful not to wake the old folk, Molly went back into the living room rubbing her hands. ‘Now, Ruthie, it’s way past yer bedtime. Lay yer school clothes out ready for tomorrow.’
‘Ah, ay, Mam! Just another half hour! And why can’t I have the day off tomorrow? I won’t get into trouble, not with me brother just coming home from the army.’
‘Yer’ve had today off, sunshine, yer can’t have another one or the School Board will be after me. Now be a good girl and get yourself ready for bed.’
Jack saw rebellion in his youngest daughter’s face and stepped in before she had time to answer back. ‘Do as yer mam told yer, Ruthie. Yer’ve been very good today, helping out, so don’t go and blot yer copybook now.’
The young girl knew when she was beat and scrambled to her feet with a sigh. ‘I can’t wait to leave school.’
‘Don’t be wishing yer life away, girl,’ Nellie said. ‘When yer get to our age yer’ll be wishing yerself back in a gymslip.’
There was mischief in Ruthie’s smile. ‘Ah, but think of the fun I’ll have getting to your age, Auntie Nellie.’
‘Fun! Who said I’ve had fun!’ Even Nellie’s chins danced in indignation. ‘I’ve had a ruddy hard life, believe me! It’s been no joke being married to a man who cracks the whip if his slippers aren’t in the hearth when he comes in from work, or his egg is either too hard or too runny. And if his porridge is lumpy … well, I have to make a run for it ’cos all hell breaks loose.’
There was a stitch in Molly’s side with laughing, and she was pressing her hand into it as she looked at George. He was a big man with a deep voice. There were few men who would dare to clash with him, but he was as soft as putty with the wife he adored. He never raised his voice to her in anger and would never, ever raise a hand. ‘Ye’re a terrible man, George, giving yer poor wife a dog’s life. I don’t know how she’s put up with yer all these years.’
‘I know, Molly, I don’t know what gets into me sometimes.’ George wasn’t as funny or outgoing as his wife, but he wasn’t without humour. ‘I’m always sorry after I’ve belted her, though. I usually go upstairs and sit on me bed ’cos I can’t stand the sight of the bruises starting to show around her eyes. And I swear to meself that I’ll never hit her again. The trouble is, I can’t abide cold slippers or a runny egg!’
Molly happened to turn her head and noticed Jill and Steve staring into each other’s eyes. They hadn’t had a minute to themselves all day. Right now they were probably thinking Rosie would be in Tommy’s arms and Doreen in Phil’s. And they were stuck with the two sets of parents. ‘Ruthie, off yer pop, right this minute. Auntie Nellie and Uncle George will be going soon ’cos it’s been a long day and we’re all tired.’
‘I’m not tired, girl!’ Nellie said.
‘Oh, yes yer are,’ Molly answered, while willing her friend to follow her eyes to where the two sweethearts were sitting. ‘Yer might be thinking ye’re not, but yer are really.’
It didn’t take long for Nellie to twig. ‘D’yer know, I think ye’re right! I could have sworn I wasn’t tired, but I can feel me eyelids drooping. It just goes to show, girl, that you know more about me than I do meself.’
George hadn’t failed to notice the eye-contact between the two women, and when he saw his wife struggling to get off the couch, he stood up and held out both hands. ‘Come on, light of my life, let me give yer a lift up.’ With his arm across her shoulders, he led her to the door. ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow when I get home from work, son. No doubt yer’ll be having a good lie-in.’
‘I will that, Dad! I can’t wait to get back in me own bed.’ Steve blew a kiss to his mother. ‘I’ll see yer in the morning, Mam. Give us a shout when me breakfast’s ready.’
After they’d gone, and Ruthie was in bed, Molly looked at Jack and yawned. ‘I’m all in, I think I’ll hit the hay. Are yer coming up, love?’
The message in his wife’s eyes was loud and clear. ‘Yeah, I’m tired meself. And it’s back to the grind tomorrow.’
Molly waited for Jack to follow her out of the room, then she turned to close the door behind them. And a smile crossed her face when she heard Steve say, ‘I thought I was never going to get yer on yer own. Come and let’s sit on the couch so I can kiss yer properly and tell yer how much I love yer.’
As soon as George and Lily left for work the next morning, Nellie set to with a vengeance. It was Steve’s first morning home in two years and she was determined to have the place warm, comfortable and shining. The fire was raked out and ashes taken down the yard to the bin, the fireplace polished until yer could see yer face in it, then paper, wood and coal was laid in the grate ready to put a match to. Although there was no rush because Steve wouldn’t expect to be called before nine, Nellie worked like the clappers. The room was dusted before she washed the dishes, then the hot water left in the kettle was used to give herself a wash down. All the time she had her ear cocked for any sound from above that would tell her her son was up and about. She’d go mad if he came down before she was ready for him.
By a quarter to nine, dressed in a clean pinny, stockings without a ladder or hole in, Nellie was all ready except for her hair. She’d slept in dinky curlers all night, and after she’d taken them out she gave her scalp a gentle rub. ‘They’re bloody murder to sleep in.’ She spoke to the empty room as she put the curlers into the sideboard drawer. ‘What we women will go through just to get a blinking curl! I wouldn’t care, but with the hair I’ve got, it’ll go dead straight as soon as it sees the ruddy comb!’
It was nine o’clock when Nellie stood on tiptoe to look in the mirror hanging over the mantelpiece. ‘I’ll have to do! If I spend all day titivating meself up, I still wouldn’t look like Jean Harlow.’ She gazed around the room and gave a sigh of satisfaction. The kettle was on a low light on the stove and the bread had been sliced ready for toasting. All that was missing now was her son. She was halfway across the room when she hesitated. Perhaps he’d like another hour after the long day he’d had yesterday. She hadn’t heard him coming in last night so God knows what time he got to bed. But her tummy was rumbling with hunger because she’d put off having her breakfast so she could eat with Steve. So while he might enjoy an extra hour in bed, her tummy wouldn’t wait that long.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Nellie shouted, ‘Steve! Come on, lad, yer breakfast is ready!’
It was a few seconds before a sleepy voice answered, ‘I’ve been awake for a while, Mam, but I hear yer’ve got visitors.’
‘I haven’t got no visitors! It was me talking to meself, soft lad! Just throw something on and come down because I’m famished.’
Nellie was buttering the toast when Steve came through to the kitchen. His hair was tousled and his dimples deep in a smiling face. He made straight for her and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. After several kisses, he said, ‘Oh mam, yer’ve no idea how good it is to be home. I’ve missed everyone so much.’
‘It’s good to have yer home, son, back where yer belong. All I need now is to hear from our Paul and all me worries will be over.’ She removed his arms from her waist and her chubby face creased. ‘Have a quick swill, then we’ll have a good old natter while we’re eating our breakfast.’
‘That toast brings back memories, Mam.’ Steve pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Nice golden brown with the butter soaked in. It was never like that in the army.’
‘It’s not butter, son, it’s marge. And I’ve been generous because I scrounged some off Maisie. In fact, me and Molly have done nothing but scrounge for the last four years. It’s been hard going with the mingy rations we’re allowed. Still, with a bit of luck things should start getting a bit easier now with the war over.’ Nellie wiped a hand across her chin, where the margarine had trickled. ‘I bet yer were happy to see Jill again, eh?’
‘Yer’ve no idea, Mam. I had to keep pinching meself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I’ll never be parted from her again, not for anything.’ Steve grinned. ‘I’d have stayed there all night, just holding her, but I don’t think Mrs B. would have approved.’
‘What time did yer get in? I must have been dead to the world ’cos I never heard yer.’
‘It was after midnight. I lay awake for a while because me head was buzzing, and I was just dropping off when I heard our Lily come in. I hope she didn’t walk home on her own at that time of night. Did she say if her boyfriend was home?’
‘She didn’t say, son, and I didn’t ask her.’ Nellie curled her hands around her cup. ‘To tell yer the truth, she doesn’t tell us anything about him. If she is courting him, it’s the funniest courtship I’ve ever known. The few times she’s brought him here, we couldn’t get a word out of him.’
Steve raised his brows. ‘Why do I get the feeling yer don’t like him?’
‘Perhaps it’s because I don’t! Neither does yer dad. All we know about him is that his name’s Len, and he lives in Walton. Now, yer’d expect to know a bit more about the feller yer daughter was going out with, wouldn’t yer? I think he’s underhanded. He never says anything unless we ask him, then he looks down at the floor instead of facing yer. He never smiles and can’t get out of here quick enough.’
‘Haven’t yer asked our Lily about him? Perhaps it’s just that the lad’s shy.’
Nellie shook her head. ‘No, Steve, there’s more to it than that. I’ve given up asking Lily because yer can’t get a thing out of her. Just that his name’s Len and he lives in Walton. She must like him ’cos she’s never been out with any other boy while he’s been away, but there’s something not right about the whole thing.’ Nellie put her cup back in the saucer. ‘Figure it out for yerself. If he has been demobbed, and is home, why didn’t she say anything? Why didn’t she bring him here to meet you?’
‘Perhaps he wanted to be with his family. There’d be nothing wrong with that. She’ll probably bring him to see yer tonight or tomorrow.’ Steve studied his mother’s face. It wasn’t like her to take a dislike to anyone unless there was good reason. And she was usually a pretty good judge of character. ‘Are yer really worried about this bloke?’
‘Me and yer dad are worried sick, Steve. Now, yer know how easygoing yer father is – well, he tried to make the bloke feel welcome. And he put it down to shyness the first time. But after a while he gave up because he couldn’t get any response at all. It was as clear as the nose on yer face that this Len didn’t want to be here. He never called for her, like most boys call for their girlfriend, she used to meet him outside.’
‘I’ll have a word with her,’ Steve said. ‘I won’t let on that yer’ve talked to me about him, I’ll just bring it up in conversation. And I’ll ask her to bring him along one night, then I can see for meself what he’s like.’
‘We’re having a party when Paul gets home, all the usual gang. So yer can tell her to invite him to it. I’ll bet a pound to a pinch of snuff she makes an excuse for him not coming, but it’s worth a try.’
‘Well, I’m not going to let it spoil me homecoming, that’s a cert! When things calm down and we’re back to normal, I’ll suss this bloke out.’ Steve reached for the teapot to refill his cup. ‘Now let’s have some news from the street. How are Ellen and the kids?’
‘Ellen’s fine. She hasn’t half come out of her shell. Like all of us with men away, she’s been worried sick about Corker. Especially when it was on the wireless every day about how many ships the German submarines had sunk. But the smile’s back on her face again now. And yer won’t recognise the kids when yer see them. Yer wouldn’t believe they were the same kids that used to walk around filthy dirty, with rags on their backs and fleas in their hair. Thin as rakes the poor buggers were with not getting enough to eat, and often sporting bruises from that villain Ellen was married to. The best thing she ever did, for herself and the kids, was to marry Corker.’
‘They won’t be little kids any more, will they? Phoebe must be about fifteen now.’
‘Phoebe’s seventeen, and she’s grown into a very pretty girl. Dorothy is fifteen and the spitting image of Nobby Clarke. If yer can remember that far back, he was a nice-looking bloke when him and Ellen moved into the street. The pity was, he was nice on the outside and a devil inside. Anyway, the girls are both working, and Gordon leaves school in a couple of months. That only leaves young Peter.’
‘Time flies over, doesn’t it, Mam? It doesn’t seem any time since I was kneeling in the gutter playing ollies. Or hanging around hoping Jill would come out to play.’
Nellie jumped when there was a loud ran-tan on the door. ‘Who the heck can this be? It won’t be Molly, ’cos she’ll be busy with Tommy. And the rent man’s not due, or the coalman.’
‘Mam, wouldn’t it be easier and quicker to open the door, instead of trying to guess?’
It was with great reluctance that Nellie stood up. ‘I was hoping to have yer to meself for a couple of hours, so whoever it is can just sling their hook.’ She swayed towards the front door, shouting, ‘Whatever it is ye’re selling, we don’t want none.’
‘If that’s the way yer feel, Mam, I’ll go and join the army again.’
Nellie was open-mouthed as she stared in surprise at her youngest son. When she’d waved him off after his last leave before being sent overseas, although he was dressed in a soldier’s uniform, he was still a boy in her eyes. And that’s how she expected to see him now. But standing before her, in a dark fawn suit, white shirt and brown tie, was a man. She was so stunned she couldn’t speak.
‘Mam, if yer don’t move out of the way, I’m going to have to climb over yer.’ Paul McDonough could see the tears building up as his mother stepped back. ‘Mam, ye’re not allowed to cry, and ye’re not allowed to laugh at me new suit.’
Steve heard his brother’s voice and pushed his chair back with such force it toppled over. He reached the hall to see his mother being held close as the tears flowed down her chubby face. ‘What have yer done to make me mam cry, our Paul?’
Over his mother’s head, Paul returned his smile. ‘I only knocked on the door, honest!’
Nellie moved away from his arms, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. And as usual she resorted to humour. ‘I thought it was me club woman and I was going to tell her to leave me until next week ’cos I’m skint.’
‘That’s more like it, Mam! Now you go and put the kettle on while I say hello to me big brother.’
Nellie turned at the door of the living room to see the two brothers fling their arms around each other. Then she fled to the kitchen where she shed enough tears to fill the kettle.
‘Me mam’s been expecting a letter from yer,’ Steve said, as the two brothers faced each other across the table, with the sound of their mother pottering about in the kitchen. ‘Why didn’t yer write and tell her yer were coming home today?’
‘I didn’t have time!’ Paul’s eyes travelled the familiar room. When he’d joined the army he didn’t realise how much he was going to miss his home and his family. But he’d missed them so much he’d prayed for the day when he’d be back again. And now he was so happy to see his mam and Steve. And the room was just as he remembered it. Except the aspidistra plant looked twice the size. ‘I was in a camp down South when I wrote to her, then one day we were bundled into lorries, with no notice, and brought up to Ashton-in-Makerfield. It was no good writing from there because I knew I’d be home before the letter arrived.’
Nell
ie came bustling in with a fresh pot of tea and a plate of toast. ‘Where’s this Ashton-in-Makerfield when it’s out?’
‘It’s not far from here, only about forty miles. I heard one of the drivers saying he was passing through Liverpool today so I cadged a lift. Then it was only a couple of stops on the tram.’ Paul stood up and fingered the knot in his tie. ‘How d’yer like the demob suit? Not bad for nothing, eh?’
‘It looks better than mine,’ Steve said. ‘I came home in me uniform yesterday and haven’t had a chance to try the suit on yet. But what put me off was seeing everyone being issued with the same navy-blue pinstripe. There was no selection, it was a case of take it or leave it.’
‘The demob centre we were in down South, they ran out of suits. That’s why we were sent to Ashton-in-Makerfield.’
‘Tommy Bennett didn’t get a suit. They didn’t have one to fit him so they’re sending it on.’ Steve chuckled. ‘Ay, yer want to see the size of him. Six foot two he is, in his stocking feet!’
Nellie glanced from one to the other. She couldn’t remember being as happy or as proud as she was now. ‘Don’t say yer got the suit for nothing, Paul, ’cos yer more than paid for it with eighteen months of yer life. This country owes yer a damn sight more than a ruddy suit that yer could have got from Burton’s for fifty bob!’
‘Yeah, but it’s better than a kick in the teeth, isn’t it?’ Paul picked up a slice of toast and folded it over. He didn’t want to get grease on his suit the first day on. ‘How’s me dad and our Lily?’
‘They were fine when they left for work this morning. I can’t wait to see their faces when they come home and find you sitting here. Yer dad will be as pleased as Punch.’
‘We’ll take him out for a pint, eh, Steve? First time in a pub with our dad! Unless, of course, yer’ve got a heavy date with Jill? I suppose she’s still your girl?’
‘Need you ask? It goes without saying that I’ll be seeing her tonight, but I think she’ll spare me half-an-hour to go for a pint with me dad. We could ask Mr Bennett as well, he’d like that.’ Steve tilted his head and raised his brows. ‘What about you, anyway? Have you got a special girl in yer life?’