by Joan Jonker
Jill couldn’t keep still. ‘Wait until I tell our Doreen and Phil. And yer mam, Steve, she’ll be over the moon.’
‘I’m going up to your house now, Steve, to give Jack a hand bringing the table back. So why don’t you and Jill come with us and yer can tell her?’
‘Not on your ruddy life!’ Molly said with great indignation. ‘I wouldn’t miss seeing me mate’s face for all the tea in China. I want to be there when she’s told.’
‘Then why don’t we break eggs with a big stick and tell everyone at the same time?’ Jack suggested. ‘Ask Nellie to come down and bring Doreen and Phil across.’
‘That’s a very good idea,’ Molly said, not wanting to miss anything. It wasn’t the same getting news second-hand. ‘But we’ll need the table first. We can’t have a conference in comfort without something to lean on.’
Corker’s laugh was hearty. ‘Come on, Jack, we’ll go for the table and tell Nellie her mate wants to see her. And I’ll give Ellen a knock as we pass, to ask her to keep the dinner back for an hour. I don’t want to miss any of this.’
When the two men had left, Molly said, ‘You go across and ask Doreen and Phil to come over, Jill. But don’t tell her why. Not a word until everyone is here.’
‘What the hell is all the mystery?’ Nellie wanted to know. Her elbows were on the table and her hands cupped her chubby face. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Molly. ‘Ye’re not pregnant, are yer, girl? ’Cos if yer are, I think yer should be ashamed of yerself at your age.’
The only one who didn’t laugh was Molly. ‘Trust you, Nellie McDonough! Is your mind ever anywhere else but in the bedroom?’ Then she was sorry she’d spoken because her friend had an answer – as usual.
‘The bedroom is not the only place yer can make a baby, girl! And if yer think it is, then all I can say is that yer’ve lived a miserable bloody life.’
‘Nellie, if yer don’t want to hear the news, why don’t yer go back home?’
‘Ooh, er!’ Nellie’s expression was comical as she scanned the faces around the table. ‘She’s narky today, isn’t she? But she’s probably tired after last night, so I’ll make allowances for her.’ The face she turned to Molly was one of total innocence. ‘I want to hear yer news, girl! I’m waiting to hear yer news, girl! And when yer decide to bloodywell stop gabbing, I’ll probably get to hear it! But if I go asleep in the meantime, yer’ll have to excuse me.’
‘Mam, it’s me and Jill who have got something to tell yer,’ Steve said. ‘And it’s the most marvellous news we could have been given.’
Nellie looked at her son, and then at Jill, who was sitting on his knee. Their faces told of the happiness they were waiting to share. ‘What is it, son?’
‘Mrs Corkhill has said we can go and live with her until we’re able to get a place of our own. So we’ll soon be setting the date for our wedding.’
The next few minutes were very noisy as everyone tried to speak at the same time. Doreen was laughing and crying as she hugged her sister. ‘That means we can have a double wedding, kid!’
Jill smiled back into her face. ‘Yes, isn’t it wonderful? I’m so thrilled I don’t know what to do with meself.’
Nellie nearly smothered her son with kisses. ‘I’m so happy for yer both, son. They say good things come in threes – well, they have with you. Yer start work tomorrow, ye’re marrying the girl of yer dreams and now yer have a place to live. And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple. Just wait until yer dad, Lily and Paul find out, they’ll be over the moon.’
‘We’ve got Uncle Corker to thank for it.’
‘Yes, I gathered that, son. I’ll have a word with him.’ Nellie swayed over and put her arms around Corker. ‘It’s easy to say thank you, it doesn’t cost anything. But that’s all I can say, except that you are a good friend and one of life’s gentlemen.’
‘I was glad to help, Nellie, but I couldn’t have done it if I didn’t have the best mother in the whole wide world.’
‘Yeah, I know that. I’ll be seeing Lizzie tonight because I’ve invited meself to tea, so I’ll tell her how happy she’s made us all.’
Nellie went to stand by Jack, who was watching the four young ones with a smile on his face and pride in his heart. ‘Just look at them, Nellie, doesn’t it make yer feel good to see them so happy? I bet they’re talking about a certain day that isn’t as distant now as it was an hour ago.’
‘What it is to be young and in love, eh, Jack? I’m really looking forward to their weddings, but I won’t half miss our Steve when he leaves home. I’ll probably cry me eyes out.’
‘Me and Molly will be losing two, Nellie! But they’ll both be living in our street so we’ll be seeing a lot of them.’
‘Yeah, it could be worse, couldn’t it? Anyway, I’m going to have a talk to your one. You wouldn’t be interested because it’ll be about hats. Big hats!’ Nellie was walking towards Molly when she thought, Sod it, it’s a blinking celebration! So she lifted the front of her skirt and set her legs in motion. ‘Come on, girl, let’s be having yer!’
Molly followed suit. Lifting the front of her skirt she danced towards Nellie, singing, ‘Oh, me name is McNamara, I’m the leader of the band.’ The two women linked arms and spun around, singing at the top of their voices.
‘Ay, Corker, take that ruddy table back to our house, will yer?’ Nellie said, going red in the face and puffing. ‘How d’yer expect us to dance with that thing in the way?’
‘Why don’t yer get on the table and dance, Mam,’ Steve called. ‘Yer’ll have more room.’
‘Like hell she will! That table is my pride and joy.’ Molly noticed her youngest daughter standing just inside the living-room door. ‘I thought yer’d left home, sunshine! I hope yer didn’t outstay yer welcome next door?’
‘No, Auntie Ellen said to tell yer I’d been no trouble.’ Ruthie guessed there was something afoot by the smiling faces and the dancing. ‘What’s going on? It’s not still the same party, is it?’
‘No, sunshine, it’s not a party, but a celebration nonetheless. I think yer sisters have got something nice to tell yer.’
‘D’yer want to be me bridesmaid, Ruthie?’ Jill asked.
‘And mine?’ Doreen added.
This sounds too good to be true, Ruthie thought. ‘I knew you might be getting married soon, our Doreen, but Jill won’t be getting married for ages.’
‘It would have been ages,’ Jill said. ‘But Uncle Corker has made it possible for me and Doreen to have a double wedding.’
When she’d been told all the facts, the young girl was beside herself. ‘When will the wedding be? What colour dress am I having?’
‘Hang on, sunshine,’ Molly laughed, ‘there’s nothing been arranged yet. Steve and Phil have a say in all this! So give them time to sit down with the girls and decide when, where and how.’
‘Can I have a blue dress? Please say yes because blue is me favourite colour. Go on, don’t be mean, say I can.’
‘I think blue is a nice colour for bridesmaids,’ Phil said. ‘Don’t you think so, Doreen?’
Doreen nodded. ‘Yeah, the same blue as the sky on a summer’s day.’
Jill smiled. She was so happy she wanted to share it with her kid sister. ‘I like blue, too, and it would suit all the bridesmaids.’
‘How many bridesmaids are yer having?’ Nellie asked. ‘If ye’re short, I’ll step in and help yer out. I’d do yer proud with flowers in me hair.’
‘We’re full up, Auntie Nellie,’ Jill told her. ‘There’s Ruthie, Lily, Phoebe and Dorothy, and Doreen wants her friend Maureen to be one. So that’s five.’
‘And I can make the dresses,’ Doreen said. ‘Not the brides, of course, they’ve got to be really special. Something out of this world.’
‘I hope I’m home to see it,’ Corker said. ‘This wedding is something I wouldn’t want to miss.’
Ruthie’s eyes widened as her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh, strewth! I had a message for yer from Auntie
Ellen and I forgot! She said to tell yer to get home quick, or the dinner won’t be fit to eat.’
Corker winked at the young girl. ‘Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’m bigger than her. Although I might have to watch me manners in a few years with the boys growing up so fast.’
‘Gordon said he wants to grow up to be just like you, Uncle Corker. He wants to be as tall as yer, and he’s going to grow a beard and moustache.’
Molly saw Jack’s expression and was sorry she’d told him about Ruthie having a crush on young Gordon. She’d have kept her mouth shut if she’d known he was going to turn it into a big issue. ‘If I were you, Corker, I’d get going. There’s nothing that upsets a woman more than spending hours making a dinner and then to see it ruined.’
When Corker left, it was with the thanks of four young people ringing in his ears. And he was delighted he’d been able to help. He knew where their heads and hearts would be now. They’d be on cloud nine, where his had been the day Ellen finally said she’d marry him.
‘I think me and Steve should go and see Mrs Corkhill, Mam,’ Jill said. ‘I know she’s coming to tea, but she won’t want her affairs discussed in front of other people.’
‘And I’d like to go and tell Aunt Vickie the news,’ Phil said. ‘She’ll be on top of the world when she knows. But could we all meet tomorrow night to start the ball rolling? Like setting a date, which church, who to invite … you know, things like that.’
‘Would Gordon be getting an invite?’ Ruthie asked.
Jack leaned forward. ‘Ruthie, just listen—’
Molly put a hand on his arm to silence him. ‘Ruthie, did yer dad ever tell yer the story about the three girls called Primrose, Daisy and Ivy? No, well perhaps he’ll tell yer some time when we’ve nothing else on our minds. Right now there’s more important things to discuss. So tomorrow night, Phil, we’ll have a round table conference, eh? Is that all right with you, Nellie?’
‘It’s fine by me, girl, except it’ll have to be a square table conference, seeing as yer haven’t got a round one.’
‘If ye’re so fussy, sunshine, shall I get Jack to fetch his saw and round the corners of this table? Would yer be happy, then?’ Molly tutted. ‘I think you four should get going before Tilly Mint here thinks of something else to keep yer back. Go on, scarper.’
Molly waited until she heard the door close, then turned to her friend. With head jutting forward and hands on hips, she said, ‘You can be on yer way, too, sunshine, so I can start on the dinner. And while that’s on the go, me and Jack are going to give this room a thorough good going-over. Yer see, we had some friends in last night and they left the place like a ruddy pigsty.’
Nellie shook her head and clicked her tongue. ‘Yer should be more fussy about who yer have for friends, girl, I’m fed-up telling yer! Me now, I’m very careful who I invite into me house ’cos yer never can tell.’
‘Oh, ye’re careful all right. So ruddy careful yer don’t invite anyone! If I’d taken a leaf out of your book, sunshine, I wouldn’t be left with this flaming mess!’
Jack was stretched out on his chair with Ruthie on his knee. They were both smiling, knowing the performance would end in laughter.
‘I’m cut to the quick, girl, I really am. I don’t know why yer say these terrible things to me when yer know how easily I get hurt.’
‘I’m going to hurt yer even more, now, ’cos if yer don’t leave of yer own free will, I’m going to throw yer out!’
Nellie folded her arms and stood her ground. ‘I’ll go if yer tell me the story about Primrose, Daisy and Ivy.’
Molly chuckled and turned her friend around to face the door. ‘Some other time, when we’re on our own.’ She pushed the protesting Nellie out into the hall. ‘On yer way, sunshine!’
‘I’ll see yer in the morning, girl, to go to the shops.’
‘OK, sunshine! Ta-ra!’
Ruthie giggled. ‘They’re not half funny, aren’t they, Dad?’
‘They are that, pet,’ Jack grinned. ‘But they’re clever as well. Haven’t yer noticed that although they do it in a roundabout way, they always get what they want?’
Chapter Nine
Molly and Nellie were deep in conversation as they walked down the street on the Monday morning. They had so much to talk about, most of the time they were both talking at the same time. And on top of that, Molly was winning the fight to get her mate to walk in a straight line. ‘The bedroom is furnished, so they don’t need to buy a thing! It’s Corker’s old room, with the bed he used to sleep in. I thought our Jill mightn’t like that, but she’s so thrilled she wouldn’t care what they slept in.’
‘What about bedding, girl, are they all right for that?’
‘Jill’s got some in her bottom drawer, but Lizzie told them not to worry ’cos she’s got plenty of everything.’
‘They’ve hopped in lucky, no doubt about that. Our Steve was saying last night that he couldn’t believe their luck. He’d reckoned the earliest they could get married would be a year, then this comes along out of the blue!’
Molly nudged Nellie when she spotted a woman stepping out of a house a few yards away. ‘There’s Mrs Patterson, I want a word with her.’
‘What about, girl?’
‘Never mind what about, put a move on!’ Vera Patterson had seen them and waited until they came abreast. Molly smiled a greeting before saying, ‘I was wondering how things were going next door.’
Vera glanced quickly at the window of number sixteen and gave a slight shake of her head. ‘I’ll walk down to the main road with yer.’
There wasn’t a word spoken until the trio had turned the corner and were out of sight and earshot. ‘I didn’t want to say nothing ’cos yer never know who’s listening.’
‘It’s safe here,’ Molly said, ‘and yer can trust me and Nellie not to say anything.’
‘Well, the baby’s gone! It’s being looked after by a woman in Aintree until all the paperwork’s been done. Mavis has been to the house and she said it’s proper posh and the baby’s getting the best of everything and wants for nothing. He’s got every toy under the sun, I believe, and Mavis says he’ll have a much better life in America than she could give him. She can go and see him as often as she likes before his father takes him away, but she thinks it’s better to make a clean break, so she’s not going again.’
‘Has she heard from her husband?’
‘Yeah, that’s another worry for her. He’s in a hospital down South, and from the sound of things he’s in a pretty bad way. The prisoner-of-war camp he was in was terrible by all accounts; the men were badly treated and nearly starved to death. Mavis has been informed that he’ll be transferred to a hospital nearer home when he’s strong enough to be moved.’ Vera gave a deep sigh. ‘Like everyone else in the street, I’ve called Mavis some names for the way she’s carried on, but I can’t help feeling sorry for her now. She did love the baby and she’s broken-hearted at having to give it up. But, strange as it may seem from the way she’s behaved, she really loves her husband.’
‘Yer could have fooled me!’ Nellie snorted. ‘If she loves her husband so much, why didn’t she stay true to the poor bugger, instead of sleeping with anything in trousers?’
‘She’s younger than us, Nellie, and some women can’t do without a man,’ Molly said. ‘I’m not making excuses for her, and she’s being punished for what she did. Having to give a baby up must be heartbreaking.’
‘She did it because she said it would kill her husband if he came back and found she’d been playing around.’ Vera gave a hollow laugh. ‘But he’s going to find out anyway, because there’s a couple of women in the street that can’t stand her, and they swear they’re going to tell her husband as soon as he gets home.’
‘I don’t think they should do that,’ Molly said. ‘What good would it do? What’s done can’t be undone.’
But Nellie didn’t agree. ‘She deserves to be snitched on, girl! Her poor feller going through hell and she’s out
enjoying herself every night. She needs a bloody good hiding.’
‘Yes, she does, sunshine, but don’t yer think her husband’s suffered enough? They’d be hurting him more than her. I’d be dead against anyone telling him, and I’d say that to their faces if I knew who they were.’
‘Yer might know who it is, Molly,’ Vera said. ‘Fanny Kemp and Theresa Brown. Two nosy, miserable women who have nothing on their mind but to tell tales and cause trouble. I bet any money that as soon as Frank Sheild steps foot in the street they’ll be over to him like a shot. Even if he was being carried in on a stretcher, it wouldn’t stop them. I’ve no time for them, they’re both wicked.’
‘I should have guessed it would be them! The two of them spend most of their lives standing on their doorsteps pulling everyone to pieces. I wouldn’t care if they were anything to write home about, but they’re not! In all the years we’ve lived in the street I’ve never known either of them do a good turn.’ Molly’s mind flashed back to the time she’d gone with Doreen to visit Phil in hospital. Some of the lads in there were in a terrible state, with limbs missing, faces disfigured and minds destroyed. None of them deserved to have heartbreak added to their suffering, and neither did Frank Sheild. ‘I’m going to have a word with Fanny and Theresa, whether they like it or not. I won’t mention you’ve said anything, Vera, yer’ve no need to worry on that score.’
‘Molly, I’m not the only one they’ve told, they’ve said the same thing to everyone down our end of the street.’
‘And what did the other women say? Were they in agreement with them?’
Vera shook her head. ‘No, they think the same as you and me, that the poor man should be left to get on with whatever life he has left.’
Nellie had been doing some thinking and in the process had changed her mind. Molly was right, and she was wrong. The fly turn in number sixteen had enjoyed the war years, with different men coming to the house regularly. But her husband shouldn’t be the one to suffer for his wife’s affairs. ‘If ye’re going to have words with Fanny and Theresa, girl, yer can count me in. I’ve already had a few con … confon …’ Nellie scratched her head. ‘What’s the word I’m looking for?’