by Joan Jonker
‘Confrontations, sunshine.’
‘That’s it! I’ve had a few of those with them. Particularly that Fanny, she gets on me flaming wick. It wouldn’t take much for me to clock her one.’
‘There’ll be no fisticuffs, Nellie, so yer can forget that.’ Then Molly grinned. ‘Mind you, queen, I’ll take yer with me just in case they don’t listen to reason.’
‘Let me know when ye’re going to have words with them, Molly,’ Vera said. ‘I think I’d find the conversation very interesting.’
‘Let’s see how things go first, Vera. We sometimes see them at the shops, so I’ll just mention it casual like. It could be they’re just full of hot air and when it comes to the crunch they may have second thoughts.’ Molly linked her arm through Nellie’s. ‘We’ll get on with our shopping, Vera, but thanks for the information. I’ll let yer know if anything transpires.’
Vera pushed the handle of her basket into the crook of her arm. ‘Ta-ra for now.’
Molly tried to steer her friend forward, but Nellie stood firm and wouldn’t be shifted. ‘Ay, girl, what is it ye’re going to let Vera know?’
‘How the heck do I know? I’m not one of these people who can see into the future.’
‘But yer said yer’d let her know!’
‘Yes! If anything happens!’
‘Don’t be raising yer voice and have people thinking I’m stone deaf! And don’t be getting all het up, either. When I was young, me mam always used to say if yer don’t ask, yer’ll never find out. So I’m only doing what me mam told me. And yer didn’t tell Vera yer’d let her know when anything happens, so what did yer tell her?’
Molly took a deep breath and blew out slowly. ‘I said if anything transpires, sunshine, and that means if anything happens!’
‘Yer know, girl, your brain must be on the go all the time, looking for words that yer know I won’t understand. Yer do it on purpose.’
‘Yer should thank me for it. I’m giving yer the education yer couldn’t be bothered getting at school!’ Molly gave a jerk which Nellie wasn’t expecting and it forced her to move. ‘Now, can we please get our shopping done?’
‘Blimey! Listening to you anyone would think I was the one what’s kept us back! It was you what wanted to talk to Vera, and that’s only because ye’re nosy. I get a name like a mad dog for talking too much, when it’s really you what’s the jangler.’
When they stepped into the butcher’s shop, Tony and Ellen were standing behind the counter with grins on their faces. ‘Me and Ellen have just been watching you two walking along having a real go at each other. I thought yer’d be all smiles today after what Ellen told me, not arguing the toss.’
Nellie put her basket on the floor so she could hitch up her bosom. She always felt more in command when her bosom was in the place it used to be many years ago. It didn’t stay up for long, mind, because of the force of gravity. But by the time it had settled down again, she’d forgotten what she’d hitched it up for in the first place! ‘Arguing? Now have yer ever known me and Molly to argue? Never in a month of Sundays! So it must have been two other women yer were watching what looked like us but wasn’t.’
‘Well, me eyesight must be getting bad, Nellie, ’cos I could have sworn it was you. Same colour coat and scarf, same walk. And what clinched it was the stockings around the ankles like a concertina! Dead giveaway, that is.’
Nellie rose to her full height. ‘And what the hell were you doing looking at my legs? Have yer got nothing better to do, Tony Reynolds?’ She turned to Molly and said in a loud whisper, ‘When a man starts eyeing a woman’s legs or bust, he’s either sick in the head or he’s not getting enough of what he fancies at home.’
‘And by the same token, sunshine, any woman who thinks because a man looks at her legs he’s after her body – well, she’s either bad-minded or sex mad.’
‘Sex mad, girl, that’s me! Can’t get enough of it!’
‘You said it Nellie, not me!’
‘Well, it’s the truth. Best thing ever invented, was sex.’ Nellie leaned back against the counter and folded her arms. ‘Your Rosie’s always saying God gave her a mouth to speak with and a brain to think with. She never goes any lower down than her chin. But He gave us a lot more than a mouth and brain! And I’m of the opinion that we should make full use of every part of our body. George isn’t always of the same mind, like, and I sometimes wonder if he’s frightened of wearing it out!’
Molly noticed that while Tony was grinning, Ellen was looking decidedly uncomfortable. Not everyone appreciated Nellie’s outspoken views in mixed company. ‘If yer can tear yerself away from yer bedroom, Nellie, I’ll ask Tony what goodies he can suggest for our dinners.’ She placed her ration book on the counter. ‘I’m going down to see about our Tommy’s ration book today, and with a bit of luck it’ll have last week’s coupons in as well. If it has I can go mad and have meat twice in the week.’
‘From what Ellen’s told me, yer’ll be gaining one ration book but losing two in the near future.’
‘I don’t want to think about losing them, Tony. I’m so happy for the kids I refuse to let me mind dwell on the thought of them leaving home for good. If I did that I’d spend me days crying me eyes out, and a fat lot of good that would do anyone. No, my two daughters are marrying good men who love them and will take good care of them. And it is my intention that they have a wedding day they’ll remember all their lives.’
‘All that me mate’s just said goes for me too.’ Nellie’s chins gave their seal of approval by dancing up and down. ‘We don’t know when it’ll be yet, but we’re having a conflab about it tonight in Molly’s. So next time we come in we’ll let yer know more.’
‘Our Phoebe and Dorothy are sick with excitement,’ Ellen said. ‘And if they’re like this now, what are they going to be like on the day?’
‘I only hope Corker’s home for it,’ Molly said. ‘Our Jill would be very disappointed if he missed her big day.’
‘He’ll do his best to be here, yer can bet yer sweet life on that! Your Jill is special to Corker, he thinks the world of her. He was saying last night that as soon as the date is sorted out, he’ll be looking to sign on a ship that’s due home around that time.’
‘If ye’re hoping to have the reception somewhere, yer’d better be quick booking a place,’ Tony said. ‘Nearly all the men are home now, so as yer can imagine there’s loads of weddings.’
‘I hope to have the reception in a hall because there’ll be too many people to fit in my small room. And with a bit of luck the money might run to having caterers to supply the meal. That would take a load of our minds, wouldn’t it, Nellie? All we’d have to do would be to sit back and enjoy ourselves. To bask in the glory.’
‘Sounds good to me, girl. I’ll have sixpennyworth of that! And isn’t it the way it should be for the mothers of bride and groom? I’m not getting meself all dolled up to the nines just to pass flaming sandwiches around.’
‘I agree with yer, sunshine, but don’t be sticking yer oar in tonight, please? Let the kids decide what they want for their big day, and we’ll give them all the help we can.’ Molly eyed the meat in the window. ‘I’ll have as much of that stewing meat as me ration book allows me to have.
‘Same here, Tony,’ Nellie said. ‘When d’yer think this here rationing will be over? By Christmas, d’yer think?’
‘Which Christmas, Nellie?’ As Tony spoke, his razor-sharp knife was cutting the meat into small pieces. ‘I’ve been talking to some wholesalers, and they’re of the same opinion as meself. We’ve got another couple of years of rationing yet.’
‘Oh, don’t say that, Tony,’ Molly groaned. ‘I’m sick of it. Every day it’s a headache wondering what to feed the family on. Whoever the feller is that said we could have four ounces of meat a week – well, he wants hanging. I bet he gets a damn sight more than that.’
‘There’s no shortage of anything for people with money.’ Tony wrapped the meat and placed the two parcels
on the counter. ‘All the rich have to do is eat out every day! I bet they get fed on the best of everything at those big London hotels.’
‘It’s not fair, is it?’ Molly put the parcels in her basket and took out her purse. ‘It’s always been the same for as long as I can remember. The rich live off the fat of the land while the poor have to struggle. And in most cases it’s the poor working man who’s putting the money into the rich man’s coffers.’
‘Yeah, but the rich don’t know how to enjoy themselves as much as we do, girl,’ Nellie said. ‘And when ye’re rich and have everything yer want, then there’s no pleasure left in life, is there? I mean, like, if I get a new hearth rug I think it’s marvellous and call me neighbours in to see it. But if I was loaded, it wouldn’t mean nothing to me. See what I mean?’
‘Yes I do, sunshine, and I think yer put that very well. I’ll bet Lord and Lady Muck don’t have half the fun we have.’
‘They certainly don’t have the fun that me and George do. They’d think they were too high and mighty for our shenanigans.’
‘She’s back to the bedroom, Tony! So will yer tell us what we owe and I’ll get her out of yer shop before Ellen lays a duck egg?’
‘Listen to me, girl. If Ellen could lay duck eggs I’d have her down in Great Homer Street Market next to them spiv fellers. Duck eggs could raise a lot of money these days and we’d be quids in.’
Molly passed two half-crowns over the counter. ‘Take for Nellie’s while ye’re at it, Tony, then I can get her out of here. She can pay me later.’
‘If yer keep on insulting me, I won’t pay yer no money.’
‘Suit yerself, sunshine! But I’ve got the meat in me basket so yer don’t have much bargaining power.’ Molly winked broadly. ‘See yer, Tony. Ta-ra, Ellen!’
‘Before yer go up for Corker and George, love, will yer bring the two wooden chairs down from the bedrooms?’ Molly reached for the four corners of the tablecloth and brought them together ready for shaking in the yard. ‘We’ll all want to sit around the table, if possible.’
Jack grinned. ‘Ye’re enjoying every minute of this, aren’t yer? Women are never happier than when they can complain about having too much on their mind, when all the time they’re loving it.’
‘Me two daughters getting married – of course I’m enjoying it! There’s going to be a lot to do, and times when I get narky, but yer’ll just have to put up with it. And I’ve found a way of stopping meself from crying. I keep reminding meself I’m not losing two daughters, I’m gaining two sons.’ Molly nodded towards the door. ‘Fetch the chairs, love, and then get going. The girls have nearly finished the dishes and I’ve only got to shake this cloth out. Then we’re all ready for what Nellie calls the square table conference.’
‘How long do yer want me out of the way for?’
‘As long as it takes yer to drink three pints very slowly. We’ve got to count the pennies, don’t forget. The bride’s family always pay for the reception and lots of other things, so think on, sunshine, ’cos we want to give them the best.’
Jack slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. ‘I love you, Molly Bennett.’
After a quick glance to the kitchen where the two girls were chatting away while doing the washing up, Molly kissed his lips lightly. ‘And I’m crazy about you.’
‘We could get married again and make it a triple wedding, yer know. I could take a couple of days off work and we could go on the honeymoon we never had first time around.’
‘Jack Bennett, since the day I married you, my life has been one long honeymoon. I couldn’t have loved yer more if yer’d whisked me off on a magic carpet to some far-flung exotic island and we lazed under palm trees all day.’
Jack chuckled. ‘I was thinking more of two days in Blackpool! I, unfortunately, don’t have the same vivid imagination as you.’
Molly pushed him gently away with one hand, while gripping the corners of the tablecloth with the other. ‘Yer would have, sunshine, if yer had a mate like Nellie. With her, everything is believable and also more than likely to happen. But I can’t stand here discussing me mate because she’ll be down any minute with Steve, and Phil is expected.’
‘I’m going, love! I’ll bring the chairs down first, then call for Corker on me way to George’s.’
Lily McDonough had her ear cocked for a knock on the front door while feigning interest in what her mam was saying to make her father and his two drinking friends roar their heads off with laughter. She wasn’t at all sure that Len would come after the row on Saturday, but she’d got herself ready to go out in case he did come. If he didn’t show, it would mean he didn’t want to see her again. She’d be sad if that happened because she had strong feelings towards him.
Her train of thought was interrupted when her mother tapped her on the shoulder. ‘There’s the door, Lily. It’s probably for you ’cos I’m not expecting anyone.’
‘If it is, I’ll go straight out, Mam, but I won’t be late in.’ Lily picked her handbag off the sideboard and wagged a finger at the three men. ‘No getting drunk, mind, or yer’ll have the neighbours complaining.’
Corker’s deep chuckle rumbled. ‘In case yer hadn’t noticed, Lily, we are the neighbours! If anyone complains, they’ve got three against them for a start!’
Lily was smiling when she opened the door, and when she saw Len standing there her heart smiled too. ‘D’yer want to come in or shall we go straight to wherever we’re going?’
‘Let’s go straight out and we can stop in a shop doorway so yer can give me two kisses.’ They fell into step with Lily linking his arm. ‘I saw me old boss today and I start work on Monday. That’s worth a kiss, isn’t it?’
‘It certainly is! Good for you! That’s one kiss, what’s the other for?’
‘To make up for the one I didn’t get on Saturday night.’
‘Yer didn’t get one because yer didn’t deserve one.’
‘I had every right to get a cob on with yer! I was left standing like a right nit, while you were singing yer head off with another feller’s arm around yer. If I’d have done that, yer wouldn’t have been too happy, would yer?’
Lily groaned inwardly. It was only a couple of minutes since she’d left the house and here he was ready to bring up the argument again. She waited until they’d turned into the main road before pulling him to a halt. ‘What’s come over you, Len? Yer were never this miserable before yer went in the army. Yer weren’t the easiest bloke in the world, but I made allowances for yer because of the life yer’d had at home. And at least we used to have a laugh and a joke together. Since yer came home I don’t know where I am with yer!’
‘It’s the army that’s made me like this. I saw some terrible sights, Lily, and they’re not easy to forget.’ And so Len began to lie, as he’d been lying to her since the day they met. He was a mechanic and had spent his time in the army maintaining the army vehicles. He hadn’t seen any fighting and was never really in any danger. But he’d heard men talking in the demob camp and he put this knowledge to good use now. ‘Seeing men with arms or legs blown off, it gets to yer. I’ve had nightmares every night since I came home.’
Lily fell for his lies, like she always had, even though one part of her mind was saying that her brothers had been in the army as long as Len, and so had Tommy Bennett, and it hadn’t taken away their ability to laugh and be pleasant. But they’d had a loving family life, she reminded herself, where her boyfriend hadn’t. ‘Why didn’t yer tell me this? I would have understood.’
‘I didn’t tell yer because I didn’t want to upset yer. And I thought yer might think I was weak for letting it get to me.’
‘Of course I wouldn’t think that, soft lad! At least I’d have known the reason for yer being miserable and awkward to get on with.’ She linked his arm and as they began walking she changed the subject. ‘Me mam and our Steve are going to the Bennetts’ tonight, to make plans for the weddings. It should be a lovely occasion, with Jill and Doreen get
ting married at the same time. They’re so pretty, and our Steve and Phil so handsome, it should be a real fairytale double wedding.’
‘I didn’t think much of the girls meself. They’re not my type.’
No one with eyes in their head could say the Bennett girls weren’t beautiful, but Lily told herself not to answer in haste. So she counted to ten before saying, ‘Go ’way, they’re both lovely! But I’m glad they’re not your type, otherwise I wouldn’t be in the meg specks.’
She was smiling up into his face when she saw him flinch and felt his footsteps falter. She looked across the wide road where his eyes were directed, and saw two men standing on a street corner, deep in conversation. Then there was a girl passing a block of shops, and behind her two sailors. The scene flashed through her mind before she felt herself being dragged into the nearest shop doorway.
‘What the hell d’yer think ye’re doing?’ Lily tried to pull her arm fee. ‘Let go of me, ye’re hurting.’
Len was facing her in the doorway, his back to the road. ‘One of the blokes over there is an old workmate of mine and I don’t want him to see me.’
‘Why not? He can’t eat yer!’
‘I don’t want him to see me, OK?’ Len ground the words out and his face was set. He stood motionless for a short while, then ventured to turn his head. The men were still talking on the corner opposite, but the girl and sailors had passed on out of sight. Then he relaxed his grip on Lily and prepared to tell more lies. ‘I’m sorry about that, love, but if he sees me I’ll never get away from him. He’ll be asking about the war and I don’t want to be reminded.’
‘And you nearly took the arm off me just for that! Why couldn’t yer just have waved and walked on? If he’s one of those blokes over there, we could be in this doorway all night ’cos they seem to have plenty to say to each other.’