Tanner Trilogy 01 - Gaslight in Page Street

by Harry Bowling

  Sharkey jerked his eyes towards the back room. ‘What’s Fred gotta say about that then?’ he joked.

  ‘P’raps yer better ask ’im,’ the carman said.

  ‘’Ere, Fred, yer don’t allow Carrie ter walk out wiv scruffy ole carmen, do yer?’ Sharkey said, grinning.

  Suddenly Fred came out of the back room and leaned over the counter. ‘Why don’t yer stop yer silly talk?’ he said angrily. ‘What the gel does in ’er own time is no concern o’ mine, an’ it shouldn’t be none o’ yours neivver. Now if yer finished yer grub, why don’t yer piss orf an’ make room fer somebody else?’

  The customers were surprised at Fred’s sudden outburst and became subdued. Carrie too was surprised at Fred’s behaviour and felt a little embarrassed as she got on with serving the tea. When Sharkey Morris finished his meal, he got up and walked over to her on his way out.

  ‘Take no notice o’ the lads, luv,’ he said quietly. ‘They was only ’avin’ a bit o’ sport. Fred should know ’em by now. If yer ask me I’d say the bloke’s jealous, the way ’e carried on.’

  Carrie dismissed the idea with a laugh but as she watched Sharkey leave the shop her brow creased in a puzzled frown. Fred had been unusually moody and quiet since that day Tommy asked her out, she thought. Maybe there was something in what Sharkey had said. Fred had been very talkative and he had certainly smartened himself recently. No, it didn’t mean anything, she told herself. If he was interested he would have asked her to walk out with him. Fred was a good bit older than her anyway, and he was too set in his ways.

  For the rest of the day Carrie busied herself with her chores, glancing up hopefully as customers came into the dining rooms. Later, as she was getting ready to leave, Fred called her into the back room.

  ‘I’m sorry if I frightened yer, shoutin’ at those carmen the way I did,’ he said quietly. ‘I thought they was upsettin’ yer.’

  ‘I didn’t take any notice, and they didn’t mean any ’arm,’ she replied, smiling.

  Fred nodded. ‘Just as long as yer all right. I wouldn’t want yer ter get upset an’ leave. Business ’as picked up quite a bit since yer’ve bin workin’ ’ere an’ I appreciate it. I want yer ter feel free ter come an’ talk ter me if anybody does upset yer. I know I’m almost old enough ter be yer farvver, but if ever yer feel the need, don’t ’esitate, all right?’

  Carrie nodded as she buttoned up her coat. There was something in the way he spoke that reawakened her earlier misgivings. Perhaps he did want to ask her out but felt he was too old for her, she thought, realising that she would have to be careful not to give him the wrong impression by becoming too familiar with him. It would be difficult though. She had grown fond of him in the short time she had been working at the café. Fred was kind and considerate, and she felt comfortable chatting to him. It would upset him if she suddenly shunned him. He was a sensitive man who had always behaved very properly towards her. A girl could do a lot worse than marry a man like Fred, she thought. She would have to think carefully about the way she dealt with the situation. Things were unsure enough between her and Tommy at the moment without any further complications.

  Carrie had left the dining rooms and was walking along the narrow turning that led into Bacon Street when suddenly she saw Tommy driving his pair of horses towards her. He waved and pulled up to the kerb, jumping down and hooking a brake chain around the front wheel as she walked up to him. ‘I’m sorry I’ve not bin in ter see yer, Carrie,’ he said quickly. ‘I’ve bin off work fer a few days.’

  ‘’Ave yer bin ill?’ she asked him anxiously.

  ‘No, it’s the old lady,’ he replied. ‘She fell down the stairs last Sunday night.’ Carrie winced and drew in her breath sharply. Tommy slowly shook his head. ‘I’d jus’ gone ter bed when I ’eard the crash. She’d bin at the gin again. I told ’er ter sleep down in the front room but she would insist on goin’ up the stairs. I ’ad ter ’ide the bottle before I could get the silly ole mare ter bed, an’ as soon as she ’eard my bedroom door go she got up ter look fer it.’

  ‘Is she badly ’urt?’ Carrie asked him.

  ‘I dunno yet,’ Tommy shrugged, leaning back against the shafts. ‘I got the doctor in an’ ’e said there was no bones broken, but she started actin’ funny the next day. She was ramblin’ away an’ talkin’ a load o’ gibberish. I couldn’t leave ’er, she’d ’ave set light ter the ’ouse or somefink. Anyway on Wednesday she was no better an’ I got the doctor in again. ’E got ’er inter St James’s Infirmary. They’ve got ’er under observation.’

  Carrie smiled sympathetically and touched his arm. ‘I thought yer didn’t want ter see me any more.’

  Tommy looked down at his boots for a moment, and when his eyes came up to meet hers Carrie saw how sad they looked. ‘I really enjoyed last Saturday night,’ he said quickly. ‘I wanted ter ask yer out durin’ the week but I couldn’t leave me muvver. Besides, I’m in an’ out o’ the infirmary now. The ole gel’s frettin’ in there. She always dreaded goin’ in that place an’ now she reckons she ain’t comin’ out. Ter tell yer the trufe, Carrie, it drives me roun’ the twist goin’ in ter see ’er. They’re all ole ladies in ’er ward an’ I ’ave ter sit wiv ’er fer a while. Trouble is, yer dunno what ter say ’alf the time, an’ she keeps ramblin’ on. She asked me ter send the ole man in ter see ’er last night. Bloody ’ell, ’e’s bin gorn fer years.’

  ‘Would yer like me ter come in wiv yer ternight?’ she asked him.

  Tommy’s face lit up. ‘Would yer, Carrie? Would yer really?’

  She smiled. ‘’Course I would. Knock fer me when yer ready an’ I’ll be waitin’.’

  ‘It’s seven till eight visitin’ time,’ he said, releasing the brake chain. ‘I’ll be round at ten ter seven.’

  Carrie watched as he climbed up on to the cart and jerked on the reins. ‘I’ll be ready,’ she said.

  Trouble had been brewing in the Tanner household all week. On Friday evening, as soon as the meal was over, Nellie glanced across at Danny, hunched sulkily in his chair. ‘It’s no good yer sittin’ there lookin’ all mean an’ ’orrible,’ she said sharply. ‘I told yer I don’t want yer goin’ ter that boxin’ club. In fact, I’ve a good mind ter see Billy Sullivan’s muvver abaht it. Billy should ’ave more sense.’

  ‘But I like boxin’, Mum,’ Danny answered, twirling a knife. ‘It’s nuffink ter do wiv Billy. Yer’ll make me look silly if yer see ’is muvver.’

  ‘It is somefink ter do wiv Billy Sullivan,’ Nellie said, gathering up the plates. ‘It was ’im who kept on ter yer about boxin’, an’ it was ’im who took yer ter the club in the first place. I told yer before, I don’t want no fighters in this family. All them knocks ter the ’ead can’t do yer no good.’

  William had his head buried in the evening paper and huffed defensively as Nellie rounded on him.

  ‘Yer sittin’ there takin’ no notice. Why don’t yer tell ’im?’ she said sharply.

  He folded the paper and laid it down on the table. ‘I fink yer makin’ too much of it, Nell,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s a good club an’ they don’t let the kids get ’urt. It’s not like professional fightin’.’

  ‘That’s ’ow they start though,’ she complained. ‘That’s ’ow Billy Sullivan started, an’ now look at ’im. I saw ’im the ovver day - ’is face was all bruised an’ ’e ’ad a nasty black eye. Is that ’ow yer wanna see Danny turn out?’

  ‘Billy’s gonna fight fer the area title next week,’ Danny said loudly. ‘’E’s gonna be the champion soon.’

  ‘See what I mean?’ Nellie groaned. ‘Mind yer, I blame meself. I should ’ave stopped ’im ’angin’ around wiv that Billy. The way it is now ’e finks the sun shines out of ’is arse. Gawd, as if it wasn’t bad enough nursin’ ’im frew that bronchitis an’ pneumonia! Now ’e’s gonna be knocked stupid as well.’

  James had been listening to the argument. He pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘’E’ll be all right, Muvver. It’ll knock some sense i
nto ’im,’ he said, winking at Danny.

  ‘That’s it, take ’is part,’ Nellie stormed. ‘Ain’t you got anyfink ter say?’ she rounded on Charlie.

  The quiet lad looked up, surprised at his mother’s anger. ‘I reckon in the end it’s up ter Danny what ’e wants ter do, Mum,’ he said. ‘If ’e takes up boxin’, at least nobody’s gonna pick on ’im.’

  Nellie picked up the plates and hurried out of the room, sighing loudly. Once she had gone, William turned to his youngest son. ‘Look, yer shouldn’t keep on about that boxin’ club in front of yer muvver,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Yer know ’ow she feels about it. If yer wanna go, then go, but keep quiet about it. She’ll get used ter the idea, but give ’er time.’

  Danny’s face brightened a little. He turned to Carrie who was folding up the tablecloth. ‘Will yer come an’ watch me when I ’ave me first fight?’ he asked, grinning.

  ‘Only if yer promise ter win,’ she said as she hurried out to the scullery.

  Nellie was scraping the plates as Carrie entered. She cast an anxious glance at her daughter. ‘P’raps I worry too much about that boy but I can’t ’elp it,’ she fretted, wrapping the leavings up in a piece of newspaper. ‘Especially after that illness ’e ’ad. It leaves yer chest weak.’

  ‘I shouldn’t worry too much, Mum,’ Carrie replied. ‘Danny’s as strong as an ox.’

  Nellie took the kettle from the gas-stove and poured hot water into the enamel bowl. ‘I s’pose I shouldn’t ’ave jumped at yer farvver the way I did,’ she said. ‘’E’s worried enough the way fings are goin’ at the yard. What wiv Soapy puttin’ ’is notice in, an’ Galloway talkin’ about gettin’ rid of ole Sid Bristow. The way fings are goin’ yer farvver could be next.’

  Carrie took a wet plate from her mother. ‘Galloway wouldn’t put Dad off, surely,’ she reassured her. ‘Dad’s savin’ ’im a fortune the way ’e cares fer those ’orses. There’s the men too. Dad knows ’ow ter ’andle ’em an’ they respect ’im. No, I can’t see ’im puttin’ Dad off.’

  Nellie rinsed the last plate and passed it to Carrie. ‘Don’t yer be so sure,’ she said. ‘Galloway wouldn’t fink twice if it suited ’im. ’E’s ’ard, take it from me.’

  ‘But who’s gonna look after the animals if Dad goes?’ Carrie asked, putting the stack of plates in the cupboard.

  ‘Fings are changin’ fast,’ her mother replied. ‘Young Geoffrey’s got ideas of ’is own. ’E wants ter bring in lorries ter do the cartage. A lot o’ firms are changin’ over now. In a few years’ time yer won’t see ’alf the ’orses yer see on the road now, mark my words.’

  Carrie leaned back against the copper and folded her arms. ‘What would ’appen if Dad did get the sack? Would we ’ave ter leave ’ere?’

  Nellie shrugged her shoulders. ‘I can’t see Galloway lettin’ us stay.’

  ‘But we could pay rent like the rest o’ the tenants,’ Carrie said.

  ‘It’s not as simple as that, luv. If they did change over ter motors, they’d need somebody ter look after ’em an’ ’e’d ’ave the ’ouse. It’d go wiv the job,’ Nellie told her.

  Carrie blew out her cheeks. ‘No wonder Dad’s worried. Why can’t fings stay the same? Why does everyfing ’ave ter be so complicated?’

  Nellie laughed resignedly. ‘Life’s complicated, Carrie. Nuffink’s simple fer long. One fing’s certain though - we’ll manage some’ow. We always ’ave.’

  The evening air was chill and the sky a mass of dark brooding clouds as the young couple walked through the infirmary gates and along the gravel path to the main building. Carrie was holding on to Tommy’s arm and they were both silent. She had never been inside the building but the stories she had heard about the place filled her with dread.

  ‘They go there from the work’ouse,’ her mother had said. ‘They send ’em there when the poor bleeders are too old ter work an’ when they start goin’ orf their ’eads.’

  Carrie gripped Tommy’s arm tightly and he smiled encouragingly as they climbed the stone stairs to the second floor. The walls were tiled in brown and cream, and the stone floor scrubbed clean. The nurses they passed were wearing long dark uniforms with white, starched hats that covered their foreheads and hung down their backs triangular fashion. Their clothes rustled and keys hanging from their black canvas belts jangled as they hurried by. Carrie shivered inwardly as they entered the dark ward and walked past the rows of beds along the walls. Hollow eyes followed them as they passed. When they reached the last bed on the left, Tommy leant over the frail figure lying there and kissed her forehead gently.

  ‘I’ve brought somebody ter see yer, Mum,’ he whispered.

  Carrie leant forward and smiled at the vacant-eyed old lady. ‘’Ello, Mrs Allen. ’Ow are yer?’ she asked in a low voice.

  A long, bony hand slipped out from beneath the bedclothes and gestured feebly.

  ‘Jack? Is that Jack? I got the ticket. I’ll get yer suit out on Friday. I’ll ...’

  The croaky voice trailed away and the bony hand dropped limply on to the bedclothes.

  ‘She finks it’s me farvver,’ Tommy whispered as he pulled up a chair for Carrie. ‘She’s on about the pawn shop again. It was the same last time I come in.’

  Carrie looked down at the white-haired old woman. She could see the faint pulse beating in her thin neck. The woman’s eyes were closed but they seemed to be moving beneath her dark eyelids. Carrie could not think of anything to say and looked up at Tommy. He was standing over the bed holding his mother’s hand. He bent down to stroke her forehead gently with his other hand. ‘It’s Tommy. It’s yer son Tommy, Ma,’ he whispered. ‘Open yer eyes, Ma.’

  The old lady’s eyes flickered and closed again. ‘Tommy?’ she murmured hoarsely. ‘Yer a good boy ter yer ole mum. Tell yer farvver I’ll be ’ome soon. Bring me clothes in next time, Jack. I can’t stay in ’ere.’

  Tommy looked at Carrie and shook his head. ‘It’s no good, she keeps wanderin’,’ he said softly.

  Carrie looked around the ward. Like the long corridor, the walls were tiled in cream and brown and the highly polished floor smelt of carbolic. Here and there a few wilting flowers stood in glass vases beside the beds, and in the centre of the ward there was a polished wooden table where the ward sister sat writing. Beside her was a large vase containing a spray of bright yellow chrysanthemums. They seemed out of place in the drab, sterile surroundings.

  Tommy stood over his mother, whispering to her and squeezing her limp hand for a while, then straightened up and turned to Carrie. ‘I fink we should leave now,’ he said. ‘She doesn’t know us.’

  Carrie got up and stood at the foot of the bed while Tommy bent over and gently kissed his mother’s lined forehead, then took his arm as they walked quickly from the ward and along the gloomy corridor.

  They walked in silence until they had crossed the quiet thoroughfare and then Tommy turned to her. ‘Would yer like a drink?’ he suggested. ‘I need one.’

  Carrie looked at him rather apprehensively. ‘In a pub?’ she queried.

  He nodded. ‘’Ave yer never bin in one?’

  She shook her head. ‘Will they let women in?’

  ‘It’s all right. This one does,’ he laughed. ‘Long as yer wiv somebody.’

  Carrie soon found herself sitting in a small public house in Jamaica Road, sipping a ginger beer and gazing wide-eyed around the bar. Most of the customers were men but there were a few women sitting in secluded corners with their escorts. A fire was burning in a large open fireplace, and around the papered walls hung ornaments of pewter and brass alongside dark-coloured pictures of river scenes.

  Tommy took a large draught from his pint of ale, afterwards wiping his mouth. ‘I shouldn’t ’ave let yer come wiv me,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s a depressin’ place. It gives me the creeps every time I go in there.’

  Carrie tried to comfort him with the ghost of a smile. ‘I’m glad I did come wiv yer,’ she said. ‘The place doesn’t seem so frighten
in’ ter me now. It’s jus’ so sad ter see all them old people lyin’ there.’

  Tommy nodded, and then paused for a moment. ‘Look, Carrie, I’ve bin doin’ a lot o’ finkin’ since last Saturday night. I can’t expect yer ter walk out wiv me, not the way fings are. I’ve got me ole lady ter look after an’ it wouldn’t be fair ter yer. We couldn’t go out much an’ I can’t let meself get serious wiv anybody, not fer the time bein’.’

  Carrie looked at him with concern in her large blue eyes. ‘Why did yer ask me out in the first place?’ she said quickly.

  Tommy looked down at his drink. ‘I was feelin’ a bit lonely, I s’pose,’ he replied. ‘I wanted somebody ter talk to, an’ yer was very nice ter me when I come in the café. Besides, I was curious about yer. Yer a very pretty gel, Carrie, an’ anybody would be proud ter walk out wiv yer.’