by Joan Jonker
‘Yeah, it looks lovely. And it’ll look even better when the border’s up and the paintwork finished. We couldn’t have managed without Mr Kershaw, Mam, he’s practically done the whole place on his own.’
‘Yes, I know, sunshine, we’re in his debt, that’s for sure.’ Dot reached for her coat off the hook behind the door. ‘I’ll get the rest of the stuff while I’m out shopping, and with a bit of luck the place should be finished tomorrow.’ She tied a scarf round her head and picked up her purse. ‘I’ll have to scoot or I’ll be late clocking in. When yer wake our Colin, tell him to give himself a good wash and brush his shoes. I should be home about one, plenty of time to see he looks respectable before John comes at half-past.’ She bent to kiss her daughter. ‘I’ll see you about six, sunshine, and I’ll have a little spread ready. Not much, just some boiled ham and sausage rolls. And I’ve left a jelly in the larder to set.’
‘Our Colin won’t know himself, having a party for his birthday.’
‘He’s more excited about going to the match.’ Dot turned to the door. ‘Especially as he’s going with John. He thinks the sun shines out of his backside.’
Katy grinned. ‘I wouldn’t go that far, Mam, but he is a nice man.’
‘Yeah, I suppose so. Anyway, I’ll see yer later. Ta-ra for now.’
As soon as she heard the door closing, Katy picked up her plate and pushed her chair back. With twenty minutes to spare before she had to leave for work, she could use the time to clean out the grate and set the fire. It was her brother’s job really, that’s what he got sixpence a week pocket money for, but as her mam had said, he was a bit slap-dash. It didn’t matter on most days, but today was special and Katy knew her mother wanted the place to look nice for Mr Kershaw coming. No one knew what his home was like, but he spoke posh and dressed posh, so it would follow that his home was posh, too.
Still, Katy mused as she raked the ashes out, we’ve made a start with this room. In another couple of months, please God, the whole house will be redecorated and we’ll be able to stick our noses in the air. We might even have some new crockery, that would be smashing.
‘I couldn’t sleep.’
Katy, on her hands and knees in front of the grate, turned to see her brother framed in the doorway blinking fifteen to the dozen. His hair was standing on end, reminding Katy of Stan Laurel, and she grinned. ‘Happy birthday, brother.’
‘Yeah, I’m twelve now. It won’t be long before I’m working.’
Katy ran a wet cloth over the hearth before getting to her feet. ‘Me hands are dirty so I can’t give yer a hug, but I can kiss yer.’ She planted a noisy kiss on his cheek then told him, ‘You are the best brother in the world and I love yer to bits.’
Colin blushed with embarrassment. ‘Yer needn’t have done the grate, Katy, I’d have seen to it. But thanks all the same.’
‘I’ll put a light to the fire as ye’re up early, but don’t be putting coal on every half-hour, we can’t afford it. Bank it up with some slack when I’ve gone and it should last until me mam gets in at one.’ She struck a match and held it to the rolled-up newspaper under the firewood. ‘Keep yer eye on that and give a shout if it goes out. I’ll just rinse me hands and then get cracking. I’ll bring yer birthday card in with me tonight, I haven’t forgot.’
‘Mr Kershaw’s coming at half-one to take me to the match, yer know.’
‘Yes, I know, Colin, yer’ve told me at least six times every day. And I know he’s coming to tea, as well.’
‘I can’t wait. I’m that excited I couldn’t sleep and I feel sick.’
‘The morning will soon pass; it’ll be half-one before yer know it. In fact, if I don’t move meself it’ll be that time before I get to work.’ Katy went on talking as she slipped her arms into the sleeves of her coat. ‘The tea in the pot is still hot so get a cup before it goes cold, and make yerself a couple of rounds of toast.’ She was opening the front door when she shouted, ‘For heaven’s sake keep yer fingers off the new wallpaper and stay away from the fire.’
Colin scratched his head as he walked to the kitchen. ‘Blimey, she’s worse than me teacher and he’s bad enough.’
‘By Jove!’ John smiled down at the eager face. ‘You do look very smart.’
Colin’s heart was bursting with excitement and pride. ‘Me mam said if I didn’t wash behind me ears proper, she’d use a scrubbing brush on me.’
Dot was standing behind her son, a hand on each shoulder. ‘I’ve told him that a boy of twelve should be able to keep himself clean and tidy without his mother having to look behind his ears or search for tidemarks.’
‘You are coming back for tea, aren’t you, Mr Kershaw?’
‘I’d be delighted, as long as your mother isn’t sick of the sight of me by now.’
‘I’d have been a damn sight more sick without yer, John, that’s for sure. I was full of big ideas and intentions but I know now I’d never have managed to decorate this room on me own – I’d have been at it until Pancake Tuesday. So you’re more than welcome to come for tea as long as yer know yer’ll be the only invited guest. There’ll only be the four of us and that hardly makes up a party.’
‘I thought Billy was coming!’ Colin looked disappointed. ‘You said our Katy could ask him if she liked.’
Dot grinned. ‘I’d forgotten about Billy. I’ll have to bring a chair down from the bedroom.’
John made a sweeping gesture towards the door. ‘Come along, young man, otherwise we’ll be caught up in the crowd.’
‘How will you get there?’ Dot asked, following them to the door.
‘By bus. I came a bit early so we could avoid the crush.’ John stepped into the street and Colin stood beside him. ‘Don’t worry, Dot, I’ll take good care of him.’
As they walked down the street, Colin looking up into John’s face and chattering away, a stray tear ran down Dot’s face. She was remembering the day Colin was born and how happy her Ted had been. ‘We’ve got one of each now, a girl for you and a boy for me,’ he’d said, looking down with love on the small scrap of humanity in his arms. ‘When they’re older, you can take Katy around the shops while I take me son to the football match.’ How proud he’d have been, walking down the street with his arm across his son’s shoulder. Instead, Colin was going to see his first match with a man they’d only known a couple of weeks. How unfair life was, and how cruel.
Dot watched until they reached the corner and returned their wave before going back into the house. She felt so sad, even the brightness of the room failed to lift her spirits. For a while she stood in front of the fireplace and let memories invade her mind. Then she shook herself and said aloud, ‘Buck yerself up, girl, because there’s no way you can change things. Yer’ve got to carry on for the sake of the children. And it’s your son’s birthday, yer don’t want to be miserable when he comes home.’ She reached for the coat she’d flung on the couch when she came home from work and was putting it on as she walked to the kitchen for her shopping basket. ‘I’ll be all right when I get out in the fresh air and start shopping; it’ll take me mind off things.’
With her basket cradled in the crook of her arm, Dot was passing next door when Mary appeared on the step. It was so well-timed, Dot thought her neighbour must have been looking out for her. ‘Everything all right, love?’
‘Yes, fine! I just wanted to return yer plate.’ Mary held out the deep plate which Dot had given her that morning filled with porridge. ‘I thought you might need it.’
‘I’ll need it in the morning for yer breakfast, but can yer hang on to it until I come back from the shops? I’ve got a lot to get and I don’t want to have to cart that around with me.’
‘Yes, OK. But in case my feller’s in later on, I’ll slip it into your backyard now. The entry door is open, isn’t it?’
Dot nodded. ‘Where is the queer feller?’
Mary shrugged her shoulders. ‘He never tells me where he’s going, but I think he’s probably looking for a bookie to have
a bet on.’ She lowered her eyes. ‘Dot, d’yer know where I can get a cheap poker from?’
‘A poker? Haven’t yer got one?’
‘Yes, I’ve got one, but I need another. It’s got to be cheap, though, ’cos I’ve only got a couple of bob to see me through.’
‘Yer’d get a second-hand one at a market for about tuppence. If I didn’t have so much to do this afternoon I’d try and get yer one, but I just don’t have the time. Anyway, yer can’t be that desperate when yer’ve already got one. I don’t know what yer want two ruddy pokers for, anyway.’ Then a smile crossed Dot’s face and she leaned forward. ‘Every woman gets a craving for something when they’re expecting, yer know. With me it was chocolate when I was carrying Katy, and with Colin it was coconut. I remember poor Ted had a terrible time trying to get hold of coconut. But I’ve got to say I’ve never heard of anyone having a craving for a poker.’
Mary glanced nervously up and down the street. ‘Will yer step inside, Dot, just for a minute? I won’t keep yer.’
‘One minute, Mary, that’s all the time I can spare. I’ve got an awful lot to do.’
When they were standing in the tiny hall, Mary closed the door to. ‘I want one to keep in the bedroom in case Tom ever takes off,’ she confided in a scared whisper. ‘I’m terrified of him giving me an unlucky belt and me losing the baby.’
‘He’s not up to his old tricks, is he?’
‘No,’ Mary lied, ‘but I don’t trust him.’
‘I don’t blame yer, I wouldn’t trust him either.’ Dot tilted her head; she couldn’t imagine Mary having the guts to protect herself. ‘Would yer really hit him with a poker?’
‘If it was to protect meself, yes I would. I’ve taken a lot off him since we’ve been married, but I’ll not let him harm the baby.’
‘Good for you, sunshine! I’m glad to see ye’re coming to yer senses. It’s not before time but better late than never. I’ll see if I can scrounge around for anything that looks like a poker. And if yer nerve fails yer at the last minute, Mary, yer can always use it to knock on our wall. I’d have no compunction about wrapping it around his neck.’
Mary gave a faint smile. ‘If I haven’t got the nerve to hit him, at least I could pluck up enough courage to hold him while you belt him.’
‘That’s the style, sunshine. You start getting tough and that should tame him.’ Dot put her hand on the door. ‘I’ll have to go, I’ve got an awful lot to do and only three hours to do it in. If I don’t see yer before, I’ll see yer over the wall in the morning. Ta-ra, Mary.’
‘Ta-ra, Dot, and thanks.’
Dot was running a comb through her hair when the knock came. She’d only been in the house fifteen minutes, just enough time to change into her one decent jumper and skirt. She could hear her son’s excited voice before she opened the door. ‘I don’t need to ask if you enjoyed yerself, sunshine. I think the whole street can hear yer.’
‘Ooh, ay, Mam, yer should have seen how many men were there! Must have been easy a couple of thousand. And they were all singing and shouting, ooh, it was the gear.’
John smiled as he stepped past Dot. ‘I’m afraid his calculations are way out. There were at least twenty-five thousand there.’
‘Did he behave himself?’
John put his trilby down on the sideboard. ‘It was a pleasure to have him with me. I can’t remember enjoying myself so much at a match. He was so keen and excited it rubbed off on me and my throat is sore from shouting.’
‘Ay, Mam, yer should hear the crowd roar when a goal’s scored! They must be able to hear it in London. It was magic, Mam, just magic.’
‘Who won?’
‘Liverpool, of course.’ Colin, who had never been to a match before, sounded as though he was an authority on the game. ‘They ran circles round the other team.’
‘And have you thanked Mr Kershaw for taking yer?’
‘Yeah, course I did. And he said he’ll take me again.’
Dot was about to protest when John beat her to it. ‘Now, Colin, that’s not quite what I said, is it? What I said was, if your mother had no objections I would take you.’
‘Me mam won’t have no objections, will yer, Mam?’
Dot’s mind was torn in two. She had to admit to herself that she was resentful of the way her son was getting close to John. Resentful and jealous. This was unfair to the man, she knew, because he’d shown them nothing but kindness. And to deny her son the chance of going to a football match now and again, like his friends did, would be making him suffer because of her personal feelings. ‘I’ll let you go if yer pay for yerself out of yer pocket money.’
‘Yeah, I’ll do that, Mam, I will!’ The boy smiled up at the big man. ‘Yer see, Mr Kershaw, I told yer it would be all right.’
John returned his smile. ‘That’s settled then. The next time Liverpool play at home you and I will be in there shouting as loud as the rest of them.’
‘Take yer coat off, John, and hang it up. There’s no charge.’
While he was doing so, John asked, ‘Did you get the border and paint while you were out?’
‘Yes, they’re in the kitchen. What with that lot, and me own shopping, me arms were nearly dropping off. That paint isn’t half heavy.’
‘Well, I did offer to get it for you, Doubting Dorothy, but you are too independent to take me up on the offer. I could have got it on my way home from work.’
‘Ay, Mam,’ Colin tugged at his mother’s arm, ‘Mr Kershaw’s a boss where he works. He is, ’cos he told me so.’
John closed his eyes briefly before saying, ‘I can see I’m going to have to be more selective on which of your questions I answer.’ He looked at Dot. ‘Colin makes it sound as though I’ve been bragging and I can assure you I haven’t. He just has a way of going around things until he gets what he wants without you realising it.’
‘Well, I knew yer must be a boss ’cos yer speak so posh.’ Colin wasn’t the least bit put out by John’s statement. ‘And I was right, yer see.’
Dot sighed. ‘Colin, it might be your birthday but that doesn’t mean I can’t give yer a clip around the ear. How many times do I have to tell yer not to ask people personal questions? Yer curiosity will land yer in trouble one of these days.’
‘There’s no harm been done, Dot, all children are curious.’ John raised his brows, his eyes asking her not to make an issue out of it. ‘What I didn’t tell Colin is that I’m only a very minor boss, not a big one of any importance.’
Dot grinned, sympathising with his embarrassment. ‘Big boss or little boss, yer’ll still be getting a cup with no handle.’
‘Am I entitled to a request?’
‘Well now, that depends upon what the request is.’
‘I would like to forego the saucer and have a cup with a handle.’
Dot wagged her head from side to side and tutted. ‘I don’t know, some folk are not half fussy, there’s no pleasing them.’ Talking about the state of her crockery reminded her of Mary. ‘Colin, slip down the yard and see if Mary’s left a plate on the ground. Then lock the entry door, there’s a good boy.’
‘Funny place to put a plate, isn’t it?’ John said, when Colin had left the room. ‘Why couldn’t she hand it to you?’
‘I was on me way out when Mary wanted to give it to me and I didn’t have time to come back in the house. Anyway, the plate was just an excuse – she’d been watching out for me.’ Dot searched his face for a few seconds before making up her mind. ‘I think she’s having trouble with Tom, although she said she’s not. It’s a long story and I can’t tell yer now because our Colin’s got big ears and as yer’ve already found out, he can’t keep anything to himself. But d’yer know if in that wash-house of yours, the one that seems to contain everything under the sun, yer don’t happen to have a spare poker in there, do yer?’
John looked surprised. ‘A poker?’
‘It’s for Mary. She asked me if I knew where she could get one cheap.’ Dot heard the kitchen doo
r close and put a finger to her lips to remind him not to say anything in front of her son. ‘The one she’s got is no good. It doesn’t matter if yer haven’t, it was just a thought.’
‘I have got one, as a matter of fact, and she’s more than welcome to it. Shall I go home now and pick it up?’
‘No, it’s not that urgent. Bring it with yer in the morning if yer will.’
‘What d’yer want Mr Kershaw to bring with him, Mam?’
‘Oh, ye’re there, are yer, nose fever? Well, it’s nothing that concerns you, so go and find yerself something to do. Entertain Mr Kershaw while I get things ready for tea.’
‘I’ll give you a hand,’ John said quickly. ‘You’ve worked hard today, so let me help. I’m pretty good at making sandwiches.’
‘I’ll take yer up on that,’ Dot said, to his surprise. ‘Me feet are practically talking to me ’cos I’ve been on them since half-six this morning. So if you’ll cut the bread and butter it, that would be a big help. I’ll clear the table and yer can do it in here because once you get in the kitchen there’s no room for anyone else.’
‘So my size is against me, too, is it?’
Dot looked him in the eyes for a couple of seconds before deciding he was pulling her leg. ‘Go on, yer big daft ha’porth, take yer jacket off and get stuck in.’
‘Mam, can I go up to Spud’s to tell him about the match?’ Colin couldn’t wait to boast about his afternoon of excitement. ‘Just for ten minutes.’
‘Make sure it is only ten minutes, d’yer hear? And don’t be showing off to Spud, ’cos his mam has to count every penny, same as meself.’
Colin was out of the door before she’d finished speaking, and Dot smiled at John. ‘You’ve started something now, Mr John Kershaw. He’ll pester the life out of yer and yer’ve only yerself to blame.’
‘I can take care of him, never fret.’ John removed his cufflinks and began to roll up his shirt-sleeves. ‘As a matter of fact, he was very well-behaved while we were out.’