by Joan Jonker
Maggie O’Connor passed at that moment on her way to Mass and she smiled from one to the other. ‘Top of the mornin’ to yer, me darling. And to you, John.’
‘Good morning, Maggie.’ Dot could feel herself blushing to the roots of her hair. How must it look, John calling at a quarter to nine in the morning? And Maggie must have heard her saying that the children were still in bed, which meant she’d be on her own with him. It was a good job it was Maggie and not one of the other neighbours, otherwise she’d be the talk of the wash-house.
But John looked quite unconcerned as he doffed his hat. ‘Good morning, Maggie. Off to church without Paddy, I see.’
‘Sure, doesn’t he enjoy a lie-in on a Sunday? And the man deserves it, so he does, for he works hard all week. But Paddy will not be missing Mass, he’ll go to the eleven o’clock one. It suits me, all right, because I go home to a cooked breakfast and while he’s at church I see to the dinner. We share things, me and Paddy, which is just as it should be in a marriage.’
Dot felt an explanation was necessary. ‘John’s been decorating me room, as yer know, Maggie, and he’s come early to try and finish it off today. It’ll be a load off his mind because he must be sick of the sight of us.’
‘Not for a minute would I believe that, me darlin’. Sure he’d have to be a hard man to please if he didn’t get on with you and the children.’
‘I get on very well with them, Maggie.’ There was a smile on John’s face as he gave a quick glance at Dot. ‘Unfortunately, Dot worries too much about nosy neighbours thinking she’s a loose woman.’
‘Well, if they’re talking about you, me darlin’, they’re leaving someone else alone. And wouldn’t it be a pity if they had nothing else to do? Anyway, I’d better be off or I’ll have to stand all the way through Mass and me corn is giving me gyp.’ With a smile and a wave, Maggie went on her way, her feet covering the ground quickly to make up for lost time.
Dot went into the living room, leaving John to close the door behind him. He entered the room to find her standing with her hands on her hips. ‘Why did yer have to go and say that about nosy neighbours thinking I’m a loose woman?’
‘Why? Isn’t that what you were thinking?’
Dot became flustered and lowered her eyes. ‘It doesn’t matter what I was thinking, yer had no right to say it.’
‘Actually there was no need for me to say it, it was written all over your face. And for the life of me I can’t think why. If you had something to hide I could understand it, but what is the harm in my coming to decorate your room? Only a very narrow-minded person would make something out of that.’
‘There’s quite a few narrow-minded people in this street, I can tell yer.’ Dot was beginning to feel a bit silly. She was making a mountain out of a molehill but was too stubborn to admit it. ‘All they’ve got to do all day is stand on the doorstep and gossip, and I don’t want to be the one they’re gossiping about.’
John tilted his head and raised his brows. ‘I’m going to take the advice of Billy’s father and agree with everything you say. You and I are up to no good and, while the children are asleep upstairs, I am going to have my wicked way with you. Is that dramatic enough for you?’
Dot was lost for words. He was right, why should she worry about a few nosy people who had nothing better to do than pull someone to pieces? And he mustn’t half think she was big-headed for even thinking he fancied her. ‘We’ll call it quits, shall we? Yer could have had the border up by now, if yer didn’t talk so much.’
John chuckled. ‘There’s never a dull moment with you, is there, Dot? Anyway, seeing as your temper seems to have calmed down, I think it’s safe to give you this.’ He handed her a long thin parcel wrapped in newspaper which he’d been holding down by his side. ‘It’s the poker you asked for and it’s for Mary, not for hitting me over the head with.’
As she ripped the wrapping away, Dot said, ‘Your head’s so hard I’d probably end up bending the blinkin’ thing.’ She crumpled the paper up and eyed the poker, which looked as though it had never been used. It was a strong one with an ornate brass handle. ‘Trust you,’ she said, smiling, ‘even yer ruddy poker’s posh.’
‘Can we be serious for a moment, Dot?’
Her face showed surprise. ‘Yeah, of course. What is it?’
‘I brought the poker because you asked me to, but I really don’t want you to give it to Mary. Defending yourself is one thing, but to hit someone over the head with such a lethal weapon is a different matter entirely. What if she struck him an unlucky blow and it killed him? That would be murder, Dot, and they hang people for murder.’
‘No, she wouldn’t hit him that hard, she’d just jab him with it.’
‘When you’re in a state of fear, your mind isn’t thinking straight. And I know that there must be times when Mary is so terrified she’d do anything to stop him from hurting her. Any woman would feel the same – it’s just a natural instinct to protect yourself. But it would only take one unlucky blow and she’d be in serious trouble.’
‘So she just sits there and lets him belt hell out of her? Is that what ye’re saying?’
‘That’s not what I’m saying at all and, if you viewed it with an open mind, you’d realise I’m not just talking through my hat.’ John ran his fingers through his fine sandy hair. ‘Let’s see if I can prove something to you. Pretend you and I are alone in this house and I’m the same type of man as Tom Campbell. If I made a grab for you to hurt you, or to make an attempt to force you into a sexual act, what would you do?’
Dot’s eyes were wide. ‘I’d belt the living daylights out of yer if yer even looked sideways at me.’
‘What would you belt me with?’
‘If a man was using force, I’d belt him with the nearest thing to hand.’
‘A poker, for instance?’
‘Yes, if it was the only thing to hand! I’d not let any man lay a hand on me if I didn’t want him to.’
John spread his hands in a gesture of resignation. ‘I’ve said what I think, I can’t do any more. But when you’ve calmed down I’d like you to think about what I said. If you want to take the responsibility then that’s your business, but I want nothing to do with it.’
Dot took a deep breath. This was ridiculous. He’d come to do some work for her and here they were, shouting at each other. ‘I’ve got her porridge on the stove now, I’d better see to it before it sticks to the bottom of the pan.’ She was very thoughtful as she spooned the porridge on to a plate. The more she went over what John had said, the more sense it made. If she hadn’t been so quick off the mark and so sure she knew best, she’d have listened to his reasoning instead of arguing the toss with him.
John laid his coat and trilby neatly on the couch before going into the kitchen to mix some paste for the border. ‘I’ll get started. It should only take me an hour to put the paper up and then I can start on the paintwork.’ When Dot didn’t answer he bent his head until their eyes were on a level. ‘Have you got a cob on with me? Aren’t we speaking?’
‘I’m surprised ye’re still here. I don’t know why yer bother putting up with me. I mean, it’s not as though yer’ve got to. I’m a rude, ungrateful, big-headed Mrs Know-it-all.’
‘I won’t argue with that.’
Dot grinned. ‘I don’t blame yer, ’cos I am a rude, big-headed know-it-all. But I’ve been thinking over what yer said and yer have a point. I wouldn’t want to see Mary being carted off to jail for that no-good so-and-so.’
‘I’m not suggesting she shouldn’t protect herself, far from it. But that poker is made from hard steel; one heavy blow on the head and it could kill. There must be other things she can use that might knock him out but not do any serious damage.’ John grinned now. ‘Like me giving him a good hiding. That should teach him a lesson and keep him quiet for a while.’
Dot sprinkled sugar over the plate of porridge. ‘I’ll give a knock on the wall then pass this over. The queer feller’s probably still in bed.
’
John laid a hand on her arm. ‘Just a minute, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say to Mary ever since that first night when I saw the state of her. I couldn’t bring myself to say it, being a complete stranger to her, and I haven’t had the nerve since. And I’m taking a chance now of you flying off the handle at me. Nevertheless, I think for Mary’s sake it’s worth the risk.’ He stared hard into Dot’s eyes. ‘Will you promise not to thump me one, or banish me from your house forever?’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, John, of course I won’t thump yer, or banish yer. But will yer hurry up or else this porridge will be stiff.’
‘There’s an easy way for Mary to stop her husband in his tracks when he starts his shenanigans. It won’t be possible in every situation, like when she’s in bed, but it will come in handy in most cases. All she has to do if he comes near her, and his intentions are unwelcome, is to bring her leg up hard and knee him between the legs, in his groin. That will double him up with pain and give Mary a chance to make for a place of safety.’
Dot was silent for so long John was beginning to doubt the wisdom of speaking his mind. Then a smile spread slowly across her face. ‘The bloody gear. He’s put her through enough pain over the years, it would do him good to have a taste of his own medicine.’
‘Will you tell her then? Not in front of me, of course, it would embarrass her.’
‘Oh, I’ll tell her all right – too true I will. First chance I get.’ Dot was grinning as she reached out to open the door. ‘Oh boy, wouldn’t I like to hold him while she did it.’
When she heard the neighbour’s kitchen door open, she called softly, ‘Mary, can yer talk?’
‘Yeah, he’s in bed, dead to the world. He only went up an hour ago, he’s been on the floor all night, too drunk to see the stairs, never mind climb them. He’d been sick all over the floor, I’ve just been clearing it up.’
Dot closed her eyes and shivered. Fancy having to live with an animal like that. ‘Come over here and have yer breakfast; it must stink in your place.’
‘It smells like a muck-midden, Dot, I’ve been retching for the last hour.’
‘Get over here and have a decent breakfast. Come on, no arguing.’
Mary gasped when she saw John. She looked a sight in her old dress and she hadn’t even run a comb through her hair. She’d had a struggle getting Tom up the stairs, he was still drunk and a dead weight, then she’d been ages cleaning up after him. She could smell the vomit under her nose and it was making her feel sick. ‘Dot, why didn’t yer tell me John was here? I haven’t even been washed yet, I’m not a fit sight for anyone to see.’
John ran a hand down the dungarees he was buttoning. ‘I’m in my working gear, Mary, I’m not exactly dressed up.’
‘And do I look as though I’m going to a ball?’ Dot cupped Mary’s elbow and led her into the living room. ‘Sit down and I’ll have me porridge with yer. We’ll just ignore John and let him get on with his work.’
While they were eating, with John in the kitchen mixing a paste, Dot brought up the matter of the poker. Keeping her voice low, she told her neighbour why she didn’t think it was a good idea. ‘It would only take one wrong blow, sunshine, and they’d be carting you away in a Black Maria.’
‘I hate him, Dot, and there’s been hundreds of times I’ve wished him dead, but I certainly wouldn’t kill him. Even if I had the guts, I wouldn’t.’
‘I know yer wouldn’t mean to, love, I’m not saying that. But if we could think of something a bit less dangerous than a poker, that would be better. And in the meantime there is a good way to put a halt to the queer feller’s gallop.’
The paste was ready but John stayed in the kitchen, leaning against the sink. He could hear the low murmur of voices and could pick up enough to tell him what the conversation was about. He didn’t want to walk in now and spoil everything. Dot was doing a good job and he took his hat off to her. She wasn’t making heavy weather of it, just saying what she would do if she were in Mary’s shoes. Then he heard her chair being scraped back over the lino as she said, ‘I’ll make us some toast now, eh, and a fresh pot of tea.’
When she went into the kitchen, John winked at her and gave her the thumbs up. ‘Nice work, D.D. Will it have any effect, d’you think?’
‘Only time will tell.’ Dot put the dirty plates in the sink before giving him a push. ‘Get a move on, before the kids get up.’
While the women sat at the table drinking tea and talking about things in general, John finished putting the border on the second wall. Using a clean dry cloth, he patted the paper, saying over his shoulder, ‘How does that look, D.D.?’
Dot turned her head and her face lit up. ‘Ooh, doesn’t it make a difference? It sets the wallpaper off lovely. Ah, yer’ve worked hard, John, come and sit down and have a cuppa.’
‘The room looks very nice,’ Mary said wistfully. ‘Mine looks like a dungeon.’
‘And have yer noticed that John doesn’t even have to stand on a ladder? It comes in handy to have long arms and legs, doesn’t it?’
‘You’d never have managed it on yer own, Dot, not the ceiling anyway. My mam does all her own papering but she wouldn’t attempt the ceiling, she leaves that for me dad.’
‘The next job is the back-kitchen. It looks worse than ever since this place was done. I should be able to do that on me own, it’s so small yer couldn’t even swing a cat around in it.’
Mary was more relaxed now, feeling more at home here than she ever did in her own house. She smiled at Dot. ‘Ask John to do it for yer. He could stand in the middle and do it all without moving a foot.’
‘No!’ Dot answered quickly. ‘I’ve got to learn how to decorate because the whole ruddy house wants doing. The bedrooms are an eyesore, dark and dismal, enough to give yer the willies or a flaming nightmare.’
John winked at Mary. ‘Will you manage the hall and stairs on your own, Dot? You need a ladder and a plank of wood to stand on to reach the top, and all the strips of paper are different lengths. It’s definitely a job for a man and I’m quite prepared to do it for you.’
‘I’ll have a bash meself, I’ve got to learn sometime.’ Dot tossed her head, sending her thick auburn hair swinging about her face. ‘D’yer want me to make yer some toast, John?’
‘I’ll have another cup of tea, please, but no toast. I had a good breakfast before I came out.’
Dot rolled her eyes. ‘He’s that bloody organised, this feller, he puts me to shame.’
‘It would take a better man than me to put you to shame, Mrs D.D.D.D.D. Baker.’
‘Oh Lord, what have I done now? What does all that stand for, or have yer suddenly developed a stutter?’
‘It stands for Doubting, Difficult, Determined and Delightful Dorothy.’
‘Get away with yer, yer daft nit.’ Dot cursed the blush she could feel creeping up from her neck. ‘I’m none of those things.’
‘You are all of those things – at different times, of course.’ John drained his cup and set it down on the saucer. Then he stared straight into her eyes and she could see a message there. She couldn’t fathom out what it was, but he was trying to tell her something. ‘I couldn’t help hearing you and Mary talking about a poker. If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, would you or Mary object?’
He waited until both women shook their heads, then went on: ‘I could have something made for you in work, Mary – something small and neat that you could keep under your pillow. It would serve the purpose if your husband started any shenanigans. It might cause a few bruises, even knock him out, but it wouldn’t kill him.’
‘Don’t put yerself to any trouble, John – I’ll get by. I feel as though I’m being a nuisance to everyone. At my age I should be able to take care of meself instead of expecting others to do it for me.’
‘Ye’re not a nuisance!’ Dot was quick to defend her neighbour. ‘It’s not your fault that yer’ve picked a bad husband.’
‘A bad husband, Dot?
If he was only bad I could put up with that. No, my husband is evil and wicked. He loves to torture me, as though he derives great pleasure from it. Sometimes he looks and acts like a madman, and that’s what terrifies me. He’s not normal – no normal man would do the things he does.’
‘Then start fighting back,’ Dot said. ‘Take John up on his offer and also remember what I’ve told yer to do. Give the bugger a taste of his own medicine.’
‘Give who a taste of their own medicine, Mam?’ Katy stood in the doorway, yawning and rubbing sleep from her eyes. ‘Who are yer talking about?’
‘Icky the fire-bobby, sunshine.’ Dot sprang to her feet. ‘Come and sit down and I’ll see to yer breakfast. Is Colin awake, d’yer know?’
‘I didn’t hear him, Mam, shall I go up to him?’
‘No, I’ll give him a shout when his breakfast’s ready. He should be going to Mass, we all should, but this decorating lark has upset our routine.’
‘I’ll get back, Dot,’ Mary said, giving Katy a hug as she sat down beside her. ‘I’d better peel some spuds in case my dearly beloved feels hungry when he finally sobers up.’ With the palms of her hands on the table she pushed herself from the chair. ‘I won’t forget what yer said, John, and I would appreciate one of those things yer mentioned, just in case.’
‘You’ll have it in a couple of days. I’ll drop it off here one night on my way home from work. Take care of yourself, Mary, and if things get out of hand don’t be afraid to shout out. You have plenty of friends who you can call on.’
‘Would yer like me to come with you?’ Dot asked, following Mary through to the kitchen. ‘In case he’s up?’
Mary shook her head. ‘He won’t be up, he couldn’t see straight when I took him to bed. With a bit of luck I won’t set eyes on him all day. If he doesn’t put in an appearance I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.’
Dot went back into the house and closed the kitchen door. John was pasting a piece of border on the draining board and he gave a sigh as he raised his brow. ‘There goes one very sad lady. I can’t understand why she doesn’t leave him and go back to her parents.’