by Joan Jonker
The only person in the room who didn’t find it amusing was Doreen, whose nose was wrinkled in disgust. Why did her mother have to make a show of herself like this? She wasn’t a bit funny, she looked ridiculous. ‘Shall we go in the kitchen where we can talk, Katy? Yer can’t hear yerself think with all this noise.’
Katy was enjoying herself and didn’t want to miss any of the fun, but she couldn’t help feeling sorry for her friend. Doreen didn’t seem to be able to let herself go and have a good time. ‘Me and Doreen are going in the kitchen for a few minutes, Billy,’ she told him, ‘but you don’t have to come. You stay here and enjoy yerself.’
Billy turned to her, his face red where he’d been wiping away the tears of laughter with the back of his hand. ‘Yer’ll miss all the fun out there.’
‘I know,’ Katy whispered, ‘but Doreen said it’s too noisy in here for her.’
‘Wouldn’t yer know she’d have something to complain about? She’s as miserable as a wet week, is Doreen Mason. She certainly doesn’t take after her mother, more’s the pity.’
‘You stay in here, then.’
‘Not likely, I’m coming with you.’ He put his arm across her shoulders and whispered in her ear, ‘We might as well give her the opportunity of boring us both to death.’ He looked back from the kitchen door and laughed at the antics of Betty, who was swaggering around the room with her thumbs hooked in an imaginary pair of braces, and singing, ‘My old man said follow the van,’ in a Cockney accent.
‘She doesn’t half liven the party up, she’s a real case.’
‘Oh, she’s a case all right,’ Doreen said, a sour expression on her face. ‘A head case.’
Billy groaned. He wouldn’t mind being in the kitchen and missing the fun if he was alone with Katy. He could claim his Christmas kiss then. But because of Misery-Guts, he was missing out on the fun in both rooms. ‘Personally, I think yer mam’s a cracker. It’s a pity ye’re not more like her.’
Katy stepped in to smooth things over. ‘Yer know Billy’s going away on Wednesday, don’t yer, Doreen? He’s going to Rotterdam.’
‘So yer won’t be seeing each other for a while, then?’ Doreen seemed to have cheered up at the news. ‘How long are yer away for, Billy?’
‘Only for a couple of weeks, three at the most. But me uncle said I might not get any leave this trip because he thinks the ship will be coming back empty and they’ll just load up again and sail the next day.’ He squeezed Katy’s shoulder. ‘He did say I’ll get a couple of hours off, though, just long enough to nip home and see me family and me girlfriend.’
‘I’ll keep Katy company while ye’re away,’ Doreen said. ‘Perhaps she’ll come to a dance with me one night, now. I’ve asked her loads of times, but she always says she’s seeing you. She won’t have that excuse now.’
‘Maybe not, but she’ll have another one. Yer see, I don’t want her to go dancing unless it’s me what takes her.’
‘Oh, fancy that now!’ Doreen pulled a face. ‘Are yer expecting her to stay in every night while you’re playing sailor boy?’
‘Excuse me, both of yer,’ Katy said hotly. ‘I don’t need either of yer to tell me what I can do or what I can’t do. I’m quite capable of thinking for meself and pleasing meself.’
‘D’yer see what yer’ve done now, Doreen Mason?’ Billy was livid. ‘Yer’d cause trouble in an empty bloody house, you would.’
‘Billy! There’s no need to use bad language,’ Katy said. ‘I’ve never heard yer swear before, in all the time I’ve known yer.’
‘Your mate would make a saint swear.’
John walked into the kitchen at that moment to pick up a bottle to replenish the drinks, and he could feel the tension in the air. One look at Billy’s face told him all was not well.
‘What have we here?’ he asked, his tone breezy. ‘A mothers’ meeting for fathers only?’
‘We’re going in now, Mr Kershaw.’ Katy was relieved at his timely appearance. ‘We were just talking about Billy going away.’
‘Yeah.’ Billy put on a bright smile. ‘Only two more nights to walk me girl home from work, then I’m off to sail the seven seas. D’yer think she’ll miss me, Mr Kershaw? D’yer think her heart might break?’
‘I’m sure she’ll miss you, Billy. As to her heart breaking, I don’t know about that. From what I’ve heard you’re only doing a couple of trips, so I think Katy’s heart will stand that.’ John picked up a bottle from the draining board. ‘Come in and join the party.’
Betty was urging each one of the guests to stand up and give a song, but was having no success. Then she had an idea. Punching the air, she said, ‘I’ve got it! Just the thing to liven you lot up. We’ll have a game of Pass the Parcel, and the one left holding the parcel has to stand up and give a turn. It doesn’t matter whether yer sing, dance, recite a poem or stand on yer bleedin’ heads.’
‘But we’ve got no music, Betty,’ Dot objected. ‘How will we know when to stop?’
‘Easy, peasy, girl.’ Betty tapped her forehead. ‘Use yer nous! One of us will stand in the kitchen and yell “stop” every so often. And the one left holding the parcel has to pay a forfeit. If they don’t, we’ll brand them on the forehead with the poker.’
That sounded good to Colin, who bounced up and down on the arm of John’s chair. ‘I’ll go in the kitchen, Auntie Betty. And I won’t peek, honest I won’t.’
‘That’s a good lad.’ Betty gave him one of her beaming smiles. ‘Now, while we get all the chairs in a circle, you go and wrap something up, there’s a good boy. But make sure it’s not something breakable, or yer mam will have me guts for garters.’
They made a circle of sorts, but there weren’t enough seats for everyone so Katy and Billy sat next to each other on the floor. And when they were all settled, Colin came in with a pan lid wrapped in newspaper. ‘It’s the best I can do, Auntie Betty, but the paper’s going to come off.’
‘Leave the paper off, then, and we’ll make do with the pan lid. And no cheating, mind, Colin, there’s no favourites in this game.’
Much to Billy’s delight, Doreen was the first one to be caught out. She flatly refused to make an exhibition of herself and sat with her face set, until she saw her mother reaching for the poker. That brought her to her feet to recite Old Mother Hubbard. And the enthusiastic clapping and cheering from the slightly inebriated audience put a seldom-seen smile on her face. She was allowed to sit out after that and the circle moved closer. Then came Paddy’s turn and he sang a song called Smiling Through, which Maggie made him stop after the first verse because it was a sad song and not at all suitable for a party.
Betty was the next to be caught out by Colin’s shout, and her song, Nellie Dean, had the whole room joining in. They enjoyed it so much, they sang it several times over, making the rafters ring. Then Mary was the recipient of the pan lid and she shook her head, partly with shyness and partly because she couldn’t think of anything to do. ‘It’ll have to be Jack and Jill, I’m afraid.’
‘On yer feet, girl,’ Betty shouted. ‘No one sits down at this party.’
Then there were only four left – Dot, John, Katy and Billy. The two youngsters had been whispering in each other’s ear, now they smiled broadly. ‘Me and Katy are going to sing together,’ Billy said, ‘when it’s our turn.’
‘Can I sing with yer?’ Dot asked, having taken a dislike to the pan lid she’d been using for the last twelve years. She’d never feel the same about that pan lid again.
‘And me.’ John had never sung in front of anyone in his life, or recited a poem, and the idea didn’t appeal one little bit. ‘You are not leaving me out.’
‘Bloody hell!’ Betty gave her husband a dig in the ribs that nearly knocked him off his chair. ‘What d’yer think of that, eh? We can’t say anything to them ’cos it’s their ruddy house! Just wait until next time I give a party, then I’ll pull rank on them.’
‘Seeing as yer’ve never given a party, my love, yer can’t have
a next time until yer’ve had the first one.’
‘Don’t change the subject, and don’t be so bleedin’ clever.’ Betty gave her husband a broad wink. ‘I suppose we’d better let them have their own way, eh? Otherwise they won’t invite us again.’
‘Right, let’s get it over with.’ Dot stood up. ‘What are we singing?’
‘Me and Katy will start it off ’cos it’s our signature tune. You and Mr Kershaw can join in when yer like.’ Billy pulled Katy into the middle of the room and put his arm across her shoulders. There was a look of pure bliss on his face when he asked, ‘Are yer ready?’
Betty interrupted the proceedings. ‘Hey, hold on a minute.’ She pointed to John, standing next to Dot, both with their arms hanging by their sides and a space between them. ‘You look like two stuffed dummies! Put yer arm around her, John, and put a bit of bleedin’ life into it, for heaven’s sake. Yer remind me of two strangers waiting at a bus stop!’
John laughed and put his arm around Dot’s waist. ‘Is that better, Mrs Mason?’
‘It sure is, kiddo. Now let’s be having yer, Billy.’
After a few nervous coughs, the young couple began. ‘Gee, but it’s great . . .’ ending with a resounding: ‘Walking my baby back home!’
The youngsters harmonised well together, their bodies swaying to the tune. And John squeezed Dot’s waist, saying, ‘Come on, my Delightful Dorothy, we can’t let the young ones beat us.’ So they joined in the lovely tune with gusto. The tune was too catchy for the others to just listen to, so soon everyone was singing at the top of their voices. And when Betty dragged Alec to his feet to dance, Maggie did the same with Paddy. Even Doreen joined in, singing and swaying. And Colin, not to be left out, ran to stand beside his mother, his young face aglow.
Mary was smiling and humming as she crept from the room to check on her daughter. She stood at the bottom of the stairs and when she heard a faint cry, she took the stairs two at a time. The baby had been very good, there hadn’t been a peep from her in three hours. But she was ready for a feed now, and letting it be known. ‘Come on, my lovely.’ Mary pulled the blanket back and swept the baby into her arms. ‘Yer’ve been a very good girl for yer mammy, haven’t yer? But yer must be hungry now, and yer need yer nappy changing.’ As she was talking, Mary was rocking from side to side and the crying stopped. ‘We’ll go down and yer can say good night to all yer aunties and uncles before we go home.’
The room fell silent when Mary entered, then there was a surge forward with everyone wanting a peek at the baby. ‘Sure, she’s been goodness itself, so she has,’ Maggie said, ‘sleeping through enough noise to waken the dead.’
When Dot noticed the tiny rosebud lips quiver, she pushed back those who were standing too close. ‘Move away, ye’re frightening the life out of the poor thing. We probably look like huge giants to her, and drunken ones, into the bargain.’
‘I’m sorry to break the party up, Dot, but I’ll have to take Trudy home,’ Mary said. ‘She’s hungry and very, very wet.’
‘Ye’re not breaking the party up, sunshine, they’re all getting thrown out now. It’s eleven o’clock and it’ll take me an hour to clear this mess up. I couldn’t bear to come down tomorrow morning to this lot.’ Dot smiled. ‘Especially that ruddy pan lid. I’ll be viewing it in a different light from now on.’
‘I’ll stay and give her a hand, girl,’ Betty offered. ‘We can’t go and leave it all to you.’
‘No, it’s all right, sunshine, we’ll manage. John and Billy can stay and help, so between us we’ll have it done in no time.’
‘We’ll go with Mary, then, me darlin’.’ Maggie gave Dot a knowing look. ‘Make sure she gets in all right.’
‘We may as well all go out together, seeing as we’re not wanted.’ Betty jerked her head at Colin. ‘Be a good lad and get our coats.’ She noticed Doreen sit back and cross her legs. ‘Don’t be making yerself comfortable, young lady, ye’re coming home with us. And don’t bother arguing because yer Auntie Dot’s had enough of us for one night.’
It was a happy, noisy group standing on the pavement saying their goodbyes and stating unanimously that it had been a terrific party. There was feeling of well-being and smiles of affection and happiness on their faces. They were not to know that in the very near future something would happen to turn those smiles to tears.
Dot was on her way out one Saturday morning when she found a letter lying on the hall floor addressed to Katy. She knew right away who it was from and hurried through to the kitchen where her daughter was getting washed. Billy had been away ten days and this was the first they’d heard from him. And for those ten days Katy had been very quiet, missing him badly. ‘This should put a smile on yer face, sunshine! I can’t stay to hear what he’s got to say, or I’ll be late for work. But I’ll call in the shop on me way home and yer can give me his news then.’ She grinned. ‘Yer needn’t tell me how many kisses he’s put on.’
‘As if I would.’ Katy dried her hands before taking the letter. ‘I hope it’s to say when he’ll be home.’ She waited until she heard the front door bang before ripping the envelope open. It was only a one-page letter telling her he was all right, but that he hadn’t yet got the hang of walking with the roll of the ship. The blokes he worked with were great and always telling jokes that were funny but not suitable for the ears of a lady.
The rest of the letter was what Katy wanted to hear. He missed her like mad and couldn’t wait to see her again. He wasn’t sure of the date the ship would be docking, but it couldn’t come fast enough for him. He’d let her know as soon as he found out. Was she missing him? She better had be or she’d have some explaining to do. Then he sent her lots of love and had put a line of kisses on the bottom which he said he’d trade for the real thing when he got home.
Katy read the letter through again before putting it back in the envelope. She would never have dreamed of telling him so, but she’d been praying he wouldn’t like going away to sea. He’d given no indication whether he liked it or not, so she’d have to wait until he came home to find out. She’d stayed in every night since he’d gone away, and life was pretty miserable. Doreen had tried to coax her to go dancing but she wouldn’t be talked into it. She’d seen Billy every day since she was twelve, that was three years, and she wasn’t interested in meeting anyone new, she was happy with what she had. Mind you, if he decided to make the sea his career, she’d soon have something to say. A couple of trips was one thing, a lifetime was another.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dot waved when she saw Betty standing on her step with her arms folded across her tummy. ‘What are yer standing there for? Yer’ll get yer death of cold.’
‘I don’t feel the cold, girl, that’s one good thing about being fat. But I wasn’t standing here for the good of me health, I’ve been watching out for yer. I’m feeling a bit fed-up with meself and need to have a good gab. Yer know I’m only happy when I’m pulling someone to pieces. Have yer got time for a cuppa? In your house, of course, ’cos these two lads of mine are noisy beggars, we’d have no privacy.’
‘Oh, come one, then! But I’ve got to do me shopping, so I’m afraid yer’ll have to talk quick to get all the gossip out in half an hour.’
Betty stuck her head around the living-room door and bawled, ‘I’m going to Dot’s for half an hour if anyone wants me.’ Then she banged the door after herself and swayed her way up to her friend’s. ‘Ye’re late today, I’ve been watching for ages.’
‘I called into the shop to see Katy.’ Dot stepped into the hall and stood aside for Betty to pass. ‘She had a letter from Billy this morning and I was dying to hear what the lad had to say.’
Betty settled herself on a dining chair and rested her chubby elbows on the table. ‘God, but ye’re not half a nosy beggar, Dot Baker. Fancy wanting to know what was in yer daughter’s love letter.’ Her cheeks moved upwards in a cheeky smile. ‘What did he have to say?’
Dot threw her bag on the couch before hanging
up her coat. ‘Not much from the sound of things. He didn’t say when he’d be home, but Katy seemed happy enough so he must have said something that pleased her.’ She glanced in the kitchen. ‘Have yer seen our Colin, by any chance? I want him to come to the shops with me to help carry the bags.’
‘He was playing out when Danny’s mam wanted a message running so Colin went with him. They’ve only gone to the Maypole in Hawthorne Road so they won’t be long. You go and put the kettle on, girl, or yer’ll be chasing me out before a get a chance to bring yer up-to-date with all the goings-on.’ Betty rubbed a finger round and round in the dimples in her elbows then swivelled her bottom so she was facing the kitchen. ‘Ay, girl, the queer feller next door passed me when I was standing at the door. He’s an evil bugger, that one. If looks could kill, I’d be a dead bleedin’ duck right now.’
Dot came to lean on the jamb of the door while she waited for the kettle to boil. ‘Mary doesn’t have much to say about him, these days, but I don’t think he knocks her around like he used to.’
‘If I was her I’d be making plans for the future, when the baby’s older. She wants to get out of that bleedin’ house and make a new life for herself.’ Betty jerked her head. ‘There’s the kettle boiling, girl.’
Dot brought the brown earthenware teapot back and plonked it in the middle of the table. ‘I may as well leave it here. Ye’re never satisfied with one cup of tea and it’ll save me getting up and down like a flippin’ yo-yo.’