One Rainy Day

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Yes, I’ll be glad to get out of here.’ Poppy wasn’t afraid of the man glaring at them across his desk, but she was disgusted and very angry. ‘We’ll go straight down to personnel, hand in our notice, and tell them that Mr John’s behaviour has upset us so much, we won’t be coming back to the office until tomorrow. They’ll have to put a temp in for the rest of the day.’ She took Jean’s elbow and led her out of the room. ‘Put the cover on your typewriter, Jean. We won’t be back today.’

  ‘Oh, Poppy, what have you done?’ Jean’s hands were shaking with nerves. ‘You can’t give your notice in – you haven’t got another job lined up. And it’s all my fault, too! You shouldn’t have got involved. I’d have put up with his insults; I’m used to them. But I’ve got to say I’ve never seen him in such a rage. He did frighten me.’

  ‘I wasn’t going to sit here and listen to him insulting you, and using foul language. I was so mad, I felt like thumping him.’

  ‘But you’ll be out of a job! And all because of me! Oh, dear, I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘Don’t get yourself in a dither, Jean; it’s not worth it. I’ll start looking for a job next week. I’ll have two weeks’ wages to draw next week, with my week in hand. That will keep me going, and my mam and David will help me out until I’m earning again. Peter said he could get me a job – he’s told me several times. But I’d rather be independent and find my own way. And don’t worry yourself to death, Jean, because I’m not sorry I’ll be leaving here next week. I couldn’t stand much more of Mr John.’

  ‘Perhaps Charlotte’s father knows of a vacancy. He’s bound to be in touch with a lot of firms.’

  ‘Don’t even think of it, Jean. That is definitely not going to happen. I’ll get a job off my own bat, not through a favour from a friend.’ Poppy handed Jean her coat from the stand, then reached for her own. ‘We’d better go down to personnel and get it over with. And don’t contradict me when I say we’re so upset by Mr John’s behaviour we don’t feel well enough to work the rest of the day. Let the word get back to his father, and perhaps whoever takes our place will be better treated than we’ve been.’

  ‘Are we going to the café for lunch?’ Jean asked. ‘I don’t want to go home too early, for Mother will want to know all the ins and outs, and if I told her she’d only get herself upset.’

  ‘Yeah, we can go for lunch. But I’ll go straight home after, ’cos I’m going dancing tonight, and I want to have a bath, iron a dress and wash my hair. And listen, Jean, don’t spoil your weekend by worrying. You’ve got something to look forward to, and next week will fly over. We’ll have no hassle from Mr John. I bet you he’ll be as good as gold. Two members of staff leaving because of his behaviour, he’s got more problems than we have.’

  ‘It’s you I’m worried about,’ Jean said. ‘I really feel bad about you giving your job up.’

  ‘If I’m not worried, I don’t see why you should be. I’m not sorry about what I did. The creep had it coming to him.’ Poppy didn’t want her friend to go home and spend the weekend fretting because of what happened, so she added, ‘I’ll be too busy enjoying myself tonight to give any thought to this place. And now let’s go and officially hand in our notice.’

  No arrangements had been made regarding time, but it just happened that Poppy and David arrived at the Grafton at the same time as Peter and Kate. ‘Great minds think alike,’ David said, nodding to Peter. ‘Good to see you again.’

  ‘Shall we go to the cloakroom, Kate, while the men are getting the tickets?’ Poppy asked, after returning Peter’s smile. ‘While we have a chance to get near the mirror before it gets crowded.’

  Kate nodded and linked Poppy’s arm. ‘I don’t know my way around here yet.’

  Pushing open the cloakroom door, Poppy said, ‘You’ll soon get used to it.’ She was combing her hair, and looking at Kate through the mirror. ‘Don’t think me cheeky or nosy, Kate, but how are you getting on with Peter?’

  ‘Well, he brought me here tonight, which is something. But I’ve got stiff competition from you, Poppy.’

  Poppy turned round, put her comb in her handbag and closed the clasp. ‘You are not in competition with me, Kate, so get that right out of your head. I’ve only known Peter a couple of months, while you’ve known him years. I have no plans to court anyone at present, so count me out. I am very fond of Peter. He is a lovely man, and I always want to be his friend. I also want him to be happy. He was in love with you for two years, and as this is a girl-to-girl talk, I’ll tell you what I really believe. If you take things slowly, give him time to get to know the real you again, then you’ll win in the end. But give him time.’

  ‘I will do whatever it takes to win him back, for I love him so much it hurts. Thank you for being straight with me. I appreciate your honesty. And I hope we can be friends.’

  ‘Of course we can. And now we’d better go, before the men come to look for us.’

  Peter seemed relaxed in David’s company, and when the girls approached them his smile wasn’t forced. ‘I’ve told Kate the first slow-fox is with you, babe.’

  Poppy tutted. ‘I’d promised it to David, ’cos he needs to brush up his dancing skills. He doesn’t come often enough, that’s his trouble. He prefers playing cards. Still, Kate can give him a few pointers.’

  While they were dancing they passed Kate and David, who were chatting in a friendly manner. ‘I like your Kate,’ Poppy said. ‘She’s very friendly, and easy to talk to.’

  ‘I’m getting to the stage where I bear her no ill will for the hurt she caused. And we’re talking. Not about getting back together, but talking. It’s a year since I walked away from her, and she said she hasn’t looked at another boy during that time.’

  ‘I believe that, Peter, because she really loves you. Perhaps you don’t appreciate it yet, but you will.’

  ‘How are you, babe? Finished night school, have you?’

  ‘Yes, no more lessons, but I’ve got to pick my reference up on Monday night.’ Poppy thought about telling him what had happened that morning, but decided against it. It wouldn’t help Kate if they were too friendly, because he would never walk away. Perhaps when things sorted themselves out, and he and Kate were back together for good, then she’d tell him.

  They swapped partners for every dance, until the waltz before the interval, when Poppy told Peter, ‘You have this with Kate. I want to have a word with David.’ This wasn’t a lie, for she hadn’t told her mother or brother that she’d handed her notice in. She had intended to wait until Sunday, when the family had a lazy day, but then decided she’d tell David tonight and get his reaction. After all, if she didn’t get another job for a while, she wouldn’t be able to contribute towards the housekeeping, and her brother and mother would have to keep her. She wouldn’t be entitled to unemployment money because of leaving Sutherland’s of her own free will. She’d manage for a couple of weeks on the two weeks’ wages she was entitled to, and the bit of money she had in her purse, but it wouldn’t last for ever. And anyway, she didn’t fancy the idea of being out of work.

  David was twirling his sister around, and because he seemed to be enjoying himself so much Poppy hadn’t found the right moment to tell him her news. And just when she thought the time was right, fate stepped in to take a hand.

  ‘Oh, my God, I don’t believe it!’ Poppy pulled David to a halt. ‘What on earth is she doing here?’

  David followed her eyes to where a girl was waving from the edge of the dance floor. ‘Who is she, Poppy? Do you know her?’

  ‘Yes, she’s a friend. At least, she’s only recently become a friend, but I’ll explain later. I’ll have to go over to her, so come with me.’

  ‘She’s very pretty,’ David said, as he was being pulled past the dancing couples. ‘Where have you been hiding her?’

  ‘She’s also very posh,’ Poppy told him, ‘so you can practise your grammar on her.’

  ‘Hello, Poppy.’ Charlotte had never been in a dance hall before; she
’d only been to dinner dances in classy hotels. The sight of so many couples filled her with excitement. ‘I know it’s a surprise, but aren’t you happy to see me?’

  ‘I’m always happy to see you, Charlotte, but I certainly didn’t expect to see you here.’ Poppy touched David’s arm. ‘This is my brother, David.’

  ‘I’m Charlotte, your sister’s friend.’ Charlotte shook David’s hand. ‘She’s told me all about you. And you really are as handsome as she said you were.’

  David was delighted, as well as interested. ‘Go on, tell me what else she said about me. There’s nothing I like better than flattery.’

  ‘Charlotte, now the introductions are over, and you’ve given my brother’s ego a boost, will you tell me what you’re doing here? You didn’t come on your own, I hope? Do your parents know you’re here?’

  Charlotte giggled. ‘So many questions, Poppy! I came because I heard you telling Jean you were coming tonight. I didn’t come on my own; I would never have found it. Andrew drove me here, and I had my father’s permission to come.’

  ‘Is Andrew picking you up to take you home?’ Poppy asked. ‘I wouldn’t be happy if I thought you were wandering around strange places on your own.’

  ‘Don’t worry so, Poppy. I’m not going to come to any harm. Andrew is taking me home, on Papa’s instruction.’

  ‘So your brother is coming back for you?’

  Charlotte giggled again. It was infectious, and David found himself warming to the pretty young girl. ‘He’s not coming back, Poppy, he’s waiting in the foyer for me.’

  ‘You mean Andrew intends to stand in the foyer until the dance is over? But that’s an hour! You can’t leave him out there on his own for an hour. It would be really mean to expect that of him.’ Poppy was torn. She looked for Peter and Kate, who were standing by the wall now the dance was over, and she waved before saying to her brother, ‘Will you tell Peter some friends have turned up and I won’t be away long. Then come into the foyer to meet Charlotte’s brother. We can’t leave the poor man out there on his own for an hour.’

  Charlotte was delighted with the turn of events, but she was careful not to overdo her pleasure, or Poppy would suspect she was up to something. ‘I did ask Andrew to come into the dance hall with me, Poppy, but he said he wouldn’t because you must be getting sick of the sight of our family.’

  David stood listening, fascinated by events. He wouldn’t have moved if Poppy hadn’t given him a dig. ‘David, go and tell Peter, then follow us to the foyer.’

  Pulling Charlotte by the hand, Poppy pushed open the door, and there she saw Andrew leaning back against the wall talking to Bill, the doorman. ‘Why are you staying out here? Surely you don’t want to stand in the one spot for an hour?’

  ‘I promised my father I’d drive Charlotte here and back, otherwise he wouldn’t have let her come.’

  ‘You and your father are spoiling Charlotte, letting her have her own way so much.’ Poppy smiled, causing Andrew’s heart to flutter. And when she went on talking, it was her face rather than her words that he soaked up. ‘Mind you, she does have a way with her that makes you give in, even against your better judgement. She’s wormed her way into my life, but I never expected to see her here. She always pops up unexpectedly, like a jack-in-the-box, but the Grafton is the last place I expected to see her.’

  David came up behind his sister, making her jump. ‘David, you gave me a fright, you silly beggar. Did you tell Peter some friends have turned up?’ She waited for his nod, and then introduced the two men. ‘David, this is Charlotte’s brother, Andrew.’

  After the pleasantries were over, David said, ‘Shall we go back in the hall now? The interval will be over soon.’

  Charlotte thought she’d been quiet long enough. She brought a blush to David’s face when she said, ‘Will you ask me for a dance when the music starts, David? I really am not a bad dancer, and I won’t stand on your feet.’

  Andrew gasped, ‘Really, Charlotte, that is very forward of you, and you should apologize. David may have a partner waiting for him and wondering where he is.’

  It was slowly dawning on David who the couple were. He remembered Poppy telling him and their mother that the bloke who knocked her over was very posh, as was his sister. And these two just fitted the bill. He was about to ask, nicely of course, if that was how they met, but his sister could see by his face how his mind was working, and jumped in to head him off.

  ‘No, David doesn’t have a partner waiting, and I’m sure he would very much like to dance with you, Charlotte. We have two friends in the hall, so I think we’ll join them. Will you come in and meet them, Andrew?’

  ‘No, I won’t intrude,’ Andrew said. ‘I really don’t mind waiting for Charlotte. I can always go for a walk to pass the time.’

  This wasn’t in his sister’s plan. ‘Oh, I couldn’t enjoy dancing if I knew you were walking up and down.’ Her hands went behind her back and she crossed her fingers. ‘I’ll come home with you, Andrew, if you don’t feel like dancing.’

  ‘A charmer, and now a blackmailer,’ Poppy said with a chuckle. ‘You are a girl of many talents, Charlotte. I think I could learn a lot from you, but not tonight. I came here because I love dancing, and I intend to do just that. So come in, Andrew, and join our friends. You’ll see plenty of pretty girls you can ask up.’ She jerked her head. ‘David, Charlotte, come on. The band is beginning to warm up.’

  There was just enough time for introductions before the band struck up with a slow foxtrot, and Peter reached for Poppy’s hand. ‘Come on, babe.’ He was leading her on to the dance floor when she turned her head and called, ‘Pair off, David.’

  ‘Let’s do as we’re told,’ David said. ‘Poppy will have my life if I’m still standing here next time she dances by. I’ll take Charlotte, Andrew, and you take Kate. And after the dance is over, we’ll compare notes on who won.’

  Kate was shy when Andrew asked her to dance, but she soon loosened up when they got on the floor. She was the more experienced dancer and found herself leading, rather than being led. But it wouldn’t have been noticed by other dancers, only by Andrew. ‘I’m sorry. I’m afraid I don’t dance often, and I’m quite stiff. We’ll leave the floor if you wish?’

  Kate thought what a nice polite man he was, and very attractive. ‘We will not leave the floor! Think what it would do to my reputation. You are a little stiff, Andrew, that’s all. Let yourself go and loosen up. It’s only a dance; they can’t put you in prison if you miss a step.’

  ‘I used to dance a lot when I went to university, but I haven’t done an awful lot since, just the odd one now and again. I’ll have to get out and about more.’ Andrew found Kate quite easy to talk to. ‘Is Peter your boyfriend, or am I being nosy? I don’t mean to be.’

  ‘He was my boyfriend for two years, but we split up a year ago. It was my fault. I did something I really should have known at the time was wrong.’

  This wasn’t what Andrew wanted to hear. ‘So is Poppy going out with him now?’

  ‘They’ve only known each other a few months, and Poppy tells me she has no intention of courting anyone yet. She’s nice, is Poppy, and she’s helping me win Peter back.’

  ‘Yes, she strikes me as being a really nice, fun-loving person. I don’t know her very well, though,’ Andrew admitted. ‘She is more a friend of my sister.’

  At that moment his sister was having the time of her life with David. Looking up into his eyes, she said, ‘We dance well together. Quite professional, don’t you think? I hope they play a tango. That is one dance I can’t master, so you can teach me.’

  David tried to look stern. ‘If you would stop making me laugh, then we might look more professional. Look, you’re pulling a funny face again. Will you stop it!’ But David was enjoying himself. Charlotte was a real charmer. Childish and funny one minute, the next showing she was able to hold her own with any dancer on the floor. And she could be serious when the mood suited her. Tonight, however, she was out to e
njoy herself on the dance floor, while remembering her reason for being there.

  The music came to an end, and David acted the gentleman and escorted Charlotte to where the other two couples were standing. Poppy was doing the most talking, with Kate helping out to cover the silence of the two men. Peter was eyeing Andrew up, wondering who he was and why he was there. But when David and Charlotte joined the group, the atmosphere changed completely. ‘Your brother said I dance very well, Poppy,’ Charlotte said, her eyes sparkling. ‘Actually, although I have no wish to embarrass him, he said he couldn’t remember ever having a better partner.’

  With all eyes on him, David chuckled. ‘You little fibber! I never said any such thing! How could I, when you were pulling such funny faces I couldn’t dance for laughing.’

  ‘I was pulling faces because you were tickling me.’ Charlotte was enjoying a freedom she’d never known before, and was making the most of it. ‘I hope you don’t tickle me when we’re doing the tango, for the steps are very intricate and I could lose my balance. It would be very unladylike if I were to fall flat on my face.’

  This brought laughter from the group, and broke the ice. ‘I hope you are not leading my brother astray,’ Poppy said. ‘He’s never been accused of tickling a dancing partner in the middle of a tango before.’

  For the first time in weeks, Peter was roaring with laughter, and Poppy and Kate raised their brows and hopes. ‘David,’ Peter said. ‘Are you not going to defend your reputation? You don’t want to be known as the tango tickler, do you?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Poppy said. ‘I think the tango tickler has a certain ring to it. If word got around, David would be much sought after, and have his own fan club.’

  David wagged a stiffened finger at Charlotte. ‘See what you’ve done now, you little mischief-maker? I’ll be the talk of the town.’

  Although Charlotte was laughing and playing the fool with David, she was keeping an eye on her brother. Andrew appeared to be relaxed and enjoying the banter, but if he didn’t push himself forward, and make the most of the opportunity of being in Poppy’s company, then the evening would be wasted and her hopes and plans in tatters. She started meeting his eyes, sending a message. But she had little hope of his responding, unless she did something to push him. She was in despair, until the band struck up with the strains of a foxtrot, and she moved nearer to Andrew, gave him a dig, and said, ‘If you don’t ask Poppy for this dance, I’ll never speak to you again.’