by Joan Jonker
‘Don’t take any notice of me moaning, queen, it’s become second nature to me to moan on a Monday. I’m only happy when the place is heaving with people, and me and Sadie are kept on the go all day. I love all the hustle and bustle, lots of people around to have a laugh with. If my customers are happy, then I’m happy too!’
‘I’m more than happy, Mary Ann,’ Nellie said, ‘I’m over the bleeding moon! Just fancy finding two dresses what fit me. I can’t believe me luck.’
‘I asked Sadie how much we owe yer, Mary Ann,’ Molly told her, ‘but she wasn’t sure, and said to wait until you came. So what do we owe yer for each of the dresses? They’re all in very good condition, no tears in them and the material isn’t faded. In fact they’ve hardly had any wear.’ She opened her purse. ‘So, what’s the damage, sunshine?’
Mary Ann tapped a finger on her chin. ‘What d’yer think, Sadie? Would they be put on yer superior quality stall, or not?’
‘It’s up to you, Mary Ann,’ Sadie said. ‘All the stuff in that box is good quality and the dresses are well worth three bob each. But, as I said, it’s up to you.’
Molly waved a hand. ‘I’ll settle it for yer, shall I? These dresses are worth five bob each at the very least, and that’s what me and Nellie are more than prepared to pay. Isn’t that right, sunshine?’
Nellie was so happy, she would have agreed no matter what she was asked. ‘Cheap at half the price, girl, that’s what I say. Cheap at half the price.’
Molly smiled at Mary Ann and Sadie. ‘My mate has a queer way of putting things at times, but she means she thinks we’re getting a bargain at five bob.’ She opened her purse. ‘Here’s my five bob, and Nellie will give yer her ten bob.’
While Nellie was sorting her money out, Molly spoke to Sadie. ‘How’s the boyfriend, sunshine? Are yer still crazy about each other?’
Sadie’s eyes lit up at the mention of her darling Harry. ‘It wouldn’t be possible to love each other any more than we do. We are both so happy.’
‘Are yer still getting married this year?’
‘We may have to postpone it until next Easter. We both want a nice wedding with all the trimmings, but when we added up what it would cost, well, we would never have enough to marry this year. I’ve priced some wedding dresses, and they’re really expensive. Then there’s bridesmaids’ dresses for me two sisters, and suits for me two brothers. Me and Harry would rather wait and do the job properly, than skimp on things. I want to look nice for him, Molly, ’cos he’s been so good to me. No one will ever know how good he was when I lived next door to him. He was the only one in the street who ever spoke to me. Even defied his parents, who wanted him to have nothing to do with me because of me parents. I really love him to pieces, Molly, and I know I’m very lucky to have him.’
Having settled up with Nellie, Mary Ann joined in the conversation she’d been half listening to. ‘It cuts two ways, queen, because Harry is lucky to have someone as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. And he has told me more times than I can remember that he’s the luckiest man alive. Yer make a lovely couple, both kind, thoughtful and loving. And yer’ve looked after old Sarah and her husband as if they were yer own grandparents.’
‘Except in name, they are my grandparents, Mary Ann. They took me in when I had nowhere to go, and for the first time in me life I was living with people who respected me and in time came to love me. I’ll never be able to repay them for what they’ve done for me. As I will never be able to repay you, Mary Ann, for you were the one who took me under your wing and set me on the road to happiness.’ Sadie wiped away a tear of emotion. ‘And that is the end of today’s lesson, folks, so all put a smile back on yer faces.’
‘Whenever yer wedding is, sunshine, you make sure yer let me and Nellie know. It is one wedding we wouldn’t miss for all the world, isn’t it, Nellie?’
‘I’ve already got me wedding dress and hat, girl, and Molly will tell yer, I look like a million dollars in them.’
‘She’s not pulling yer leg,’ Molly told them. ‘Her daughter got married at Easter and Nellie was the best-dressed woman there. Except for the bride, no one could hold a candle to her.’
Nellie’s face was a joy to see. ‘I was, yer know. Everyone said how nice I looked.’
Molly knew if she didn’t stop it right now they’d be there for ages. ‘All right, sunshine, next time we come yer can tell them about the wedding. But right now we’ve got to make tracks.’
‘Don’t leave it so long next time,’ said Mary Ann, while Sadie nodded agreement.
‘Oh, we won’t, girl,’ Nellie said. ‘And I’m made up with me dresses. See yer soon.’
‘That goes for me too,’ Molly told them. ‘It’s been lovely seeing yer again. Next time we come we’ll be wearing our Sadie’s superior quality frocks. Ta-ra for now.’
Chapter Twenty
‘That looks nice on yer, love,’ Jack said as his wife did a twirl in her new dress. ‘And yer said yer got it for five bob?’
Molly grinned. ‘Me and Nellie went to the market and she got two smashing dresses that fit her fine. I just bought the one, ’cos I didn’t have much money on me. And they were only five bob each. Mind you, we’re well in with the stallholder and get the best of what’s going. When we got home, I told Nellie to skedaddle so I could wash mine and get it on the line. But as usual, she got round me and I ended up putting the three in the sink and washing them. I pegged them out on the line, and with the weather being so nice they were dry in half an hour, and I ended up ironing the three of them.’
Ruthie had been listening with interest. ‘Me Auntie Nellie can’t half get round you, Mam, she gets away with murder.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know, sunshine! I keep telling meself not to be so soft with her, but it always ends up with her getting her own way.’ Molly chuckled. ‘If yer want to know how really daft I am, wait until I tell yer this. I was ironing the dresses, with the sweat running off me, while she sat in her posh chair watching! She was drinking a cup of tea and eating my custard creams. And she even had the nerve to tell me I’d left a crease in one of her dresses and would I run the iron over it again!’
Jack thought that was hilarious. ‘Yer’ve got to hand it to her, love, she does have a certain way with her. I don’t think yer’ve ever refused her once, have yer?’
‘Oh, I must have done some time in the last twenty years. But when she puts on that innocent, little girl lost look, well, I can’t refuse her.’
‘I’m going to ask her how she does it,’ Ruthie said. ‘She gets away with far more than I do. I don’t get all me own way with yer.’
‘If yer’ve got any complaints, sunshine, then wait until I’ve got the dinner on the table and then yer can get them off yer chest. But saying that doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with everything yer want, so bear that in mind.’
Ruthie looked to her dad for sympathy. ‘See what I mean, Dad? I don’t stand a chance against Auntie Nellie.’
Molly came in from the kitchen carrying three dinner plates. ‘It’s bacon, egg and tomato, and I’ve done a round of fried bread each.’
‘Mam, if I give yer an innocent, butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-me-mouth look, would yer bring the HP sauce in with yer?’
‘Don’t push yer luck, sunshine, and remember, yer legs are younger than mine.’
Ruthie smiled as she stood up. ‘Okay, I’ll get the sauce. I’d better keep yer sweet ’cos I’ve got a favour to ask of yer.’
‘I thought there was something in the wind.’ Molly winked at her husband. ‘If her favour is to ask me to wash and iron three dresses for her, then I’m afraid she’s in for a let-down.’
Ruthie came from the kitchen carrying a bottle of HP sauce. ‘No, it’s not that, Mam. If it was, I’d ask Auntie Nellie to ask yer on my behalf. She’d have more luck than me.’ She put the sauce on the table and sat facing her mother. ‘Are yer in a good mood, Mam, seeing as yer’ve got a nice dress?’
Molly pick
ed up her knife and fork and used them to lift the egg on top of the round of fried bread. ‘Yeah, I’m feeling quite chuffed with meself. So fire away, sunshine, while I spread the soft yolk over the bread. Me mouth’s watering just looking at it.’
‘Can I invite me friends in again for a game of cards on Friday night? Bella’s mam said we could go there, but I’d rather be in me own house. So look at yer nice dress, Mam, and yer runny egg, and then find it in yer heart to say I can.’
Molly was thoughtful as she chewed on the piece of fried bread in her mouth, then she said, ‘I’ll agree on one condition.’
‘What’s that, Mam?’
‘That I can invite someone to join yer.’
‘Ah, ay, Mam, who is that?’
‘He’s the son of a friend of mine, and he’s a nice young lad. He works with Phil, so yer can ask him what he’s like. But I will tell yer he’s a smashing-looking lad.’
Ruthie’s feet stopped swinging and there was interest in her eyes. ‘How do you know him, and how old is he?’
‘Same age as you, sunshine. He left school the same time as you.’
Jack was showing interest now. ‘Do I know him?’
Molly wasn’t going to mention that the lad was the one they collected clothes for at Christmas. What Ruthie didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. ‘Yer’ve heard me mention Claire, the women me and Nellie see on a Friday? Well it’s her son, and Claire was only saying last week that he didn’t go out much. When he gets home from work every night he sits in to keep her company. I’ve told yer the story of how her husband died young, when Ken, the boy I’m talking about, was only ten. And his young sister was a baby at the time.’
‘I remember yer telling me now.’ Jack recalled seeing the boy when he came to pick up the clothes. ‘From what yer say, he’s a thoughtful lad. Not many kids would sit in every night to keep their mother company.’
‘It’s funny yer asking about having a game of cards here, Ruthie, ’cos on Friday Claire was saying how she wished he’d make some friends. She feels guilty ’cos he thinks she’ll be lonely if he leaves her on her own. So would yer like to invite him to come on Friday?’
‘How can I invite him if I don’t know him?’
‘Yer can pass an invitation to him through Phil, who, incidentally, thinks he’s a cracking lad. And apparently a real grafter at work.’
The young girl looked down at her plate. ‘Mam, yer know I’d sit in with yer every night if yer were lonely. I wouldn’t leave yer on yer own.’
‘I know yer would, sunshine, ye’re like yer two sisters in that respect. Jill and Doreen are very thoughtful, too! And Tommy, I mustn’t leave me lovely son out. Me and yer dad are well blessed with all our children.’
That brought a lump to Ruthie’s throat. She was too young to know the right words to tell her parents how much she loved them. For she did love them. And if her mam wanted her to invite a boy to come to the card party, then she would. ‘When I’ve finished me tea, shall I go over and see Phil? Or will you see him, ’cos I don’t even know the boy’s name.’
‘His name is Kenneth Thompson, and he likes to be called Ken. I’m going over to see the baby after, so I’ll ask Phil to pass the invitation on. I’m not saying he’ll come, ’cos he might be too shy but there’s no harm in asking. I hope he does come, for Claire would be made up if her son found some friends.’
‘I’ll come over with yer tonight,’ Jack said. ‘I haven’t seen the baby for a few days.’
‘Well, yer can please yerself, sunshine, but I’m going from Doreen’s up to Jill’s. I like to see me grandchildren every day. I’m not making fish of one and flesh of the other. And that means, my dearest heart, that the Echo will have to take second place tonight. Yer can read it when we get back; we won’t be late.’
‘Me and Bella are going for a walk in the park, Mam, with the weather being so nice. If the park-keeper isn’t around, we’ll sneak a go on the swings.’
‘Well mind yer don’t get locked in, sunshine, ’cos the keeper locks the gates when it starts going dusk. And I’d hate to think yer were locked in the park until it opens in the morning.’
‘Ooh ay, Mam, we’re not that daft. We could easy climb over the railings.’
While Molly’s jaw dropped in horror, Jack was equally concerned. ‘Don’t try that, love, whatever yer do. Those railings might look easy to climb, but believe me they’re not. If yer fell on one of the spikes yer could really hurt yerself.’
Molly found her voice. ‘Don’t you dare try to climb the railings! Yer could kill yerself! If yer did get stuck, and yer’d have to be pretty stupid to do so, then call someone walking past and tell them ye’re locked in and would they get help.’
Ruthie burst out laughing. ‘If you two could see yer faces, yer’d do no more good! Yer really fell for that, didn’t yer? I would no more try to climb those railings than fly. They’re over six feet high: me and Bella would never make it. We could perhaps manage to shin up a tree, but not those slippery railings.’
Jack scratched his head. ‘I really thought yer meant it, love, and I had visions of someone knocking on the door saying yer were impaled on one of the spikes.’
‘She’s another Nellie McDonough,’ Molly said. ‘As though I’m not tormented enough with one, I’ve got two to cope with.’
‘I wouldn’t mind being like Auntie Nellie.’ Ruthie had a piece of bread speared on a fork and ready to pop in her mouth. ‘I don’t mean I’d like to be fat like her, but I’d like to be as funny, and make people happy.’ A chuckle filled the air. ‘And I’d like to be able to talk people into doing things for me … such as ironing three dresses.’
‘Yer need to be clever to make people laugh, sunshine, and crafty. For instance, if Nellie was here now, she’d be looking at yer dad with her eyes screwed up. Then after a few seconds she’d ask, “Ay, lad, what does impaled mean?”’ Molly could see her mate in her mind. ‘And when yer told her that, for instance, it could be a spike going through yer leg, she’d look down at the floor, and under her breath she’d mutter, “Why the bleeding hell couldn’t he have just said that in the first place?”’
Ruthie chuckled. ‘Yer sounded just like her then. I hope when I’m older and I get married, I’ll have a next-door neighbour like her, and we can be friends.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, sunshine, but I have it on good authority that after Nellie was born, they broke the mould. If yer live to be a hundred, yer’ll never come across another one like her. The woman at the market, Mary Ann, she’s a very funny woman, with an answer for everything. But it’s Nellie’s face that gives her the final touch. She can pull that chubby face into every shape imaginable. And that’s what gives her the edge over everyone else.’
‘Nellie is at her funniest when she’s with you, love,’ Jack said. ‘You are just as funny, but yours is a dry humour. The pair of yer remind me of Laurel and Hardy. Laurel acts the goat and Hardy is the straight man.’
Molly pushed her chair back and jumped to her feet. Then she folded her arms, screwed up her eyes, and impersonated her mate. ‘Ay, listen here, lad, will yer just explain yerself? If ye’re saying that me and my mate are a couple of clowns, then I’ll bleeding clock yer one.’
Jack tried to sound contrite. ‘Now, would I say that about you and my wife? No, what I meant was, ye’re both good enough to be film stars. Yer should be earning a fortune.’
Molly didn’t have the chubby cheeks, the mountainous breasts or the huge tummy, but her actions were those of Nellie. She stood to attention, her shoulders squared, and her hands laced in front of her. ‘Ah, that’s nice of yer, lad. I keep telling my George that if ever a talent scout comes down this street, or into Tony’s butcher’s shop, and sees me and me mate in action, he’ll take us back to Hollywood with him. And he’ll do it right away, no messing around, in case someone else snaps us up.’
It was hard for Jack to keep a straight face with his wife standing over him. ‘And what does George
say when yer tell him that?’
‘Well, I’ve got to admit that my feller is a bit slow on the uptake.’ Molly heaved the imaginary bosom. ‘All he said was, I could go to Hollywood with the bloke, as long as I left his dinner ready in the oven for him.’
‘Ah, well, he can’t say fairer than that, can he?’
‘What! Well, you would say that, wouldn’t yer?’ The eyes were like slits now, and her teeth were grinding. ‘You bleeding men stick together like glue. Well, I’ll tell yer this, Jack Bennett, my feller lived to regret those words. For he was having a roast dinner at the time, and he said afterwards he didn’t remember eating it.’ Her head nodded knowingly. ‘Well, I told him he wouldn’t remember eating it because I’d hit him over the head with it! And to this day, if we’re having a roast dinner, he never opens his mouth till his plate’s empty.’
‘Brilliant, Mam,’ Ruthie said. ‘I wonder if I can get Bella to take Auntie Nellie off like that? We could do a turn when we have a party.’
‘Somehow I can’t see Bella being agreeable to that.’ Molly smiled inwardly at the idea. She was very fond of Bella, and happy that she was Ruthie’s friend. But by no stretch of the imagination could she see the shy, pretty girl standing in front of a group of people and either singing or telling jokes. ‘To take Auntie Nellie off, yer have to be able to use swear words, and neither Bella or her mam would be happy about that.’
Ruthie shrugged her shoulders. ‘Yeah, Auntie Mary would have a duck egg if she heard Bella swearing. Besides, it’s not very ladylike, is it?’
‘No, it isn’t, sunshine. My mate can get away with it, but most people can’t. And no decent lad would like a girlfriend who used bad language. He’d be afraid to take her home to meet his mother.’
‘I better watch meself then, hadn’t I?’ The girl pushed her long blond hair over her shoulder. ‘That’s when I have a boyfriend, I mean.’