by Joan Jonker
‘Well she certainly doesn’t take after Jill, that’s for sure.’ Molly opened a drawer in the sideboard and brought out a white tablecloth. ‘And I have to say me and Jack have given in to Ruthie far more than we did with the two girls and Tommy. It’s with her being the youngest, I suppose, and the only one left at home.’
‘Tommy and Jill were the least trouble,’ Jack said. ‘Never answered us back or gave cheek. Nor did they ask for something they knew we couldn’t afford.’
Ruthie was digesting every word. ‘I don’t give yer cheek, Mam, do I? I’m not as quiet as our Jill, I know that, or as nice and gentle as she is. I love our Jill, but we can’t all be alike, can we, or it would be very dull.’
Molly was worrying about her sausages in the frying pan, and decided it was better to be thought rude than dish hard, burnt sausages to a man just come home from work. ‘I’ll leave yer for a minute to take the pan off the stove, but you carry on, Corker. I know yer were about to say something when I interrupted.’
‘That’s all right, Molly, me darlin’, you see to the dinner. I was going to say to yer, Ruthie, that Doreen has changed a lot since she was your age. And that’s because she met the man of her dreams. And one day, darlin’, you’ll meet a boy who yer’ll love enough to marry, and that’s when the three Bennett sisters will not only be the most beautiful girls in the street, but the most kind and caring.’ He chucked her under the chin. ‘And ye’re fourteen years, nine months and five days towards meeting that boy.’
Molly came in from the kitchen determined the dinner wasn’t going to be ruined. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt again, but it’s getting urgent now.’ She gave the tablecloth a shake before throwing it across the table. ‘When the sausages start to tell yer they’ll jump out of the frying pan if I don’t get a move on, then yer know it’s time to move.’
Corker’s guffaw ricocheted from wall to wall. ‘A nod is as good as a wink to a blind man, Molly, so I’ll love yer and leave yer. Sometime tomorrow I’ll let yer have the date, and a deposit to secure the room.’
Standing on tiptoe, Molly put her arms round his neck and kissed his cheek. ‘The size of me to be throwing a giant like you out. But it’s you or the sausages, and I’m afraid the sausages have won.’
‘Ay, Mam, don’t you be kissing strange men,’ Ruthie said, tutting like an old lady. ‘What will the neighbours say? Particularly Auntie Nellie, who’s peeping at yer through the window.’
Molly’s hand flew to her mouth, for it was the sort of trick her mate would pull. Then she saw Ruthie winking at her dad. ‘I fell for that, sunshine, hook, line and sinker. Yer really had me going there.’
‘Well, I’m on me way now, me darlin’, so I’ll tell Nellie I got a kiss from yer, but it was with the approval of yer husband.’
Molly could tell her daughter had something on her mind by the way she was wriggling on her chair. ‘What are you after, sunshine? The sooner yer come out with it, the sooner the poor chair will have a bit of peace.’
Ruthie tried to look innocent but wasn’t very good at it. ‘Nothing much, Mam, only I was wondering if your friend Mrs Thompson was being invited to the party?’
Well, the little minx, Molly was thinking. She couldn’t care less whether Claire is invited, it’s Ken she’s interested in. But let’s see if she blushes. ‘Don’t yer mean is Ken being invited? That’s what yer really want to know, isn’t it?’
Ruthie didn’t blush, she grinned. ‘It would be no good lying to yer, Mam, ’cos yer know me too well. Yeah, I was wondering if Ken would be invited.’
‘Why is that, love?’ Jack asked. ‘Yer hardly know the lad, and I don’t think Corker knows him from Adam. So why would yer think he’d be invited?’
It was Molly who answered. ‘Because Ken is the new heartthrob, love, just to bring yer up to date with yer daughter’s romances. Ken’s a novelty because he’s new on the scene, but eventually he’ll join the line of Gordon, Jeff, and Johnny. You have a very fickle daughter, Jack: she can’t make up her mind. Not like Bella, who’s a one-man woman. It’s always been Peter for her, and I believe her feelings are reciprocated.’
Jack laughed. ‘Ay, love, we’ll get back to our daughter’s friends in a minute. But before I forget that word, which I can’t get me tongue round, why don’t yer try it out on Nellie tomorrow? I’d love to see her face if yer came out with that mouthful.’
‘Well, first of all, love, I would have to wait for the opportunity to fit the word in. I mean it’s not one of yer everyday words, is it? But I’ll tell yer what would happen if I did use it on her. She would hang her head, giving herself time to think if she’d ever heard it before and what it meant. But she wouldn’t give up and ask. She’d wait until the time was right, then try in a roundabout way to get it out of me. When that didn’t work, she’d ask me why I didn’t talk like what everybody else did? Then she’d tell me to throw the bleeding dictionary away ’cos she was fed up having a mate what talked in a foreign language.’
‘Auntie Nellie’s not the only stupid one, Mam,’ Ruthie admitted. ‘I haven’t a clue what yer meant when yer were talking about Bella and Peter.’
‘Oh dear, oh dear! I’ve always said yer were another Nellie McDonough in the making. But you’ve not long left school, and yer had a good report from the headmistress, so yer should know what reciprocate means.’
The girl’s eyes were dancing with mischief. ‘Oh, I know what reciprocate means, Mam. It was what yer meant by Bella being a one-man woman.’
‘Ay, ay,’ Jack said, ‘before we get away from the subject, can yer tell me about these boys yer have lined up? We’ve told yer, ye’re far too young to be having boyfriends, even though they are all decent boys and come from good families. Except Ken, of course, who we know very little about.’
Before Jack could bat an eye, Ruthie had pushed her chair back, picked up her plate with her knife and fork, and disappeared into the kitchen. ‘Mam, will yer tell me dad about Ken, and how he does come from a good family?’ She raised her voice so they could hear over the sound of running water. ‘And will yer also remind him that you were only my age when he first set eyes on yer? I do like Gordon, Johnny, Jeff and Ken, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to marry them.’
‘Seeing as ye’re shouting loud enough for the neighbours to hear yer, I don’t think I need to repeat it to yer dad. And, seeing as he’s got a grin on his face, I think it’s safe for yer to come back in here now.’
‘Is the coast clear, then?’
‘Yes, sunshine, I think yer can say the coast is clear. There may be a small dark cloud hovering over the Pier Head, but I’m sure you can chase it away, and satisfy your worried father, by answering just one simple question.’
‘Don’t ask me a question on history, Dad, ’cos that was my worst subject.’
Molly was shaking her head and mouthing, ‘Tell her it’s not history.’
‘No, sweetheart, it’s not history.’
‘I’m not very good on geography, either, Dad.’ There was a hint of laughter in Ruthie’s voice. ‘That was my second worst subject.’
Once again Molly was shaking her head, but she didn’t need words this time. Jack called, ‘No, it’s not geography either, love.’
A beaming Ruthie came in from the kitchen. ‘In that case, I’m on safe ground, ’cos I was near top of the class in all the other subjects.’
Molly waved her daughter to a chair. ‘I’m going to ask yer the question, sunshine, but I’m only doing it for yer dad. Say, just for instance, Gordon or Ken asked yer to go to the pictures with them one night, what would yer do?’
‘Well, I’d ask you and Auntie Mary if we could go first.’
‘But Bella hasn’t been asked, only you. Would yer go?’
‘Yer mean leave Bella on her own, while I go out with one of the boys?’
‘That’s right, sunshine.’
Ruthie huffed. ‘That’s a daft question, isn’t it? I wouldn’t go, of course, ’cos I wouldn’t leave Bella. She
’s me best friend. I wouldn’t let her down for some lad.’
Molly smiled. ‘I know that, sunshine, and I think yer’ve put yer dad’s mind at rest now. Yer see, all fathers worry about their children, especially girls. And I think all these boys hanging around frighten him a bit. Like they would any loving parent. He is no different to my ma and da when I was your age.’
Ruthie went and put her arms round Jack’s neck. ‘Yer don’t have to worry about me, Dad. I’m not daft, even though I sometimes act it. But me and Bella go everywhere together. She comes before any of the lads.’ She chuckled into his ear. ‘It won’t always be like that, though, Dad, ’cos this time next year I’ll be fifteen years, nine months and five days towards being sixteen. That’s the age me mam was when yer first took her out. After being looked over by me grandma and granda, of course. Me and Bella will always be best mates, but I think we’ll be old enough to go to the pictures, or a dance, on our own with a boy. What d’yer think me chances are of that happening, Dad?’
He stroked the slim firm arms of his youngest child. ‘I think yer’d be in with a good chance, as long as me and yer mam can sit in the row behind yer at the pictures. Anyway, I’ll have a year to think about that, love. And when you are ready to go steady with a boy, I only hope that, like yer two sisters and yer brother, it’s someone we’ll be happy to welcome into the family.’
She took her arms away so she could look him in the face. ‘Dad, I’ll make sure he’s someone who will fit in. Someone who will have my family’s approval, me Auntie Nellie’s, and Uncle Corker’s. I could go on, of course, and say he’ll have to be someone who me grandma and granda approve of, as well! Blimey, if he has to walk the plank, he’ll chuck me before we get any further than Auntie Nellie’s. Unless he’s a superman, like, who’ll fight everyone who gets in his way.’
‘He’ll have to be all things to all men, eh, sunshine?’ Molly remembered how she had to go through a grilling when she told her parents about Jack. ‘But when the time comes, yer won’t need a lecture from us, yer’ll know right away he’s the man for you. It might be a complete stranger, or it might be a lad yer’ve known all yer life. Only time will tell, sunshine.’
‘Yeah, and time is telling me now to swill me face and then go and tell Bella the good news about the party.’ Ruthie’s shoulders began to shake with hidden laughter. ‘If I happen to bump into a nice lad when I’m crossing the cobbles to get to Bella’s, I’ll take him with me to me friend’s, then bring him back here for your inspection.’
‘D’yer know,’ Molly said, ‘we don’t know the lad yet, but already I’m feeling sorry for the poor blighter. There’s about thirty of us altogether, families and friends, and that’s an awful lot of people to please.’
Ruthie was rinsing her face when she had a thought. ‘Ay, Dad,’ she called. ‘D’yer know that apprentice what works with you? Well, what’s he like?’
Jack’s cheeks lifted as he gave his wife a broad wink. ‘Well, now there’s a lad I’d welcome into the family. A really nice lad, and handsome with it. Tall, broad, and hair the colour of spun gold.’
Ruthie stood in the kitchen doorway, her eyes wide. ‘Go ’way! Is he really as handsome as that?’
‘That would depend upon yer taste, love. He’s a smashing lad, and a cracking worker. The only drawback I could see would be if yer didn’t like bright red hair, and a face forever sprouting pimples. Then he wouldn’t be the one for you.’
Ruthie shook her head and clicked her tongue. ‘I might have known yer were pulling me leg. He sounded too good to be true.’
‘How many arrows do yer want for yer bow, sunshine?’ Molly asked. ‘Aren’t the present four enough for yer.’
‘It doesn’t hurt to have someone waiting in the wings, Mam. After all, what’s to say Gordon, Johnny or Jeff won’t suddenly sprout pimples?’
‘As I said before, ye’re another Nellie McDonough, got an answer for everything. Now get yerself out of the kitchen so I can wash up. I want to call to Doreen’s and Jill’s to see the babies, ’cos I’ve promised Nellie she can come with me tonight to me ma’s.’
‘Then yer wouldn’t mind if I went for a pint with Corker, would yer, love?’ Jack asked. ‘It would only be the one pint. I think Derek is coming down, so if yer say yer don’t mind, then I’ll let George know.’
‘It’s your money, sunshine, yer can do what yer like with it. But I don’t want yer to turn into one of these men who spend every night propping the bar up.’
‘We don’t prop the bar up, love, we sit at a table in the snug. Yer should come with us now and again, then yer could see for yerself.’
Not wanting to be a misery-guts, Molly said, ‘I will one of these nights, love. But one night through the week, when it’s quiet. Not on a Saturday. And now will yer move over to yer chair and have yer ciggy, while I clear away. Ruthie, you can skedaddle out from under me feet, and before yer go to Bella’s knock on yer Auntie Nellie’s door and tell her to pass a message on to Uncle George that yer dad and his mates are going for a pint.’
‘You’re looking very glamorous, sunshine,’ Molly said when she opened the door to Nellie. ‘Have yer been to the hairdresser’s and had yer hair set?’
‘Our Lily called in with Archie, on their way into town, and she said I looked a right mess.’ Nellie pulled herself up the two steps. ‘So she got the curling tongs out and curled me hair for me. It won’t stay like this for long, ’cos yer know what lousy hair I’ve got. The first sign of any wind and it’ll be dead straight again.’ She smiled at Jack. ‘All right there, lad?’
‘I’m fine, Nellie. Did Ruthie call with the message about George coming for a pint?’
Nellie started to nod, then realised it was something she shouldn’t do if she wanted the curls to stay in. ‘Yeah. That’s why I came a bit early, so I could tell yer he’d be ready for yer about half seven.’
‘I’m glad ye’re early, Nellie,’ Molly told her. ‘I haven’t been to see the girls yet, so we’ll have to call in before we go to me ma’s.’
‘Yer haven’t been to the girls yet?’ Nellie wondered if shaking her head was also bad for her curls, so she didn’t take the chance. ‘What the hell have yer been doing with yerself all afternoon, then?’ Then came that crafty smile. ‘Oh, I see. You and Jack took advantage of having the house to yerselves, did yer?’
Molly pretended she didn’t hear. ‘Apart from having yer hair curled, Nellie, what have yer been doing all afternoon?’
‘Not having as good a time as you, girl. Before our Lily came George told me he couldn’t climb the stairs ’cos he had a splitting headache. And when her and Archie left, I couldn’t go to bed because of me hair.’ She winked knowingly at Jack. ‘Life can be a bugger sometimes, can’t it, lad?’
Jack egged her on, even though he knew he’d get daggers off Molly. ‘I can’t moan, Nellie. I’ve had quite a pleasant afternoon.’
Clicking her tongue, Nellie jerked her head back. ‘I knew I’d done the wrong thing. I should have said sod me hair, given George two aspirin for his headache, then dragged him up the ruddy stairs.’
Molly glared at Jack. ‘See what yer’ve started now? She’ll repeat that tale in our Doreen’s, then Jill’s, and worse still, in me ma’s.’
‘No, I won’t, girl, scout’s honour.’ Nellie made a vague cross over her bosom. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die. I wouldn’t play a dirty trick on yer, not when I’ll be getting tea and biscuits in three houses.’
‘Yer couldn’t drink three lots of tea, surely?’ Jack looked surprised. ‘Will it be one cup in each house, or more?’
‘Don’t you be getting jealous, Jack Bennett.’ Nellie wagged a chubby finger. ‘When you were enjoying yerself this afternoon, I had to suffer getting me scalp burnt. Yer can’t win ’em all, yer know, so don’t be greedy.’ Then she relented. ‘Still, seeing as ye’re married to me best mate, I’ll drink a toast to yer with the first cup of tea I have in each house. Now I can’t say fairer than that, can I?’
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‘Agree with her, Jack, for God’s sake, otherwise it’ll be after midnight by the time we get to me ma’s.’
‘No, Nellie, yer can’t say fairer than that.’ Then Jack decided to add, ‘Well, yer could go as far as including the first custard cream, as well.’
‘It’s a deal, lad! I must say it’s been good doing business with yer.’ Then the crafty look appeared. ‘But on second thoughts, I did yer a favour by not coming this afternoon and spoiling yer fun. So we’ll call it even, shall we?’
‘Out yer go, sunshine,’ Molly said, taking the key from the bowl on the sideboard and dropping it into her pocket. ‘And remember, if yer misbehave yerself when we’re out, I’ll disown yer.’
That was food for thought, and Nellie’s brain ticked away. Then she said, ‘Seeing as yer don’t own me, girl, how can yer disown me?’
‘One word out of place, sunshine, and yer’ll soon find out. Now, on yer way before those curls drop out.’
Nellie let Molly walk ahead of her, so she could have a quick word with Jack. ‘Why didn’t yer marry someone like me, lad, who would treat yer proper? How come a nice bloke like you fell for a misery-guts like yer wife?’
‘Well, there were a few reasons, really, Nellie. Yer see, she was very pretty, had a wonderful figure and her kisses blew me head off.’
‘I thought it must have been something like that, ’cos if yer’d known before yer married her what a sourpuss she was, yer’d never have tied the knot, would yer?’
Nellie didn’t get to hear his answer, for Molly had come back in the house, and had grabbed her by the back of her neck. ‘Nellie McDonough, I might be a sourpuss, but I’m a sourpuss who likes to be on time and doesn’t let people down.’ With that, the little woman was dragged unceremoniously through the front door, all the time threatening what she’d do to her best mate when they got to the other side of the street. Some of the words she used were not very ladylike, and definitely not fit for the ears of the faint-hearted.