by Joan Jonker
Derek laughed, and both mother and son were reminded of the time, many years ago, when the sound of a man’s laughter was often heard in this room. ‘The name is Mattocks, son, but I would prefer yer to call me Derek. It won’t make me feel so old.’
Ken made haste to the kitchen, and they could hear the sound of crockery. ‘I bet he’s a good son, Claire?’
She nodded. ‘They don’t come any better. Since his dad died, he’s been my shoulder to cry on, my man of the house. I sometimes wonder if I’m making him old beyond his years. I have never asked him to be anything but my son, a young lad, but I can’t stop him from doing what he wants to do, and that is to care for me and Amy. I know he still misses his dad, misses being taken to see Liverpool playing, and most of all, having a man in the house. I’ve noticed a difference in him since he started work, though. He seems to have suddenly become a grown-up. And I’m trying to get him to mix with lads his own age, instead of spending his spare time with me and Amy.’ She let out a sigh. ‘Anyway, I don’t want to bore you with my life story, so what was the message Molly asked yer to pass on?’
‘I don’t know why she wants to see yer, but she asked if yer could call there tomorrow night. She has some news for yer.’ He chortled. ‘Oh, and would you call around half seven, please, to give her time to get the dinner over and tidy up.’
‘That sounds just like her. Have yer ever been in her company when Nellie is with her? If not, yer don’t know what ye’re missing. I haven’t been friends with them for very long, but they have certainly added something to my life. And laughter and friendship come top of the list.’
‘Tea’s up!’ Ken came through carrying a wooden tray set with cups, saucers and a brown teapot. ‘Are yer sitting at the table, Mam, or will yer have it where yer are?’
‘We’ll have it where we are, love, it’s more comfortable than the wooden chairs. Not that Derek will think the couch comfortable, ’cos he’s sitting on the side where the spring has come through. I suggest we change places, Derek, and you have this fireside chair. It’s as old as the hills, but it is comfortable. I’ll sit on the couch. I’m quite good at dodging that ruddy spring.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of changing places,’ Derek said, humour bubbling up inside him. ‘I’m blowed if I’ll let a ruddy spring get the better of me. You stay where you are, Claire, and Ken can join me on the couch.’
‘We don’t want to spoil the day for you,’ Claire told him. ‘I bet yer were looking forward to going on the ferry, having the sea under yer feet again. So when yer’ve finished your tea, don’t feel obliged to stay. It’s too nice a day to waste.’
‘Aren’t yer going to miss going to sea?’ Ken asked. ‘It must be great going to all the different countries in the world. How did yer manage to speak to people who couldn’t speak English?’
‘No matter where yer go in the world, Ken, yer can always make yerself understood. If yer can’t speak the language, yer use sign language. Yer might look daft, but sometimes it’s the only way of communicating. Me and Corker have seen some sights, believe me, and we’ve had some laughs.’
Claire could see the eagerness on her son’s face as he asked, ‘Which country in the whole world would yer like to live in?’
‘There are some really beautiful countries, breathtakingly beautiful, but at the end of the day, there is no place like home. And while I’ve enjoyed my time at sea, and happy I’ve had the experience of seeing those countries and the way of life of the people who live there, I’ve got it out of my system now, and I’ll be happy to settle in dear old England, with all me memories.’
‘I’d like to see the world,’ Ken said. ‘But I think I’d be homesick. And I’d probably be seasick as soon as the boat started to sail.’
‘Why, do yer get seasick when yer go on a boat?’
The lad shrugged his shoulders. ‘I dunno, I’ve never been on one.’
‘Not even a ferry boat?’
Again Ken shrugged his shoulders. ‘I think me dad took me when I was young, but I don’t really remember.’
‘You were only a toddler, son,’ Claire said, ‘so yer won’t remember.’
Derek leaned over to put his cup and saucer on the table. ‘In that case, why don’t yer come with me? Come on the ferry across to Seacombe, and see if yer have got sea legs.’
Ken’s eyes lit up. ‘Ooh, ay, yeah! Mam, did yer hear that? Would yer be all right if I went with Derek?’
‘I would be perfectly all right, son. I’m more than capable of looking after meself. But I feel Derek would be better to go on his own. When he gets down to the Pier Head, he might change his mind about what he wants to do. Leave it for another day and I’ll take you and Amy for a trip on the ferry.’
Derek saw the eagerness fall from the lad’s face. ‘I would love some company, Claire, I really would. Save me talking to meself and getting strange looks from people. And where is Amy, by the way? I could take her as well.’
‘One of the neighbours was taking her family to Seaforth sands, and she kindly offered to take Amy. I’m not expecting her home until six, at the earliest.’
‘I’ll stay with yer, Mam, save yer being on yer own.’ There was a trace of sadness on Ken’s face when he said, ‘Thanks, Derek. It was nice of yer to ask me, but I’ll stay here and keep me mam company.’
‘Both of yer stay indoors on a day like this? What a waste that would be!’ Derek suddenly opened his eyes wide, then looked from one to the other with a grin on his face. ‘Don’t laugh, but that ruddy spring has finally got me where it hurts. I think I upset it by not inviting it to come with us.’ He moved his bottom and groaned. ‘Oh dear, oh dear! Have yer ever seen anyone getting on the tram with a couch under his arm?’
Claire’s imagination took over, and she burst out laughing. ‘It seats three people, so yer’d have to fork out for three tickets, plus yer own.’
‘Not if you and me sat on it, Mam.’ Ken’s voice hadn’t broken properly yet, and it ranged from a high squeak to a deep bass. Normally he was embarrassed when the squeak came out, but today he didn’t care because his mother was laughing and looked happy and relaxed. ‘I’d only be half price on the tram, and the ferry, though, so that would knock the cost down a bit.’
‘Yer forget I’m not going with yer, love, so it would be you and Derek carrying that ruddy big couch between yer.’
‘If you don’t come, then Ken won’t come.’ Derek tilted his head. ‘Which means me being all on me lonesome.’
‘But that’s what yer were planning when yer left home,’ Claire reminded him. ‘Yer only called here to leave a message.’ She chuckled. ‘I’m blowed if I remember what the message was now.’
‘Tomorrow night, seven thirty, at Molly’s. Oh, and she said to bring Ken and Amy with yer, for the walk.’
‘Oh, right! I’ll remember that.’ Claire noticed Ken was looking a bit down in the mouth. It wasn’t often he had the chance of going anywhere, and she began to feel guilty. ‘Look, son, you go with Derek. It will do yer good, and you’d enjoy it.’
But Ken wasn’t feeling down in the mouth, he only wanted to look it. And he was keeping his fingers crossed in the hope his wishes came true. ‘No, I’ll stay in with you, Mam. I don’t mind. I can go on the ferry another time.’
Claire knew she was being blackmailed, but she couldn’t say this in front of Derek and embarrass her son. She said, ‘Okay, you win. But I’ve got to be back in time for Amy coming home.’
‘It’s only half past two, Claire,’ Derek said, ‘there’s plenty of time. But I really don’t want yer to come against your will, and have you cursing me under yer breath.’
‘Me mam doesn’t curse, Derek,’ Ken said, grinning because he was happy. ‘She stamps her foot and goes red in the face.’
‘Ooh.’ Derek lifted his arm and pretended to cower in fear. ‘She doesn’t get violent, does she, by any chance?’
Resigning herself to having been talked into it, Claire left her chair and took a comb from a drawer in the sidebo
ard and ran it through her thick black hair. ‘I do lose me rag sometimes, but I give out a warning first. Me eyes go red.’
‘Oh, I see. Well, I’ll keep watch, and if yer start ranting, I’ll walk on and pretend I’ve never seen yer in me life before.’
Claire looked down at herself. ‘Do I need to get changed? I wasn’t expecting visitors, never mind going out.’
Derek would have liked to say that with such a beautiful face, few people would notice what she was wearing. But she wouldn’t appreciate such a compliment from a man she hardly knew. ‘I’m not exactly dressed in the height of fashion meself, Claire, so don’t worry. Anyway, folk don’t put their glad rags on to go on a ferry trip.’
Claire felt a little better then, for she didn’t have any glad rags to change in to. She only possessed two almost decent dresses, the one she was wearing, and one in the wash. ‘Before we start off, can I get one thing straight? We all pay for ourselves.’
‘I couldn’t go along with that, Claire. I’d feel terrible if I let you and Ken pay for yourselves. It was me who asked yer to come. I don’t know much about women, having been going to sea for so long, but I was under the impression it was the man who paid. So shall we be clear about that, and my pride and dignity will be intact?’
Claire met Ken’s eyes and saw the pleading there. He really had taken a liking to this man, and she didn’t want to be a wet blanket. ‘Okay, I’ll let you keep yer pride and dignity, Derek, and thank you very much for inviting me and my son on an outing.’
‘Now that’s been sorted, can we get started?’ Ken asked, eager for the trip across the Mersey. ‘It’ll be time to come home before we get there.’
On the walk to the tram, Derek kept Ken busy in conversation, asking about his job, and what ambitions he had. Now and again Claire would pass a remark, but the talking was mostly conducted by the man and the boy. And when the tram arrived, Derek waited until Claire had chosen her seat by the window, with her son next to her, before taking a seat behind.
‘There’s not many people on the streets, is there, Mam?’ Ken was taking in the sights and sounds. ‘With it being so nice, yer’d expect it to be more busy.’
‘It’s Sunday, love, and all the shops are closed. Besides that, a lot of people go to church on a Sunday afternoon.’
Derek leaned forward, his head between theirs. ‘Yer’ll find it busy when we get to the Pier Head. I bet there’s queues to get on the landing stage.’
And his words proved to be right, for there were hundreds of people pushing and shoving to get in line for the ticket office. There were young courting couples, happily looking forward to an afternoon in each other’s company, but in the main those in the queue were families. Mothers and fathers, their nerves frayed with trying to keep their children under control. But armed with buckets and spades, and the thought of the sandcastles they’d build at New Brighton, the children were too excited and impatient to heed their parents.
‘Good heavens,’ Claire said, ‘there doesn’t seem to be much hope of getting on a ferry, Derek, not with this crowd. You’d be better coming on a weekday, if yer want to catch the sea air and test yer sea legs.’
‘It isn’t really as bad as it looks,’ he told her. ‘There’s two ferry boats sailing, one each way, and yer’d be surprised at the number of people they can carry. There’s one just coming in, and once the passengers are off, yer’ll see this queue move very quickly.’ He caught her arm as people joining the queue behind them jostled to get the best place. ‘Would yer rather skip it for today? I wouldn’t mind, honestly.’
Ken groaned. ‘Ah, let’s wait, Mam! I mightn’t get the chance again.’ He bent to smile in her face. ‘Not until I’m earning decent wages, anyway. And when I’m in the money, I’ll bring you and Amy down and treat yer to a ride on the boats.’
‘And there speaks a good son,’ Derek said. ‘You’ll be well looked after, Claire.’
‘Oh, aye, I should be so lucky. By the time he’s earning good money, he’ll be taking girls out, not his mother and sister.’ But Claire was smiling as she spoke. ‘I just hope he finds himself a nice girl.’
There was a surge forward, and Ken put his arm round his mother’s waist. ‘We’re on the move, Mam, so Derek was right.’
It took ten minutes for Derek to get the tickets and steer them on to the ferry, which, to Ken’s delight, was bobbing up and down in the water. And that was the start of an afternoon of enjoyment for Claire and her son. She felt free, with the wind whipping her hair, and the cry of the seagulls following the boat. And watching her son leaning over the rails, with Derek beside him, she was happy because he looked so happy. He was being treated like a grown-up, chatting away to a man he hardly knew, but whom he’d taken a liking to. They talked the whole time, while watching the foam the ferry left in its wake. When they reached Seacombe, they watched the passengers going down the gangplank, while they stayed aboard for the journey back to the Pier Head. Derek explained he’d bought return tickets so they would be home in time for Amy.
And when the afternoon was over, and they finally stepped off the tram at the stop nearest to their house, Derek insisted on seeing them to their front door, and brushed aside their thanks. ‘I’ve enjoyed meself as well,’ he said, ‘and it’s me who should be thanking you for your company.’
After saying goodbye, Claire closed the front door thinking what a difference there was between him and Graham Collins. There was no side to Derek. What you saw was what you got. There was no need to watch her words, or how she spoke.
Trying to sound casual, Ken said, ‘I think that was good of him to take us. He’s a smashing bloke.’
Claire nodded. ‘Yes, he is.’ She wasn’t going to say any more, for that would be admitting her son was a far better judge of character than she was.
Jack watched his wife straightening the lace runner on the sideboard, then plumping up the cushions on the couch. ‘What time is Claire coming?’
‘Half seven. She should be here any minute. I think she’ll bring the children with her for a bit of fresh air.’
‘I’ll go round to yer ma’s, then, love, to get out of the way. Yer don’t want me sitting here cramping yer style. Is Nellie coming?’
Molly chuckled. ‘She hasn’t been invited, but yes, I think I can safely say that Nellie will be here about two minutes after Claire arrives. I bet any money she’s standing with her nose pressed against the window right now.’
Ruthie had been hanging around, taking her time getting washed. And Molly was well aware of the reason. ‘Won’t Bella be expecting yer, sunshine? Ye’re late tonight.’
‘I was going to ask if I could bring her over here, Mam. We’d like to see Mrs Thompson again. We didn’t see much of her last time.’
‘Why don’t yer come right out and say it’s Ken yer want to see? Not that yer need to, ’cos I know how yer brain works. But whatever the reason, the answer is no. You’ve got yer own friends and I’ve got mine.’
Ruthie knew when she was beaten, then remembered something else which would please her just as much if her mother was in favour. ‘Then can I invite my friends here again on Friday night, please?’
‘You’re a crafty little monkey, you are.’ Molly tutted but knew she’d talked herself into a corner. ‘I suppose so, as long as it doesn’t cost me anything, and yer behave yerselves.’
When Ruthie stretched up to give her mother a kiss, she whispered in her ear, ‘One out of two isn’t bad going, is it, Mam?’
‘Go on, away with yer. And you, Jack ’cos there’s a knock at the door.’
‘We’re not throwing them out, are we?’ Claire asked when Jack and Ruthie said they were going out. ‘Don’t let us chase yer.’
‘No, they were going out, Claire, so don’t worry.’ A smile lit up Molly’s face. ‘Anyway, look who’s here to take their place. This is a surprise, Nellie. I wasn’t expecting you.’
Jack and Ruthie both went out laughing, for the expression on Nellie’s face was hila
rious. ‘What d’yer mean, girl, yer weren’t expecting me? Who were yer expecting? King Kong, or Jack the Ripper?’
‘No, sunshine, neither of them are acquaintances of mine. My invited guests have arrived, and they are Claire, Ken and Amy.’
‘Well that’s too bad, ’cos I’m here now and I ain’t leaving.’ Brushing Molly aside, and to the delight of young Amy, Nellie waddled to her chair next to the sideboard, lifted it up and carried it to the table. ‘Now this is where I sit, at the head of the table. You lot of invited guests can sit where yer like.’
‘It’s no good me arguing, I’d only lose,’ Molly said. ‘So I’ll put the kettle on.’
‘Mrs Bennett,’ Amy asked, ‘could I go over and see the baby?’
‘Of course yer can go over, sunshine, they’d love to see yer. Bobby may be in bed though, ’cos he goes about this time every night. But go over anyway.’
‘I’ll go with her, if yer think they won’t mind,’ Ken said. ‘I can have a natter to Phil, and tell him about us going to Seacombe yesterday, with Derek. I didn’t get a chance to tell him today in work, ’cos he was busy.’
The jaws of both Molly and Nellie dropped. Molly was the first to recover. ‘Of course yer can go with Amy.’ And after the youngsters had left, she made a pot of tea quicker than she’d ever made one in her life. ‘What’s all this about you going to Seacombe with Derek?’ And mentally calling herself a hypocrite, she added, ‘I didn’t think yer knew him that well?’
‘I don’t know him well.’ Claire was determined not to blush. ‘You sent him on the message, Molly, and through Ken asking about the sea, in a very roundabout way, it ended with me going to Seacombe with the pair of them. Don’t ask me how, but why I went was because Ken was eager, and he gets very little out of life.’ She grinned. ‘That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. And now what’s your news?’
Nellie had been lost for words. But now she regained her power of speech. ‘It’s good news, girl, very good news.’
‘Listen, sunshine,’ Molly said to Nellie. ‘Ye’re not supposed to be here, so can I tell me visitor what I asked her to come for?’