by Joan Jonker
‘Oh, that would be great, Mam! When yer go to the shops tomorrow, would yer get me some ribbon?’
‘Yer’ll have to tell me what colour yer want, how much, the width, and whether yer want it plain or in satin?’
‘Well, yer’ve seen me dress, and it’s blue and beige, so I think blue would be nice.’
‘The colour of yer eyes, love,’ Jack said, as proud of his youngest child as he was of the other three. He never ceased to tell himself how lucky he was to have such a wonderful wife and children. ‘I’ll give yer mam the money to pay for it.’
Ruthie was round the table in a flash. ‘Oh, thanks, Dad. Ye’re the best dad in the world, and I don’t half love yer.’ She took her arms from round his neck. ‘I’ll go over to Bella’s now, and we’ll walk to me grandma’s. I won’t be late – half nine at the latest.’
When she’d gone, Molly looked at Jack and shook her head. ‘I suppose yer know we are both too soft with her, don’t yer?’
‘Perhaps we are a bit soft, but she’s not a spoiled brat, like some kids.’
‘I know, sunshine.’ Molly gave him the look that still had the power to send his heart pounding. ‘I think, all in all, we’ve done a good job with our children. And we’ve made a pretty good job of our marriage.’
‘We’re still making a good job of it, love.’ He raised his brows. ‘What time did Ruthie say she’d be in?’ He waited for her answer, then said, ‘That gives us two hours with the house to ourselves. And I can think of better things to do than twiddle me thumbs.’
‘Ooh, yer know I can’t resist those brown eyes. But stay off the creaking stairs, ’cos yer know Nellie’s got ears like a hawk. She can hear yer from three doors away.’
Jack reached for her hand. ‘I’ve got more on me mind right now than your mate Nellie.’
On Friday night, while Molly and Ruthie were busy doing their hair, Claire was sitting in her fireside chair sewing a hem on the green dress she’d bought at the market. When she’d been ironing it, she’d caught the hem with the iron and broken the cotton, causing a few stitches to come loose. Now she was making it good while Ken and Amy listened to a play on the wireless. They seldom had visitors, so when the knocker sounded all three were startled. ‘Who the heck can this be?’
‘I’ll go, Mam. You stay where yer are.’
Claire’s hand was still as she listened. She heard her son saying, ‘Come in, Derek. I’m just listening to a play, and it’s not half exciting.’
‘Are yer sure yer mam’s not too busy?’
‘Oh, come on in, don’t be daft,’ Ken said. ‘Me mam is only doing a bit of sewing.’
Derek walked through to see Claire with a sewing needle between her fingers. ‘Have I caught yer at a bad time?’
Claire didn’t want him to see the dress, not until tomorrow night. She folded it over quickly and dropped it at the side of her chair. ‘No, it’s not a bad time – I do a bit of sewing most nights. I need to with two children. When the play on the wireless is over, it’ll be time for Amy to go to bed.’
Although he said, ‘I won’t stay long,’ Derek sat himself down on the couch. ‘I came to say I’ll come for yer tomorrow night, and take yer to the hall. Everyone’s making their own way there, but Molly said she wasn’t sure whether you know where it is or not. Anyway, to put her mind at rest, I said I’d pick yer up.’
‘There’s really no need to, Derek. I’m sure we’d find it.’ Little did Claire know that her son knew exactly where it was. But he wasn’t saying. ‘Anyway, what about yer mother? Yer can’t expect her to walk here, then all the way to the hall.’
‘She’s going early,’ Derek explained. ‘She wants to see the babies Corker’s told her about: Doreen’s son Bobby, and little Molly, Jill’s daughter. Molly said she’d take her to see them ’cos me ma dotes on children.’ He grinned. ‘I think it’s a dig at me because I haven’t given her any grandchildren.’
‘Molly really took a shine to her; she said she was a love.’
He nodded. ‘She is. Me ma is one of the best, and I’m dead proud of her.’
Amy had been awkward with Derek at first, but after meeting him a few times she’d lost her shyness. Now she asked, ‘Will we be seeing your mother tomorrow night?’
‘You certainly will, pet, and she knows all about yer ’cos I’ve told her. She’s looking forward to meeting the three of yer.’
‘I’m not half looking forward to it,’ Ken said. ‘I’ve never been to a party in a hall before. Ruthie Bennett said there’ll be food and music. And she said Mrs McDonough will keep us all entertained. It’ll be smashing.’
‘When it’s your birthday, son, we’ll throw a party, eh? Not a big one in a hall, but a party nevertheless. You can choose where yer want it.’
‘Can I have a party on my birthday?’ Amy asked. ‘I’ve never had one before.’
Derek ruffled her hair. ‘Of course yer can, sweetheart. Like Ken, yer can have it where yer like and invite who yer want.’
‘Don’t tell her any more, Derek, or she’ll be too excited to sleep. And it’s her bedtime now, so wash yer face and hands, love, and I’ll take you upstairs.’
‘I’ll leave yer to get on with it,’ Derek said, standing up and rubbing his bottom. ‘One of these days I’ll fix that for yer, Claire.’
She grinned. ‘I’ll hold yer to that. It definitely needs fixing.’
Ken got to his feet. ‘I’ll see Derek out, Mam.’
‘No, son, you stay and listen to the play. I’ll see him out.’
Derek stood on the pavement looking up at her. ‘I’ll pick yer up about half seven, is that all right?’ When she nodded, he asked, with a shy but cheeky grin, ‘Are yer going to have a dance with me tomorrow night?’
‘It’s so long since I danced, Derek, I’d be standing all over yer feet.’
‘I’ll take me chances. Sleep well and I’ll see yer tomorrow.’
Claire watched him walk away. When he turned to wave, she waved back before closing the door with a smile on her face and a feeling of well-being in her heart.
Ruthie and Bella were the first to arrive at the reception hall, followed by Gordon and Peter Corkhill, Jeff Mowbray and Johnny Stewart. The two girls looked very pretty in their new dresses, and wearing their hair in a new style. And the boys looked very smart, all neatly dressed and not a hair out of place.
The youngsters were wide-eyed when they saw the long trestle tables laden with a wide variety of food. The vases of flowers set at intervals added a nice finishing touch. The Hanleys had certainly spared no expense on the buffet: it was fit for a king.
Corker’s booming voice was heard coming up the stairs, and he entered the room with Ellen, Derek’s mother Hannah, and Molly and Jack. While they were expressing their appreciation at the spread, the hall was filling up. Jill and Steve, happy to be having a rare night out while Lizzie Corkhill minded baby Molly, arrived with Doreen and Phil. Baby Bobby had been put to bed and was asleep, with Frances and Victoria listening out for him.
The corner pub had delivered the drinks ordered by Corker: crates of beer and two bottles of whisky for the men; crates of milk stout and bottles of sherry for the women; and lemonade and cream soda for the youngsters.
Nellie’s grand entrance brought the first burst of laughter. She swanned in with one hand on a hip and the other touching the back of her head. Her hair in curls, and her new dress doing her proud, she swayed over to Corker and drawled, ‘Why don’t yer come up and see me some time, big boy, and you can peel me a grape.’
George, Paul and Lily, with Archie and his mam, laughed even more heartily than the rest, for they’d witnessed the shenanigans of Nellie while Lily was trying to curl her hair.
Bridie and Bob, with Tommy and Rosie, were just in time to see Nellie’s first performance of the night, and as Bridie was to say later to Corker, ‘Sure, we were laughing from the time we came into the room, so we were.’
The room was noisy with conversation and laughter, but Cor
ker’s voice brought instant silence. ‘Ye’re all welcome, and the food is there to be eaten, and the drinks to be drunk. The men can see to the ladies’ drinks, and I’ll trust Gordon to look after his young friends. And me and Ellen want yer to have the time of yer lives.’
Molly’s eyes kept going to the door, and this didn’t go unnoticed by Corker. ‘They’ll be here soon, me darlin’, yer can count on that. I know yer have a healthy interest in Claire and Derek, same as meself, Molly. I know he’s smitten with her, but I don’t know how she feels about him. I’m optimistic, though, and hoping for a happy union.’
Molly grinned. ‘I’m doing me best, Corker, whether they’ll appreciate it or not. I think they are a nice couple who would be good for each other. And young Ken feels the same, although he hasn’t gone as far as to tell his mam yet.’
‘Well, worry no more me darlin’, for they’ve just come through the door.’
Knowing Claire would feel shy, Molly hurried towards the troup. ‘Yer know some of the people here, Claire, and the others yer’ll get to know as the night wears on.’
‘Don’t leave me on me own, Molly. I’ll feel like a wallflower.’
‘In this crowd?’ Molly waved her hand. ‘Start off by going with Derek to meet his mam. Then take a deep breath and walk up to our Jill and her husband Steve. They’re over there.’
‘I can see Jill. She stands out ’cos she’s very pretty. It seems to run in your family.’
‘I’m going to join the gang, Mam,’ Ken said, ‘so don’t worry about me.’
Amy pulled on Molly’s skirt. ‘Can I come with you, Mrs Bennett? ’Cos you’re with Mrs McDonough, and she’s funny. I like her.’
Derek was left with Claire, a situation he was happy with. He cupped her elbow. ‘Come and meet me mam.’
‘I don’t like to, Derek. I’d just as soon stand here for a while, if yer don’t mind.’
‘Oh, but I do mind, Claire! If Corker sees me standing here like a statue, instead of mucking in, he’ll have me life. And yer’ve seen the size of him. I’m sure yer wouldn’t want me to tackle someone so much bigger than me, would yer?’
‘Okay, I give in,’ Claire said, ‘but don’t yer dare leave me on me own.’
‘I have no intention of leaving yer on yer own. Yer have my promise.’
Hannah Mattocks saw her son walking towards her, his hand on a woman’s arm. Her heart leapt, for Derek had told her he had met a woman he’d taken a real fancy to. If this was the woman, it wasn’t surprising, for she was really beautiful. And from the way she was pulling back, she was also very shy.
‘Mam, this is Claire, and Claire, this is my mother, the woman in my life.’
Hannah’s handshake was firm, her smile friendly, and Claire felt the tension leaving her body. ‘I’m pleased to meet yer, Mrs Mattocks. Derek has told me about you.’
‘He has mentioned you, queen, and yer children, but let’s chase him to get us something to drink while we get to know each other.’
Ken was standing with the young ones, a plate piled with food in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other. But his eyes had followed Derek and his mam over to a woman who Ken knew right away, from her features, must be Derek’s mother. So he put his plate and glass down, and asked Ruthie, ‘Will yer keep yer eye on those for me, please? I won’t be long – I just want to see if me mam’s all right.’ Without waiting for an answer he hurried away. Although he didn’t know others were also interested, he knew that this meeting between his mam and Mrs Mattocks was important.
‘Oh, here comes my son, Mrs Mattocks. This is Ken.’
When Derek came back carrying three glasses, it did his heart good to see Claire and Ken talking happily to the mother he adored. He had just handed the glasses over when a loud roar had everyone turning to where Corker stood with his wife, the Bennetts and the McDonoughs. Nellie was trying to get her husband to do the charleston with her, but George wasn’t having any. ‘Do it on yer own. I’m not making a fool of meself.’ He scratched his head, then said, ‘Mind you, I made a fool of meself the day I married you, so I’ll have a go.’
‘Oh, I’ve gone off yer now, George McDonough. Ye’re too ruddy slow to catch cold. I’ll do it with Archie. I bet he’s good at it.’
Lily’s husband loved his mother-in-law, and he was always game for a laugh. ‘I need some music, Mrs Mac. I can’t dance without.’
‘Hang on, son,’ Corker said, pleased that the party was now starting to liven up. ‘I’ll put a record on.’
Archie was a good dancer, and even though the charleston had been out of fashion for years, he was putting on a good performance. But it was Nellie who had people doubled up. Her face was set as she went through the motions, every part of her body shaking. And for the size of her, she was doing a brilliant job. But every time she kicked her leg out, a roar of laughter filled the room, for she was showing quite an expanse of her pink fleecy-lined bloomers. But did she care? Did she hell, for she was enjoying every minute of it. And when Archie tried to leave the floor because he was puffed out, she dragged him back.
‘Mam,’ Lily called, ‘yer curls are dropping out.’
‘Sod the curls, girl, I’m enjoying meself.’
Paul McDonough was standing with Phoebe Corkhill, and he was red in the face with laughing. ‘Mam,’ he called, ‘ye’re showing yer bloomers.’
‘Sod them as well, son, ’cos yer’ve all seen them before. I hope yer have all noticed me new dress? Well, I bought this to come to a party, and a ruddy party we’re going to have, whether yer like it or not. Put another record on, Corker.’
‘I’ll put a slow one on, Nellie, so we can all dance to it. Not everyone has your stamina, me darlin’, so we’ll have a nice waltz. And there’s nothing to stop the youngsters from joining in. It’s their party as well.’
Steve held his arms out and Jill walked into them. They danced cheek to cheek, as much in love as ever. Doreen was next on the floor with Phil, and as they held each other close Phil whispered, ‘I’m thinking of the first time I saw yer at Barlows Lane. I fell in love with yer at first sight.’
Lily and Archie were next, and they really were good dancers. They covered the floor gracefully, their bodies in tune with the music. Just then, Edna and Tom Hanley, and Maisie and Alec from the corner shop, slipped into the room. The two couples made straight for the dance floor, showing they hadn’t lost their touch for waltzing. For Edna it was a wish come true. She had finally made it to one of the gang’s parties.
Derek looked at the dancers, then at Claire. Holding out a hand, he asked, ‘May I have this dance?’
‘You’ll be sorry. I’ll be hopeless.’
‘Oh, I doubt that. Come on, let’s show me mam how good her son is.’
As Derek put his arm round Claire’s waist, he felt a tingle run down his spine. It took a few seconds for him to get his feet moving in time with the music. Little did he know Claire too experienced the tingle, and dropped her eyes so he wouldn’t see the surprise she felt. ‘See, we’re not doing so bad,’ Derek said, his heart thumping like mad. ‘We’re as good as anyone on the floor.’
Claire grinned. ‘I think ye’re being optimistic, Derek, but why worry?’
There was a break then for eating and drinking, and conversation with old and new friends. Derek and Claire had been introduced to those they didn’t know, and soon felt they’d all been friends for ages. Corker decided that as it was his party, he should entertain. ‘I’m going to sing yer a little song, and I won’t be upset if yer put yer hands over yer ears. It’s dedicated to the folk from dear old Ireland!
‘Does your mother come from Ireland, for there’s something in you Irish,
Can yer tell me where you got those Irish eyes?’
Bridie couldn’t resist a song from her old country, and she ran to stand by Corker, followed by Rosie and Tommy. They sang with feeling, and Rosie’s clear sweet voice filled the air.
‘And before she left Killarney, did your mother kiss the b
larney,
For there’s something in those eyes you can’t disguise.’
They got a rousing round of applause, and Tommy lifted his beloved Rosie in the air and spun her round. With Bridie, Rosie had taught him all the songs from their native land, and he could speak the lilting Irish brogue to perfection.
‘Oh dear,’ Claire groaned. ‘They’re not expecting everyone to do a turn, are they?’
‘I hope not,’ Derek told her. ‘I can’t sing for nuts. No, they’ll be putting another record on for dancing.’
Corker had picked a record at random, and it happened to be a tango. It was to bring the house down. For Nellie grabbed hold of Archie and pulled him on to the dance floor. She made him hold his arm out straight as they strode down the floor, twisting their heads the way she’d seen George Raft doing in a picture. And when they reached the bottom of the room, she decided to be daring and do what George Raft’s partner had done. She threw herself back, thinking Archie’s arm would hold her. But Archie had never danced the tango in quite that way before, and he was laughing his head off at the spectacle they must be making of themselves. So he wasn’t prepared when his mother-in-law fell backwards, and although he tried to grab her before she fell, big as he was, he couldn’t cope with her weight and down he went with her. At least he landed with his dignity intact. Not like Nellie, who ended up on her back with her legs in the air.
The laughter was so loud they must have heard it miles away. And when Archie bent to cover Nellie’s modesty, she slapped his hand away, saying, ‘Yer silly bugger, why didn’t yer catch me?’ Well, the screams of laughter had Edna Hanley thinking the roof would come off her premises. Not that it would have worried her at that particular moment, for she was enjoying herself too much.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Corker went to pick Nellie up. When she was on her feet, she pointed to Lily, and asked, ‘Where did yer get this bloody husband of yours? Useless, that’s what he is.’
Archie was holding the pain in his side. ‘Mrs Mac, yer don’t get many like you in a pound. Ye’re a cracker.’