Stay as Sweet as You Are

by Joan Jonker

  ‘No, but ye’re quick enough to tell me when ye’re skint. Or like the time we were walking to work and yer said the elastic had snapped in yer knickers. I didn’t know where to put meself when I looked down and there they were around yer ankles.’ Memory of the scene had Peg rocking in her chair. ‘I must have looked a right nit, standing there holding yer hand while yer stepped out of them.’

  Everyone around the table went in a pleat, even Elsie. ‘Yeah, it was funny that. It wasn’t at the time, like, ’cos there were a lot of people about. But I had a good laugh afterwards and told my feller how funny it had been.’

  ‘Elsie, the only thing I’ve ever seen that was funnier, was a Laurel and Hardy film. The only difference is, they get paid for making fools of themselves and you don’t.’ Peg leaned across her friend and handed her cup to Kate. ‘Try and come up with something nice for me, girl. I need cheering up.’

  ‘It’ll have to be short if Elsie wants her reading as well. We haven’t got that much time before the bell goes.’ Kate pretended to concentrate, while her mind was trying to remember anything Peg had said that she could use. Then she had a brainwave. ‘I’m probably miles out, but have yer bought anything recently, or are yer thinking of buying a dress or coat?’

  ‘Well, I never!’ Peg gaped. ‘Yeah, I’m thinking of buying meself a new dress. Remember, Elsie, I told yer last week?’

  Elsie was wide-eyed. ‘Yeah, yer did, queen.’

  Kate was glad her workmates had loud voices and she’d heard every word of their conversation. She turned the cup around and pretended to study the tea-leaves in the bottom. ‘I think I see the colour blue.’

  Well, that had Peg and Elsie banging on the table. ‘That’s the very colour I had in mind, girl! Isn’t that right, Elsie?’

  ‘It is, queen, I can vouch for that.’ Elsie was by now convinced they had a fortune-teller in their midst and she wasn’t going to be left out. ‘Do mine, now, queen, before the bell goes.’

  Kate was stumped. She couldn’t think of anything she’d overheard. So she decided to go for a bit of fun. She turned the cup round and round, a puzzled expression on her face. ‘I can’t make this out. When yer were little, Elsie, were yer ever a May Queen?’

  Elsie preened at the very thought, but had to admit it wasn’t true. ‘No, queen.’

  ‘I don’t know what it is, but it looks like a throne. And you’re sitting on it, surrounded by light.’ Kate had a funny ending in her head for this piece of fortune-telling, but it wasn’t needed as Elsie had a funnier one.

  Her chubby cheeks all screwed up and covering her eyes, Elsie shook her head as she tried to find a connection to what had been said to her. Then suddenly she blurted out, ‘Bloody hell!’ and every head in the canteen was turned towards her. ‘Ay, queen, ye’re not far out on that one. The throne yer see me sitting on is me lavvy. And the light around me comes from my feller having whitewashed the walls last week.’

  When the laughter had died down, Peg said, ‘Yer didn’t tell me your feller had whitewashed the lavvy for yer.’

  ‘Well, as I said before, queen, I can’t remember to tell yer everything.’

  Bob smiled across at Kate. ‘You’re not half coming out of yer shell lately. Yer used to be as quiet as a mouse.’

  There was shyness in Kate’s smile. ‘Yer can blame yerself for that. I used to be as quiet as a mouse until you started sitting at our table. Yer must be having a bad influence on me, Bob Mellor.’

  ‘I hope that’s not true. I hold yer in very high esteem, Kate Brown.’

  She lowered her eyes as a faint blush covered her cheeks. ‘Then I’ll have to try and live up to it, won’t I?’

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘It’s a shame your Titch never got married,’ Olive said, walking between Aggie and Irene, their arms linking hers. ‘He loves kids and is so good with them.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. I keep telling meself it’s not too late, ’cos I’d like to see him settled down with a family. But he’s either too bleedin’ choosey or no one will have him.’

  ‘Your son would have no trouble finding a dozen girls who’d be more than willing to marry him,’ Irene said. ‘He’s a fine-looking man and if he was that way inclined he could have his pick.’

  After much persuasion they’d finally talked Olive into coming to the pictures. She was worried because she didn’t have a decent coat to wear, so Aggie had lent her a black knitted shawl to wear over a thick cardigan. It was a cold winter’s night and there was a stiff breeze blowing, but cushioned between her friends, Olive was sheltered from the worst of it. ‘He’s got a lot of patience with kids. Just look at him now, they’re all over him and he’s lapping it up. Our Steve idolises him, I know that much.’

  Titch was walking ahead with the youngsters, one hand holding Lucy’s while the three boys walked on his other side. Their laughter was carried on the wind, bringing smiles to the faces of the three women. ‘That’s our Jack,’ Irene said. ‘I don’t think he’s stopped talking since we left the house.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Aggie said. ‘They’re all doing their fair share, even Lucy. She’s not behind the door when it comes to getting her twopennyworth in.’

  Olive saw Lucy look up at Titch with a smile on her face. She couldn’t hear what the girl said, but loud laughter followed her words. ‘I see what yer mean, Aggie. She’s a beautiful-looking girl, I bet her parents are proud of her.’

  There was no immediate reply to that, then Irene said, ‘I’ll tell yer what, Olive. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. If you say my two are handsome lads, I’ll say the same about your Steve. Then we’ll all be happy.’

  ‘Oh, no we won’t,’ Aggie tutted. ‘Yer seem to forget that I have a son, too. Now let’s hear it for Titch. Is he handsome, or is he not?’

  ‘Very, very handsome,’ was Olive’s verdict.

  While Irene thought he was, ‘Film-star handsome.’

  ‘That’s better. He may be forty, but he’s still my little boy.’ They grinned at each other before quickening their steps to catch up with Titch and company outside the picturehouse. The children had all opted for a comedy, The Gay Divorcée, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. And it was hilarious. Jack got so carried away with mirth he kept banging his fist on the back of the seat in front of him, until the woman turned around and told him if he didn’t knock it off she’d knock his block off. Lucy was captivated by the dancing, Steve was captivated by the changing expressions on her face, and Greg was too busy enjoying himself to worry about anyone else.

  On the walk home, it was unanimously agreed that a good time had been had by all and the evening had been a great success. For Olive it had been more than that. It had been a much-needed tonic.

  It was when they turned into their street that Titch noticed a change in Lucy. The smile had gone from her face and she seemed tense. ‘Are yer all coming back to ours for a cup of tea?’ he asked.

  ‘No thanks, Titch,’ Olive said. ‘I’ll go straight home if yer don’t mind.’

  ‘Me too.’ Irene gathered her sons to her. ‘It’s nearly time for Greg to go to bed. But thanks for a lovely night, I thoroughly enjoyed meself.’

  There was a chorus of thanks from the children. It was Steve, a gentleman at fourteen years of age, who held out his hand. ‘Thanks, Mr Titch, it’s been smashing.’

  Titch shook his hand warmly. ‘Ye’re welcome, lad. We’ll do it again, soon.’ He put his arm across Lucy’s shoulder. ‘Are you coming in for a cuppa, sweetheart?’

  ‘Oh no, Mr Titch. Me dad won’t have left for work yet, so I’ll be in time for me goodnight kiss. I wouldn’t want to miss that.’

  ‘Then I’ll walk down with yer and have a short natter with yer dad.’

  The group went their separate ways, leaving Titch with his mother and Lucy. ‘Are yer coming with us, Ma?’

  Aggie shook her head. ‘No, I’ll go in and put the kettle on. You see Lucy home.’

  Bob had been watching out and the doo
r was quickly opened. ‘Good time, pet?’

  ‘Oh Dad, the picture was lovely. It was very funny, but I liked the dancing the best.’

  ‘Come in, Titch.’ Bob threw the door wide open. ‘I don’t have to leave for half an hour, so there’s time for a cup of tea.’

  ‘I’ll come in, but I won’t stay for a drink, thanks. Me ma’s gone in to put the kettle on.’

  Ruby managed a smile. ‘Was it a good picture?’

  Titch looked to Lucy, expecting her to reply. When she didn’t, he said, ‘Yeah, it was great. Everyone enjoyed themselves.’

  ‘I don’t know how yer’ve got the patience to take a gang of kids out. Yer wouldn’t catch me doing it, they’d drive me potty. It certainly wouldn’t be my idea of a good night out.’

  Titch saw the look of disgust on Bob’s face. And he saw Lucy standing with her head bowed, a stranger in her own home. Leaning an elbow on the sideboard and injecting a note of interest in his voice, he asked, ‘Oh, and what’s your idea of a good night out, Ruby?’

  ‘A couple of drinks in pleasant company. Friends yer can have a laugh and a joke with.’

  ‘Yer won’t get many of those nights with Bob being on shiftwork, will yer? I mean, when he’s on afternoons and nights, yer won’t manage to get out, will yer?’

  There was something in the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes that caused Ruby to feel uncomfortable. He seemed to be goading her, as though he knew something. Could she have been seen on the two nights she’d been out? She’d been very careful, using the back entry when she went out. But she’d come home the front way because she didn’t fancy the dark entry late at night. She hadn’t given a thought to anyone seeing her because the street had been deserted on both nights. No, she told herself, he doesn’t know anything, it’s just my imagination. So she brazened it out. ‘No, the only social life I get is when he’s on mornings, worse luck.’

  ‘Count yer blessings, Ruby, ’cos that’s more than most women get.’ Titch pushed himself up and stretched his well-built frame. ‘I’d better be going or me ma will tell me off if the tea gets cold.’ He gave Lucy a hug. ‘I’ll see yer, sweetheart.’

  ‘Yeah, okay, Mr Titch, and thanks again.’

  ‘I’ll see yer out, then I’ll have to put a move on meself.’ Bob followed his neighbour to the door, ‘I appreciate yer taking Lucy out, she doesn’t half enjoy herself. I’m sorry to say me daughter doesn’t get many treats in life.’

  ‘She’s got a lot of friends, Bob, that think the world of her. And she’s got the best father anyone could ask for.’ Titch began to laugh and pointed a finger. ‘Just look at me ma, standing on the step shaking a fist at me. Anyone would think I was fourteen instead of forty. She used to do that when I was a slip of a lad and wouldn’t come in when she called me. I’d better skedaddle or I’ll be getting a clip around the ear. Don’t work too hard, Bob.’

  Bob stepped down to wave to Aggie. ‘Goodnight and God bless, Aggie. Sleep well. And you, Titch. I’ll see yer.’

  The night before Titch was due to sail, he went to say goodbye to Olive and Steve. He also went with a plan in mind.

  ‘How long are yer away this time, Titch?’ Olive asked. ‘A couple of months?’

  ‘Could be longer this time, Olive. That’s why, if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask Steve to do a job for me.’

  ‘Of course I will, Mr Titch.’ Steve would willingly run to the ends of the earth for this man. ‘Just name it and I’ll do it.’

  ‘Only on certain conditions, Steve. I want to pay yer for it. Not much, mind yer, but I don’t want yer to do it for nothing.’

  ‘Steve wouldn’t take money off you, Titch!’ Olive protested. ‘After all you’ve done for him, he wouldn’t dream of it.’

  ‘Me mam’s right.’ Steve was highly indignant. ‘I wouldn’t take no money off yer.’

  ‘But it’s a big job I’m asking yer to do, Steve. Yer see, I’m worried about me ma, now the winter has set in. I don’t like the thought of her having to lug coal up the yard in freezing weather. I have visions of her slipping on the snow or ice and laying in the yard with no one knowing she’s there. So I was going to ask if yer’d slip up there each night and fill her coal scuttle for her and make sure she’s all right. I’d have an easy mind when I’m away if I knew she was being cared for.’

  ‘I’d do that with pleasure,’ Steve said, looking happy at just the thought. ‘Yer don’t have to pay me no money to look after Mrs Aggie.’

  ‘I’ll keep me eye on her, too,’ Olive said. ‘I won’t go up at night, but I’ll call in each day.’

  This was what Titch had been hoping for. It was a good way of getting Olive out of the house. ‘That’s taken a load off me mind. But if I’m away for two or three months, it’s a lot to ask of yer. So if yer won’t take money off me, will yer let me do something for yer?’

  Olive tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. ‘Oh, aye, what are yer up to now? I don’t trust you, Titch McBride.’

  Titch winked at Steve. ‘Will yer sit on yer mam for me, so she can’t scratch me eyes out or wallop me one?’

  Steve left the wooden chair to sit next to his mother on the couch. He put his two arms around her and held her tight. ‘Safely anchored, Mr Titch.’

  ‘What I’ve asked you two to do is a very big favour. Now I’d like yer to let me give a little back in return. It’s not much, but it would please me to do it.’

  ‘I don’t like the sound of this,’ Olive said. ‘Spit it out and get it over with.’

  ‘Promise yer won’t hit me, fall out with me or throw me out?’

  ‘In the name of God, what’s the man up to now?’ Olive managed to keep her face straight while asking herself how could anyone fall out with Titch when he had that huge smile on his face and mischief dancing in his eyes. ‘Come on, out with it.’

  ‘Well, now I know me ma’s going to be well looked after, I’d like to think you two were happy and comfortable. So let me buy the wallpaper to brighten this room up.’

  ‘You what!’ Olive’s voice was shrill. ‘Not on yer blinking life.’

  ‘Excuse me, Mrs Fletcher, but I haven’t finished yet. There’s more to come.’ Titch wagged an admonishing finger. ‘So be a good girl and listen before disagreeing with me. I knew I’d have trouble getting Steve to take money off me, so I went ahead and bought wallpaper for this room. I didn’t pay full price for it because I’ve got a mate what’s got a mate with a wallpaper shop. So I’m not being as generous as yer think. It only cost me a few bob. And George and Bob have said they’d be delighted to do the work.’ Titch grinned before letting out a deep sigh. ‘Now I’ll ask Steve to keep tight hold of yer until yer’ve had time to think it over. But to help yer come to the right decision, close yer eyes and imagine how nice and cheerful this room would look for Christmas. And remember, I wasn’t too proud to accept your help, so to keep things square, the least yer can do is accept mine.’

  When Olive stayed stony-faced, her eyes fixed on the far wall, Titch wagged his head at Steve before asking, ‘Is yer mam still breathing, lad?’

  ‘I think so, Mr Titch, I can see her nostrils going in and out.’

  ‘That’s good. It means she hasn’t gone and died on us.’ He leaned forward and looked into the solemn face. ‘I’m glad about that, ’cos I’d have been left with eight rolls of wallpaper and a lot of explaining to do.’

  Without moving a muscle, Olive asked, ‘What colour’s the paper?’

  His face as straight as hers, Titch said, ‘Pea-green.’

  ‘I’m not having no pea-green wallpaper on my walls, Titch McBride – yer can take it right back and change it.’

  ‘How about a pale beige with little sprigs of pink flowers on?’

  ‘That sounds more like it.’ Olive faced him with a beaming smile. ‘How soon can the workmen start?’

  ‘Bob’s on mornings, so he could do a bit in the afternoons. Then on Saturday him and George could go like the clappers and get a fair bit done. But
you and Steve could help by stripping the old paper off and rubbing the paintwork down.’ With a cheeky grin on his face, Titch reached into his pocket and brought out a scraper and two sheets of sandpaper. ‘I’ve come prepared for any contingency. These for if yer said yes, and running shoes in case yer came after me with the poker.’

  ‘It wouldn’t have made a scrap of difference what I said, and you know it. I could have argued until I was blue in the face, yer’d still have got yer own way in the end.’

  ‘Excuse me, Mr Titch,’ Steve said. ‘Can I let go of me mam now?’

  ‘Just make sure she’s not frothing at the mouth first. It’s a bad sign that, frothing at the mouth.’

  ‘I’ll froth you at the mouth, yer cheeky beggar.’ But Olive was feeling very light-hearted inside. It would be lovely to see this room nice and bright. ‘I should tell yer off for being underhanded and arranging all this behind me back. But I’m not going to because I’m really delighted. I’m indebted to yer, Titch.’

  ‘Ay, remember there’s a price to pay for this. I’m relying on both of yer to look after me ma for me.’ Titch wondered what his mother would say if she knew she’d been used as a weapon in his plans. She’d probably stand on a chair and box his ears for him. ‘It means a lot to me, knowing she’s being looked after.’

  ‘I’ll keep an eye on her, Mr Titch, I promise yer that. Me and Mrs Aggie get along fine together, we’re good mates.’

  ‘It does me heart good to hear that, lad. I know she thinks the world of you.’ Titch stood up and put the scraper and sandpaper on the table. ‘I’ll take me leave of yer now ’cos I’m going for a pint with me two drinking buddies. It’s me last night so I’ve got to make the most of it.’

  ‘Well, look after yerself, Titch,’ Olive said. ‘Next time yer come we’ll be all posh and yer won’t get in unless yer wipe yer feet.’

  Titch chuckled. ‘I’m a clever bugger, Olive, but even I can’t walk on walls.’

  Olive raised her brows. ‘Oh, no? According to Aggie yer can walk on the ceiling when yer’ve had one over the eight.’