by Joan Jonker
‘They wouldn’t have heard me, Irene, or Lucy. I was fast asleep when Ruby came home at eleven o’clock. She must have been with her fancy-man and was the worse for drink. I’d left a blanket and pillow on the couch for her because I’d told her I’ll never sleep in the same bed as her. If she hadn’t gone out, or was home at a reasonable time, I might have slept downstairs meself. But I can’t sit up until she decides to roll home, I’ve got a job to think of.’
‘She is one bitch,’ Irene said with feeling. ‘Shouting her head off, and the language out of her was terrible! What was it all in aid of?’
‘She came upstairs with the blanket and pillow and said she was getting into bed whether I liked it or not. Well, I didn’t like it. And that started the whole thing off. The noise woke Lucy and she came dashing in to see her mother beating me with her fists. Of course the girl was upset and began to hit her on the back, telling her to leave me alone. The next thing, Ruby turns around and gave Lucy such a belt across the face it must have really hurt. Anyway, it brought me to me senses and I told Lucy to go back to bed while I somehow managed to drag Ruby down the stairs.’
Aggie had been shaking her head and tutting. The more her temper rose, the quicker the chair was rocked. ‘Has the woman no shame? A married woman coming home drunk at eleven o’clock at night! And after being told that yer know what she’s up to! If yer ask me, she wants horsewhipping.’
‘I don’t know about horse-whipping, Aggie, and I’m not exactly proud of meself, but I did give her a slap. She just wouldn’t shut up when I finally got her downstairs, saying I wasn’t a man and I didn’t have the guts to do the things I was threatening to do. Like giving her a good hiding and throwing her out into the street. Anyway, I finally lost me rag and slapped her face. I told her that one was for Lucy, but if she didn’t shut up I’d give her one for meself and I wouldn’t be as gentle.’
‘About bleedin’ time,’ Aggie said. ‘Yer should have done it years ago.’
‘It must have done the trick, Bob, because all went quiet about half-eleven.’ Irene’s pretty face was wearing a troubled expression. Last night, through the bedroom wall, she and George had heard a little of what Bob had had to put up with all these years. And it had given her plenty to think about. He was a nice, decent, hardworking bloke who wouldn’t do anyone a bad turn. He deserved a good life and she for one wouldn’t blame him for walking away from a living hell. ‘What happens now?’
‘I’m getting out, Irene. Kate and her mam have been looking round for digs for me and Lucy, but haven’t come up with anything yet. Her mam’s got a spare room, but she couldn’t take both of us. I’m just hoping a place turns up quick, or I’ll end up doing something I don’t want to, and that’s doing Ruby an injury.’
‘If it helps, I’ll have Lucy until something turns up,’ Aggie said. ‘Then yer could take the room that this Kate’s mother’s got. It probably wouldn’t be for long, so I’m sure Lucy wouldn’t mind. I mean, yer could see her nearly every day. There’s nothing to stop yer coming home whenever yer’ve got the time, it’s still your house.’
‘I couldn’t do that to Lucy. Besides, Ruby would give yer a dog’s life. You have no idea just how bad she can be. She’d torment the life out of yer.’
‘Oh no, she wouldn’t, lad! I’m more than a match for that little madam. If she knocked on me door once, she’d never do it again unless she wanted me boot up her backside.’
‘Yer wouldn’t have to worry on that score, Bob,’ Irene said. ‘I don’t think Ruby would fancy a set-to with me. I’d skin her alive for what she’s done to you and Lucy.’
‘I couldn’t leave Lucy, it would break my heart. She’s never had a mother to speak of, and if I walked out on her it would scar her for life.’
‘Don’t be daft, it would only be for a few weeks. We get on fine together and it would be like a little holiday for her.’ Aggie had it all worked out in her head. ‘Besides, instead of looking for digs for the two of yer, why don’t yer try and get a little house around here? That would mean we wouldn’t lose our friends, and neither would you or Lucy.’
‘And how would I furnish this house, Aggie? I’ll have to pay the rent on the house I’ve got now, and pay me digs. I won’t have much over, and it takes a lot of money to furnish a house.’
‘Not if yer take yer furniture with yer. It’s you what owns the bleedin’ stuff! Just leave the queer one a bed, table and chair. Let her fend for herself.’
‘Why don’t yer let Lucy decide?’ Irene said. ‘At least wait until yer ask her thoughts on the matter.’
‘Ooh, aye, she’ll be home any minute.’ Aggie pressed her hands on the wooden arms of her chair and pushed herself up. ‘I’d better stand at the door and watch out for her.’
‘No need, Aggie,’ Bob said. ‘Yer can bet yer sweet life she won’t go straight home, not after last night. She’ll call here first.’
And Bob was proved right ten minutes later when Aggie opened the door to Lucy. ‘Come on in, sweetheart, we’ve been waiting for yer.’
Lucy made straight for her father. ‘Are yer all right, Dad? She didn’t scratch yer or hurt yer, did she?’
‘No, pet, I’m fine.’ Bob reached for her two hands and held them in his. ‘A bit tired, perhaps, but that’s about all.’
‘Yer should have seen me mam last night,’ Lucy looked over at the two women, ‘it was awful. She was screaming and shouting her head off, using bad words. And she was punching me dad with her two fists, saying terrible things to him. She had no right to do that because he never did nothing.’ The girl’s emotions were running high. Concern for her father was uppermost in her mind, but anger wasn’t far behind. ‘I want yer to leave, Dad, ’cos I’m afraid she might do something really bad to yer when ye’re asleep or something. She’s wicked is me mam, and when she’s had too much to drink yer never know what she’ll do. I want yer to go ’cos I’m frightened for yer.’
‘It’s not that easy, pet. We have nowhere to go.’
Irene decided to step in. She too was afraid that one day Ruby might go too far. After hearing her last night it was easy to believe she was capable of anything. ‘Yer dad knows someone who’s got one bedroom, but it wouldn’t be enough for both of yer. Aggie has suggested that yer dad takes that room, and you could stay here with her until something comes up where yer can be together.’
There was determination in the shaking of Lucy’s head. ‘No, I’ll stay at home. You take that room, Dad, but I’m not moving. I’m not frightened of me mam, so I’ll stay there until yer come back again.’
‘Lucy, love, there’s no way I’ll ever come back to that house once I leave. It’ll have to be a clean break.’
In her mind, Lucy didn’t agree. She had this feeling that one day her mother would leave, and she and her dad would be back together in their own home. If there was any justice in the world, that’s what should happen. But she thought it was wise to keep her thoughts to herself. ‘Okay, Dad, we’ll do as yer say. If you’ve got the offer of lodgings, then take it while yer’ve got the chance. If yer let it go, yer might be ages finding somewhere else. But I’ll stay at home until yer’ve found a place for us to be together.’
‘Yer can come here, sweetheart,’ Aggie said. ‘I’d love to have yer, yer’d be company for me.’
‘Thanks, Mrs Aggie, but I’d rather stay put. Yer see, that’s my home, and I’m not letting me mam drive me away from it.’
The three adults exchanged surprised glances. Lucy was showing a strength and determination she’d never shown before. And each of them knew that if they talked to her until they were blue in the face, they wouldn’t change her mind. Aggie was silently applauding the girl for standing firm. For the old woman still stood by the prediction she’d made – that Bob would one day find true happiness. And she’d never thought his happiness would be anywhere else but in his own little house. ‘I’d give it a try, Bob, if that’s what the girl wants. After all, me and Irene would always be close at hand.’
Lucy slipped her arm through Bob’s and squeezed. ‘Yer see, Dad, I wouldn’t come to no harm with all me friends around. In fact, Mrs Aggie and Mrs Pollard will be sick of the sight of me before long.’
‘That’s something that will never happen, sunshine,’ Irene said. ‘I could take a lot of you without ever getting fed up.’ She cast her eyes on Bob, who looked as though he didn’t know what to do for the best. ‘Give it a go, Bob, and see how it works out. After all, it’s not as though yer’ll never see each other again.’
‘I’ll tell yer what. It’s Saturday tomorrow, me last morning shift. And you haven’t got to go to school, pet, so we could go together to see what this room’s like. And to find out what sort of a landlady I’d have. I believe some of them can be real strict. Mind you, if she’s anything like her daughter she’ll suit me fine.’
‘Ooh, yeah, I’d like that, Dad.’
‘I’ll come home and get changed, ’cos I’ve got to make a good impression, haven’t I? Then we’ll pay the lady a visit.’
‘Can we come?’ Aggie asked. ‘Me and Irene would like to meet this Kate.’
‘I don’t think so, Aggie. Some other time perhaps. If I turned up with you two, the woman would think I couldn’t look after meself.’
‘Is the lady who’s going to be yer landlady called Kate, Dad?’
‘No, pet, I don’t know the lady’s name. Kate is her daughter.’
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘I’m not half nervous, Dad, me tummy’s turning over.’ Lucy was walking along Stanley Road with her father, their joined hands swinging between them. ‘And me teeth are chattering like mad.’
‘Yer’ll be all right, pet. The woman I work with, Kate, said she’d try and be there with her daughter. She’s the same age as you, so yer’ll have someone to talk to.’ Bob stopped at the end of a side street and checked the name sign on the wall. ‘Primrose Street, this is it. Now we need to look for number twenty-three.’
Lucy pulled on his hand. ‘Dad, I think that woman’s waving to us.’
A smile crossed Bob’s face when he saw Kate standing on the pavement outside a house about eight doors away. ‘That’s the woman I work with, pet, the one I was telling yer about.’
‘Ooh, er, me nerves have gone mad.’
‘After the first two minutes yer’ll be wondering what yer were worried about.’ Bob put his arm across her shoulders and coaxed her along. ‘Kate, this is me daughter, Lucy.’
‘Oh, I’ve heard a lot about you. Yer dad’s always talking about yer.’ Kate held out her hand. ‘It’s nice to meet yer at last.’
Lucy liked her on sight. The smile was so warm and friendly it calmed her nerves, and the chattering of her teeth slowed down. She gripped the outstretched hand. ‘I’m very pleased to meet yer, Mrs Kate.’
‘Come inside and meet me daughter, Iris. And me mam, who’s been polishing the furniture so hard she’s nearly worn it away. It didn’t need cleaning ’cos she keeps it like a new pin, but she’s a real fussy boots. As soon as I told her yer were coming, out came her mobcap and her polish and dusters. Plus loads of elbow grease.’
Bob held his daughter’s hand tightly as they stepped into the tiny hall, then into the living room. He was feeling a bit nervous himself, but not for the world would he let Lucy see. In the two seconds it took for the older woman to leave her chair, his eyes had taken stock of the room. It reminded him of Aggie’s. Spotlessly clean and tidy, yet homely. A room where a speck of dust would love to settle and make itself comfortable, but wasn’t allowed to.
‘Bob, this is me mam, Nellie Carson.’
‘It’s nice to meet yer, Mrs Carson.’ Bob smiled at the small, stocky woman whose hair was steel grey and had a natural wave. He could see where Kate got her looks from, they were very alike. ‘I hope yer didn’t go to any trouble on my behalf.’
‘Not at all, lad! I’ve only been up since the crack of dawn slaving away with me mop and bucket and me dusters.’ There was a twinkle in the hazel eyes. ‘I hope yer didn’t stand on me step on yer way in, ’cos that got the scrubbing of its life at seven this morning.’
Bob rolled his eyes. ‘Oh dear, I might have done.’
‘Don’t take any notice of her, Bob, she’s pulling yer leg,’ Kate said, giving her mother a fond look. ‘Anyway, Mam, this is his daughter, Lucy.’
‘Hello, queen. My, ye’re a pretty little thing, aren’t yer? And there’s another pretty girl been waiting to meet yer, but the cat got her tongue all of a sudden and she’s hiding in the kitchen.’
‘Come on in, Iris,’ Kate called. ‘Don’t be silly.’
‘Shall I go out there to her?’ Lucy asked. ‘She might be shy.’ And without waiting for an answer, she walked on through to the kitchen while the three grown-ups, as though by silent agreement, stood and listened.
‘Hiya! I’m Lucy. Me dad said you and me are the same age.’
‘Yeah, me mam told me. My name’s Iris.’
‘That’s a lovely name, that is. It must be nice to be called after a flower, and live in a street what’s got a flower’s name, too.’
‘Oh, this is me nan’s house, I don’t live in this street. Me and me mam don’t live far away, though, only two minutes’ walk.’
‘What school do yer go to, Iris?’
Three faces grinned. ‘They’ll be all right now,’ Nellie said. ‘We’ll leave them for a while to get to know each other, then I’ll put the kettle on. In the meantime, Bob, would yer like to see the bedroom?’
‘If it’s not too much trouble, Mrs Carson.’
‘Call me Nellie, lad, everyone else does.’
Lucy appeared at the kitchen door. ‘Can I call yer Mrs Nellie, please?’
‘Of course yer can, queen. I’d like that.’
‘Yer see, yer remind me of one of the neighbours in our street. I call her Mrs Aggie, and she’s one of me very best friends.’
‘Well, seeing as yer’ve privileged me by calling me Mrs Nellie, perhaps you and me can become very best friends.’
‘Yeah, I’d like that.’ Lucy grinned. ‘I’ll go and talk to Iris while me dad looks at the bedroom.’ My father would be well looked after here, she thought. They’re nice, kind people and they’d take good care of him until he can come home again. ‘I’m sure he’ll like it.’ With that she disappeared into the kitchen and the two girls could be heard chattering away in good style.
‘I’ll stay down here,’ Kate said, knowing she would feel embarrassed if Bob decided to take the room and asked what the weekly charge was. ‘It’s not a big room and three in there would be a crowd.’
‘Come on, lad.’ Nellie jerked her head. ‘Yer’ll have to be patient ’cos me legs are not as young as yours, and the stairs are narrow and steep.’
She gripped the side bannister with both hands and pulled herself up each stair. When she reached the landing she stood for a moment to get her breath back. ‘This is the room, lad.’ She threw open one of the two doors and waved Bob inside. ‘It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s any port in a storm, eh?’
There was a small, iron single bed with wooden headboards facing the door. To the side of it was a tallboy, and behind the door a single wardrobe. The furniture was old but so highly polished you could see your face in it. It was easy to see it had been tended over the years with loving care. ‘It’s just the job, Nellie,’ Bob said. ‘Just what I wanted.’
‘I haven’t got enough bedding, I’m afraid, but Kate said she’ll help me out.’
‘There’s no need,’ Bob told her. ‘I can bring a pair of sheets, a blanket and a pillow with me. And a couple of pillowslips. So we’ll manage all right.’
Nellie looked at him through narrowed eyes. ‘Kate’s told me a bit about yer. She said yer’ve been having a bad time.’
‘That’s putting it mildly. My life’s been hell for years now, but recently my wife has stepped over the boundary of decency and I can’t accept that.’
‘I should bleedin’ well think
not!’ Nellie put a hand over her mouth. ‘I’m sorry, lad, I don’t usually swear. Not in front of visitors, anyway. Our Kate would have been mortified if she’d been here and heard that.’
‘Then we won’t tell her, eh? Anyway, that’s nothing to what I’m used to. My wife can’t open her mouth without cursing and blaspheming.’ Bob gazed around the room once more. ‘Can I ask how much a week it’ll be?’
‘D’yer want full board? Breakfast, carry-out and dinner?’
‘I don’t want yer to be put to too much trouble, Nellie, not on my account. If I can have the room, I’ll fend for meself for food. I know yer help Kate a lot, so yer’ve got yer work cut out as it is, without me adding to it.’
‘Don’t be daft, lad! What’s a couple of rounds of toast in the morning? And if I’m making a pan of stew, one extra won’t make no matter.’ Nellie cupped her chin in a hand and looked thoughtful. ‘How about eight shillings a week, all found? That’s yer bed, food and washing.’
Bob shook his head. ‘That’s not enough. Yer’d be out of pocket.’
‘Not on yer life I wouldn’t. I’m not daft, lad, I know what I’m doing. I get me dolly tub out every Monday, but it’s hardly worth the effort with the few things I’ve got to wash. So it’ll cost me nothing to throw yours in as well. And Kate will tell yer I’m very good in the kitchen. I can make a dinner out of practically nothing. So I’ll be making a few bob on yer, lad, and I’ll be able to get blind drunk every night.’
Bob chuckled. Kate was always talking about her mother, so he knew more about her than she thought. ‘So, yer like a drink, do yer?’
‘Aye, I do that, lad, and yer can’t beat it. A nice cup of strong tea with two sugars in. Best drink in the world.’ Nellie studied him for a brief moment. He was handsome all right, just as Kate said he was. And she knew enough about people to know the man who was standing in her bedroom, who she hoped was going to be her lodger, was decent through and through. ‘Well, are my terms acceptable to yer, Mr Mellor?’