Stay as Sweet as You Are

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Yer dropped yerself right in it, son,’ George said. ‘Now take a bit of advice from one who learned the hard way. Never, ever, try and get the better of a woman ’cos yer don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell. If she says a thing is black, then agree with her. It could be sky-blue pink with a finny-haddy border, but if she says black, then black it is. That’s if yer want an easy life, like. Otherwise she’ll come at yer with both guns blazing and yer won’t know what hit yer.’

  ‘Ah, yer poor thing, me heart bleeds for yer.’ Irene wiped away an imaginary tear. ‘Sure there’s not a sorrier sight than a henpecked husband.’

  Greg had recovered his voice by this time, and his sense of fun. ‘Lucy, when you and me get married, yer won’t henpeck me, will yer?’

  ‘I won’t be henpecking yer, Greg Pollard, ’cos I won’t be marrying yer. Any girl what marries you would want her head testing.’

  ‘Too true they would.’ Jack nodded. ‘He only left school today and he wants to put the banns up to get wed!’

  ‘I don’t intend to hang around like you,’ Greg said. ‘Ye’re turned sixteen and haven’t even got a girlfriend yet.’

  ‘That’s what you think.’ Jack tapped the side of his nose. ‘I don’t tell you everything.’

  ‘I don’t blame yer for not telling him anything,’ Irene said, ‘but I’d expect yer to tell yer mother. Come on, who is she?’

  ‘I’m not telling yer, Mam. All I will say is that she’s very pretty and yer’ll like her.’

  ‘He’s pulling yer leg, Mrs Pollard,’ Lucy said, collecting the plates. She didn’t want to hear any more. If Jack had a girlfriend then soon everything would change, and she didn’t want it to. ‘I’ll take these out and wash them. Then I want to nip home to get me blouse and skirt. I need to make sure they’re all right for Monday.’

  ‘Leave those, I’ll do them,’ Irene told her. ‘You go and get yer skirt and blouse and bring them back here.’

  Lucy didn’t need telling twice. ‘I’ll take the key and let meself in. I won’t be a matter of minutes ’cos I don’t want me mam asking me questions. That’s if she’s in, of course.’

  Lucy stepped into the hall, and as she was taking the key from the lock she thought she heard voices coming from the living room. This was unusual because her mother never had visitors. So instead of going straight upstairs as she’d intended, the girl opened the door of the living room, and became rooted to the spot. There was a strange man sitting in the chair by the fire, and he seemed quite at home with a cigarette in his hand and his long legs crossed.

  ‘Who are you? That’s my dad’s chair ye’re sitting in.’

  Ruby had jumped to her feet in surprise. Lucy never came back from the Pollards’ until it was time for bed. ‘Well, yer dad’s not here now, is he? And don’t you be so bleedin’ impudent, yer little madam.’

  ‘Watch your language, Ruby,’ Wally Brown said, before turning his eyes back to Lucy. ‘My name’s Wally Brown, my dear, and I gather you are Lucy.’

  ‘I don’t care what yer name is, yer have no right to be sitting in me dad’s chair.’ Lucy had taken an instant dislike to him. He was too smarmy for her liking. As Mrs Aggie would say, he was too sweet to be wholesome. And seeing him sitting in her dad’s chair was making her feel sick and angry. ‘What are yer doing here, anyway?’

  ‘Mind yer own business,’ Ruby said, trying to remember not to swear because Wally didn’t like it. ‘And mind yer manners.’

  ‘She has every right to ask what a strange man is doing in her home,’ Wally said, thinking he’d never seen such a beautiful young girl in his life. With those huge green eyes set in a heart-shaped face, topped by the mass of thick, dark glossy curls, she really was a stunner. ‘I came to see your mother on some business, that’s all. I’ll be leaving very shortly.’

  Ruby was beside herself with rage. She’d been so sure that she and Wally would have the house to themselves for a couple of hours, now this little faggot had gone and spoilt all her plans. She’d belt her one if it wasn’t for Wally. He wouldn’t like it and she wouldn’t do anything to upset him. He treated her like a slave and she lapped it up. She was obsessed with him.

  ‘I’ll say goodbye to yer now then,’ Lucy said with as much dignity as she could muster. ‘’Cos yer’ll be gone when I come downstairs in about fifteen minutes.’

  ‘Take no notice of her,’ Ruby said, when her daughter’s footsteps had died down. ‘She can’t do anything about it. I’m entitled to have visitors – it is my home.’

  ‘Let’s take things slowly, Ruby. You flying off the handle isn’t going to help. Of course the girl would get a fright finding a strange man in the house, it’s only natural. So I won’t come again for a few weeks; we’ll use my place as usual. The next time Lucy sees me it won’t be such a surprise, and eventually she’ll get used to me.’

  ‘Whatever you say, love,’ Ruby said meekly. ‘Shall I come home with yer now?’

  Wally shook his head. He enjoyed the power he had over her. She catered to his every whim and he loved to be the one pulling the strings. ‘No, leave it until tomorrow night.’ To keep her sweet, he said softly, ‘I promise we’ll have twice as much fun to make up for tonight.’

  When Lucy came downstairs it was to see her mother leafing through a magazine. There was no sign of Wally Brown.

  ‘I’m very proud of yer, pet.’ Bob was sitting on the couch, holding his daughter close. ‘Mind you, the thought of having a daughter working makes me feel a lot older.’

  ‘Ye’re not old.’ Lucy smiled into his eyes. ‘Ye’re just the right age for a dad.’

  ‘Ye’re not the only one what’s proud of her,’ Aggie said, comfortable in the chair she’d claimed off Irene as soon as she’d walked in. ‘We’re all proud of her.’

  ‘She’s had quite an exciting day all round,’ Irene said, her bonny face creased in a smile. ‘Got her first job, and her first marriage proposal.’

  George’s deep chuckle ricocheted off the four walls. ‘Don’t jump out of yer seat, Bob, she turned it down.’

  ‘She won’t be getting offered it again, Mr Mellor,’ Greg said. ‘She didn’t only turn me down, she insulted me into the bargain.’

  ‘Try again in about four years, Greg,’ Bob told him. ‘I’m not parting with her until I have to. And then it’ll be under protest.’

  Lucy was smiling while this was going on, but her mind was active in another direction. Would she be doing right in telling them about Wally Brown? Or would it cause trouble? Her father was looking so happy she really didn’t want to spoil it. But she knew he’d been asked if he knew the name of the man her mother was going with, and told that it would help. So surely it would be wrong not to tell him.

  ‘Dad, would it upset yer if I talked about me mam?’

  ‘Of course it wouldn’t, pet. Why, what’s she been doing to yer?’

  ‘Well, didn’t yer want to know the name of the man she was seeing?’

  The room was so silent you could have heard a pin drop. ‘What made yer suddenly ask that, Lucy?’

  ‘’Cos I know it.’

  Five people leaned forward as their eyes widened in surprise. This was definitely not something they expected, and they waited with bated breath.

  ‘How d’yer know it, pet?’ Bob asked.

  Lucy took a deep breath, hoping she was doing the right thing. ‘He was in our house before, and when I asked him who he was he said his name was Wally Brown.’ When her father took his arm from around her shoulders and went to stand up, she held him back. ‘He’s not there now, Dad. He’d gone by the time I came downstairs.’

  ‘Well I never!’ Aggie said. ‘The bleedin’ cheek of him!’

  ‘The cheek of her, yer mean.’ Irene ground the words out. ‘She must have invited him in. My God, but she’s got some nerve.’

  ‘Tell us exactly what happened, love,’ Bob asked her quietly. ‘I want to know everything he said and what he looked like.’

  ‘He was dressed
all right, but he’s not nearly as nice-looking as you are, Dad.’ Lucy then began at the beginning and repeated everything that had been said. ‘And as I told yer, he’d gone when I came downstairs.’

  Aggie was rubbing her hands with glee. ‘Did yer really tell him he had no right to be there, sweetheart?’

  Lucy nodded. ‘Well, he didn’t, did he, Mrs Aggie? It’s me dad’s house and me mam can’t be asking strange men into it.’

  ‘I’m proud of yer, sunshine,’ Irene said. ‘I would have loved to have seen your mother’s face when you walked in.’

  ‘She would have belted me one if she’d got the chance, I could tell by her face. But she’s frightened of upsetting this Wally Brown. He told her to watch her language and she never said a wrong word after that. He’s the boss and what he says goes. But he’s not nice, Dad. He’s one of these smooth-talking fellers, all sweet and honey on the outside. But I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.’

  ‘Then don’t have anything to do with him, pet. If he comes again, get out of the house as fast as yer can.’ Bob was worried. There were some evil men in the world and he didn’t want one of them near his daughter. And this bloke was no saint, he’d been going out with a married woman for God knows how long. ‘I’ll take yer home later, in case yer mam’s got anything to say. But don’t worry, I won’t start a row. I’m too disgusted to look her in the face, never mind talk to her.’

  ‘Steve usually comes down to take me home, Dad. He’ll be here soon.’

  ‘I’ll take yer, just for tonight, pet. Then I’ll sleep easy in me bed.’

  ‘How come you and Kate come to work together these days, Bob?’ Elsie pushed the turban out of her eyes. ‘Yer live miles away from each other.’

  ‘We used to, but we don’t now.’ Bob and Kate had been expecting this and were prepared. ‘I’ve moved in with her family.’

  ‘Go ’way!’ Elsie’s sandwich was put back in the box. ‘Did yer hear that, Peg?’

  ‘I’m all ears, girl. Go on, you’re the nosy one, find out what’s going on.’

  ‘Oh I will, queen.’ Elsie’s bosom was hitched and her nose scratched. ‘D’yer mean, like, that yer’ve moved in?’

  ‘That’s what I said, Elsie. I’m part of Kate’s family now.’ Bob didn’t care any more that people knew about his marriage break-up. That’s why he and Kate had decided to walk to work together instead of splitting up when they got near the factory. It was bound to come out sometime, they couldn’t keep it a secret for ever. ‘And very comfortable I am, too.’

  Never one to mince words, Elsie asked, ‘Yer mean ye’re living over the brush?’

  ‘What does that mean, Elsie?’

  Billy Gleeson didn’t know whether this was a legpull or not. It was something he would expect of Elsie, but Bob wasn’t one for telling jokes. And he couldn’t read anything from Kate’s face; she was half-smiling and didn’t seem to be uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going. But, nah, she wasn’t the type to live tally with a feller. So he waited for Elsie’s answer.

  Elsie and Peg had their heads together, whispering. ‘He doesn’t know what living over the brush means, queen, so how else can I put it?’

  ‘Yer’ll think of something. Go on, girl, ye’re doing fine.’

  Elsie racked her brains but couldn’t think of any other way to put it. ‘Are the pair of yer living in sin?’

  ‘Good heavens, no!’ Bob was quite enjoying the exchange. ‘How can yer think such a thing? I’m surprised at yer being so bad-minded, Elsie.’

  ‘It was you what said yer’d moved in with Kate’s family.’ Elsie was getting flustered. ‘So don’t you be saying I’m bad-minded.’

  Peg tapped her on the arm. ‘Move over, girl, and let an expert have a go.’ She looked across at Bob. ‘Are yer living at Kate’s, then, Bob?’

  ‘No, Peg, I’m living with her mother. She was kind enough to offer me lodgings when I left home.’

  Elsie nearly fell off the chair. ‘Ooh, er! Yer’ve walked out on yer wife, have yer?’

  Billy scratched his head. If this was a joke, it was a bloody long one.

  ‘Yes, I walked out on me wife when I discovered she was having an affair with another bloke. I’ve put up with a lot from her, but that was the last straw.’

  ‘I hope yer gave her a good hiding before yer left, Bob,’ Peg said. ‘I can’t stand women who cheat on their husbands.’

  ‘Yer wouldn’t say that if yer got the chance to have a bit on the side with Robert Young, would yer, queen? I remember yer telling me once that if yer were in bed with Robert Young yer wouldn’t be lying there counting the cracks in the ceiling.’

  Peg chuckled. ‘I was just thinking the same thing, girl. Bob’s as handsome as Robert Young any day. And he’s more available.’

  When Elsie jerked her head in one direction, her chins went the other way. ‘I’ve always said yer were man mad, queen, and yer’ll get yerself into trouble one of these days.’

  Kate spoke for the first time. ‘She won’t be getting into trouble over Bob, Elsie, ’cos he’s spoken for. I saw him first.’ Because she was laughing, nobody took her seriously. Quiet Kate, who’d run a mile if a man looked sideways at her.

  ‘Yer wife wants her bumps feeling,’ Peg said. ‘There’s not many fellers as good-looking or as nice as you. But perhaps he’s loaded and it’s his money she’s after.’

  ‘I couldn’t tell yer, Peg. He could be a tramp or a millionaire for all I know. He does exist, me wife admitted to sleeping with him, but that’s all I know. Oh, and his name’s Wally Brown.’

  Elsie’s elbow slipped and her chin came crashing down on the table, but she was too excited to feel any pain. Pushing herself up and straightening her turban, she squeaked, ‘Did yer say his name’s Wally Brown?’

  Peg put a hand on her arm to silence her. ‘What’s yer wife like to look at, Bob? Is she fair, dark, redheaded, blonde or what?’

  ‘Nature intended her to be dark, but she’s a bottle blonde.’

  ‘Her name wouldn’t happen to be Ruby, would it?’

  Bob looked puzzled. ‘Yeah. How did yer know that?’

  ‘Me and Elsie go out every Saturday night with our fellers. We don’t go to the same pub every week ’cos we like a change. But our local is Wally Brown’s local, and he’s there every Saturday with a blonde called Ruby. Unless it’s a million to one coincidence, his Ruby and your Ruby are one and the same person. And I’ll tell yer what, Bob, ye’re well out of that marriage. Wally Brown’s never married, but he didn’t need to – he gets all the fun he wants and none of the worry. He’s been with more women than you’ve had hot dinners.’

  Bob nodded. ‘So yer’ve seen them together?’

  Peg turned to her mate. ‘Am I telling the truth, girl?’

  ‘Yes, queen. Thick as thieves they are. Can’t keep their hands off each other. And from what I’ve heard, he doesn’t need no cracks in his ceiling.’

  ‘I don’t suppose yer happen to know where he lives, do yer? Yer see, I’ve put in for a divorce on the grounds of my wife’s adultery, and his name will be down on the application as co-respondent. It would help if I had his address.’

  ‘I’ll have it for yer tomorrow, Bob, without fail. I’m not quite sure of the number of his house and it’s no good guessing. I even know his flippin’ neighbour! I see her at the shops a couple of times a week and we always have a good natter. She’d tell yer some tales about the queer feller and the women he’s had at the house since his mother died.’ Peg turned to her mate with some impatience. ‘What the hell are yer digging me for? I’ll be black and blue tomorrow.’

  ‘What is Wally going down on the application as, queen?’

  ‘Yer mean yer’ve cracked six of me ribs to ask me that! If yer hadn’t sagged off school so often, yer wouldn’t need to keep asking me questions. The word is co-respondent.’

  ‘What does that mean, queen?’

  Peg sighed. ‘It means he’s the one what’s been havin
g it off with Bob’s wife.’

  ‘Why can’t they just say that, instead of using big words what no one can understand? I’ll have forgotten that by the time I get home.’

  Bob smiled across at Kate. They’d been apprehensive about telling their workmates, but it was out in the open now and he felt relieved. And some good had come from it. Tomorrow he’d have the address for Howard.

  Lucy and Rhoda were linking arms and laughing as they turned into their street. They’d been working for two months now and loved it. They didn’t sit near each other at work, so they always had plenty to talk about on the way home. ‘That Vera must get a lot of pocket money to spend on herself,’ Rhoda said. ‘She reeks of Evening in Paris and has a different coloured nail varnish on every day. Yesterday it was pink, today it was bright red. And she always wears lipstick to match.’

  ‘She’s older than us, so she’s bound to earn more.’ Lucy squeezed her friend’s arm. ‘Our day will come, kiddo, have patience.’

  They came to a halt when Andrew Bentley stepped from his house and barred their path. ‘Hello, Lucy. How’s the job going?’

  ‘Fine, thank you, Andrew.’ The girls moved sideways to walk around him but he moved with them. ‘Can we get past, please?’

  ‘I was going to ask if yer’d come to first-house pictures with me one night?’

  Lucy shook her head. ‘I always go out with Rhoda, but thanks for asking.’

  ‘Surely yer can go without her one night? You’re not joined together at the hip or anything.’

  ‘I said no, Andrew, and I meant it. I don’t want to go to the pictures with yer.’ Lucy tugged on Rhoda’s arm and they stepped into the gutter. They’d only gone a few steps when the boy’s voice brought them to an abrupt halt.

  ‘I don’t know where you get your airs and graces from. You’ve got nothing to be stuck up about. Your father’s left home and your mother is no better than a common prostitute.’

  Lucy closed her eyes and froze. But Rhoda moved like a bullet from a gun. She jumped back on the pavement and laid into Andrew with her fists. ‘Don’t yer dare talk to my mate like that, you stuck-up, snotty-nosed little pig.’