by Joan Jonker
Beth’s hand went to her mouth. ‘Oh, lord, I’m that thrilled with meself I forgot anyone might be listening. Anyway, ye’re all agreed I got a good deal?’
‘If I thought they had another one that would fit our David, I’d be down there like a shot,’ Dot said. ‘He could do with a good winter coat.’
‘Come with me and Flo one day through the week, sunshine, ’cos yer never know, yer might just touch lucky.’
‘And it’s meself that’ll be joining yer, right enough.’ Lizzie was thinking of her two sons, Mick and Seamus. ‘I’ll not be missing a bargain if I can help it.’
‘Right, the four of us will go down the day we get our Tontines.’ Beth was very pleased with herself and couldn’t wait to see her son. ‘But don’t forget I bought the coat this afternoon, while yer were out with me. Don’t slip up or I’ll be in trouble.’
Dot crossed her heart. ‘Scout’s honour, girl, I won’t let yer down. And I’m damned sure Flo and Lizzie won’t.’
‘I know none of yer would, sunshine, ye’re me best mates, aren’t yer?’ Beth lifted her basket from the floor. ‘I’m going to put me shopping in the house and then go down to Hannah’s. I can’t wait to see our Joey’s face.’
‘Tell him to give us a knock so we can see it on him,’ Dot said. ‘He’ll be a proper little gentleman.’
Flo was leaning back against the sink with her arms folded across her tummy. ‘I think the word ye’re looking for is swank.’
‘And who would blame the lad, in a coat like that?’ Lizzie’s head was busy agreeing with her words. ‘There’ll not be another one in the neighbourhood as well dressed.’
‘Don’t tell Joey that, Lizzie, ’cos he’s big-headed enough.’ Then Beth shook her head. ‘No, I take that back. If he does swank, it won’t be because he’s the best dressed in the neighbourhood, it’ll be because he’s never in his life owned such a fine coat.’
Joey’s reaction to the coat had Beth telling herself it was worth all the lying she’d done, and was still doing. Her son was so pleased he could hardly speak, and when the men downed their tools to admire the material, the make and the fit, he was so excited Beth thought he would faint. She looked at Andy. ‘What d’yer think, sunshine?’
‘I think yer’ve done very well, love. If yer only paid seven and six for that coat, then whoever sold it to yer were practically giving it away.’
‘That’s all it was, ask any of me mates, they were with me. Anyway, I might tell the odd little white lie, but I’m not telling fibs now.’
‘Did they have any girls’ things, Mam?’ Ginny asked. ‘I could do with a new coat.’ Then she realised she sounded jealous of her brother, and that wasn’t what she’d intended. After all, she did have a decent coat while Joey didn’t. ‘I don’t mean for now, the coat I’ve got will last a while. But I could start saving up out of me pocket money when I start work, and get one for next winter.’
‘I’ll take yer to the stall and yer can look for yerself. Yer’ll be having every Wednesday afternoon off, so we could go then. In the meantime, there are three women all waiting to see Joey in his new coat – Auntie Flo, Auntie Dot and Auntie Lizzie. So how about it, sunshine?’
The boy’s eyes were like saucers. ‘Yer mean I can put it on now?’
‘Of course yer can, that’s what I got it for, to keep yer warm.’ Beth held the coat wide and he slipped his arms into the sleeves. ‘Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy! I feel like James Cagney in this.’
And when he set off up the street, there were four grown men watching plus his proud mother and sister, and Hannah. And before darkness descended there were few in that little street of two-up-two-down houses who hadn’t seen and admired Joey’s new coat.
Chapter Twelve
‘Alone at last!’ Beth said on the Monday morning after seeing the children off to school. ‘Ginny’s all excited ’cos it’s her last week at school, and Joey’s a bundle of excitement over his new coat.’ She chuckled as she pulled a chair out from the table and sat down facing Hannah. ‘He’ll thump any kid that looks sideways at it, never mind lays a finger on it.’
‘There’s not many boys can boast a coat like that, sweetheart, it’s a very good make.’ Hannah nodded for emphasis. ‘If yer’d bought it new, in a shop, it would have set yer back about four guineas. If not more.’
‘Yeah, I hopped in lucky all right, thanks to Flo. She did us both a good turn last week, God bless her.’ Beth laid her arms flat on the table and sighed. ‘A quiet fifteen minutes and then I’ll see to the clothes in the dolly tub. I’ve always hated Monday mornings and the big wash, but it’s worse in this weather ’cos there’s nowhere to dry them off.’
‘I’ll give yer a hand, sweetheart, ’cos there’s some of my washing in there.’
Beth shook her head. ‘No, there’s no room in that kitchen to swing a cat, we’d only be in each other’s way. Yer can make the beds for us, sunshine, or give this room a dust, that would be a big help. But neither of us is doing anything until we’ve had a quiet fifteen minutes, so let’s talk about where you’re up to. The men did well on Saturday getting the partition up and seeing to the bed. Are yer happy with it?’
‘More than happy, sweetheart, everyone has been very kind. I never thought that back bedroom could be made into two, but although there’s not stacks of space, there’s enough and both rooms look nice. They’ll look more cosy when the wood is covered by wallpaper, but I’m sure Claire will see to that. If I remember rightly, she’s handy around the house.’
‘There’ll be no need for that, sunshine, ’cos that job is in hand for today. If you’ll nip to the shops and get a roll of paper that doesn’t clash with the paper already up on the other walls, we can do it today. I’ll have to see what me three mates have got planned, but I promise yer that whatever happens, the bedrooms will be ready for occupation by tonight.’
‘There’s no need for that, it can wait until Claire comes. I’ve taken enough off you and yer friends as it is.’
‘Oh, but ye’re not upsetting me plans, sunshine. I promised meself that everything would be done before yer family arrive, so yer wouldn’t be worrying that head of yours.’ Beth took hold of the old lady’s hand. ‘I’m doing it because I want to, Hannah, and so are me mates. We all think ye’re one smashing lady, so please let us help yer? When Claire and yer grandchildren are living with yer, we’ll know ye’re being well looked after and won’t interfere. But yer know ye’re always welcome in this house.’
There were tears in Hannah’s eyes. ‘And you in mine, sweetheart. And all yer family and friends. I’ll miss seeing Flo every day, and Dot and Lizzie. But it’s not as though I’ll be living at the other end of the world, I’m only down the street and can come for a cup of tea if I’m feeling lonely, or invite yer to mine.’
‘I doubt yer’ll be lonely with two youngsters in the house, sunshine, they’ll keep yer on the go. Keep yer young in heart as well.’ Beth sighed as she glanced at the clock. ‘Break over, time for work. If you’ll make the beds for us, I’ll start taking the clothes out of the dolly tub and rinse them in cold water in the sink. Then I’ll get as much wet out of them as I can with the mangle before hanging them on the clothes rack on the kitchen ceiling. There’ll be damp everywhere for a day or so, but it can’t be helped.’ She pushed herself to her feet. ‘I don’t want to sound like a slave driver, but needs must when the devil drives. Me three mates will be here as soon as they’ve finished their work, to see what the arrangements are for the day. I don’t want to be caught napping.’
‘You see to the washing, sweetheart, and leave the beds and the living room to me. I may be getting on a bit in years, but I’m still capable of keeping a house clean.’
Beth leaned across the table to kiss her cheek. ‘Ye’re on, sunshine! I’ll meet yer here in an hour’s time, please God.’
‘So what’s on the agenda for today?’ Flo was sitting on one of the wooden dining chairs, but looking at her you would think she was sitting on fresh ai
r, for there was no sign of the chair. ‘We three have all been to see Ma Maloney, and we’ve got our pound off her. So we could do a bit of Christmas shopping with it, and do the rest tomorrow when we get our Tontine.’
‘I’d like to go to the market and have a look at this stall yer were raving about,’ Dot said. ‘But it’s what the majority want to do.’
Beth had thought all this through when she was rinsing the clothes, but didn’t want her mates to think she wanted everything her own way. So she went about it in a roundabout way. ‘I’d like to go to the market, too, but I’d rather go with enough money in me pocket to buy everything I want. I thought today perhaps I’d try me hand at papering that partition the men put up for Hannah. A bit of wallpaper would brighten the place up and make it look warmer. But if you lot have set yer minds on going to the market today then you go, don’t let me stop yer. I can always go tomorrow after we’ve been paid our Tontine money. At least then I’d have enough to buy most of the things I want for presents.’
Flo’s legs were too short for her feet to touch the floor, and she had a habit of swinging them backwards and forwards. When she heard what Beth had to say, she left them dangling. ‘I’ll leave the market until tomorrow as well, ’cos as yer say we’ll have all our money. So I’ll give yer a hand with the papering.’
‘You can’t wallpaper to save yer life!’ Dot said. ‘Yer can’t stand on a ladder because yer say ye’re afraid of heights!’
‘It doesn’t stop me from cutting the border off the paper, or mixing the bleedin’ paste, smart arse! And I can paste each piece and hand it to Beth when she’s ready. You go about yer business and leave us to go about ours.’
‘No!’ Dot sounded quite definite. ‘I can put paper up, I’ve done our living room a few times and didn’t make a bad job of it. So I’ll skip the market until tomorrow and give Beth a hand.’
‘Yer mean yer’ll give Beth and Flo a hand, don’t yer, queen?’ Flo put on her hard done by expression. ‘Seeing as I was the first one to offer me services.’
‘Well, I’ll not be going to the market on me own, and that’s a fact,’ Lizzie said. ‘It’s much more fun when ye’re in company. So shall we all give a hand with the papering today, and say for certain we’ll go to the market tomorrow?’ She looked from one face to another. ‘Sure, I know we don’t need five of us to put a few strips of wallpaper up, but I’m sure there is plenty we can help Hannah with. Like cleaning the windows ready for her family coming, or polishing the furniture, brushing the yard – there must be loads we can do.’
Beth was over the moon but tried hard not to show it. She knew there hadn’t been any work done in Hannah’s house for a week now, so the whole place could do with a good clean right through. ‘That’s a good idea, it would be nice to have the house shining for Claire and her children coming. And we could all go to the market tomorrow with a clear conscience and some money in our purses. All except Hannah, ’cos she’s got a tea chest being delivered so she’ll have to wait in for it.’
‘I wouldn’t be going anywhere tomorrow anyway ’cos I want to get the house warmed through and the bedding aired off. Besides I only want to buy a couple of little things to give Bobby and Amelia for Christmas, and perhaps a pair of stockings or something for Claire.’
‘We could get those for yer from the market.’ Beth didn’t know Hannah’s financial situation and certainly wasn’t going to ask. But being a widow for so long, and no wage coming into the house, she certainly couldn’t be flush with money. ‘Stockings are a lot cheaper there than they are in the shops, sunshine, so yer’d save a few coppers. And we could get socks for the lad, save you bothering.’
Hannah would never admit it, she was far too proud, but she did have to struggle for money every week. She had tried not to let her standards slip, either in the house or with clothes, but it had been hard going over the years. All she had to her name now was the shilling change from the pound she’d borrowed off the moneylender, and the pound Claire had sent to buy groceries in. Oh, she had her rent money put away, that was one thing she wouldn’t miss. When she was young, her mother had drummed it into her that you could go without coal or food, but you couldn’t go without a roof over your head. ‘I’ll have to see how I’m off for money after I’ve paid for the roll of wallpaper.’
‘I bought a roll of wallpaper more than I needed last time I decorated,’ Dot said. ‘So ye’re welcome to that ’cos I’ll never use it. That’s if yer like it, of course. If yer don’t, there’s no harm done and no hard feelings.’
‘Is it the same as yer’ve got in yer living room?’ Beth asked, her hopes rising. You could buy a roll of paper for a shilling, but Hannah was probably counting her coppers, never mind her shillings.
‘Yeah, that’s it,’ Dot said. ‘Light beige with a tiny pink flower on.’
‘What colour is the paper yer have up, me darlin’?’ Lizzie asked.
‘It’s hard to tell because it’s been up so many years. But it’s very plain and doesn’t have any pattern on at all.’
‘Then it wouldn’t clash with whatever is put up.’ Beth smiled with pleasure. ‘Blimey, you and our Joey are definitely enjoying a lucky streak. I wish some of it would rub off on me.’
‘You used all yer luck up the day yer married the most handsome man in Liverpool.’ Dot winked. ‘So don’t be getting greedy.’ She rose to her feet. ‘I’ll fetch the paper and yer can see for yerself, Hannah, whether yer think it will do.’
She was back within minutes, with a roll of wallpaper that everyone agreed was very pretty. Hannah was overwhelmed by all that was happening so quickly. She wasn’t being given time to be embarrassed by the generosity of these people. It was only a week ago, when she’d heard that her beloved son was dead, that she had wished she too could die. There didn’t seem any point in living. But these women, and their families, had never stopped letting her know, in their different ways, that she still had a lot to live for. So there was a smile on her face when she said, ‘As your Ginny would say, I’m going to be proper posh.’
It was Lizzie who decided it was time to start work. ‘I’ll go across and mix some flour and water for paste. I’ll make it in the bucket, so I will, me darlin’s, and by the time the paper’s trimmed and cut to size, the paste will be well set.’
‘Who’s got a decent pair of scissors?’ Beth asked. ‘The only ones I’ve got wouldn’t even cut butter.’
Flo put her hand in the air. ‘I’ve got a smashing pair of scissors. At least they belong to Dennis, but what’s his is mine, and what’s mine is me own.’
‘Mine are not bad, either,’ Dot said. ‘And two pair would come in handy, so I’ll get them. Now I think we should all start making a move if we want to get anything done.’
‘I’ll second that,’ Beth said. ‘It’s all hands to the pumps.’
‘So, yer’ve had a busy day, you and yer mates?’ Andy glanced down the table and his eyes held that look that always made Beth go weak at the knees. It was the look that said even after seventeen years of marriage he was still crazy about her. ‘Did they do a good job for yer, Hannah?’
‘An excellent job, Andy.’ The old lady didn’t know whether she was on her head or her heels or cloud nine. ‘Yer wife did an expert job on the papering, helped very efficiently by Flo and Dot. They had the papering done in no time, then cleared up after themselves before helping Lizzie, who was cleaning me house from top to bottom. It’s like a little palace now, shining like a new pin. And I don’t know how to start thanking everyone, there aren’t enough words to express how grateful I am.’ She could feel a lump forming in her throat and a voice in her head warned her that she was in danger of becoming maudlin and making everyone miserable. ‘I’m so used to having servants waiting on me hand and foot, I don’t know what I’m going to do after tomorrow.’
‘I’ll come down and wait on yer during the holidays, Mrs Bailey,’ Joey said. ‘I can go on messages for yer, and bring yer coal in.’
‘And I can w
ash yer dishes,’ Ginny said. ‘And I’m a dab hand at dusting.’
Beth smiled, proud that her two children had a caring nature. ‘I don’t think that will be necessary, not when Claire and the children are there. After all, Bobby is sixteen and Amelia fifteen, so they’ll be a big help.’
Ginny’s face dropped. ‘I can still come and see yer, can’t I? I mean, yer’ll want to know how I’m getting on in me new job, won’t yer?’
‘Of course I will, sweetheart, I’ll be eager for yer news. And the children will be pleased to see yer. They’ll have to start from scratch here ’cos they’ll have no friends. They’ve been away so long they won’t know a soul.’
‘I’ll introduce Amelia to my friends,’ Ginny said, her eyes bright. ‘And Joan’s brother is about the same age as Bobby, so perhaps they’ll become mates.’
‘Just let things take their course, sunshine,’ Beth said. ‘The children are bound to feel strange at first, so give them a chance to find their feet. And I don’t want you or Joey to make nuisances of yerselves when me back’s turned, either. Let everyone get settled first, and Christmas over, then we can take our time in getting to know each other.’
‘New Year’s Eve is a good time to get to know each other,’ Andy said. ‘Usually the whole street is out, and all very friendly after having had a few drinks.’ He chuckled. ‘Some will be the worse for wear, but it is only once a year and yer can’t blame them for making merry.’
‘That’s an idea, that, Hannah,’ Beth said. ‘We’ll probably meet up a few times before then, but pass on our invitation for them to come here on New Year’s Eve for a drink. The house will be full to bursting point, ’cos the families on both sides come in, and Lizzie and her lot. At one time we used to take turns in having a party, but somehow over the years it’s been whittled down to ours every year. I don’t mind, though, ’cos they all chip in with sandwiches, cakes and beer. And Flo, Dot and Lizzie come round the next morning and help me clear the mess away.’