by Joan Jonker
‘I didn’t like asking her, but she did say to tell yer that she’d see I got home safely. She’s really nice, Mam, and I’d be thrilled to go to her house for tea, but my main worry is that I haven’t got anything really decent to wear.’
Beth thought of the blue dress, bought that day and now lying at the bottom of her wardrobe. ‘Clothes are the least of yer worries, sunshine, we can always find something to make yer look presentable. But I’d feel happier if we knew more about the woman. Just because she’s posh doesn’t mean she’s a good person. The best thing is to wait and see what yer dad has to say, then we’ll take it from there.’
Andy was inclined to take the opposite view to Beth. He thought that being posh didn’t necessarily mean Miss Meadows was a bad person. ‘She stuck up for our Ginny when she heard her being put on, and she’s made a friend of her ever since. I’d say she’s taken a liking to Ginny, and there’s no harm in that. The only misgiving I’ve got is that she might live miles away, and with the nights being so dark, it’s not safe for a young girl to be coming home on her own. I wouldn’t like that, I’d be worrying meself sick the whole time she was out. But if Ginny wants to go, I wouldn’t mind going to pick her up.’
‘Miss Meadows said to tell yer she’d make sure I got home safely so yer wouldn’t have to worry. And I would like to go, but I haven’t got anything decent to wear. Not to go somewhere posh, anyway. So I’ll ask her to leave it for a bit, shall I, and I can save up and buy meself a nice dress?’
Beth held her daughter’s eyes for a second before looking across the table to where Joey sat eating his dinner, apparently not the least bit interested in the conversation. Then Beth glanced again at her daughter, and there was a message in her eyes which told Ginny not to ask any more questions. ‘A nice dress is the least of yer worries, sunshine, we can always sort yer out with one. But I’d like to know a bit more about Miss Meadows. Like where she lives, and who with. And how is she going to make sure yer get home safely? I’ve nothing against yer going, sunshine, because the experience will do yer good. And I’m sure if yer told the woman about my concern, she’d understand.’
‘I could tell her I’ll go on Sunday, ’cos that’s me real birthday. But are yer sure about me having something to wear, Mam?’
Beth winked. ‘Oh, I think so, sunshine. In fact I’m certain of it. I can’t help yer with a coat, though, so we’ll have to do our best with the one yer’ve got. A sponge down and pressing, it’ll come up like new.’
‘Ask the woman if I can come to tea with yer,’ Joey said. ‘I’ve never been in a posh house.’
‘And ye’re not going in one now, either!’ Ginny raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘I can just imagine you in a posh house. Yer’d be wiping yer nose with the back of yer hand and asking where the lavvy was.’
Joey wasn’t put out ’cos he knew his sister was pulling his leg. So he pulled tongues at her. ‘The toffs don’t say lavvy, they say toilet, so that’s how much you know. And I wouldn’t wipe me nose on the back of me hand, I’d pretend I’d dropped a spoon, and when I was bent down, I’d wipe me nose on your underskirt.’
‘That’s enough now, get on with yer dinner, both of yer,’ Beth said. ‘You can find yer own posh friend, Joey, if yer want to see how the other half live. But let me know when yer do, so I can make sure yer have a clean handkerchief with yer.’
‘The table looks really nice, Mam, yer’ve worked very hard.’
‘Oh, I had help from me mates, sunshine, I didn’t do it all meself so I can’t take the credit.’ Beth looked at her daughter with pride. ‘That dress looks lovely on yer. The colour highlights yer blonde hair and blue eyes.’
‘I can thank you for that, Mam, I got them from you.’
Joey tutted in disgust. ‘Did yer hear that, Dad? It’s enough to make yer want to be sick.’
‘Ay, smarty pants,’ Beth said, laughing. ‘If you hadn’t inherited yer dad’s looks, yer wouldn’t have been so handsome.’
Now that was a compliment if ever he’d heard one, and Joey felt quite chuffed. If he grew up as handsome as his dad, he’d be more than happy. So happy was he, he decided to pay his sister a compliment. ‘Those pearls yer bought, they look nice with the dress.’ Then being an inquisitive young lad, he couldn’t help asking, ‘How much did yer pay for them?’
‘I paid sixpence for them. Pat had put them away for me, and I paid her when the shop closed and we got our wage packets.’ Ginny fingered the imitation pearls. ‘No one could tell they weren’t real, could they, Mam?’
‘I certainly couldn’t, but then I couldn’t tell a real diamond if I saw one.’
‘Oh, I could,’ Andy said. ‘As soon as I clapped eyes on you, love, I knew yer were a very precious stone.’
‘Well, we are full of blarney tonight, aren’t we?’ Beth undid the tie at the back of her pinny and took it off. ‘They’ll all be here any minute now, I don’t want them to think I’m the maid.’ When the knocker sounded she threw the pinny into a cupboard in the sideboard. ‘Here’s the first of them so open the door to your guests, Ginny.’
Flo’s daughter Amy and Joan were the first to arrive, followed closely by Amelia and Bobby. Playing the dutiful hostess, Ginny took their coats and placed them on the bed in her bedroom. She was coming back down the stairs when she heard a rat-tat, and then her mother saying, ‘Come in Mick, Seamus – Ginny won’t be a minute.’
Mick winked at Joan. ‘Ye’re looking very nice in that dress, Miss Flynn. Or should I say birthday girl?’
It wasn’t often that Joan blushed, but she did now. ‘Me mam bought me the dress for Christmas, but she let me wear it tonight because Ginny’s got a new one and I didn’t want to be left out.’
‘Yer do look nice, Joan,’ Bobby agreed. ‘And I think Ginny looks very fetching in her new dress. The colour suits her blonde hair.’
‘Who’s to come now, sunshine?’ Beth asked. ‘Is it only Marie and yer other friend, Pat?’
‘And David.’ Ginny cocked her head at Joan. ‘Where’s your David, why didn’t he come with you?’
‘He was taking ages getting ready, so I wasn’t going to wait any longer for him. He spends more time on his hair than I do! Every hair has to be in place before he’s satisfied.’
‘Well, it shows for it, ’cos he always looks neat,’ Mick said, his blue eyes holding laughter. ‘Me, now,’ he patted his thick mop of dark hair, ‘I put the comb through this about four times a day, and that’s it. Takes ten seconds each time.’
His brother Seamus huffed, ‘Don’t tell so many lies! Yer spend half yer life looking at yerself in the mirror.’
‘I might do if I got the chance. And if I spend half me life looking in the mirror, then I spend the other half watching you standing in front of it, asking, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” And I don’t know why yer won’t believe it when it tells yer that I am the fairest of them all.’
Seamus held out his hands to Beth. ‘Mrs Porter, that’s not a thick mop of hair he’s got, yer know. He’s really only got a bit of hair on a big head.’
Ginny was laughing went she went to answer the next knock on the door. She was surprised to see her three late guests had arrived together. ‘I met Marie at the top of the street,’ Pat said, ‘and she’s introduced me to David so at least I’ll know someone here.’
There was a lot of chatter as introductions were made, and Beth gave her husband a sign to say it was time they left because her mates would be waiting for her to go to the pictures. She’d had strict instructions from Flo that she better hadn’t be late ’cos she wanted to see the short comedy before the big picture. ‘Listen, can I ask yer to be quiet for a minute? Me and Mr Porter are going out to let you have your party without us watching over yer, but we’re expecting yer to behave yerselves. There’s three sixteen-year-old lads here, and I’m putting them in charge to make sure the neighbours are not given anything to complain about, and me home isn’t wrecked.’
‘Bef
ore yer go, Mrs Porter, can we give the three birthday girls their cards and presents?’ Amelia produced a card and small package from her bag and other parcels began to appear from bags and Mick’s jacket pocket. The three giggling girls lined up and were presented with a card from each of their guests and shared presents from the O’Leary house and the Baileys. When Bobby saw Mick giving Joan a kiss as he held out her present, he quickly took the parcel Amelia was holding and whispered, ‘You give them the card, I’ll give Ginny her present.’ And Ginny got a kiss, as did the other two girls. This caused great hilarity as the girls blushed with embarrassment, but were secretly thrilled. They received ten cards each, and five presents, more than they’d ever received in their lives. The presents were the same for each girl, so there could be no jealousy. Bracelets made up of coloured stones, necklaces to match, woollen gloves, underskirts and stockings. And the happy faces on the girls showed how delighted and thrilled they were.
‘Yer’ve done well, sunshine, I’m very happy for yer.’ Beth gave her daughter a hug. ‘Me and yer dad are going to leave yer in peace now.’ She took her husband’s hand and led him to the door. ‘Have a nice time, kids, and don’t be afraid to eat the food when yer get hungry. We’ll be home about a quarter to eleven.’
Beth was about to close the door behind her when Andy asked, ‘How are Marie and Pat going to get home at that time of night? I wouldn’t like a daughter of mine walking the streets in the dark.’
Beth bustled back inside. ‘I won’t keep popping up like a jack-in-the-box, but we’ve just thought on about how Marie and Pat will get home?’
‘Don’t worry, Mrs Porter,’ David said. ‘The lads will make sure they get home safely. After all, there’s no work to worry about tomorrow, so it won’t matter if we’re late getting to bed.’
‘That’s one worry off our minds.’ Beth included everyone in her smile. ‘I promise I won’t be popping back again, so enjoy yerselves.’
Joey had watched all this with interest. After all, it wasn’t long before his birthday, and it seemed the more people you asked, the more presents you got. It was worth bearing that in mind.
There was an embarrassing silence for a while as the girls sat on one side of the room and the boys the other. Then Bobby asked, ‘Ginny, has yer mam said yer can come to the dance with us yet?’
‘Oh, I think she’ll let me go. Especially if Joan, Amelia and Marie are going.’
‘Have yer asked your mam, Joan?’ Mick asked. ‘Yer could come with us the week after the holidays.’
‘If Ginny goes, I go.’ Joan was confident. ‘I’m not going to make a fool of meself on me own. I can just see meself falling flat on me face, or on me backside.’
‘We can have a little practice now, if yer like?’ Mick said. ‘We’ve no music, but yer don’t need it to learn how to waltz.’
When the girls shrank back with something akin to horror on their faces, Bobby said, ‘We can’t dance proper ourselves yet. So really we’d be using you to learn on. Come on, it’ll save us sitting here looking at one another, and it’ll be a laugh.’
‘I’m game for a laugh,’ Marie said, with her wide smile. ‘I don’t mind making a fool of meself if it teaches me how to dance.’
David was on his feet like a shot. ‘I’ll be yer partner, Marie, as long as some of the others get up and they don’t just sit gawping at us.’
Mick grinned across at Joan. ‘Are yer game to trip the light fantastic with me? I promise that in half-an-hour yer’ll know the basic steps for a waltz.’ Then with a cheeky grin, he added, ‘Yer won’t talk all the time, though, will yer, ’cos it’ll put me off.’
‘Ay, you, anyone would think I talk too much!’
‘Well, yer do!’ Joey piped up. ‘Yer never stop.’
Mick crossed the room and held out his hand. ‘He’s only pulling yer leg. Come on, let’s see how quickly yer can pick up just three steps.’
When Bobby crossed the room to stand in front of Ginny, she asked, ‘Is it really only three steps, or is he having her on?’
‘That’s all yer need to learn to start with, yes.’ He held out his hand. ‘Come on, yer’ve got to learn sometime. Better in yer own home than on a dance floor.’
Amelia could see Seamus hesitating and she took the plunge. ‘I’m not going to be a wallflower, so up yer get.’
Apart from Amy and Joey, and nothing on God’s earth would get them up, there was only Pat left, and when Ginny saw her, she felt guilty. ‘Will yer get Pat up, Bobby, and I’ll sit and watch? I feel mean leaving her on her own ’cos she doesn’t know anyone, only me and Marie.’
‘But it’s you I want to dance with.’ There was disappointment on the lad’s face. ‘Can I ask her after?’
‘No, her first and then me.’ Ginny was determined her workmate wasn’t going to be left out. ‘Pat, will you let Bobby show yer how to waltz, and I’ll watch? I know I’d be hopeless.’
‘That’s all right, Ginny, I can dance. I’ve been going dancing for six months now.’
The chattering stopped and all eyes were turned on Pat. ‘Yer mean, yer can dance proper, like?’ Mick asked. ‘Waltz, quickstep and that?’
She nodded. ‘Yer see, I’ve got two sisters older than me, and they taught me how to dance when I was only thirteen, before me mam would allow me to go to a dance with them.’
‘Oh, well,’ Mick said. ‘We’ll let the expert show the girls how to do the waltz, then she can help the lads with the quickstep, ’cos none of us can master that.’
‘We’re not exactly experts at the waltz, either,’ David said, his hand holding Marie’s in readiness. ‘In fact, the girls will knock spots off us after one lesson.’
‘I’m not what yer would call a professional,’ Pat told them. ‘But I think it would be better if the boys taught the girls, rather than me, so they get used to the way yer dance. Otherwise they’ll be lost if a stranger asks them up for a dance. Don’t worry about me, you all go ahead and I’ll watch.’
‘Just show us, Pat, so we get some idea,’ Joan begged. ‘If we see you doing it, it’s better than being told what to do.’
‘Okay.’ Pat jumped to her feet. ‘The girls always start off with the left foot in a waltz. So it’s back with the left foot, side step with the right, then bring the left foot over to the right.’ She repeated it several times, saying ‘one, two, three, one, two, three’ over and over again. ‘There now, that’s not hard, is it? Try it with your partners.’
It looked easy when Pat did it, but the girls didn’t find it easy at all. At first they were calling themselves stupid when they used the wrong foot or stood on their partner’s toes, until Marie saw the funny side and started to laugh at herself for being clumsy. That set everyone off, and the next few hours were filled with merriment and laughter. No one cared if they had two left feet or couldn’t manage a spin when they came to turn. A few steps were learned, and Pat did a tango on her own which had not only the gang in stitches but young Amy and Joey too. They laughed till the tears rolled down their faces. It was a time of great pleasure, a group of young friends starting out on the road to adulthood and enjoying the process. The bonds of friendship were strengthened, and hopefully they would remain so.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The family had finished their breakfast when Ginny came down on the Sunday morning. Beth had let her sleep in because she knew she’d be exhausted, more by excitement than anything else. ‘Good morning, lazy bones.’
‘Good morning.’ Ginny rubbed her eyes. ‘Ooh, I slept like a log, I don’t even remember putting me head down on the pillow.’ She pulled a chair from the table and was about to sit down when she saw two cards standing by her plate and two small wrapped parcels. She looked up to see three pairs of eyes on her, and before she could say anything she was being kissed on one cheek by her mother, and on the other by her father.
‘Happy birthday, sunshine! We didn’t give yer the cards and presents yesterday because we knew yer’d be getting plenty.’
/> Andy held her tight. ‘All the best, love, and may yer have many more happy birthdays.’
Joey couldn’t make up his mind. Kisses were for cissies, but on the other hand he was lucky to have Ginny for a sister. So he rounded the table and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. ‘Happy birthday, Sis.’ And he couldn’t resist adding, just in case she took ages to open her present and he couldn’t wait that long, ‘I hope yer like what I bought for yer.’
‘I’m sure I will if you chose it, Joey, ’cos yer know what I like.’
Now he wasn’t expecting this reply and had to think quickly. ‘Well, I did ask Marie what she thought yer’d like more than anything, and asked her to get it for me.’
Beth and Andy smiled with pride. They were indeed blessed with their children. ‘D’yer want yer breakfast first?’ Beth asked. ‘Or would yer rather open yer pressies?’
Joey was standing beside his sister, and she could almost feel him willing her to say she wanted to open the presents first. He was so pleased with himself for having saved his pocket money to buy Ginny the present that Marie had said she’d love.
‘I’ll open me presents.’ Ginny had lost her sleepiness now, and excitement was building up inside her. ‘I wasn’t expecting anything ’cos yer did the party for me, Mam, and that was enough.’ Her hand reached for the nearest parcel which she could see had Joey’s name on it. It was very small and she wondered what it could be. Whatever it was, she was going to make a big fuss over it after him going without his comics to buy it for her. ‘Yours first, eh, kid?’
Her parents and brother were hoping for a happy reaction, but they got far more than they’d hoped for when Ginny shrieked and nearly toppled the chair over when she pushed it back. ‘Oh, I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!’ She gazed down at the ring which had a large red square glass stone set in claws. ‘Oh, it’s lovely, Joey, thank you.’ She kissed and hugged him. ‘I was going to buy it for meself next payday.’ She giggled. ‘Well, one just like it anyway.’