by Joan Jonker
The hour passed quickly, and it seemed no time before Bill and Arthur were back. This was a signal for Vera to say she’d have to go and get the tea ready. She looked more relaxed, but refused when Eileen asked her to stay for a while. ‘Ask the girls to bring Carol down, please.’
‘I’m beginning to think I should change me talcum powder,’ Arthur smiled at Vera. ‘Every time I come in, you say it’s time for you to leave.’
‘No.’ Vera returned his smile. ‘I really must get home to see to the tea, and I’ve got to iron the boys’ shirts for tomorrow.’
Carol kicked and screamed but Vera was determined. ‘Give everyone a kiss, there’s a good girl.’
Eileen walked them to the door. ‘I’ll slip round one mornin’ next week on me way to work, to see ’ow yer are.’
‘Thanks for listening, Eileen, you’re a pal.’
‘It’s my turn next week, kiddo! You can sit and listen to my tales of woe.’
Vera’s laugh rang out. ‘You never look as though you’ve got any troubles, Mrs Gillmoss.’
‘Then I’ll make some up!’ There was a smile on Eileen’s face, but inside she was thinking, if you only knew! But as she closed the door, she admitted to herself that her troubles were nothing compared to Vera’s. ‘Oh, well,’ she said softly, ‘no matter ’ow bad things are, yer always find someone worse off than yerself.’
‘Carol’s a lovely little girl.’ Arthur looked up when Eileen walked in. ‘And Vera seems a nice, quiet woman.’
‘Oh, she’s not always quiet.’ Eileen sat down heavily. ‘But when you think of it, she hasn’t got much to shout about, ’as she? Her two boys are lovely and they’re very good to her, but she’s got her hands full with Carol. An’ her husband’s no catch, I can tell yer! She deserves better than him.’
‘Now, Eileen,’ Bill said, ‘you should keep your views to yourself.’
‘An’ Danny Jackson should keep ’is ’ands to ’imself!’ Eileen retorted hotly. ‘Vera Jackson would be a different woman if it wasn’t for ’im! He’s a rotter, an’ I don’t care who hears me sayin’ it!’
Bill glared at his wife. ‘I don’t think we should be discussing Vera’s business behind her back.’
‘Oh, aye! Is that what yer think, Bill? That I’m just a nosey parker who should mind ’er own business?’ Eileen was riled now, and for the moment she forgot Arthur Kennedy was there. ‘Answer me somethin’, Bill, just out of curiosity. If I told yer that right now Danny Jackson was givin’ Vera a bloody good hidin’, what would yer do? Would yer sit there an’ do nothin’, an’ tell me to mind me own business? Is that really what yer’d do, Bill?’
‘Eileen, this has gone too far! You always were one for exaggerating, but this time you’re really surpassing yourself.’
‘Oh, I am, am I? Well try this on for size, Bill! Four years ago, Harry Sedgemoor beat the livin’ daylights out of Danny Jackson when he found him hittin’ Vera. And if Harry hadn’t threatened ’im, Danny would have carried on hitting Vera till she was soft in the ’ead.’ Eileen was so angry her chest was heaving. Pointing to the door, she said, ‘The woman that’s just gone out of that door, is black and blue all over ’er body. The scarf round ’er neck is not just an ornament, it’s to hide some of the bruises given to ’er by ’er ’usband.’
Bill sat back in the chair, his face drained of colour. ‘Oh, no!’
‘Oh, bloody yes!’ Eileen cried. ‘She’s been a punch bag for that bastard since the day Carol was born. Danny Jackson couldn’t bear the shame of havin’ a mongol child so he took it out on Vera.’ The tears were released and flowed down Eileen’s cheeks. ‘The day Harry burst into their house he found Vera hunched over Carol, protecting her from the blows.’ Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Eileen sniffed. ‘D’yer still think I should mind me own business? ’Cos if yer do, Bill, then yer can think again.’
‘I had no idea,’ Bill said softly, ‘I’m sorry, chick.’
‘So am I,’ Arthur said. ‘Sorry because he’s not here to tell him what I think of men who hit women.’
‘I can’t understand the man!’ Bill’s head was shaking. ‘Carol’s a lovely little thing, how could anyone not love her?’
‘A big-headed bastard, that’s who! And just think what it’s goin’ to be like for Vera when he comes ’ome for good.’
Eileen pushed her chair back when she heard footsteps running down the stairs, and she had her back to the door when Joan burst in. ‘Mam, Carol left ’er cardi on the bed.’
‘Leave it on the table, sunshine, an’ go back an’ play for a while.’ Eileen waited till the door closed before turning round. ‘I’ll drop it in their house on me way to work temorrer.’
‘Where does Vera live?’ Arthur asked. ‘If it’s on me way to the bus stop, I could pass it in.’
‘She only lives a few streets away, but it doesn’t matter, Arthur, I can get it to her.’
‘It’s no trouble to me.’ Arthur eased himself off the couch and picked up the small, pink cardigan. ‘I’ll knock on me way past.’
Chapter Twenty
‘Ooh, thank heaven for that!’ Eileen staggered up the front step laden down with bags and parcels, ‘Me arms are nearly droppin’ off!’
Maggie closed the door and followed her daughter down the hall. ‘Did you get everything you wanted?’
‘I ’ope so. I wouldn’t want to go through that again for all the tea in China,’ Eileen groaned, holding hands out to show the angry weals on her wrists made by the handles of the shopping bags. She fell exhausted on to the couch and kicked her shoes off. ‘It was packed in town, yer could ’ardly move.’ Then she noticed Bill standing stiffly on the opposite side of the table. ‘What the ’ell are yer standin’ like that for, with a grin on yer face like a Cheshire cat?’
Bill stepped aside to reveal the Christmas tree he’d been in the process of decorating. ‘We were hoping to have it finished before you came in, so we could surprise you.’ He lifted the tree carefully and placed it on the small table in front of the window. ‘It’ll look nice when we’ve finished.’
Eileen’s eyebrows nearly touched her hair line. ‘Where did yer get it?’
‘From the greengrocer’s.’ Bill added a silver ball that Maggie handed to him. ‘There wasn’t much to choose from, but it’ll look nice when we’ve got all the decorations on.’
‘He bought a set of coloured lights, too!’ Maggie was looking as pleased as punch. ‘Wait till you see it finished.’
‘Yer’ve been busy, Bill!’ Eileen closed an eye and cocked her head. ‘It sets the room off, makes it look more Christmassy.’
‘I’ll get on with it while you sort your shopping out,’ Bill said. ‘I want it finished before tea time.’
Maggie hovered over the parcels, filled with curiosity. ‘Let’s see what you’ve bought.’
‘You can open them, Mam, I’m whacked.’ Eileen pointed to one of the bags. ‘But keep yer ’ands off that one, it’s private.’
‘I feel like a child again,’ Maggie said as she brought out boxes of board games, coloured balls, a post office set for Joan and a sweet shop for Edna. There was a shirt and tie for Billy, which brought smiles from Maggie and Bill. ‘He’ll think he’s the whole cheese with these on.’
Another bag contained two dolls, one for Victoria and one for Emma, and a mechanical policeman for young Tony.
‘My word you have been busy!’ Maggie came to the last bag, and there was puzzlement on her face when she saw the contents. ‘Who are these for?’
‘The teddy bear’s for Carol, an’ the fire engine and car are for Arthur’s two boys.’ Eileen saw her mother’s look and said, ‘Well I couldn’t leave them out, could I? God knows, the poor buggers don’t get much out of life.’
‘You’ve spent a few bob, chick.’ Bill surveyed the table cluttered with presents. ‘Have you won the pools?’
‘I’d ’ave a job, seein’ as ’ow I don’t do them,’ Eileen grinned. ‘I got me tontine last week, an�
� I’ve been in Milly’s club all year. Bloody good job, too, or I’d never ’ave been able to buy all that lot.’
‘Have you got everything, now?’ Bill stepped back to admire his handiwork before adjusting a twisted silver paper dangler. ‘I’ve still got a few pounds if there’s anything else you need.’
‘No, that’s me lot, thank God! Except for the sweets, but I might nip up to Milly’s later and get them. I ’ope she’s got a few things under the counter for me, otherwise the kids will be disappointed. Then there’s the eats, of course, but I should be all right for money. If not I’ll come on the cadge.’
Eileen’s feet were throbbing, her arms sore, and she felt drained of energy. ‘Mam, I ’aven’t got the strength to move, will yer see to the tea for us? It’s only beans on toast, so it won’t take yer long.’
‘I’ll see to the tea when I’ve finished this,’ Bill said. ‘Why don’t you put your head down for half an hour and have a rest?’
‘William Gillmoss, that’s the best idea yer’ve ’ad all day.’ Eileen swerved her bottom round and lifted her legs on to the couch. ‘I won’t go to sleep, just close me eyes for five minutes.’
‘Just come and look at her.’ Maggie beckoned to Bill. ‘She’s out for the count.’
Bill took the pan of beans off the gas and followed Maggie. They stood inside the door and surveyed the sleeping figure. ‘I’m worried about her, Bill! She’s not the same Eileen at all! Her rosy chubby cheeks aren’t rosy or chubby any more, she seems to be losing weight, she’s listless all the time, and what she eats wouldn’t keep a sparrow alive. Will you try and persuade her to go to the doctor’s for a tonic? She needs to do something about herself, or she’ll be ill.’
Maggie was voicing what Bill had been thinking for a few weeks. He had an idea what was wrong with his wife, but was afraid to put it into words. ‘I’ll try, but you know how stubborn she can be.’
‘Doctor Greenfield’s back in his surgery, and he’s a smashing bloke to talk to.’ Maggie asked God to forgive her for being underhanded, but this was her daughter’s future she was worried about. ‘Couldn’t you say you wanted to go to the doctor’s for a check-up, and ask her to go with you?’
Bill searched Maggie’s face for a sign that would tell him that she too knew what was wrong with Eileen, but Maggie’s face was one of innocence.
‘I’ll try and have a word with her tonight,’ he promised.
Their whispering must have disturbed Eileen, and she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw were the lights on the small Christmas tree, and a smile lit up her face. Sliding her legs down, she saw Maggie’s back disappearing into the kitchen. ‘It’s all right, Mam, I’m awake! No need to creep around in case yer disturb the sleepin’ beauty!’
‘I just popped in to see if you were awake,’ Maggie said. ‘Bill’s got the tea ready.’
Eileen rubbed the sleep from her eyes. ‘Where’s the kids?’
‘In Cissie Maddox’s back yard. They’re playing dressing up.’
‘Give them a shout for us, Mam, will yer? I can’t wait to see their faces when they get a load of the tree.’
‘I’ve put all the parcels on top of your wardrobe out of the way. I’ll help you wrap them up when they’re in bed.’
Eileen grinned, ‘You’re like a big soft kid yerself, aren’t yer, Mam?’
‘Everyone’s a kid at Christmas.’ Maggie re-tied the loose bow at the back of her apron. ‘Even you, clever clogs!’
The girls were in bed, Billy was out with his mates, Bill was reading the Echo, and Eileen and Maggie were busy wrapping presents. ‘Are you giving Arthur the presents for his children?’ Maggie asked, winding up the bright red fire engine.
‘No, I’m going to ask ’im to bring them one day next week when the schools break up. He’ll probably come temorrer, so I’ll ask ’im then.’
‘How old are they, d’you know?’
‘I think seven and nine.’ Eileen was stroking the blond hair of a small doll wearing a blue dress with white lace round the neck and hem. ‘I think their names are Gordon and David, but I’m not sure which one is the elder.’
‘He never mentions his wife, does he?’
‘I don’t think ’e sees much of her! I know ’e makes the children’s breakfast, and yer know ’e always leaves in time to be home when school lets out, so I imagine he makes their tea, as well.’
‘What a way to live,’ Maggie sighed, ‘and he’s such a nice bloke.’
‘Yer want to see ’is wife! She’s a real floosie if ever I saw one,’ Eileen grunted, and when she heard Bill rustle the paper she winked at her mother. ‘Yes, Bill, we’re janglin’ again! But we wouldn’t be women if we didn’t pull everyone to pieces. In fact, if we didn’t ’ave someone to talk about, we’d never open our flippin’ mouths.’
‘Are we asking Rene and Alan for Christmas dinner?’ Maggie asked. ‘I think we should.’
‘Yeah, we’ll ’ave the family together for Christmas day … that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Doesn’t matter the rest of the year, but come Christmas it’s nice to ’ave yer family round yer.’ Eileen stretched her leg out and tapped Bill on the shin with her foot. ‘How about us ’avin’ a party on Boxing day, Bill? It’ll be yer first Christmas at ’ome for five years, so wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate?’
Bill lowered the paper. ‘Who would you ask?’
‘I was thinking of Mary and Harry and their kids, and Mrs B. of course. And Vera could bring Carol. Then there’s Arthur … I’m sure he’d like to come.’
‘Eileen, where would you put them all?’ Bill’s eyes swept the room. ‘There isn’t room to swing a cat in here.’
‘Oh, I wasn’t goin’ to invite any cats!’ Eileen laughed, ‘just me mates.’
Bill looked doubtful. ‘Well, it’s up to you I suppose, but they’d be packed in like sardines.’
Eileen shook her head. ‘I worked it all out on the bus comin’ ’ome. Our Rene’s goin’ to Alan’s parents on Boxing day, and our Billy won’t be ’ere ’cos he’s goin’ to a party at his mates, so that’s three less. And if the kids play upstairs in the bedroom, an’ we move me mam’s chair so the table can go next to the small table by the window, there’ll be plenty of room here for the grown-ups.’
Maggie and Bill exchanged glances. ‘She’s got it all worked out, Bill.’
‘So it seems.’ Bill gave a wry smile. ‘If you like, Eileen, I could scrape the wallpaper off and that would give you more room.’
‘Funny ha-ha!’ Eileen pulled tongues at him. ‘Anyway, what d’yez think?’
‘Do we have any say in the matter?’ Bill asked.
‘Not really! We’ve ’ad five lousy Christmases, and I ain’t about to ’ave a sixth. If it takes me food ration coupons for the next six months, an’ we ’ave to starve, I’m determined that this Christmas is goin’ to be a happy one … I’ll enjoy meself if it kills me.’
Eileen scrambled to her feet. ‘I think I’ll nip up to Milly’s and get me sweet club out. That’ll be another thing off me mind. She doesn’t close the shop till ten, and it’s only ’alf nine.’
There were no customers in the shop and Milly gave Eileen a tired smile. ‘Roll on ten o’clock.’
‘I thought yer’d be empty. I won’t keep yer long, Milly, but I may as well get the sweets in for the kids’ stockings.’
‘I’ve put some things away in a box for you … hang on a minute, they’re in the stock room.’
Leaning on the counter, Eileen watched Milly empty the box. There were liquorice pipes, sweet cigarettes, sugar mice, sherbet dips and chocolate animals with silver hoops for hanging on the tree.
‘Milly, yer a pal if ever there was one! I ’aven’t seen sugar mice or them chocolate things since the war started. I don’t know ’ow to thank yer, not just for these, but for all the times yer’ve helped us out in the last five years. I don’t know ’ow we’d ’ave managed without yer.’
‘Now, I’m giving you these on the sly, so no
t a word to anyone,’ Milly warned, ‘otherwise there’ll be mutiny with me other customers.’ She put the goodies back in the box and pushed it towards Eileen. ‘Now you can spend your ration coupons on whatever else yer want.’
Eileen eyed the long, shallow tins of toffee in the glass display and licked her lips. ‘I’ll ’ave some of that, ’cos me mam and Bill like it. A quarter each of banana split, walnut, and treacle. And I’ll ’ave whatever is left on me coupons in hundreds and thousands, and dolly mixtures.’ Milly took up the toffee hammer and broke up the slab of banana split. It was when she was weighing the broken pieces on the scale, she said, nonchalantly, ‘Oh, by the way, Jack’s coming home in a couple of days.’
‘On leave again?’
‘No, for good!’ Milly tipped the toffee into a paper bag, flung it on the counter, lifted her arms in the air and shouted, ‘Whoopee!’ She punched the air with a clenched fist, ‘I’ve been dying to do that all day.’
Eileen looked at the happy, though tired, smiling face. ‘I’m very glad for yer, Milly.’
‘Just think, Eileen, I’ll be able to have a lie in when I feel like it, have time to cook a proper meal and eat it in peace without worrying about that blasted bell ringing, and, best of all, I’ll be able to go to the pictures a couple of times a week. Isn’t it a lovely thought?’
‘Yer deserve it, Milly, honest to God yer do. I don’t know ’ow yer’ve managed all these years on yer own.’
‘Well, it’ll soon be over, thank heaven. Jack thought he’d be away for another couple of months, but it seems they’re demobbing the older men first.’ Milly closed her eyes. ‘The last five years have seemed like an eternity.’
‘Well, yer’ll ’ave the rest of yer life to make up for it.’ Eileen eyed the round-faced clock on the wall. ‘It’s ten o’clock, Milly, time for yer to close up. If yer finish me off, I’ll leave yer to go to bed and dream sweet dreams.’