by Joan Jonker
‘It’s just one of those things that can’t be helped,’ Arthur said. ‘Don’t worry about me.’
‘If I want to worry about yer, then I’ll worry about yer, so you just shut yer cake ’ole an’ let me think.’ Eileen folded her arms across her tummy, making a shelf for her bust to rest on. ‘Yer could bring the boys with yer, but there’s nowhere for them to sleep, an’ yer’d never get buses home that late at night … not on Boxing Day, anyway.’
Arthur’s two sons were in the hallway playing with a game of snakes and ladders, and out of earshot. Bill and Maggie had watched and listened in silence. Now Maggie could see her daughter racking her brains for a solution, and she made an offer. ‘If it was okay with Vera, I could go round to her house and mind Carol and Arthur’s two boys at the same time. That would give Vera a break, too!’
‘No, I wouldn’t let you do that,’ Arthur said quickly. ‘I’m not going to spoil your night.’
‘No, Mam,’ Eileen added, ‘that means yer’d miss the party.’
‘I had plenty of parties when I was your age, enough to last me a life time. Even if I stayed, I’d probably go to bed early to get away from the noise. So, if you want to ask Vera, I’ll willingly mind the kids.’
Vera came herself in answer to Eileen’s handwritten note, sent round with Joan. She said she’d left Carol at home being minded by Colin. Arthur looked embarrassed and tried to intervene a few times while Eileen told the surprised Vera the tale, but Eileen shut him up with a wave of her hand. She didn’t go into details about his wife, just briefly mentioned Arthur was having problems finding someone to mind the boys. ‘Me mam ’ad a brainwave, Vera, an’ we wondered what yer thought of ’er goin’ round to your ’ouse. She could mind the boys, and Carol at the same time. That would solve Arthur’s problem, an’ it would give you a chance to enjoy yerself without ’avin’ to worry about Carol all night.’
‘Vera, this is not my idea,’ Arthur said, looking ill at ease. ‘I don’t want to cause you, or anybody else, any bother.’
‘It’s no bother,’ Vera said. ‘As long as Maggie doesn’t mind being landed with a gang of kids.’
‘It was me mam’s idea, Vera, honest! I didn’t twist ’er arm or anythin’, did I, Mam?’
Maggie shook her head. ‘As a matter of fact, it’ll be a rest for me. My party days are over, Vera, I can’t stand the loud music or people singing their heads off after a few drinks.’
‘Yer a miserable bugger, but yer the best mam in the whole world.’ Eileen grabbed her mother by the shoulders and gave her a loud kiss. ‘That’s settled, then!’
‘The boys can sleep at ours, if you like.’ Vera smiled at Arthur. ‘They’ll be a bit crushed, but we’ll manage.’
Arthur opened his mouth to protest, but Eileen got in first. ‘Yer a pal, kiddo! They can stay ’ere till it’s time for me mam to go round. An’ we’ll see yer about seven, then, Vera?’
When Eileen went to see Vera out, Bill shook his head. ‘Have you ever known such an interfering busy body as my wife?’ Then a slow smile crossed his face. ‘But she gets things done, I’ll say that for her.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘What did you do before the war, Arthur?’ Harry was leaning forward, his hands between his knees gripping a pint glass of beer. ‘Have you got a trade?’
‘Yes, I served me time as an electrician,’ Arthur answered. ‘I used to work at the British Enka, and I’ve been thinking about going down and asking for me old job back. But the pay and conditions there were lousy.’
‘Napiers is a good place to work. Clean, efficient, and the pay’s good.’ Harry supped on his beer, then his eyes slid sideways. He knew from what Eileen had said that Arthur’s home life wasn’t what it should be, and he wanted to help him without sounding as though his offer was brought about by pity. ‘You should try and get in there. They’re taking on skilled men. I could get you an application form if you like, and put in a good word for you.’
‘I’d be grateful,’ Arthur said, smiling. ‘It’s about time I got off me bottom and earned a living.’
‘You deserved a rest after what you went through. And I think you, and all the other servicemen, are entitled to a decent job.’ Harry put the empty glass down between his feet. ‘I’ll get you an application form tomorrow and leave it with Eileen. When you’ve filled it in, I’ll take it back and have a word with the personnel officer.’
‘Thanks, Harry, I’d appreciate that.’ Arthur had a contented look on his face. ‘It’ll be good to get back to work.’
Bill had been listening intently. Now he asked, ‘Are they looking for joiners, by any chance?’
This was what Harry had been hoping to hear, but he didn’t let it show in his voice. ‘Is that what you are, Bill?’
Bill nodded. ‘I served me time with the Corporation.’
‘Are you fit enough for work yet?’
‘Oh, I’m fit enough, all right! And like Arthur, it’s about time I got off me backside, too! The sooner I start work, the sooner Eileen can pack her job in.’ Bill leaned forward now and lowered his voice. ‘It isn’t right for a woman to have to go out to work while her husband sits at home.’
‘Then I’ll get you a form as well, and drop it off with Arthur’s on me way home tomorrow night.’ Harry was delighted. In helping Bill, he was helping his mate, Eileen. ‘There’s a lot of changes going on in Napiers, but it’ll be a big concern when they’ve finished. I’ve heard it’s being taken over by the English Electric Company, but whether that’s only a rumour or not, I don’t know. All I do know is, I’ve landed on me feet.’
‘Ay, you lot!’ Eileen towered over them. ‘This is supposed to be a party, an’ you, Bill Gillmoss, are supposed to be the host. Get up an’ see to the drinks, like a proper gentleman, an’ don’t be lettin’ people see I married beneath meself.’
His tummy doing somersaults, Bill jumped up. ‘Okay, chick, I’m on me way.’
He didn’t want to put too much store on getting the job, but wouldn’t it be fantastic? He might also feel like a man again if he had work to go to every day, it would give him a purpose in life.
Eileen had borrowed a gramophone and some records from Tommy Wilson, a neighbour who lived opposite, and when they’d all had a few drinks and were happy and relaxed, she put a record on. It was a quickstep, and Eileen, determined to push her worries to the back of her mind and have a good time, pulled Bill up from his chair. ‘Come on, big boy, let’s show ’em how it’s done.’
Milly Knight, who had called in ‘just for half-an-hour’, looked at her husband. ‘Are yer dancin’?’
‘Are yer askin’?’ Jack laughed.
‘I’m askin’!’
‘Then I’m dancin’!’ Jack twirled his wife round the floor. Milly was almost the same size as Eileen, and the two couples filled the dancing space. But Eileen didn’t worry about that. ‘Get off yer backsides and shake a leg,’ she shouted to Harry and Arthur. ‘You young ones ’ave got no “go” in yez.’
‘We could always dance on the ceiling, I suppose,’ Harry pulled a face at her. ‘That’s the only space there is.’
‘Dance in the bloody hall, then!’
‘Come on, darling, the hall it is.’ Harry took Mary’s hand. ‘We’ll never hear the last of it if we don’t.’
Arthur looked across the room to Vera. ‘Want to take a chance with me? I’m not very good though, so be warned.’
‘That makes two of us.’ Vera allowed herself to be led to the hall where Harry and Mary were dancing close together. Vera had her beautiful auburn hair in a sleek pageboy bob, and it swung on her shoulders as she danced. Her face was flushed from the two glasses of sherry, and she laughed as they tried to dance in the narrow space of the hall. She had a loud, clear laugh, and Arthur was put off his steps for a while in astonishment. It was the first time he’d seen Vera in a carefree mood, and he thought what a difference it made to her. She was a very attractive woman.
‘Eh, stop canoodlin’ out the
re, you lot!’ Eileen bawled. ‘I’ve got me eye on yez.’
It was twelve o’clock when Milly called time. ‘I only came for half an hour and forgot to go home. It’s been lovely, though, Eileen. We’ve really enjoyed ourselves, haven’t we, Jack? The trouble is, we have to open the shop at six in the morning, so all good things must come to an end.’
‘We’ll have to be making tracks, as well,’ Harry said. ‘It’s work for me in the morning, too!’
‘I’ve saved one record for the last, so yez can all stay for the last waltz.’
It was a song that was popular before the war, a slow, dreamy song called ‘Who’s Taking You Home Tonight?’ It had been one of Harry’s favourites, and he now pulled Mary up and held her close. ‘You have to dance cheek to cheek for this one, darling.’
Milly and her husband, separated for so long, melted into each other’s arms. ‘It’s the ’allway for us, sunshine.’ Eileen dragged Bill by the hand. ‘Just you an’ me, babe!’
‘Let’s pretend.’ Arthur held his hand out to Vera. ‘All this snogging and us sitting like wallflowers. Come on, let’s show them how.’
Vera closed her eyes as she moved to the dreamy, romantic music. It was lovely to be treated like a lady, to be looked at with admiration. It would probably never happen again so she may as well enjoy it while she could. In a few weeks Danny would be home for good, and she’d become a skivvy again. A woman who walked down the street with her eyes to the ground. A woman with no self respect.
‘Thank you, I enjoyed that.’ Arthur’s voice brought Vera down to earth. She smiled shyly, before moving across to Eileen. ‘Will your mam be all right to walk home on her own?’
Arthur was behind her, and he didn’t wait for Eileen to reply. ‘I can walk you home, then bring Maggie back.’
‘You needn’t walk me home … I’ll be all right.’ Vera looked flustered. It was very late and there wouldn’t be many people about, but what if one of their neighbours did see her taking a strange man in her house? Especially that nosey parker next door but two, Elsie Smith. The local gossip who knew more about people than they knew themselves. And what she didn’t know, she made up. A little incident became a drama by the time Elsie Smith had finished adding her tu’penny worth of spiteful fiction. ‘Honest, I’ll be fine!’
‘Don’t argue!’ Arthur took her elbow. ‘I’ve got to go to yours to bring Maggie back. There’s no way I’m going to let her walk home on her own.’
‘Me mam’s got a key, so we don’t need to wait up for ’er.’ Eileen had moved the table back into the centre of the room and was now putting the chairs in place. ‘It was a good night, though, wasn’t it, love?’
‘It certainly was … in more ways than one.’ Bill couldn’t keep it to himself any longer. ‘Harry’s calling tomorrow on his way home from work with two application forms. One for Arthur, and one for me.’
‘Application forms?’ Eileen put the last chair down. ‘What are they for?’
‘Jobs!’ Bill smiled at the expression on Eileen’s face. ‘He’s going to put a word in for us at Napiers.’
Eileen’s hand covered her mouth as she stared at Bill. At first she’d thought he was joking, but now she could see he was serious. ‘I don’t know what to say! It would be marvellous, but d’yer feel fit enough for work?’
Just the thought of getting a job had given Bill a confidence he hadn’t felt for many years. And it showed in the smile he gave Eileen.
‘If it comes off, chick, you’ll be able to pack in work.’
‘Ooh, what a lovely thought!’ The corners of Eileen’s mouth curved upwards into a beaming smile. She held her arms wide. ‘Come ’ere an’ give us a kiss, yer great big handsome hunk.’
Bill walked into her arms, but as they wrapped around him and he felt his heart lurch, he stepped back quickly. He saw the hurt in Eileen’s eyes and turned his head. If only he could tell her how he felt about his fears, and hopes, but he just couldn’t find the right words. Softly, he said, ‘If I get the job, things might return to normal.’
Eileen gulped back the tears as she tilted her head. ‘I ’ope so, Bill Gillmoss, I really do. ’Cos I love the bones of yer.’
Bill picked up the poker from the companion set and raked it over the coals before placing the fireguard in the hearth. ‘If I get through the interview, I’ve got to go for a medical. So I won’t need to go to the doctor’s.’ He straightened up and faced her. ‘But I think you should go, chick. You’re not eating like you should, and you look very pale. Why don’t you slip along to the surgery tomorrow morning before you go to work?’
The doctor won’t be able to cure what ails me, Eileen thought. Only you can do that, Bill Gillmoss. But Eileen kept her thoughts and fears to herself. ‘I’m all right,’ she said. ‘It’s just goin’ to work that’s gettin’ me down. I’ll be fine when I can pack in an’ stay at home, you’ll see.’
‘It wouldn’t take you half an hour to go and have a check-up,’ Bill insisted. ‘The doctor could give you a tonic.’
‘Just leave it for now, Bill, and we’ll see how things go.’ Eileen turned her back on him and lowered her head. ‘Undo the clasp on these pearls for us, then let’s hit the hay. I’m almost asleep on me feet.’
When Harry called in at six o’clock the following night on his way home from work, he found Arthur sitting next to Bill, waiting for him. They both looked up, hope in their eyes, and he didn’t keep them waiting. He handed them each a form, a wide grin on his face. ‘Fill the forms in tonight, and take them with you tomorrow when you go for your interview.’
Two mouths gaped, shocked into silence. Then Bill swallowed hard before croaking, ‘We’re going for an interview?’
‘Yep!’ Harry felt sad and happy at the same time. Happy that he was able to help them, but sad because no one seemed to care what happened to men like this who had given so much for their country. ‘I had a word with the personnel officer, and as they’re looking for skilled men, he’s agreed to interview you tomorrow. If you pass, then you’ve got to go for a medical. But there shouldn’t be any problem there, so we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.’ Harry didn’t say he’d had more than a word with the bloke in personnel, who at first had said the applications must go through the normal channels and it was a case of first come first served. Harry had then asked the man if he’d been in the forces, to which the answer was ‘no’. Harry said he hadn’t, either, but surely some consideration should be given to those who were. He explained that Bill and Arthur had been prisoners of war, and what they’d been through. And by the time he’d finished the man knew he had no argument. So he’d agreed to see both applicants the following day.
Bill and Arthur looked down at the forms, then at each other. Then they started to laugh. ‘We’ve been on pins all day,’ Bill told Harry. ‘It was worse than waiting for our calling up papers to fall on the mat.’
‘Thanks, Harry,’ Arthur said. ‘I’ll never forget you for this.’
‘Me neither,’ Bill echoed. ‘And me neither.’
Harry was looking round and listening. ‘Where’s Eileen?’
‘On afternoon shift.’
‘Oh, of course, I forgot.’ Harry grinned. ‘Let’s hope it’s not for very much longer, eh?’
Arthur was turning the application form in his hands, and when he spoke, his voice was filled with emotion. ‘To think I’d never have known any of you if Eileen hadn’t called to our house that day. Now I feel like one of the family, with more good friends than I ever had.’
‘My wife did us all a favour that day,’ Bill said. ‘She likes people, and will go out of her way to help anyone.’ He laughed loudly. ‘Wait till she hears the news … she’ll be over the moon.’
‘Well, I hope things go all right for you both tomorrow. Keep your chin up and go in fighting. I’ll try and get over to the Admin to see how you got on.’ Harry looked at his watch. ‘I’d better get home or me tea will be burned to a cinder. It’s me favourite too, spare ribs and cabba
ge.’
Harry lifted his hand in farewell, and the thanks of two happy and grateful men followed him down the hall.
‘God bless Harry, he’s a good mate.’ Eileen sat in front of the fire, her legs open to the warmth. It was cold and dark out, and she’d come in shivering. ‘I’ll say a little prayer for you an’ Arthur tonight, love.’
‘I’ve been praying since Harry left,’ Bill said with a sheepish smile. ‘I know I said I didn’t believe in God, but I could be wrong and I’m not taking any chances. I need all the help I can get.’
‘Are yer meetin’ Arthur down there?’
‘No, he’s calling for me. We thought we could give each other some Dutch courage.’
Eileen rested her head on her hand. ‘I wonder what’ll happen if Arthur gets the job? It’s to be hoped ’is wife mends ’er ways an’ looks after the boys when ’e’s not there.’
‘It’s up to Arthur to sort his own life out, chick, so don’t interfere,’ Bill warned. ‘We’ve got enough problems of our own.’
Eileen didn’t answer, They only had one problem as far as she was concerned, and it was tearing her heart in two.
Eileen couldn’t wait till half past ten to find out how Bill had got on, so she told a lie and said she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go home. She’d expected him to be back before she left for work at half one but he hadn’t arrived. And her nerves wouldn’t let her stand beside the machine without knowing what had happened. So, at four o’clock Eileen was sitting on the bus telling herself it would serve her right if she was punished for telling fibs.
As the bus travelled the familiar route, Eileen wondered how many more times she’d be making this journey. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be for much longer. She used to enjoy going to work and having a laugh with the women, but not any more. The factory was like a prison to her now.
The bus neared the Black Bull and as Eileen stood up, she raised her eyes and said a silent prayer. Please God, if you’re going to punish me for telling lies, don’t do it just yet. Let Bill get the job and I’ll make it up to you, I promise.