EG02 - Man of the House

by Joan Jonker

  Eileen hurried up the street, her heart in her mouth. She’d never done as much praying in her life as she had the last eighteen hours. She put the key in the lock and opened the door. She could hear a man’s raised voice, then her mother’s. She stood for a while in the hall. Did the tone of the man’s voice sound disappointed or happy? There was only one way to find out.

  The talking stopped when Eileen flung the door open. ‘What are you doing home, chick?’

  ‘Because I couldn’t bloody well wait to find out ’ow yez got on!’ Eileen stood in the middle of the room, her hands on her hips. Her eyes flicked past her mother to rest briefly on Arthur, sitting on a straight back chair by the table, then moved to Bill who was standing in front of the fire. ‘Well?’

  ‘We got the jobs!’ There was excitement in Bill’s voice. ‘Both of us!’

  ‘Go way!’ Eileen flopped on to a chair. ‘Yer not ’avin’ me on, are yer, ’cos I’ll strangle yer if yer are.’

  ‘I wouldn’t joke about a thing like that, chick!’

  Arthur couldn’t conceal his delight. ‘We had the interview, then the medical, then back to the main office to be told we start work next Monday.’

  Eileen rocked back and forth to groaning protests from the chair. ‘Did yez both pass the medical?’

  ‘With flying colours,’ Bill answered. ‘Both one hundred per cent fit.’

  Eileen’s eyes met her mother’s. ‘Isn’t that great, Mam?’

  ‘Best news I’ve had in years.’ Maggie smiled. She was as happy for her daughter as she was for Bill. Perhaps when she packed in work the colour would come back to those chubby cheeks, and the laughter that had been missing of late would ring through the house once again.

  ‘I’m made up for both of yez,’ Eileen said, then burst out laughing. ‘But I’m the one who’s gonna be best off! While you two are sloggin’ yer guts out, I’ll be a lady of leisure! When can I ’and me notice in, Bill?’

  ‘We have to work a week in hand, but you could give it in next Monday if you like. It won’t hurt us to do without your wages for one week.’

  Arthur looked so proud and happy, Eileen said another prayer. Please God, I know I’ve been asking for a lot lately, but could you do me just one more favour and I’ll not ask for anything else for a long time? Could you make things right for Arthur, please?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  ‘I don’t ’alf look forward to Wednesday afternoons now, don’t youse?’ Eileen glanced from Mary sitting opposite across the dining table, to Vera seated on her left. Since Eileen had packed in work they’d taken it in turns to host a couple of hours of tea and gossip. Today was Eileen’s turn and her face was beaming with pride. She’d spent hours blackleading the grate, cleaning the brass and polishing the furniture with Mansion polish and plenty of elbow grease. ‘I don’t know what to do with meself half the time, now I’m a lady of leisure.’

  ‘You wouldn’t want to go back to work, though, would you?’ Mary asked, her eyes sparkling. ‘You moaned about it for long enough.’

  ‘Nah, I wouldn’t go back to work for a big clock.’ Eileen cocked her head to one side. ‘What yer lookin’ so ’appy about, kid? Lost a tanner an’ found ’alf a crown, ’ave yer?’

  Mary couldn’t contain herself any longer. ‘Harry’s getting a car!’

  ‘What?’ Eileen’s mouth gaped in surprise. ‘Go on, yer pullin’ our legs!’

  Mary’s long blonde hair swung across her face. ‘I am not! One of the men he works with is selling his car and Harry’s going to see it tonight.’

  ‘Well, I’ll be blowed! Yer were swankin’ when yer got the telephone put in, but a car! There’ll be no stoppin’ ’er now, will there, Vera?’ Eileen glanced briefly at Vera. ‘The Sedgemoors are goin’ up in the world.’

  ‘Yeah, she won’t know us, soon.’ Vera’s voice was low and lacking in enthusiasm, but Eileen was already rattling on to Mary and neither of them noticed.

  ‘I can’t wait to see the look on Cissie Maddox’s face when she sees yez drivin’ up ’ere in a posh car.’

  ‘It isn’t a posh car.’ Mary laughed. ‘It’s an old banger by the sounds of it, but it’ll get Harry to work when he can get the petrol. I think the ration is only a gallon a week.’

  Eileen fingered the dimples in her elbows. ‘Here’s me, all made up ’cos Bill’s savin’ up to buy me one of them vacuum cleaner things, an’ you sit there like a cat that’s got the canary, an’ tell us yez are gettin’ a car!’ Out of the corner of her eye, Eileen saw Vera shiver. ‘Are yer cold, Vera?’ She pushed her chair back and looked at the miserable fire. ‘It’s this bloody coal! I can’t get a proper fire goin’ with it … it’s all that flippin’ slate stuff.’ Eileen lifted a cushion on the couch and produced a sheet of newspaper. Holding it across the front of the grate, she muttered through clenched teeth, ‘Come on, yer bugger, burn!’

  ‘You’re very quiet, Vera.’ Mary noticed the pale face and dull eyes. ‘Are you feeling all right?’

  ‘I think I’ve got a cold coming on.’ Vera wrapped her cardi tightly around herself. ‘I’ve got the shivers.’

  Eileen took her eyes off the paper she was holding. ‘Yer do look lousy, Vera. Perhaps yer should ’ave stayed in ’cos there’s a cold wind out.’ Then Eileen’s eyes narrowed. ‘Have yer ’eard anythin’ from that ’usband of yours?’

  Vera’s eyes went to Mary before sending Eileen a silent warning. ‘He’s coming home next week.’

  ‘Eileen, the paper!’ Mary cried as she saw the newspaper turning brown in the middle.

  ‘Oh, shit!’ Eileen grabbed the paper which was now burning and rolled it into a ball before throwing it into the fire. Sucking her fingers, she moaned, ‘I’ve burnt me bloody fingers now!’

  ‘Run them under the cold water for a few minutes,’ Mary said. ‘That usually stops them from blistering.’

  Eileen tucked her hand under her armpit and sat down. ‘They’ll be all right. I’m not leavin’ ’ere in case I miss anythin’.’

  ‘Don’t be daft,’ Mary said. ‘What is there to miss?’

  But Eileen ignored her. Looking straight into Vera’s eyes, she asked, ‘Yer ’aven’t got a cold, ’ave yer? It’s Danny comin’ ’ome, isn’t it?’

  Vera’s answer was a shrug of her shoulders.

  Mary looked from one to the other, bewildered. ‘What’s Danny got to do with Vera having a cold? She’ll be made up to have Danny home, won’t you, Vera?’ It was to Eileen that Vera looked. And Eileen nodded. ‘Yer’ll ’ave to tell ’er.’

  ‘Tell me what, for heaven’s sake?’ Mary’s head swivelled from side to side. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Shall I tell ’er?’ Eileen’s voice was soft. ‘What’s the good of ’avin’ mates if we can’t confide in each other?’

  When Vera sighed, then nodded, Eileen proceeded to tell Mary what had happened on Danny’s last leave. Eileen was a born story teller, but this time she didn’t have to add anything to make the story more dramatic. And when she’d finished there was a look of horror on Mary’s pretty face.

  ‘I thought everything was all right between the two of you, now.’ Mary was shocked and saddened. When she’d lived next door to the Jacksons she’d often heard Danny’s rantings and ravings. She could remember vividly the times she’d sat with her mother listening, but unable to help. Her mother had tried talking to Danny, but had been rudely told to mind her own business. So they’d had to sit helpless, knowing that next day Vera would be sporting a black eye. And they only saw that because a black eye was one of the bruises Vera couldn’t hide. ‘I thought he’d changed since he went in the army.’

  ‘We all thought that.’ Eileen was the one to answer. ‘D’yer remember the Christmas at your ’ouse, when Danny was ’ome on leave? We all said ’ow much he’d changed … remember?’

  ‘That’s what he wanted you to think,’ Vera said. ‘I was daft enough to believe it meself for a while, so you weren’t the only ones who fell for it. But you can take
it from me, Danny Jackson hasn’t changed one little bit and he never will.’

  ‘What yer gonna do, kid?’ Eileen asked. ‘Yer can’t put up with that for the rest of yer life.’ She suddenly banged on the table, making her two friends jump. ‘Honest, I could strangle the bugger with me bare ’ands.’

  ‘But he wouldn’t try anything now the two boys are grown up, would he?’ Mary asked. ‘They wouldn’t just stand by and let him push you or Carol around, surely?’

  ‘Oh, Danny Jackson is crafty,’ Eileen said. ‘He wouldn’t do anything when they were there. He’d take it out on Vera in the bedroom.’

  ‘Shall I ask Harry to have a word with him?’

  ‘No!’ The word was like a pistol shot. ‘I’m not getting anybody else involved in my troubles. I’ll sort it out meself.’

  ‘Some life, isn’t it?’ Eileen sighed. ‘You an’ Arthur Kennedy! Neither of yez ’ave got much to look forward to, ’ave yez? Mind you, I ’aven’t seen so much of Arthur since ’e started work, so I don’t know whether things ’ave changed for ’im.’

  ‘They haven’t!’ Vera’s hand went to her mouth as Eileen’s brows shot up.

  ‘How d’yer know?’

  ‘He … er … he’s called at ours a few times on his way home from work, to bring Carol some sweets.’ Vera’s face flushed a bright red. ‘He’s taken up with Carol, thinks the world of her.’

  ‘Pity he isn’t taken up with you,’ Eileen said. ‘Yer’d make a good pair.’ A smile played around her lips. ‘Couldn’t yer fix Danny up with Sylvia? Now there’s two people that are well matched, an’ they deserve each other. Then you an’ Arthur could get together an’ everyone would be ’appy.’

  ‘Don’t be so daft!’ Vera protested hotly. ‘He only comes to see Carol.’ Her finger making a pattern on the tablecloth, she said softly, ‘She’ll miss him when he stops coming.’

  ‘Why should ’e stop comin’?’ Eileen asked innocently. ‘He’s only a friend, an’ yer allowed to ’ave a friend, aren’t yer?’

  ‘Oh, Danny would love that!’ Vera laughed cynically. ‘Can you imagine what he’d do to me if he came home and found a strange man in the house? He’d kill me!’

  ‘I think it would do Danny the world of good to know yer ’ad lots of friends callin’. Might make ’im think twice about keepin’ ’is ’ands to ’imself, if ’e knew there was someone around who’d give ’im one back.’ Eileen was nodding her head as the idea grew in her mind. ‘Me an’ Bill will come round, an’ I wouldn’t put Arthur off if I were you. He’s quite capable of lookin’ after ’imself.’

  ‘Me and Harry will come, too,’ Mary said timidly. ‘But I don’t know whether Arthur is a good idea. It might rub Danny up the wrong way and you’re the one who’ll suffer.’

  ‘We’ll just wait and see.’ Vera sounded resigned to a fate worse than death. ‘I’ll take things as they come.’

  ‘Does that mean you won’t be able to meet us every Wednesday now?’ Mary asked.

  ‘Oh, he won’t stop me doing that!’ There was determination in Vera’s voice. ‘Seeing you two is the only thing I’ve got to look forward to.’

  ‘Well, it’s my birthday next week, and Harry’s giving me a few bob to take you both out for afternoon tea. Will you be able to come, Vera?’

  ‘Let anyone try and stop me.’ Vera pressed Mary’s arm. ‘It won’t matter if Danny objects, because Harry’s mam said she’ll mind Carol every Wednesday afternoon for me. It’s been great the last few months having these get-togethers to look forward to, and I’m very grateful to Mrs Sedgemoor for minding Carol for me. I love Carol more than anything in the world, but it’s nice to get out on me own just once a week.’

  ‘Then we’ll paint the town red next Wednesday.’ Mary smiled. ‘I’ll take you somewhere nice.’

  ‘Oh, aye?’ Eileen said. ‘And where might that be?’

  Mary tapped her nose with a finger. ‘Wait and see. But put on your best bib and tucker.’

  ‘I’ll have to go.’ Vera stood up. ‘By the time I collect Carol it’ll be time to start on the boys’ tea.’

  ‘Shall we meet in town?’ Mary asked. ‘It would save me the journey here.’

  ‘I’ll pick Vera up from ’ome an’ we’ll get the bus down together.’ Eileen was looking at Mary, and her friend read the message that said I’ll make sure a certain person doesn’t try to stop her coming. ‘How about meetin’ outside Lime Street station at two?’

  Mary nodded. ‘Both be there, d’you hear? Don’t leave me standing like one of Lewis’s.’

  Eileen laughed. ‘Kid, anyone that looks like you do, standin’ in Lime Street, wouldn’t look like one of Lewis’s. Yer’ll ’ave all the fellers askin’ yer ’ow much yer charge.’

  ‘What would you do with her, Vera?’ Mary tutted. ‘She’s got a one-track mind.’

  ‘But her heart’s in the right place.’ Vera turned to the door. ‘See you next Wednesday, Mary.’

  When Eileen came back after seeing Vera out, she found Mary staring into space. ‘Penny for yer thoughts, kid.’

  ‘I was just thinking how selfish I was, bragging about Harry getting a car when Vera’s got so much trouble on her mind.’

  ‘Don’t be daft, kid! Vera will still ’ave her troubles whether yer get a car or not! Besides, yer’ve ’ad enough troubles of yer own in the past, ’aven’t yer? An’ yer sorted them out. So it’s up to Vera to sort ’erself out. We can do all we can to ’elp, but in the end it’s up to her. She either puts up with it, or walks out.’

  ‘Easier said than done.’ Mary rose to her feet. ‘You and me don’t know how lucky we are, do we?’

  ‘I do,’ Eileen said, ‘and unless yer want yer bumps feelin’, so do you.’

  Mary picked up her handbag. ‘Oh, I do, Eileen, I do!’

  As they were walking down the hall, Mary suddenly asked, ‘Where does your mam get to every Wednesday afternoon? She seems to disappear as soon as we arrive.’

  ‘Me mam doesn’t know she’s born since I stopped work. She toddles off to a matinee a couple of times a week. I think she’s gone to the Broadway in Bootle today, to see Janet Gaynor.’ Eileen put her arm round Mary’s waist, nearly squeezing the breath out of her. ‘Yer see, kid, no matter what troubles there are, life still goes on.’

  ‘Hi, ya, Danny!’ Eileen breezed into Vera’s living room. She was all dressed up in her best clothes and they gave her the confidence to face anything Danny might come up with. ‘How goes it?’

  Danny inclined his head, a sullen look on his swarthy face. ‘She’s upstairs gettin’ ready.’

  ‘She?’ Miserable bugger, Eileen thought. ‘Oh, yer mean Vera?’

  Danny glowered. ‘Who else would I mean?’

  ‘Well, yer never know! Yer could ’ave Rita Hayworth up there, or Betty Grable.’ There was a smile on Eileen’s face, but anger in her heart. Fancy having to spend the rest of your life with someone as mean and bad tempered as Danny. Imagine having to look at his miserable face all the time and be afraid to say anything in case he lashed out at you. But because she knew Vera would suffer if she voiced her thoughts, Eileen kept the smile on her face. ‘When did yer get ’ome, Danny?’

  ‘Yesterday.’ Danny sat down, picked up a newspaper and buried his head in it, ignoring Eileen completely.

  ‘Sod you,’ Eileen muttered the words softly, but made sure they were loud enough for Danny to hear. Then she walked to the bottom of the stairs. ‘Are yer ready yet, Vera? We’re gonna be late.’

  ‘Coming!’ Vera ran down the stairs, her long, auburn hair bouncing on her shoulders. Eileen could see the strain on her face as she whispered, ‘I’d better tell him I’m going.’

  Vera stood in the doorway, and although her whole body was shaking, she managed to control her voice. ‘I’ll see you later, Danny.’

  The only answer was the rustle of the newspaper, and as Vera backed into the hall, she bumped into Eileen. ‘Come on, let’s go.’

  Walking down the street, Eileen loo
ked sideways at Vera. ‘He’s a happy so-and-so, isn’t ’e? Full of the joys of bloody spring.’

  ‘You should have heard him when I told him I was going out.’ Vera’s laugh was shaky. ‘It was just as well I’d taken Carol up to Mrs Sedgemoor’s before I did, ’cos the way he carried on, he’d have frightened the life out of her.’

  ‘Yer can tell us all about it over a cup of tea.’ Eileen took Vera’s arm and started to hurry. ‘We don’t want to keep Mary waitin’.’

  ‘Where we goin’, kid?’ Eileen looked Mary up and down. Even though they’d been friends for six years, Eileen never saw Mary without thinking how beautiful she was. And it wasn’t only in looks, ’cos Mary was beautiful in every way. Kind, gentle, and modest. She’d go to the ends of the earth to help a friend, and it wasn’t in her nature to hurt a living soul. ‘Are yer takin’ us to the Adelphi?’

  ‘I thought of the Adelphi, but it’s up to you and Vera. Wherever you’d like to go, we’ll go.’

  ‘I was only jokin’, kid!’ Eileen laughed. ‘Can yez imagine me in the Adelphi?’

  ‘Why not?’ Mary demanded. ‘We’re as good as anyone else. Better in fact, than some. And I believe they do a lovely afternoon tea.’

  ‘Oh, come on, kid!’ Eileen looked into Mary’s face to see if she was pulling their legs. ‘I can’t go in there lookin’ like this! All the posh people go there, an’ it would cost yer a fortune, anyway!’

  Mary shook her head, a knowing smile on her face. ‘It was Harry who suggested we go there, and he’s paying. And in case you’re worried, it only costs three and six for afternoon tea.’

  Eileen was standing with her eyes closed. ‘I can’t believe yer seriously thinkin’ of takin’ me in the Adelphi! I’d make a holy show of yez!’ Mary nodded to Vera, and they took an arm each. Ignoring Eileen’s protests they marched her up the steps of the imposing hotel. And when they came to the lovely old revolving doors, Vera went in first so she would be ready to drag Eileen out in case she decided to go right round and out again.

  ‘Oh, my God!’ Eileen’s eyes rolled from side to side, taking in the uniformed doorman, the rich, ornate decor, and the expensive clothes and posh accents of the men and women standing near them. Above all, Eileen was struck dumb by the marble floor, the lush green of the palm trees, and the quietness that comes with a first class hotel catering for wealthy people.