Oriel fell into despondence as she watched him leave the house with the intent of seeking shelter from his friend – but luck must have been smiling on them that day, for he was to return with the joyous news that he and Norm had managed to get jobs with the council, who were providing relief work by laying new roads in the city.
‘Bloody ripper, eh?’ He swung her round. ‘Won’t be for long but at least it’s something. Another thing, I been talking to Norm.’ He grinned as her face fell. ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t booked us in at the Normie No-nose Temperance Palace – but he says there’s a vacant room in the same building. I think we oughta take it.’
Oriel agreed to this compromise. ‘But how will we afford to move all our stuff?’
‘Norm’s borrowing a van.’
‘We can’t go without paying the rent!’ It was not only the dishonesty that made her cringe. ‘People will see us.’
‘Not in the dark they won’t. He’s coming late tonight – now just get packing!’
Oriel felt like a criminal, creeping back and forth to the van in the dead of night, carrying boxes and chairs and all manner of other belongings, terrified that someone was going to spot the shadowy figures and call the police. Thankfully, with only a few large items, the mission was quickly accomplished and she was soon on her way to Carlton and her new home.
In the dinge of low wattage, the room was less than welcoming, its linoleum stained with heaven-knew-what and no shade upon the feeble globe, but Oriel was too tired and grateful to object. After installing the furniture, she and Daniel thanked Norm and fell into bed, encouraging each other that tomorrow would make it seem more like home.
* * *
Morning light did little to improve their surroundings. The room was dark and airless, the sashes of its bay window jammed shut. The large building was shared with dozens of strangers, their footsteps audible at all times of day and night, up and down the staircase, the stench of their cooking impregnating Oriel’s clothes. There was a copper in the back yard for the communal laundry, and only an open fire on which to cook their meals. Conversant now with how her father’s tenants must have felt, Oriel regretted her own negligence – but she was used to making the best of things by now, and quickly set to work making it habitable.
Should any emergency arise concerning her offspring, a note was dispatched to Clive, telling him where she had gone. There was no reply, though her request that he forward any mail was heeded. She sent the same news to Dorothy, and though she did receive a pretty little card in return, there was no visit from her friend. She was glad in a way, having no wish for Dorothy to see her in such poverty.
Daniel, too, had people to inform though he made the cynical comment to Oriel that with the roadwork almost completed and no replacement in store, they might not be able to afford even this luxurious palace for long.
It was good for Daniel to have his friend nearby. She herself grew to enjoy Norm’s company, and even made tentative acquaintance of the other residents. There were two little girls across the hall, delightful well-mannered children who would often engage her in conversation. With her own daughter unappreciative, Oriel decided to use her talents on those more deserving. Unpicking another of her old dresses, she ran up a couple of small frocks for her new friends. It was wonderful to see their faces as they paraded before their mother, and in response the woman invited her new neighbours in for dinner, such as it might be. Though Oriel grew very fond of the youngsters, they could never make up for the loss of her own children. How much longer could their absence be tolerated?
Loath to spend any more time than she had to indoors whilst Daniel and Norm were out looking for work, she continued her own search. Factories, shops, offices, laundries, hotels – all were explored. Her daily expeditions had become almost automatic. By the time she got home on a night she could hardly remember where she had been, the breadth of her travels only evident from the worn-out shoe leather.
Today, she plodded along the driveway of yet another clothing factory and made the usual wan request, anticipating refusal.
‘We want outworkers.’ Noting her air of confusion, the man in the enquiry office looked at her over his glasses. ‘Have you got a sewing machine?’
Oriel’s heart started to race, the spirit of wretchedness immediately dispatched by an eager response as she told him that she had. The man handed over a large bundle of pieces and instructed her how to sew them together.
‘Bring them back the day after tomorrow at noon and you’ll get another lot if your work’s up to standard.’
Oriel was euphoric! Holding the precious bundle tightly to her breast she almost ran home to start work immediately on the pieces.
When a tired-looking Daniel returned later, bringing Norm in to share tea, he was amazed at her enterprise, and gave hearty congratulations, picking up one of the finished garments to inspect it, then passed it to his friend.
‘Growse! Not sure it’ll fit me, but.’ Norm held the woman’s garment against himself, mincing up and down, his little button nose in the air.
Daniel grabbed him and pretended to waltz. Though grinning, Oriel dared not take her eyes from her work for fear of ruining it.
Daniel gave Norm a kiss then pushed him away. ‘D’yer think you’ll get them finished in time?’
Without taking her hand off the machine, its needle racing, Oriel puffed at a strand of hair that was irritating her face. ‘If I don’t there’ll be no more work. I’ll finish them even if I have to stay up all night.’
‘No need for that. Norm’ll take over when you get tired.’ At his friend’s objection Daniel looked over Oriel’s shoulder as the machine clattered and whirred. She felt his warm breath on her head. ‘Give us a look at what yer doing. Yeah, I can do that! Half a tick while I get us something to eat then I’ll give it a bash.’
And so it was with his help that Oriel was able to hand over the finished garments on time, thus begetting a new source of income which, whilst only a pittance in reward for all the muscle-aching labour, was nevertheless like manna from Heaven.
Proud of her own and Daniel’s abilities to keep their heads above water, she was therefore outraged when not long afterwards a solicitor’s letter came to say that the errant husband was not granting his wife enough maintenance and Melinda had been obliged to fall back on charity. Payment must be increased forthwith.
‘There’s always something, isn’t there? They give it to you with one hand and take it away with the other. I knew it was too good to be true! That… bloody bitch.’ She tossed the letter aside, and apologized to Norm for her temper. He made no contribution – Oriel noticed that he never did where Melinda was concerned – but gave a brief gesture and slipped away to his own room.
Daniel despaired of how he was going to raise more money. ‘There’s nothing else for it,’ he told her. ‘I’ll have to apply for the susso.’
In the face of legal action, Oriel saw that there could be no argument but, having heard of the high-handed manner of the Ladies Benevolent Society, to whom the Government had handed responsibility for doling out sustenance, she assumed that Daniel would be going instead to the newly formed reactionary body where Norm received his support.
‘Aw Christ, I’m not going there! ’Srun by bloody Commies. I didn’t go through a war to see the country ruined by them. No, Norm might not care who pays for his beer but I’d rather throw meself on the tender mercies of the Gorgons.’
Aware of the stigma attached to such decision, the stringent home interviews applicants were forced to endure, Oriel detested the idea, but with no other solution she offered to be here for Daniel when the representative made her assessment.
The moment she answered the door to the interviewer it was obvious there was going to be difficulty. The woman was of the type that both she and Daniel abhorred, a do-gooder, with that benevolent kind of smile that said of course I will help you, you poor unfortunate souls, but at the same time I am going to ensure that you are fully aware wha
t a charitable person I am.
After accepting the offer of tea and asking several questions of Daniel, the woman turned to his partner, notepad at the ready. ‘And do you work, Mrs Maguire?’
‘Oh, I’m not—’ Oriel bit her tongue but too late. At the woman’s questioning stare she looked desperately at Daniel, who explained the situation.
‘I see!’ Between queries, the woman had been scrutinizing the room for the last ten minutes, and now began to pace it, investigating the contents of the alcove cupboard without asking leave to do so. ‘That puts a very different perspective on matters. Little wonder you’re finding it difficult to support your wife and children and this lady as well.’
To cover his anger Daniel went over to the mantelpiece and picked up the cigarette that he had purchased that morning and had been hoping to save until tonight. His angry ignition of a match filled the air with sulphur.
Watching its tip glow, the woman added for Oriel’s benefit, ‘May I just offer a little hint on your housekeeping methods, my dear?’ A supercilious beam accompanied this. ‘You would greatly increase your budget if your man gave up the dreaded weed. Does he drink as well?’
Furious, but unwilling to spoil Daniel’s chances of payment, Oriel shook her head. To witness his humiliation was far, far worse than her own.
The woman finished her examination of the room and came to sit down again, asking who was caring for Oriel’s husband and children and other intimate questions about her marriage, all of which were answered through gritted teeth. Having gathered all the information she required, the woman smiled kindly upon them both, sitting with knees tight together like a prim schoolgirl. ‘With such little children to consider, could I not impose upon you to return to your respective spouses? It would be far kinder to all, you know.’
Daniel’s face was hard as he pulled on the cigarette. A muscle twitched in his jaw. ‘There’s no chance of that.’
The woman sighed and rose. ‘If I cannot instil good sense then I can at least make sure your dependants do not suffer. We will provide sustenance.’
‘Oh, you’ve spoiled it – I was just considering hanging meself.’
Ignoring Daniel’s remark, she told him where to collect his handout and finally departed, leaving both to choke on their anger, Daniel feeling dirty and reviled.
* * *
If she had hoped this ordeal would at least result in gaining peace from one source, she was wrong. As winter gave way to the spring rains Melinda, still unsatisfied with the money she was getting from Daniel, turned up at their apartment.
‘Is he in?’ Straight of face, her cool blue eyes went past Oriel into the room beyond.
‘If you mean Daniel, then no, he’s out looking for work.’ Impatient to return to the pile of sewing and her machine, Oriel declined to invite the other in.
‘Tut! All this way for nothing, wasting my petrol – well, you can tell him he might think he’s getting away with a few extra bob a week but if I don’t get any more I’m going to court and tell ’em he’s not man enough to support his wife and children! Do you know I’ve had to get a job to make up the money he doesn’t gimme?’
Oriel lost her temper then, sick of this carping. ‘And why shouldn’t you bloody work? Everybody else has to make some sort of effort to provide for their children – or do you expect to be looked after all your life?’
‘Huh! That’s easy for you to say with all the money you’ve got.’
‘Money, money, money! That’s all that matters to you, isn’t it?’
‘I’d like to see how long you’d last without it!’ Melinda pursed her lips.
‘Are you blind?’ Oriel cast her arm around the room. ‘Does it look as if we’re living in luxury? I’ve been surviving on next to nothing for months, making do like the rest of the population.’
Melinda almost gagged on her scorn. ‘Making do? With two men at your beck and call – one looking after your children and the other scurrying about like a poodle after your every whim while totally neglecting his own family!’
‘For God’s sake! Does your stupidity know no bounds? Can’t you get it through that thick avaricious head—’ Oriel hated arguing, detested the way it made her feel afterwards, but she was sick of having to tolerate all this drivel. ‘Do you think I sent my children back to their father by choice?’
‘Of course you’ve got a choice!’ scoffed Melinda.
‘I’d do anything to have them back living with me.’ Even to think of them was agony.
‘Oh, I’m well aware you’re capable of anything! Yer think I believe a word you say any more? You couldn’t wait to dump those children – both of yer.’
‘And who’s looking after yours?’ demanded Oriel.
Melinda ignored her. ‘And Daniel’s even worse than you are! What sorta bloke is he who leaves his wife and kids with nothing?’
At the injustice of this accusation Oriel felt her arteries were going to explode. ‘You won’t let him alone, will you? He left you everything he had—’
‘Huh! A great deal that was!’
‘He sends you all his susso every week and I see none of it, not one penny.’
The other’s face was mean. ‘And why should you? You’re not his wife, you don’t have to look after his kids! You’ve got plenty of your own, and Daniel knows it! What sort of a bloke sponges off a woman?’
‘And what sort of a woman takes everything a man has?’ yelled Oriel. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t ask for the shirt off his back too! You’re even intent on taking what little pride he has left.’ But she could see that her argument was wasted on her erstwhile friend. No longer was she eaten up with guilt, she was glad she had taken Daniel from one who only saw him as a provider, one who was shallow and greedy and vindictive. A thought had never entered Melinda’s head that did not concern money or the lack of it. Fury robbing her of words, Oriel resorted to vulgarity. ‘Oh, just shut up and give your arse a chance!’ And she slammed the door in her opponent’s face – though the last word was left to Melinda who delivered a curse and a hefty kick to the wood before leaving. Whence, Oriel broke down in tears of anger and frustration.
22
The scent of spring danced upon the air but the mood of winter prevailed. Gone were the weekly dips at the city baths, replaced by Norm’s zinc tub. Frugal as they might be, and even with Oriel earning from her outwork, the money they received was insufficient for their needs. Once again they were looking at the fact that they would be unable to pay their rent, for taking precedence over this were the birthday gifts that had to be provided for Daniel’s son Alan and her own little boy. Almost as bad, was the quandary of how to deliver the latter’s. Though utterly humiliated at having to do so, Oriel thought it best to seek leave from her estranged spouse before going to visit her son.
Clive showed the usual lack of enthusiasm when she turned up at Myers. At least you’ve kept your job, she wanted to shout at him, but as ever remained dispassionate to his goading, first enquiring if there had been anyone to view the house lately. A negative response did not surprise her. Asking after the children, she was told that they had been upset at first but had now grown accustomed to life without their mother.
‘D’you think it’ll disrupt them if I come for Dorrie’s birthday?’ she asked. ‘I want to bring him a present but not if it’s going to make things worse.’
He was aloof. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea – but I suppose you’ll do what you want to do, you always have.’
Oriel noted that the way he phrased it absolved himself of any deliberate ban. ‘If you really think it would upset them I won’t come.’ She hung her head, unable to look at him. ‘If I bring Dorrie’s present here will you give it to him?’ Upon his affirmation, she left.
Intending to walk home, she headed along Elizabeth Street, eyes lowered in despondence. A woman’s feet appeared in her path. Without lifting her head she sidestepped, the woman sidestepped too, and when Oriel repeated the evasive action so did she, ma
king it into a kind of dance. Oriel raised her angry face to demand what the other thought she was playing at – then saw that it was Dorothy and the bad temper was wiped away as she greeted her old friend warmly.
‘Ratty! How lovely to see you. I would’ve called but I didn’t want to cause trouble for you.’
Dorothy said how nice it was to see her too, though there was some hint of reserve in her greeting. ‘You’re looking well.’ She didn’t mean it. Oriel looked skinny as a rake – and what had happened to the glamour Dorothy had so admired? The high heels had been replaced by flat shoes, and the outfit was uncoordinated. Still, she would probably be quite hard up in her position. ‘Have you time for a cup of tea? My treat,’ she added quickly.
Chatting as they went, the two friends went to find a tearoom where, over honeyed crumpets, Dorothy asked, ‘So, how are Jennifer and Dorrie?’
‘Oh fine!’ Then Oriel lost her verve and formed a cynical grimace. ‘No, not fine really. I haven’t seen them for ages.’
Dorothy admitted, ‘Yes, Cuddy did tell me.’
Her companion was tart. ‘I suppose he got Clive’s version. Well, for the record, I came to an arrangement that I wouldn’t see them until I could provide us all with a home.’
She told Dorothy of all the trauma that had occurred since last they had met. Her friend showed incredulity. The Depression had hardly altered her own lifestyle – it was difficult to imagine what Oriel must be suffering. ‘I don’t know how I haven’t gone mad. God knows when I’ll see them again – but I will.’ She rushed her cup to her lips.
Dorothy used her little finger to flick a sticky crumb from the corner of her mouth. ‘I saw that old lady, the one who used to be your neighbour, last week and she was telling me you’ve only had one lot to view your house.’
Oriel placed the cup in its saucer and sighed. ‘Yes. I wouldn’t have guessed it would take this long. It’s been almost a year.’
‘Ye Gods, doesn’t time fly! So are you still living in Carlton? I presumed you did when sending your birthday card.’
A Complicated Woman Page 52