MB02 - Last Tram To Lime Street

by Joan Jonker

  Molly poked her head around the door. ‘George doesn’t do the pools, does he?’

  ‘No, clever clogs, he doesn’t! But he can start next week, can’t he? That means we should get our winnings the week after an’ I can shoot down to see Sol Greenberg. I’ll haunt his flamin’ shop until he gets me some furniture that’ll knock yours into a cocked hat.’

  ‘Nellie, my Jack’s been doin’ the pools for years an’ this is the first decent win he’s had.’

  ‘Molly,’ Nellie looked the picture of innocence, ‘if I told yer it was rainin’, would yer dash outside an’ bring yer washing in?’

  Molly’s face was blank. ‘I haven’t got any washin’ out.’

  Nellie winked at Bridie and Bob. ‘How Laurel and Hardy ever get a laugh out of your daughter I’ll never know. She doesn’t appreciate my humour one little bit. It’s like floggin’ a dead horse.’ She smiled sweetly at Molly. ‘But I love yer for all yer faults.’

  The dinner was ready when the girls came in from work but Molly made them wait in the kitchen until Jack and Tommy came home. She wanted them to see the room in all its glory before covering the polished table with the square of thick baize she had ready to put under the tablecloth.

  Ruthie had been allowed to stay up and she clung to Molly’s skirt as the whole family gazed with wonder at the transformation. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was in the wrong house.’ There was a look of surprise and pleasure on Jack’s face. Molly had been going on about the furniture all week, but he was so used to her exaggerating he took all she said with a pinch of salt. He certainly hadn’t expected anything as good as this. ‘You did well, love, I’m proud of yer.’

  ‘The room looks brilliant, Mam.’ Tommy gave her a cuddle. ‘Dead posh.’

  ‘Look at this, Dad.’ Doreen opened one of the sideboard drawers. ‘See, it’s all lined with green felt and these sections are for the cutlery.’

  Molly poked Jack in the ribs. ‘Talk about a fur coat an’ no knickers, our six knives, forks an’ spoons are goin’ to look a bit daft in there.’

  ‘Now, yer never know yer luck in a big city,’ Jack told her, grinning. ‘I might come up on the pools again an’ yer can buy a full canteen of cutlery.’

  Ruthie had begun to lose interest. ‘What about me dinner, Mam?’ She pulled on Molly’s skirt. ‘I’m hungry.’

  Jack bent down to ruffle her hair. ‘Haven’t you had anythin’ to eat, sweetheart?’

  ‘Only a sugar buttie.’ Ruthie was feeling sorry for herself. ‘Me tummy’s rumbling.’

  ‘I’ll see to the dinner.’ Molly bustled towards the kitchen. ‘Set the table for us, Jill, but don’t forget to put the underfelt on … I don’t want any marks on me new table, ’cos it’s got to last me a lifetime.’

  Molly raised her head from the sock she was darning and closed her eyes. It was a strain trying to sew by gaslight and she’d be glad when they had electric. The men had started digging at the top of the street yesterday, so all being well they should be sitting pretty by the time the summer came. It would be nice if it was all finished before Jill’s birthday in May.

  She glanced round the room and sighed with pleasure. It did look nice … but how much nicer it would be when the room was lit up by electric light. Show her furniture off a treat, it would.

  Molly bent her head and returned to the job in hand, savouring the peace and quiet. She loved her children dearly, but it was nice to have a break from them for a couple of hours. To wind down, relax and let her thoughts wander without fear of interruption. The only sounds in the room were so familiar to her she didn’t even hear them … the hissing of the coals, the ticking of the clock and the rustle of paper when Jack turned a page of the newspaper he was reading.

  It had been quite a day, no two ways about that! But remembering the surprise and pleasure on each face when they’d walked through the door and set eyes on the new furniture, a warm glow spread through Molly’s body. And she smiled when she recalled the pride on Jill’s face when Steve called for her. All the cupboards and drawers had to be opened for his inspection and approval, then the tablecloth had been whipped off so he could appreciate the beauty of the shining mahogany top. And Jill had been so happy with his reaction. Down on his knees admiring the carving on the table legs, his handsome face beaming, he’d looked up and said, ‘When we’re married, I’ll buy yer something as nice as this.’

  Thinking of Steve took Molly’s mind forward to the next exciting event on her calendar … the engagement of her daughter to the boy who was already almost like a son to her. She’d have to start saving with a vengeance to give them the best engagement party anyone ever had. It was only what they deserved because they were a smashing couple. With Nellie’s help she’d give them a do they’d remember all their lives.

  Molly was so deep in thought she didn’t hear the knock and she jumped when Jack prodded her leg with his foot. ‘In the name of God, Jack, yer frightened the livin’ daylights out of me!’

  ‘There’s someone at the door, love.’

  ‘Oh, no!’ Molly rested the sock on her knee. ‘Talk about no peace for the wicked … we never get any time on our own!’

  ‘Shall I go?’

  Molly nodded. ‘Don’t invite anyone in, though … I’ve ’ad enough visitors for one day.’

  With her ear cocked, Molly heard the door open, then the sound of raised voices. She recognised Jack’s, but couldn’t place the other one. ‘Whoever it is, I hope they go away,’ she muttered. ‘I feel more like flying than entertaining.’

  But when Barney Coleman followed Jack into the room, Molly didn’t let her disappointment show. ‘This is a surprise, Barney!’

  ‘Aye, well, there’s trouble up the street again.’ A brief flicker of interest crossed Barney’s face when he noticed the difference in the room from the last time he was there, but he was in no mood to be sidetracked from the reason for his call. ‘It’s that Bradley family again … a right lot of crooks, they are!’

  Sighing, Molly stuck her needle in the sock and put it to one side. ‘What ’ave they been up to now?’

  ‘It would be quicker to tell yez what they haven’t been up to!’ In a gesture of frustration, Barney ran a hand through his hair. ‘I wouldn’t bother yer, Molly, but I wondered if Corker had found out anythin’ about the family? I didn’t see him before he went away, otherwise I’d have asked him meself.’

  Molly exchanged glances with Jack before answering. ‘Corker did ask around, but he wouldn’t tell us anythin’.’ She looked to her husband for help. ‘Would he, Jack?’

  ‘Sit down, Barney.’ Jack pointed to the couch and waited until the man was seated. ‘Corker’s got a few friends making enquiries … he said he’ll know more next time he’s home.’ He offered his packet of Woodbines and lit the two cigarettes before continuing. ‘As he said, yer can’t go accusing anyone unless yer’ve got yer facts right.’

  Barney looked at the smoke floating upwards from his cigarette. ‘Never a ha’porth of trouble in this street until that family moved in. Now, not a day goes by without somethin’ getting nicked. The neighbours are up in arms … they’ll take the law into their own hands if things carry on as they are.’

  ‘I would have thought those Bradleys would have learned their lesson over your Malcolm’s bike.’ Molly pulled her skirt down when she realised she was showing more knee than was respectable. ‘What ’ave they been stealin’?’

  ‘Anythin’ and everythin’, Molly! If it’s movable, they’ll move it. Nothing is safe from them.’ Barney beat a fist on his knee. ‘I can’t believe the things they get up to … don’t know how they’ve got the nerve! Little Dolly Lawton’s tricycle went missing out of their yard while they were in bed … and the poor kid’s cried every night since. Mrs Lawrence went to the shops yesterday, and when she got back all the washing had disappeared from her line and her larder had been cleaned out of food.’

  Molly gasped. ‘Go ’way! Yer mean they went in her house?’
/>
  ‘As bold as brass, an’ in broad daylight! Mrs Lawrence had locked the entry door but she hadn’t bothered lockin’ the kitchen door because there’s never been any need to. We’ve never ’ad thieves for neighbours before.’

  ‘Are yer sure it’s them?’ Jack asked. ‘It couldn’t be anyone else, could it?’

  ‘Oh, come off it, Jack! For twenty years my wife ’as left the milk money on the step every mornin’ an’ it’s never been pinched. She leaves the insurance money on the hall table an’ the door on the latch if she’s got to go out when the collector’s due, an’ that’s never been pinched, either! Yer can’t tell me it’s just coincidence that these things start happenin’ when the Bradleys move in.’

  ‘Of course it’s them!’ Molly was surprised her husband had any doubts. ‘Yer’ve only got to look at them to know what they are … common as muck an’ hard as nails.’

  ‘If we weren’t sure before, we are after what happened today.’ Barney gazed at Molly. ‘D’yer know that old lady in the next street … Mrs Tewson or something?’

  ‘Mrs Townson.’ Molly nodded knowingly. ‘Little, thin as a rake, an’ she’s got a twitch at the side of her mouth.’

  ‘That’s the one.’ Barney leaned forward. ‘She was in the corner shop today, gettin’ a few things, an’ she put her purse in the basket on top of the groceries. But when she got home the purse had gone. An’ guess who was standin’ next to her in the shop? The Bradley girl … I think her name’s Joyce.’ He turned to Jack. ‘Ask Maisie if yer think I’m being bad-minded. She’ll tell yer she saw the old lady put the purse in her basket, and she’ll also tell yer who opened the shop door to let her out.’

  ‘I don’t know how they can do it!’ Molly looked and sounded angry. ‘That old lady never has two ha’pennies to rub together! She looks as though she never sees a decent meal.’

  ‘She went back to the shop to see if she’d left the purse there, an’ Maisie said she thought she was goin’ to faint when she found she hadn’t. Every penny she possessed was in it, including her rent money.’

  ‘Ay, Barney,’ Molly narrowed her eyes. ‘How come those two Bradley girls never go to school? If it was one of mine, the school board would be knockin’ on me door an’ I’d be in trouble.’

  ‘The neighbours ’ave been wonderin’ the same thing. All I can think is that they live like gypsies, always on the move, an’ the education people never know where they are.’

  ‘We could always inform them.’ Jack threw his cigarette end into the fire. ‘That would put a stop to some of the thieving.’

  ‘It would put a stop to a lot of it! Those two girls play in the street all day, watching the comings and goings. They know everyone’s habits, an’ I think they’re the lookouts. When they know a house is empty, that brazen brother of theirs moves in.’ There was no warmth in Barney’s smile. ‘They’d leave you an’ me standing, Jack, an’ that’s a fact. Crafty as a cartload of monkeys, and just as devious.’

  ‘Corker said somethin’ about there bein’ another son.’ Molly chose her words carefully: she’d promised Corker not to say too much. ‘Have you seen another lad, Barney?’

  ‘Aye, an’ that’s another mystery! He’s not like the others to look at, he’s got blond hair and he’s tall an’ broad … not like the other upstart. He mightn’t be one of the family, but he certainly lives there. The queer thing about it is he comes an’ goes the back way. No one’s ever seen him in the street. The only reason I’ve seen him is that he goes out the same time as me in the mornings. I use the entry because it’s handy to nip down the back jiggers to the tram stop, an’ I see him most days. But he never lets on … doesn’t look right nor left. With a pair of navy-blue overalls rolled up under his arm, he legs it down the entry like he’s got wings on his heels.’

  Molly could feel Jack’s eyes on her, but she didn’t need his warning. She had more sense than to repeat what Corker had told them. ‘Has anyone said anythin’ to the Bradleys?’

  Barney nodded, half smiling at the memory. ‘The whole street was out last night, shouting and accusing … I thought there was goin’ to be a riot! But all it achieved was an invitation to search their house if we thought they were the thieves, and a whole lot of abuse. Their language was choice, I can tell yer. I hear plenty of swearin’ down at the docks, an’ I can do me fair share, but even the dockers would draw the line at some of the things they came out with.’

  Jack’s chest heaved, then he let out a long-drawn-out sigh. ‘As yer said, Barney, it’s a mystery. An’ there’s not much yer can do about it, unless yer catch them in the act. The police can’t do anythin’ unless yer’ve got proof.’

  Barney nodded in agreement. ‘I know that, Jack, an’ they know it too! That’s the maddening thing about it! They’re laughin’ their flamin’ heads off at us and there’s nowt we can do about it. I don’t know where they stash their ill-gotten gains, but I do know if we’d taken up their offer of searching their house we wouldn’t ’ave found Dolly’s tricycle or Mrs Lawrence’s clothes.’

  A spark from the fire landed on the rug in front of the hearth and Molly rushed to stamp it out. It was a tatty old rug – spoiled the look of the room really – but it would have to do until she could save up enough to buy a new one. Standing with her hands on her hips, Molly gazed at Barney, sympathy in her eyes. ‘Look, I know Corker’s away for two weeks, but don’t do anythin’ till he gets home. If yer take the law into your own hands it’s you that’ll end up in trouble, not the Bradleys.’

  ‘Molly’s right.’ Jack took the cigarette Barney offered and reached in his pocket for matches. ‘I know how yer feel … how any red-blooded man would feel in your place … but hold yer hand till Corker gets back. If anyone can sort it out, it’s him.’

  Barney drew hard on the cigarette. He knew Jack was right, but it went against the grain to give in to a nasty little sod like the Bradley man. If he had his way, he’d strangle the bastard. ‘It’s all we can do, I suppose. We’ve already agreed to keep our eyes open … to be more careful about lockin’ doors and not leaving anythin’ in the yards at night.’ He ground his teeth together. ‘What a bloody way to live, though, eh?’

  ‘It won’t be for long, just till Corker gets home. He’ll put them in their place, don’t you worry.’ Molly pinched at the fat around her elbow. ‘I’m thinkin’ about poor Mrs Townson. She’s a proud little thing, always pays her dues. She’ll be mortified havin’ to tell the rent man she’s got no money.’

  She rested her chin on a curled fist, her mind ticking over. ‘I could ask the neighbours to ’ave a whip-round. It wouldn’t be much, mind, ’cos most people are strugglin’ themselves. But I’m sure they could spare a few coppers, an’ every little helps. At least the old lady could pay somethin’ off her rent.’

  ‘Come up to our end, they’ll all give somethin’.’ Barney stood up and leaning towards Molly whispered, ‘Yer could even try the Bradleys, they’re probably better off than any of us.’

  ‘I might just do that, Barney! At least I’ll stand behind Nellie when she asks. She’ll be holdin’ the collecting tin.’

  Barney made for the door, feeling a damn sight better than when he’d arrived. His hand on the knob, he turned. ‘Men don’t usually notice things … not like you women. But I’ve got to say, Molly, yer room looks a treat.’

  Chapter Twelve

  ‘Ay, Mo,’ Doreen clutched her friend’s arm, ‘don’t look now, but there’s a feller just come in an’ he’s gorgeous. Talk about tall, blond an’ handsome isn’t in it, he’s like someone yer see in the films but never in real life.’

  They were standing at the bottom of the room, by the stage, and Maureen turned her head casually to scan the group standing inside the door of Barlows Lane dance hall. And when she saw a boy fitting the description she whistled through her teeth. ‘You ain’t kiddin’, he’s a smasher! I wonder if he’s with a girl?’

  ‘Doesn’t seem to be, he’s standin’ on his own.’

 
‘She’s probably puttin’ her coat in the cloakroom.’ Maureen pulled a face. ‘With his looks he’s bound to have a girlfriend.’

  The band leader announced the next dance as an excuse-me quickstep and the two friends were quickly snapped up. As soon as Doreen’s partner took her hand and stretched their arms sideways to their full extent, she knew she’d got a raw beginner. Holding her a yard away from him he started off on the wrong foot and trod heavily on her toes. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered, and plodded on, his body as stiff as a board and his steps completely out of time with the beat of the music. Doreen did her best to follow him but after a few steps she gave it up as a bad job and concentrated on keeping out of the way of his feet.

  When they’d walked the length of the room – you certainly couldn’t call it dancing – the boy was in trouble. He had no idea how to negotiate the turn and came to a full stop. His face the colour of beetroot, he said, ‘I’m not very good … it’s me first time.’

  ‘Yer’ll soon get the hang of it.’ Doreen tried to sound sympathetic as she manoeuvred him into the right position, but told herself if she saw him coming towards her again she’d make a beeline for the cloakroom.

  The boy’s heel came down heavily on her toes and she cried out in pain. ‘I … I … I’m sorry,’ he stuttered. ‘Have I hurt yer?’

  Wincing with the pain, Doreen growled through clenched teeth, ‘Yer only nearly took me flamin’ foot off, that’s all!’ She happened to glance over his shoulder and found herself looking into the eyes of the blond boy. He was half smiling and she was so filled with embarrassment she pulled her partner forward so roughly he almost lost his balance. ‘I’m all right now, keep movin’.’

  They’d only gone a few steps when Doreen felt a hand on her elbow. ‘Can I cut in, please?’ After gazing briefly into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, she withdrew her hand from her partner, saying, ‘Thank you.’

  Doreen’s new partner held her close and twirled her around before gliding down the room with the ease of an accomplished dancer. His stride long, his body rising and falling with each movement and his hand on her back guiding her, he chuckled, ‘How are yer feet?’