Northern Girl

by Fadette Marie Marcelle Cripps

  ‘They’ve gone to church,’ he rolled his eyes. ‘Can you believe Da’s gone with her?’

  ‘Well, yes, I can,’ she replied. ‘He started going when you were away fighting in the blessed war, when he knew you must be in the thick of it. He needed the comfort of the church then, and I guess he thinks it would look bad if he stopped going now that he’s got what he prayed for, and you’re home safe.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Tom laughed, touched by his dad’s dilemma. ‘I suppose he’s saddled himself with it now, and can’t see a way out, poor sod!’

  ‘Oh! Knowing our Da, he’ll make his excuses when he thinks the time’s right,’ Rene said confidently.

  ‘Aye, I suppose he will. It beats me why they’ve got to walk all the way down to the Methodist Church anyway, when the Pentecostal Church is just over the road there! Surely one place of worship is as good as the next?’

  At this Rene warned, ‘Well, I wouldn’t let Mam hear you say that, you know she’s Methodist through and through, and nothing would induce her to go to the church over the road. Even if it meant walking to the next village, she’d do it.’

  Tom responded with resignation, ‘Aye, I know you’re right, lass. Each to their own, eh? And in the meantime, should we be doing something about the dinner?’

  ‘Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, I put the beef in the oven while you were putting the world to rights … Did Mam tell you that Grandda Elliott is coming for dinner?’

  ‘Well, no. I haven’t seen her this morning. I had a bit of a skinful last night, and they’d gone to church by the time I got up. Eee, Grandda Ellott! I haven’t seen him since God knows when,’ Tom said, just as Jeannie came hurrying back in from the outside lavvy with her skirt half-tucked into her knickers.

  She exclaimed, ‘Oooh, Grandda Elliott! Does that mean that ah can have me Yorkshire puddin’ before me dinner, with milk and sugar on, like he does, Mam?’

  Tom picked her up and lifted her up over his head laughing, ‘Well, that depends, young lady!’

  ‘Depends on what?’ she giggled, while he shook her around. ‘Ah’ll be sick on yer head if yer don’t put uz down, our Tom,’ she squealed.

  ‘Ugh! Disgusting!’ Tom pulled a face. ‘Tell you what,’ he said, setting her down on the floor. ‘You lay the table nicely, and I’ll make sure they let you have your Yorkshire puds with milk and sugar just like your great grandda.’

  Rene, who was busily putting the potatoes in the roasting tin alongside the beef, gave Tom a look, reminding him that there would be no hope of ever getting their Jeannie to appreciate the advantages of etiquette as long as he encouraged her like that. But it was their first day together since she couldn’t remember when, and there was no way she was about to spoil it over something like Yorkshire pudding, of all things.

  Jeannie had just managed to get the last of the plates she’d been balancing precariously on her arms on to the table as her gran and grandda came in, followed by Great-Grandda Elliott.

  ‘Well, this is a sight fer sore eyes,’ Jack commented, with a satisfied grin, as he walked into the living room. ‘Ah never thought ah’d see the day … The whole family together, at last!’

  Hannah, having hugged Jeannie several times, looked over at Rene and exclaimed, ‘Eee, pet! Well done! Yer a manager now, then?’

  ‘Yes, Mam, a fully fledged manager.’

  ‘That’s grand! Aw, come here, lass.’ Hannah held out her arms.

  Rene, feeling really pleased with herself, stepped over to her mother and they hugged.

  Hannah looked at Tom. ‘What de yer think of yer big sister, then, lad? Passin’ all them exams on fashion and buyin’ and accountin’ and all that? She’ll be runnin’ the shop in Bishop now, yer know!’

  But before Tom, who was still enfolded in the arms of his granddad, could answer, Rene told Hannah the other bit of good news she had. ‘I’ll soon be out from under your feet, Mam, because the rooms above the shop in Bishop are being converted into living accommodation, and they’ll give me a good rate on the rent—’ She stopped mid-sentence at the concerned look on Hannah’s face. ‘Oh, Mam, be pleased for us!’ She glanced at Jeannie, who was busily pestering her great-grandda while he struggled to light his pipe, and said quietly, ‘We need to get away from the village, Mam. It’s stifling us.’

  ‘Oh, ah know, pet. It’s just me bein’ selfish.’

  ‘Mam, you are the least selfish person I know.’ Then, making sure they were well out of Jeannie’s earshot, she whispered, ‘I’ve asked about the local schools for our Jeannie, but I haven’t told her yet. The living accommodation won’t be ready for a few weeks, so I’ll do it nearer the time.’

  Hannah gave her a hug. ‘Well, ah’m that pleased fer yer, pet. It’ll be a step in the right direction, that’s fer sure. But ah’ll miss yer, and the house’ll be dead without our Jeannie runnin’ around.’

  Jack, having overheard some of this, added his twopenn’orth now. ‘Fer God’s sake, woman, they’ll only be five miles down t’ road, half an hour on the bus!’ He added with a wink, ‘We could do with a bit more space round ’ere, anyhow, now that our Tom’s back ter clutter the place up!’

  ‘Aye, well, you’ve got me for a while yet, and all,’ said Tom. ‘Because when I was chatting to the lads at the dance last night, they were telling us that brickies are needed down the pit, so I thought I might go and see, like!’

  ‘Yer don’t want ter be workin down t’ pit!’ Grandda Elliott interrupted, without looking up from the armchair where he’d settled himself.

  No one was ever sure just how much Grandda could hear. But he’d heard this all right, and, seemingly, had a strong opinion on it.

  Tom laughed affectionately. ‘You’re right, Grandda, I don’t want to work down the pit. But it won’t be being a miner, it’ll be building, like, and it’d probably only be for a month or two, till I get on me feet.’

  Jack joined in now. ‘I have ter agree with yer Grandda, lad, the whole point of goin’ into the building trade was ter be outside in the fresh air. Yer don’t want ter be stuck down there fer long, ah’m telling yer, lad. The only fresh air ah get is when ah’m on the allotment digging up carrots and potatoes, and such like.’ He added proudly, pointing to the vegetables in the pans, ‘Ah grew all those meself, ye know!’

  To which Hannah, who could be heard in the scullery vigorously beating the mixture for the Yorkshire puddings, shouted in response, ‘Not half as much fresh air as yer get walking to and from the club nearly every night, mind!’

  Grandda Elliott, totally oblivious to the conversation in hand, suddenly called out, ‘Don’t ferget, ah’ll ’ave mine afore me dinner, with milk and sugar on. Can’t stand that bloody gravy on me Yorkshire puddin’s!’

  ‘Me an’ all!’ shouted Jeannie.

  ‘All right, Da, ah think ah know that be now,’ Mam called back, while the rest of the family fell about with laughter.

  An hour or so later, with the joint of beef cooked, and the Yorkshire puddings nicely risen, the family gathered around the table, where they ate heartily. Grandda Elliott and Jeannie sat together, their Yorkshires covered in milk and sugar, while Rene looked on disapprovingly, eating hers with gravy.

  Eventually, Grandda Elliott looked at Jeannie, and said, in a voice louder than it needed to be, ‘Ay, that was good, wasn’t it, pet? Ye’ll be ready fer yer roast dinner now, won’t yer?’

  ‘All right, Da, ah get the hint. Yer proper dinners are on a plate all ready for yer in the oven,’ Mam said, wiping her hands on the tea cloth, about to get up from the chair.

  ‘Sit still, Mam, I’ll get them,’ said Rene.

  ‘Mind yer get the oven cloth to open the oven door, the knob’ll be mighty hot be now,’ Hannah warned.

  ‘Yes, Mam, I’m not about to make that mistake again, my fingers still tingle sometimes, even now, after that last time.’

  Once everyone was sorted out, the family settled down to catching up on each other’s news. They all had so much to tell, anim
ated chatter and laughter competing with the clattering cutlery – but it all came to a sudden halt when there was a loud knock on the back door.

  They glanced at each other, and Hannah asked no one in particular, ‘Who on earth could that be at dinner time on a Sunday?’

  She was about to get up when Tom, who was already on his feet, held up his hand to stop her, saying, ‘You sit still, Mam, I’ll get it!’

  Chapter 13

  Marck, France

  Friday, 22 June 1945

  ‘Oh my goodness!’ cried Madeleine with a start. She put down the jacket, whose sleeves now fitted perfectly, wondering how long she’d been there. This is ridiculous, I must go downstairs, she thought, feeling on the floor for her shoes.

  She hesitated for a moment on the bottom stair, wondering what kind of reception she’d get from her sisters.

  ‘Ah! There you are!’ Martine said, appearing not to notice how long she’d been gone. ‘The coffee is made, if you want to join us,’ she offered, as Madeleine walked sheepishly across the kitchen to where her two older sisters were sitting facing each other at the table.

  ‘Still no sign of Maman, then?’ Madeleine asked.

  ‘No. So you’re still safe. Maman doesn’t know yet about you disappearing at the fair,’ Simone said, not bothering to hide her sarcasm.

  ‘That’s enough, Simone,’ Martine retorted angrily. ‘You have no right to criticize your sister – or anyone else, for that matter! And don’t you forget it!’

  ‘Oh, I can see you’re never going to let me forget it!’ Simone blurted out angrily. Then, losing her temper completely, she added, ‘You and that Louis bloody Lamont! I wish neither of us had ever set eyes on him … Oh!’ She clapped her hand tightly over her mouth, looking remarkably like a naughty schoolgirl.

  Martine just sat there, saying nothing for a moment. But there was no mistaking the look of defeat in her eyes as she looked up at Madeleine. ‘Well, now you know,’ she said. ‘You wondered why we came home earlier than expected. That’s the reason.’

  ‘But I don’t!’ Madeleine held her arms out in exasperation. ‘Don’t you think it’s time you explained things?’

  Simone looked at them both in panic. She said, ‘Does this mean the whole family has to know?’

  ‘I think we can spare the rest of them!’ Martine said, glaring at her.

  Madeleine poured herself the coffee she’d been offered, sure she was going to need it. Sitting back at the table, she looked at her two sisters, waiting for them to speak. ‘Well?’ she asked.

  Simone immediately got up. ‘I’m not going to sit here, taking the blame for something that wasn’t entirely my fault.’

  ‘Sit … down … Simone!’ Martine hissed. At that, though Madeleine was anxious what she might hear, a smile involuntarily twitched her lips. She’d sometimes had the same urge to laugh in the school cellars during air raids. Serious situations often made her giggle. It was probably a kind of hysteria, she thought.

  Martine poured herself another coffee, still without speaking, so that when she finally did say something, Madeleine jumped.

  ‘It was shortly after your last visit to us in Boulogne—’

  ‘You mean the time you sent me home early, without explaining why?’ Madeleine interrupted.

  ‘Yes, that time,’ Martine answered. ‘But please don’t ask me any questions about that just now. This will be easier and quicker if you don’t interrupt.’

  Madeleine shrugged her shoulders. ‘OK. Sorry.’

  Martine began again. ‘Shortly after your last visit about a year ago, I met a man, Louis Lamont.’ She could see that she had Madeleine’s full attention as she continued, ‘He was a customer at the bank where I worked, and he’d had an account there long before I moved to Boulogne. He was handsome and he knew it.’ Martine looked wistful, and paused before adding, ‘Anyway, it was obvious that the girls in the bank liked him, and he was well aware of it. He made a point of flirting with them, but he never came to my window. That is, until the day he asked me if I would like to have a drink with him when I finished work.’ She stopped again before adding, ‘I was very surprised, because I wasn’t even aware he had noticed me. He was charming and very persuasive, and, after some hesitation, I agreed. We talked a lot that day, and met quite frequently afterwards. It turned out that he knew lots of people, many of them working in the nightclubs still being run in cellars below the rubble-strewn streets and deserted buildings. And as Simone was busy with her studies in the evenings …’ Martine glanced at Simone, who was looking decidedly uncomfortable, but continued, nonetheless, ‘Sometimes I went with him to the clubs, which was an exciting escape from day-to-day routine and the depressing sights on the streets. It was like another world down there. And, yes, he used to gamble a little – but he made no secret of it.’ Martine was answering a question that hadn’t even been asked.

  ‘Anyway, I didn’t mind,’ she continued, ‘Because I was having a good time. After a few months, I knew that I really liked Louis, loved him, even. And he told me he loved me.’ At this point, Martine flashed her eyes at Simone, who looked away immediately.

  ‘We became much closer after that.’ Martine glanced at Madeleine. ‘If you know what I mean?’

  ‘Of course I know what you mean!’ Madeleine said.

  ‘Anyway,’ Martine continued, ‘One day when we were out together, Louis became really worried and upset, telling me that the friend he’d been sharing a flat with had died. The flat was going to be sold, and he had to move out. I didn’t even have to think about it before saying he could move in with me. And your sister …’ She nodded towards Simone, ‘… had already met him by then, so everything was fine. Huh! That is, until a few months later, when I came home earlier than usual and decided to organise dinner ready, as a surprise.’

  Simone had been fiddling nervously with her coffee cup, but now, suddenly, she pushed her chair back as if she was going to leave.

  ‘Sit still!’ Martine ordered. ‘You’re listening to this whether you like it or not.’ Then, glancing briefly at Madeleine, she said, ‘I think you can guess who got a surprise.’

  Madeleine put her hand to her mouth and looked at Simone, horrified, while Martine continued, ‘I walked through the hall, where I picked up one of Simone’s shoes. Nothing unusual in that, as she was never very tidy. Then, when I went to put it away, I heard sounds – giggling, coming from her bedroom. I opened the door and there she was, cavorting on the bed … naked.’ Martine looked directly at Madeleine now, and asked, ‘And who do you think she was with, Madeleine?’

  Madeleine whispered incredulously, ‘Louis. She was with Louis.’

  ‘Yes, she was with Louis.’ Martine glared at Simone, who was sobbing.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Martine,’ she said. ‘How many times can I say it? I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ She jumped up, scraping the chair back across the tiles, and ran upstairs. Martine let her go. She’d said what she wanted. Accidentally triggered by Simone’s earlier outburst, this had been an opportunity for Martine to release her pent-up feelings at last.

  Madeleine felt pity, not just for Martine, but for Simone, too, who was obviously suffering because she’d hurt her sister so badly. Maybe this would be a turning point for Simone, and in the future she would be more thoughtful.

  Madeleine and Martine lingered at the table. Martine was staring blankly out of the window when Madeleine reached out and took her hand. ‘I’m sorry that you’ve had such heartache,’ she said gently. ‘I realize now why you’ve seemed so different since you’ve come home.’

  Martine smiled weakly, gripping Madeleine’s hand. ‘Don’t be too distressed on my behalf,’ she said. ‘Because, in a roundabout way, Simone did me a favour.’

  ‘A favour?’ Madeleine looked puzzled.

  ‘Louis wasn’t just a womanizer. I discovered that after I’d thrown him out of the apartment, because only two days later, he was arrested.’

  ‘Arrested?’ Madeleine questioned in
horror, ‘Arrested for what?’

  ‘Oh, wait till you hear this, my dear sister,’ Martine said, with a wry smile. ‘Then see what kind of man your elder – and supposedly sensible – sister fell in love with! Maybe then you’ll understand why I was so hard on you when you went off with this Tom at the fair today.’

  ‘Go on,’ Madeleine urged, fascinated.

  ‘He was arrested when he was caught passing information to a German officer. It was a few months before the end of the war, and this particular officer had been a frequent visitor at one of the nightclubs, which was obviously where Louis used to meet him. Anyway, apparently he had been paying Louis handsomely for information. Apparently, a close friend of Louis’s, who was in the Resistance, suspected him, and planted false information about a plan to blow up a particular railway bridge. When the Germans lay in wait at the bridge and nothing had happened, Louis realized he’d been set up. So, panicking, and fearing reprisals from the Germans, he went to the gendarmes, hoping for protection.’ Martine added quietly, ‘Of course he was arrested, but, you see, there are gendarmes who are sympathetic to the Resistance. So I know I will never see Louis again. No one will …’

  Madeleine kept quiet, waiting for Martine to continue. ‘The sums of money Louis had paid in to his account, and the dates he’d done it, were checked after his arrest. And because I knew the details, I was interviewed too.’

  ‘Oh, Martine!’ Madeleine exclaimed. ‘Weren’t you afraid they’d think you were involved? When they discovered he lived with you?’

  ‘At first, yes, I was. But fortunately they believed me. They’d been watching him for some time, and of course they knew he’d started doing it long before he met me. But they did check me out, too.’