by Jonker, Joan
‘I’ll see you out.’ Bessie pushed her chair back and began to walk towards the front door with her. ‘Tell Amelia I’m looking forward to seeing her. Oh, and remind her it’s only two weeks on Saturday to our birthday party.’
But as Evelyn pulled on Bessie’s arm it was herself she was thinking off, no one else. ‘I’ll go out the back way, Miss Maudsley, I don’t want to be seen by the neighbours. Especially those two from opposite, who seem to spend their whole lives gossiping in the street. It’s a pity they haven’t got anything better to do. I do not want them knowing my business so, if you don’t mind, I’ll go out the back way.’
‘Please yerself.’ Bessie followed her through to the kitchen, and when she’d closed the door after her, muttered, ‘Good riddance to bad rubbish.’
Then she went back to the table for the remains of her sandwich, and a conversation with the fireplace. ‘I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, I really don’t. There’s something wrong in the head with that bleeding woman. She’s definitely not normal, yet the silly bugger thinks we’re all mad and she’s the only sane one! I mean, how does she think I can have her daughter coming here every night straight from school, and not one of the neighbours will see her and start asking questions? Is the silly bugger going to give everyone in the street a ruddy blindfold and insist they wear them?’
Then Bessie chuckled. ‘She’d do her nut if she knew Rita is coming over tonight, and seeing as she’s me best friend in the street, it’s only natural I’ll tell her me bit of news. She’s bound to find out, living opposite, and she’d think me a fine friend if I hadn’t let on. In fact, she’d think it was sneaky, and I’d agree with her. So Rita will be told of our little arrangement when she comes tonight, and sure as eggs is eggs she’ll tell Aggie first thing in the morning. I’ll tell them to keep it to themselves, of course, but I can’t help it if they can’t keep a secret. But I’d better not mention what her Ladyship said about the other kids having diseases and head lice, ’cos then they’d lynch her. I think Rita might laugh and see the funny side, but not Aggie. Aggie Gordon has a good sense of humour, but not when someone is saying her two children are diseased and lousy. She’d be over there like a shot, with all guns blazing, and if she didn’t get an answer, she’d boot the ruddy door in. I don’t want no trouble, so I’ll be careful what I say and make sure me tongue doesn’t run away with me. I don’t like the woman, it’s no use saying I do, she gets up me bleeding nose with her airs and graces – but I’d hate to see her getting her hair pulled out and losing her front teeth.’
Bessie chuckled and pointed a finger at the fireplace. ‘That’s the best thing about having a conversation with you, yer never repeat it. And yer don’t use no bad language either.’ She’d picked up her cup and saucer, put them on the plate and was carrying them out to the kitchen when she turned and looked back at the grate. ‘Don’t start getting big-headed, ’cos I’ll still be taking me poker to yer in the morning to rake out the ashes. So behave yerself, and don’t be spitting no live coals on to me hearth rug either.’
‘Don’t die of surprise, will yer,’ Rita said, passing Bessie on her way in, ‘but I’ve got a few biscuits to have with the cup of tea I know ye’re going to insist on making. I hopped in lucky when I went to the corner shop for a gas mantle, and Sally was sorting the biscuit tins out. She was emptying the crumbs into a bag ready to put in the bin when I spotted that the tin next to the one she was emptying was the broken biscuit one, and there were some decent ones in there. So I acted daft and pretended I thought she was going to throw them away too! And although she said she wasn’t mad enough, nor rich enough, to throw out nearly good as new biscuits, she did take pity on me eventually. God love her cotton socks, she picked a few of the best out and put them in this bag.’ She waved a small paper bag in the air. ‘So when we’re having our cuppa, we’ll raise our cups to Sally.’
‘You’re me second visitor since I got in from work, I’m getting to be very popular.’ Bessie waited until her friend was seated. ‘Only I didn’t ask the other one if she wanted a drink ’cos I knew she wouldn’t drink out of one of my cups in case it had a crack in it. And I bet she’s never heard of broken biscuits in her life.’
As Rita passed the bag over, she said, ‘I don’t need three guesses for this one, sunshine, I’ll lay odds it was the queer one next door?’
‘Right first time, girl. But I’ll bet yer’d never guess in a month of Sundays what she came to see me about.’
Rita rolled her eyes. ‘She was on the cadge for something?’ When Bessie shook her head, her mate racked her brain for inspiration, then said, ‘Ooh, don’t keep me in suspense, sunshine, me heart won’t stand it. Come on, I’m all ears.’
Bessie pushed her chair under the table before striking a pose. She straightened her back, stuck her nose in the air, then laced her fingers across her tummy. And only being the size of sixpennyworth of copper, she looked so funny Rita was laughing before the little woman opened her mouth.
‘I was honoured today when one of the senior partners in the office asked me if I would like the position of private secretary to a new partner who is starting on Monday. It is a great advance and brings a not insignificant increase in my salary.’
Unable to keep up the pose, Bessie burst out laughing. ‘It’s all right for you, Rita Wells, but I had to keep me face straight while she was going on, in that posh voice of hers, about how delighted she was. And d’yer know what was going through me head as she went on about it? Well, I was thinking that while not one soul in this street likes her, she doesn’t see it ’cos she’s too busy loving herself.’
‘I’m surprised she told yer, sunshine, ’cos she never talks to anyone else. None of us knows the first thing about her, so how come she’s suddenly opening up to you? She must be after something, so I’d watch out.’
‘Oh, she was after something all right. I knew that as soon as I saw her passing me kitchen window. But what she was after suited me, so while I dragged it out for a while, I knew she was going to get her own way.’ Bessie pulled the chair back out and sat down. ‘I may as well sit while I tell yer the whole story. But before I start, I want yer to know I only let her carry on because of young Amelia. I’m very fond of that girl and think she leads a lousy life. Otherwise I wouldn’t have let Lady Muck over the doorstep.’
Rita listened wide-eyed, clicking her tongue a few times. But she didn’t interrupt until Bessie had finished. When she did open her mouth to give her opinion, she was asked to wait until they had a pot of tea on the table. Then they sat facing each other across the table with cups of tea in front of them and some biscuits in the saucers.
‘She’s done me a favour, girl, ’cos since they moved in I’ve wanted to make friends with Amelia seeing as she doesn’t have any young friends. Not that I’m young, like, but at least I talk to her as I would a young girl, not as if to an adult like her mother does. I think we’ll both enjoy being together for a few hours each night. It’ll be a change for me to have young company, and I’ll be able to take her to the park or round the shops, something her own mother never does. And she can’t say she hasn’t got time, ’cos she’s in from work about the same time as me. Anyway, that’ll all change on Monday ’cos she’s working full-time then, and what the eye don’t see, the heart don’t grieve over.’ Bessie put her cup down on the saucer. ‘It goes against the grain with me, taking a shilling a week off her, and I almost told her what she could do with it. Then I thought of how I could spend it on Amelia, buy a few books I can keep in here for her to read, and a game of Snakes and Ladders or Tiddly-winks. She’d like those. I’d rather she had it than the mother who doesn’t show any love for her. No hugs or kisses, no sign of affection even.’
‘That’s because there isn’t any, sunshine,’ Rita said. ‘I can see a lot from our house, and it’s not because I’m nosy but yer can’t help noticing that she never sees the girl off to school, never stands at the door to give her a kiss or shout after her to tell her to
hurry home. They’d only been living there a couple of months when I started to notice those things. I’ve never said anything to anyone ’cos it’s not my worry, but I’d say that woman has no feelings, no emotions, and no love to give her own daughter. In fact, I doubt if she has ever known what true love is.’
‘I’ve noticed all those things too!’ Bessie was thinking of Amelia’s happy expression when she’d been able to get a loaf for a penny. She’d been so sure her mother would be pleased with her, yet her only thanks was a smack across the face. ‘That’s why I want to show the kid all women aren’t like that. I want to try and show her the love, affection and fun that every other kid in this street knows. They might not have any shoes on their feet, but by God, they know what love is. And laughter too.’ Bessie looked surprised that she’d only just thought of this. ‘D’yer know, Rita, I’ve never once heard laughter coming through the wall of that house. I think Amelia is afraid of her mother, afraid to look as though she’s enjoying herself.’ She banged one clenched fist on the table. ‘By God, I’m going to change all that, starting on Monday. I don’t care if I have to lie to the stuck-up snob, I’m determined to show that young girl what a real home is like.’ She grinned. ‘I’ll keep God informed every night, and I’m sure He will be on my side.’
‘Yer can count on me to be on your side as well, sunshine, I’ll help all I can. And yer can take it from me, I’ll be doing it willingly. And I’ll have a word with God too, ’cos yer never know, an extra voice might add more weight.’
Chapter Six
It was Monday morning. Rita was waving her sons off when the front door to the next house opened and Aggie’s eleven-year-old daughter Kitty stepped down on to the pavement, followed by her brother, ten-year-old Kenny. Close behind came Aggie, who never missed seeing her children off.
‘The start of another week, eh, girl? The flaming time just flies over.’ Aggie held on to the door frame for support as she carefully lowered her eighteen stone down the steps. ‘You two better get a move on ’cos ye’re a bit late this morning. Too bleeding lazy to get out of bed.’
‘It was your fault, Mam, yer never called us.’ Kitty wagged her head from side to side, a habit she had acquired from her mother. She also had her mother’s features, plus her quick tongue and sense of humour, and was already showing signs of being plump. But woe betide anyone who dare mention this. ‘It was you what slept in, so don’t be trying to get out of it.’
Her brother pulled on her arm. ‘Me mam made us a bit late, but it’s you what’s making us very late. Shut up and come on, otherwise the school gates will be closed by the time we get there.’ As he dragged his sister down the street, he turned his head and appealed to Rita, ‘Why do girls and women talk so much? They’ll have the last word if it kills them.’
‘You’re a fine one to talk,’ Kitty growled, trying to tug her arm free. ‘When ye’re out with yer mates, it’s always your mouth what’s going fifteen to the dozen.’
When Aggie let out a roar and pretended to run after them, shaking her fist in the air, her two children ran hell for leather. But they were both laughing, for they loved the bones of their mother who was warm, loving, and very funny. There was never a dull moment in their house for she never ran out of funny tales. Most of them she made up, but that didn’t matter if it made them laugh. ‘See yer tonight, Mam,’ they both shouted, waving their hands over their head.
‘God love them,’ Aggie said, ‘if they get the cane for being late, it’s not because they overslept. It was the ruddy alarm clock, it’s away to hell. I’ll have to see if Sam can fix it tonight ’cos I can’t afford to buy a new one.’
‘I can always give yer a knock on the wall,’ Rita told her. ‘Our alarm clock has never let us down.’ She crossed two fingers. ‘It’s bad luck to speak too soon, so forget I said that. But I’ll give yer a knock, if yer want.’
‘I’ll wait and see if Sam can fix the clock. If he can’t, I’ll let yer know.’ Aggie folded her arms which disappeared under her mountainous breasts. ‘Ay, her over the road, Tilly Mint, she was out early this morning. I don’t know what the time was, what with the bleeding alarm letting us down, but it can’t have been more than eight o’clock, ten-past at the latest. That’s early for her. And when the girl came out later, I felt sorry for the poor lass, she had a hell of a job closing the door. She tried pulling it with her two hands in the letter box but that was no good. Then she stood on tip-toe to reach the knocker and that failed. I’d have gone out to her if I hadn’t been at sixes and sevens, trying to make the kids some toast before they went to school. I wouldn’t let them go out on an empty tummy.’ The bosom was hitched up higher. ‘Anyway, Mr Bleasedale from the top of the street gave the door a good bang for her.’
‘Aggie, I’ve got something to tell yer,’ Rita said, ‘although I really shouldn’t.’
‘Then leave it until later, eh, queen? There’s half a pot of tea on me table, and I want to drink it before it gets cold. I can’t afford to throw good tea away.’
‘It’s to do with Mrs Sinclair, and I thought yer’d be interested. So when yer find out, don’t call me a dark horse for not letting on.’
It didn’t take long for Aggie to decide, and she decided she didn’t want to miss her pot of tea or the news her neighbour had. So she grabbed Rita’s arm and pulled her up the steps. ‘I think there’s enough tea in the pot for two cups. And that way I’ve got the best of both worlds.’
‘I suppose yer know ye’re nearly pulled me arm out of its socket?’ Rita bent over and then straightened the arm in question. ‘The trouble with you, Aggie Gordon, is yer don’t know yer own strength. Yer’d make a ruddy good prize-fighter.’
Aggie wasn’t even listening, she was too busy laughing at what she had in mind. Opening a door in the sideboard, she brought out a china cup and saucer, and with a flourish put them down in front of Rita. Once she saw her good china was out of harm’s way, she began to shake with laughter. ‘Nobody has ever drunk out of that cup before, I’ve treasured it for the last ten years. But I suddenly had a flash, like lightning, of Her Ladyship’s face. She was looking down her nose at someone as though they were the lowest of the low. And I thought that’s how she’d look if yer were pulling her to pieces while drinking out of a mug what had dozens of cracks and chips in it. So tell me what the news is, and because of the dainty cup and saucer, I expect yer to speak proper posh.’
‘How long did yer say yer’d had this cup and saucer, sunshine?’
‘Ooh, easy ten years, maybe a bit more. It’s the first and only time I’ve ever had anything so delicate, and I wouldn’t use it in case it got broke.’
‘And have yer ever washed it in all those years?’
‘Of course I haven’t. I’ve been frightened to touch the bleeding thing, never mind wash it. And you’d better be careful ’cos I’m never likely to get anything else so fragile and dainty.’
‘Oh, I won’t have to worry about being careful, sunshine, ’cos I’ve no intention of drinking out of a cup that hasn’t been washed in ten years. It’s probably thick with dust, and has had creepy-crawlies walking all over it.’
‘Ay, ye’re not half a fussy blighter, Rita Wells.’ Aggie was laughing inside as she picked up the delicate white china cup that was decorated with tiny pink flowers. ‘I’ll give it a rub with me pinny if that makes yer feel better.’
Rita gasped. ‘What! I’d rather take a chance on the creepy-crawlies than your pinny. God knows what yer’ve spilt on it, let alone wiping yer hands down it after yer’ve cleaned the grate out and scrubbed the step. So I certainly ain’t going to drink out of a cup that yer’ve wiped on that filthy pinny, I’m too young to die. Put the flaming thing back where it’s been for the last ten years and get me a mug with chips and cracks in.’
The cup and saucer were put back in the dark depths of the sideboard, and probably wouldn’t see daylight again for another ten years. ‘Fussy bugger, that’s what yer are. And just because ye’re afraid of creepy-
crawlies, and yer’ve kept on about it for the last ten minutes, the ruddy tea in the pot is stone cold now. So whatever it is yer have to tell me, queen, after all that, it had better be good.’
Rita suddenly remembered she’d left her front door wide open. ‘You put the kettle on and boil enough water to warm the tea up, while I go and close me front door. I haven’t got anything worth pinching, but what’s mine is mine and I don’t want no one else having it.’
She was back within seconds and Aggie was just carrying the kettle through. ‘I only put enough water in to cover the bottom but the tea will be weak. So long as it’s wet and warm I don’t care, it’s better than a slap in the face.’ She put milk in the mugs, poured the tea out and then plonked herself down heavily on a wooden dining chair. ‘Well, go on, queen, tell me what all the mystery is about? Make it as interesting as yer can so it’ll give me something to think about all day while I’m doing me housework and then when we’re out shopping.’
‘I’m afraid there’s no mystery about it, sunshine, but I believe yer will find it interesting. And it’s for your ears only. Is that understood?’ Rita waited for her friend’s reluctant nod for Aggie was hopeless at keeping things to herself. ‘It’s about Mrs Sinclair – she’s got another job and it’s full-time. That’s why she was going out early.’
‘Oh, aye, what sort of a job is that, then? How come she can get a job and half the men in the street are out of work? And it’s not for the want of trying. They’re out at the crack of dawn down to the docks, hoping to get a day’s work in.’
‘She’s been promoted to private secretary to one of the big nobs at the office she works in.’ Rita could see that didn’t go down well with her mate, who couldn’t stand Mrs Sinclair. ‘And if yer start making fun of her, I won’t tell yer any more.’