by Jonker, Joan
Aggie’s mountainous bosom was hitched up, and her mouth was working but no sound was coming from her lips. She was dumbfounded. It was so unusual for Aggie to be lost for words, Bessie thought the shock might have been too much for her. ‘Are yer all right, Aggie? Don’t let it upset yer, it’s only money.’
‘Only money!’ She croaked. ‘Bleeding hell, queen, that’s not only money, it’s a ruddy fortune!’
‘She’s right, sunshine, it is a fortune. D’yer think it’s true what Mrs Sinclair told yer, that it was given by a rich person to help the poor? There’s nothing dodgy about it, is there?’
‘Don’t be daft, Rita,’ Bessie tutted. ‘How would she, or anyone else, get hold of dodgy money? No, it’s all above board, I can assure yer, ’cos there’s no way I’d get involved in anything that wasn’t honest. There’s twenty pound there, and your two names are not on the list because Mrs Sinclair told me she would like you two to have something for being so kind to her, and I’ve reckoned on five bob each for yer.’
Aggie’s bust went back on the table and her voice was restored to normal. ‘She didn’t say that, did she? Ooh, er, after me calling her for all the stuck-up cows going. It just goes to show yer should never pull anyone to pieces ’cos yer might be wrong about them. D’yer hear that, Rita, we’re not going to call Mrs Sinclair bad names in future.’
Rita looked at her mate in horror. ‘Why, you cheeky monkey! It’s you what’s been calling her fit to burn since the day she moved into the street! I’ve told yer off about it time and time again, but yer wouldn’t have it. May God forgive yer, that’s all I can say.’
‘Oh, He will, sunshine, ’cos He knows I’ve done nothing to hurt her. I mean, a few words, even swear words, won’t do her no harm, especially as she didn’t hear them.’
‘I don’t know how yer can be so polished, Aggie Gordon,’ Rita told her. ‘And I don’t know how yer keep expecting God to forgive yer for everything. Yer tell yer husband lies, and some of the swear words yer come out with would shame the devil. So if ye’re expecting to go to heaven when yer die, yer can forget it ’cos yer stand no chance.’
Aggie began to laugh, and as her tummy lifted the table up, her bosom pressed it down again. ‘He will if you and Bessie give me a good reference. Seeing as the pair of yer live like saints, I’m sure ye’re very well thought of in heaven. So on your recommendation, St Peter will let me go through the pearly gates with yer.’
Bessie chuckled, ‘I don’t think much of the odds on that, sweetheart. Are yer expecting us all to die on the same day?’
‘For heaven’s sake, can’t we talk about something more pleasant?’ Rita gave her mate daggers. ‘Here’s us, sitting at the table with more money in front of us than we’ve ever seen in our lives before, and all you two can talk about is what’s going to happen when we die! I think we should look after ourselves in that department, as long as we keep in mind that wicked people don’t go to heaven no matter how holy their friends are.’
‘Ooh, er.’ Aggie’s brows almost touched her hair-line. ‘She’s only had that money in her hand for five minutes, and already she’s talking so bleeding far back yer can hardly hear her.’
‘Stop larking about and let’s get down to business,’ Bessie said. ‘How many names are on that list, Rita?’
‘D’yer want me to count Aggie and meself, in, sunshine?’
Bessie nodded, ‘Yes, go on.’
Rita’s finger went down the names. ‘There’s fourteen here, and yer mustn’t leave Mrs Ponsonby out because if this was my list she’d be on top of it.’
‘Right, now I’ll tell yer what I’ve got in mind. I’d like to have a party and invite all the kids in the street who won’t be getting much in the way of presents at Christmas. Which means all the kids who are on that list. We’ll never have this much money again, so let’s give the kids the best Christmas they’ve ever had. What d’yer think?’
‘I think the idea is wonderful, sunshine, and it would be marvellous. But where would yer have the party? Ye’re talking about eighteen kids, and these houses weren’t built to cater for that sort of number.’
‘We can try, Rita,’ Bessie said softly. ‘Where there’s a will, there a way. And I’ve set me heart on it now. I could move as much out of this room as possible, with the help of your men, and I’d have to borrow one of yer tables. It would be a squash, I know, but d’yer think the kids would worry? I bet most of them have never been to a party. They wouldn’t care if they were standing on each other’s heads.’
‘Ye’re dead right there, queen.’ Aggie’s chins were having a field day as she nodded her head. ‘And I think the man who gave that money would feel the same. Some of the kids in this street have never had a cake, never mind been to a party. The poor buggers don’t know what it is to have a farthing for sweets. So yer can count me in, queen, I’m all for it. And my feller will help with the table, and anything else yer want doing.’
‘Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I agree,’ Rita said. ‘The five bob yer said I was going to get, well, I’d rather it went towards the party. I’d be in me element to see the kids with smiles on their faces. It’s a very good idea, sunshine, and only you would have thought about helping others and leaving yerself out.’
‘Oh, I’m not leaving meself out, sweetheart, how could yer think that? Won’t I have all the kids here, and won’t I be over the moon to see their faces when they see this room done up with paper decorations and balloons? That will be all the thanks I need. And when the party is over, and the kids have gone home, we can have a party for us grown-ups.’ Bessie pulled the notebook towards her. ‘I reckoned on twelve bob for the boys’ shoes, and say seven and six for each hamper. So how much does that come to. Let’s see, there’s four five shillings in a pound, so say fifteen seven and sixes, how much does that come to?’
Aggie didn’t even bother trying to figure that out. She could add two and two together, and that was her limit. So she sat and watched her mates counting on their fingers. ‘As near as I can get without writing it down,’ Rita said, ‘is about six pound three shilling. But I must be wrong, it’s bound to be more than that.’
‘I get it near enough the same, Rita, so I’d better write it down and make sure.’ Bessie licked the end of the stub of pencil and put a line under the fourth name. ‘I’ll split the list into fours, it’ll be easier. Otherwise I might end up spending more than we’ve got, and then I’d feel a right nit.’ So while her mates looked on, Bessie went over the sums four times to make sure. ‘It’s just over six pound, so we’ve got enough to give every name I’ve got down here an extra couple of bob so they can get coal in to last them over the holiday. Are yer both in agreement with that?’
‘It’s you what managed to get the money, queen, so it’s up to you,’ Aggie said. ‘But I’ll go along with yer, ’cos I’m over the bleeding moon. Just to see those poor lads having shoes on their feet, and the mothers having food for the table at Christmas, well, if I knew the man what gave the money, I’d shake the hand off him.’
‘Then can I ask a big favour of you both?’ Bessie waited until her mates gave her the nod, then said, ‘Could yer find out what size shoes the lads take? Yer could knock tomorrow and pretend your lads have outgrown theirs and so have the lads of yer mates. And don’t forget to say yer hope they won’t be offended, because there’s nothing worse than them thinking yer feel sorry for them. Just be casual and say the shoes don’t fit any more, and they’re too good to throw out.’
‘Yeah, we’ll do that, won’t we, sunshine?’ Rita grinned at Aggie. ‘And we’ll be very diplomatic, as well. No swearing or nothing, just friendly.’
‘I’m going to be hard-faced, girls, and ask yer if yer’d take the tram down to Great Homer Street market, if yer’ve got time, and buy the shoes? With the weather what it is, the boys may as well be wearing them now as wait until Christmas. I’ll give yer the money for the shoes and the tram fare.’
‘Not one of those five-pound no
tes, Bessie.’ Rita was shaking her head. ‘I don’t want the responsibility of carrying one of those around. Besides, the stallholder will think I’ve nicked it.’
‘I wouldn’t expect yer to take one of those, sweetheart, I’ll give yer the money out of me own purse and get it back later.’ Bessie smiled and gave a sigh of contentment. ‘It will do me heart good to see those poor lads with shoes on their feet. And it’ll be only the first of our good deeds. I won’t be able to do all the shopping with me only having Saturday afternoon off, so I’m hoping you two will get most of it in. I’ll write out a list of what is going in each food hamper, like dry goods, vegetables and a large chicken.’ She looked from one to the other. ‘Yer don’t mind, do yer? The dry goods we can get any day now, but the veg and chickens will have to be ordered for Christmas Eve.’ She pushed her chair back and went to the sideboard where her purse was in the large glass fruit bowl. ‘I’ve only got about twelve bob now, but I think that’ll be enough for the shoes, won’t it?’
‘More than enough, sunshine, yer’ll have change out of that.’
‘I’ll take one of the fivers to work with me,’ Bessie said. ‘Ask the boss to change it for me. I’ll tell him how I came to have it, and that I’ve got more I’d like him to change. He’ll believe me, he’s known me long enough to know I’m honest and don’t tell lies.’
‘Give us the money then, sunshine, and we’ll be on our way. My feller likes a cup of tea before he goes to bed, and he’ll have a cob on if I leave him to make it himself.’
Aggie used the table for leverage to get to her feet. ‘We’ll have good news for yer tomorrow night, queen, and there’ll be a few lads blessing yer for being a guardian angel.’ She grinned when she saw Bessie’s mouth open. ‘Don’t worry, I know when to keep me mouth shut. As far as anyone will know, the shoes will have come from us or one of our friends.’
Bessie stood at the door until her mates reached their own houses, then they all wished each other a goodnight and three happy women closed their doors.
A few miles away, Evelyn and Philip sat on the couch in a room which was warmed by radiators. It was a luxury for Evelyn not having to put pieces of coal on a fire to keep warm. With Philip’s arm across her shoulders, she was happy and contented. Every now and again he would put a finger under her chin and turn her face towards him for a kiss. He was eager to go to bed, so he could hold her in his arms and make love to her, but Evelyn told him to be patient as she had something to show him. She left the shelter of his arms to fetch her handbag and from it took the list Bessie had given her. She had thought long and hard about showing it to him, but there were no addresses on it, only names, so the street could be anywhere in Liverpool.
‘I’ve brought you a list of deserving people who will be the recipients of your very generous gift of money. There are a lot more people in need in Liverpool, of course, because there is so much unemployment as you well know, but one can only do so much. There are more names to go on the list, but my friend has put beside each name what the family is most in need of.’ Evelyn pointed out the names where the word ‘shoes’ was written at the side. ‘These are the children who are going around barefoot in this freezing weather. They will be getting shoes, and their parents a food hamper so they won’t starve over the Christmas period. My friend is being meticulous about where the money goes, and said to tell you that you have been the means of many people having the best Christmas they’ve ever had. There’ll be almost twenty families helped, so I’m sure that must give you great satisfaction, my darling.’
Philip looked at her with eyes wide with disbelief. ‘All those people! But I only gave you twenty pounds, surely that’s a mere drop in the ocean? How can she possibly buy shoes and food for so many people on so little money?’
‘My darling, when you have absolutely nothing then sixpence is a lot of money. I’ve learned a lot in the last few years, which you have yet to learn. My friend will make that twenty pounds go a long way. She will make sure the barefoot children are shod, and that every family has enough food for a Christmas dinner. The shoes won’t be new, of course, but she assures me they will be good secondhand ones. And the food hampers will contain everything from a chicken to potatoes and vegetables, tea, sugar, milk and biscuits, plus a bag of coal delivered to each house so they will be warm over the holidays.’
‘Who is this friend of yours? I would very much like to meet her.’
Evelyn folded the piece of paper over and reached down for her handbag. It was all to buy her a few seconds in which to compose herself. This afternoon, after she’d dropped Amelia off at Bessie’s, while sitting on the tram into the city she had reached a decision. She could no longer put Philip off with lies, and wouldn’t give him up without a fight. So she had made up her mind to seek out Cyril Lister-Sinclair and throw herself on his mercy. And she would take Amelia, she’d decided, for when he saw her, he would know she was his son’s daughter. That was the only way she could see of standing a chance of keeping the man she adored.
‘You will meet her one day, my love, but it won’t be until after the holiday, she works every day. She has to earn a living, she’s not a wealthy woman.’ Evelyn stroked his cheek and smiled. ‘She is a spinster of fifty who has lived alone since her parents died many years ago. And she is not your type, otherwise I wouldn’t let her within a mile of you.’
‘She must be a very caring person to go to all this trouble to help people less fortunate than herself. It reflects badly on me to say this, being too lazy to follow her example, but it’s a good job there are people like her. If you think I can help ease her load with another donation, I will gladly give it. I have far more money than I need.’
Evelyn nodded. ‘You are quite right, she is a very caring person. Someone who would give you her last penny. But I don’t think you should offer more money, I’m sure she will manage very well on what she already has.’
Philip’s eyes were twinkling. ‘And what about your Christmas present? Have you given it any thought?’
She shook her head. ‘I would rather you gave me a surprise. Not an expensive one, though, or you will embarrass me. Perhaps perfume. That is a present I would appreciate for it is a long time since I had a bottle of French perfume on my dressing table.’
He pulled her closer. ‘You need have no worry about what to buy me, my adorable Evelyn, you have it already.’
She raised her brows. ‘But I haven’t bought any presents yet!’
‘You are my present, and there is nothing in the whole world that I would rather have. Two whole days alone with you will be like heaven. To wake up with you lying beside me, to make love to you before breakfast, before dinner, whenever we feel the need. For I believe your need is as great as mine.’
‘It is, my darling, it is.’ Evelyn was fervently hoping Bessie would come to her aid and have Amelia for the two days. She thought this very possible as her neighbour adored her daughter. ‘More so now than ever.’
‘Then why are we sitting here when there is a very comfortable bed awaiting us in the next room? I’ll set a tray with bottle and glasses while you retire to the bedroom. But don’t bother putting a nightdress on, my lovely, allow me to see what a beautiful body awaits me. And hurry, please. I’m eager to hold you and caress every inch of you. I love you so much, my lovely Evelyn, it hurts.’
As she undressed, she asked herself how she could possibly leave this man and never see him again? No, she couldn’t, it would break her heart. There must be a way she could keep him, and she intended to find that way.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bessie sat on one side of her table, her two mates opposite. ‘I’ve made two lists out, one for each of yer, for groceries that will keep, like tea, sugar and tins of condensed milk. Oh, and I’ve put down a red jelly on each, and a packet of custard powder. We can get round Molly in the corner shop for some biscuits. She’ll throw in a few broken ones if I ask her nicely, and I’m sure whoever gets the hampers will be too happy to worry abou
t a few broken biscuits. Anything is better than nothing when ye’re hungry.’
Aggie’s chins and hitched-up bosom agreed. ‘Ye’re not kiddin’, queen. There’s many a time broken biscuits have been a luxury in our house while Sam was out of work. And the same goes for Rita, doesn’t it, queen?’
She nodded. ‘I can remember us having half a biscuit each and thinking ourselves lucky to get that! No biscuit ever tasted so good.’ She grinned at Bessie. ‘Are yer going to tell the families who are on the list what they’re getting? It would take a load off their minds and stop them from worrying about not having anything for Christmas.’
It was Bessie’s turn to nod. ‘I’ve been in two minds what to do about that, but in bed last night I decided it would be best to tell them so they’re not worried sick. I’ll wait until yer’ve been to the market for the shoes, then I’ll tell them.’
‘We’re going for the shoes tomorrow, aren’t we, queen?’ Aggie felt really important. ‘We’ve found out the sizes we need, and the mothers almost kissed us to death they were so happy. We told them our lads had outgrown theirs, and one of Rita’s sisters has a lad who can’t get his feet into his any more. So that part of it is over and, please God, the kids will soon be able to go to school swanking with a pair of shoes on their feet.’
‘I’ve changed one of the fivers so I can give yer enough money to cover the food on the lists and the shoes. How much d’yer reckon yer’ll need?’ Bessie took her purse from the pocket in the wrap-around apron which would have wrapped around her twice, it was so big. ‘Add a bit on to what yer think, just to be on the safe side.’
‘Yer haven’t put how much tea or sugar,’ Rita said, fingering the list. ‘Is it two ounces of tea and half a pound of sugar?’
‘No, the money will run further than that, sweetheart, so make it a packet of tea and a pound of sugar. Two ounces of tea in a sweet bag looks paltry, we may as well go the whole hog and give them a real treat. God knows, they deserve it. Most of the women on that list look twenty years older than they are because of the worry. Their faces are haggard and careworn, and there isn’t an ounce of flesh on them. So while we’ve got the chance, let’s do what we can for them.’