The Pride of Polly Perkins

by Joan Jonker

  Tommy’s laugh was hollow. ‘Got a rich uncle, have yer, Ada? Yer’d need one if I’m off work for any length of time.’

  ‘Tommy, calm down an’ be reasonable. What is the alternative? That yer go on working until yer drop? Then what would happen to me and the kids, have yer thought of that?’

  ‘I think of nothing else.’ Tommy hung his head. ‘But I feel so helpless an’ don’t know where to turn. If we had a few bob in the bank it would be different, but I’ve never earned enough to put money by for a rainy day. In fact, I’ve never brought enough in to give yer a decent life … It’s a poor man that can’t provide for his family.’

  ‘Yer can cut that sort of talk out! Yer the best husband in the world bar none, an’ the best father, so don’t be putting yerself down.’ The utter dejection on her husband’s face filled Ada’s heart with sadness. ‘We’re a family, you, me, Polly and Joey, and we’ll see this through as a family.’

  She raised herself from her seat to plant a kiss on his cheek. ‘Are yer calmed down enough to listen to what I’ve got to say?’ When he nodded, Ada went on to tell him about her chat with Irish Mary. ‘Nothin’ might come of the cleanin’ job, but it’s a start. And now I’ve made up me mind to get off me backside and do something, instead of sittin’ worrying, I’m going out tomorrow and will ask around to see if there’s any part-time jobs on offer. If necessary, I’ll tramp the ruddy streets until I find something.’

  ‘Ada, sweetheart, yer’d never manage on what you could earn as a cleaner, it’s just not possible.’

  ‘I haven’t lost the run of me senses, Tommy. I know I’ll never earn enough for our needs, but as I said it’s a start. There’s no way I’m goin’ to stand idly by, twiddling me thumbs, while the man I love fades away before me eyes.’

  Tommy’s expression was tender as he held out his arms. ‘Come here, sweetheart, an’ let me hold yer.’

  Ada moved to kneel between his legs, her head on his chest. ‘I do love yer, Tommy, yer me whole life. Yer’ve got to get better for my sake, and the kids’. We wouldn’t know what to do without yer.’

  Tommy hugged her close, kissing the top of her head. His voice cracking with emotion, he said, ‘I’m glad yer went to see the doctor ’cos I was too frightened to tell yer what he said. Not that I needed him to tell me how sick I am, I knew that already. But d’yer know, love, now we’ve been able to talk about it, I feel as though a ton weight has been lifted off me shoulders.’

  Ada’s dark brown eyes sought his. ‘From now on, Tommy Perkins, we keep nothing from each other, d’yer hear? We share everything.’

  Chapter Three

  Ada was in the kitchen the next morning at half-past seven when there was a ran-tan on the knocker. Tommy had not long left for work and her first thought was he’d taken bad. Her heart in her mouth, she flew to open the door – and when she saw the smiling face of Irish Mary she went weak in the knees with relief. ‘Ooh, I got the fright of me life, Mary. I thought Tommy ’ad ’ad an accident.’

  ‘I did think twice about knockin’ this time of the morning, but sure wasn’t I afraid that if I left it until tonight it might be too late. Yer’ll not be wantin’ to let the grass grow under yer feet, will yer, Ada?’ The handle of her empty basket cradled in the crook of her arm, Mary smiled. ‘I had a word with me friend last night and it could be you’re in luck. There’s only three cleaners workin’ in the factory and one of them is leaving next week. According to me friend the woman is having a baby, but she didn’t tell anyone because she needed the money and wanted to work until the last minute. But Maggie, that’s me friend, said the poor woman couldn’t hope to fool the boss because she’s as big as a house and looks as though she’s goin’ to give birth any time. So the man gave her a week’s notice, sayin’ he couldn’t keep her on any longer ’cos he couldn’t be responsible for her safety.’

  Ada’s heart was beating fast. Had God answered her prayers? Was good fortune going to smile on them for a change? ‘I feel a bit mean about being glad the poor woman’s been given the sack; it’s almost like stepping into a dead man’s shoes. But it would be wonderful if I got the job, Mary, it really would.’

  ‘Well, me darlin’, no one knows the job’s going yet, so it’s a head start yer have.’ Mary moved the basket to her other arm. ‘Have yer had any experience doin’ cleaning work?’

  Ada shook her head, her spirits dropping. ‘Only fourteen years doin’ me own housework. I served behind the counter at Irwin’s from the time I left school to getting married.’

  Mary saw the doubt on her neighbour’s face and said, ‘Sure, yer keep yer house like a little palace, so yer do, an’ isn’t housework the hardest job of the lot? So if he asks yer if yer’ve had any experience, tell him yer have. He probably won’t ask yer for references, not for that job, so just leave it at that. Sure God doesn’t mind a little white lie if it’s in a good cause.’

  ‘When shall I go down – an’ who do I ask for?’

  ‘If it’s serious yer are about a job, Ada, then get yerself down there this morning. Ask for Mr Donaldson, an’ if he wants to know how yer knew there’d be a vacancy, me friend Maggie Tilsley said yer could use her name.’

  ‘Mary, I don’t know how to thank you. You’re an angel!’

  ‘I’ve been many things in my life, Ada Perkins, so I have, but an angel isn’t one of them. And before yer start throwing yer arms around me, hadn’t I better be puttin’ yer straight on what the job is? It isn’t all sweetness and light, believe me! It’s six mornings a week, Monday to Saturday, from half-past five until eight o’clock, when the factory workers start. Maggie said it’s hard graft, yer don’t get time for a cup of tea or a breather. There’s the factory to clean, plus the offices and lavatories. And for all that, me darlin’, yer get paid the princely sum of twelve and six a week. So think hard before yer take a step. I don’t want yer blaming me if yer get the job an’ find yer don’t like it.’

  ‘I’m not frightened of hard work, Mary, an’ I don’t think twelve and six a week is bad. It’ll go a long way in our house, I can tell yer! And yer know what they say – “beggars can’t be choosers”.’

  ‘That’s the spirit, me darlin’! Keep that up when yer go to see this Mr Donaldson. Even if yer knees are knockin’ an’ yer tummy’s doing somersaults, don’t let him see yer scared. After all, the man can’t eat yer.’

  Ada felt someone touch her skirt and turned to find Polly standing behind her, dressed only in her undervest and navy blue fleecy-lined knickers. ‘Put somethin’ on, yer daft ha’porth, before yer catch yer death of cold.’

  But Polly was too interested to feel the cold. She hadn’t heard all the conversation, just enough to make her curious. ‘Hello, Miss Hanrahan.’

  ‘Top of the mornin’ to yer, Polly.’ Mary was fond of the girl, who was always bright and cheerful. Looking at her now she could see the slight mounds under her thin vest, heralding the start of a budding bosom. She was going to be a real beauty, was Polly, with her mass of dark curls, velvety brown eyes and lovely dimpled smile. A few years from now she’d be a real heartbreaker. ‘Sure is it meself that needs glasses, or have yer grown a few inches since the last time I saw yer?’

  Polly preened. She couldn’t wait to be old enough to leave school. ‘I’m twelve in three weeks.’

  ‘Is that right, now? Well, as a birthday present, I’ll bake yer a cake an’ put twelve candles on it … would yer like that? An’ to give yer mam a break, you an’ Joey can come to tea.’

  Polly’s face lit up. She’d never had a birthday cake before, not a proper one with candles on. Wait until she told Doreen, she’d be green with envy.

  ‘Oh yes, please, Miss Hanrahan! It’s very kind of yer an’ I thank yer a million times over.’

  ‘Now, in yer go,’ Ada said, giving her daughter a push towards the living room. ‘Get a swill in the sink before yer get dressed, there’s some warm water in the kettle. And yer clean clothes are on the fireguard.’ She turned back to Mary. �
�Yer very good to her.’

  ‘Sure, I’m fond of the girl, so I am.’ There was pleasure on Mary’s face when she said, ‘That’s one good turn I’ve done today for definite. Now when I call tonight I hope to see yer with a smile on yer face which will tell me that I’ve got a double up. And wouldn’t I go to bed a happy woman if that happens?’

  ‘I’ll do me best, Mary, I promise. I’ll keep me fingers crossed, and for good measure I’ll even cross me legs an’ me eyes.’

  Mary began to move away, laughing. ‘Sure I’d like to see the man’s face if you walk in with cross eyes, twisted legs and deformed hands. He’d give yer the job out of pity, so he would.’ She walked a few steps then turned. ‘The best of luck, Ada me darlin’. May the good Lord smile down on yer.’

  Polly had given herself a cat’s lick and a promise at the kitchen sink, rubbing the wet towel under her chin so there was no tell-tale tide mark. She’d come down early to finish reading the comic, but that was forgotten in the light of what she’d heard. When her mother came into the room she was slipping her gymslip over her head. ‘Ay, Mam, are yer really goin’ after a job?’

  Ada put a finger to her lips. ‘You are not to repeat a word yer’ve heard, d’yer hear me? Not even to yer best mate, Doreen, ’cos she’d tell her mam an’ it would be all over the street in no time.’

  ‘I won’t let on, Mam, I promise!’

  ‘I know yer won’t, because I’m not goin’ to give yer the chance! Yer dad doesn’t know about it yet, so I’m certainly not goin’ to tell you before he knows. Anyway, nothin’ might come of it, so just forget about it until tonight.’

  ‘Mam, I’m nearly twelve, I’m not a baby any more!’ Polly almost stamped her foot, so indignant was she. But she knew she’d get a fourpenny one if she showed any temper so common sense prevailed. ‘Go on, Mam, tell us. Are yer goin’ after a job?’

  ‘I might be, Polly, and that’s all I’m goin’ to say for now. I know yer a sensible girl for yer age an’ yer wouldn’t go shoutin’ yer mouth off if I asked yer not to. But I’m not goin’ after a job just to earn a few bob, as Mary thinks; there’s more to it than that. And I think yer old enough and sensible enough to be told the whole story. So just leave things as they are for now and tonight yer can sit down with me and yer dad and we’ll tell yer the truth.’

  Polly’s eyes were wide. ‘Me dad hasn’t lost his job, has he?’

  ‘No, sunshine, nothing like that.’ Oh, if only that was all it was, Ada thought. We could cope with that. ‘Now, you read yer comic while I see to yer breakfast, there’s a good girl. And please, not another word on the subject until tonight.’

  Ada was humming softly as she undressed Joey in front of the fire. She couldn’t wait to get him into bed so she could tell Tommy her news, and she was thankful her son always went to bed without a fuss. He certainly didn’t take after Polly, who at his age would kick up a stink every night and had to be carried upstairs crying in protest at what she thought was an injustice.

  ‘There we are, sunshine! I’ve put the iron in the bed so it’ll be nice an’ warm for yer.’ Ada gave him a big hug. ‘Seein’ as how yer big sister is honouring us with her presence tonight, instead of being out gallivantin’, how would yer like her to tuck you up?’

  ‘Ooh, yeah!’ Joey ran to the couch where Polly was sitting and held out his hands. ‘Come on, our Polly, yer can tell me a story.’

  ‘It’ll have to be a short one ’cos it’s freezin’ up there.’ Polly had been on pins all day, wondering why her mother had been so mysterious. It must be something very important for her to behave like that, and at the back of Polly’s mind was a nagging feeling that all was not well. ‘How about Goldilocks and the Three Bears?’

  Joey grinned as he pulled her forward. ‘That’s me very best favourite.’

  ‘Aren’t you forgetting somethin’?’ Tommy asked. ‘What about me goodnight kiss?’

  Joey flung his arms around his dad’s neck. ‘Night an’ God bless, Dad.’

  ‘Night and God bless, son.’ Tommy ruffled his hair. ‘Sleep tight an’ mind the fleas don’t bite.’

  Ada listened to their footsteps clattering on the lino-covered stairs, and when all was silent she sat on the arm of her husband’s chair. ‘I’ve got a lot to tell yer, but first I want yer to know why our Polly never went out to play tonight. I asked her to stay in so we could tell her what’s going on. She’s a big girl now, very sensible for her age, an’ I think she should be told everything.’

  Tommy shook his head. ‘She’s only a kid! It wouldn’t be fair to fill her head with worry.’

  ‘She’s goin’ to find out soon enough, anyway, and it won’t be such a shock if she knows from the beginning. She’s got a good little head on her shoulders, has our Polly, an’ if we share our ups and downs with her, I think she’ll appreciate it an’ will put herself out to give us all the support an’ help she can. The day might come, Tommy, when we’ll be glad of her help.’

  ‘Well, it’s up to you, love, if you think it’s best.’

  ‘Shush, here she comes.’ Ada busied herself folding Joey’s clothes neatly in a pile ready for the next day. ‘Has he gone off all right?’

  ‘Yeah, he’s dead to the world. I didn’t even get halfway through the story.’ Polly was feeling nervous. Part of her wanted to know what was going on, part of her didn’t. ‘Shall I put the kettle on an’ make us a cup of tea?’

  ‘No, love, we’ll leave it until nearer bedtime.’ Ada sighed as she sat down. It was a problem knowing where to start. ‘I went after that job this mornin’, Tommy – remember I told yer about it? Well, Irish Mary called just after yer’d left for work to say her friend had told her there was a vacancy comin’ up an’ I should go after it right away before someone beat me to it. I was a bundle of nerves when I got to the factory, an’ by the time I got in to see the boss, a Mr Donaldson, me teeth were chattering so much I could hardly speak. I felt a right fool an’ thought he’d probably kick me out on me ear.’ A broad smile lit up her face. ‘But I got the job! I start a week on Monday.’

  ‘Go ’way!’ Tommy sat forward on the couch, his eyes showing interest and pleasure. ‘When yer mentioned it last night, I didn’t think anythin’ would come of it.’

  ‘Oh Mam, isn’t that great!’ Polly’s heart lifted. If this was what her mam had been so secretive about, then she’d been worrying for nothing. ‘Tell us about it, go on.’

  Ada felt sadness in her heart that the beaming smile on her daughter’s face would disappear when she knew the reason why she was going out to work. She idolised her dad and would be devastated when she knew he was ill. The only thing Ada could do was break the news gently, try and make light of it. ‘I start at five-thirty and work until eight o’clock. It means yer gettin’ yer own breakfast, I’m afraid, Tommy, but I’ll make the porridge the night before an’ yer’ll only have to warm it up.’

  ‘But what about the children? I don’t fancy the idea of them bein’ left on their own in the house.’

  ‘I’ve thought it all through, love, an’ yer know I wouldn’t go to work if the children were being neglected. That’s why I’m going to ask our Polly if she’ll help me out. You don’t leave the house until nearly half seven, I’ll be home about ten past eight ’cos it’s only a ten-minute walk at the most. If Polly will get up when you go out, and keep an eye on Joey until I arrive, we’ll manage fine.’

  ‘I’ll do that, Mam,’ Polly said eagerly. ‘I don’t mind, honest.’ Then with childish curiosity, she asked, ‘How much a week will yer get?’

  Ada tapped her nose. ‘Curiosity killed the cat, remember? But seein’ as the three of us are in this together, I’ll tell yer. The wages are twelve an’ six a week.’

  ‘Ooh er, won’t we be well-off!’

  ‘Polly, I’m not goin’ out to work to make us rich. There’s another reason for it.’ Ada looked to her husband for guidance, but he had his head down gazing at his clasped hands. ‘Yer know yer dad’s had this cough for a l
ong time, don’t yer? Well, he went to see the doctor an’ he has to go to the hospital to get himself seen to. That means he’ll be off work for a while and there’ll be no wages comin’ in. Now I know twelve and six isn’t goin’ to keep us, but it’s a start. Over the next few weeks we might come up with other ways of makin’ money … I might get an extra job, perhaps cleaning in a shop or a pub.’

  Tommy clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth and shook his head. ‘Yer’ll kill yerself takin’ too many jobs on an’ having the house and kids to see to as well. Best leave things as they are.’

  ‘No!’ Polly cried. ‘If yer sick, Dad, then yer’ve got to get yerself seen to an’ get better. I’ll help me mam with the housework, honest! An’ I’ll look after Joey an’ run the messages.’

  Tommy was crying inwardly as he gazed at his daughter. He knew then how much she meant to him and how much he meant to her. More than anything in the world he wanted to see her grow up, her and Joey. They needed him, needed a father, and Ada needed a husband. It was in those few seconds, as his gaze moved from his daughter to his wife, that Tommy resolved to seek help for what ailed him. Come hell or high water, he’d survive; he had to for their sake.

  ‘If you can carry on workin’ for another few weeks, love,’ Ada said, ‘it’ll give me a chance to sort meself out. I’ll put me wages away each week, plus anythin’ I can save from the housekeeping, then yer can go and see the doctor with an easy mind, knowing we’re all right for money for a month or so.’

  ‘I’m truly blessed havin’ two good women in my life, aren’t I?’ There was a catch in Tommy’s voice. He knew in his heart he was more sick than Ada realised, and he just hoped he hadn’t left it too late. ‘How can I help but get better with you two behind me?’