The Pride of Polly Perkins

by Joan Jonker

  ‘That’s fine.’ Having her neighbour there took some of the strain off Ada. Dolly never got ruffled, was always calm in a crisis. ‘Shall we change his underclothes first, or the sheets?’

  ‘It’s easy to see yer were never a nurse, Ada Perkins.’

  Ada’s mouth gaped. ‘Yer’ve never been a flamin’ nurse!’

  Looking all innocent, Dolly said, ‘I never said I’d been a nurse, I just said it was easy to see you hadn’t!’ It was an effort to sound cheerful because she was heartbroken, shocked to the core by the sight of Tommy. He had the look of a dying man if ever she’d seen one. And he was a good bloke, he didn’t deserve this. All he lived for was to go out to work and look after his family. But she mustn’t let her feelings show, mustn’t deprive Ada of what hope she had in her heart. ‘We’ll change the bottom sheet first by rolling him on his side an’ doin’ it that way. Then his undies before the top sheet.’ She saw Tommy’s eyelids flicker and leaned down to whisper, ‘I promise to keep me eyes closed when we change yer long johns, Tommy, so don’t be worryin’. Anyway, yer’ve got nothin’ that my feller hasn’t got.’

  They just had Tommy settled when Dr Rigby arrived. He took one look at the sick man and said, ‘I can’t do anything, he’ll have to go into hospital. I’ll telephone for an ambulance from the surgery.’ He couldn’t control his anger. ‘It should never have been allowed to go on until he got into this state.’

  ‘I know that, Doctor,’ Ada said quietly, her voice choked with tears. ‘But we weren’t in a position to do anythin’ about it.’

  Dolly stood by, her face growing red with temper. As though Ada didn’t have enough heartache without him laying the blame at her door! ‘I’ll show yer out, Doctor. I’m sure yer’ll want to get back to telephone for an ambulance.’

  Dr Rigby was stepping into the street when Dolly caught his arm. ‘Just a word, Doctor, if yer don’t mind.’ She went on in no uncertain terms to tell him that what he’d said upstairs was uncalled for. ‘She’s been workin’ for the last month as a cleaner, floggin’ ’erself to death to save up enough for Tommy to take some time off. Have yer ever had meatless stew, Doctor? Have yer ever sat all night in the dark to save puttin’ precious pennies in the gas meter? Have yer ever had to go to bed early because yer’ve no coal? Well, they’ve had to do all those things, and more. And d’yer know what the sad part is? He was comin’ to see yer on Saturday to ask yer to arrange for him to see a specialist! They did everythin’ they could, apart from robbin’ a bank, but as yer can see, it wasn’t enough. They’re a good family, a loving family, an’ I don’t think yer should be layin’ any blame at their door.’

  John Rigby gave a half-smile. ‘Well, that’s putting me in my place, right enough! But there was no need for the lecture because as soon as the words were out of my mouth I’d have given anything to retract them. I will apologise to Mrs Perkins when I come back. My excuse is that I wasn’t getting at her, I was getting at the system that keeps people like them down, on the bread line, living from hand to mouth. I see patients like Tommy every day, and every day I get angry. But unfortunately there is not a damn thing I can do about it.’

  Dolly was speechless. Fancy a doctor saying things like that! He was right, everything he said was true, but it wasn’t often a man in his position showed such concern for those not as well-off as himself. He’d even used a swearword! My, but he was a man after her own heart. Please God it would never happen, but if she ever got sick she’d be around to Dr Rigby in no time. She’d feel safe in his hands. The old doctor they had now was no good, he should have retired years ago. Whether you went to him with a sore throat, broken leg, measles, constipation or diarrhoea, you still came out of the surgery with the same bottle of red medicine. You’d be better off taking your chances with a ruddy witch doctor!

  ‘Dolly, I’ve no pyjamas for him!’ Ada was pacing the length of the room, stopping now and again to peep through the curtains to see if there was any sign of the ambulance. ‘I can’t let him go into hospital with no pyjamas, I’d be ashamed for him.’

  ‘I can’t help yer out there, girl, ’cos my feller hasn’t got a pair to his name. He sleeps in ’is vest and long drawers, like your Tommy.’ Dolly winked at Polly and Joey who were sitting close to each other on the couch looking like two scared rabbits. Poor buggers, she thought, they don’t know what to do or say. Let’s see if I can bring a smile to their faces. ‘D’yer know what I’ve said to my feller time an’ time again, Ada? I’ve said we’d look a right shower if the house ever went on fire while we were in bed. Can yer imagine us havin’ to run into the street with him in his long johns, both knees with ruddy darns in an’ a hole in the backside, an’ me in me pink fleecy-lined drawers? Not a pretty sight, eh? We’d be the talk of the wash-house.’

  Joey’s chuckle was followed by a chortle from Polly. Ada turned to them and smiled. She was neglecting the children, she knew, but she couldn’t help it when her mind was in a turmoil over Tommy. That’s why she was glad when Dolly said she’d stay until the ambulance came and then take the children to her house. ‘Your Auntie Dolly is tuppence short of a shilling, but she’s harmless enough.’

  A rap on the door sent Ada flying to the window. ‘The doctor’s car’s outside but I can’t see an ambulance.’ With a hand to her mouth and her legs feeling as though they were going to give out any minute, she went to open the door. ‘I wasn’t expectin’ you, Doctor.’

  ‘The ambulance will be here any minute, but I wanted to have a word with you before it came. Where are the children?’

  Ada frowned. ‘In the living room, why?’

  ‘I would prefer them not to be present because they might get upset. Is there anywhere they can go for half an hour?’

  Dolly, who had been hovering near the door, made her presence known. ‘I was takin’ them home with me after the ambulance had been, but I can just as easy take them now.’

  John Rigby took stock of the woman who had given him the length of her tongue just a short while ago. She looked strong and dependable, just the sort of person Mrs Perkins was going to need by her side when she heard what he had to say. ‘I’d prefer you to stay, Mrs … er …?’

  ‘Mitchell’s the name, Dolly Mitchell.’ She popped her head out of the door and jerked her thumb. ‘I live next door.’

  ‘Would the children be safe in your house on their own for a short time? I really do need to speak to Mrs Perkins and I would prefer them not to be here.’

  Dolly stuck her hand in the pocket of the floral wraparound pinny and brought out a penny. She always kept a penny there in case the gas went out, so she didn’t have to fumble around in the dark looking for her purse. ‘They can go to the shops for some sweets an’ eat them in our ’ouse.’

  ‘Come in, Doctor.’ Ada was surprised to find her voice so steady because her mouth was dry with nerves and her heart thumping like mad. She asked herself why the children were being sent out and why Dolly had been asked to stay. It could only mean she was going to hear something she didn’t even want to think about.

  ‘Here’s a penny, get yer coats on an’ go and buy yerself some sweets.’ Dolly offered the coin to Polly. ‘It’ll be better if yer sit in our ’ouse to eat them, ’cos if yer here when the ambulance comes yer dad might get upset.’

  ‘No!’ Polly shook her head vigorously. ‘I want to see me dad before he goes!’

  Ada dropped on her haunches in front of the two frightened children. She had to be brave for their sakes. ‘Listen to me, both of you. Yer know how much yer dad loves yer, don’t yer? Well, can’t yer imagine how upset he’ll be at havin’ to leave yer? An’ if he sees yer standin’ there, it’ll make it ten times harder for him. So be good children and do as Auntie Dolly tells yer … do it for yer dad.’

  Joey put his coat on without a murmur. Too young to understand that the home life he was used to was in jeopardy, his mind was on the selection of sweets in the jars on the shelves of the corner shop. But Polly thought it was wrong that she
couldn’t see her dad before he went away. It wasn’t fair on either of them. So without uttering a word, she made her feelings clear by the set of her face and her head held high. Taking Joey by the hand she marched out of the room, and if it wasn’t for her dad lying sick upstairs, she’d have banged the front door behind them as a further show of her disapproval.

  ‘Sit down, Mrs Perkins. We haven’t long because the ambulance will be here any minute.’ John Rigby stood in front of the grate, facing Ada and Dolly who were sitting side by side on the couch. ‘There’s no easy way of saying this but I think you should be warned in advance of what is facing you. The ambulance will be taking your husband to Fazakerley Hospital, and while you may go with him in the ambulance, you will not be allowed to go further than the entrance to the section he’ll be admitted to.’

  Ada gasped. ‘Fazakerley! But that’s miles away from here! I’d have to get two trams to get there an’ it’d take ages! Why can’t he go to the Northern, or even Walton?’

  Dolly, in her wisdom, thought she knew the reason and she reached for Ada’s hand. ‘Steady on, girl, let the doctor finish.’

  John Rigby ran a finger round the inside of his shirt collar. It was at a time like this he wished he’d taken up another profession. ‘I may be wrong, Mrs Perkins, but I don’t think so. I believe your husband has consumption, and in Fazakerley they have isolation wards that deal specifically with patients suffering from this disease.’

  ‘Oh, no!’ Ada beat her clenched fist on the arm of the couch. ‘He hasn’t got consumption, he hasn’t, he hasn’t!’

  Dolly slipped an arm across her shoulders and held her tight. ‘Lots of people catch it, girl, an’ they get better. Don’t be lookin’ on the black side.’

  ‘Your neighbour’s right, you’ve got to think positive.’ Why did it have to be me who put that look of despair on her face, John asked himself. He didn’t have to do it, he could have let someone at the hospital break the sad news. But he couldn’t have lived with himself if he’d done that. It would sound cold and impersonal coming from someone who spent their lives caring for the sick and dying but who couldn’t allow themselves to get too involved with the patients or they’d never be able to do their job properly. ‘I know it’s hard, but try to put a brave face on for your husband’s sake. I’ll wait here for the ambulance while you go upstairs and talk to him. Try to make light of it, because the last thing he needs is to see you looking worried to death.’

  ‘Will yer come up with me, Dolly? I’ll be better if you’re there.’

  ‘Of course I will, girl.’ Dolly shuffled to the edge of the couch and pushed herself up. ‘Come on, let’s go an’ see how Tommy is.’

  ‘Oh,’ John called as they reached the door, ‘in case I don’t have time to speak to you again today, could you come to the surgery tomorrow to see me? I know you go to work very early, but I’ll be there until a little after ten o’clock.’

  Ada nodded. ‘I’ll be there about nine o’clock, after I’ve seen to the children’s breakfast. Polly can keep an eye on Joey for me.’

  The sigh that left Ada’s lips as she sat down facing the doctor contained all the sadness and weariness she felt. She hadn’t closed her eyes all night, seeing in her mind’s eyes that picture of Tommy as they wheeled him through a door and away from her. It was a sight that would haunt her for the rest of her days. It had taken all her willpower to drag herself out of bed to go to work, but they needed every penny they could lay their hands on. She couldn’t afford the luxury of staying in bed even though her mind was craving the oblivion of sleep and her body was crying out for rest.

  John Rigby shuffled some papers on his desk, straightened his blotting pad and placed his fountain pen in the ink-stand next to a bottle of Quink. All the while he was watching Ada out of the corner of his eye and noting the black circles under her eyes and the dejected slump of her shoulders. She seemed to have aged years since yesterday and he was filled with compassion for her. ‘I rang the hospital this morning to ask how your husband was.’

  For a few seconds Ada held her breath. Please God, don’t let it be bad news, I couldn’t take any more. Then she managed to speak through the lump that had formed in her throat. ‘What did they say?’

  ‘It’s too early for them to say anything, really, except that he’s had a comfortable night. But that should ease your mind a little.’

  ‘Thank you, Doctor. It was kind of you to do that an’ I do appreciate it.’ Ada fixed her gaze on the ink stain on the blotting paper. ‘I’ll be goin’ to the hospital later, but first I’ve got to go into town to buy some pyjamas for him. I felt ashamed sending him into hospital the way he was, but yer see, pyjamas are a luxury people like us can’t afford.’

  ‘Well now, what a coincidence!’ John leaned his elbows on the desk, his raised eyebrows feigning surprise. ‘My wife was sorting my clothes out yesterday and I know she put two pairs of pyjamas aside to either give away or use as dusters. They’re in quite good condition, and I think your husband is about my build, so if you wouldn’t be offended I’ll fetch them and you can see for yourself whether they’re good enough.’

  ‘Pride is another luxury I can’t afford, Doctor,’ Ada said. ‘I’d be glad of them.’

  ‘Good!’ John pushed his chair back, deciding this was a job for his housekeeper rather than his wife, who would wonder why he was giving away two perfectly good pairs of pyjamas. She wouldn’t object of course, she was a very kind and generous woman, but he didn’t have the time to go into details with her right now. He had ten house calls to make when he’d finished his interview with Mrs Perkins, two of them urgent cases.

  He left the room but was back within minutes. ‘They’ll be wrapped ready for you when you leave.’ He sat down, laced the fingers of his two hands and rested his chin on them. ‘Now to the purpose of your visit. Because of the nature of your husband’s illness, you and the two children will have to have a thorough examination.’

  ‘Why?’ Ada cried. ‘There’s nothin’ wrong with us!’

  ‘Just a precaution, Mrs Perkins, nothing to worry about. Consumption is a disease which can be passed on to anyone who has been close to the person suffering from it. Coughing can produce germs in the air, saliva from a kiss … oh, there are many ways it can be passed on.’

  Ada sat perfectly still, her brow furrowed. Then she said, ‘He knew he had it! He’s known for a long time but never said a word.’ When she shook her head it was in sadness. ‘He hasn’t kissed the kids properly for ages, always a peck on the cheek. And he hasn’t kissed me, either. We’ve never made … er, never been lovin’ for months, but I thought it was because he was too tired.’ She bit on her lip when she felt tears stinging her eyes. ‘That man has gone to work every day knowin’ he was killing himself, an’ I was too stupid to see! Oh, I knew he was sick all right, but I never dreamed he was that bad or I’d have done somethin’ about it before now.’

  ‘You’re not being fair to yourself, Mrs Perkins. You weren’t in a position to do anything about it.’

  ‘I’ve done it now, haven’t I? I’ve got meself a job … I could have done that before now! Oh, what I earn won’t keep us, but if necessary I’ll scrub steps or even beg in the streets! If I’d have had any sense I’d have done it a year ago, not leave it until it’s too late.’

  ‘We don’t know it’s too late,’ John Rigby said. ‘Your husband’s a very sick man and I’m not going to tell you otherwise, but people do get cured of consumption, so until we’re told different, let’s believe your Tommy’s going to be one of the lucky ones. Don’t give up hope, Mrs Perkins, you must never do that.’

  Ada straightened her shoulders and sniffed up. ‘You’re right. No matter how bad I feel, or how worried I am, there’s the children to think about. So I’ll put a brave face on if it kills me, and I’ll tell them their dad’s goin’ to get better.’

  ‘That’s the spirit!’ John rose from his desk. ‘Bring the children on Monday morning and I’ll give the three of yo
u a good examination.’ He moved to open the door for her. ‘If you knock on that door marked “Private”, my housekeeper will have a parcel for you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Ada passed him, then paused. ‘I’ll say a special prayer for you tonight.’

  ‘How did yer get on?’ Dolly was waiting by her front door for her neighbour. ‘What did he want yer for?’

  Ada glanced up and down the street. ‘I’ll come in for five minutes. The less people know, the better.’

  ‘Oh aye, girl, if it wasn’t so serious I’d be laughin’ me bloody socks off! Mrs Gleeson in number sixteen said Tommy had a broken leg, Fat Mary said he’d had a heart attack, old Ma Pritchard said he had pneumonia an’ my mate, that long string of misery in number four, she said she had it on good authority that he had a burst appendix.’

  ‘Go ’way!’ Ada’s jaw dropped. ‘Yer mean everyone in the street knows Tommy’s in hospital?’

  ‘Well, yer can’t blame them for that, girl! They’d have to be ruddy blind to miss seein’ a flamin’ big ambulance.’

  ‘Yer haven’t told anyone what’s wrong with him, have yer, Dolly? I don’t want them to know, not yet anyway. I mean, we’re not sure ourselves yet, are we? Although I know in me heart of hearts that Dr Rigby’s not wrong, there’s still a chance he could be.’

  ‘I know yer think I’m a gossipin’ old hag, girl, but I promise yer I’ve been the soul of discretion.’ Dolly grinned into Ada’s face. ‘Doesn’t that sound posh … the soul of discretion?’

  Ada rolled her eyes to the ceiling. ‘I bet yer couldn’t write it down an’ get the spellin’ right.’

  ‘Now what would I want to do that for, girl? It’s not the sort of thing yer’d put in a letter, even if yer had someone to write to, which I haven’t.’ Dolly leaned against the sideboard and rubbed her hands together. ‘Anyway, what did he want yer for?’