The Pride of Polly Perkins

by Joan Jonker

  ‘I can and I have.’ Steve pulled the door open and when he stepped inside he stood for a while to accustom his eyes to the darkness. ‘It’s started, but it’s only a short Buster Keaton film so we haven’t missed much.’

  ‘Tickets, please.’ The usherette’s torch beamed on the two tickets Steve passed over. She tore them in two, kept one half and returned the other. ‘Back stalls, follow me.’ Her torch now directed to the floor, she moved ahead of them down the sloping aisle.

  ‘D’yer want to sit at the back or near the front?’ Steve’s voice was urgent. ‘Hurry up before she starts waving that torch around.’

  ‘Anywhere suits me. We’ll sit where you want to.’

  The usherette was waving her torch on two empty seats further down, but Steve’s sharp eyes had spotted two empty ones on the back row and they were just what the doctor ordered. ‘Come on.’

  The couple sitting on the end two seats weren’t even looking at the screen; they were gazing into each other’s eyes as they held hands. ‘Excuse me, please.’ Steve heard their dark mutterings at being disturbed but he didn’t care as he squeezed past their legs, pulling Polly after him. He’d paid his money, same as them, they didn’t own the place.

  ‘You’re not very popular,’ Polly said as she pressed the seat down and settled herself. ‘Did yer hear what he said about people turnin’ up late and spoiling the film for other people?’

  ‘Take no notice, they weren’t even looking at the flippin’ picture. Just starin’ into each other’s eyes, all sloppy like, stupid nits.’

  ‘Oh, look at the state of Buster Keaton!’ Polly’s laugh tinkled as she watched the funny man clinging to the side of a moving tram whilst holding on to his straw hat. His wide, unblinking eyes rolled as he tried to keep up with the tram. ‘Ay, he can’t half run,’ Polly said, marvelling at the speed of the comic’s legs. ‘Just look at him go!’

  Steve chuckled and he felt very grown-up when he explained, ‘He’s not really running that fast, they’ve speeded the film up.’

  ‘How can they do that?’

  He was still explaining when the comedy came to an end; the next feature was a travelogue. ‘I hate these, they’re dead boring.’

  ‘Ooh, an’ I love them!’ Polly had a rapt expression on her face as she gazed at the mountains, streams and waterfalls being shown on the screen. ‘The world is a beautiful place, isn’t it? If only we were able to travel to see those mountains, wouldn’t it be wonderful? But we won’t ’cos yer need a lot of money which we’ll never have. Still,’ she turned to find Steve’s eyes on her, ‘I’ve got a good imagination so I can pretend I’ve really been there, instead of seeing it from the back row of a picture house.’

  The darkness gave Steve the courage to say, ‘You’re prettier than a mountain or waterfall. I’d rather look at you any day, than them.’

  ‘Flatterer.’ Polly smiled, embarrassed and thrilled at the same time. In another year or two she’d be old enough for Steve to hold her hand and sneak a kiss. She wouldn’t make an exhibition of herself, though, not like the young couple sitting next to him. Their noisy kisses and loud whispers were causing people in the rows in front to turn around, tutting at having their enjoyment spoiled.

  The lights went up for the interval and Polly could hold her curiosity no longer. She leaned forward to look past Steve but quickly sat back in her seat when she saw the couple were still in an embrace, even though the lights were up! ‘They should be ashamed of themselves, they’re old enough to know better.’

  ‘Ugh!’ Steve grunted. He’d often wondered what it was like to kiss a girl … well, not any girl, just Polly. The other lads in the street stood on street corners and whistled after all the girls that passed, but not him. There was only one for him, and he was dogged in his determination to court and marry her. The bloke he worked with, Jim Wilkinson, had laughed when he’d told him of his ambition, said at fifteen he didn’t know his own mind and would have dozens of girls before he found the right one and settled down. Steve knew better but kept his own counsel. He’d win Polly or die in the attempt. ‘D’yer want an ice cream?’

  ‘No, but thanks all the same. I’ve still got some chocolates left.’

  ‘Have an ice an’ take the chocolates home with yer.’

  ‘No, I couldn’t eat one, Steve, honest.’ That wasn’t the truth, but as her mam always said, a little white lie never did any harm. Polly knew Steve must be leaving himself skint to spend so much on her, and if he forked out any more it would mean him getting to work on shanks’s pony instead of the tram.

  The lights dimmed and the audience ceased their chatter as the big picture started. It was a romantic musical comedy and Polly spent the next hour and ten minutes with her eyes glued to the screen. She was totally immersed in the story, laughing at the funny parts, crying over the sad bits, captivated by the music and voices of two of the world’s most popular singers. She was so involved with the film she didn’t even feel Steve take hold of one of her hands. It was only when the music heralded the end of the film, and she turned to say how much she’d enjoyed it, that Polly realised her hand was being held. ‘Wasn’t it marvellous?’ she asked shyly.

  ‘I dunno, I only saw a bit of it ’cos I was watching you all the time. There was more action on your face than there was on the screen.’ Steve reluctantly let go of her hand and stood up, pushing the seat back with his legs. ‘Why do girls always cry over soppy things?’

  ‘’Cos we’re soppy things ourselves, that’s why.’ Polly gave him a push. ‘Let’s move before we get caught in the crush.’ She nodded at the two empty seats beside him. ‘I see the courtin’ couple have left.’

  Steve put a hand on her arm and pulled her into the aisle. ‘God, but they were a menace! Honest, they spent the whole time kissing … never even came up for air!’

  He was holding on to her elbow as they came out of the cinema and began to walk up London Road. Polly glanced sideways at him. ‘Did they make yer mad, that couple?’

  Staring straight ahead, Steve growled, ‘No! If yer must know, they made me jealous.’

  ‘Jealous! Why would yer be jealous?’

  ‘’Cos I’ve never kissed a girl, that’s why.’

  Polly’s big brown eyes widened. ‘Yer only fifteen, Steve!’

  ‘What difference does that make? I’d still like to know what it’s like to kiss a girl.’

  Now the brown eyes held a glint of mischief. ‘Have yer a particular girl in mind, Steve Mitchell?’

  ‘Yes, I have someone special in mind, Polly Perkins, an’ yer know who it is. I lie in bed at night wondering when I’m goin’ to get me first kiss off her.’

  ‘Ooh, er! If I gave yer a kiss in the middle of London Road, me mam would have me guts for garters.’

  Steve put a hand on her arm and pulled her up short. ‘Just one little kiss, Polly, please? We can go in that shop doorway and no one will notice us.’

  ‘No, Steve.’ But Polly’s tone was half-hearted and she was allowing herself to be led as she spoke. It was her birthday and it had been a lovely day, getting all those cards and presents, and being taken out on her first date. What better way to round off the day than being kissed by the boy she intended to marry? After all, it was only a kiss. She wasn’t doing anyone any harm.

  They emerged from the shop doorway in a daze. Steve put his arm across her shoulders and took a deep breath. Then he gave a throaty chuckle. ‘I’ll tell yer what, Polly, now I know why that couple spent their time kissing. I enjoyed that one kiss yer just gave me far more than I did watchin’ and listenin’ to those two warbling in the sloppy picture.’

  ‘Oh, I enjoyed the picture.’ Polly let him take her hand and they walked up the road swinging their arms between them – two happy young people walking on clouds. ‘But if I had to choose, I’d choose the kiss.’

  Steve’s chest expanded with pride and he seemed to grow in stature. He’d remember Polly’s fourteenth birthday for the rest of his life, as the day he got
his first kiss and the day he knew in his bones that she felt the same way about him as he did about her. ‘You are my girl, aren’t yer, Polly?’

  ‘Yes, Steve, I’m your girl an’ you’re my boyfriend. But don’t tell yer mam ’cos she’ll pull me leg soft.’

  ‘Polly, me mam’s been pullin’ me leg about you since I was about ten years of age! I know she acts daft, but yer can take it from me that she’s all there, doesn’t miss a trick. But I won’t tell her, not until yer’ve come back home to live and we can see each other every night.’ Steve’s eyes swivelled sideways. ‘When are yer comin’ home, Polly?’

  ‘I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it.’

  ‘But yer fourteen now, yer can get a job!’

  ‘I know that, Steve, but I can’t just walk out on the Denholmes after they’ve been so good to me. I can’t just pack me bag and march out of the door without so much as a by-your-leave. It wouldn’t be right.’

  ‘But I thought the idea was that as soon as yer were old enough to work, yer’d be coming home. I want yer to come home, Polly, ’cos I hardly see anythin’ of yer.’ Steve’s happiness diminished a little. He thought Polly would be back living next door to him within the next week. ‘Yer’d be earning more money if yer got a proper job, and besides, yer mam could do with yer helping in the house.’

  ‘I know all that, Steve – I don’t need you to remind me!’ Polly could sense a tension in the air and wished she hadn’t spoken so abruptly. Steve had helped to make it a perfect day for her; she didn’t want it to end in a quarrel. ‘I’ll tell yer what I could do, I could stay until the Easter holidays, in about four weeks’ time, and then leave. There’s no lessons for ten days because Mr Westly is going on holiday. That would be the best time to leave, but I’ll have to have a word with me mam first, see what she says.’

  ‘You do want to come home, don’t yer, Polly?’ Steve’s voice was gruff. ‘I mean, yer haven’t got too used to their fancy la-de-dah ways, have yer?’

  Polly didn’t answer right away; she needed time to think. Avoiding a quarrel was one thing, but speaking ill of people who had shown you nothing but kindness was a different thing entirely. ‘Steve, I don’t want to fall out with yer and I still want to be yer girlfriend. But I don’t like yer talking about the Denholmes like that. Okay, they’ve got pots of money and they speak posh. But they’re good people, Steve, and they’ve been very kind to me. You’ll meet them tomorrow night and I hope, for my sake, that you’ll try and see them for what they are, not what you think they are. Please, Steve?’

  ‘Of course I will. I couldn’t refuse you anythin’, Polly Perkins.’ Steve threw caution to the winds and gave her a quick hug. ‘And four weeks isn’t such a long time to wait. Mind you, I’ll be counting every day, every hour, every minute and every second.’

  ‘Go on, yer daft ha’porth!’ Polly gave him a playful push before cupping her chin in her hands. ‘Let’s see, how many seconds are there in an hour?’

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ada could see her hand trembling as she moved the curtain to look down on the Square. ‘I’m a nervous wreck, John. The more time I’ve had to dwell on it, the more I believe that what we’re doin’ is wrong. I know yer meant well, and I’m grateful to yer, but I think we should call the whole thing off. Polly doesn’t know anything about it so there’d be no explaining to do.’

  John was beside her in an instant. ‘Ada, you can’t call it off, it wouldn’t be fair on Polly. She has the chance to see her father and you have no right to deny her that chance.’

  ‘I have every right!’ Ada said, her anguish coming through in her voice. ‘She’s my daughter an’ I know what’s best for her. I don’t want her to experience the pain and sorrow I feel every time I see Tommy, she’s too young to carry a burden like that. The man lying in the bed in that hospital is only a shell of the dad she knew.’

  ‘Ada, my darling, I don’t like to speak sternly to you, but I feel I must. There are several reasons why it is important that the visit goes ahead as planned and I don’t think you’ve given them proper consideration. Firstly, don’t you think Tommy should be given the opportunity to see a daughter he hasn’t laid eyes on in over two years? Don’t you think it might be the incentive that will give him the will to fight and live? And even if it doesn’t, he still has the right to see his daughter – just as she has the right to see her father.’ He put an arm around Ada’s waist and held her tight. ‘There are things that must be said, my dear, even if they distress you. How would you feel if Tommy were to die, never having seen his children again? Joey’s too young to understand, but Polly is a sensible young lady and deserves to be told the truth. She’d never forgive you if she found out you’d denied her the chance to see her dad. And frankly, I don’t think you would ever forgive yourself. It would weigh heavy on your conscience for the rest of your life.’

  ‘You’re right, John, I know you are. But I can’t bear the thought of her face when she sees him! She’s only a kid, she’ll expect to see him as he was before he went into hospital. And if she gets upset, it won’t do Tommy any good.’

  ‘Talk to Polly when she comes, prepare her before she sees him.’ John saw Polly turn into the Square and let his arm fall. ‘Here she is. I’ll go down and open the door while you compose yourself. Try to be brave, my love, for Polly’s sake.’

  ‘Hello, Mr John!’ Polly breezed in, dressed in her new clothes and wearing a beaming smile. She felt on top of the world. ‘Miss Polly Perkins reporting for duty.’ She bounded up the stairs, shouting, ‘I hope yer’ve got a pinny for me, Mam, ’cos I’m all dolled up.’

  As soon as she entered the room and saw her mother’s face, Polly knew there was something not quite right. ‘What’s wrong, Mam?’

  ‘Sit down, sunshine, I’ve got somethin’ to tell yer.’

  John poked his head around the door. ‘I’ll be in the office if you want me.’

  ‘No, don’t go away!’ There was panic in Ada’s voice. ‘You’re part of this; you can help me explain to her.’

  ‘Explain what, Mam?’ Polly looked puzzled. ‘Has me party been called off, or something?’

  John looked across to see Ada nervously clutching and unclutching her hands. ‘Would you like me to tell her, my dear?’

  Ada nodded. ‘Please.’

  Her new clothes and party forgotten, Polly could feel a band of fear grip her heart. ‘It’s me dad, isn’t it? Something’s happened to him.’

  ‘No, my dear, nothing has happened to your father.’ John sat beside her and took one of her hands in his. ‘I’ll start, then perhaps your mother will feel able to carry on.’ When he looked into the deep brown eyes that were begging him to tell her that everything was all right, John almost lost courage. But it was something that had to be done and they didn’t have much time. ‘I was trying to think of a present to give you on your birthday, something special, and I came up with an idea that I thought would please you more than anything else. So I rang the hospital and spoke to one of the doctors who attends to your father. He agreed that you could visit this afternoon as a special treat.’

  Polly let out a cry as she pulled her hand free to cover her mouth. She was silent for a while, then in a voice that was merely a whisper, she said, ‘Oh, Mr John! You mean I’m going to see me dad?’

  ‘Yes, my dear. But your mother is afraid the visit might be too upsetting for you.’

  ‘Too upsetting for me? Too upsetting to see me own dad! Oh, Mr John, I’d give all me cards and presents back if it meant I could see him, honest.’ Polly turned to Ada. ‘Why d’yer think that, Mam?’

  When Ada didn’t reply, but bent her head, John took the fob watch from his waistcoat pocket and gave a sigh. ‘We really don’t have much time. Perhaps you should get your coat on Ada, while I finish telling Polly.’

  Ada rose from the chair, but before she left the room she stood in front of her daughter. ‘I’m sorry, sunshine. I know I’m a coward lettin’ Mr John do me dirty work, but i
t’s because I love yer so much I can’t bear to see yer hurt.’

  Mixed emotions filled Polly’s head and heart as she watched her mother walk through the door. Why was her mam so sad? Surely, it was a time for gladness, when father and daughter would meet for the first time in two years? It certainly wasn’t a time for tears. ‘Mr John, I don’t understand why me mam’s acting so strange. I would have thought she’d be over the moon – I know I am.’

  ‘Like any good mother, she’s trying to protect you. You see, Polly, your father has been, and still is, a very sick man. He won’t look like the man you remember and that is what your mother is afraid of. But I believe you are a sensible girl, and although you may get a shock when you see him, I believe you are strong enough to cope with that. Just remember that inside, he is still the dad you love and who loves you deeply.’ John waited until Polly had had time to absorb his words, then he asked, ‘Am I right in thinking you are strong enough, and brave enough, to face whatever shock is in store for you? And don’t forget, whatever you feel you must not let it show.’

  ‘Of course I’m strong enough!’ Polly was near to tears but was determined not to let them flow. ‘No matter what he looks like, he’s still my dad and I love him.’

  Ada came in the room then, buttoning her coat. ‘Coward that I am, I’ve been standing outside listening. Are you sure, Polly?’

  ‘Mam, how can yer doubt that I’d give everything I’ve got to see me dad?’ Polly jumped up and ran to put her arms around Ada. ‘I’ll go in there with a smile on me face, and no matter how sad I feel, that smile will stay there until I get outside. I won’t upset me dad, I promise.’

  Ada looked over her shoulder at John. ‘Thank yer for being my crutch again, John, my shoulder to cry on. I don’t know what I’d do without yer.’

  Polly spun round. ‘And I thank yer for the best birthday present anyone could have given me. The best I’ve ever had in me whole life.’