One Week in August

by Margaret Thornton

  ‘Yes, not so far away. I’m from Halifax. We’re almost neighbours, aren’t we? And I suppose you’re on holiday here, same as me?’

  ‘Aye, that’s right. Nice little boarding house in Regent Road, not so far from here. So where are you staying?’

  ‘A small hotel in North Shore.’

  ‘Ooh! That’s the posh part, isn’t it?’

  ‘I don’t know about that, but it’s very nice. We came on Saturday, me and my friend.’

  ‘Aye, so did we, me and Charlie. Anyroad, we’d better introduce ourselves, hadn’t we? I’m Jack … Jack Broadbent.’

  ‘And I’m Cissie,’ she told him. ‘Cissie Foster.’

  ‘How do, Cissie?’ he said, smiling down at her. He was just a few inches taller than her five feet two. ‘Pleased to meet yer.’

  ‘Same here,’ she replied, and they danced in silence for a few moments.

  Then, ‘What have you been doing so far?’ he asked.

  ‘Walked on the prom, went on North Pier, been to the Pleasure Beach and had a ride on the Big Dipper. Went to the Winter Gardens on Saturday night. That’s a smashing ballroom an’ all, but I think this is even better.’

  ‘Aye, I’ve got to agree there,’ said Jack, ‘and there’s lots more to see in here as well as the ballroom … Shall we go and have a drink?’ he suggested, as the dance came to an end.

  ‘That would be nice,’ replied Cissie, ‘but I’ve just had a drink. When you asked me to dance we’d just come back from the bar, me and Val – that’s my friend I came on holiday with – and the three fellers.’

  ‘Well, we can do summat else, can’t we? Let’s have a stroll around, that’s if you would like to, Cissie? Like you said, we’re almost neighbours, an’ I’m sure we’ll find we’ve a lot to talk about.’

  ‘Yes, I’d like to,’ said Cissie, trying not to sound too eager. But she had decided she liked Jack Broadbent, from what little she knew of him at any rate. He seemed a jolly, carefree sort of young man – a few years older than herself, maybe – and fun to be with. Not like Walter, her ‘intended’, as her mother might say. He could be a real sobersides despite his eagerness to get Cissie to do things that she didn’t want to do.

  ‘Just a minute, I’d best tell Val where I’m going,’ she said. She went over to where her friend was standing with Sam. ‘I’m just going for a stroll around with … Jack,’ she said. ‘He’s from Bradford, and … he seems OK,’ she added in a whisper.

  ‘That’s OK,’ said Val, and Cissie got the impression that she was somewhat relieved. She grinned at her. ‘Go and have fun then!’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Cissie.

  ‘You weren’t with one of those chaps, were you?’ asked Jack as they walked off together.

  ‘Oh, no, nowt like that. Actually I was feeling like a spare part …’ She explained to him that her friend, Val, had got friendly with Sam Walker who was nothing less than one of the bosses from the mill where they worked. ‘I hope she’s not heading for trouble,’ she said. ‘I’ve warned her, but she seems real taken with him. And the other two are pals of his.’

  ‘Well then, good luck to her,’ said Jack. ‘If she’s got herself fixed up for the week it leaves you free, doesn’t it? Come on, let’s go and explore.’

  They went up the stairs to the second floor where the zoo, or menagerie, as it was once called, was situated.

  ‘Pooh! It pongs a bit, doesn’t it,’ observed Jack as they entered the long room with wire cages on either side and an observation platform with seating in the centre. ‘Ne’er mind, we’ll p’raps get used to it.’

  They sat on the bench observing the animals from a distance. Cissie didn’t want to get too close although there were braver people venturing much nearer to the cages. There was a cage with long-tailed monkeys leaping around, and another with almost human-looking chimpanzees. There was a table and stools in the cage because, each afternoon, a tea party was held there for the amusement of the visitors, who were in danger of being drenched with tea or pelted with bread and cakes. There was a lonely-looking giraffe, a rhinoceros and a fierce-looking lion pacing back and forth in his cage.

  ‘I wonder if that’s the lion that ate Albert Ramsbottom?’ said Cissie.

  ‘What?’ enquired Jack, looking puzzled.

  ‘You know; that poem, “Albert and the Lion”. I’ve heard a chap recite it at our church concerts. Haven’t you heard it?’

  ‘Oh aye, mebbe I have,’ said Jack. ‘I wouldn’t like to get too near to that chap, I can tell you.’

  ‘No … It seems cruel, though, having ’em caged up like that. They don’t look very happy.’

  ‘Happen safer, though, than they would be in the jungle,’ said Jack.

  They stayed a little while, chatting together, and Cissie learnt that Jack, also, worked in a woollen mill in Bradford. He had started at fifteen, as she had done, and he was now an overseer in charge of a weaving shed; the same job that Walter did, but Cissie didn’t mention him. She also learnt that he was twenty-two. He had done national service, then returned to the job that was waiting for him.

  ‘Now, what else shall we do?’ he said when they left the zoo. ‘What about a trip to the top of the Tower?’

  ‘Er … no, I don’t think so, not tonight,’ said Cissie. ‘That’s one of the things I’ve said I’ll do with Val. Anyway, we wouldn’t be able to see much at night, would we?’

  ‘Fair enough,’ agreed Jack. ‘Well then, what about the Aquarium? Not that I’m right interested in fish, unless they’re on a plate wi’ some chips. But it’s happen worth a look.’

  The Aquarium was on the ground floor, a mysterious cave-like place illuminated with a faint greenish light. There were stone pillars covered with crustaceans – lifelike in appearance although they were man-made – holding up the low ceiling. Around the side were fish tanks with fish of many colours, shapes and varieties swimming around. There were turtles, too, and other sea creatures. The eerie silence in the room made you feel you must talk in a whisper.

  They sat on a circular bench surrounding one of the pillars. There were just a few other people wandering around. Jack put an arm around Cissie’s shoulders drawing her closer to him.

  ‘This is nice and cosy, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘I’m glad I’ve met you, Cissie. You’re my kind of lass.’

  ‘That’s nice to know,’ she replied. ‘I’m glad I’ve met you an’ all.’

  He turned her face towards him and gently kissed her lips. It felt good, but she did not respond too readily because she hardly knew him, and he drew away.

  ‘Come on,’ he said getting hold of her hand and pulling her to her feet. ‘Let’s go and have a drink now.’

  They went to the bar nearest to the ballroom which was quite crowded now. Cissie drank her second shandy of the evening and Jack had a pint of bitter. In a few moments Val and Sam came in, his arm around her and their heads close together. Jack was asking Cissie if, or when, they could meet again.

  ‘Tomorrow?’ he suggested. ‘P’raps we could go somewhere together. Anywhere you like, I’m not fussy. I’d like to get to know you better, Cissie. We’re getting along OK, aren’t we? More than just OK, I’d say.’ He put an arm round her and pulled her closer to him.

  ‘Oh, I’m not sure about tomorrow,’ Cissie demurred. ‘We’re going to the show at the Opera House tomorrow night, and I think we’ll be spending the day together as well.’

  Jack Broadbent’s a fast worker, she thought to herself. She’d only known him five minutes! In fact she didn’t really know him at all. He seemed alright, a down-to-earth Yorkshire lad, the same sort of background as herself, she guessed. And he was already an overseer at the mill. She was not reluctant to get to know him better, but she had come away with Val and they had planned to spend most of their time together. But Val, of course, might now have other plans …

  She was relieved when she saw her friend and Sam come into the bar. ‘That’s Val, over there,’ she said. ‘I’ll go and ask her, shall I,
if she’d mind if I spent some time with you?’

  ‘The dark-haired girl?’ said Jack, looking towards where she was pointing. ‘She’s quite a looker an’ all, isn’t she? I bet the pair of you have turned a few heads! It looks to me as though she’ll not object, they seem to be getting along like a house on fire.’

  ‘OK, I’ll go and ask her then,’ said Cissie. ‘D’you want to come with me?’

  ‘No, I’ll stay and keep our seats, or we might lose ’em. How about us meeting on Thursday? And tell yer friend that I’ll see you back safely to yer digs tonight. Sam’ll be taking her back, won’t he?’

  ‘Yes, I expect he will. Thursday’s OK with me, so I’ll go and tell her. Shan’t be long …’

  ‘Hello there, Cissie,’ said Sam in a friendly way when she appeared at their table. ‘Enjoying yourself, are you?’

  ‘Er … yes, thank you,’ she replied. ‘I’ve met this chap, Jack he’s called. He’s from Bradford and he wants to see me again. He said tomorrow, but I told him we’re going to a show tomorrow night. I thought it was a bit too soon, seeing as we’ve only just met. So I’ve said I’ll see him on Thursday, that’s if it’s OK with you, Val?’

  Val and Sam looked at one another, and she could tell that they were relieved at her remark. She guessed that they, too, had been making plans.

  ‘That’s great, Cissie,’ said Sam. ‘I’ve asked Val if she’ll spend some time with me on Thursday. I’m playing golf with Jeff and Colin tomorrow.’

  ‘So I’ve said I will,’ added Val, ‘provided it’s alright with you. I didn’t want to go off and leave you on your own. But now you’re all fixed up, aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes, it seems like it,’ said Cissie. ‘I’ll have to see how it goes. And Jack says he’ll see I get back to the hotel safely, so I’ll see you back there, shall I?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Val, a trifle uncertainly. ‘You’ll be OK with this Jack, will you? You don’t really know him very well …’

  Cissie was tempted to tell her friend that she didn’t know Sam very well either, but she couldn’t do so. She knew what Val meant only too well. ‘Oh yes,’ she answered. ‘I’m a big girl now, I can look after meself. See you later then, Val. ‘Bye for now … Sam.’

  ‘That’s all sorted out,’ she told Jack. ‘They’ve made plans for Thursday an’ all.’

  ‘There you are, you see. I told you so. What shall we do on Thursday then?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know … P’raps a long ride somewhere on a tram? I think they’re such fun.’

  ‘Fleetwood’s not far away, we could go there. Now, I’d best get you back safe and sound. Come on then, let’s go.’

  Cissie collected her jacket from the cloakroom, then they set off walking back along the prom. ‘We’ll walk back shall we?’ said Jack, ‘seeing as it’s a warmish sort o’ night. Can you walk in them shoes?’

  ‘Yes, they’re OK,’ said Cissie. ‘They’re quite comfy.’ He obviously wasn’t going to suggest a taxi, as Sam would no doubt be doing. It was a fair stretch, though, back to North Shore. ‘We could get a tram, though. I know where to get off, near the Carlton Hotel.’ She remembered that Sam was staying there.

  ‘OK then, a tram it is.’ One came along almost at once, and they alighted a few stops further along the promenade. It didn’t seem far but it would have been a good distance to walk.

  They crossed the road to the Carlton Hotel, then walked along the street to where the hotel was situated. Jack put his arm around her, as she had expected he would, then he drew her into the shelter of a shop doorway and started to kiss her. Gently at first, then more urgently, and she found herself responding. Why not? she thought. He was a friendly lad and there was no harm in it. She knew that any red-blooded young man such as he would have done the same. But when his hands strayed beneath her jacket and started to fondle her she drew away.

  ‘No … I don’t think so, Jack,’ she said, and to her relief he backed away. That was somewhat to her surprise as well, but he appeared contrite.

  ‘Sorry, Cissie,’ he muttered, ‘but I do like you a lot, you know.’

  ‘But we’ve only just met, Jack …’

  ‘OK then … let’s go …’

  The hotel was on the next block, and they stopped outside the gate. ‘You still want to see me on Thursday, do you?’ he asked, a little pensively.

  ‘Yes, of course I do,’ she answered.

  ‘That’s alright then. Shall we say ten o’clock, at North Pier? That’s not too far away from your digs and mine. Then we can decide what we want to do.’

  ‘Yes, that’s fine, Jack. See you on Thursday then …’

  He kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘Ta-ra then, see you soon.’ He blew her a kiss as he strolled away along the street.

  Bemused, she entered the hotel using the door key that Mrs Butler had given her. Val had not yet returned, but she came into the room when Cissie had washed and was in her nightdress.

  ‘I’ve had a smashing time,’ she said, her eyes glowing with delight as she started to undress. ‘Sam’s really nice, you know … and he says he would like to go on seeing me – when we get back home, I mean. Don’t look like that, Cissie! I’m sure he means what he says.’

  ‘I hope so,’ said Cissie. ‘I know he seems very nice, but …’

  ‘But nothing! What about you and that Jack?’

  ‘Oh, Jack’s OK,’ said Cissie off-handedly. ‘At least he’s more our sort, isn’t he? You know – one of the workers.’

  ‘Maybe … You must watch him, though, Cissie.’

  ‘I’ve told you, I can look after meself. Anyway, it’s time for beddy-byes. Goodnight, Val, God bless.’

  ‘Goodnight, Cissie. Sleep tight.’

  EIGHT

  ‘Another sunny day,’ said Val as she drew back the curtains on Wednesday morning. ‘Come on, Cissie, wakey-wakey!’

  There was a grunt from Cissie’s bed, then she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. ‘What d’you say?’

  ‘Another lovely day. We’ve been really lucky with the weather, haven’t we? What shall we do today?’

  Cissie was soon wide awake. ‘Oh … I don’t know. We’re going to that show tonight. What would you like to do first?’

  ‘P’raps we could go up the Tower,’ suggested Val, ‘while the weather’s fine. We’ll be able to see for miles.’

  Cissie hesitated. She remembered that Jack had suggested a trip to the top of the Tower, but it was something she had said she would do with Val, and Val was her best friend.

  ‘OK,’ she replied. ‘Let’s do that. An’ we can see all the rest of the Tower an’ all, once we’ve paid to get in.’

  ‘Don’t forget the show tonight!’ said Janice as she served their breakfast.

  ‘As if we would!’ they both answered.

  ‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ said Janice. ‘We’ll set off as soon as you’ve had your meal. Enjoy your day – what have you got in mind?’

  ‘We’re going up the Tower!’ said Cissie.

  ‘Lucky you! Wish I was coming … Never mind. See you later.’

  They decided to do the Tower ascent first before there was a long queue for the lift. There were several others waiting to make the journey to the top of the Tower, but not right to the top. The Tower itself was 518 feet, 9 inches in height but the lift ascended only to a height of 380 feet.

  There were, in fact, two lifts, working simultaneously, one ascending and the other one descending. It took less than one minute to arrive at the landing platform. The girls stepped out somewhat timorously, never before having been so far above ground level. It was perfectly safe, though, and anyone who had a fear of heights did not need to feel at all threatened. There was ample room for a goodly crowd, but so early in the morning there were no more than thirty or so up there. Each cabin could hold twenty-five people but there was only a dozen in the cabin with Val and Cissie.

  The viewing platform was not open to the elements as the girls might have expected. The sce
nes all around were viewed through glass windows. There was, however, an iron staircase leading to a higher level. Some more intrepid folk were climbing up, but Val and Cissie decided to stay where they were.

  It was truly amazing what they could see as they walked around the circuit of the viewing area. Looking west was the Irish Sea stretching away into the distance, as far as the Isle of Man and beyond, but that was not quite visible. The tide was out and there were people on the sands or paddling in the sea, looking like miniature dolls from that distance. And there were the three piers, North, Central and South, reaching out over the ocean. Looking north, beyond the long line of hotels – the Metropole, the Imperial and the Norbreck hotels recognizable from their distinctive shapes – were the hills of Barrow, the most southerly of the Lake District hills.

  Walking around and looking inland, to the east, were the thousand upon thousand houses of residential Blackpool. Val and Cissie tried to locate their hotel.

  ‘Look,’ said Val. ‘That’s the railway station, so that must be Dickson Road, and the Odeon cinema, so we’re just along there. Look a bit further; see, over there …’

  Then, to the south, another long vista of hotels on the promenade, the Golden Mile, and the outline of the Big Dipper at the Pleasure Beach. Across the estuary of the River Ribble that entered the sea at Lytham St Anne’s they could see the seaside resort of Southport.

  ‘That was terrific!’ said Cissie when they had completed the circuit. ‘What shall we do now? It’s all free, isn’t it? So we might as well make the most of it.’

  The half-crown entrance fee entitled them to visit all the attractions of the Tower building, apart from the circus. This performance took place in the circus ring at the very bottom of the building, the ring being between the four legs of the Tower itself. That was an entertainment that the girls might have to forgo; a week was such a short time to see all the delights that Blackpool had to offer.

  Cissie had already seen the zoo and the aquarium with Jack, but she visited them again with Val. She and Sam had spent their time dancing and talking together without any need for other diversions. They ate a snack lunch in a cafe near to the roof gardens where exotic plants, trees and ferns flourished beneath the glass canopy. It would be a pleasant place to shelter when the rain was pelting down on the glass roof, but the day was sunny and it became rather too warm up there.