For Better, For Worse

by June Francis

  ‘What is his surname?’

  ‘It’s slipped my mind,’ wailed Grace. ‘But he’s a carpenter.’

  ‘What’s his address, and what’s the wife’s Christian name?’ asked the secretary patiently.

  ‘They live in Lombard Street and her name is Milly,’ said Grace in a rush.

  ‘Righteo!’ said the secretary. ‘I remember her now from the works’ Christmas party.’

  Grace heard the receiver go down and sagged against the wall of the post office. She rested there for several minutes before leaving the post office and hurrying to Milly’s house.

  She found Simon alone, struggling to light the gas ring beneath a kettle. ‘Where’s Milly and the midwife? And what are you doing?’ she asked.

  ‘The midwife asked me to boil some water,’ he said. ‘She’s upstairs with Milly.’

  ‘Didn’t she realise your wrists were in plaster?’

  ‘She scarcely looked at me,’ he said.

  ‘Well, I’ll take over now and afterwards we’re going to our house… you can help me finish the jigsaw. My father will be home this afternoon and the pair of you can keep each other company while I do the shopping,’ she said.

  ‘What about what Dad said?’ he asked.

  ‘If he’s any sense he’ll realise that while Milly is upstairs giving birth you’d be best out of the way, and that means you coming home with me is the wisest option,’ Grace replied.

  He nodded. ‘I want to go with you. Anyway, once the baby is born, I can’t come here.’

  Grace told Maggie to let Milly know that she was taking Simon home with her. By then it was lunch time and they were on the way out when Jimmy arrived home in a rush. He drew Grace aside and in a low voice told her that he had informed Ben that Milly was in labour and that Grace was the person to let him know and fetch the midwife. ‘He had thought of coming back with me and taking Simon home and then rush back to work, but I told him to leave the boy to you and fetch him this evening.’

  ‘He obviously went along with what you suggested,’ Grace said.

  Jimmy nodded. ‘It’s difficult for him being father and mother to the boy, but I told him if he doesn’t let go a bit, he’ll have a rebellious son on his hands.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Grace. ‘I like Simon’s company and Dad will be home today, so they can have a chat.’

  ‘I told him what he needs is a woman in his life.’

  Grace stiffened, realising she did not want another woman in Ben’s life and being a mother to Simon. ‘And what did he say to that?’

  ‘That he knows he should marry again for Simon’s sake, but she needs to be the right woman, so he was taking his time.’

  ‘Poor Simon,’ she sighed.

  ‘Hmm!’ Jimmy touched her arm. ‘I’d best be going. I bet the midwife will chase me out of the bedroom, but I need to be on hand in case I’m needed to fetch the doctor.’

  Grace joined Simon who had been leaning against the fence around the small front area and with Fergie on the leash, arm in arm they slowly made their way to her father’s house. Norman was there to welcome them and had put a match to the fire and had the kettle on. Grace explained where she had been and that she would have to go out again to the shops for tea things, but she made a pot of tea before leaving her father and Simon huddled over the jigsaw as her father talked about life at sea and the countries he had visited. She was so glad her father was around more. She had always enjoyed his stories as a youngster.

  Later, after tea, when Ben called to pick up Simon, he brought the news that Milly had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. ‘Apparently there are twins in her family,’ he said with a slow smile. ‘Mother and babies are doing fine, and Jimmy has been in touch with his mother and she’s already on her way over from New Brighton to lend a hand.’

  ‘I’ll pop in tomorrow on my way to work and see if there’s anything I can do to help,’ said Grace. ‘Besides, I’m looking forward to seeing the twins!’

  ‘You like babies?’ said Ben, as he stood on the doorstep.

  She hesitated. ‘I’ve never had much to do with them. I can’t see them being of much interest until they’re older. Now your Simon is at an interesting age.’

  Ben agreed, ‘I just wish his mother was alive to see him.’

  She thought he sounded as if he had a frog in his throat, and remembered what Jimmy had told her about his reluctance to marry just anyone. She also thought of her own mother and even her aunt Polly to whom she had been able to turn to for advice as she grew up. Of course, it was different for a son, and naturally it depended on what age a child lost their mother, in terms of how they coped with such a terrible loss. The death of a wife had seemed even more traumatic to her father, just as it appeared so for Ben.

  ‘I’m sure she’d have been proud of him,’ Grace said.

  ‘I hope so, I’ve done the best I can,’ he said. ‘Although, I doubt anyone can quite replace the loving touch of his mother. Although, he scarcely remembers what she was like.’

  ‘Surely you have photographs of her?’ said Grace.

  He nodded. ‘But he doesn’t appear to feel anything inside here,’ he thumped his chest, ‘when he looks at them.’

  ‘You could be expecting too much of him,’ Grace said softly. ‘He was so young and the ties he had with her were in their infancy and hadn’t had a chance to grow into something deeper. Relationships take time to develop. Do you talk to him about her?’

  A shutter seemed to come down over his face. ‘I think I’d best leave,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry I was so rude yesterday. Thank you for keeping an eye on Simon.’

  ‘The pleasure was all mine,’ she said gently, aware that she might have said the wrong thing. ‘I’ll fetch Simon.’

  Simon came hopping down the lobby as soon as Grace called him. ‘Can we have fish and chips from the chippy, Dad?’ he asked.

  Ben nodded. ‘We’ll share a portion and make butties.’

  He placed an arm about his son and the boy waved to Grace from the doorway. Fergie followed them out and so did Grace. The dog would have followed the boy into Ben’s truck, but Grace called him back. The dog did not respond immediately to her summons and only obeyed the touch of Grace’s hand on his head when she went after him. She stood watching father and son until the boy was settled in the passenger seat. He waved again and she returned his wave and called, ‘God bless and sweet dreams,’ – before returning to the house.

  When she entered the kitchen, her father said, ‘Ben seemed a touch grumpy this evening. I came out to say hello and overheard you talking on the doorstep.’

  ‘He misses his wife,’ said Grace unthinkingly.

  ‘More reason to put an act on and smile. He has a good son there and should show him more affection and appreciation.’ Norman then took out his pipe and went through the process of pressing a wad of tobacco in the pipe’s bowl before lighting it and settled back in his chair with that evening’s Echo.

  ‘Have you seen the photo of the King opening the Mersey Tunnel?’ he said.

  Grace groaned. ‘I forgot to go and watch what with Milly going into labour.’

  ‘Understandable,’ said Norman.

  Fergie followed Grace over and settled on the old man’s feet as Grace stared at the newspaper photo of the crowds watching King George V and the opening ceremony. ‘I did tell you Milly’s had twins?’

  Norman smiled up at her. ‘Congratulate her and Jimmy for me when you see her.’

  ‘I’m planning on dropping in on my way home from work tomorrow,’ said Grace.

  ‘What about Simon? Milly won’t be able to look after him now.’

  ‘Ben will have to make other plans,’ Grace wondered if she would ever see Simon again. She remembered that she would be going to the pageant, The Turn of the Tide, tomorrow evening and it was just possible she might see him and his father there.

  Chapter 5

  Grace could not wait to leave her workplace at the dentist’s house the next day. When she
had entered the building, there had been a surprising number of children with their mothers in the waiting room, which upset her as she hated that children should be having their second teeth pulled – their teeth should have lasted them until they were much older. Yet Grace wasn’t really surprised, she knew of women who should have had more sense, but who were having all their teeth extracted under gas, including teeth that were not decaying, simply because they believed a set of false teeth looked more attractive and also didn’t cause toothache.

  Grace stopped on the way home to buy eggs and bacon for the evening meal; she looked in on Milly and her babies on the way back. She was shown up to the bedroom by Jimmy’s mother, who had been widowed during the last war. Milly was breastfeeding one of the babies while her mother-in-law was bottle-feeding the other. It was explained to Grace that next feed the twins would be changed around, so that both would benefit from the mother’s milk. Grace admired the tiny babies and offered her help over the coming weeks. She handed over a congratulation card from herself and her father before leaving, thinking she would buy a baby present at the babywear shop on Breck Road tomorrow. Then Grace hurried home to cook tea before rushing to get ready to go and see the play.

  * * *

  The heatwave was still with them, so Grace chose to wear a floral print dress with blue and red small flowers on a white background. It had puffed sleeves, a high waist and a skirt which flared about the hem to her knees. She had bought it with a gift of money her father had given her last Easter. Her gloves, handbag and small hat, which she set at an angle, were maroon, and her shoes were brown and beige with sturdy heels and double ankle straps. She thought to take a cushion with her and left the house at just before seven o’clock. Grace hurried to the tram stop. The play was due to start at eight o’clock, so she had plenty of time to get there, but she was feeling quite excited because the nearest she had been to seeing an out-of-doors entertainment was the Punch and Judy show that set up regularly in the summer on Saturdays at St George’s plateau in Lime Street.

  She arrived at the side passage to Exchange Flags behind the Town Hall at twenty to eight and joined a queue and was soon in a seat with time to spare. The Liverpool City Police Band were already playing cheerful music and the Philharmonic Choir were in place. Grace watched eagerly as the band ceased playing and the audience hushed as two traders arrived in a coracle on the stage, which was open to the crowd watching on four sides. The men unloaded a variety of goods from the boat and set out a display of exotic fruit, ornaments and skins. Then for several minutes she was distracted by the sound of more people entering by the way she had come in. She glanced in that direction in the hope of seeing Ben and Simon, but she could see no sign of them and her spirits fell.

  The sound of a horn drew her attention to the stage again. More actors had entered, and the audience started to laugh as a small girl appeared and stole some fruit from under their noses. A woman pointed to an animal skin and her male companion began to argue with the trader and they tussled for possession of the skin; a free-for-all developed on the stage; and a dragon appeared unexpectedly frightening the rest of the players away. By the time the scene had finished, Grace was in stitches.

  As the stage emptied, the police band began to play rousing music. Feeling a bit restless from sitting as the night air was still quite close, Grace stood up to have a look around to see if she could spot anyone she knew in the crowd. She thought she might see her neighbours and it would be nice to chat to someone. She suddenly spotted Simon at the end of a row of seats ahead of her. He had obviously seen her before now, because he waved enthusiastically before being checked by his father. Grace was surprised to then receive a friendly nod from Ben, a feeling which was quickly followed by a sense of relief, as she disliked being out of friends with people, as a rule.

  The music then changed again and the crowd settled to watch the next scene as a backdrop appeared painted with a dockside and distant sailing ships. The choir started singing ‘Blow the Man Down’ as townswomen appeared on the stage to affectionately greet some newly arrived sailor sweethearts. Grace found herself humming along to the popular sea shanties and hymns as the drama unfolded on stage. The time flew by, and soon the stage cleared and an interval was announced. There was a buzz of conversation around her and some people began to walk about. Grace applauded the departing players vigorously, thinking of Dougie and his long-distance sea voyage. She was sad that he had missed seeing this treat. She was filled with admiration, not only for the performers, but for the play’s author – it felt such a tribute to Liverpool’s past given that the growth of the city had been made possible by its link with the sea trade and foreign lands. Grace was impatient to see the second half, and hoped Ben and Simon were enjoying the entertainment as much as she was. She decided to try and see them after the play was over, so she that could talk it over with them.

  Soon the second half began. A cheer went up from the audience when a small stowaway aboard a ship was revealed to be Mickey Mouse. The actor playing the sea captain was very angry, but Grace was delighted when a trembling Mickey was made to marry none other than a heavily disguised Minnie Mouse! The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf then made an appearance, but the play concluded on a more serious note, with a tableau depicting the Mersey Tunnel and the unloading of merchandise such as oil, tobacco and wool, set to the music of ‘The Yeomen of England’. As Grace stood at the end for ‘God Save the King’, she found herself thinking of Dougie again, and wondered if he might have changed his mind about Liverpool and the opportunities promised by the Mersey Tunnel if he had not sailed for Australia when he did. Her thoughts were interrupted as the people in the seats next to her began to leave. Grace gathered her belongings and made her way to the exit gap. Any hope of finding Ben or Simon was gone, as there was such a crush of people. Grace felt worried for Simon in such a crowd, but quickly reasoned that Ben could carry him if need be. Still humming one of the sea shanties, Grace slowly made her way back to the tram stop. Suddenly she heard her name being called. She thought she recognised a truck a yard or so away through the lines of people, but couldn’t be sure.

  ‘Grace! Would you like a lift home?’ Ben called.

  Given the turn of their last meeting, Grace was surprised by such chivalry, but didn’t waste any time hurrying to the other side of the truck.

  Chapter 6

  Grace was wedged against Simon on the wide seat, on his other side, Ben was making ready to drive off.

  ‘I spotted you, and told Dad it would be gentlemanly to offer you a lift home,’ said Simon.

  ‘And I’m very grateful,’ replied Grace. ‘The tram home would have been so busy with all those people. Did you enjoy the pageant? I enjoyed it. It was a laugh, wasn’t it?’

  Simon nodded enthusiastically. ‘I wasn’t bored at all, although Dad told me it was a kind of history of Liverpool and its trading links. I was a bit confused because of the dragon… unless that came from Wales. Them being alive in the olden days and that’s why they have one on their flag,’ he elaborated.

  ‘Now there’s a thought,’ said Grace, smiling.

  ‘Some Welsh chieftains were called pendragons,’ said Ben.

  ‘But how far does that go to explaining why there was a dragon in the play?’ Grace said. ‘Unless it symbolised a Welsh pirate raider long ago?’

  ‘I’m part Welsh,’ Ben said. ‘And I object to that insinuation.’

  ‘I have Welsh blood, too,’ said Grace. ‘Let’s be honest, though, my dad told me in days gone by the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish all made raids beyond their own borders on their close neighbours, until we all settled down and intermarried and traded goods with each other peacefully.’

  ‘Thank goodness,’ said Ben.

  ‘What did you think of Micky and Minnie Mouse making an appearance?’ asked Ben.

  ‘As well as the Big Bad Wolf and the three little pigs,’ Simon said, laughing.

  ‘I’d say they weren’t only there to amuse th
e children,’ Grace said drily, ‘most likely they made an appearance to remind people of popular films made in Hollywood.’

  ‘We’ll pass at least three picture houses on the way home,’ said Simon. ‘I love the flickers.’

  ‘Me too,’ Grace said.

  ‘The growth of the film industry doesn’t come without a cost,’ said Ben.

  ‘I suppose you mean the loss of some theatres,’ responded Grace. ‘The Olympia on West Derby Road to name one – it’s been converted into a picture house called the Palladium. I’d say, though, that there’s an equal number of theatres and picture palaces in Liverpool.’

  ‘I’ll take your word for it,’ Ben said as they passed the Baptist chapel on the corner of Shaw Street and headed towards Brunswick Road that led into West Derby Road where the Royal Hippodrome theatre was situated.

  ‘I wonder how long it’ll be before that becomes a picture house,’ said Simon a few minutes later as they passed by.

  ‘Let’s drop the subject,’ said his father. ‘I for one don’t want to be thinking of being inside either building in this weather. I’d much prefer sitting on the grass in the park, listening to a brass band playing.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Grace. ‘I suppose in Australia they spend a lot more time outdoors in the evenings because their weather is like it is here now, but all of the time.’

  ‘What decided your young man to emigrate?’ asked Ben, glancing at her.

  ‘The Great Depression… he thought Liverpool was finished. I also reckon he was looking for excitement and to make his fortune,’ Grace said slowly.

  ‘What kind of adventure? And where do you fit into his desire for adventure? I’d have thought if he wanted to marry you, the idea would be to settle down together,’ Ben said.

  For a moment Grace could not think what to say, other than it was none of his business, although the truth of the matter hit home. To cover her confusion, she said brightly, ‘Emigrating is a big adventure, don’t you think?’