Under the July Sun

by Barbara Jones

  ‘What about the dog then?’

  ‘Yes, the children would love it. When will it be ready to leave its mother?’

  ‘Soon. Maybe by Sunday even.’

  ‘Fine. We’ll have to think of some names then.’

  Billy had been listening intently to this conversation and, delighted at the prospect of the puppy, ran off to tell Eileen and Anna.

  * * *

  On Sunday Billy stationed himself at the garden gate waiting to catch the first glimpse of the puppy. As soon as he saw Reggie and Maureen appear in the distance he darted inside the house, slammed the door shut, and announced that he’d seen them coming. Then he went to sit next to Louis and waited for them to knock on the door.

  ‘Oh well, I’ll say one thing for them,’ Louis said looking up at the clock, ‘at least they’re on time.’

  A little while later, he heard Reggie open the front door and some muffled voices in the hallway. The children rose from their chairs expectantly and Louis looked at them with a grave expression so they lowered themselves back down, to wait.

  Reggie poked his head round the door.

  ‘Is it all right to bring Maureen in now?’ he asked.

  Louis stood up, ‘Yes of course it is, bring her in.’

  Reggie reappeared, his hand cupping the elbow of a petite redhead.

  ‘This is Maureen, Uncle Louis and Auntie Cat.’

  Louis stretched out his hand to shake Maureen’s, saying he was pleased to meet her. The girl smiled revealing a row of slightly uneven teeth, the front ones crossing over at the tips. Strangely enough, Louis thought this looked rather endearing.

  ‘Ach, ’tis good to meet yerselves too.’

  ‘Ye’re Irish?’ Cat laughed.

  ‘Sure I am. And ’tis lovely to make yer acquaintance, Mrs. Ross.’

  ‘I didn’t realise ye’re from home. Welcome, Maureen, c’mon and sit yerself down and have a nice cup of tea and somethin’ to eat. Where is it ye’re from now?’

  Louis was astonished and looked from Maureen to Cat, then to Reggie wondering what on earth his mother would have to say about this. Not one, but two Irish women in their midst.

  ‘I’m from Fermoy.’

  ‘Well, that’s not a million miles away from Fethard. I can see we’ll have plenty to talk about, Maureen.’

  Reggie cleared his throat as if to remind Maureen of something.

  ‘Oh yes, I nearly forgot, so if ye’re not getting’ too much in one go, I’ve brought the puppy along with me for the children.’ She turned to Reggie. ‘Would ye go out now to me basket and bring in the puppy for them?’ Maureen then turned to the children who were lined up waiting to see Reggie’s young lady.

  ‘Well these must be the darlin’ children Reggie keeps goin’ on about.’ She stooped down and kissed them all on the cheek one by one as Reggie brought Maureen’s basket in and placed it on the floor.

  The children gasped. Sitting in the basket was a small black puppy with a snow white breast and two little brown patches over his eyes that looked like eyebrows. They swooped over the basket, each wanting to pick the puppy up first.

  Billy grabbed at it. ‘My go first ’cos I’m the eldest.’

  ‘Let me have it first.’ Eileen argued and tried to pull the puppy from his grasp.

  ‘Oh dear, we seem to have caused a problem,’ Maureen laughed and the children completely forgot about their esteemed guest as they jostled for supremacy over the little dog who licked their faces furiously.

  Cat stepped forward and rescued the puppy from Billy’s grasp.

  ‘We’ll call him Tipper,’ Cat said, ‘because I’m from Tipperary. What do ye think Louis?’

  Louis stroked the puppy’s ears and took him from Cat.

  ‘Right then. Tipper it is. Funny, I’ve never thought of getting a dog. But it’s rather nice isn’t it?’

  Louis headed for the garden with Tipper under his arm and fondled his ears while the children scrambled behind him, arguing for the next hold.

  51

  Eltham

  December 1925

  Cat read the letter from America while eating her breakfast, then looked up at Louis with tears in her eyes.

  ‘Praise be to God, Louis. Ellie’s given birth to a little girl and both are fine. At last, she’s done it!’

  ‘That’s wonderful, Cat. Does she say what they’ve called her?’

  ‘Catherine, after me! Oh Louis, I wish I could see her. It’s been so long.’

  ‘Yes, but there’s a big stretch of water between them and us, it’s not going to be possible. Not unless they come to us.’

  She put the letter from Ellie down and picked up the dress she was hemming. ‘I bet Michael’s over the moon, don’t you?’

  ‘Sure to be.’ Louis lit up a cigarette, then bent down and stroked Tipper’s head. The dog licked his hand, turning faithful brown eyes upwards to his master.

  As much as Billy had tried to take control of the dog’s loyalty, Tipper had chosen Louis. Wherever Louis went, Tipper wasn’t far behind. At night he would lay before Louis’ chair by the fire at the feet of his master, sighing as if in ecstasy and making little yelping noises in his sleep.

  ‘What else did Ellie have to say?’

  ‘Only that she’d heard Paddy Hogan has married.’

  ‘Only! Well, I should think you’d be mightily relieved to hear that piece of news.’

  ‘I’m not bothered either way. Why should it matter to me? Good luck to the fool who’s taken him on.’

  ‘Does she say who the blushing bride is?’

  ‘Yes, it’s someone from Thurles. Nobody I know. I wonder if he’s still up to his old tricks with that band of murderin’ thugs.’

  ‘Probably. They’ve certainly not curbed their ways since the signing of the treaty. It seems to go from bad to worse.’

  They sat quietly for a while, listening to the crackle of the fire as the embers shifted and blazed in the grate. Soot, clinging to the fire back, glowed and faded simultaneously - like an advancing army climbing the chimney in the darkness. Louis sat mesmerised watching the coals, deep in thought.

  Suddenly he stood up and took the savings tin down from the mantelpiece. He counted out their savings and Cat watched his lips moving as he added up the money.

  ‘What are ye up to?’

  ‘Adding up what we have?’

  ‘Yes, but why?’

  He smiled and put the money back in the tin.

  ‘What would you say to us buying a motor cycle and side car?’

  Cat drew in her breath, puzzled by his suggestion, not knowing how to react.

  ‘Well, what do you say, woman?’

  ‘I’m not sure what ye’re on about, Louis.’

  ‘Someone at work has a motor cycle and side car for sale.’

  ‘What on earth would we do with such a machine?’

  ‘Go out for a spin. Go to Ireland! We could drive all the way to the ferry in Fishguard, get off on the other side and drive to Fethard. Go for little breaks to the seaside, and.’

  ‘Whoa. Slow down! Are ye suggestin’ we actually go ahead and buy this machine?’

  ‘Cat, it’s going for a song. We can afford it and I think it would be ideal for us. So what do you say? No don’t say anything. Just think about it. Imagine yourself speeding along in the sidecar with the wind in your hair as we make our way to the coast. The sun on your face and the children with their buckets and spades - even Tipper could come.’

  ‘Louis, how could we all get into a sidecar?’

  ‘You, Eileen and Anna in the sidecar with Tipper, and Billy can ride behind me on the pillion. So what do you say?’ He rubbed his hands together in excitement.

  Cat thought for a while. There were other things they needed like some decent furniture to sit on, clothes for the children, for her and Louis. But then she decided there was little fun if they couldn’t enjoy life while the children were still young. And then there was the prospect of going to the seaside!

&n
bsp; Her face suddenly lost its serious expression and animatedly she threw her arms round Louis neck, reflecting his enthusiasm and laughing.

  ‘Yes, Louis, let’s do it!’

  52

  Eltham

  June 1927

  The church bells peeled as Reggie and Maureen emerged from the church smiling. She wore an oyster coloured silk wedding dress and Reggie looked handsome in a charcoal grey suit with matching silk tie. Iris, Eileen and Anna wore pink bridesmaid’s dresses and Billy, much to his annoyance, was dressed as a pageboy.

  ‘Can we have the bride, bridegroom and bridesmaids please?’ the photographer said, then as Cat whispered something to him he added, ‘Oh, and the page boy.’

  Cat slipped a silver horseshoe on a satin ribbon over Maureen’s wrist and kissed her cheek.

  ‘I hope ye’ll both be very happy.’

  ‘Thanks Cat. Ye’ve been wonderful and the dress is gorgeous, ye’ve made a perfect job of it, I feel like a queen.’

  ‘Yes and ye look like one.’

  Louis shook hands with Reggie wishing him good luck, and agreed to help him move his belongings from their house once the couple returned from honeymoon. They were off to Ireland to spend a week with Maureen’s parents.

  As Louis stood talking to the couple, confetti rained down on them from the crowd and the children scampered about trying to pick it up from the ground.

  ‘Don’t do that girls, ye’ll get dirty and you’ve to get the photographs done yet,’ Cat scolded.

  ‘Yes, put that down and line up, the photographer’s already called for you,’ Louis said. He shook Anna’s hands to free the coloured pieces of paper. ‘Eileen,’ he commanded, ‘throw that confetti down and come here. That’s right, stand next to Maureen and smile.’

  Slowly the entourage made their way back to Cat and Louis’ house for the wedding celebrations. As they approached the road leading to their home, Louis said he’d go on ahead and shut Tipper outside as he didn’t want him jumping up on the guests, spoiling their wedding clothes.

  Louis quickened his pace and was soon quite a distance ahead of the crowd. When he reached the house he entered through the back door calling Tipper to him. Initially the dog seemed reluctant to come to him but with a little coaxing Louis soon managed to get him into the out-house.

  On entering the parlour, disaster met his eyes. Tipper had been helping himself while they were at the church, and sandwiches were scattered across the floor; the pile of sausage rolls was considerably depleted and the plate of cold meat had clearly provided the animal with more than he could devour, as he’d left a few slices uneaten.

  Louis rushed to the front door, glanced up the road and saw the wedding party was nearing the house.

  ‘Oh Lord, what a mess,’ he said rushing around to re-arrange the sausage rolls, and picking sandwiches off the floor. He inspected the ones that were not broken and put them back on the plate. Then he removed the plate of cold meat and put it in the kitchen. He was just about to cut some more to replace it when the guests poured through the front door and into the parlour. Quickly Louis took off the pieces nearest the outside edge of the plate. It wouldn’t kill them, he decided, and it was certainly a lot better than what they’d eaten in the trenches!

  Cat filled small glasses of sherry for the women and Louis ladled out some of his homemade beer to the men. The children were in high spirits and more than once Cat had to reprimand them for trying to grab at the food before the guests were served.

  In pride of place amid all the food on the table stood the wedding cake that Cat had made them, and on top of it stood the tiny forms of a bride and groom. Maureen was delighted and thanked her.

  ‘That’s my pleasure, Maureen. Ye’ll be makin’ Reggie’s cakes from now on though - so ’twill be me last task. I’m glad ye’ve found somewhere to live, ’tis a better start to be on yer own, ye know, not livin’ in with family.’

  ‘Yes. It was so lucky to get the flat over the butcher’s shop. And Reggie shouldn’t be late for work living above now should he?’

  ‘No indeed he should not. Now, I had better circulate with the sandwiches, we’ll speak later.’

  Cat mingled among the guests with the plate of sandwiches and Reggie, seeing Lize pulling on her gloves, went up to her.

  ‘What, going so soon Mum?’

  ‘Yes, your gran’s at home alone, so I’d better be off now.’

  ‘But we haven’t even cut the cake yet.’

  ‘Oh. Well I’ll stay until you’ve done that, then I’ll have to go. You know how she is.’

  Reggie pulled a face thinking that even on his wedding day his grandmother was controlling him from afar. ‘But why not stay on for a little longer Mum? The children were dying to see you!’ He turned and beckoned to Billy who immediately came to his side.

  ‘Billy, say hello to Auntie Lize.’

  ‘Hello, Auntie Lize.’

  Lize bent down and kissed Billy. ‘Here you are, sonny,’ she said, fishing out a penny from her purse, ‘come round to my shop in the morning and you can spend it.’

  ‘Oh thanks Auntie. Shall I get Eileen and Anna to come and get a penny too?’

  ‘Billy, don’t be saucy.’ Reggie laughed and Lize re-opened her purse.

  ‘Here, Billy, give this to your sisters, and mind you do!’ she said placing two more pennies in his hand.

  ‘Look Reggie, I really must go now. Have a good time and come and see me more often.’

  ‘I’ll try Mum, but now the boss is retiring I’ll be working much longer hours and may find it difficult for a while.’

  ‘Well I’m sure if you wanted to do it you would.’ She pecked him on the cheek and went in search of Louis and Cat to say goodbye.

  Louis and Cat walked to the front gate with Lize and they stood chatting for a while. Then Lize, feeling agitated, said she must get back as she didn’t like to leave the old lady on her own for too long as she was prone to dizzy spells.

  Lize walked off into the late afternoon and Louis couldn’t help feeling sorry about the way her life had turned out. He thought she looked so pitiful walking away from her son’s wedding party alone.

  At that moment he felt he could forgive her anything, even the way she had insisted they take Reggie in. And they had the better end of the bargain. Having Reggie was infinitely easier than taking his mother in.

  He wished he could turn the clock back and return to the old days when Lize’s husband Charlie was alive – they had been so happy then. Fate had turned his sister into an old woman long before her time.

  His conscience pricked him. ‘You go in, Cat. I’ll follow you in a minute.’

  ‘Are you upset about somethin’ Louis?’

  ‘Look, I just want to walk Lize home, she looks a bit forlorn going off alone. I won’t be long.’

  ‘Sure ye go on; I’d better go back in now.’

  It didn’t take Louis long to catch his sister up. She wasn’t used to walking in high-heeled shoes along the unmade road, and she was clearly pleased.

  ‘Louis, what are you doing here?’

  ‘I thought I’d walk you home. You know, just like the old days. Remember how we used to walk out in the evenings when I was on leave?’

  Lize slipped her arm through his and they walked along arm in arm.

  ‘You know Louis, I don’t like weddings much.’

  ‘Why not, for heaven’s sake?’

  ‘Don’t sound so surprised.’

  ‘Well, I am.’

  ‘Because it reminds me of all I’ve lost. Of what will never be now.’

  ‘I’m sorry Lize, I should have realized you would be affected by today.’

  ‘I didn’t think I would. But as I stood there looking at Reggie in the church, I couldn’t help thinking how much like Charlie he looked and how it had all been snatched away in the blink of an eye.’ She rummaged in her handbag for a handkerchief and blew her nose.

  ‘Sorry, I should have known you would find it difficult. I suppos
e I’m not much good at anticipating things, I’m more of an ‘afterthought’ sort of person.’

  ‘It just made me feel like screaming standing there listening to the marriage vows. I can’t explain why, but hearing the words ‘till death do us part’ brought it all home to me. I didn’t expect to be a widow – it never occurred to me. Do I sound too sorry for myself?’

  He squeezed her arm, ‘No, Lize. I don’t think so. I used to think I was the only soldier who had suffered in the war, but I know now I was just one of millions. It touched all our lives and we all remain scarred in some way or other. Some scars don’t show, but they don’t heal either.’

  ‘Louis, do you ever think about death?’ They had reached the corner of Lize’s road.

  Why?’

  ‘I’m not sure why but lately I’ve been borne down with a dreadful feeling that I’m going to die before my time and I can’t bear it. I still have Iris to look after; though she seems to do more of the looking after me these days. It’s just a feeling of foreboding I have and I’m not sure whether it’s a dread of life or of death. I can’t work out why I feel the way I do.’

  They reached the shop; Lize took the keys from her bag and opened the door. ‘Do you want to come in for a moment, say hello to Mum?’

  Louis hesitated and he saw Lize’s expression change to one of annoyance.

  ‘Yes, I suppose I’d better. Why wouldn’t she come to the wedding?’

  ‘She said it was too far to walk. But that’s not the whole truth. There’s nothing wrong with her legs. I think it’s because Maureen is Irish.’

  ‘I wondered. She’s never really taken to Cat has she?’

  Lize paused before answering, sighed and agreed that she hadn’t.

  ‘It’s made it quite difficult for me at times, Lize. The children would love to come to see her but I have to make excuses most of the time because I’m not subjecting Cat to Mum’s indifference. What’s she got against the Irish anyway?’

  ‘Probably the same as most other people have,’ she said, beginning to climb the stairs. ‘They think they are all stupid drunks and you have to admit it, Michael Nagle didn’t do much for their reputation did he?’