Far From Home

by Anne Bennett

  Kate moved away from David’s embrace and took the proffered hand and shook it as she stared into Lawrence’s leering brown eyes. He retained her hand longer than was necessary and even gave it a tight squeeze as he said, ‘I am very pleased to meet you.’

  David’s hands hung by his sides but were balled into fists. Because he had promised Kate he would try not to fight with Lawrence, he would leave them there, though he longed to lay his brother out on the floor. He contented himself with saying though gritted teeth, ‘Leave it out, Lawrence.’

  Lawrence, still retaining Kate’s hand, turned to David, his face a picture of mock innocence as he said, ‘Leave what out, our kid? I’m only giving your young lady a warm welcome.’

  Kate had no idea what to do; without jerking her hand from Lawrence’s, she could not free herself, but then she saw Dora’s head jerk towards her husband and he stepped forward and took Kate’s hand from Lawrence.

  ‘Lawrence is right,’ he said as he shook her hand. ‘You are welcome, my dear, very welcome.’ Then he turned to his wife and said, ‘A cup of tea would go down well – it’s real brass-monkey weather out there.’

  ‘I have some homemade vegetable soup. We can all have a cup of that for now,’ Dora said. ‘Warm you up better than tea and it won’t take me a jiffy to heat it up.’ Everyone was agreeable to that and Kate stuck like glue to David and ignored the ogling glances that Lawrence was throwing her way.

  He said little to her as they bunched around the fire drinking the wholesome and appetizing soup, but she told Alf, too, of her home and family in the cottage in Ireland, and her reasons for coming to Birmingham. She went on to say that she had met David at the weekly dance she and Susie went to. Lawrence gave his brother’s leg a kick as he said, ‘Didn’t know you could dance, our kid. If I was asked I would have said you had two left feet.’

  ‘Then you would have been wrong,’ Kate snapped out, louder than she intended because she was suddenly angered by Lawrence’s supercilious tone. Her words and the way she had spoken had surprised everyone; they were all looking at her and she felt herself growing hot with embarrassment as she said, ‘Sorry, but I hate people taking the mickey like that.’ And she turned to Lawrence and said, ‘David is a very good dancer.’

  ‘Good teacher perhaps?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Kate said. ‘I didn’t teach David to dance. I didn’t need to.’

  ‘Oh, regular Fred Astaire, our David,’ Lawrence sneered, then turned to Dora and said, ‘Bet you didn’t know that, Mom?’

  Alf chuckled but Dora looked at the frown on Kate’s face and said, ‘That will do now, Lawrence.’

  ‘Only having a bit of a laugh,’ Lawrence said.

  ‘Well, you’ve had it,’ Dora snapped. ‘Let that be the end of it.’ And turning to Kate, she said, ‘Tell me, my dear, are you a Catholic?’

  ‘Yes,’ Kate said, and added, ‘in fact, until I came here I had never met anyone who wasn’t a Catholic.’

  ‘Oh, you meet all sorts here,’ Dora said. ‘Church of England, Baptists, Methodists, Jews and—’

  ‘Then there are people like us,’ Lawrence put in. ‘Who don’t give a damn either way.’

  Everything he says, thought Kate, has an extra edge to it, and she decided to ignore him. She finished off the soup and handed the cup back to Dora, saying as she did so, ‘That was lovely soup. Thank you.’

  ‘Think nothing of it,’ Dora said, though she was obviously pleased. ‘I make a lot of soup in the winter. I hope you like the tea as much. And talking of tea,’ she said to Alf, ‘I lit the fire in there. Well, you check it and put more coal on.’

  ‘Will do that readily enough,’ Alf said. ‘That room is like an ice box without a fire.’

  And so when they went in later, a cheerful fire was crackling in the cold black grate, which was set into a tiled hearth enclosed by a brass fender. A fluffy dark red rug lay in front of that, and the table fair groaned with food.

  There were ham sandwiches and others made with salmon, and then Dora brought in a large, piping-hot cheese-and-onion pie and another that she said was bacon-and-egg. There were also mouth-watering pastries, two plates of assorted cakes and a great big Victoria sponge filled with jam and cream and dusted with sugar.

  With such lovely food and so much of it, coupled with the general chitchat and banter around the table, Kate would have liked to relax a little, but she was only too aware that Lawrence continued to stare at her. It was unnerving to find his eyes boring into her every time she raised her head, and so to try to deflect attention away from herself, she turned to Alf and said, ‘David was telling me that you work in the brass industry?’

  ‘I do,’ Alf said proudly. ‘Birmingham is famous for its brass. Did you know that?’

  Kate nodded. ‘Frank Mason told me. He said the heat in the brass foundries is colossal.’

  ‘Aye,’ Alf agreed. ‘Has to be, see, because we have to turn copper and zinc into molten metal and to do that you need heat – and lots of it.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Lawrence said in agreement. ‘The furnaces are white-hot.’

  ‘So that’s how brass is made, by mixing copper and zinc.’ Kate said in amazement. ‘I never knew that.’

  ‘Why would you?’ Lawrence said. ‘Then, when it’s turned to liquid, we pour it into crucibles. Got to be real careful then. It’s heavy work and one drop of that stuff on your skin and you would be badly burned.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Alf said. ‘Our overalls would be no good at all. A steady eye and a steady nerve is what’s needed.’

  ‘They’re filthy dirty when they come home as well,’ Dora said. ‘And always glad of a wash and a clean dry shirt because the one they’ve been wearing all day is usually dripping with sweat.’

  ‘It sounds awful.’

  Alf shrugged. ‘It’s a job,’ he said. ‘And it pays well. I mean, our David is earning good money now, but he didn’t for ages, did you, son?’

  ‘Well, no, but that’s because I was learning the trade,’ David said. ‘I didn’t really warrant earning a lot of money when I either didn’t really know what I was doing, or someone else had to check everything I did to make sure that I was doing it right.’

  ‘Face it, David,’ Lawrence said mockingly, ‘you hadn’t got the bottle to go in the brass foundry anyway.’

  David looked across the table to Lawrence and said disparagingly, ‘It’s nothing to do with not having the bottle.’

  Lawrence was angered by David’s tone and there was a steely glint in his eyes as he snapped, ‘Yeah, that’s just what it was.’

  ‘Don’t be so daft,’ David said. ‘I went to be an electrician because I was good with my hands and I liked electrics. The teacher came and talked to Mom about it and he was right. I earn plenty now and I always have loads of work on.’

  ‘And I’d say you’ll have more, not less, before you’re much older,’ Alf said, jumping in quickly before Lawrence could find some other retort to annoy David further. ‘The gaffer was only telling me on Friday that they are fitting new dies to some of the lines next week and they will be making war-related stuff. It’s bound to affect you as well.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose so. If we do declare war, I should say that even more people will want wirelesses.’

  Kate’s eyes when she turned to him were very wide and fear-filled. ‘But there isn’t going to be a war, is there?’ she said. ‘I mean, we had that agreement with Hitler in October last year.’

  ‘Well, I’d say not everyone thinks that Hitler will keep his word,’ David said. ‘Dad’s right. Everyone seems to be getting ready for something and the number of people buying wirelesses has gone up. That’s why I’m so busy.’

  ‘Yes, but more people might have been buying wirelesses anyway,’ Kate said. ‘You said yourself that once electricity was fitted into the houses they would want to change the old ones they had. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we are going to war.’

  Dora saw Kate’s agitation and didn’t blame her – she
hated all this talk about war as well. Wasn’t as if it was going to make any difference, however much they talked about it. She patted Kate’s hand comfortingly as she said, ‘Course it doesn’t, Kate. It’s men like all this war talk. Fair turns a body off their meals, it does. Well, there’s to be no more of it for today at least,’ she said, glaring around the table. ‘Let’s eat our tea in peace, for pity’s sake.’

  For a few minutes there was silence. Then David said, ‘Tell you what, dear brother, if the balloon does go up we’ll see who has the bottle in this family. I will volunteer for the Air Force. It will be interesting to see what you’ll do.’

  Lawrence leapt to his feet, his face almost purple with rage as he demanded, ‘Just what are you insinuating?’ As he spoke he made a lunge at his brother and caught hold of his shirt and hauled him from his seat.

  Alf, however, had anticipated this, and got between them and broke Lawrence’s hold. Meanwhile, Dora, after one cry of dismay, had begun to weep. ‘For God’s sake, how old are the pair of you?’ she cried brokenly.

  As for Kate, she had sat in horrified silence. She knew that if it hadn’t been for Alf’s timely intervention, that comment might have easily led to a full-scale fight between the two brothers. Lawrence still stood like a bull ready to charge at any moment, gasping as he glared at his brother.

  Alf looked at David and said, ‘Was there any need for that?’

  David straightened his clothes but did not sit down as he said, ‘Probably not, but there is no need for him to say that I was afraid to go into the brass works. When war comes, it will sort out the men from the boys and we’ll see who the brave ones are then.’

  ‘Are you saying I’m a coward?’ Lawrence snapped.

  David shrugged. ‘If the cap fits,’ he said.

  Lawrence made another lunge, countered again by his father, as Dora said through her tears, ‘For God’s sake, David, will you shut up and sit down and eat your tea? I have slaved all day to put nice food on the table and you have taken away my appetite with your goings-on. And I don’t know what your young lady must be thinking.’

  ‘Sorry, Ma,’ David said. ‘It’s just—’

  ‘Just nothing,’ Dora said dismissively. ‘If war is declared, there will be time enough to worry about it, and God help us if it does. Then neither of you will have a choice in whether you fight or not, because there will be a call-up and that will be the end of it.’

  Kate knew that too, and she hoped and prayed that David was wrong and that war could be averted. However, she said nothing, and an uncomfortable silence settled round the table.

  Kate left as soon as she could after tea and, when they were clear of the house, David apologized for his family’s behaviour and especially the scene around the table. Inwardly, Kate thought that David hadn’t helped the situation, and in fact had inflamed it at times, but she sensed he didn’t want criticism from her. Instead, she said, ‘Will you stop saying sorry? No one is responsible for their families. That being said, I don’t like your brother much and it’s more than obvious that you don’t either, but why do you let him rile you so much?’

  ‘He started flirting with you the minute he came into the house.’

  ‘He’s that kind of man,’ Kate said. ‘I have met his sort before, and I can deal with him – like most women can. I didn’t respond to him, and never would. I really think he does it to make you cross. When you react, he’s won, so don’t react. Ignore him.’

  ‘That’s easier said than done.’

  ‘Look, David, how often do we have to see your family, including Lawrence?’

  ‘Not often, if it’s up to me,’ David said.

  ‘That suits me as well,’ Kate said. ‘And now, are we going to spend the rest of the night discussing the failings of your family, or are we going to make arrangements to meet again?’

  ‘I didn’t know that you’d want to meet me again.’

  ‘Why wouldn’t I?’ Kate said. ‘Unless you are bringing the family along.’

  David laughed. ‘I’ll say not.’

  ‘Well,’ said Kate. ‘The Thief of Bagdad is on at the Plaza.’

  NINE

  Kate told Susie all about what had happened at the Burton’s house the next day on the way to work. ‘It was bedlam,’ she said. ‘Honestly, Lawrence and David seem to really hate each other. And anything can start them off.’

  ‘Who’s the worst?’

  ‘I’d say they’re mainly as bad as each other,’ Kate said. ‘Though I suppose, apart from that comment David made that they nearly came to blows over, I would say Lawrence has the edge. He seemed to set out to wind David up, flirting with me and so on. You know the sort of stuff.’

  ‘I know. I hate creepy men like that.’

  ‘Me too, but it is a bit difficult to know how to deal with him in front of his family.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I can see that.’

  ‘Anyway, David hardly speaks, and if he does, his brother usually makes some sarcastic comment about it,’ Kate said.

  Susie smiled. ‘Good job you’re not marrying the family.’

  ‘I’ll say,’ Kate said. ‘And yet his parents are all right, on the whole, but I haven’t the least interest in getting to know Lawrence any better.’

  ‘Don’t blame you,’ Susie said. ‘The lads knew him while they were growing up. Martin always said that he was glad the Burton’s didn’t go to his school because Lawrence was a year older than him and a big bruiser of a lad. He used to bully Martin mercilessly if he got him out on the street on his own.’

  ‘Why didn’t you warn me?’

  ‘Because it was years ago,’ Susie said. ‘And he could have been a changed person, for all I knew. Anyway, I thought you should make your own mind up.’

  ‘And I did.’

  ‘And what’s the verdict?’

  ‘That Lawrence Burton is a nasty piece of work and I will steer well clear of him.’

  ‘Bit difficult if you are going to see much of David’s family.’

  ‘Well, I’ll see to it that we don’t,’ Kate said. ‘He won’t mind that; he said he has always felt an outsider.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Well, he overheard his dad talking one day,’ Kate told Susie. ‘And he said that once Lawrence was born, he and Dora didn’t really want any more nippers. And when Dora fell for David, it was a very unpleasant shock for the both of them.’

  ‘Yeah, but people say things like that and get over it.’

  ‘I don’t think his dad did totally,’ Kate said. ‘David said his dad seldom took him for a kick-about in the park, but he went with Lawrence every week, and they went to see the Villa play a fair few times and he was never taken along, and Alf taught Lawrence to swim in the cut. David still can’t swim. Then Lawrence followed his dad into the brass foundry. When they go out for a pint at night or Sunday afternoon, David is never asked to go along with them.’

  Susie wrinkled her nose. ‘Seems a bit mean,’ she said.

  ‘I agree,’ Kate said. ‘But none of us can help the families we are born into, so we will go our own way regardless.’

  ‘So you are seeing him again?’

  ‘You bet I am,’ Kate said. ‘We’re going to the pictures tonight, as a matter of fact.’

  ‘What’s on?’

  ‘The Thief of Bagdad.’

  ‘Oh, I’d love to see that,’ Susie cried. ‘Can me and Nick come too?’

  ‘Course you can,’ Kate said, linking Susie’s arm as they alighted from the tram and set off down the road. ‘The more the merrier, I say.’

  The four of them had a great night at the cinema. When they came out, as they were all hungry, they bought fish and chips and walked home eating them out of the newspaper. David and Kate bade goodnight to Susie and Nick at the head of Marsh Lane and walked down the slight incline to Kate’s flat; they had finished their supper when they reached the front door. Kate wiped her greasy fingers on the newspaper and said, ‘I think a cup of tea is in order. What about you?’
/>   ‘I think that would be just the job,’ David said, and a few moments later they were sitting either side of the fire drinking the very welcome tea. When they had the tea drunk, knowing that they would have the flat to themselves for another hour or so until Sally came home, Kate snuggled into David’s arms quite willingly.

  The kisses that she had once simply submitted to, now made her body tingle all over and left her gasping for more, but David went no further than that. Kate was both relieved and a little disappointed, because she was certain that what she felt now for David Burton was true love. In her weekly letter home, she told her mother all about David – the first time that she had ever mentioned him, or any other man either. She was so disappointed with the reply she got, because all her mother said about the new love in Kate’s life was, ‘I hope this man that you seem so fond of is a good, practising Catholic.’

  He wasn’t. ‘Neither is Nick,’ Susie said. ‘And he has already told me that he has no intention of turning. Why should he have to? And I’ll tell you one thing, no priest or Catholic Church will dictate to me who I am going to spend the rest of my life with.’

  ‘What about your parents, though?’

  ‘I told them what Nick had said and they said it was up to me.’

  ‘Oh, God,’ Kate said. ‘I doubt mine would be that understanding.’

  ‘Mine don’t live in a small Irish village,’ Susie said. ‘And it has to make a difference. Ask David – he might turn, you never know.’

  Kate didn’t say a word because they had never discussed marriage and she didn’t want to appear too forward. Sally, whom she had confided in, agreed with Susie. ‘Phil is C of E,’ she said. ‘But he doesn’t care about anything much and said he only goes to church to please his mother. She likes the vicar, who he said was very good to her when his father died. But he said that it wouldn’t bother him to change sides if it would make life easier for me.’

  Kate was surprised that Phil and her sister had discussed marriage, given they were both still so young. ‘I know I can’t do anything about it yet,’ Sally said when Kate expressed concern. ‘I mean, Mammy will hardly give me consent to marry a man she has never met when she is trying to pretend I never existed. I’ll be seventeen next week and there’s not even a card from Ireland.’ She turned bright eyes that glittered with unshed tears as she said that, and Kate felt so sorry for her as she went on: ‘And it still hurts.’