MB05 - After the Dance is Over

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Yeah, ye’re right, girl, as usual.’ Nellie looked disappointed. She’d been looking forward to rooting in Mrs Harwick’s house. Not that she was nosy, like, it was purely out of interest. ‘We can still have a look, can’t we? Yer never know, we might see something we like for ourselves.’ She turned her head so Molly couldn’t see the laughter lurking behind her eyes. ‘Didn’t Victoria say she had a beautiful dining-room suite? That’s something you could do with, girl, ’cos this one’s on its last legs.’

  Molly gasped. ‘You cheeky beggar! This dining suite isn’t very old!’

  ‘Yes, it is, girl, I remember yer getting it when Jack came up on the pools that time!’

  ‘That’s not so long ago! Six or seven years at the most, and a good suite should last about twenty years if it’s well cared for. And I’ll have yer know this suite has been very well cared for.’ It was Molly’s turn to have a twinkle in her eye now. ‘It’s all in good nick except for the chairs what have had a battering over the years. They’ll be the first things to give out.’

  Nellie managed to flare her nostrils and grind her teeth before saying, ‘Are yer hinsinuating that I’m to blame for yer flaming chairs going wonky?’

  ‘The chairs can answer that for themselves, sunshine. Every morning when yer knock, they creak and groan. I’m sure if they could they’d hide until yer’d gone.’

  ‘Ho, ho, ho, very funny. I’ve a good mind to bring one of me own chairs with me when I come. Yer never hear them complaining when I sit on them. In fact they’re very fond of my backside.’

  ‘They’ve told yer that, have they?’

  ‘Yeah, every time I sit down they sing a song of welcome.’

  ‘I’ve never heard of a chair singing, sunshine, what does it sound like?’

  Nellie’s chubby cheeks creased with mirth, and her shaking tummy had the table moving up and down. ‘They haven’t got good voices, girl, I’ll grant yer that. It’s more like creaking and groaning, but I know they’re saying hello to me backside.’

  The two mates looked across the table at each other and the room rang with laughter.

  ‘Come in, ladies.’ Vera Harwick held the door wide. She was a frail woman in her late-eighties, but she could teach the younger generation a thing or two about keeping a nice house. She might be slower in her movements now but she still stuck to the daily routine she’d started when she first came to this house as a new bride. ‘I’ve had the kettle on a low light waiting for yer. Sit yerselves down and I’ll wet the tea.’

  Not for the world would Molly or Nellie say they’d just had two cups of tea because they knew the old lady would be disappointed. But as soon as she disappeared into the kitchen, Nellie mouthed, ‘I’ll be running to the lavvy all day.’

  ‘Shush!’ Molly shot her a warning look before rolling her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Do us a favour and behave yerself for once. I know it’ll be hard, but please try, at least until we’re out of this house. Otherwise yer’ll put me to shame.’

  ‘It’s a pity about you, now! Yer needn’t be going all lah-de-dah on me ’cos it won’t work, I’ve known yer too long.’ Nellie shuffled to the edge of the chair and pushed herself up. Then she glared at Molly before waddling out to the kitchen. ‘I was just saying to my mate that there’s nothing I hate more than a snob. What do you think, Vera?’

  ‘Oh, I couldn’t agree more, Nellie! I can’t stand folk that think they’re a cut above the rest when we all know damn’ well they’re no better than anyone else.’

  ‘Them’s my sentiments entirely, Vera.’ Nellie’s nod was one of satisfaction as she sauntered back to the living-room door, allowing her chins to enjoy a nice slow waltz. ‘Did yer hear that, girl? It’s a pity that everyone isn’t as down to earth.’

  ‘Take no notice of her, Mrs Harwick,’ Molly called. ‘She’s having her funny half-hour and ’cos there’s no one else around she picks on me, soft girl. But I don’t mind, me shoulders are strong enough to take it. Besides, I’m beginning to feel a bit sorry for her ’cos I think she’s going funny in her old age.’

  ‘If she’s in her old age, Molly, then it’s God help me!’ Vera put the teapot on the wooden tray with the cups and saucers, sugar bowl and milk jug. ‘You can carry that in for me, Nellie, while I see if I’ve got any biscuits. And yer’ll have to excuse the old tray and the even older crockery, all me best stuff has gone to our Val’s. Every time she comes she takes something back with her so it’s less for me to worry about a week tomorrow.’

  ‘We’ll all miss yer, sunshine, yer know that. I hope yer don’t leave without saying goodbye to Miss Clegg ’cos she’d be upset.’

  ‘Vicky is one person I won’t forget to say goodbye to. We’ve been friends for a long time, must be over forty years. I’m glad she’s not on her own now or I’d worry meself to death about leaving her.’

  ‘She’s well looked after, Vera, so yer can put yer mind at rest. And yer’ll be able to say farewell to Corker, he’s due home tomorrow.’ Molly held out her hand for the cup and saucer Nellie was passing over. ‘We’ll drink this tea, then yer can show us what furniture yer want to sell. Not that we could buy it even if we wanted to ’cos we’ve both got a house full. Still, there’s no harm in looking, is there?’

  ‘Ye’re under no obligation, Molly, so don’t be worrying.’ ‘If our Jill and Steve had a house, I know they’d ask about this dining-room suite ’cos it’s beautiful. Better than that ruddy Utility rubbish they’re selling now.’

  ‘I’ve already got a buyer for this suite, Molly. A friend of our Val’s jumped at it. So there’s really only the back bedroom to clear now.’

  ‘You two go up first, I’m not as agile as I used to be.’ Vera Harwick stood to one side to let them pass. ‘Yer know where the back bedroom is, in the same place as yours.’

  Nellie’s impish grin appeared. ‘Shall I give yer a piggy-back, Vera?’

  ‘Yer’ll do no such thing!’ Molly said. ‘Ye’re walking behind me, sunshine, so that if I fall I’ll have something soft to land on.’

  Nellie feigned horror. ‘Did yer hear that, Vera? And she’s supposed to be me best mate.’

  ‘Stop gabbing and let’s get on with it.’ Molly began to mount the steep, shallow stairs. She could hear her friend puffing and panting behind her, and when she got to the top she turned round and held out a hand. ‘Grab hold of it, sunshine, and I’ll pull yer up.’

  Nellie’s face was red with exertion, but she still managed a smile. ‘Yer see, yer do love me, don’t yer, girl?’

  Molly looked with affection at the little woman who had stood by her side through thick and thin, during the good times and the bad. And she couldn’t resist cupping the chubby face and planting a kiss on each cheek. ‘I love every inch of yer, sunshine, bones, flesh and hair. I wouldn’t part with yer for a big clock.’

  Nellie was well pleased. She turned to ask Vera if she’d heard what her mate said, and found the old lady standing on the next to top stair waiting for them to make room for her on the tiny landing. ‘Ah, look, we’ve left yer stuck there, and in yer own house, too!’

  ‘Well, if we move, she won’t be stuck, will she?’ Molly pulled on her friend’s arm. ‘Into the back bedroom with yer.’

  ‘Ooh, ay, look at that, girl!’ Nellie walked over to a straight-backed dining chair. Only it was nicer than any dining chair she’d ever seen. It was a carver, with polished arms and the seat covered in rose-coloured velvet. ‘Ay, this is the gear, girl, look at it. Wouldn’t it be nice in your room standing by the sideboard?’ Her body began to shake with laughter. ‘Yer could keep it just for when I come and I’d look like the Queen of the May sat in it.’

  But Molly wasn’t paying any attention, she was too taken up with a tallboy standing in front of the window. It was so highly polished you could see your face in it and there wasn’t a mark on it. There were three deep drawers and the top lifted up to reveal a shallow drawer where small things like socks and hankies could be kept. ‘This is beautiful. Nellie
, come and have a look. It’s in perfect condition and a lovely piece of furniture.’

  Nellie ambled across. ‘Yeah, ye’re right, girl, it is beautiful. I bet Jill and Steve would be made up with that.’

  ‘If they didn’t want it, I’d keep it for meself.’ Molly looked to where Vera was standing. ‘How much are yer asking for this, sunshine?’

  ‘I don’t know, Molly, I’m not very good at this. What do you think?’

  ‘It’s up to you to say, love, you’re the one what’s selling. There’s no need to be embarrassed, we’re all friends here and we’re not likely to fall out over it.’

  ‘Would five shillings be all right, or is that too much?’

  ‘It’s not enough, sunshine, yer’d be diddling yerself. How about seven and six?’

  ‘Oh, that’s ample, Molly, I’d be very happy with that.’

  ‘Right, the deed is done. But I’ll have to bring yer the money up later ’cos I’ve only got enough on me to do me shopping. Don’t let anyone see it in the meantime, though, ’cos I definitely want it.’

  Vera was very pleased with herself. Her daughter had told her to ask for seven and six because the tallboy was worth that, but she didn’t have the nerve. ‘It’s yours, Molly, so don’t worry about giving me the money today.’

  Molly shook her head. ‘No, I’ll bring it up this afternoon.’ She grinned at Nellie. ‘Come on, sunshine, let’s get to the shops.’

  Nellie’s face was set. ‘Ay, just hang about, girl! What about my chair?’

  ‘I’m not buying a chair to put in my house just for you to sit on! Yer must think I want me bumps feeling!’

  ‘And what happens if I break one of yours? Yer’d be a chair short then.’

  ‘I don’t believe I’m hearing this!’ Molly was beginning to see the funny side but wasn’t going to let her mate see. ‘The obvious answer is to say yer better hadn’t break one of my chairs or I’ll have yer guts for garters.’

  ‘But just say I did, then yer must see that yer wouldn’t have enough chairs for all the family to sit on. Anyone with half an eye could see that.’

  Molly’s mind was working overtime. It was a lovely chair, no doubt about that. And she was sure Jill would jump at the tallboy, which meant she wouldn’t have to find the money for that. But there was Tommy’s wedding to think of, she was trying to save for that. Then she thought, Oh, blow, what the hell? ‘How much for the chair, Vera?’

  ‘Say three bob, Molly, would that be all right?’

  ‘That would be fine, Vera, I’ll take it.’ And when Molly saw the smile on Nellie’s face she decided it was well worth three bob. ‘Come on, sunshine, let’s be on our way to the shops before they close for dinner.’

  ‘Anything you say, girl!’ Nellie cast her eyes to the chair. ‘D’yer know, I’ve got a feeling that chair and my backside are going to get on very well.’

  Chapter 4

  Jill was admiring the tallboy when Jack and Tommy came in from work. Her father raised his brows. ‘Oh, aye, where did that come from?’

  ‘I bought it off Vera Harwick.’ Molly was feeling good inside because her daughter had fallen for the piece of furniture right away. ‘I took a chance on Jill liking it, ’cos it was a bargain if ever there was one. But if she doesn’t want it I’ll keep it for meself.’

  ‘No, I’ll be glad of it, Mam. I think it’s lovely and we could do with a few extra drawers. I’ll bring the money down later.’

  Jack hung his cap on the hook behind the door before walking around the tallboy and nodding his agreement. ‘It’s in very good nick, the old lady’s looked after it well. How much did she ask for it?’

  ‘Seven and six, and well worth it.’ Molly had been standing in front of the chair and she now moved away. How she kept her face straight she’d never know. ‘Oh, and the chair was three bob.’

  ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ Tommy said, moving closer and rubbing a hand over one of the arms. ‘It’s a good chair, this, must have cost a few bob when it was new. Is this for Jill as well?’

  Molly had to bite on the inside of her mouth to keep the laughter back. ‘No, that’s for Nellie.’

  Jack pushed forward for a better view. ‘Yeah, it’s a good chair, that. D’yer want me to take it to Nellie’s for yer?’ Then he frowned. ‘How did yer get them here in the first place?’

  ‘Me and me mate laid in ambush for Ken Weston.’ Molly laughed at the memory. ‘We waited for him coming home from his six to two shift, and he was quite happy to give me a hand getting them down Vera’s stairs and into here. Though if the truth be told it was the other way around. I gave him a hand, and Ken did all the hard work. I wouldn’t attempt it with Nellie, although she did offer, ’cos she’d have dropped the ruddy things.’

  ‘Why didn’t yer wait for me and Tommy?’ Jack asked. ‘We’d have done it for yer, save yer asking Ken.’

  ‘Well, yer know I’m not blessed with patience. I wanted the tallboy here for when Jill came, to see what she thought of it. But yer can carry it up to Mrs Corkhill’s later, when yer’ve had yer dinner. Come to think of it, it’ll be better to wait until it’s dark, save filling the neighbours’ mouths.’

  ‘I’ll get Steve to come down and help me dad to carry it,’ Jill said. ‘Tommy will be wanting to go out before it’s dark, I imagine.’

  ‘You imagine right.’ Her brother grinned. ‘My dearly beloved intended will have the police out if I’m not there before it gets dark. But I can drop the chair off at Auntie Nellie’s on me way, I’ve got to pass the door.’

  ‘Ah, well, yer see, the chair isn’t going to Nellie’s, it’s staying here.’ Molly looked at each of the faces that she loved so dearly. ‘Sit down and I’ll give yer a good laugh. My mate was at her very best today and I still can’t believe it’s happened.’ Molly remained standing and took on the pose of her best friend. She went through the whole rigmarole of the chair, with eyes, mouth and bosom playing the part of Nellie. When she was playing herself, she moved away, then once again reverted to the little woman who was the cause of the loud guffaws and high-pitched laughter coming from her audience.

  Jack wiped the tears from his eyes. ‘So that chair is for the sole use of Nellie?’

  ‘She only mentioned her backside.’ Molly pressed at the stitch in her side. ‘Oh, dear, oh, dear, I’ve never laughed so much in all me life. And yer know her feet don’t touch the floor when she sits in one of these chairs? Well, she stands no chance with the new one ’cos it’s about three inches higher! She’ll need a stepladder to get on it!’

  ‘She’s a cracker is Auntie Nellie,’ Tommy said. ‘I’ve never known anyone as funny.’

  ‘I think you’re just as funny, Mam, you and Auntie Nellie bounce off each other.’ Jill stood up to give Molly a hug. ‘I’m lucky to have you as my man and Auntie Nellie as my mother-in-law.’

  ‘And don’t be forgetting that handsome husband of yours, sunshine. I think yer’ve done very well for yerself all round.’ Molly patted her daughter’s bottom. ‘Now go on home and see to his dinner. And tell Mrs Corkhill to put her best togs on for her son coming home tomorrow. Yer could even offer to do her hair for her, sunshine.’

  ‘That’s all been sorted out, Mam. I’m putting her hair in rollers tonight and I’ll comb it out for her in the morning. She’s really looking forward to seeing him, she’s so excited she can’t sit still. Her best dress has been on a hanger for days now, and her shoes all shine.’

  ‘And Corker will be just as excited, sunshine, ’cos they love the bones of each other.’

  ‘I know that, Mam, and yer couldn’t help but love Mrs Corkhill ’cos she’s so nice. Me and Steve are very happy with her.’

  ‘Yeah, yer hopped in lucky there, sweetheart.’ Jack gave his daughter a kiss as he made his way to the kitchen to wash his hands. ‘Yer’d go a long way to find a nicer family.’

  Tommy bent his six foot two inch frame to say, softly, ‘But never forget yer came from a very good family yerself.’

  At th
at moment the door burst open and Ruthie came flying in. ‘I beat Bella again at dominoes, Mam, that’s the third time in a row.’ Her eyes lighted on the chair and she slipped between her mother and Jill to plonk herself down on it. ‘Ay, this is the gear.’ She swung her legs and ran her hands over the smooth arms. ‘I bags this for me very own.’

  Amid the laughter, Molly could be heard saying, ‘Yer’ll bag more than that if yer Auntie Nellie catches yer.’

  Three doors away, Nellie was holding forth. ‘I’ll lay odds that it came from Buckingham Palace, and that it’s been sat on by nobility.’

  ‘I can’t get over you having the cheek to ask Molly to buy it for yer, and her being daft enough to be talked into it!’ George, Lily and Paul had had a good laugh when Nellie was telling them the story, but now George was shaking his head in bewilderment. ‘She’s bought a chair just for you to sit in? She must have a screw loose!’

  ‘You’re going to pay her for it, surely?’ Lily said. ‘If you’re the one what wanted it then it’s only right yer should fork out, yer can’t expect Auntie Molly to be out of pocket.’

  ‘Nah, she’s not out of pocket, love! Her purse may be a bit lighter, but there’s nowt wrong with her pocket.’

  ‘If it’s as nice as yer say, I can’t see her letting yer sit in it,’ Paul said. ‘Anyway, if yer liked it so much, why didn’t yer buy it yerself?’

  ‘Well, it’s like this, son. If yer look at it from all angles, there wasn’t much point in bringing it here when I spend more time in the Bennetts’ house. And I can’t see meself putting it on me head and taking it down with me every time I go there.’ Nellie appealed to her husband. ‘That makes sense, doesn’t it, love?’

  George shrugged his shoulders, his fork halfway to his mouth. ‘Nothing you or Molly does makes sense to me, I’ve given up trying to understand yer.’

  ‘That’s because ye’re ignorant, yer see, love, not taught proper. If yer’d been to a good school like what me and me mate did, yer’d understand us then. And, if I may say so, yer’d be enjoying life a lot more.’