by Joan Jonker
Tommy took hold of her hand and they bowed to their audience before doubling up with laughter themselves. ‘You were great, Lily, yer had yer mother spot on.’
‘Yer didn’t do so bad yerself. It’s a pity our mothers weren’t here to see it, they’d have been made up.’
‘Yer were both brilliant,’ Bob said. ‘It’s a long time since I laughed so much.’
Rosie rounded the table. ‘Tommy Bennett, will yer let go of Lily’s hand right this minute before I take the poker to yer? As my dearly beloved intended, sure ye’re not supposed to look at another girl, let alone hold her hand.’
Tommy put two hands around her waist and lifted her up. Twirling her round, he laughed into the face he thought the most beautiful in the world. ‘Sure, isn’t it enough that yer have me heart, Rosie O’Grady?’ His Irish lilt was perfect, but then hadn’t he been listening to his nan since the day he was born? ‘And it’s me heart that’s full of love for yer, so it is.’
‘My mammy always said that yer should beware of the man with a smooth tongue, ’cos he can’t be trusted. So I’ll not believe a word ye’re saying unless yer give me a kiss.’ When she was lowered to the floor, Rosie said, ‘I’ll have me kiss in the kitchen while we’re waiting for the kettle to boil. That should take a few minutes, and sure, if ye’re half the man I think yer are, Tommy Bennett, I’ll have been well and truly kissed a dozen times by then.’
‘Will I have time to come up for air, ’cos I don’t want to die just yet?’ Tommy had his hands around her waist as he followed her to the kitchen. ‘Mind you, I’d die with a smile on me face if I was kissing you.’
‘Those lovebirds have got no shame, so they haven’t,’ Bridie said with a smile. ‘In my day yer kissed in the dark and didn’t tell anyone. Bob’s mother would have had a fit if I’d asked him for a kiss in front of her. She’d have said I was a shameless hussy.’
‘Yer didn’t go short for all that, though, did yer, sweetheart?’ The love between Bob and his wife was so strong it made an onlooker feel as though they could reach out and touch it. ‘We have had a wonderful life, you and me. Our marriage was made in heaven, sweetheart, and we’ve got the best family and friends anyone could ask for.’
‘Don’t be going all sentimental on me, Bob Jackson, or yer’ll have everyone in tears, so yer will. We’ve just had a good laugh so can yer not think of anything cheerful?’
‘I can’t, sweetheart, I was never any good at jokes. But perhaps Archie has some tales to tell about that lazy workmate of his.’
‘Oh, yer mean Fred Berry!’ Archie grinned. ‘He’s still at it, taking at least one day a week off through some mishap. But he must be running out of ideas because he’s resorted to using the same old lame excuses. The one where he slips in the dog dirt, he’s used that one three times. The boss was being sarcastic when he asked if it was the same dog every time, but Fred’s got no sense of humour at all and his face was dead straight when he said no, it wasn’t the same dog, it was three different ones. But that didn’t satisfy the boss ’cos he was hoping for a laugh and hadn’t got one. Then he asked how did Fred know it was three different dogs each time.’ Archie chuckled at the thought. ‘I told yer Fred had no sense of humour, but he sure can think up excuses. He had it all off pat in a matter of seconds. “Well, yer see, boss, one had a collar round his neck, one had a piece of string, and the third one was cross-eyed.”’
Rosie came in carrying the teapot, followed by Tommy with the tray. That both their faces were pink, and he had more lipstick on his lips than Rosie did, didn’t seem to bother them at all. They were in love and didn’t care who knew it. ‘Oh, will yer look at that now! See what yer’ve done, Tommy Bennett? While you were keeping me prisoner in the kitchen, weren’t they all having a good laugh.’
‘Don’t be trying to put the blame on me, Rosie O’Grady, I asked yer to put me down and yer wouldn’t.’
‘Archie’s been telling us about the man he works with,’ Bob told them. ‘You know, the lazy one who’s always taking days off.’
Tommy slapped his old army mate on the back before sitting down. ‘Come on, what’s he been up to now?’
‘I’ve just been saying he’s gone a bit dull. The best I can think of is about three dogs.’ Archie repeated the story. ‘Then the week before last he was just closing the door behind him when next door’s cat came running past and he just couldn’t stop himself from tripping over it. He hurt an elbow when he fell and it was dinnertime when the bleeding stopped so it wasn’t worth turning into work then, apparently. The lads pulled his leg when he came out of the boss’s office and we asked to see the wound. And sure enough his elbow was bandaged with a piece of sheet, but would he take it off to let us see? Would he hell!’
‘I’ve got one I bet he’s never thought of.’ Tommy was chuckling at what he was about to come out with. ‘He could say he was sitting on the tram coming to work when suddenly it came to a screeching halt. All the passengers were thrown forward and he banged his head on the seat in front.’
‘And would he say why the tram had come to an abrupt halt?’ Lily asked. ‘There must have been some reason for it.’
‘Oh, there was! There was a man lying across the tram lines wanting to commit suicide and no one could budge him ’cos he said he didn’t want to live any more. And the man turned out to be your boss, Archie, driven to the deed by none other than Fred Berry!’
‘That’s a cracker, that is,’ Archie said when the laughter had died down. ‘I’ll charge him tuppence for that, it’s well worth it. And if yer can think of any more, pal, let me know ’cos I could be on to a good thing here.’
‘I’ll rack me brains if there’s something in it for me.’
‘How does fifty-fifty sound?’
‘Ye’re on.’ The two men shook hands and burst into laughter. ‘We should be so lucky,’ Archie said, while Tommy told Rosie that any money he made would go in their savings box and was rewarded with a noisy kiss.
‘I always enjoy going to the Jacksons’.’ Archie was cupping Lily’s elbow as they walked the short distance to her street. ‘It’s better than sitting in a picture house any day.’
‘Yeah, they’re the salt of the earth. Rosie’s only nineteen, but she does a fine job of looking after the old folk and going out to work as well. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, that’s for sure.’
Archie bent his arm. ‘Stick yer leg in, kid, so people will know we’re together.’ When he felt her arm entwined with his, he had to steel himself not to draw her closer. ‘She’s also got a good bloke in Tommy, they don’t come any better.’
‘Ye’re right, they’re very suited to each other. They’ll have a happy marriage like Auntie Bridie and Uncle Bob.’
‘Making good marriages seems to run in the Bennett and McDonough families. Look at yer mam and dad, and Mr and Mrs Bennett. And we mustn’t forget the young newly-weds, they’re blissfully happy.’ Dare I go any further? Archie asked himself. Then decided that rather than jeopardise the relationship he had with Lily, he’d be wise to tread carefully. So he sounded light-hearted when he said, ‘Yer never know, we might end up as happy as them, one day. Yer never know yer luck in a big city.’
‘Only time will tell, kiddo, only time will tell.’
Archie was well satisfied with that. Not so long ago, still bitter from the pain Lofthouse had caused her, her answer would have been very different. So he considered a little progress had been made, and dared to put a hand over the one linked to his arm. And the goodnight kiss he’d get when he left her outside her house might not be as passionate as those of Rosie and Tommy, but at least they were on kissing terms.
Chapter 5
Molly and Nellie watched the removal van move away from Vera Harwick’s old house and both had lumps in their throat. ‘I’ll miss the old lady, we’ve known her a long time,’ Molly said. ‘Since the day we moved into the street.’
‘Yeah, I remember she came and knocked on the door to see if we’d like her t
o make a pot of tea to keep us going until we’d unpacked.’ Nellie sniffed and ran the back of her hand across her nose. ‘She was a good neighbour.’
‘Never mind, sunshine, she’s going to be better off where she’s going.’ Molly linked arms with her friend. ‘She’s left her address so we can write to her.’
The pair set off down the street, headed for the shops. ‘I hope the fish shop haven’t sold out by the time we get there. Everyone eats fish on a Friday.’ Molly was using all her weight to keep Nellie walking in a straight line. It was hard going ’cos pushing against eighteen stone is no joke. But better that than ending up in the gutter. ‘If I’m lucky enough to get a piece of cod, we can have it with peas and chips. The family will love that.’
‘Yeah, I’ll have the same, girl.’ Nellie’s chins agreed with her nodding head. ‘I’m going to the butcher’s, too, to get meat for the weekend. And I’m getting all me veg and spuds in ’cos I don’t want to go out tomorrow.’
‘Why not? We always go shopping on a Saturday!’
‘Well, I’m not going tomorrow, girl, ’cos the new family are moving into Vera’s house and I don’t want to miss that.’
Molly stopped in her tracks. ‘I don’t believe it! Are yer telling me ye’re changing yer habits just so yer can be nosy and spy on people yer’ve never seen in yer life?’
Nellie wasn’t the least bit put out. ‘Of course I am! I wouldn’t miss it for the world! When I see what’s being carried in, I’ll know what sort of neighbours we’re getting. Whether they’re posh or riff-raff.’
‘Yer’ll soon find that out without spying on the people. It’s a pity yer haven’t got something better to do, sunshine, that’s all I can say.’
‘It’s all right for you, girl, yer won’t be as near them as we are. If they’re noisy buggers we’re the ones what’ll have to put up with it.’ Nellie pulled on Molly’s arm. ‘Are we going to the shops or not? Anyone would think I’d told yer I was going to rob a bank tomorrow, the state of yer ruddy face.’
‘I’m just surprised ye’re so interested in other people’s business! What would yer do it they knocked on your door and asked if they could come in and see what furniture you had? I know what yer’d do – yer’d clock them one and send them packing with yer foot up their backside.’
‘Well, that would be a different kettle of fish, wouldn’t it, girl? I mean, all the neighbours what lived in the street when we moved in, well, they saw what we had. And everyone what’s moved in since has been watched, ’cos I’ve seen the neighbours lurking behind their lace curtains. It’s only natural to be curious, girl.’
‘Don’t you mean nosy?’
Nellie sighed as they plodded along. ‘I was going to suggest yer come up to ours, ’cos yer won’t see anything from your house. I was even going to make yer a cup of tea and mug yer to a cream slice. But if yer won’t come I’ll have to sit on me own.’
‘I never said that.’
‘Never said what, girl?’
‘That I won’t come. Yer shouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions, sunshine.’
Nellie kept her face straight but she was grinning inside. I knew she’d come, she said to herself, there’s not a woman breathing who isn’t nosy. Or one who could resist a cream slice. ‘So are you getting all the food in for the weekend, then?’
‘What time are the new people moving in?’
‘Now I know I’m a mine of information, girl, and usually know all what goes on in the street. But I’m not a clairvoyant so I don’t know what time the ruddy removal van will be coming. I imagine, with Vera moving out today, they’ll want to get in as early as possible to get as much sorted out as possible.’
‘I’ll get everything in today except bread. Our Ruthie can get that for me in the morning and she may as well get yours while she’s at it.’ Molly couldn’t believe she was doing this, she’d never been one for peeping through curtains. ‘If Jack knew what we were up to he’d say I’d lost the run of me senses. And he’d be right, an’ all.’
‘Oh, go on, girl, yer only live once so be a dare-devil and live dangerously.’
‘Spying on people is hardly living dangerously. I know one thing: whoever the people are, I won’t be able to look them in the face without feeling guilty.’
‘Yer’ll feel less guilty when ye’re sitting nice and comfortable, looking out of my front window, with a cup of tea in one hand and a cream slice in the other. I’ll let yer sit in George’s chair ’cos it’s very comfortable, which will help if we’re keeping watch for very long.’
‘Oh, aye, and where is George going to sit?’
‘I’ve got it all figured out, girl, so there’s no need for yer to worry. If Liverpool are playing at home he will be going to the match with Paul and Tommy. If there’s no match he can have my chair and you can bring the one from your house for me.’
They were turning the corner into the main road and Molly had her mouth open ready to call Nellie a cheeky so-and-so when they walked headlong into a man the size of a house. ‘Corker! It’s nice to see yer.’ Molly smiled into the weatherbeaten face of one of her favourite people. He stood six foot four inches tall, and was built like a battleship. With his sea-cap set at a jaunty angle, bright blue laughing eyes and bushy beard and moustache, it was easy to see why the local children called him Sinbad the Sailor.
‘Good morning, ladies! Off shopping, are yer?’
‘Yeah,’ Molly said. ‘We’re getting in as much as we can ’cos the shops are murder on a Saturday.’ She looked down at the bunch of flowers he was carrying. ‘They’re for yer ma, are they?’
He nodded. ‘I’m going to spend the rest of the day with her. I’m due back on the ship on Sunday, so I want to see as much of her as I can. Mind you, I don’t have to worry about her when I’m away now, not with Jill and Steve looking out for her. They’ve taken a load off my mind ’cos I did worry about her when I was away for weeks on end.’
‘Yer leave seems to have flown over. But you and Ellen are coming in for a drink tomorrow night, aren’t yer?’
Nellie put her hand to her mouth and gave what she thought was a discreet cough. ‘I’m here, yer know, Corker. I know I’m little but I’m not that bloody little that yer can’t see me.’
Corker let out a loud guffaw. ‘There’s good stuff in little parcels, Nellie, me darlin’, and I wouldn’t leave yer out for the world. I’ll be seeing yer tonight ’cos I’m going for a pint with George and Jack.’
Nellie bristled. ‘Never mind that now, I’m more interested in the invitation yer’ve just received from my mate. All lah-de-dah, she was. “You and Ellen are coming in for a drink tomorrow night, aren’t yer?” Not a dickie bird about me, her best mate, what’s standing right beside her. And after I’ve invited her to come to my house tomorrow morning for a cup of tea and a cream slice! That’s gratitude for yer.’
Oh, my God, Molly thought, she’s going to tell him what I’m going to her house for. She can’t keep a thing to herself. So before her friend had time to drop her in it, she said, ‘I had every intention of inviting you and George, sunshine, so don’t be getting yer knickers in a twist.’
‘I’d have a job,’ Nellie said, her eyes dancing. ‘I haven’t got none on.’
Molly grabbed her arm. ‘Corker, we’ll love yer and leave yer before my mate here comes out with something else to embarrass me. We’ll see yer!’ She dragged a reluctant Nellie along to the shops and Corker’s laughter was still ringing in her ears when they entered the butcher’s.
‘Good morning, Tony. Morning, Ellen. We’ve just seen Corker, he’s off to his ma’s.’
‘Yeah, I know, he called in.’ Ellen smiled at her two neighbours. ‘How’s things?’
‘This one’s got a cob on,’ Nellie said, jerking her head and chins towards Molly. ‘Just because I told your feller I had no knickers on.’ She spread her hands and put on her innocent face. ‘I mean, what’s the harm in that?’
‘No harm at all, Nellie!’ Tony was dying
to laugh but kept his face straight. ‘Unless yer get run over by a bus or tram, then yer’d be in a right pickle. Laying on the ground with a crowd of people looking down at yer, and you with no knickers on! Yer’d be the talk of the wash-house.’
‘Well, if I’d got killed by this bus or tram, I wouldn’t be worrying about what I looked like, would I? And if I hadn’t got killed, I’d ask the nosy buggers what they were looking at and tell them to sod off.’
‘That’s very ladylike, I’m sure.’ Molly rolled her eyes to the ceiling. ‘No knickers and swearing like a trooper. I’d just pretend I wasn’t with yer and walk away.’
‘Well, if yer did that, girl, I’d tell the nosy people to run after yer ’cos it was you what had pushed me under the bus just so yer could steal me knickers. And the men would catch yer and hang on to yer tight until the bobby came.’
‘Ooh, er, the men would hang on to me, would they?’ Molly puckered her lips. ‘Ay, if I could be sure of that, it’d be worth pushing yer under a ruddy bus.’
‘That’s charming, that is.’ Nellie let her mouth droop at the corners. ‘I’ve a good mind not to get yer that cream slice I promised.’
‘Oh, aye, what cream slice is that, then?’ Tony asked. ‘I’m a bit partial to them meself.’
‘Take no notice of her, she’s having yer on.’ Molly’s eyes sent daggers and warnings to the little woman who was enjoying her discomfort. ‘I’ll have three-quarters of stew for now, please, Tony, that’ll do tomorrow’s dinner. And what can yer do for us for Sunday?’
‘Unless yer’ve come into some coupons, the best I can do for yer, Molly, is a breast of lamb. But if I pick yer a lean one, it’ll be nice rolled and stuffed and done slowly in the oven.’
‘That’ll do a treat, Tony, thanks. I won’t take it with me now, though, I’d rather yer kept it in your cold room until tomorrow. I’ll send Ruthie down for it.’
‘I’ll have the same as her now, lad, and yer can give Ruthie a breast of lamb for me. And make sure it’s as lean as me mate’s or there’ll be trouble.’