by Joan Jonker
‘Of course I can, yer daft ha’porth, she’s as light as a feather. Now on yer way so I can get this place organised.’
There was plenty of coal in the scuttle at the side of the fireplace and Molly picked out several cobs and laid them carefully on the low fire. When they’d caught she put more on and in no time there was a bright fire roaring up the chimney and the room felt warm and welcoming. ‘I’ll wash me hands,’ Molly said aloud as she made her way to the kitchen, ‘then bring Lizzie down.’ She smiled when she saw a bucketful of coal standing by the kitchen door. ‘Ye’re a good lad, Steve, a real gem.’
Lizzie Corkhill was sitting on the side of the bed when Molly went back upstairs. ‘I’m trying to get me stockings off, girl, but I don’t seem to have any energy.’
‘Do it downstairs in the living room, where it’s nice and warm. And before we go down, will yer tell me where yer keep yer nightdresses? If ye’re going to lie on the couch yer may as well be comfortable.’
‘They’re in that chest of drawers, in the second drawer down. Me vests and knickers are in the top one.’
‘Right, well, let’s get yer down to the warm room, then I’ll come back for whatever I need. Come on, hang on to me arm.’
‘I’m being a nuisance, aren’t I? Yer’ve got enough on yer plate without being lumbered with an old woman like me.’
‘Lizzie Corkhill, yer’ll never be an old woman, ye’re just a slip of a girl! Anyway, what would Corker say if he knew I’d left his mam when she wasn’t well? After all he’s done for my family over the years, this doesn’t even come near paying him back.’ Molly stepped one stair down then put Lizzie’s hand on the banister. ‘I’ll go down in front of yer, sunshine, and we’ll take it nice and easy.’
‘Ooh, that fire looks a treat, Molly, really homely.’ The old lady couldn’t stop shivering and shaking. ‘It’s just a chill I’ve got, that’s all.’
Molly pulled the rocking chair near to the fire. ‘Sit down there and yer’ll soon warm yerself through. I’ll nip up and get yer a clean nightie, some pillows and an eiderdown. We’ll soon have yer as snug as a bug in a rug.’
‘There’s a cardi on the chair at the side of the bed, Molly, would yer bring that down with her so I can put it around me shoulders?’
‘Will do, sunshine, will do.’
Fifteen minutes later, Lizzie was leaning back against three pillows, an eiderdown tucked in around her, sipping a cup of tea. ‘I’ll be all right now, Molly, so you go and get back to yer work. I know yer must be busy with Christmas being only a week way.’
‘I’m in no hurry, Lizzie, so stop . . .’ Molly’s words were cut off when there was a rap on the window. ‘I’ll give yer three guesses who this is, Lizzie?’
The old lady managed a smile. ‘It’s too early for the rent man, girl.’
Molly opened the door and glared down at her friend. ‘Don’t you ever think of using the knocker, Nellie McDonough? Me and Lizzie nearly jumped out of our flaming skin.’
‘I do think of using the knocker, girl, but I can’t reach the ruddy thing! And don’t tell me to stand on the step ’cos I’ve tried that, too! Me tummy gets in the way, yer see.’
‘Well, come in so I can shut the door and keep the draught out. Lizzie’s on the couch and she’s got a cold as it is.’
Nellie waddled over to the couch and, shaking her head, put her hands on her hips. ‘Oh, aye, Lizzie, swinging the lead, are yer?’
‘That’s right, girl, I just felt like being a lady for a day and getting waited on hand and foot.’ Then came a bout of coughing and sneezing. ‘Keep away from me, Nellie, I don’t want to pass me germs on to yer.’
‘Germs gave up on me a long time ago, Lizzie. They found that trying to get through me layers of fat was too much like hard work.’ Nellie noted the flushed face, the watery eyes and the shallow breathing. ‘Ye’re in the best place there, girl, ’cos yer look full of it to me. Yer need a couple of Beecham’s powders, they’d help.’
‘I’ll slip to the corner shop and get some,’ Molly said. ‘Seeing as you’re here to sit with Lizzie. And I’ll get some rice to make a pudding so yer’ve got something inside of yer. Is there anything else yer want, sunshine?’
‘I’ve got plenty of rice in the larder, I always have it in for when Corker comes home. But the milkman’s only left our usual pint, so we’ll need more milk if ye’re going to make a rice pudding. If yer pass me purse over, I’ll give yer the money.’
‘Yer can settle up with me later, there’s no hurry.’ Molly didn’t say she’d come up without her purse and had no money on her. The corner shop would put it on the slate for her. ‘I’ll only be ten minutes.’
‘I know your ten minutes, girl, they can turn into half hours.’ Nellie took her coat off and put it on the back of a chair. ‘Once you start gabbing, there’s no stopping yer.’
‘My God, just listen to Talk-a-bit! I’d have to go some to beat you, sunshine, ’cos you can talk when there’s nothing to talk about! I’ve known you invent things, just so yer can keep yer mouth in motion.’ Molly gave a slight inclination of her chin, then both she and Nellie looked to where Lizzie’s head had fallen back against the pillows. She could hardly keep her eyes open. ‘That’s right, sunshine, you close yer eyes and snuggle up under that eiderdown. Me mate will see if there’s anything wants doing in the kitchen while I nip up to the corner shop. I’ll go out the back way, save letting a draught in from the front door.’
Nellie followed her to the kitchen. ‘What d’yer think, girl?’
‘I don’t know what to think,’ Molly told her in hushed tones. ‘We’ll see how she is later, after a couple of Beecham’s. If her temperature doesn’t go down I’d be inclined to get the doctor out. You stay out here until I get back, she might just go to sleep if she’s left alone.’
‘I’ll wash those few dishes while I’m waiting for yer. But don’t be long, girl, yer know I’m hopeless when anyone’s sick.’
‘Okay, sunshine, I’ll fly there and back. I won’t bother with me feet, I’ll use me wings.’
Molly patted her friend’s cheek before hurrying down the yard. She was just closing the entry door behind her when the door facing opened and out stepped one of the biggest gossips in the neighbourhood. She groaned inwardly while bringing a smile to her face. ‘Morning, Elsie!’
‘Morning, Molly!’ Elsie Flanaghan’s eyes showed her interest. ‘What are yer doing here this early in the morning?’
‘Me and Nellie often call on Mrs Corkhill at this time. Just for a natter and a cuppa, like. But she’s running short on milk so I’m going to the corner shop for some.’
The eyes weighing her up and down were suspicious. ‘Her milkman came ages ago! He does your street before he comes to us.’
‘Oh, yeah, he’s been.’ Molly felt like asking what it had to do with her, but Elsie Flanaghan was the wrong one to cross. ‘But by the time the three of us have two cups of tea it’s half the bottle gone. So, as not to leave her short, I’m going to the corner for a pint.’
‘She must use more of everything with yer daughter and her husband living with her. She must go through some money keeping two extra people, I don’t know how she manages at her age with just a widow’s pension.’
Molly was finding it hard to stem her rising temper. What a pity it was that some people had nothing better to do than nose into other people’s business. Especially this one who wouldn’t do anyone a good turn. ‘I don’t think it’s my place to discuss Mrs Corkhill’s financial situation with yer, Elsie, except to say yer’ve got yer sums wrong. And now I’ll have to go or they’ll think I’ve gone looking for a cow to get the milk from.’
‘Hang on, I’ll walk up with yer.’
‘Sorry, Elsie, I’m in a hurry. Ta-ra!’ Molly never stopped running until she pushed open the door of the corner shop.
Maisie and Alec Porter were both behind the counter serving. The shop was busy, but it didn’t take the couple long to reduce the number of customers
to three. It was then Maisie came along the counter to where Molly was standing. ‘Alec can manage on his own now for a while. D’yer want to come through to the back, I’m going to put the kettle on for a drink?’
‘I’ll come through for a few minutes, Maisie, but I don’t want a drink, thanks.’ Molly lifted the hinged section of the counter, gave Alec a broad wink and followed his wife through to the stockroom. ‘I’ve just bumped into that Elsie Flanaghan and she hasn’t half made my blood boil. She’s a real troublemaker and a bad-minded so-and-so.’ After repeating the remarks made, and listening to Maisie give some suitable recommendations about what fate should befall the gossipmonger, Molly quickly explained how she happened to be in the entry in the first place. ‘Lizzie doesn’t look a bit well, so I need some Beecham’s to try and get her temperature down. And a pint of milk to make a rice pudding for her. The trouble, is, Maisie, I was in such a hurry leaving the house, I came out without me purse. So I’m hoping yer’ll be a pal and let me have the things on tick. I’ll bring the money up later or send Ruthie with it if I can’t get away.’
‘Yer can have what yer like, yer know that, Molly. I’m sorry to hear Lizzie’s not well, the poor dear. If there’s anything I can do, yer just have to shout out. I could sit with her for an hour or two this afternoon, that would give yer a chance to do whatever yer have to do. The shop’s not busy between one and three. Alec could easily manage on his own.’
‘We’ll see how things go, Maisie, but I think yer’ve got enough on yer plate with all the Christmas orders to see to. Me and Nellie will take it in turns to do our shopping, then Jill and Steve can take over when they come home from work.’
‘They’ll be a blessing to her at a time like this. Corker would be worried to death if he knew, he dotes on his ma. When’s his ship due in, d’yer know?’
‘Could be any time now, ’cos Ellen said he’s hoping to have Christmas at home this year.’
Molly sighed. ‘That’s another thing I’ll have to do, tell Ellen. It could be Lizzie will be all right tomorrow, but I’m not taking any chances and Ellen has a right to know.’
‘I’ll get yer the Beecham’s and the milk. But don’t forget I’m here if yer need any help. Me and Alec have got a soft spot for Lizzie.’
With the milk bottle in her hand, and the Beecham’s powders in her pocket in case the Flanaghan woman was keeping tabs on her, Molly made haste down the entry. She’d been longer than expected and knew she’d get some stick off Nellie. And she wasn’t wrong.
Nellie was leaning back against the sink with her arms folded and her lips set in a straight line. ‘I’ll tell yer what, girl, I’ll never fly anywhere with you ’cos I’d be quicker getting the twenty-two tram. Who the hell have yer been gabbing to?’
Molly put a finger to her lips and popped her head around the living-room door. Lizzie was fast asleep, but it wasn’t a restful sleep as she was breathing through her mouth and making noises which told of a blocked up nose. Very quietly, Molly closed the door. ‘I was unfortunate enough to bump into Elsie Flanaghan, and she’s so bloody nasty I felt like clocking her one. If I tell yer what she said, yer’ve got to promise not to repeat it to Steve or it’ll cause ructions.’
Nellie stood to attention, hoisted her bosom and folded her arms beneath it. A sure sign she meant business. ‘What did the flamer have to say about my son?’
‘Oh, she included my Jill so ye’re not on yer own, sunshine. Are yer going to give me yer solemn oath that yer won’t repeat it?’
Nellie wondered whether a promise and a solemn oath meant the same thing. But she didn’t know and gave up worrying. ‘Go ’ed, girl.’
‘Well, the queer one said Lizzie must go through some money every week keeping an extra two people. She didn’t know how she managed it on a widow’s pension. In other words, my Jill and your Steve are living off the old lady.’
Nellie’s arms appeared from under her bosom and she began to push up her sleeves as though ready for a fight. ‘Well, the bitch! The cheeky cow! Just wait until I see her, she won’t know what hit her by the time I’m finished. She won’t know what year it is, never mind what day.’ Nellie paced the tiny kitchen floor, then stopped in front of her friend. ‘And you just stood there and let her say that without clocking her one?’
‘I’ve never clocked anyone in me life, sunshine, and I’m not about to start now. Especially someone who’s not worth the effort.’
‘So yer never said a dickie bird? Just let her get away with it?’
‘I took her down a peg without resorting to blows, Nellie. I’ll tell yer exactly what I said.’ Molly took the powders from her pocket and laid them on the draining board with the milk. Then standing with her back straight, and looking down her nose, she said with an air of authority, ‘I don’t think it’s my place to discuss Mrs Corkhill’s financial situation with you, Elsie, except to say yer’ve got yer sums wrong.’
Nellie was impressed. In fact, Nellie was very impressed. ‘Yer know, girl, ye’re not half good with words. I’d say that was definitely taking her down a peg or two. I bet she’s still trying to figure out what yer said. It was better than fisting her any day. But that’s not to say she’ll get off as lightly with me. I’ll bide me time, but I’ll get her when she’s least expecting it. And don’t worry, girl, I won’t tell Steve ’cos he’d be really upset if he thought that’s what people were saying about him and Jill.’
‘Only bad-minded people like Elsie, and there’s not many of them around here.’ Molly opened the living-room door again. ‘Lizzie’s still asleep, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to wake her. She needs to take a Beecham’s every four hours and the sooner we start the better. You mix one in a cup with water while I wake her up.’
Lizzie could barely open her eyes. ‘I must have dropped off, Molly, what time is it?’
‘It’s only half-past nine, sunshine, and I wouldn’t have woken yer up, but I want yer to take a powder. It’ll make yer feel a bit better and yer can go back to sleep.’
Nellie came through carrying a cup. ‘Get this down yer, girl, it’ll do yer good.’ She watched as the old lady shivered and pulled a face as she drank the potion. ‘It’s not very nice but it’ll do the trick. A couple of those and yer’ll be up doing a jig.’
‘I hope so. Right now I feel as weak as a kitten.’
‘Now comes a delicate subject,’ Molly said, taking the empty cup. ‘Yer’ll need to go to the toilet, sunshine, so what do we do? I could put me coat around yer and help yer down the yard, or perhaps yer’ve got a chamber pot?’
‘I’ve got one, Molly, but I’d have to be dying to use it. I’ll go down the yard if yer’ll help me.’
‘That’s no problem. Put yer cardi on properly and button it up, then I’ll wrap me coat around yer. But make it the quickest penny yer’ve ever spent ’cos it’s bitter out there.’
‘D’yer want me to help, girl?’ Nellie asked, wishing she was as efficient in times like this as her mate was. ‘Or shall I build the fire up?’
‘You see to the fire, sunshine.’ Molly turned the collar of the coat up so Lizzie’s ears were covered. ‘There, that should keep the cold out. Open the kitchen door for us, Nellie, please.’
Five minutes later, Lizzie was tucked up on the couch. She couldn’t control the shivering and yet her forehead was still burning. ‘It’s years since I had a cold, and never one as bad as this.’
‘We’ll see how yer are by tea-time,’ Molly said. ‘If ye’re no better I think we should call the doctor out, just to be on the safe side.’ She saw a look of fear on the old lady’s face and cursed herself for putting it there. ‘I suggest the best thing yer can do now is sleep. Nellie’s banked the fire up and it should last for hours. I’ll put the rice pudding in the oven on a low light now, then, if yer do manage to drop off, me and Nellie will go home for an hour so we don’t disturb yer. I’ll have to take yer key, though, Lizzie, ’cos I never thought to ask Jill to give me hers.’
‘It’s in the dis
h on the sideboard. And thanks for everything Molly, and you, Nellie, I’d have been lost without yer.’
‘No, yer wouldn’t, sunshine, ’cos our Jill was going to take the day off. I had to chase her to work, she didn’t want to leave yer. But stop talking now and try and sleep. Don’t open the door if anyone knocks, stay right where yer are, in the warmth. We’ll see yer later.’
‘Nellie, we’re going to have to split the shopping between us otherwise it’ll take too long. If you get the spuds and cabbages, I’ll see what Tony will give us in the meat line. I’ve got to go there anyway, to tell Ellen about her mother-in-law.’
‘Ah, ay, girl, yer know I hate shopping on me own! I always end up getting the wrong things. Let me come with yer and we can run all the way.’
‘No, sunshine, ’cos with the best will in the world, there’s no way you won’t stop and talk to everyone yer see. And I don’t want to have to argue with yer in front of people or I’ll be the worst in the world.’ Nellie looked so forlorn Molly felt herself weakening. ‘Look, you go to the greengrocer’s, I’ll go to the butcher’s, and we’ll meet up at Irwin’s. How does that suit yer?’
‘I don’t know why we can’t go together if I promise not to speak to anyone. It’s not as though I can’t walk as fast as yer.’
‘Nellie, yer could have been at the greengrocer’s by now! I don’t want to leave Lizzie for too long, just in case she needs anything. So no more talking, be on yer way.’
When Molly walked into the butcher’s alone and out of breath two pair of eyes kept watching the door. ‘Don’t tell me ye’re on yer own, Molly?’ Tony said. ‘I thought you and Nellie were joined at the hip.’
‘Not quite, Tony, but near enough. I’ve chased her to the greengrocer’s while I came here, ’cos we’re in a hurry. Lizzie’s not too well, Ellen. I’ve been up there since half-seven when Jill came down to tell me. She was going to stay off work but I wouldn’t let her.’
Ellen wiped her hands down her blood-stained apron. ‘What’s wrong with Lizzie?’
‘She’s got a very heavy cold, sweating and high temperature. And she’s got no energy at all, which isn’t a bit like her.’