by Joan Jonker
‘Not if we tagged them on after, we wouldn’t. We could easy do that.’
‘So, yer reckon we could go from the first of January to the twenty-seventh of December, do yer, sunshine? And yer don’t think anyone would get confused, like?’
‘Nah! I wouldn’t get confused, girl, I’d remember that with no trouble.’
‘And what about all the calendars?’
‘What calendars? I haven’t got no calendars.’
‘No, but the factories and offices have.’ For a second Molly wondered why she was bothering, then decided she had nothing better to do anyway. ‘And it would mean we’d be five days behind every other country in the world.’
‘That wouldn’t worry me ’cos I’ve never been further than Blackpool, and never likely to. So I couldn’t care less what the other countries in the world do.’
Molly shook her head. ‘No, it wouldn’t work, sunshine, it would send everything topsy-turvy. I’d say that was one of the worst ideas yer’ve ever come up with.’
Nellie bent an elbow and rested her cheek on one clenched fist. ‘Ah, well, it was worth mentioning, wasn’t it? I thought of it in bed last night and it seemed a good idea to me at the time. But things seem different in the light of day, don’t they?’ She ran a finger down the chenille cloth as her mind worked to find something else to talk about. ‘What are yer having for dinner tonight, girl?’
‘I’m using the rest of the turkey up. We didn’t eat it yesterday with going round to me ma’s for dinner, so I’m finishing it off tonight rather than it going to waste. I hate throwing food out, it’s a sin when there’s people going hungry.’
‘Many’s the time we went hungry, eh, girl? D’yer remember the days when we didn’t have two ha’pennies to rub together?’
‘I do, sunshine. We don’t know we’re born now, compared to those days. I don’t think any of our kids will ever understand what it is to scrimp and scrape like we did.’ Molly reached across to touch her mate’s arm. ‘But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, was it? After we became real mates, we laughed our way through those bad days, even though our tummies were rumbling.’
Nellie’s chubby face creased. ‘Ay, I’m not half glad I didn’t clock yer one that day when we were having a set-to over the kids. Yer wouldn’t have wanted to be me mate if I’d given yer a black eye.’
‘Oh, I’d have still been yer mate, sunshine, but it would have been after I’d given you a black eye in return. I wouldn’t have stood there and let yer clock me one without clocking yer back. And it would have been easier for me ’cos I’m taller than yer.’
Nellie’s tummy began to shake and soon the table was bouncing up and down. ‘I could have reached yer if I’d jumped up. And twenty years ago, girl, I was good at jumping.’
‘And I was good at ducking, sunshine, so we’re even. Anyway, down to business. I only want bread from the shops since I’m making do with all the leftovers for dinner tonight. Have you any shopping to get in?’
‘I need bread, and I’ve got nothing for the dinner.’ Nellie’s eyes narrowed. ‘How much turkey have yer got, girl?’
‘There’s barely enough meat left to feed me own family, never mind yours.’ In Molly’s mind’s eye, she could see the tin of corned beef standing in the larder, and so began a struggle with her conscience. She was trying to stretch her money out so she could save as much as possible. Not only for Tommy’s wedding, but to buy something for Doreen’s baby when it arrived. But that tin of corned beef in the larder would haunt her if she didn’t offer to help her mate out. ‘Will yer promise to pay me back if I lend yer a tin of corned beef?’ I need it meself, really, but I can’t see yer stuck. So as soon as Tony gets some more tins in, it’s payback time. Have yer got that, sunshine?’
With the prospect of tonight’s dinner being sorted out, Nellie would have promised anything. And she’d be full of good intentions to pay it back. It was just that she wasn’t as good a manager as Molly, and if she had something in her hand that would make a meal for the family she would use it that day and let tomorrow look after itself. ‘I always do pay yer back, girl, don’t I? Yer may have to wait a bit, but I always get there in the end.’
Molly thought of all the arguing she’d done at times to get back what was owed to her, but it was her own fault, really, for being too soft-hearted. ‘Okay, sunshine, let’s change the subject, shall we?’
Nellie hitched her bosom to a more comfortable position before saying, ‘I’m looking forward to Corker’s party on New Year’s Eve, girl, it should be good. I’ve been racking me brains to think of what I can do as me party piece, but I can’t think of anything I haven’t already done. And a good artiste never repeats her repertwory.’
Molly opened her mouth to correct her mate, but just in time she saw the gleam in Nellie’s eyes and realised that she was being baited. As soon as she said something, the little woman facing her would come right back with an answer she had ready on the tip of her tongue. ‘I hate to disappoint yer, sunshine, but I’m not falling for that again. If yer want to pretend ye’re daft, I’m not going to stop yer. Anyway, back to Corker’s party. If ye’re looking for something to do to entertain, why don’t yer do yer Al Jolson routine? It always goes down well.’
Nellie frowned as she said, ‘Nah! It means me putting black shoe polish on me face and it’s a bugger to try and get off.’
‘Yer could try using soot, yer’d only have to wash yerself to get that off. Or yer could save yerself a lot of trouble by buying a black mask.’
Nellie sat up straight, her face showing interest. ‘I didn’t know yer could buy black masks, girl, yer never told me.’
‘I didn’t think it was necessary when the sweet shop have got masks of every description hanging up on the wall. They’ve got Red Indian ones which would really be something different for yer. If someone would lend yer a tomahawk, yer could do a war dance.’ Molly was being funny, but she should have known better.
‘Ay, that would be the gear! Tony must have thousands of turkey feathers left, he won’t have had time to throw them in the muck midden yet.’ Nellie’s mind was racing ahead. ‘I could put a band round me head and stick the feathers all around. And my feller’s got an axe, that would be just as good as a tomahawk.’ Chubby hands were rubbed together in glee. ‘Ay, that’s a brainwave yer had there, girl, I would never have thought of it.’ The bosom was hitched and placed on the table again. ‘What could I get dressed in?’
‘To be authentic, sunshine, to wear the real thing yer’d have to go out and kill a cow so yer could make a dress out of it. Indians all wear animal skins.’ Molly was finding this really amusing. Never for a second did she think her mate would take her seriously. ‘Yer wouldn’t have to worry about shoes, ’cos they don’t wear none.’
Nellie bent her head and gazed down at her hands, pretending to be giving the matter some deep thought. Then she looked up and sounding very earnest, said, ‘I haven’t seen no cows around here, girl. In all the years I’ve lived here, I’ve never seen no cows. But would a horse do? I could always ask the coalman how much he’d want for his. I mean, like, it would be worth the money to have a dress of real leather so I look the part.’
‘Oh, I’m sure Tucker would be very obliging, sunshine, especially as yer say he’s had a crush on yer for years.’
Into Molly’s mind flashed a picture of her husband asking what she and Nellie found to talk about. ‘Ye’re with each other every day, go everywhere together, and the pair of yer never stop talking! It beats me what yer find to talk about.’ What would he say if he could hear them now, talking about Red Indians and skinning the coalman’s horse? A smile came to her face. He’d find the whole thing hilarious and laugh his head off.
‘What are yer smiling for, girl?’ Nellie asked. ‘Let’s in on the joke.’
‘It was nothing, sunshine, not worth repeating. Anyway, it’s Tucker’s day to deliver the coal tomorrow, yer can ask him about his horse then. But I’d stand well back when yer do, ’
cos yer’ve often heard him say he looks after his horse better than he looks after his wife.’
‘Yeah, it was a daft idea anyway. I can’t even skin a rabbit proper, never mind a ruddy horse.’ Then Nellie’s face lit up. ‘Perhaps he’d lend it to me, though. I could ride up the street at midnight, when the neighbours are out celebrating, and I could wave me tomahawk and make those noises Indians make. That would be something, wouldn’t it, girl? It wouldn’t half give them something to talk about.’
‘Nellie, I couldn’t even begin to imagine yer sitting on a horse.’ Molly dropped her head and put a hand to her forehead. ‘I don’t know about being the talk of the street, yer’d be the talk of every wash-house in Liverpool, and beyond.’
The chubby face across the table creased, and laughter started to surface. ‘I always wanted to be famous, girl, and now’s me chance. Big Chief Sitting Bull rides again.’
‘Big Chief Sitting Bull can get down off his horse and walk to the shops with me. By the time we get there, Hanley’s will have sold out of bread.’ Molly took her coat down from the hook behind the door, and as she was putting it on, said, ‘I’ll give yer a word of advice, sunshine, stick to Al Jolson, it’ll be far less trouble.’
After Molly had closed the door behind her, they linked arms and began to walk down the street. ‘Ay, girl, d’yer know before, when I said I hadn’t never seen a cow down here?’ Nellie’s eyes were bright with mischief. ‘Well, I’d forgotten about Elsie Flanaghan. She’s a right cow if ever there was one.’
A couple of nights later, Molly and Jack had the house to themselves. Tommy had gone to see Rosie, as usual, and Ruthie had gone over to the Watsons’ house to play with Bella. ‘It’s nice to be quiet for a change,’ Jack said, lowering the evening paper, ‘but I feel as though there’s something missing, don’t you?’
Molly nodded. ‘We’ll have to get used to it, ’cos when Tommy gets married there’ll only be us two and Ruthie. But at least we see the girls every day, it would have been worse if they’d gone to live miles away.’
‘It all seems to be happening so quickly,’ he said. ‘Six months ago there were six of us, now there’s four, and come the summer there’ll only be three.’
‘Come the summer, sunshine, we’ll have a grandchild, and that’s something to look forward to. Our family is growing, even though they might not all live in this house. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for, Jack, so let’s count our blessings.’ Molly glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘I want to slip next door, but I’ll be quick. By the time yer’ve read the Echo, I’ll be back.’
‘What d’yer want to go there for?’
Molly was already reaching for her coat. ‘Nothing important, I’ll tell yer when I get back.’ She planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘Don’t be getting up to mischief while I’m gone, d’yer hear?’
Jack grinned. ‘Why don’t yer stay in and we’ll get up to mischief together?’
But Molly was heading for the door. ‘Yer get worse as yer grow older, Jack Bennett.’ She hesitated on the top step, then turned back. ‘I’ll only be half an hour, so contain yerself until then. I told Ruthie she could stay out until half-nine, so we’ll have a good hour to ourselves.’ Once again she made for the door, this time with a smile on her face. ‘We might even have time for a game of cards.’
‘Game of cards, my foot!’ Jack shouted. ‘I’m in the mood for a game, but it certainly ain’t ruddy cards!’
When Ellen opened the door, Molly was still smiling. ‘Hello, Molly, this is a surprise. Come on in, there’s only me and Corker.’
‘Oh, ye’re like me and Jack, we’ve been abandoned as well.’
Corker got to his feet, as he always did when a woman entered a room. ‘If Jack’s at a loose end, why don’t we go for a pint? We could give George a knock, see if he’s willing.’
Molly thought of her husband, waiting patiently for her return to indulge in a romantic hour. But she couldn’t tell Corker that, she’d be too embarrassed. ‘I’ll ask him when I get back, but it’ll be about nine, would that be all right? Yer see, I want to have a talk to yer about the New Year’s Eve party.’
‘Nine o’clock’s fine by me, Molly, me darlin’.’ Corker waved her to a chair. ‘Sit down and tell us what’s on yer mind.’
‘Shall I make a cuppa?’ Ellen asked. ‘It won’t take a minute.’
Still thinking of her husband, Molly shook her head. ‘No, thanks, sunshine, I’ve not long had one.’ She sat down and pulled her skirt down over her knees. ‘I was wondering if yer realise how many there are expecting to come to the party? Yer’ll have a hell of a job trying to fit them all in.’
‘I’ve told him that,’ Ellen said, ‘but he takes no notice. There’ll be well over twenty including the kids, with no room to breathe and people being trampled underfoot.’
‘Ooh, we couldn’t have that, Ellen,’ Molly chuckled, ‘the undertakers don’t work on New Year’s Day. No, I’ve got an idea. I don’t want yer to think I’m just a busybody trying to tell yer how to do things, but why don’t we split the party up? The very young, which is your three and Ruthie and Bella, could have their own party in Nellie’s.’
‘Have yer asked Nellie?’ Corker thought it was a good idea. ‘Wouldn’t she mind?’
‘I haven’t asked her yet, truthfully, ’cos I didn’t think of it until an hour ago. But I know she won’t mind.’ Molly lowered her eyes for a second. ‘Actually, I thought it might be a good idea to use the three houses. The young kids in Nellie’s, and the two newly-weds and three courting couples in ours. I don’t mean for the whole night, just until about ten o’clock. It would give us older ones a chance to sit in comfort, have a few drinks and a good natter. Then when it’s time to eat, those in our house could come here and the party could start in earnest. Not the kids, though, ’cos when Nellie does her party piece it’s an adults only show.’
‘That sounds like a good idea to me,’ Ellen said. ‘Don’t yer think so, Corker?’
There was a twinkle in the big man’s eyes as he stroked his beard. ‘What has Nellie got in store for us this time?’
‘I couldn’t tell yer, she’s a law unto herself is my mate. And even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell yer ’cos she’d skin me alive. But whatever it is, yer can bet it’ll be the highlight of the evening. She’s never let us down yet.’
Corker nodded. ‘She’d be a rich woman if she charged us for her services. We couldn’t be better entertained in a music hall.’
‘Don’t tell her that, for God’s sake, her head’s big enough. Anyway, Corker, what d’yer think of my suggestion?’
‘It suits me as long as you don’t have to put yer hand in yer pocket. I’m supplying all the food and drink, no argument. You’ve paid enough out over the years, it’s my turn now.’
‘That’s fine by me, Corker,’ Molly said, her eyes straying to the clock. She’d told Jack she’d only be half an hour and she didn’t want to go over that time. ‘I know ye’re working in the shop New Year’s Eve, Ellen, so I’ll come down and give yer a hand with the eats when I’ve fed the family.’
‘I’d be grateful if yer would, Molly, ’cos you’re a dab hand at giving parties. We’ll get our meal over as soon as possible, then Corker’s putting the table in the yard. He’s got a piece of tarpaulin to cover it with in case it rains.’
‘Right, that’s sorted that out, then.’ Molly stood up and told a little white lie. ‘I’ll get back and finish the dishes. I’ll wash and Jack can dry. I’ll tell him yer’ll be giving him a knock about nine, then, shall I?’
Corker followed her to the door. ‘Yes, and we’ll call and see if George fancies a pint.’
Molly sprinted the few yards to her own door. When she’d let herself in she stood in front of Jack. ‘If yer ardour hasn’t waned, yer’ve got three-quarters of an hour to prove to me that yer can be as passionate as Rudolph Valentino.’ She slipped her arms out of her coat. ‘Corker’s calling for yer at nine to go for a pint.’
J
ack folded the paper and was pushing it under one of the cushions on the couch when a pane of glass in the back window started to rattle. He lifted his head to see Nellie’s face pressed close, trying to see through the curtains. ‘Yer wouldn’t believe it, would yer, love? It’s only yer mate come for a natter. I’ve a good mind to tell her to go home ’cos she’s stopping me from having me marital rights.’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Molly hissed, going towards the back door. ‘I’d never live it down, she’d tell the whole ruddy neighbourhood.’
Nellie didn’t stand on ceremony and hadn’t waited to be asked in. She was already standing in the kitchen where Molly almost bumped into her. ‘In the name of God, Nellie, couldn’t yer wait for me to open the door? I could have been in me nude for all yer knew.’
Her mate was unashamed. ‘Oh, I knew yer weren’t girl, ’cos I peeped through yer curtains.’ She marched through to the living room and grinned at Jack. ‘I thought I might catch yer out having a passionate . . .’ she rubbed her head, seeking a suitable word but couldn’t think of one ‘. . . I thought I might catch yer at it, but no such luck.’
‘Luck and chance would be a fine thing, Nellie.’ In his mind, Jack had been calling her fit to burn when he’d seen her face at the window, but who could fall out with that cheeky grin? ‘In future I’ll make sure the curtains are tightly closed.’
‘Ye’re a spoilsport, Jack Bennett, that’s what yer are.’ Nellie plonked her bottom in the carver chair which she always claimed as hers.
‘By the way, girl, what were yer saying about telling the whole neighbourhood?’
Molly was caught unawares and couldn’t think what to say. ‘Oh, it was nothing.’
‘D’yer often talk about nothing, girl? Seems a waste of time to me. And yer don’t want to let anyone hear yer or they’ll send for the men in white coats.’
‘I can’t remember what it was, so it can’t have been important.’ Molly knew her mate would probe until she got what she wanted, so the best thing was to change the subject. ‘I think yer’d better nip home and warn George that Corker’s going for a drink with Jack at nine o’clock and they’ll be knocking for him.’ And for good measure, she added, ‘Go now, ’cos I’ve got a bit of news that involves you.’