by Joan Jonker
‘Oh, aye, what’s that, girl?’
‘I’m not telling yer now, it’ll give us something to talk about when the men go out.’
‘I’m not moving my backside off this ruddy chair until yer tell me, so there! At least whet me appetite and tell me why it involves me. Is it something that’ll please me?’
‘Oh, yer’ll be over the moon.’ Molly couldn’t keep it back, she was dying to see Nellie’s face when she told her. ‘I’ve offered the use of your house for the kids’ party on New Year’s Eve. I just knew yer’d be delighted to help.’
Nellie’s face was a picture. ‘Well, the bloody cheek of you! I’ll have yer know I am not over the moon and I’m certainly not delighted!’
Molly had been expecting this reaction and had her answer ready. ‘All right, sunshine, keep yer hair on. If yer don’t like it, then yer don’t like it and that’s all there is to it. All yer have to do is explain to Corker how yer feel, and that ye’re not prepared to let the kids use your house for their party. Yer could do it now and kill two birds with one stone. Yer’ve got to tell George to get ready for the pub, so yer might as well call at Corker’s while ye’re out.’
That and cut her throat were the last two things Nellie would do. ‘Well now, girl, I did say I wasn’t over the moon, and I did say I wasn’t delighted, but yer never heard me say I wouldn’t let the kids use me house, did yer?’
‘No, I didn’t, sunshine, but yer face spoke volumes. And if yer heart’s not in it, I’d rather yer told Corker right away and got it over with.’ Molly turned away to hide her smile then she gleefully rubbed salt in the wound. ‘That’ll give us time to find somewhere else for the kids. So go on, misery guts, get yer dirty work over with. But I’m warning yer, don’t come crawling to me making excuses ’cos there is no excuse for being so mean and miserable.’
Jack, his face turning from one to the other as though he was watching a tennis match, was fascinated. If a stranger walked into the room now, they’d think there was a row brewing, or a falling out at least. How wrong they’d be.
‘Listen to me, girl, I never said I wouldn’t have the kids so don’t you go saying I did. Yer can be a bad-minded so-and-so when yer like, Molly Bennett, and it wouldn’t surprise me if yer hadn’t got me a name like a mad dog. I bet that’s why people look at me funny sometimes, or cross the road to avoid me. They’ve been listening to you, that’s why.’
When Molly spoke, the tone of her voice had changed. She thought she’d milked the situation for all it was worth. ‘Yer’d better get a move on, sunshine, ’cos your feller wouldn’t be pleased with yer if Corker knocked and he wasn’t ready.’
Nellie used the chair arms to push herself up. ‘Yeah, I better had. He’ll want to change his working shirt. I won’t be long.’
‘No, you hurry back, sunshine, ’cos we’ve got a lot to talk about.’
Jack let his head fall back against the chair and closed his eyes. What a difference there was between men and women, he thought. Now when he met George tonight, the conversation would go something along the lines of, ‘Hello, George, how’s work, mate?’ And the answer would be, ‘Just the same, pal, I can’t grumble.’ After that it would be football and the weather. Corker usually had a tale to tell when he came ashore, but that only lasted the first night out. They definitely couldn’t compete with women. Certainly not Nellie and Molly anyway, they were a breed apart.
‘Jack!’ Molly shook his shoulder. ‘Don’t be going asleep now, Corker will be here soon.’
‘I wasn’t asleep, love, I was just resting me eyes.’
‘Resting yer eyes! Yer were snoring yer ruddy head off!’
‘I was not! If yer must know, I was trying to fathom out what the outcome was with Nellie. Are the kids going there or not?’
‘Of course they are, soft lad! Yer didn’t for one moment think there was any doubt about that, did yer?’
‘Not really.’ Jack was pushing himself to his feet when he chuckled. ‘Yer mate’s peeping through the curtains again.’
‘What would yer do with her?’ Molly was standing with her arms folded when Nellie waltzed back in. ‘Didn’t yer think of knocking?’
‘Of course I think about it! But that’s all I do, ’cos I can’t be bothered.’
‘It’s a pity about you now! Anyway, is George getting ready?’
‘Yeah, I’ve never known him move so fast. As soon as I mentioned the blinking pub, he was off his chair and swilling himself down in the kitchen sink.’ Nellie winked at Jack as he passed on his way to the kitchen. ‘Men are easily pleased, aren’t they? They’re like babies, really. If a baby’s sucking on a bottle it’s as happy as Larry, and men are the same when they’re supping beer.’
‘Listen, sunshine, before I forget – have yer still got yer blackout curtains?’
Nellie looked mystified. ‘I have, girl, but why d’yer want to know?’
‘I’ll tell yer later.’ Molly’s eyes went knowingly to the kitchen where they could hear Jack splashing water around. ‘In case I forget, just say black-out curtains and it’ll remind me.’
There was excitement in the air when Molly took the plates of sandwiches and cakes down to Nellie’s. Everyone who passed was happy, looking forward to the jollity that would come later. New Year’s Eve was the one night of the year when everyone came out into the street to celebrate. Neighbours could be at each other’s throat for three hundred and sixty-four days, but come the last day of the year and all was forgotten. ‘Put them in yer pantry, Nellie, and cover them with cloths so the kids can’t see them. There’s another two to bring down, then that’s the lot.’
Nellie’s face was beaming. ‘It’s exciting, isn’t it, girl? I’m really looking forward to the party. It can’t come quick enough.’
‘It’s all right for some,’ Molly told her. ‘But me and Corker have worked like Trojans for the last few hours. We didn’t want Ellen to come home after a day’s work and have to start making food for about twenty people.’
‘I did offer to help, girl!’
‘I know yer did, sunshine, and I told Corker yer were willing.’ Molly put her arms around Nellie and hugged her tight. ‘But yer know what these kitchens are like, yer can’t swing a cat around in them.’
The chubby face beamed up at her. ‘What are yer swinging a cat around the kitchen for, girl? Ay, we’re not having cat sandwiches, are we?’
Molly rolled her eyes. ‘Yer won’t tell anyone, will yer? We’ve put plenty of mustard on them so they won’t know the difference from rabbit.’ She patted her mate’s cheek. ‘I’d better move, there’s still plenty to do. I’ll be coming back and forth, sunshine, ’cos there’s bottles of lemonade to bring as well as biscuits.’ She spun around at the door. ‘He thinks of everything, does Corker. There’s lemonade, raspberryade, cream soda . . . you name it and he’s bought it. Oh, and he’s even got a box of crackers for them to pull.’
‘He’s a smashing feller, isn’t he, girl?’
‘He is that, he’s got a heart of gold. Anyway, I’m off. I’ll see yer later, ta-ra.’
Up until ten o’clock it had been relatively quiet in the Corkhills’ house. There had been plenty of talk and laughter, and many a glass had been emptied and refilled. Many a tale had been told, too. Mostly by Nellie, who made them up as she went along, encouraged by her audience’s chuckles and guffaws. She also gave her own version of what she’d seen when she’d peeped through the curtains of the Bennetts’ window. Ignoring Molly’s embarrassment, she said, ‘Stark naked they were, the pair of them. Honest to God, I didn’t know where to put meself. I was glad it was pitch dark and no one could see me blushing. I gave a knock to warn them I was coming in, and yer should have seen them scramble to put their clothes on.’ Above the laughter, she said, ‘At their age, wouldn’t yer think they’d know better?’
Outside, Phoebe knocked for the third time. ‘They can’t hear me.’
‘They’re enjoying themselves too much,’ Steve said. ‘Here, let
me have a go.’ He rapped hard with his knuckles. ‘They should hear that, it was loud enough to wake the dead.’
Corker was wiping his eyes as he opened the door. ‘Come on in and join the party.’
With his arm around Phoebe’s waist, Paul made straight for his mother. ‘Ay, Mam, will yer tell that joke again so we can all enjoy it?’
‘Ooh, I don’t think I’d better, son.’ Nellie’s eyes rolled. ‘Can yer see yer Auntie Molly’s face? It’s set in granite. That means she’ll batter me if I tell yer any more. Yer see, she thinks ye’re too young to learn about the birds and bees.’
Molly was more interested in where they were all going to sit. ‘I thought you lads were going to bring a chair each with yer?’
Tommy closed his eyes. ‘Oh, we forgot, Mam. We’ll go back and get them, I’ve got me key with me.’
‘Call in to Nellie’s first, will yer, and see how the kids are doing?’
‘We’ve already done that, Mrs B.’ Steve said. ‘They’re fine, really enjoying themselves.’
‘Sure, and we’ve had a grand time, so we have,’ Bridie said. ‘Me and Bob have been finding out things about our daughter, so we have. She’s a dark one, and that’s a fact.’
Molly shook her fist at Nellie. ‘Did yer hear that? I could break yer ruddy neck for yer.’
Jack chuckled. ‘I don’t know, love, I took it as a compliment.’
‘You would, wouldn’t yer?’ Molly jerked her head, tutted and pushed out her tongue. ‘That’s male ego for yer.’
Nellie pulled on her skirt. ‘What’s male ego when it’s out, girl? Tell me, ’cos I’d hate to be missing out on something what sounds interesting.’
‘I’ll tell yer when ye’re old enough, sunshine, otherwise it might turn yer head.’ Molly raised her brows at Tommy. ‘Go and get the chairs, please, so everyone can sit down and we can start bringing the food in.’
Archie took his arm from Lily’s shoulder. ‘I’ll go with him, we can carry two each.’
With Doreen’s delicate state of health in mind, Alec from the corner shop offered her his chair. ‘Here yer are, sweetheart, yer can have my seat.’
‘Thank you, Mr Porter, that’s very gentlemanly of yer.’ Doreen pulled on Phil’s arm. ‘You sit and I’ll park on yer knee.’
‘Mam, all the old ones are to sit down and take it easy,’ Jill said. ‘If Auntie Ellen and Uncle Corker don’t mind us taking over the kitchen, me, Rosie, Lily and Phoebe will hand out the food and make the tea.’
‘The old ones! Well, did yer hear that!’ But Molly was sitting down as she said it, glad to rest her feet and let someone else take over. ‘We’re not old, sunshine, we’re in the prime of our lives.’
‘That’s true enough, Auntie Molly,’ Rosie said, her curls bouncing as she nodded. ‘And when we’re in the prime of our lives, sure, won’t we be glad to let the young ones take over now and again?’
Chapter 16
It was a quarter past eleven and Nellie was getting impatient. She still hadn’t done her party piece, and by the looks of things they’d be into the year 1947 before she got her chance. ‘We both wasted our time and energy, girl, it’ll be time for us all to trip out into the street before I do me turn,’ she grumbled.
‘I’ll tell yer what, sunshine,’ Molly said, seeing her friend’s drooping mouth, ‘you go home and get yerself dressed up and by the time yer get back I’ll have everything cleared away and this lot calmed down. Go on, go now before it gets too late.’
‘I don’t have to go home, I brought me change of clothes with me. They’re wrapped in a sheet in me basket in Ellen’s pantry. All I need is a big of privacy to do meself up.’
‘I thought yer were going home to get changed?’
‘I had intended to, girl, but not with the kids being there. I’d frighten the life out of them if I went upstairs a woman and came down a black man.’
Trying to keep her laughter at bay, Molly eyed Nellie’s mountainous bosom. There was no one on God’s earth who could mistake her for a man. But now was not the time for frivolity for her mate took her role as entertainer very seriously. Catching Ellen’s eye, Molly beckoned her over and explained the situation.
‘Go upstairs to the front bedroom and get changed,’ Ellen told her. ‘Yer won’t be disturbed, we’ll see to that.’
‘You come with me, Molly,’ Nellie pleaded. ‘I’ll need a hand.’
Molly came down fifteen minutes later smiling and waving them to silence. ‘Can we have a bit of hush now, please, it’s time for the main attraction.’ She waited until she heard footsteps on the stairs and said, ‘Put yer hands together for Mr Al Jolson himself.’
The applause was slow in coming as everyone gaped at the figure before them. Molly, with the help of Doreen, had made a full head mask out of the blackout curtains. There were slits for Nellie’s eyes, nose and mouth, and on top of her head sat a straw hat. She was wearing a pair of George’s trousers, the legs rolled up to fit, one of his best white shirts and a dickie bow. It was only when she bowed to her audience that they came alive and clapped and cheered her.
Nellie had the hand and body movements of the great man off to perfection as she began to sing ‘Swanee’.
The rafters rang as everyone joined in when Nellie sang it for the second time. Then she went straight into another of the great man’s popular songs, ‘Mammy’, and the room erupted. As Corker was to say later, he’d swear the house was lifted a few inches from its foundations. Then Nellie asked for silence for the song to end all songs, ‘Sonny Boy’. ‘Get yer hankies out ladies. Yer’ll need them ’cos Ellen hasn’t got enough buckets to go round.’
Now Nellie had seen the great man at the picture house, and he always knelt down to sing this poignant song. To do it justice, she thought she should do the same. She looked for a clear space on the floor.
Molly could read her mate like a book, and knew what was in her mind. ‘Don’t do it, sunshine, ’cos yer’ll never get up again.’
But her warning came too late, Nellie was down on one knee and having difficulty keeping her balance. And at the same time they could hear bells chiming. It was twelve o’clock.
‘Out, everyone, come on,’ Molly shouted. ‘It’s about two minutes to midnight.’
Steve looked down at his mother. ‘I’ll help me mam up first.’
‘No need to, son,’ Corker told him. ‘Me and yer dad will see to her. Everybody else out and give us some room.’
George looked down at his wife who was struggling to get to her feet. Her bosom and tummy were in the way. ‘Yer don’t half get yerself in some predicaments, Nellie, yer always dive in without a thought for the consequences.’
They had the room to themselves now, and could hear the street outside coming to life. ‘You and me, George, are going to give yer wife a chair lift out,’ Corker said. ‘It’ll be the throne she deserves for all the laughs and happiness she’s given us over the years.’
And so it came to pass that Nellie was the centre of attention at the beginning of a brand New Year. They could hear the sirens and hooters coming from the boats on the river, mingled with car horns blaring and whistles being blown. The youngsters poured out of Nellie’s house, filled with excitement as kisses and hugs were exchanged, and hands shaken. Then Molly said, ‘Let’s form a ring for a knees-up.’ She noticed Lily and Archie were still kissing, as were Phoebe and Paul. ‘Knock it off, there’s time for that later.’ So the Bennetts, McDonoughs and Corkhills, together with the Porters and Jacksons, set the pace. Soon they were joined by many other families intent on enjoying themselves.
The Mowbrays, being new to the street, didn’t know anyone except Corker who’d kept his word and knocked one night to ask David if he fancied a pint with some friends. Beryl had spoken to Nellie and Molly a few times, but felt she didn’t really know them. So they felt shy about joining in the celebrations and stood outside their house looking on. Then Beryl said, ‘We’ll never get to know our neighbours if we don’t make an effort
. They’ll think we’re miserable buggers standing here like lemons. Come on, let’s join in.’ She, David and Jeff joined the ring near Nellie, but Joanne made it her business to get in next to Phoebe. She put a smile on her face and held out her hand. ‘Happy New Year, Phoebe.’
There was a slight hesitation before the other girl told herself it would be churlish to refuse a greeting at a time like this and held out her hand. ‘The same to you.’ She was taken aback when a kiss was planted on her cheek, thinking she could have done without that. She was even taken more aback when the girl moved from her to Paul.
Joanne held out her hand and lifted her face for a kiss. ‘Happy New Year, and all the best, Paul.’
He glanced quickly at Phoebe, shrugged his shoulders and dropped a light kiss on the upturned cheek. After all, he’d kissed everybody else, he could hardly tell this girl to get lost.
Molly had noticed what had happened and thought, What a little minx! That young lady needs her bottom smacking. Then her mind was taken off it when Doreen and Phil came over to her. ‘Mam, is it all right if we go? We want to wish Aunt Vicky a Happy New Year and I’m feeling tired now anyway.’
‘Yer don’t feel sick, do yer?’ Molly looked into her daughter’s face. ‘It’s probably been too long a day for yer.’
‘Yeah, that’s what it is. I enjoyed it, though, it’s been great.’
Phil, forever watchful of his new wife, said, ‘I told her to have an hour’s rest before we came out, but she can be very stubborn when she likes.’
Molly grinned as she hugged her daughter. ‘Yer don’t have to tell me that, sunshine, she’s always been the same.’
‘Will yer thank Auntie Ellen and Uncle Corker for us? He’s having a whale of a time and we won’t interrupt.’
‘I’ll do that, sunshine, and you have an extra hour in bed in the morning, d’yer hear?’ Molly suddenly remembered it was morning already. ‘Heaven knows what time we’ll get home, Corker wants us to go back for an hour. Still, it only happens once a year so best make the most of it.’ She put her arms around her son-in-law and kissed him soundly. ‘Goodnight and God bless, son. I’ll be over first thing to make sure yer wife’s all right.’