A Wise Child

by A Wise Child (retail) (epub)

  ‘Don’t worry about it, lad,’ George said.

  Buck said, ‘Jessie was made up with your wife, Sam. Thought she was a proper nice quiet girl.’

  George agreed. ‘Rose said the same. I think she’s calling round to see her today. I hope she enjoyed the do while she was there.’

  ‘Oh yes, she did. So did I,’ Sam said. He felt uncomfortably that his friends thought that he had treated Ellie badly and after buying them another drink he left.

  He walked down to the dock road and walked along trying to let all the activity distract him from the gloomy suspicion that he had made a fool of himself at the party.

  A timber ship was unloading and the smell of the wood reminded him of young Bobby. He should make a good joiner. Really likes the smell of the wood and handling it and he’ll have a trade at the end, he thought. I’ll have to try to fix something like that for Tom. I don’t want him to go to sea but there’s plenty of time yet.

  He thought again about the previous evening and the scratches on the baby’s face. It’s a wonder I never went for the old one but Ellie properly took the wind outa me sails. I didn’t think she had it in her to get mad like that.

  He smiled as he remembered Buck describing her as a nice quiet girl. He should’ve seen her in the kitchen. Like a tiger. He wouldn’t’ve knew her.

  Sam’s smile faded. Do I really know her at all, he thought, a familiar doubt clouding his mind. I was real fond of her when we was kids and I’d often thought about her after, but I didn’t know her. Never seen her again until Janey waylaid me that day. We just picked up where we left off and the next thing we was married and then I was off back to sea. She’s straight though, I’m sure she is – or else she’s a bloody good actress. He tried to dismiss his doubts.

  Sam was glad to be hailed by an old shipmate who was talking to the policeman at the dock gates and he went over to them.

  ‘How do, Sam?’ the man said. ‘Swalleed the anchor or are you just on leave?’

  ‘Came ashore last week,’ Sam said. ‘I heard you was on the docks now, Syd.’

  ‘Aye, me eldest lad was getting a bit wild, like. Thought I’d better come home to keep an eye on him.’

  ‘The sea’s no life for a married man,’ the policeman said. ‘Not if he’s got kids. Otherwise he might be glad to get away.’

  They all smiled. ‘I’ve been married since I last saw you, Syd,’ Sam said. ‘I’ve got a nipper too. Eighteen months, walking and talking too.’

  ‘It’s more when they’re older you need to be there,’ Syd said. ‘I took a chance but I was lucky. Me da-in-law is a foreman so I got picked out.’

  ‘Being in the Lodge was a help too,’ the policeman said with a grin.

  ‘The Paddys do it an’ all,’ Syd said defensively. ‘Look after their own, like.’

  Sam soon said goodbye and walked away. If I left the sea how would I go on, he wondered. Syd had fell on his feet but most fellows he knew who were dockers were bloody desperate, but he could always get a ship. I’d like to see Tommy growing up but I won’t have to be keeping him out of trouble like Syd’s lad, not for years yet anyhow. The thought that he could also keep an eye on Ellie slipped into his mind but he thrust it away.

  Nellie rapidly cleared away and washed up Sam’s breakfast dishes, then sat down taking Tommy on her knee and cuddling him. He showed no sign of distress now but Nellie felt that she could never atone for leaving him at the mercy of old Janey.

  A little later Mrs Adams called on the pretext of bringing some leftovers from the party – spare ribs and boiled bacon and some port wine and rum. ‘We always get too much in for a do,’ she said. ‘Although mind you it might all have gone if George and his brother hadn’t threw out some of that gang that pushed in. I wouldn’t have minded if they’d behaved themselves but they kept trying to cause trouble.’

  She admired Tommy but said nothing about the scratches on his face until Nellie spoke about them.

  ‘We left him with old Janey from the parlour,’ Nellie said. ‘She was drunk when we got back here. Sam said she had an open pin in her neckshawl.’

  ‘Poor little lamb,’ Rose Adams said.

  ‘He was breaking his heart crying. Must have been crying for ages,’ Nellie said, indignation rising afresh in her.

  ‘Just as well you left a bit early then,’ Rose said diplomatically. ‘Although I was sorry to see you go.’

  Nellie blushed. ‘Sam got annoyed with that Charlie West,’ she said in a low voice.

  ‘He’s a nasty piece of work,’ Rose said. ‘We wouldn’t have invited him but once they’re there—’ She shrugged. ‘You don’t like to be nasty.’

  She looked up at the tin clock on the mantelpiece. ‘I must go,’ she said. She had been nursing Tommy and she kissed him and handed him to Nellie. ‘He’s a lovely child. A credit to you, Nellie.’

  ‘He was very small born,’ Nellie said blushing. ‘But he’s come on fine since and he hasn’t had no illness so far.’ The child stood on her knee and slipped his arm round her neck. He wore a blue romper suit which matched the colour of his eyes, his skin was clear and Nellie had combed his fair hair into a coxcomb.

  Rose sighed. ‘When you look at him and think of the way some kids are round here,’ she said. ‘Mind you, God help them, it all gets too much for some of the women. It’s all they can do to get the kids enough food to keep them alive, never mind decent clothes. We’re lucky with steady money, Nellie, little though it is.’

  ‘I know,’ Nellie said eagerly, ‘and Sam’s very good to me, gave me a lot of his pay-off and brought presents for us, like.’

  ‘Yes, he’s a good lad,’ Rose agreed. She looked round the room. ‘He’s a lucky lad an’ all. You’ve made a nice home for him to come back to, love.’

  ‘Our Bobby helped me. He’s working for Meldrum’s. Going to be a joiner,’ Nellie said.

  ‘That’s a good trade for a lad. Well, any trade is,’ said Rose. ‘Any job is hard to find. I worry because my eldest lad leaves school next year.’ She picked up her shawl and moved to the door.

  ‘I’m sorry about coming away early like, last night,’ Nellie said impulsively. ‘It was just—’

  ‘I know,’ Rose said. ‘Sam lets them fellas annoy him. Don’t worry, love. It’ll soon sort itself out. Takes time to settle into a marriage, you know.’

  ‘I wouldn’t ever give Sam no cause,’ Nellie murmured, nervously twisting her apron string.

  ‘I know you wouldn’t and so does Sam really. He’s just a bit quick tempered, like, but he thinks the world of you,’ Rose said. ‘Mind you, fellas! They rather be hung, drawn and quartered than tell you.’

  She left and Nellie went back into the house smiling. What a nice woman Rose Adams was and so tactful. I’m sure she called to see if I was all right after the way Sam rushed me away, Nellie thought. And she pretended not to notice the scratches on Tommy’s cheek until I said how they happened. A thought struck her. I hope she didn’t think Sam would do anything like that, but she dismissed the idea.

  Sam returned a little later and Nellie told him of the visit by Mrs Adams. She had recovered from her unusual anger of the morning but they were cautious with each other. Both felt that they had learned a lot about each other since the previous day.

  Chapter Seven

  Sam had signed on again and left a few days later. The night before he left when he made love to Nellie she felt again an almost irresistible urge to cling to him and let herself be swept along on the tide of his passion.

  She managed to resist but she wondered whether Sam had been aware of how she felt when later as they lay half asleep he said suddenly, ‘Remember when me and Buck was going aboard just after Tommy was born? You jumped outa bed and called me back. Put your arms round me neck.’

  Nellie blushed. ‘I’m sorry, Sam,’ she murmured. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

  Sam laughed. ‘Don’t be sorry, girl,’ he said. ‘I was made up. Pity me and Buck had to get off right away.’


  It seemed a good moment for Nellie to talk about her feelings but as she hesitated, trying to find the right words, Sam said proudly, ‘When you think of Tommy then, like a fourpenny rabbit, and the way he is now. A real strong lad. You take good care of him now, Ellie. Don’t let him play out in the street while there’s all this fever about.’

  ‘I won’t, Sam,’ Nellie said meekly.

  ‘Let him play in the backyard or take him out yourself. Did you take him up Seaforth way like I told you?’

  ‘Yes, I told you in the letter, Sam. Me and Katy took the kids to Seaforth Sands.’

  ‘It’d suit me better if you took him out be yourself,’ Sam said masterfully. ‘Don’t take no chances of him getting nothing off other kids.’

  ‘I won’t, Sam,’ Nellie said. She said nothing about her strange desires. The moment had passed.

  After Sam had left Nellie took the baby into her bed again for company. She missed the warmth of Sam’s body and the pleasant sensation of lying safe in his arms. Tommy seemed to miss his father too and looked up hopefully when Bobby came home.

  ‘It’s only me, lad,’ Bobby said sadly.

  One day when Janey had been unusually friendly, Nellie spoke about her brother to her.

  ‘Bob misses Sam,’ she said. ‘In a way it was almost like having me da back for Bob when Sam told him tales about his voyages.’

  Janey sniggered, ‘Your da never had much to do with Bobby,’ she said. ‘Why should he?’

  Nellie could smell gin on the old woman and felt that it would be wiser to say no more about her father.

  She still wondered why he had backed off at such a time. With his mother dead Bobby needed him more and on his rare visits home her father had always taken her out on her day off. He nearly always made long trips, sometimes of two years, but always she was sure of his affection when he returned.

  Janey was not deterred by her silence. ‘He he,’ she cackled. ‘It’s a wise child that knows his own father. Sam’s not the first in this house to be taken for a mug. He he!’

  Nellie looked at her with dislike. She’s always hinting, she thought, making out she knows something about everyone. She was determined not to rise to old Janey’s bait. The old woman took a swig from a gin bottle Nellie now saw beside her chair.

  ‘Harriet always dolled herself up for your da but he turned his nose up at her,’ the old woman chuckled. ‘He just made it too plain one time and she got mad. Took up with a Norwegian sailor. Lars – what a bloody name. And there was Bobby. Your da had gone on a China run so we passed him off all right. Your old feller was as daft as Sam. Mugs both of them.’

  She suddenly slipped down in her chair and the bottle slipped from her hand. She snored loudly and Nellie looked at her with distaste but she knew that she would have to take Janey to bed.

  She held her breath to avoid breathing in the fumes from the old woman and managed to drag her to the parlour and drop her on her frowsty bed. She took off Janey’s boots but otherwise left her fully clothed and covered her with the filthy blankets, suspecting that this was how she usually slept.

  Nellie was disturbed by the tale and looked curiously at Bob when he came in. He was a tall, thin boy with a snub nose and a wide mouth and dark red hair. His open friendly face and his wide smile were very attractive and Bobby was popular with everybody.

  Janey’s trying to make out he’s not my brother, Nellie thought, but I don’t believe her. She could see many inconsistencies in the story the more she thought about it.

  The next morning Janey said abruptly, ‘What was you going on about last night? Trying to make out Bobby’s a by blow. Do you want to get him out or sump’n’?’

  ‘Me!’ Nellie gasped. ‘It was you, Janey, who was talking about a Norwegian seaman and all that.’

  ‘Was I, girl?’ Janey said smoothly. ‘I’d had a drop too much and you know what they say – when the wine’s in, the wit’s out.’

  ‘Good job I didn’t believe you, then,’ Nellie said.

  ‘You didn’t say nothing to Bobby?’ said Janey.

  Nellie shook her head. She wondered whether the old woman’s mind was failing. Drink had never affected her like this and the secrets she often hinted about were never divulged. She kept them as a threat or a weapon.

  Nellie greeted Bobby with extra affection when he came home from work and piled his plate with the rabbit stew she had made.

  ‘Ar ay, Nell, you haven’t left nothing for yourself,’ he protested.

  ‘Yes I have and old Janey’s got hers,’ Nellie said. ‘You need more, Bob. You’re a growing lad.’

  He was growing, she thought. He had been tall and bony like her mother and now he was filling out. He wasn’t never like her in character, thank God, Nellie thought, but now he doesn’t even look like her. Even his hair isn’t gingery like hers any more.

  There was a strong bond of affection between them which was very important to Nellie. With Bobby she could discuss old Janey freely and wonder what went on in the parlour when Janey shot the bolt inside the door and they could hear voices and clinking noises.

  ‘She’s up to no good,’ Bobby declared. ‘We don’t know who’s sloping in and out that side door,’ and Nellie agreed.

  By common consent they said nothing about these activities to the neighbours or to Janey herself.

  Sam was only away for six months but during this time Nellie had an experience well known to seafarers’ wives. Sam’s allotment to her was held up and for six weeks Nellie had only the few shillings each week from Bobby and eleven shillings she had managed to keep from Sam’s pay-off to keep four of them.

  She eked it out as sparingly as possible but the day came when she was without a penny in her purse or food in the house. Janey had offered a loan but Nellie refused.

  ‘The blooming cheek,’ she said later to Bobby. ‘She never cracks on about rent or paying for her food and then she has the nerve to offer me a loan.’

  ‘If she gave you what she owes you we’d be all right,’ Bobby said. ‘You could get tick off Bessy, you know, Nell.’ Nellie remembered that the nurse had given this advice too and timidly asked at the corner shop.

  ‘Of course,’ the proprietor Bessy Deakin said. ‘I know I can trust you, Nellie. I wonder if some of those top fellas would like it if their wives were left without money?’

  Nellie received the same sympathetic response from the butcher and the milkman also but she had to nerve herself to ask them for credit.

  George Adams’ money had also been held up and Mrs Adams told Nellie that there was no disgrace in asking for ‘tick’ in these circumstances.

  ‘I’ve had to do it a few times,’ she said, ‘but people know who they can trust. We’re lucky we’re able to do it, Nellie. Many a family round here would’ve starved without their neighbours when their money’s been held up.’

  Nellie had become very friendly with Rose Adams. She was a kind and motherly woman who did much to give Nellie more confidence in herself and Nellie felt that she could turn to her for advice and help.

  She had avoided Katy and Gertie while she was in difficulties, afraid that a casual remark would reveal her straits, but she still saw Maggie every day. She had managed to conceal her lack of money for a while but when Maggie realised the situation she was furious.

  ‘The way you and Sam helped us and then to shut us out when you’ve got a bad patch. I thought we was friends, Nellie.’

  She was genuinely upset and Nellie tried to make amends.

  ‘I would’ve said, Mag, honest, but we haven’t gone hungry. I’ve got tick off Bessy and the butcher,’ Nellie said.

  Maggie went on. ‘To think you was worried like that and never let on. And the money Sam’s give us and the way you’ve helped me out and fed our Richie when I was hairless about him.’

  ‘Maggie, I know things are better for you, like, but I know you’ve never got nothing to spare,’ Nellie said but that made matters worse.

  ‘We’re not bloody destit
ute,’ Maggie said, her face red. ‘Not so bad off we can’t help a neighbour – or maybe you don’t want help from the likes of us. We’re not good enough.’

  Nellie burst into tears and immediately Maggie changed. She threw her arms round Nellie and hugged her.

  ‘There there, don’t cry, girl,’ she said. ‘I was just that hurt when we’d been good friends. It’s all right, Nell.’

  The quarrel was quickly made up but Nellie realised that she must be more careful in future. Maggie had feelings too and could be easily hurt because of all she had endured. Nevertheless life was good now for Maggie, her only worry Richie’s bowed legs.

  ‘We was at rock bottom before he was born,’ Maggie told Nellie. ‘Many a day I never broke me fast and then when he was born me milk wasn’t no good to him. It was Gertie’s ma what saved him. That was before she went funny in the head. She used to slip me a tin of conny onny to feed him and I’ll never forget her for it. Poor woman. She doesn’t deserve what’s happened to her.’

  Johnny Nolan looked a different man now as he walked to and from his job and not only because of his improved food. He walked with his head up full of confidence.

  ‘The boss told him his job’s safe,’ Maggie said. ‘Unless he’s laid up for weeks in the winter he’ll keep him on. His own lad was gassed and wounded but he died.’ Maggie still had her two mornings’ cleaning which brought in six shillings a week and she often received scraps of food or a piece of soap. ‘It’s not Pears but it’ll do us,’ she joked.

  Maggie was outraged when she discovered that Janey paid nothing towards the cost of the rent and food. ‘And she never let on even though she knew your money was held up?’ she exclaimed. ‘The miserable cow. She’s rolling but she’d skin a flea for its hide.’

  ‘She was narked because I wouldn’t take a loan off her,’ Nellie explained. ‘Nurse McCann told me not to and our Bob said I could get tick.’

  ‘I’m glad you had the sense, girl,’ Maggie said forcefully. ‘There’s plenty round here rue the day they ever got in her clutches.’