The Shop Girls of Lark Lane

by Pam Howes

  Clara nodded in agreement. ‘Nice to meet you, Sadie. I feel a bit better than I did earlier. Thank goodness you came along when you did, Alice. I might just have turned tail and fled, the way I was feeling.’

  Alice laughed. ‘Be nice to hear their tales when they come home. I won’t be here to meet Cathy as I don’t get back from work until later. My mother-in-law picks her up, and Sadie’s mam gets Gianni, but we’ll see you again in the morning.’

  ‘Well, it’s been lovely to meet you both. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  * * *

  Alice looked at her watch halfway through her shift and sighed. They’d been busier than she thought they’d be, mothers enjoying a break from the kids, no doubt, and with coming in later and missing the morning break, it was almost dinnertime. She was just about to say something to Sadie when Millie and her mother appeared by her side.

  ‘Thought we’d surprise you,’ Millie announced. ‘We’ve been shopping for my wedding outfit.’

  ‘Oh, fabulous,’ Alice exclaimed. ‘What have you chosen?’

  ‘Just a simple dress and jacket in cream,’ Millie replied. ‘We want to get married on Valentine’s Day and churches don’t do weekday weddings so it’s at the same place you and Terry got married on Mount Pleasant. No point in having a long white dress for a civil ceremony. Besides which, I can always wear it again for special occasions.’

  ‘Sounds just the job,’ Alice said.

  ‘How did you go on this morning with Cathy?’

  ‘Oh, just fine, once we got there.’ Alice told Millie about Debbie, the new best friend, and how Cathy had taken control of things and taken Debbie under her wing.

  Millie laughed. ‘That’s my girl. Not much fazes our Cathy.’

  * * *

  Millie and Jimmy were married late afternoon on Valentine’s Day. They celebrated afterwards with a small buffet at Millie’s parents’ house. Because it was a Thursday, and most of their friends were working and couldn’t get the time off, the couple threw a party at the Legion the following Saturday night. Millie’s band friends came up to Liverpool from their London base and brought their instruments, and although nothing had been planned, an impromptu session was played with Millie singing and providing the entertainment at her own wedding party.

  Jimmy had only seen Millie singing with Alice and a piano accompaniment, and as she saw how impressed he looked by his new wife’s amazing talent Alice went over to him and whispered, ‘Don’t let her lose this, Jimmy. Don’t let it go to waste if you do go to Canada. Make sure she sings wherever she can.’ She patted his shoulder and carried some empties to the bar, where Jack Dawson was working. He winked at her and she smiled.

  ‘You okay, gel? I could say get behind here and give me a hand, but your hubby might not like it. We’re short-staffed tonight with you partying instead of working.’

  Alice laughed at his cheek. ‘I can’t be working at my best friend’s wedding,’ she said. ‘Anyway, bartender, get me a large sherry, a small gin and orange and a pint of your best mild ale, please.’

  Jack laughed. ‘You’ve been seeing too many American films at the flicks, lady. Bartender, indeed.’ He pulled Terry’s pint and then poured Alice’s sherry into a schooner. ‘Do you want a small shandy for your Brian? He looks bored to death sitting with your ma-in-law. I’ll stick a bit of extra gin in her glass; might put a smile on her face. Bit too uptight, that one. Always gives me a dirty look when she sees me. Think she has a notion that me and you might have got up to something naughty when I was walking you home in the blackout.’

  ‘Jack,’ Alice said, suppressing a giggle. ‘Behave yourself, and be careful in whose earshot you say things like that. You know how quickly rumours start around here.’

  Jack grinned and poured a small shandy for Brian. ‘Put hairs on his chest, this will. He’ll no doubt be doing a bit of courting soon. How old is he now?’

  ‘Fifteen this year. And don’t you be encouraging him. I want him to do well at school and not get involved with girls just yet.’

  Jack raised an amused eyebrow. ‘Boys will be boys. You can’t stop nature taking its course, gel.’ He put the filled glasses on a tray and carried them over to Alice’s family table.

  ‘Thanks, mate,’ Terry said, handing his mother her gin and orange. ‘Who’s that small one for?’

  ‘Brian,’ Jack replied.

  Brian’s face lit up and he took the glass Jack handed him.

  ‘I hope that’s not got alcohol in it,’ Granny Lomax said. ‘He’s far too young.’

  ‘Alcohol? Nah, not that you’d notice, Gran,’ Jack said, winking at Brian. ‘It’s mainly lemonade.’

  Jack went back to the bar as Granny Lomax stared after him, her lips pursed. ‘That young man is far too cocky and forward for his own good,’ she grumbled. ‘Oh, I know he’s a good friend of the pair of you.’ She looked at Alice and Terry. ‘But it gives me a bad feeling in here each time I see him.’ She patted her chest and picked up her drink.

  Terry shook his head. ‘Leave it alone, Mother. And you’d better get used to seeing Jack around because he’s coming over next week to help me get the bike on the road again.’

  * * *

  Alice had to prise Cathy from her bed on Monday morning. Her daughter wasn’t the best at getting up and on cold days she was worse than ever. But since starting school in January it had been a work of art trying to get her ready.

  ‘Come on, Cathy,’ Alice coaxed. ‘Debbie will be waiting for you by the gates. We can’t be late. Your chucky egg and toast is on the table with a nice cup of cocoa. And Granny said she’s baking a cake today, a chocolate one. When she picks you up from school I bet she’ll give you a piece with your glass of milk.’

  The mention of cake did the trick and Cathy shot out of bed and allowed Alice to dress her in her uniform.

  ‘Put your warm cardi on as well, it’s cold today,’ Alice said. ‘And it’s very icy outside again.’

  Downstairs in the warm back sitting room Cathy tucked into her breakfast while Alice did her makeup and hair, ready for going on to work after she’d dropped Cathy off. Both she and Sadie started at ten and finished at four. Lewis’s were very good at accommodating their working mothers with shifts that suited them best. Both children were picked up at three thirty by their respective grandmothers. By the time Alice had dashed over to Linnet Lane to get Cathy, she was always home when Brian got in from school. It was non-stop, but their hard work was paying off. She and Terry had replaced a lot of Mam’s old furniture and carpets in the last few months. They’d even bought a gramophone and some records. When the kids were out of the way, Cathy in bed and Brian studying, they often rolled back the hearth rug and had a dance. The house was Alice’s pride and joy and she loved cooking, cleaning and making everywhere look nice for her little family.

  Cathy dragged her feet on the short walk to school but as soon as she spotted Debbie, standing at the gates with her mother, she picked up speed and the two little girls ran off together happily. Clara shook her head.

  ‘Thank God for that. She was awful to get up this morning.’

  ‘So was Cathy,’ Alice said with a grin. ‘It’s Monday morning-itis, I think.’

  Sadie was saying goodbye to Gianni, who always ignored the little girls when he was with his pals. She joined Alice ready to run and catch the tram into the city.

  ‘Ready, gel?’

  ‘As I’ll ever be,’ Alice said, linking her arm through Sadie’s.

  ‘Hope it’s not too busy today,’ Sadie said. ‘I’ve got a banging headache.’

  ‘Have you? Why is that?’

  Sadie sighed. ‘Well, apart from my monthly, which always gives me a bad head, I heard yesterday that someone who knows my mam has seen a poster near Sefton Park, advertising that Romanos’ fair is coming to the area for Easter. I haven’t slept with worrying about it. My mam says I should take Gianni out of the city for a few days while it’s here. I’ve got an aunty in Chester who’ll let us stay with
her. Mam’s writing to her today. I can’t let Luca see Gianni. He might try and take him away. I couldn’t bear it. And I really can’t face seeing him either. I still love him, but I can’t do that lifestyle and watch him taking his life into his own hands every day. It’s not fair and it’s not right. So I need to be gone for a while.’

  ‘Oh, poor you,’ Alice said with a frown. ‘I understand though. You’re probably better out of the way.’

  Sadie nodded. ‘If I let Gianni see Luca again, he might not want to come home. The fairground will seem so exciting to him. It’s for the best.’

  ‘I agree,’ Alice said. ‘I’m dreading my Terry getting his bike up and running again. But I need to get used to it because he’s starting work on it soon with Jack. He’s got all the new parts he needs now,’ she finished as the tram trundled into view and the conductor shouted, ‘Ranelagh Street.’

  * * *

  Alice wound the three yards of narrow pink and white lace trimming she’d just cut for her customer around her fingers and popped it into a small paper bag.

  ‘And did you say a bobbin of white thread?’ she asked the tall woman, bending to take a box of assorted bobbins from under the counter.

  ‘Yes please, chuck,’ the woman replied. ‘I’ve just made a little underskirt and matching knickers from a length of parachute silk for my granddaughter’s birthday, but they look a bit too plain so a nice bit of lace will pretty them up.’

  ‘They’ll look lovely,’ Alice said, handing over the bag and giving the woman her change.

  ‘Doesn’t go far, does it?’ the woman said, pocketing what was left of her half crown. ‘Still, the silk was free so I mustn’t grumble. Thank you, gel. I’ll get on me way.’

  Alice smiled and said goodbye. She turned to Sadie, who was sorting out hanks of wool to go on the shelves.

  ‘That’s a nice shade of lemon.’ She picked up a hank. ‘Might get some of that and ask Terry’s mam to make a new cardi for Cathy.’

  ‘Well, there’s not a lot of that one, so don’t wait too long. I’ll put it at the back of a shelf just in case. Nearly break time. I could murder some toast and a gallon of coffee.’

  ‘Me too. How’s your headache?’

  ‘It’s going a bit now my mind’s occupied,’ Sadie replied. ‘I can’t help worrying though.’

  ‘I know.’ Alice rubbed her arm. ‘But try not to. I’m sure things will be fine. Take a couple of Aspros with your brew.’

  Sadie smiled. ‘I’ll give it a try, Nurse Lomax.’

  ‘Oh, if only.’ Alice sighed. ‘But one day that might be my Cathy’s title. Wouldn’t it be wonderful?’

  Sadie laughed. ‘Well, let’s just hope there are no more wars, and she doesn’t get involved with a lad before she gets the chance, eh?’ She looked at her watch. ‘Here’s our relief,’ she said as a blonde-haired, gangly girl made her way to the counter. ‘Let’s get that coffee, gel.’

  * * *

  Alice stifled a grin as she heard her mother-in-law shouting at Terry, Jack and Brian as they washed their hands at the kitchen sink in an effort to remove the thick oil and grease. It was Saturday afternoon and they’d all had their dinner here at Granny’s before the boys got to work on the motorbike. She looked up from her copy of Woman’s Weekly as Granny Lomax flounced into the sitting room and patted the sofa for Cathy to come and sit beside her.

  ‘I’ll read Cathy her story if you’ll make that dirty trio a cup of tea, Alice. And don’t give them my decent mugs. There are some older ones in the cupboard. There’s a piece of exhaust pipe on the draining board and an oily chain in the sink. Lord knows what will come inside next. I dread to think.’ She shuddered.

  Alice chuckled to herself as she walked into the kitchen. She gasped as she saw what had once been a spotless pink towel on the table, covered in oil.

  ‘Oh no! You lot are for it now. She’ll have your guts for garters. Get outside with your mucky boots and overalls and I’ll make you all a hot drink.’

  She shook her head as they trailed out of the kitchen, muttering something about women always being unreasonable for no good reason. Alice watched as they sat down on the garden bench and Jack offered his cigarettes round.

  She was about to bang on the window to tell him not to give one to Brian when she saw her brother accept and light up in a way that told her it wasn’t his first time. The look of bliss on his face as he closed his eyes and took a long drag made her smile. He was growing up and experimenting. But hopefully it didn’t mean he’d go off the rails. When he went to college next year he’d be mixing with all sorts who probably got up to all sorts, as well. Maybe it was time for Terry to have a man-to-man talk with him about being sensible with girls.

  When the tea was ready, she headed outside. Brian quickly hid his ciggie behind his back as Jack took a mug of tea from her and pulled a face. ‘This mug has got a chip on the rim,’ he said.

  Alice tutted. ‘Since when have you been so fussy, Jack Dawson? You three are not allowed the posh cups while you’ve still got oil on your hands. I’ve been told to hand out the old ones. Take it or leave it.’

  ‘Well I guess that puts us in our place, lads,’ Jack said with a grin. ‘Tradesmen’s entrance, chipped mugs! Don’t think your ma likes me very much, Terry.’

  ‘Nah, she loves you, mate,’ Terry said. ‘Just has a funny way of showing it.’

  ‘Right, well I’ll leave you comedians to it,’ Alice said. ‘And, Brian, you might want to rescue that ciggie from behind your back before you set fire to yourself! I’m taking Cathy back home now and getting her ready for bed. I’ll see you two later, and I’ll see you at the weekend, Jack.’

  * * *

  At the beginning of March the weather was still cold and warnings of fog and black ice on the roads made Alice feel glad that Terry’s bike was still not quite ready for regular riding.

  But as Alice was getting ready to take Cathy shopping on the Saturday morning, Terry announced that it was finished at last.

  ‘Jack’s doing the final brakes check this morning and then I’m taking it for a long spin,’ he said. ‘So don’t worry if I’m not back by the time you have to go to work. I know you’ve got a big wedding on tonight at the Legion, Jack told me. Leave Cathy with Brian if you need to get going. I’ll not be that much longer. Right, I’m off to my mother’s now to give the bike a once-over and a good polish. I’ll get a bite to eat there before I go for the test ride.’

  Alice sighed as he kissed her goodbye. ‘Please be careful, Terry. Watch out for any icy patches.’

  ‘I’ll be fine, stop worrying. Love you, see you later,’ he said as he went to let himself out, calling goodbye up the stairs to Brian and Cathy first.

  ‘Love you too,’ Alice said as she waved him off. She went back into the sitting room and finished doing her hair in front of the mirror over the mantelpiece and then called for Cathy to come and put her coat on.

  Down at the Lark Lane shops they bumped into Sadie and Gianni and had a cuppa in the small café at the side of the bakery.

  ‘You look mithered to death,’ Sadie said as she poured tea into two china cups from a little white tea pot while Alice buttered a toasted tea cake each. ‘What’s up?’

  Alice cut a jam tart in two and gave a piece each to Cathy and Gianni. She licked her sticky fingers and sighed. ‘Oh, nothing really. Just that Terry’s messing about with his bike again today and I hate it. But I’m trying not to think about it. I’m taking Cathy to get some sturdy new shoes. Her feet have grown, even since January, and she’s always complaining she’s freezing. Her little patent ankle straps look lovely with nice white socks, but they’re not really practical for this time of year. Don’t want her getting chilblains at this age.’

  ‘Oh no, you don’t want that. Chilblains can be so itchy and painful. We’ll come with you if you’re going into the city. I fancy a rummage around Paddy’s Market. I haven’t been for a while. The aunty I told you I’m going to stay with at Easter is a great seamstress, so
if I find anything I like she can make it fit me as though it were tailor-made. Do you fancy that, Gianni? Going shopping with Cathy and her mammy when we’ve finished here?’

  ‘Can I have a toy then?’ Gianni bargained, grinning at Cathy, who grinned back.

  ‘We’ll see. If you’re a good boy.’

  ‘An aeroplane?’ He stuck his arms out either side and made dive-bombing actions, complete with sound, rocking in his chair and making Cathy laugh even more.

  ‘I said we’ll see. Now finish your tart and milk and then I can wipe your mucky face before we go.’

  * * *

  After saying goodbye to Sadie and Gianni and carrying her bags of bargains and Cathy’s new shoes from the tram stop, Alice hurried back to Lucerne Street. It was late afternoon, starting to get dark and bitterly cold. Brian had banked up the fire in the back sitting room and announced he’d done all his homework as she came inside.

  She smiled and dropped her parcels on the sofa. ‘Good lad. Terry not back yet?’

  Brian shook his head, cleared his books off the table and carried them upstairs to his room.

  Alice heated the scouse she’d made last night and called Cathy and Brian to the table. She handed them laden plates and sliced some bread to mop up the gravy. She left the pair tucking into their meal while she went upstairs to get a quick wash and put her Legion uniform on. Downstairs, she brushed her hair in front of the mirror over the mantelpiece and glanced at the clock. It was almost half past five and Terry still wasn’t back. He knew she started work at six so could have made a bit of an effort to be back before she left, even though he’d told her not to worry if he wasn’t.

  ‘I’m leaving to go to work now,’ she told Brian. ‘Make sure Cathy brushes her teeth when she gets ready for bed. Terry shouldn’t be too long now. There’s a low light under what’s left of the scouse for his tea, Brian. But if he’s not back in another fifteen minutes, turn it off or it’ll catch the bottom of the pan. I’ll see you two in the morning. Be a good girl for Brian, Cathy. Now give Mammy a big kiss.’