MB03 - Sweet Rosie O’Grady

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Will yer ask Tilly Mint to move out of the way, then?’ Tommy’s voice was gruff.

  ‘Come on, Rosie,’ Molly pulled gently on her arm. ‘Me ma’s wondering where yer are.’

  ‘I’ll come then, Auntie Molly, ’cos I wouldn’t be wantin’ me auntie Bridget to be worried.’ She stood up and looked back at Tommy. ‘I’ll see yer later, Tommy.’

  ‘Not if I see yer first, yer won’t.’ It was said quietly, but Molly heard and smiled. Life was going to be very interesting with these two at loggerheads. Still, there was never a dull moment.

  ‘Who’s going to give us the first song?’ Corker asked. ‘Let’s have one of the ladies first, eh? What about you, Bridie me darlin’?’

  ‘I’ll give yer a song later,’ Bridie smiled, ‘when yer’ve all had a few more drinks.’

  ‘I’ll sing for yer, Uncle Corker,’ Rosie said. ‘But I only know Irish songs.’

  ‘As long as yer can sing, we don’t care where the songs come from.’

  Molly looked at her mother and mouthed, Can she sing?

  Bridie shrugged to say she didn’t know.

  ‘Of course I can sing!’ Rosie’s head went back and her clear laughter filled the room. ‘Sure can’t everyone in the whole world sing?’

  ‘I can’t!’ Steve said.

  ‘Me neither,’ Phil admitted.

  George couldn’t resist. ‘My wife can’t, either! Voice like a foghorn, she’s got.’

  Molly swiftly put a hand across Nellie’s mouth. ‘Don’t take it to heart, sunshine, some of us like foghorns.’

  Corker pulled Ellen from the couch and sat her on his knee. ‘Right, Rosie O’Grady, let’s be havin’ yer.’

  Without a trace of shyness, Rosie began. And as her clear, sweet voice filled the air, a silence descended.

  ‘Come back Paddy Riley, to Ballyjamesduff,

  Come back Paddy Riley to me.

  The whole world’s a garden of Eden they say,

  And I know the lie of it still …’

  In the kitchen, a glass of shandy in his hand, Tommy pulled a face. ‘I wish she’d go back to this Ballyjamesduff, wherever it is, an’ give us a bit of peace.’

  ‘Oh, go ’way, Tommy,’ Ginger said. ‘I think she’s got a crackin’ voice.’

  ‘It’s crackin’ all right,’ Tommy growled. ‘Crackin’ me flippin’ head in two.’

  As Bridie listened to the sweet voice singing a song she hadn’t heard in years, memories came flooding back, bringing tears to her eyes. She felt her husband’s hand cover hers and knew that, as always, he was conscious of her sadness. She turned to the man she’d loved for over forty years, and as she gazed at his dear face she knew that, if she had to choose between the land she loved or the man she loved, the man would be an easy winner.

  When the song came to an end, there was complete silence. Everyone had been affected by the purity of the voice and the poignant words of a song most of them had never heard before. Then, as though they had collectively cleared their minds, they all started to clap.

  Nellie, always a sucker for sentiment, sniffed. ‘After that, I agree I do have a voice like a foghorn.’

  ‘Well, Rosie O’Grady, ye’re goin’ to be a hard act to follow.’ Corker gave her a broad wink. ‘Yer voice is as bonny as yer face, me darlin’.’

  ‘Mike can sing,’ Sammy said. ‘He’ll give yer a song.’

  ‘You can get lost!’ Mike huffed. ‘I can’t sing!’

  ‘Yes, yer can!’ Sammy insisted. ‘Don’t be so miserable! If I had a voice like yours, I’d be glad to sing.’

  ‘Come on, Mike,’ Doreen coaxed. ‘You start an’ we’ll all join in.’

  ‘Oh, OK, but don’t say I didn’t warn yez.’ Mike cleared his throat. ‘What shall I sing?’

  ‘D’yer know “Girl of My Dreams”?’ Phil asked, pulling Doreen closer.

  Mike nodded, his face flushed with embarrassment. ‘Don’t forget to help me out if I get stuck.’ He cleared his throat again, then began.

  ‘Girl of my dreams I love you, honest I do, you are so sweet,

  If I could just hold your charms, again in my arms

  Then life would be complete.’

  Doreen and Mo stood with their eyes and mouths wide. They’d worked with this lad for two years, been out with him and Sammy dozens of times, and never knew he had such a fine voice! And to think all the girls at work called him ‘shy Mike’! They’d get their eye wiped if they could hear him now.

  ‘Shall we dance?’ Phil whispered. ‘We could try the hall.’

  ‘Yeah, come on.’ Doreen led him by the hand, saying to Mike, ‘Sing it again, will yer Mike, so we can have a waltz?’

  Mike got a very good reception when the song came to an end, and there were calls for an encore. He refused at first, but was talked into it. ‘OK, just one more.’

  ‘Hang on a minute Mike,’ Molly said. ‘Let’s get some of these chairs into the kitchen and we can all have a dance.’

  The men quickly cleared the room, then Corker said he had a request and whispered in Mike’s ear. ‘Sweet Rosie O’Grady, she’s my little rose, And we will be married, that everyone knows.’

  Molly went round pulling everyone to their feet. ‘Come on, get in there and shake a leg.’

  Everyone partnered off except Rosie, and she wasn’t having any of that! So she marched into the kitchen where Tommy and Ginger were leaning against the draining board. ‘Will yer dance with me, Tommy?’

  ‘I can’t dance.’

  ‘Sure everyone can dance!’ Rosie wasn’t easily put off. ‘All yer have to do is put one foot in front of the other.’

  Tommy didn’t even look up. ‘I can’t dance, an’ I won’t dance! So will yer leave me alone?’

  Ginger and Tommy had been friends since the day they’d started school together, and they’d never had a falling-out. But right now Ginger felt like thumping his friend. ‘I’ll dance with yer, Rosie. Mind you, yer’ll have to show me what to do.’

  ‘That’s kind of yer, Ginger, an’ it’s thankful I am to yer.’ She took his hand like a child and together they edged their way into the room heaving with bodies. ‘You put yer hand on me waist, Ginger, an’ I put my hand on yer shoulder. Then we’ll just watch what the others do an’ follow suit.’

  Corker had seen Rosie go into the kitchen and knew what her mission was. When he saw her emerge with Ginger, he couldn’t help but chuckle. That Tommy was a stubborn bugger all right. Rosie would have her work cut out with him. But this song had been requested especially for her, and by golly, Corker was going to make sure she enjoyed it. He waited until Mike finished singing and the couples left the centre of the room, then he whispered in Ellen’s ear before catching hold of Rosie. ‘Let you an’ me show them how it’s done, my little Irish colleen.’

  Singing at the top of his voice ‘Sweet Rosie O’Grady’, Corker swung her round and round, her laughter and obvious pleasure bringing a smile to all those who watched. Then they all joined in the singing until the rafters rang.

  In the kitchen, Tommy stood alone, his empty glass in his hand. He was missing all the fun and it was his own fault. He knew he shouldn’t have been so rude to Rosie, but she’d embarrassed him so much on the night they met, he was terrified of her. Not that he would admit it to anyone – they’d think he was a cissy. And now here he was, stuck in the kitchen while they were all enjoying themselves.

  But Tommy was in the thoughts of both Bridie and Molly. Bridie loved her grandson dearly and was upset that he wasn’t having a good time with the rest of them. Upset, too, that Rosie had caused the trouble. But there was no harm in the girl, she was still only a child in her ways. Tommy would get used to her eventually, but it was a shame he wasn’t in here laughing and singing with everyone.

  ‘Molly, me darlin’.’ Bridie beckoned her daughter over. ‘Will yer try an’ get Tommy to come in?’

  ‘I was just going to, Ma.’ Molly clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. ‘I feel sorry for him bec
ause he’s a shy lad, an’ I’d rather he was like that than be a ruffian. But sometimes he can be so stubborn he cuts his nose to spite his face! Anyway, I’ll get him in here one way or the other.’

  It was easier than she thought it would be. Acting as though there was nothing amiss, Molly sailed into the kitchen. ‘Will yer do us a favour, sunshine? You see if any of the ladies want their glasses filling, an’ I’ll ask Ginger to see to the men. OK?’

  ‘Yeah, OK, Mam.’ Tommy put his glass on the draining board and followed her into the room, making for the woman who, after his mam, he loved most in the whole world. ‘D’yer want another sherry, Nan?’

  ‘Just half a glass, son, no more.’ Bridie smiled up at him. ‘Yer wouldn’t like to see me drunk, would yer?’

  Nellie had her ear cocked. ‘Don’t be givin’ me no half glass, Tommy Bennett, or I’ll clock yer one. Fill mine right up to the brim, d’yer hear?’

  Nellie’s appearance had deteriorated somewhat during the course of the evening. Even though she’d put up with the pain of sleeping in her dinky curlers all night, and worn them all day under her scarf, the curls she had arrived with were long gone, and her straggly hair was hanging limp around her face. And because she didn’t believe in being uncomfortable if she didn’t have to be, when her corns started giving her gyp she discarded her shoes and was in her stockinged feet.

  Tommy grinned down at her as he took her empty glass. ‘I heard yer, Auntie Nellie. In fact, I think the whole street heard yer.’

  ‘Ay, don’t get cocky with me, Tommy Bennett! You just remember, we’ve got your posh table in our ’ouse.’

  Molly’s head appeared over Tommy’s shoulder. ‘What’s this about me posh table?’

  ‘You haven’t brought your kids up proper, yer know, girl! I’ve just been gettin’ a load of old buck off your Tommy, an’ I warned him that if there was any more of it, I’d accidentally on purpose stand me boiling kettle on yer posh table.’

  Victoria Clegg and Bridie exchanged glances and grinned. It was a treat when Molly and Nellie started one of their slanging matches.

  ‘You do that, Nellie McDonough, an’ yer’ll live to rue the day.’ Molly managed to keep her face straight. ‘You just mark my words.’

  ‘Oh ay, an’ whose army are yer callin’ in to help yer, girl?’ Nellie pushed her short sleeves higher up her arms before putting her hands on her hips in a fighting stance. ‘Yer couldn’t tackle me on yer own ’cos I’d only have to blow on yer an’ yer’d end up on yer backside.’ By now the room was quiet as everyone listened with grins on their faces.

  ‘Oh, I’m not daft enough to come to fisticuffs with yer!’ Molly bared her teeth. ‘Oh, no, that’s just not my style. All I’ll do is tell everyone yer little secret an’ yer’d never be able to show yer face in the street again.’

  ‘Oh ay? An’ what secret is that, pray?’ Nellie pushed her face to within an inch of Molly’s. ‘I ain’t got no secrets, yer see, so do yer damnedest, girl.’

  ‘That’s what you think! Now I’m not one to embarrass a friend in front of company, but yer are askin’ for it, sunshine! What was it yer were buyin’ at the market stall when yer got yer purse pinched?’

  Nellie looked puzzled. ‘Yer know what I was buying.’

  ‘Yeah, an’ yer didn’t get them, did yer? Which means yer haven’t got none!’

  The penny dropped, and Nellie’s tummy started to shake. She knew she’d be in trouble with George if she carried on, but what the hell, it was only in fun. ‘Ay, girl, don’t tell them that or they’ll all be lookin’ up me clothes when I bend down.’

  It was Corker who asked, ‘What was she buyin’ at the market that she didn’t get?’

  Molly hesitated, looking first at her friend. ‘Shall I?’

  ‘Yeah, go on.’

  ‘She was buyin’ knickers, but ended up not getting them. So me mate, sittin’ here in all her finery and givin’ the pay-out, is absolutely knickerless!’

  George’s laugh was as loud as anyone’s and Nellie breathed a sigh of relief. Not that she was afraid of her husband, but he had no sense of humour did George, an’ it was difficult to argue with someone who had no ruddy sense of humour.

  It was two o’clock when they joined hands to form a circle around Molly and Jack to sing ‘For They are Jolly Good Fellows’. And Tommy will never know how he came to be standing next to a very happy-looking Rosie, and holding her hand.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘Thanks, Mrs B., it’s been a terrific night.’ Maureen stood between Sammy and Mike, her arms linked through theirs. ‘I’ve had the time of me life.’

  ‘I don’t think anyone could say they didn’t enjoy it,’ Mike said. ‘It was the best party I’ve ever been to.’

  ‘Yer can say that again.’ Sammy’s white teeth gleamed in the darkness. ‘Thanks for havin’ us, Mrs B.’

  ‘Yer were more than welcome.’ Molly smiled down at them. She was feeling dead tired but it was a pleasant tiredness. It really had been one hell of a party. ‘We’ll see yer again some time.’

  Doreen and Phil were standing behind Molly, and Doreen leaned her chin on her mother’s shoulder. ‘You were a turn-up for the books, Mike! Wait till I tell the girls at work how good yer sing – they’ll have yer serenading them in the dinner-break.’

  Phil slipped past Molly to join the threesome on the pavement. He shook hands with each of them, saying, ‘I’m relying on you three to keep an eye on Doreen for me, so don’t let me down. We’ll get together again next time I’m on leave, eh?’

  ‘You take care of yerself, Phil, and come home soon.’ Maureen swallowed the lump in her throat, knowing it was useless to wish for someone she could never have. Phil only had eyes for Doreen. ‘We’d better be on our way: we’ve a long walk in front of us. It’s a good job it’s Sunday and we don’t have to go to work.’

  They’d only gone a few steps and Molly was giving a last wave when her parents came along the hall, followed by Rosie. ‘We’ll be on our way, lass,’ Bob said, helping his wife down the step. ‘I’m sorry we’re leaving you with a right mess on yer hands, but there’s not much we can do.’

  ‘Don’t worry about the mess, Da, it won’t take long to clear up with all the gang to help.’ She chuckled. ‘Nellie McDonough ain’t getting out of this door until me house is back to normal. She can have her first lesson in the hard part of being a hostess.’

  Bridie kissed her cheek. ‘Goodnight and God bless, me darlin’, and thank you for a lovely party.’

  ‘Yes, Auntie Molly, I’ll be thankin’ yer as well.’ Rosie flung her arms around Molly’s neck. ‘Sure, wasn’t it as good as any ceilidh we’ve ever had at home?’

  ‘Thank you, sunshine, I’m glad you enjoyed it.’ Molly kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll be around to see yer on Monday … if I’ve got over me hangover.’

  ‘Well, now, I might not be in on Monday, Auntie Molly, ’cos Auntie Bridget is taking me down to the Labour Exchange to see about getting a job. It’s time I was working, so it is.’

  ‘Then you call here an’ let me know how you get on.’ Molly edged her way back to the step. ‘I’ll leave yer to say goodnight to Doreen an’ Phil and get back to me guests before Jack thinks I’ve run off with the milkman.’

  The men, including Tommy and Ginger, were standing in the middle of the room where Corker was giving them the benefit of his views on Hitler.

  ‘My God,’ Molly stood with her feet apart and her hands on her hips, ‘will yez look at the state of this place an’ you lot have got nothin’ better to do than stand around talkin’ about some little upstart with a stupid moustache, who walks around with his arm in the air and his feet doin’ the goose-step! If yez don’t move yerselves quick, I’ll start a ruddy war of me own!’

  ‘I told them, girl.’ Nellie was perched on one of the straight chairs, positioned near Miss Clegg, Ellen and Maisie. ‘I said to them, “Just wait until the ’ostess gets back, there’ll be merry hell to pay.” But would they listen? Would
they hell’s like … said they weren’t frightened of you ’cos ye’re all talk.’

  Corker’s laugh boomed. ‘Nellie, yer’d start a fight in an empty house, you would!’

  Nellie rested her chin on a hand, grimacing as she pretended to concentrate. After a while she said, ‘Ye’re wrong there, Corker, ’cos that would be an, er … an, er … oh what’s the word I’m lookin’ for, girl? You know, when something can’t be done?’

  ‘Yer mean an impossibility, do yer, Nellie?’

  ‘That’s the word!’ When she grinned, Nellie’s eyes sank into folds of flesh. ‘Yer know, I should write all these big words down in case I ever need them again.’

  Molly let her breath out slowly. ‘Nellie, what is an impossibility?’

  ‘What Corker said, of course!’

  ‘Nellie, it’s such a long time since Corker opened his mouth, we’ve all forgotten what he said.’

  ‘He said I could start a fight in an empty house.’ Nellie wagged a finger at the big man. ‘That’s what yer said, isn’t it? Well that’s an impossibility. ’Cos if I was in the house, it wouldn’t be empty, would it?’

  ‘Nellie,’ Corker chuckled as he stroked his beard. ‘I didn’t think yer had the brains to figure that out.’

  ‘Don’t encourage her, Corker, for God’s sake, or we’ll be here until this time tomorrow. Let’s start clearin’ some of this mess up.’ Molly’s eyes lit on Tommy’s friend. ‘Ginger, you should be home in bed by now, yer mam will wonder what sort of a house I’m keeping. And Tommy, you may as well pop off to bed as well. If we can get rid of a few bodies, we might be able to see the floor.’

  When Phil and Doreen came in, Victoria looked relieved. She’d had a lovely time, but she was feeling very tired now and her bed was calling. ‘Will you take me across, Phil, I’m ready for bye-byes.’

  ‘Mam, can I go across with them?’ Doreen asked. ‘I won’t stay long.’

  Molly could hear dishes being washed in the kitchen and knew that Jill and Steve were busy. She really should make Doreen stay and do her share but it would be a bit mean, seeing as it was Phil’s last night. And she wasn’t so old that she’d forgotten how it was when she and Jack were courting and seeking a bit of privacy. ‘OK, but half an hour at the most.’