by Joan Jonker
‘Before yer go, love, could yer lend me sixpence until I get paid?’ John’s mouth was dry with nerves. He hated himself for having to tell his wife a lie, but he’d lost his tram fare on the horses. The bloke in work who collected the bets had said he’d been given a tip on a horse that was a dead cert to win. Like a fool, John had put a whole shilling on it and the flaming horse hadn’t come anywhere! In fact, it was probably still running. He’d never do it again, he promised himself, he was finished with the gee-gees. ‘I must have lost a tanner somewhere, or else there’s a hole in the lining of me coat pocket.’
‘I haven’t got one to spare,’ Kate told him. ‘I’ll barely manage until Saturday as it is. If I lend you any money the family will go short on food.’
‘If yer could lend me tuppence for the tram to get me there and back, that would help me out. I could borrow a few coppers off one of me workmates to keep me going until Saturday.’
‘Don’t yer start borrowing from yer workmates, they’ll think ye’re a scrounger. I’d rather borrow it off one of my mates instead.’ Kate undid her pinny and began to fold it. ‘I’ll have a look at yer coat when I come back, see if yer’ve got a hole in the pocket.’
‘I had a look, love, but couldn’t see one. I might have pulled the tanner out with me hankie or something.’ John could feel his colour rising and hung his head in shame. ‘I’ll give it yer back on Saturday, love.’
‘Yer better had, ’cos it’s a struggle every week as it is. I’m not moaning, I know yer work hard, sunshine, and yer keep very little back from yer wages, but we can’t afford for you to be losing sixpence very often.’ He looked so unhappy, Kate’s heart went out to him. ‘Cheer up, it can’t be helped, we’ll get over it.’
‘I’m thirteen in June, Mam, then I’ll only have one more year at school before I start work,’ Nancy said. ‘Yer won’t know ye’re born when I start bringing a wage in.’
‘I’m looking forward to it, sunshine. And when our Billy leaves school we’ll be rolling in dough. No more being skint, or robbing Peter to pay Paul. I might even be able to buy meself a fur coat.’ Kate laughed. ‘Can yer imagine me, or anyone else for that matter, walking down this street in a fur coat?’ She put a hand on her hip and walked across the room with a very exaggerated swagger. ‘I’d be a laughing stock.’
‘No, yer wouldn’t, Mam,’ Billy said, while thinking he’d thump anyone who laughed at his mother. ‘Yer’d look like a film star.’
‘Oh, yeah, I don’t think!’ Kate ruffled his hair as she passed. ‘Anyway, I’m off to see Winnie, I’ll not be long.’
To say that Winifred Cartwright was surprised to see her when she opened the door would be an understatement. She received so few visitors it was a treat to say, ‘Come in, queen, this is a lovely surprise.’
‘I’m not stopping yer from doing something, I hope? I can always come back if it’s not a convenient time?’
‘I’ve got all the time in the world, queen, so don’t be worrying. Sit yerself down and make yerself at home.’
Kate looked around the room which was spotless, not a thing out of place, and the hearth and all the furniture polished so you could see your face in them. ‘Yer keep yer house nice, Winnie, I must say. Mine looks a tip compared to this.’
‘Ah, yes, queen, but there’s no one to make mine untidy. I’m on me own here, and I’m inclined to be a fuss-pot, as my dear husband used to say. I’m up and down like a yo-yo, don’t give a spot of dust time to settle. Sometimes I get on me own nerves.’ Winnie suddenly covered her mouth with a hand. ‘I’ve just thought on, I haven’t got me teeth in.’
‘I’m so used to seeing yer without them, sunshine, I wouldn’t have even noticed.’ Kate was telling herself to get on with it. ‘I hope yer won’t be annoyed with me over what I’m going to ask yer, and if yer don’t want to tell me I won’t mind. Just tell me to get lost.’
‘Until I know what it is, queen, then I can’t say. But I can’t see meself ever telling you to get lost, so get it off yer chest.’
‘It was what yer said about Betty’s daughter. I wondered if yer had any reason for saying what yer did?’
‘Forget it, queen, I should have kept me big mouth shut. I felt like kicking meself all the way home for letting me tongue run away with me. I didn’t mean nothing by it, so yer’d best forget it, Kate.’
‘There is a reason for me asking this, Winnie, a really important reason. I’ll tell you about it later, perhaps, if what yer tell me has any bearing on it. In any case, I promise that whatever yer tell me won’t be repeated if yer don’t want it to be.’
The little woman let out a deep sigh. ‘I’m probably old-fashioned but I don’t like to see youngsters messing around with each other in a dark entry. That’s why I said someone should tell the girl’s mother what she’s up to. Yer see, queen, I nip down to the corner pub every night just before closing time for a pint of milk stout. I use the entry and wrap me knitted shawl around me so no one will see the jug I’m carrying. Anyway, one night, oh, it must be a few weeks ago now, I’d let meself out of the yard door when I heard voices. I could see a couple against the wall, and from the lamp at the top of the entry I could see who they were. I was so disgusted, I turned back up the yard and went out of the front door.’
‘Were the couple doing something they shouldn’t have been, sunshine?’
Winnie’s eyes went to the floor. ‘They were, queen, and it fair upset me. I asked meself what the world was coming to.’
‘I’ll tell yer what I know now, Winnie, and then I’m going to ask yer one more question.’ Kate leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. ‘Margaret Blackmore is expecting a baby, and her family are out of their minds. The boy Margaret said is the father is denying all knowledge of it and his family won’t even listen. Betty and Jack Blackmore are worried sick with the shame of it. I feel heartily sorry for them.’
‘And yer want to know the name of the lad I saw her with in the entry? Is that it, queen?’
‘I don’t want yer to get involved with anything yer don’t want to be involved in, sunshine, so it’s up to you. Margaret says she’s only been out with one boy, on two occasions, and her family believe her ’cos she’s never lied to them before and is actually a very shy girl. But now she’s ruined her own life and her family’s. And of course the baby’s. It won’t have a father’s name on its birth certificate.’
‘They’re a good family, queen, I’ve known them twenty years. And I’m sorry about what yer’ve told me ’cos Betty Blackmore doesn’t deserve that kind of worry. Will yer tell me the name of the boy Margaret says is responsible?’
‘Greg Corbett.’
‘That’s him, queen. That’s the lad I saw her with, no doubt about it. He lives three streets away and I know his mother from seeing her at the shops. I’ve had many a chat with her and she’s not a bad person. Her name’s Maude, and the husband is Albert.’
‘But are yer sure they were up to no good when yer saw them in the entry?’ Kate asked. ‘I’d hate to point the finger of blame at the wrong lad, ’cos his life could be ruined. He says he kissed her, but that’s all.’
‘They were doing more than kissing when I saw them, queen. The girl’s clothes had been pulled up and I could see the tops of her legs. There’s nothing wrong with my eyesight. I didn’t hear her saying anything, it was the boy doing all the talking, telling her there was nothing to worry about, it would be all right. That’s all I heard, queen. I couldn’t get away quick enough, I was that disgusted.’
Kate sighed. ‘I think Betty should be told this, it would be a crime not to. But how to go about it I have no idea. I don’t want to drag you into it.’
‘Couldn’t yer say someone had seen them in the entry but yer didn’t want to give their name unless the boy denied it? Then I would come forward, queen, because he shouldn’t be allowed to get off scot-free, leaving the girl with all the worry and shame.’ Winnie shook her head. ‘I couldn’t have that on me conscience, I’d never
live with meself.’
‘I’ll have to give it a lot of thought before I do anything, sunshine, in case I blunder in where I’m not wanted. It’s a delicate subject and needs to be handled with care, or it could cause holy murder.’
‘You do what yer think best, queen, and I’ll go along with yer. I know whatever yer do will be the best for all concerned.’ The little woman seemed to spring off the chair, her movement was so quick. ‘And now, seeing as ye’re a guest in my house, I’ll offer yer a nice cup of tea.’
Kate grinned up at her. ‘And I’ll accept, thank you! I take one sugar and just a spot of milk, please, if yer don’t mind.’
‘Coming up, queen, coming up.’
Kate wrapped her arms around herself as she hurried up the entry. It had been a lovely day but now there was a definite chill in the air. There was a chill in her heart, too, because of the knowledge she now had. What on earth could she do that wouldn’t cause hurt and shame to two families? Then, as she lifted the latch on the back door, she told herself firmly that it wouldn’t be a case of bringing hurt and shame to two families, more like those families sharing the hurt and shame brought about by the actions of their children.
John heard the kitchen door close and glanced at the clock. ‘I thought yer said yer wouldn’t be long!’
‘I know, but Winnie made me a cup of tea and I didn’t like rushing out. She doesn’t get many visitors, she was glad of the company.’
‘What did yer want to see her about? I didn’t think yer were that friendly with her?’
‘Good grief, John, anyone would think I’d been gone all day! And what I wanted to see Winnie about was women’s talk, yer wouldn’t be interested. For your information, while we don’t live in each other’s pockets, I’ve been friendly with Winnie for years.’ Kate studied her husband through narrowed eyes. ‘What’s got into yer, anyway? Yer sound like a bear with a ruddy sore head! Don’t tell me yer’ve missed me, ’cos yer usually sit with yer head stuck in the Echo and don’t even notice whether I’m here or not.’
‘I didn’t get an Echo tonight, I couldn’t afford one.’ John forced a smile although his heart was heavy. ‘And I’m not like a bear with a sore head. More like a man who was missing his wife and wanting her home.’
‘We’ll have less of yer flattery if yer don’t mind, I’m getting a bit too old for that. And it’s coming to something if yer can’t even afford a penny to buy a paper, isn’t it?’
‘I told yer I’d lost sixpence and it’s left me skint. I’ll be all right when I get paid on Saturday, I can straighten meself up.’
‘Don’t forget I’ll sort yer out with yer tram fare, I’ll cadge it off Monica. So don’t borrow off any of yer workmates, it’s belittling.’
‘Don’t be soft, love, all the lads borrow off each other. There’s no harm in it.’
‘I’m asking yer not to, so don’t do it, even if it’s only to pacify me.’ Kate looked at the clock. ‘It’s time our Billy was in. I’ll give him a shout before I make yer a drink.’
Kate couldn’t concentrate on anything that night because her mind was full of what she’d been told by Winnie. She couldn’t sit back and say nothing, even though that was what she’d like to do. The situation was too serious for that. She could imagine what it would be like in the Blackmore house right now: worry, tears and tension. If she could only find the right way to do it, she could relieve some of that worry and tension. It meant making another family unhappy, but so be it. It took two people to make a baby, and those two, plus their parents, would have to do what was right.
Kate tossed and turned in bed, sleep eluding her because her brain was racing. In the end she decided she couldn’t manage this on her own, she had to confide in someone. And the one person she knew who would tell her straight what she thought should be done was her best mate Monica. She was the one person to be trusted not to repeat anything she heard.
‘Yes, that’s what I’ll do,’ Kate muttered softly, the sheet over her mouth muffling her words so as not to waken her husband. Once that decision had been reached, a weight seemed to be lifted from her shoulders. Kate felt herself drifting off to sleep with John’s arm across her body as though protecting her.
Chapter Four
Kate got herself into a real flap the next morning, wanting badly to open her heart to Monica so she wasn’t carrying the burden alone. But she was being kept back by slow-coach Billy, who dawdled over everything. Nancy was no bother, she got herself washed, dressed and had her breakfast without any fuss at all. After she’d kissed her mother before leaving for school, she would knock next door for her best friend Dolly. They always gave themselves plenty of time so they wouldn’t be rushing at the last minute to get to the school gates before they closed. Their school reports always gave them good marks for punctuality.
But Billy was a different kettle of fish. He would dilly-dally over every task, getting washed, dressed, and chewing his toast as though he had all the time in the world. And because Kate was eager for him to leave that particular morning, he seemed to be doing everything in slow motion. ‘Billy, if yer don’t get a move on I’m going to get really annoyed with yer. It’s the same every morning, yer’ve got me nerves wrecked.’
‘I always get to school on time!’ He thought his mother was making a big fuss over nothing. ‘Me and Pete run like whippets all the way.’
‘That’s as maybe, but yer keep me behind with me work.’ Kate was pushing him towards the door as he was putting his coat on. ‘I’ve got a message to go on this morning and I don’t want to be late.’
This turned out to be the wrong thing to say because curiosity stopped the lad in his tracks. ‘Where are yer going?’
‘Never you mind, it would be of no interest to yer.’ Kate cupped his face and gave him a kiss. ‘Run along, and remember, I love the bones of yer.’
Billy grinned. ‘I love the bones of you, too, Mam, but I love the rest of yer as well.’
‘Away with yer.’ Kate gave him a playful clip over his ear. ‘Pete will be waiting.’
Sure enough he was, showing his impatience by passing the time kicking the front doorstep. ‘Yer’ll have no toes left in those shoes, Pete,’ Kate said, eyeing the scuff marks on the toe-cap. ‘Yer mam would have yer life if she saw yer.’
‘Nah! I’ll cover them over with black shoe polish,’ Pete said, as though he’d just solved one of life’s problems. ‘She won’t notice.’
Kate made herself wait until they’d reached the top of the street and turned to wave. Then she flew back inside the house and set to with a vengeance. The grate didn’t take long because the fire was only lit for a couple of hours yesterday to warm the place up, so there weren’t many ashes to take out to the bin set in the entry wall. The table was cleared in no time, and the dishes washed. And never had the furniture been dusted so quickly. As she moved the duster over the sideboard, Kate told it, ‘It’s only a cat’s lick and a promise today, but I’ll give yer a good going over tomorrow.’
By the time she was finished making the beds, she was puffing and blowing. So she made herself sit down until her heart stopped beating like mad. ‘I’d have been better off keeping me nose out of it,’ she told the empty room. ‘I’ve given meself worries I could do without.’ She sat for a few minutes until her breathing was back to normal, then she got to her feet. ‘I’ll see what Monica has to say. If she thinks I should stay out of it, then that’s what I’ll do.’ But even as she spoke, Kate knew she wouldn’t walk away from this particular problem because too many people were being hurt and their lives ruined.
It was a nice sunny morning so she didn’t bother with a coat. She knocked on the wall dividing the two houses to let her friend know she was coming, then went out the back way, leaving the kitchen door on the latch.
‘In the name of God, yer must have been up with the lark!’ Monica’s nose was itchy, and when pulling faces didn’t help matters, she wiped the bottom of her nose with a soot-covered hand. ‘I hope ye’re not r
eady for the shops, girl, ’cos I’m not halfway through me work yet! And don’t tell me yer’ve done your house from top to bottom, ’cos I know bleeding well that yer can’t have done.’
Kate ran a hand down her pinny. ‘Do I look as though I’m ready for the shops? And all me house has had, for your information, is a quick flick of the duster. I’ve got more important things on me mind than housework, and I think yer’ll be very interested in what I’ve got to tell yer. It kept me awake half the night, tossing and turning.’
Monica looked from her dirty hands to the hearth, which needed wiping down with a wet cloth. ‘Whatever it was what kept yer awake, was it exciting? I mean, shall I put the kettle on so I can sit down with a well-earned cuppa and be all ears?’
‘That’s a good idea, sunshine, I could just do with a cup of tea.’ Kate followed her neighbour into the kitchen. ‘I haven’t had a proper drink all morning, I just managed a few sips while I was making the kids’ toast.’
‘You get the cups down while I rinse me hands.’ Monica picked up the scrap of carbolic soap which was all that was left. ‘Remind me to get some soap when we go to the shops, and a packet of Rinso. I’ve got a pile of clothes to put in steep tonight.’ She turned the tap off and reached for the piece of towel that was hanging on a hook behind the door. ‘If this bit of news of yours doesn’t fill me full of excitement, or thrill me to pieces, then I’ll strangle yer for stopping me getting on with me work.’
‘Oh, I think what I’ve got to tell yer will be enough excitement to last yer a couple of weeks.’ Kate nodded. ‘Yes, I think I can safely say the surprise will knock yer off yer chair.’
