by Joan Jonker
‘Don’t push yer luck,’ Tom said, while his eyes told her he loved the bones of her. ‘If there’s any change, I’d like it back.’
Monica was on her way out when she answered, ‘Oh, I think I can safely say there won’t be any change, lad, not even a ha’penny.’
Kate was shaking her head in wonder when her friend stepped into the street. ‘Yer’d get away with murder, you would. And although I know yer were being sarcastic to Tom, yer do have a husband in a million, but yer don’t appreciate him! It would be no use me asking John for two bob any time, ’cos he wouldn’t have it. The poor bloke works all week and doesn’t see much for it at the end.’
They began to walk up the street to the main road. ‘I’m fed up telling yer that we’re a bit better off than you ’cos we’ve only got one child!’ Monica was wearing a cotton floral dress with a scooped neck, and looked nice and cool. ‘I mean, your Billy can eat nearly as much as a man, and look at the trousers he goes through! One extra in the house can make a hell of a lot of difference.’
Kate, also in a cotton floral dress, gave her friend a slight dig in the ribs. ‘Ah, but I’ll see the difference when my two are working. I’ll have the laugh on you then.’
Although they saw each other every day, the two mates always found something to talk about and the conversation never stopped until they stepped off the tram near the market. ‘My God, have yer seen the crowds!’ Kate’s mouth gaped. ‘We’ll get trampled to death!’
‘The nice weather brings them all out,’ Monica said knowingly. ‘It’s better than looking through yer window on to a yard. Anyway, let’s push our way through until we see a stall selling ladies’ clothes. I fancy a nice blouse in a blue or lilac.’ And Monica didn’t let anyone stand in her path. If she wanted a blouse, a blouse she would have, come hell or high water.
Kate got behind her and held on to her waist. ‘Go on, sunshine, I’m right behind yer.’ Being at the back of her mate, she didn’t see the angry glares directed their way from people who hadn’t come to buy but to meander at will. Fresh air was what they were after, not to be pushed aside by a woman who was hell-bent on reaching a stall.
‘Here yer are, girl, dresses and blouses galore.’ Monica pulled her friend round to the side of her. ‘Feast yer eyes on them and take yer pick.’
‘I’ll find out the prices before I get me hopes up.’ Kate spotted a pile of boys’ summer shirts. ‘Can yer see how much it says on that card by the boys’ shirts?’
‘One and three, girl. Now that’s not at all bad, is it?’ The woman standing next to Monica wouldn’t have any difficulty remembering how she got her bruises when she got undressed that night. Whether her husband would believe her was a different matter. ‘Ay, and they’re a decent cotton, too!’
Kate was starting to get her hopes up. ‘Can yer catch the attention of the man and ask how much those blouses are? You’ve got more cheek than I have.’
The woman next to Monica stepped in then. Rather than get a dig in the ribs, or an elbow in her eye, she volunteered the information. ‘Girls’ blouses are elevenpence ha’penny, and women’s one and six. And they’re good quality for the money.’
‘Thank you, sunshine.’ Kate smiled at the woman before tugging on Monica’s dress. ‘Get us a white shirt for Billy, a lilac blouse for Nancy and a pale green one for me.’ She opened her purse which was clutched tight in her hand so she wouldn’t lose it, and took out two florins. ‘You get them, sunshine, yer’ve got a louder voice than me. There’s four bob, and I get it to three shillings and ninepence so I want threepence change. I’ll stand at the back of the crowd now to give someone else a chance.’
Kate stood and watched the hustle and bustle. She loved the atmosphere of the market, except today it was a bit too crowded and she felt sticky with the heat.
‘Here yer are, girl!’ Monica pushed her way through the heaving mass and handed a paper bag to her. ‘I think we did very well on the money we had. And we’ve both got some over to play with.’
‘D’yer know what I was thinking?’ Kate put the threepenny bit in her purse. ‘There’s second-hand stalls here where yer can get dresses and skirts for coppers. Some of them are rags, only fit for dusters, but now and again yer come across something that would come up all right after a good wash. I wouldn’t mind having a look for something for me and Nancy. If I saw a dress that took me eye, I could unpick it and make it into a skirt for one of us.’
‘That’s a good idea, girl! I’m pretty good with me fingers, and I could do with some summer skirts too. Let’s look for a stall.’
Later, as they walked towards the tram stop, they were carrying an old torn paper bag, which was all the stallholder had had to hold the three dresses and two skirts they’d got for two bob. It was a happy twosome that boarded the tram. ‘We’ll have to sort the money out when we get home and see what condition the clothes are in,’ Kate said. ‘I’d like two of the dresses and one of the skirts, so there won’t be much in it, ’cos I paid one and threepence, and you paid ninepence.’
‘We’ll call it quits, girl. As long as we’ve got the tram fare home, I’m happy. And I think we’ve done very well. Although our Dolly won’t be happy with me, I’ve got nothing for her unless I can unpick the skirt and cut it to fit her. That’s an idea, isn’t it? If not, Tom will have to fork out again next week. But all I want now is to put me feet up, ’cos they’re practically talking to me.’
Chapter Seven
‘I’ve nothing in for the tea, sunshine, so I’ll stop at the corner shop and get some corned beef for sandwiches. Are yer coming in with me?’
Monica nodded. ‘Yeah, I’ll get some meself for quickness.’ She pulled a face. ‘Now we’re nearer home, I’m starting to feel guilty about our Dolly. She’s not going to be too happy when she sees Nancy with a new blouse.’
‘Yer can nip down to the market on Monday and get her one.’ Then Kate remembered herself as a young girl, how easy it was to have your heart broken over a little thing which in later life you would take in your stride. ‘I’ll tell yer what, sunshine, I’ll show our Nancy her blouse but I won’t let her wear it until Dolly has one. Does that make yer feel any better?’
‘It makes me feel better, but I don’t know about our Dolly. She’ll go mad being left out, especially as they’re best mates. And it’s not really fair on Nancy, expecting her to wait until next week. A new dress or blouse is a big thing for a young girl.’
‘I’d offer to keep Nancy’s back until yer had one for Dolly, but John would be disappointed. It’s the first time he’s ever had any money to spare and he’ll be dying to see their faces.’ Kate put on her thinking cap. ‘Our Nancy is very understanding, I’m sure she won’t mind keeping quiet about the blouse for a few days. She wouldn’t want to upset Dolly.’
‘Tell her I asked if she’d do it as a special favour.’ Monica stood aside to let Kate go through the door of the corner shop first. ‘In fact, I’ve got a spare penny in me pocket, I’ll get some Mint Imperials and they can divide them between them.’
Les Riley was busy serving at the far end of the counter while Violet was leaning her elbows on it, eating a sticky bun. She grinned when she saw the two friends. ‘Don’t tell me yer’ve come in for a quarter of Mint Imperials split into two bags! Me and my feller will never get rich at that rate.’
‘Keep yer hair on, Mrs Woman!’ Monica winked at Kate before saying, ‘No, it’s not all we’ve come in for, smart arse, so there! We want two separate quarters of corned beef, if yer can be bothered putting that bun down and moving yerself.’
Vi popped the last mouthful of the bun into her mouth before dusting her hands together. ‘I’ve been on me feet since six this morning, queen. Surely yer don’t begrudge me a five-minute break?’ Her round chubby face creased into a wide smile and she nodded to the bags the women were carrying. ‘Been out spending all yer money, have yer? Did yer get anything nice, then?’
Kate nodded. ‘Yeah, we got ourselves a blouse each. Th
ey’re only from the market, but I think they’re nice.’
The shopkeeper put a block of corned beef on the slicing machine and began to turn the handle. ‘D’yer want it cut thick or thin, ladies?’
‘Middling, if yer don’t mind.’ Monica eyed the slice that was dropping on to a piece of white greaseproof paper. ‘That’s about it, girl, just nice.’ She looked to the other end of the counter where Les was deep in conversation with the young woman he’d just finished serving. ‘Ay, Vi, I’d keep me eye on this feller if I were you. I’ve heard it said that the bit of stuff he’s talking to is very free with her favours.’
Vi’s hearty laugh was just a shade louder than the customer’s. ‘Is that why she can afford half a pound of boiled ham, queen, while you can only afford a quarter of corned beef?’
Kate could feel herself blushing and lowered her head. You never knew what Monica was going to come out with. And the next words out of her friend’s mouth turned the pink of her cheeks into the deep red of beetroot. ‘Ay, I’ll have to come out with yer one night, Vera,’ Monica roared. ‘My feller wouldn’t mind me going out with yer, ’cos he’s very partial to a bit of boiled ham.’
Vera bit on her bottom lip to keep her face straight. ‘Friday night down Lime Street is the best, girl! Yer could make enough money to give your feller boiled ham for his carry-out every day.’
‘Oh, that’s the gear, I’ll be made up to have a few bob in me purse.’ Then, winking broadly, Monica added, ‘Shall I bring Kate with me? With her looks she’d attract every feller that went past. We wouldn’t be standing around all night, waiting for customers.’
Kate’s eyes and mouth were wide open. ‘Ay, you just leave my name out of it, Monica Parry! You may see the funny side to this talk, but I’m blowed if I can.’
Monica shook her head sadly. ‘It’s a shame, isn’t it, folks? God saw fit to give her beauty, but He forgot to give her a sense of humour.’
Violet shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’s like the toss of a dice, queen, pot luck. Or standing in a queue. When it’s your turn, yer get what’s left. God had given all the beauty out by the time it was my turn, so I got the sense of humour instead.’
‘I’d say He wasn’t generous with that, either!’ Les decided to add his twopennyworth. ‘Anyone seeing yer getting out of bed in the mornings, sitting on the side of the bed moaning about yer lot in life, with yer hair in rags and yer face all screwed up, well, they’d never believe yer had any sense of humour.’
‘Yeah, ye’re right there, lad, I hold me hand up on that. My first smile of the day is when money is being handed over the counter, and I think of how rich we’re going to be some day. That’s when me sense of humour comes to life.’
‘At least ye’re honest about it, sunshine,’ Kate said, wishing they’d all stop nattering and she could get home to her husband. ‘And while the conversation has been very pleasant, I’d be grateful if yer’d serve me and then I’ll be on me way. Me throat is parched, and crying out for a cuppa.’
‘We aim to please, queen, that’s our motto. So here’s your quarter of corned beef, and will yer pass the other over to yer mate? That’ll be fourpence each, plus a penny if yer still want the Mint Imperials.’
Monica took the penny from her pocket and passed it over. ‘That’s for the sweets. Now I’ll have to check me purse to see if I’ve enough left for the meat. If not, yer’ll have to put it on the slate.’
Kate glanced at her friend to see if she was in earnest because neither of them got anything on tick unless they were desperate. They’d found out early in their married lives that if you couldn’t afford to pay one week, then you certainly couldn’t make it up the next. All you did was dig yourself deeper into debt. But it was easy to see now, by the mischievous glint in Monica’s eyes, that she was only pulling the shopkeeper’s leg. ‘Am I good for credit, Mrs Riley? Or do I have to go home and tell my husband and child that they’ll have to go hungry because of the wicked witch in the corner shop?’
‘Wicked witch? Why, you cheeky bugger! I’ve a good mind to take the flaming corned beef back off yer!’ Violet appealed to her husband. ‘Did yer hear what she called me, Les?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry, my beloved, I’m afraid I didn’t. Yer see, I was trying to count how many jelly babies there are in that jar and me mind was occupied.’ Les scratched his head and tutted. ‘Yer’ve made me lose count now, I don’t know where I was up to! It was either a hundred and six, or a hundred and twenty-six. See what yer’ve made me go and do now! I’ll have to start counting all over again.’
‘No, yer won’t, Les, ’cos I was counting with yer.’ Kate showed she hadn’t been left out altogether on humour. ‘It’s a hundred and twenty-six.’
Monica chuckled. ‘There speaks the voice of wisdom. And the same voice is telling me to shut me gob so she can get home to her family.’ A silver sixpence was laid on the counter next to where Kate had put four pennies. ‘I’ll take two of these pennies, Vi, and that will make us quits. And after thanking you for the service and the pleasant conversation, my friend and I will take our leave of yer.’
‘Ye’re a sarcastic beggar,’ Vi said with a smile. ‘I bet as soon as yer get out of the door yer’ll be calling us fit to burn.’
‘No, she won’t, sunshine,’ Kate said. ‘I can guarantee that, ’cos I’ll be running her all the way and she’ll be too puffed to talk.’ With that she walked across to open the shop door, and then came back to drag her friend through it. ‘We’ll be seeing yer. Ta-ra!’
‘Let go of me,’ Monica cried, ‘ye’re going to pull me over!’
‘It was the only way to get yer out of there. My feller will be thinking I’ve left home. Besides, I’m dying for a sit down and a cup of tea.’ As she turned her head Kate saw her son in a side entry with his mate Pete. They were taking turns kicking a football against a yard wall. ‘Hey, Billy, I’ll have yer tea ready in ten minutes so I want yer home by then. D’yer know where our Nancy is?’
‘Last time I saw her she was sitting on next-door’s step with . . . er . . . with Dolly.’ Just in time Billy remembered his mam’s friend was the mother of the girl he called daft. Not that he meant anything by it, ’cos his sister was just as daft. ‘They were reading a book between them.’
‘Yes, I can see them,’ Monica said. ‘At least I can see their legs.’
‘If she asks what’s in the bags I’ll put her off so Dolly won’t be any the wiser,’ Kate promised. As they neared the Parrys’ house, and saw the bodies attached to the legs, Kate gave her daughter the same instructions she’d given Billy. ‘Tea in ten minutes, sunshine, and don’t be late. Don’t have me coming out for yer ’cos me feet are dropping off.’
‘Okay, Mam, I’ll be there.’ Nancy eyed the bags. ‘What have yer been buying?’
‘Nothing you’d be interested in, love, but yer’ll find out later.’
Kate was putting the key in her front door when she heard Dolly asking, ‘Have yer got anything in there for me, Mam?’
‘Not really, sweetheart, but I’m going to get yer something nice next week.’
‘Is that a promise, Mam? Cross yer heart and hope to die?’
When Kate stepped into the hall she was smiling. Kids were so innocent.
John Spencer sat back in his favourite fireside chair, a happy, smiling, contented man. His heart was overjoyed because he was the one who had brought the sound of laughter to this room, and made his children’s faces light up with pleasure. And Kate, his beautiful wife, looked the picture of happiness to see her children’s contentment. John was only sorry that he hadn’t been able to treat them more often, but it was impossible on the poor wages he earned.
The loudest laugh came when Kate was holding Billy’s shirt out. The lad had looked horrified. ‘I’m not touching that until I’ve washed me hands.’ It was the first time he’d ever washed himself without being told.
Nancy was delighted with her present. Holding the blouse against herself, she sighed, ‘Oh, it’s lovel
y, Mam! Thank you a million times.’
‘It’s yer dad yer have to thank, sunshine, not me. He gave me the money to buy it.’ Kate held her own blouse up to her shoulders, the pale green a perfect foil to her auburn hair. ‘I think we owe him a big hug and kiss.’
Happy as he was, this was going too far for Billy. ‘Boys don’t kiss men! That’s soppy, that is! Don’t yer think so, Dad? Yer don’t want me to kiss yer, do yer?’
John chuckled. ‘It would be worth it to see your face, son. But no, I wouldn’t expect yer to kiss me. We’ll shake hands, eh, man to man?’
Billy’s chest expanded so much Kate thought she’d have to take the shirt back and ask for a bigger size.
‘What else have yer got there, Mam?’ Nancy asked, eyeing the bag she could see wasn’t empty. ‘Anything exciting?’
‘No, sunshine, just a couple of things I bought from a second-hand stall. They’re nothing to write home about now, but by the time I’ve washed and altered them to fit, I think they’ll come up a treat.’
‘What colour blouse did Auntie Monica get for Dolly? I hope it’s not the same colour as mine or we’ll look daft.’
‘Ah, well, thereby hangs a tale. Yer see, Monica didn’t have enough money on her to buy Dolly a blouse. Don’t forget I had extra off yer dad. But Monica will get Dolly a blouse sometime in the next few days. So, until then, I want yer to hang yours up in my wardrobe and don’t say a word to yer mate.’ She saw her daughter’s face fall. ‘Yer wouldn’t want to upset Dolly, would yer? And yer must admit it would look as though yer were swanking and showing off. She would be really upset, sunshine, and after all, she is yer best mate. Is it worth falling out with her for the sake of a few days?’
Nancy was disappointed but put a brave smile on her face. ‘Ye’re right, Mam, it would be mean of me ’cos she is me very best mate. So I’ll hang it up, like yer said, and I’ll not say a word about it.’
