by Joan Jonker
‘Right, I’ve made a mental note of it. And here’s our first port of call for the lettuce and tomatoes.’
When the friends walked into Winnie’s that afternoon, they were surprised to see her wearing one of her dresses. ‘Yer didn’t go up the stairs for that, did yer?’ Kate asked. ‘Why didn’t yer stay in yer nightdress, yer’d have been more comfortable?’
‘I had big hopes and big ideas, queen. I wanted to look respectable for yer coming, so I told meself I’d be able to get up the stairs as long as I clung to the handrail. But I’d only got as far as the bottom of the stairs when I knew I wasn’t going to make it. Still, I can be bleeding stubborn when I set me mind on anything, so I went upstairs on me bottom. It was quite easy really, I just pushed meself backwards up each stair. And when I took me nightie off an’ put this dress on, I felt really pleased with me little self. Anyone would think I’d swum the Channel, I was that proud of meself.’
‘Yer could have fallen and broken yer bleeding neck!’ Monica’s voice was high but not with anger so much as fear of what could have happened. ‘These stairs are so steep they’re deathtraps at the best of times.’
‘Well, I’ll be honest with yer, queen, coming down wasn’t nearly as easy as getting up. I stood on the landing and looked down the stairs and, d’yer know what, the bottom stair seemed miles away. After I’d called meself for all the stupid cows going, I wondered how the hell I was going to get down. Still, I couldn’t stay up there all day, could I? So I did no more than drop to me knees, rolled on to me backside, and shuffled forward. And that’s how I came down, on me backside and shuffling.’
‘I hope ye’re not thinking of sleeping in yer bed tonight, sunshine, because if yer do, then I won’t get a wink of sleep for worrying about yer. Yer’d be asking for trouble.’ Kate was really concerned. What would happen if the older woman had an accident and no one knew? It didn’t bear thinking about. ‘Yer’d be better putting yer nightdress back on and settling down on the couch. Ye’re asking too much of yourself, need more time to get some strength back. Maybe the day after tomorrow, all being well, me and Monica will walk yer to the bottom of the street and back, for a bit of fresh air.’
‘I’ve learned me lesson, queen, I won’t be trying anything until I’m fit enough.’ Winnie rested her head back on the pillows. ‘It’s fair taken it out of me, and I’ll not try it again. Stubborn I might be, stupid I ain’t.’
‘I got the custard creams yer asked for, girl, so I’ll put the kettle on to make us a drink. And while I’m waiting for the water to boil, I’ll put a rice pudding in the oven.’ Monica had it all worked out. ‘If we leave it in for two hours on a low light, it should be nice.’
‘Yer won’t forget to put a blob of butter in it, will yer? And I’ve got some nutmeg to sprinkle on the top. That’s the way I like it. When it’s cooked, yer can’t beat the skin on top.’
‘Listen to me, girl.’ Monica stood in front of the couch wagging a finger. ‘You go and teach yer grandmother how to milk ducks! I’ll have yer know I make the best rice puddings in Liverpool! Renowned for them, I am.’
Winnie grinned. It was nice to hear voices and laughter in the house. It was usually so very quiet you could hear a pin drop. ‘Okay, queen, keep yer hair on. How was I to know yer were the best rice pudding-maker in Liverpool?’
‘If you two are going to make a song and dance about rice puddings, and who makes the best, I think I’ll make a start on the tea,’ Kate said. ‘Otherwise we might find out that Monica makes fairy cakes so light yer have to hang on to them or they’d float off the plate.’
Monica barred her path. ‘Ye’re only jealous, girl. And there’s nothing worse, to my mind, than having a mate what’s envious. So sit down and give yerself a good talking to, while I get about doing what’s necessary.’
When they were finally settled with their cups of tea and a custard cream biscuit in the saucer, Winnie asked, ‘What was the news yer had for me, queen? I hope it’s something nice to cheer me up.’ Then as the words left her mouth she realized they might sound insulting to the two women who had been so good to her. ‘Not that you two don’t cheer me up, ye’re like a breath of fresh air.’
‘Thank you for the compliment, sunshine, but me and Monica have been glad to help. And we’ll do the same tomorrow, and the next day if necessary.’
‘Kate, are yer ever going to bleeding tell me what the news is that yer have for me? I’ve missed knowing what’s going on in the street.’
‘Okay, sunshine, but I’ll let Monica tell yer her bit of news first. And if that doesn’t cheer yer up, then nothing will.’
Monica grinned. She was slowly learning that helping someone in distress does have its reward. It makes you feel good. ‘My feller Tom is going to get yer jug of stout for yer tonight. We thought yer’d been missing it, and anyway it’ll do yer good. A jug of that and yer’ll be ready to fight Popeye.’
‘Oh, queen, that’s really good of him. I have missed it something terrible, I think it’s what keeps me going.’ Winnie gave a deep chuckle. ‘But I can hardly go down to the pub on me backside.’ Once again she chuckled. ‘Not that I hadn’t thought about it, mind.’
‘Well, I’ll take the jug home with me and bring it back full about half-eight. And if yer want a laugh, my feller said I’ve got to go down to the pub with him, ’cos if I don’t he’s going to lose valuable drinking time.’
‘Oh, dear, we can’t have that, can we?’
‘That’s something I’m giving careful consideration to,’ Monica told her, tongue in cheek. ‘If I start letting my feller boss me around, heaven knows where I’d end up. So we’ll wait and see what tonight brings. But whatever happens, girl, yer’ll get yer milk stout.’
‘Don’t yer be falling out with yer husband because of me!’ Winnie didn’t know about Monica having her tongue in her cheek, you see, and didn’t want to be the cause of man and wife having a row. ‘It wouldn’t kill me if I didn’t get the ruddy milk stout. I can wait until I’m on me feet again, it’ll only be a few days.’
Kate tutted. ‘Monica Parry, can’t yer see Winnie thinks ye’re serious? Go on, tell her yer’ve got the softest, most easy-going husband yer can imagine.’
‘Yer’ve already told her, girl, and I hate repeating meself. So why don’t yer just go ahead and tell Winnie your news.’
Kate rubbed her hands, a smile on her lovely face. ‘I think this is wonderful news, and I’m dying to see your face when yer hear it. D’yer remember me telling yer about Margaret Blackmore being in the family way, and that the boy responsible was denying all knowledge of it? And how Betty and her husband were out of their minds with worry?’
‘Of course I remember, queen, and I was really angry that the lad had let her down. They’re a good family, the Blackmores, all of them, and they don’t deserve that.’
‘Well, there’ve been some changes there. The lad met Margaret coming out of work one night, told her how sorry he was for lying, and went with her to see Mr and Mrs Blackmore. And although there’s a lot more gone on, like Greg’s mam not being too happy about it at first, he’s proved he’s got more backbone than we all gave him credit for. He asked Margaret to marry him, and Betty’s making all the arrangements for next week. It’s going to be a register office wedding, but that’s what Margaret wants. She’s right because the priest wouldn’t marry her at the altar, not in her condition, and she’d have to wait weeks for the banns to be read, by which time she’d be showing. So I think it’s best for all concerned. It won’t cost nearly as much in a register office, and they don’t need any frills and flounces.’
Winnie leaned forward. ‘Oh, that is certainly good news, that is, queen! Oh, I’m so glad for Betty, and the girl of course. I wonder what made the boy change his mind? I’m glad he has, for everyone’s sake.’ Her eyes were eager. ‘Go on, I’m sure there’s more yer’ve got to tell me.’
‘Not until we have a chance to talk to Betty. She should have all the details by now, so we mig
ht call there tonight or tomorrow.’ Kate sat up straight and folded her arms neatly across herself. ‘Monica and I have been invited to the house to toast the bride and groom. We might even go to the register office so we can give some moral support and throw confetti.’
‘I’ll be better by then, queen. If you and Monica don’t mind, I’d like to come with yer. I don’t get to go many places now, so it would be like a day out for me.’
Without even exchanging glances, Kate and Monica spoke as one. ‘Of course yer can come.’ They burst out laughing and Monica said, ‘I told yer great minds think alike, girl, and that proves it.’
Then Winnie asked something that took Kate by surprise. ‘So yer’ve met Greg Corbett now, then?’
Kate stared at her as though she didn’t understand what she’d been asked while her brain told her she would have to tell a lie. It would grieve her to lie to this woman, though. ‘What makes yer say that?’
‘Well, with yer being invited to the house for a drink, I thought yer must have met him.’
Monica could see Kate’s dilemma, and knew how her friend hated telling lies. Even if they were only white ones. ‘We’ve never met him, it was Betty who invited us. Margaret knows but I don’t know about the lad. As far as we know there’ll only be the two families there, and me and Kate. It’s in such a rush, no one has had time to save up and money is tight.’
‘Yer’ll know him when yer see him even if only by sight. He lives a few streets away.’ Winnie hadn’t noticed Kate’s red face and carried on. ‘I’ve seen him around a lot over the years, mostly when he was going to school. In fact, I’ve seen him twice in the last few weeks. With the weather being so good, I’ve taken to going for a walk in the early evening, so the day doesn’t seem so long. Time drags when yer live alone and are sitting talking to yerself. Anyway, I’ve seen Greg Corbett a couple of times, getting off the tram at about a quarter-past six on his way home from work.’
‘Then we probably have seen him,’ Monica said, hoping to glean some more information. ‘I mean, the tram stops practically at the end of this street!’
‘Oh, not this stop, queen, it’s the next one he gets off. It’s nearer his home.’
‘Well, our curiosity will be satisfied when we meet him. He probably knows us by sight as well.’
Kate jumped to her feet. ‘Anyone want another cup of tea?’
Chapter Thirteen
‘Shall we get the same scent for both of them or not?’ Kate and Monica were looking in the window of the chemist’s shop. ‘If we get them different, it could cause friction if one would rather have had what the other one’s got.’
‘Get them the same, girl, then there’s no argument. I like the sound of the sweet-pea the best, what d’yer think?’ This was a bit of selfishness on Monica’s part because she liked the smell of sweet-pea and might have the occasional dab behind the ears. ‘Or would yer rather have the violet?’
Kate shook her head. ‘No, I think the sweet-pea. Let’s buy it and get it over with, then we can go for the hankies.’ As they walked into the shop she said, ‘Just think, sunshine, this time next year they’ll be leaving school.’
‘Yeah, we’ll be in the money then, girl, with a few bob extra every week. Mind you, to hear our Dolly talk, she’s going to break eggs with a big stick. What she isn’t going to do with her pocket money is no one’s business. I heard her talking to your Nancy last night and they have visions of long stockings, high heels and lipstick. I didn’t disillusion them, it’s best to let them find out for themselves.’
‘They’re no different from what we were at their age,’ Kate said. ‘I know I had big ideas, but in those days the wage for a fourteen year old was three shillings. Out of that I got sixpence pocket money.’ She smiled at the assistant behind the counter. ‘Two bottles of the sweet-pea toilet water, please. And can you put them in separate bags, they’re for presents.’
When they were outside the shop again, Monica said, ‘The wage is only five bob now for school-leavers. Yer’d have thought it’d have gone up more than that in the last twenty years, wouldn’t yer?’
‘It doesn’t seem to make any difference, sunshine, because when wages go up so do rents and the price of food. We just can’t win.’ She looked sideways at her friend. ‘But don’t yer start on yer pet subject of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Let’s think of nice things, like our daughters’ birthdays.’
‘How about me having a tea for them on Saturday, and inviting Winnie to come up? She should be fit by then, and it’s only a matter of walking a few yards.’
‘She’d love that. As she says, she seldom goes anywhere.’ They were passing the sweet shop and Kate remembered they needed cards. ‘We’ll get them now, while we think on, and we may as well get a wedding card for the bride and groom.’
‘It’s one thing after another, isn’t it, girl?’
‘Ye’re not kidding! By the time we’ve got the cards and the hankies, I’ll be skint! We’ll be living on bread and dripping until I get John’s wages on Saturday.’
‘What are yer going to do about Greg Corbett? The lad won’t know whether he’s supposed to know yer or not!’
‘I’m going to the tram stop tonight. As soon as John steps foot in the door, I’ll be off. I should be in time for Greg getting off the tram. The poor lad will probably have a fit when he sees me, but I can’t help that. And it’ll be another worry off me mind.’
‘What are yer going to say to him?’
‘I dunno, sunshine, I’ll play it by ear. It went off all right last time, so there’s no reason why it shouldn’t this time. In fact, it’ll be a doddle this time ’cos it’s not as serious. Two minutes, that’s all it’ll take to tell him he’s never seen me in his life before. Now that’s not difficult, is it?’
‘Not the way you see it, no! But I wouldn’t be taking it so calmly, and I’m a damned sight more hard-faced than you are.’
Kate laughed. ‘Yer like to think yer are, but ye’re not that tough. Yer don’t frighten me, anyway, even when yer get on yer high horse.’
‘Don’t be getting too cocky, girl, ’cos yer’ve never seen me when I’m in a real temper. That’s when I start throwing pans and crockery around. They’re aimed at Tom’s head, but I’m a lousy shot and they usually hit the wall. And if I can’t hit a standing target at only three feet, I’d be no good to Robin Hood and his Merry Men. In fact, if they let me loose with a bow and arrow, he wouldn’t have any men left.’
Kate looked at her with surprise. ‘What made yer think of Robin Hood, sunshine? Yer mind must have been miles away!’
‘Ah, well, it’s like this, yer see, girl. Most people have their favourite film or stage star, and mine is Robin Hood. I fantasize about him something rotten. How he’ll come along on his horse and carry me off. I’d go willingly as well, he wouldn’t have to drag me.’
‘Some imagination yer’ve got, Monica Parry! We’ve gone from our daughters’ birthdays, to Greg Corbett, and from there to Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood. Yer’ve got me dizzy trying to keep up with yer.’
‘Tom doesn’t have any trouble keeping up with me. In fact he’s a great admirer of Robin because of the favours he’s done him. Yer see, some nights, when I’m half asleep, I imagine Tom is Robin. And as my feller will tell yer, he has more fun in bed those nights than on any other. He’s even thinking of buying a picture of him and putting it on the wall opposite our bed, so it’s the last thing I look at before I close me eyes. Naturally I’ll think I’m in Sherwood Forest and get very loving and passionate, and Tom’ll think it’s his birthday.’
Kate was shaking her head and tutting. ‘Monica Parry, don’t yer think it’s about time yer grew up?’
‘Not bloody likely, I’m having too much fun! Tom thinks I’ve forgotten about it the next morning, but I haven’t. I just act daft, ask him if he’s got a tanner to spare, and he hands it over like a good little boy. So, yer see, Robin Hood is doing both of us a power of good. Yer want to try
it yerself sometime.’ Monica bit on the inside of her lip to stop a smile appearing, before she said, ‘On second thoughts, I don’t think yer should bother. I believe yer favourite film star is Charles Laughton, and he couldn’t arouse passion in anyone.’
‘I never said Charles Laughton was me favourite film star! I said he was a good actor, that’s all. I don’t know any that I’d go crazy over.’
‘Then borrow mine, girl, and give John a treat. All yer’ve got to do is close yer eyes and think Robin. Yer can think of his Merry Men as well, if yer’ve got the energy, but if yer take my advice yer won’t be so greedy.’
Kate tilted her head. ‘Have yer ever thought of seeing a doctor about these fantasies of yours? He can maybe give yer something to cure yer.’
‘Cure me? I don’t ruddy well want to be cured! I want to live my life to the very full while I’m still young enough to enjoy it. I don’t want to be a sour-faced stick-in-the-mud like some folk I know.’
‘Is that a hint, sunshine?’
‘Now, if I thought yer were a stick-in-the-mud, would I be offering to share me heart throb with yer? No, friends should share and share alike, so I’ll put in a good word for yer.’
‘Be an angel and leave it for a few weeks, will yer? I’m awful busy right now. In fact, to be absolutely truthful with yer, my John would knock spots off your Robin. In a straight contest, he’d win hands down.’
‘I know that, girl, yer don’t have to tell me. So I think I’ll forget all about Robin and share your feller with yer.’
‘Some hope you’ve got! Anyway, sunshine, we’ve spent about ten minutes in Sherwood Forest so would yer mind if we put a move on and make up the time? And I can get things straight in me head so I know where I’m working. I’m going to see Greg, you’re going to Betty’s to find out what the arrangements are, and Tom is getting Winnie’s milk stout for her. Have I got it all right?’
‘Dead on the nose, girl, dead on the nose.’ Monica’s tummy began to rumble. ‘That’s hunger pangs. I’ll have to have a piece of bread when I get in to keep me going until dinnertime. I’ll have a round of toast, I think, it’s more filling.’
