Strolling With The One I Love

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Why can’t yer open the door for me?’

  ‘I can’t get to the bleeding door, soft girl, ’cos I’ve got two bleeding tables and eight chairs, stopping me. I’ve also got big ruddy bruises on me legs, and in places I won’t be able to show anyone except my feller.’

  Kate nodded and motioned that she’d go back home and come up Monica’s yard. And while she was doing this, she was chuckling away. Her mate seemed to be in a right state, so she shouldn’t be difficult to talk into going to the second-hand shop. She’d be glad to get rid of her old dining suite.

  ‘Yer’ve been quick, Mam!’ Billy was taken by surprise. ‘Usually when yer go to Auntie Monica’s, though yer always say yer’ll only be a few minutes, we don’t see yer for an hour.’ He chortled. ‘What’s the matter, Mam, has Auntie Monica got a sore throat or the measles?’

  Sharing his humour, Kate said as she passed him, ‘Neither of those, sunshine. Yer auntie couldn’t open the door to me because eight chairs stood in her way.’

  Nancy was in the kitchen drying herself. ‘Ooh, I know she got a set of chairs and a table, but eight chairs! Her room must be worse than this.’

  Kate was halfway down the yard when she heard Billy saying, ‘They’d come in handy at Christmas to play musical chairs.’

  And then Nancy’s infectious giggle. ‘Go and ask her to hang on to them, then.’

  ‘Oh, we’re in a right state, girl! Just look at the place!’

  ‘It’s no worse than mine, sunshine, with the two couches. But I’m hoping to get rid of me old one today, we can’t carry on the way it is.’

  Monica never seemed to lose her temper or her cool, but right now she was red-faced, breathing heavily and in a proper mood. ‘Those chairs are going out in the yard, right now, I can’t stand this! If it rains it’s just too bad.’

  Kate didn’t tell the truth, the whole truth, because she knew the best way to get around her mate. ‘I’m going to the second-hand shop in Scotland Road to see if the bloke will pick me couch up today. He’s got a horse and cart, if I ask him nice he might do it.’

  ‘Well, you selfish so-and-so! Just thinking of yerself and to hell with everyone else.’

  The trick had worked and Kate didn’t feel bad about being crafty because Monica was always pulling stunts on her. ‘Well, come along with me and ask if he’ll take yer table and chairs. It’s no good just looking at them and moaning or they’ll still be here this time next week. Anyway, it’s up to you, but that’s what I came to tell yer. I’m going to get meself ready now ’cos if I get there early he might be able to pick it up today.’

  ‘I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes, girl, and I’ll come with yer. Two voices are better than one, aren’t they?’

  ‘They sure are!’ Kate told her, while thinking her mate’s voice was better than twenty others any day. ‘I’ll scram, then, and get meself ready.’

  ‘Auntie Kate,’ Dolly said, ‘is Nancy up yet?’

  ‘Yeah, she’s just finished getting washed. Yer can go in there and sit with her if yer like, but leave it until yer mam’s coming out, to give our Billy time to get washed.’

  ‘I’ll give him time to get out, Auntie Kate, never mind get washed. He’s a right tease, always pulling our legs. And he’s nearly as big as me. If I gave him a clout he’d probably give me one back.’

  ‘And so he should!’ Monica said, rubbing her leg after banging it on a chair. ‘Yer have no right to clout him, so he has my permission to clout yer back.’

  ‘Ay, missus, our Billy knows better than to clout anyone, least of all a girl! So don’t yer be leading him into bad habits.’ Kate rubbed her hands together. ‘Right, I’ll be off, and I’ll see yer in fifteen minutes, sunshine. And don’t worry about the state of the room, leave it as it is, like I am. We can give them a thorough going over when we get back to normal. Which will be tomorrow, I hope. Anyway I’m off. See yer, Dolly, ta-ra.’

  The two friends stepped down from the platform of the tram right outside the second-hand shop Kate had in mind. ‘That’s handy, isn’t it, sunshine? Off the tram and right into the shop. We may as well go straight in and get it over with, what do you say?’

  ‘Yeah, may as well, girl. You can go first, seeing as yer’ve only got the couch and it was your idea anyway.’

  ‘But yer will come to my aid if I need it, won’t yer? It was you what said two voices are better than one. And, sunshine, let’s both be as sweet as honey and try and get round the man.’

  ‘I don’t want to be that sweet, ’cos then we’ll make him sick. But I will be nice and only put my twopennyworth in if I think ye’re not getting anywhere.’

  When Kate pushed open the shop door, a bell on the top rang and both women nearly jumped out of their skin because it was so loud. Before they had a chance to look around, a man suddenly appeared before them. He seemed to come from nowhere and reminded Kate of the genie in Aladdin’s lamp. ‘Holy suffering ducks, yer frightened the life out of me! Where did yer spring from?’

  The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with a pleasant smile, waved his hand towards the back of the shop which was filled with furniture of every description. ‘I have an office of sorts at the back, and a mirror on the wall which allows me to see customers as they open the door.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘And the ones who are not paying customers, but try and whip something out without being seen. We don’t get many of them, though, and I can see it certainly doesn’t apply to you ladies. So, how can I help yer?’

  Kate took a deep breath. She’d been rehearsing on the tram, but it was much easier there than here. ‘One of our neighbours has moved away and she gave me and me friend some of her furniture. I got a couch, which means I’ve got that and me old one. I wanted to know if yer’d do us a favour and pick up me old couch? It hasn’t got a tear in it, but I’ve got to say a couple of the springs have gone. It might do some poor soul, though, ’cos I have heard that some families are sitting on orange boxes.’

  The man, whose name was Sol Greenberg, asked himself how he could refuse someone with a face like hers and replied, ‘I’ll come and have a look at it this afternoon if yer like?’

  ‘Oh, that would be smashing, thank you!’ Kate was delighted, but she had to think of her friend as well. ‘My friend here, she’s me next-door neighbour, I think she has something she wants yer to look at, but I’ll let her tell yer.’

  Monica gave him her best smile. ‘I’m in a worse state than Kate, ’cos I’ve got an extra dining table and four chairs. So if ye’re coming next door, would yer take a look at them for me ’cos we can’t move in the living room?’

  ‘What condition is the old dining room suite in?’

  ‘D’yer want a lie or the truth?’

  Sol chuckled. ‘Which would yer prefer?’

  ‘Well, seeing as yer’ll see it for yerself later, there’s no point in lying. So, like me mate’s couch, it’s seen better days. But there’s no legs missing, nothing like that. And again, as me mate said, there’s probably some poor family would be glad of it. We don’t want no money off yer, we just want to get them out of the house. Isn’t that right, girl?’

  ‘That’s right, sunshine, we don’t expect to be paid for them. But they would probably have lasted us a few more years if we hadn’t been given something in better condition, so I think someone will be glad of them.’

  ‘What made yer come here?’ Sol asked. ‘I don’t think yer live around here ’cos I’ve never seen yer before.’

  ‘We’re only three tram stops away,’ Kate said, hoping the distance wouldn’t put him off. ‘And I know yer’ve got a horse and cart ’cos I’ve seen yer name on the side of the cart.’ Without warning a scene flashed before her eyes. It was Miss Parkinson’s back bedroom with the bed still made up. ‘Would yer mind if me and me mate went outside for a minute? I’ve just thought of something.’

  ‘Not at all, I’ll wait for yer.’

  ‘What’s got into yer?’ Monica asked as she was pulled out of the shop to stand on t
he pavement. ‘Yer haven’t changed yer mind, have yer? Because I haven’t, I want my room clear as soon as possible.’

  ‘That’s not why I brought yer out. I was thinking about that good bed in Miss Parkinson’s back bedroom. He’d pay quite a bit for it and all the bedding. We could send the money to her, or buy her something with it.’

  ‘But we can’t get back in the house, yer know that. If we were caught, we’d have to pay a week’s rent.’

  ‘The rent collector doesn’t come until this afternoon. The man could have it out by then and no one would know any different. I’d rather do that than leave it there for strangers to have, or to be thrown in the entry by whoever takes over the house.’

  ‘The feller in the shop couldn’t do all that before the rent man comes! He’s not going to run out straight away because we ask him to. I’d say forget it, girl, there just isn’t the time.’

  ‘Let’s ask him!’ Kate said. ‘If he says he can’t come until this afternoon then well and good, we’ll forget about it.’

  ‘On your own head be it, girl, but I’ll go along with yer. Let’s see what he says.’

  Monica left the talking to Kate because she thought it was a waste of time. After all, the man must have things arranged for today, he wasn’t standing in the shop just waiting for them to turn up. But much to her surprise Sol was interested when told the bed was in excellent condition and came complete with bedding. And when Kate explained how important it was to get it out of the house as soon as possible, he said, ‘I can close the shop for an hour and bring my assistant with me. Between the two of us, we can have the bed dismantled and out in the entry in fifteen minutes.’ He took a fountain pen from his waistcoat pocket, a small notebook from his jacket pocket, and handed them to Kate. ‘Write your name and address down, and we’ll be there within the hour.’

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  ‘I can’t let yer have the keys to the house, love, I’ve got to hand them to the rent collector when he comes.’ Maggie didn’t like refusing Kate, but she had told Miss Parkinson she wouldn’t let anyone in the house after Sunday. ‘And what would the neighbours think if they saw yer? Yer know what some of them are like, they’d spread the word that yer were stealing furniture.’

  ‘I’m not asking for meself, Maggie, I’m not wanting to gain by it. But yer must admit it would be nicer to buy something for Miss Parkinson with the money we got than it would be to leave that bed for strangers who probably wouldn’t appreciate it.’

  Monica thought it was time to add her weight. She wasn’t for the idea at first, but the more Kate had explained it to her, the more it appealed to her. ‘Yer needn’t give us the front door key, girl, just the back door. The men can carry it out through the entry and no one would be any the wiser.’

  Maggie was torn. ‘Are yer sure they won’t come to the front door?’ Even after emphatic nods from her two neighbours, she wanted further assurance. ‘And the money would go to Miss Parkinson?’

  ‘Well, I have thought of something she’d like better than the money,’ Kate said. ‘We could buy her something to remind her of the street she lived in for so many years. Say a photograph of the street which showed her old home? We could put it in a frame and then she’d be able to stand it on the mantelpiece, or a little table, where she’d be able to look at it whenever she wanted. I’m sure she’d be delighted.’

  Maggie saw Winnie walking up the street and felt a sense of relief. ‘Let’s ask Winnie what she thinks.’

  ‘What is this?’ The little woman looked from one to the other. ‘A mothers’ meeting for fathers only? Or can anyone join?’

  Kate quickly explained what was in her mind, and Winnie was all for it. ‘Give them the bleeding key, Maggie, and if the rent man comes and catches them redhanded, why worry? I’m blowed if I can see Bill having any objection anyway! And if he did then I’d soon sort him out. The ruddy bed belongs to Miss Parkinson, it’s not as if we’re stealing it. And I think it’s a jolly good idea that Kate’s had. Audrey would be absolutely delighted if we sent her a photo of the street.’

  That decided Maggie. She went into the house for the back-door key. ‘Pass it over when yer’ve finished, Kate, and try and have the bed out as soon as you can. I’ll feel better in me mind then.’

  Winnie walked between her two friends as they crossed the cobbles. ‘What have you two been up to, why have yer been up to it, and where did yer get up to it? And in future, when there’s anything exciting happening, call for yer Auntie Winnie and take her with yer.’

  ‘I’d hardly call it exciting, sunshine, more a case of necessity. I’ve got to get rid of me old couch ’cos we’re overcrowded, and Monica’s got that extra dining-room suite. We wanted them moving today, and if the man does as he promised, they’ll be gone in an hour.’ Kate felt in her pocket for the front-door key. ‘Yer can come in if yer want, but it’ll be a squeeze.’

  ‘We’ll be all right, won’t we, girl?’ Monica said. ‘Both of us are thin.’

  Kate let out a gasp. ‘What d’yer mean, both of yer? Why don’t yer go to yer own house, Monica Parry, and sit there in discomfort, instead of crowding mine even more?’

  ‘Ye’re bound to be making a pot of tea, girl, so don’t be so bloody miserable! An extra cup isn’t going to skint yer. Besides, our Dolly’s probably in yours with Nancy, so if I went home I’d be all on me lonesome.’

  ‘Why don’t yer both come down to mine?’ Winnie asked. ‘I’ll make yer a nice pot of tea and yer can sit in comfort. Except not on me new chair, that’s not for visitors, it’s purely for my own use.’

  ‘We can’t, sunshine, ’cos the man will be here any minute. But thanks all the same. Can yer hear the silence from me mate? She wouldn’t dream of inviting us into hers.’

  ‘Yer should know by now that I don’t insult easy, girl, so I don’t know why yer bother. Get that ruddy door open, me throat is parched.’

  Kate had the key in the lock when Winnie said, ‘There’s a horse and cart coming up the street, queen, will it be coming here?’

  ‘Oh, thank God for that! Ooh, they’ll have the couch out in no time, and I’ll have me room back to normal.’

  ‘Yer house will be better than normal, girl, ’cos yer’ve got that nice new sofa.’ Monica waved to the two men sitting on the long seat in front of the cart. ‘I’m going to be as nice as pie to these two, ’cos I’ll never be so glad to get shut of anything in me life as those ruddy chairs and the table.’

  ‘I’m glad to see them ’cos it saves me making a pot of tea. Unless the men want one, of course, I will ask them.’ Kate’s face showed how happy she was. ‘When they’ve gone I’ll make a pot, and I’ll even let both of yer sit on me sofa. As long as yer wipe yer feet first.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a good one, queen! Yer’ve bucked up since yer saw the horse and cart, haven’t yer? Yer were looking down in the dumps before.’

  They could hear the man holding the reins calling ‘Whoa’ to the horse and were amazed the animal was so obedient. It stopped right outside Kate’s house and shook its mane as if to say, ‘Well, here I am, what have yer got for me?’

  ‘Is it your house first, Mrs Spencer?’ Sol Greenberg jumped down from his seat, leaving the reins to hang loose. ‘The couch, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, please, I’ll just make sure there’s nothing under the cushions.’ While Kate fussed, thinking they’d have a job on their hands trying to manoeuvre the heavy couch through the front door, it was all in a day’s work to the two men and they had it on the cart in no time. She walked behind them, explaining they’d have to get the bed out of the house the back way, and the easiest way to do that would be to take the horse and cart down the side street and stop at the top of the entry.

  Sol smiled and nodded. He’d worked in the second-hand shop since he left school at fourteen and only had to look at an item to know the best way to move it. The shop had belonged to his uncle then, but when he’d retired he’d let Sol rent it off him until the lad had saved enoug
h to buy him out.

  ‘We’ll do your neighbour’s dining set first, then we’ll talk about the bed.’

  When the two men were clearing Monica’s furniture out, Kate and Winnie crossed over to the side entry and let themselves into Miss Parkinson’s house by the back door. While they were waiting for the men to come, they spent the time stripping the bed and folding the sheets and blankets neatly, ready for carrying out.

  ‘These are marvellous quality. Just look at the fine linen sheets and pillowcases with a pattern in each corner,’ Kate said. ‘My sheets are so old and been washed so often yer can see through them. And I bet that feather eiderdown would keep yer as warm as toast in bed in the winter.’

  ‘Audrey never bought anything but the best. It was what she was used to, her parents were quite well off.’

  ‘But how did she come to end up in a two-up-two-down in this street, sunshine? I know I live in the street, and I’m not ashamed to say so, but yer could tell right away that Miss Parkinson was different. She was a class apart from anyone else.’

  ‘I can tell yer about her ’cos she’s not here now, queen, and I know ye’re not one for jangling. Yer see, Audrey was used to a better style of life, but when it came to money she was very shrewd. Her parents left her with a nice home and a healthy bank account, but where many a woman would have kept up that lifestyle, Audrey had more sense. She realized that when she stopped working, there would be no money coming in, and to maintain a big house just for herself was not practical.’ Winnie gave a corner of the eiderdown to Kate so she could help her fold it. ‘Don’t forget we’re talking about thirty years ago, so what money she had would have well gone by now. I mean, she didn’t know she’d live till she was turned eighty, but I remember her once saying that if she was careful, what she had would last her her lifetime. The upkeep of this small house was a drop in the ocean to what she’d been paying in her parents’ old home. So I think she did the right thing coming here, and she never regretted it. Nor did she feel she’d lowered her standing. Audrey was no snob.’