Strolling With The One I Love

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Excellent! She will be delighted, I’m sure. And when you write, you can tell her how the court case ended. That’s what I came to tell you, as I promised.’

  ‘Don’t tell us yet, wait until the tea’s poured out. It’s been made for a while, and it’ll be stiff if we don’t drink it now.’ She jerked her head at Monica, and as the two women walked into the kitchen, everyone heard her saying, ‘I hope yer’ve brought two cups with handles and no chips.’

  The loudest laugh came from the sergeant who, when handed a cup and saucer, said, ‘All present and accounted for. One handle and no cracks or chips.’

  ‘It’s a good job I’m not proud,’ Kate said. ‘When yer’ve got two youngsters in the house, yer can’t expect things to last forever.’

  ‘I’m surprised yer didn’t get two out of the set Miss Parkinson gave yer, queen,’ Winnie said. ‘Then yer could have been really proud.’

  ‘Not on your life! If any got broken I’d never forgive meself.’

  ‘I’d have given yer one to make it up, ’cos I haven’t anyone to hand mine down to. Not like you and Monica. And you, of course, Maggie.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have let yer use yours, sunshine! She was a good friend of yours, and I know yer’ll treasure them. And one day, someone may come into yer life that yer’ll grow fond of, and yer’ll be glad yer didn’t give them away.’ Kate took a deep breath, blew out, and said, ‘Well, I can’t help it if I’m soft-hearted, can I? Anyway, Sergeant, I know yer haven’t got all day to sit listening to nattering women, so d’yer want to tell us what happened in court? And by the way, Mr Conley will know what ye’re talking about because I told him what had happened.’

  ‘Well,’ the officer put his saucer down on the table, ‘you’ll be glad to know that Richard Willis is today beginning a six-year sentence in Walton Jail.’

  ‘Ooh, er, did he get six years?’ Kate, like her friends, was surprised. ‘I didn’t think he’d get that long, more like two.’

  The officer nodded his head. ‘He would have been sent down for two or three years if Miss Parkinson had been his only victim. But in the other house, where the rest of the jewellery was taken from, he used force on the occupants. They are an elderly couple who happened to come home from a shopping trip while Tricky Dicky was in their house, ransacking the place. The husband tried to stop him, but at his age didn’t stand a chance against a much younger man who was desperate not to be caught. The old man received a punch which knocked him to the floor where his head caught the edge of the fireplace. The wife started screaming, hoping to alert the neighbours, but she was pushed with some force on to the sofa while Mr Willis made off with his haul. And it was some haul – the items were worth several hundred pounds each. It was thanks to you that everything he stole from the old couple was returned to them, but that made little difference to the judge. Because of the force used, and the physical and mental suffering of the victims, Willis was sentenced to six years with the recommendation he serve the full term, without any time off for good behaviour. So, fortunately, Tricky Dicky will be out of action for that time. And I hope it will teach him that crime doesn’t pay.’

  ‘Oh, I am glad,’ Maggie said. ‘That should learn him a lesson.’

  ‘I hope he doesn’t have a cushy time in there because he deserves to suffer.’ Winnie was thinking of her old friend. ‘If it hadn’t been for him, Miss Parkinson would still be living in that house across the way. The swine might not have got away with any of her belongings, but he’d taken away her peace of mind and the pleasure she got out of her little house. If it was up to me, I’d have hung, drawn and quartered him.’

  ‘When you write to Miss Parkinson, will you please send my kindest regards?’ The sergeant was mindful that he was on duty, and although he would be happy to spend an hour or two in the company of these friendly, happy women, he really should be back at the station doing the job he was paid to do. ‘And I wish her every happiness in her new home.’

  ‘I will,’ Kate promised. ‘And I’ll tell her how kind yer’ve been in keeping us informed about the trial. I won’t say too much about it, though, in case it brings it all back and upsets her.’

  Will stood up, running two fingers down the creases in his trousers. ‘I’ll leave with the officer because I don’t want to be late for my next appointment. But it has been a pleasure meeting you, and I hope our paths cross again some time.’ He took out a business card from the pocket of his waistcoat and handed it to Kate. ‘In case you ever need me again, you can contact me on that telephone number.’

  ‘I’ll make sure that Kate mentions you as well, lad,’ Winnie said, with a determined nod of her head because she’d taken a liking to the young man. ‘And she’ll tell our friend how yer went out of yer way to make sure the photies turned out well, just for her.’

  Kate saw the two men to the door. When she came back into the living room it was to find her three neighbours seated at the table conducting a lively conversation. ‘I hope you lot are not making yerselves too comfortable, ’cos I’ve got work to do!’

  ‘Trust you to want to put a damper on things.’ Monica’s eyes rolled to the ceiling to show her mate how disgusted she was. ‘This has been the most exciting morning we’ve had since we came to live in the street. We’ll probably never again have two important visitors like we’ve just had so let’s make the most of it. Try to relax, for God’s sake, girl, and sit down and have another cup of tea.’

  Kate put her hand to the teapot. ‘We can’t have another because it’s gone cold. And I can’t stand cold tea.’

  ‘Me neither, queen, I can’t stomach it.’ Winnie pushed her chair back. ‘That’s why I put the kettle on while yer were showing the men out. It should be about boiled now, and there’s still a few broken biscuits left. So while I see to it, you sit yerself down and take the weight off yer feet. After all, queen, it is your house.’

  ‘I was beginning to wonder!’ Kate looked at the photographs spread across the table and said, ‘Yeah, to hell with the work. If it doesn’t get done today, there’s always tomorrow. And it has been an exciting morning, hasn’t it? I’m surprised neither of the kids has been in, they must have seen Will and the officer coming up the street. I mean, yer could hardly miss them, they’d stick out a mile. There’s no men in this street wear a policeman’s uniform or carry a big camera bag over their shoulder.’

  ‘Ah, well, yer see, girl, that will be because when I went home to fetch the cups and saucers, I told the kids to make themselves scarce until we called them in.’ Monica spread her open hands. ‘It would have been like bedlam with them in here. The men couldn’t have had a cup of tea in peace, and the photographs would have been ruined with dirty fingermarks all over them. So let’s have just a little time on our own to talk over events and have another look at the photographs, eh? Indulge ourselves for once. Then I’ll give the kids a shout.’

  ‘Okay, yer talked me into it.’

  Monica grinned. ‘That’s the style, girl, that’s the spirit!’

  Kate bit on the inside of her bottom lip to keep a smile back. ‘There’s just one thing, though, sunshine.’

  ‘What’s that, girl?’

  ‘Next time, can we have the style and the spirit in your house, please?’

  John walked up the street on his way home from work with his jacket draped over his arm. It had been like an oven in work today, and he felt drained. But at the sight of his daughter and son bounding towards him, their faces aglow, he forgot some of his weariness.

  ‘You two look very pleased with yerselves, have yer lost a ha’penny and found a tanner?’

  Billy, hands and knees filthy with kneeling in the gutter, couldn’t get the words out quick enough. ‘Yer should see the photies, Dad, they’re smashing. Me and Pete playing ollies, and yer can tell it’s us.’

  ‘And what about you, Nancy, are you pleased?’

  ‘Oh, not half, Dad, they’re great. Me and Dolly were standing up, pretending to be skipping, so yer can see all
of us. Me mam said she’ll let me take it in to school after the holidays, to show the teacher and me friends.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to seeing them, if they’re so good.’

  ‘We’ll be famous, won’t we, Dad?’ Billy was walking backwards so he could see his father’s face. ‘I don’t mean like film stars, but there’s not many people round here got themselves on a big photo. And they are big, Dad, not fiddling little things. They’re whoppers, aren’t they, Nancy?’

  ‘That’s not half an exaggeration, even for you, Billy! Take no notice of him, Dad, they’re not whoppers. They’re not small, like, but don’t expect to see photos the size of the Echo.’

  ‘Has Pete seen himself?’

  ‘Yeah, and he’s not half swanking about it. He wanted to take it to show his mam, but my mam wouldn’t let him in case it got dirty. Like she said, if anything happens to the photographs we’ll never get any more ’cos they cost too much money. But she’s promised to take it round to Pete’s tonight, so his family can see it.’

  Kate was waiting on the step. ‘I suppose he’s told yer? If he hasn’t, yer’ll be the only one in the street ’cos he’s told everyone else. Even those what weren’t interested and didn’t want to know, he followed them to their houses and told them anyway!’ She stepped back into the living room and held up her face for a kiss. ‘Mind you, I’m delighted meself, and I think you will be too!’ Then her eyes narrowed when she noticed how worn out her husband seemed. ‘Yer look all in, sunshine, do yer feel all right?’

  ‘I’ll feel a bit better when I’ve had a swill. It was so hot by those machines today, I’ve been sweating like no one’s business. All the men were complaining but there’s little the manager could do, bar open the doors, which he did. When the sweat’s running off yer all day, it’s bound to make yer feel weak. I’ll be fine when I’ve washed meself down.’

  After raising a finger, and giving them a look that told the children to be quiet, Kate followed John into the kitchen. She was concerned for him, he did look drained. ‘Shall I boil yer some water to get washed, sunshine?’

  ‘No, love, cold water should do the trick. And tomorrow, I don’t care what yer say, I am not going to wear a vest under me shirt.’

  ‘I don’t blame yer, in this weather. But as soon as it turns cold, the vest is going back on. I don’t want you laid up with pneumonia.’

  John felt a little refreshed as he sat down for his meal of mashed potato with liver and onions though he still felt weary and promised himself a very early night in bed. But right now he could sense the impatience and excitement of his children as they sat restlessly at the table. No matter how lousy he felt, he could never disappoint them. Heaven knows, it wasn’t often they had something so exciting and unusual happen to them. They were probably the envy of every child in the street. ‘This smells nice, love, I’m going to enjoy it. But can’t I see these famous photographs first? I don’t want to be shovelling me food down in me haste to feast me eyes on them.’

  Billy swivelled on his chair, ready to dash to the sideboard, but Nancy held him back by the collar of his shirt. ‘Oh, no, yer don’t! It’s my turn to do a little bragging. Anyway, I’m the eldest and I should go first.’

  Billy looked put out. ‘Being the eldest doesn’t give yer the right to be first. That means I’ll always be last, and that’s not fair. Tell her, Mam, that’s not fair.’

  ‘To keep yer both quiet, and to be fair, I’ll get the photographs and give yer one each to show yer dad.’ Kate opened the sideboard cupboard and took out the envelope. ‘But I really think the two of yer should have more sense now, ye’re not little kids any more.’

  ‘Ah, we don’t argue much, Mam,’ Nancy said. ‘Our Billy’s nice to me more often than he’s horrid.’

  Billy didn’t have an answer for that because he didn’t know whether it was a compliment or not. So for once he bit on his tongue, and when his mother handed him a photo, he didn’t forget to thank her. And he was glad he’d kept his mouth shut when his sister said, ‘Let him give them both to me dad, otherwise our dinners are going to be cold.’

  ‘They’re a good size, aren’t they?’ John was pleasantly surprised, he hadn’t expected anything so professional. And his heart skipped a beat when he saw his wife’s lovely face. ‘You’ve come out very well, love, and so have yer mates. You’re the best-looking, though.’

  ‘Right this minute, I bet Tom is telling Monica exactly the same thing,’ Kate said. ‘Yer know the old saying about beauty being in the eye of the beholder.’

  ‘I know, love, beauty comes in all different forms. Someone can have a wonderful personality, have the ability to make you laugh or have a marvellous caring nature. In the eyes of the person who falls in love with them, they will be beautiful.’

  While Nancy thought that what her dad said was really nice and romantic, it was all going over Billy’s head. Why were they gabbing about nothing in particular instead of looking at the other photo, which he thought was the best and most important?

  John didn’t disappoint either of his children. And he didn’t have to pretend to be pleased, because he really was. Looking down at the street he lived in, and seeing his two children playing in that street, well, it was something he would never have dreamed of happening. ‘I can honestly say I didn’t expect anything like this, they really are very good. I know they cost thirty bob but it was cheap at the price.’

  Billy couldn’t sit still any longer. He rounded the table to kneel down at the side of his dad’s chair. ‘Look, there’s me finger ready to flick the ollie! It looks dead real, doesn’t it, Dad? And there, yer can even see the tear in Pete’s trousers!’

  ‘I’ve got a feeling Pete’s mam won’t be as happy as we are about that photo. I only hope she’s got a better sense of humour than I think she has. Otherwise when I knock on her door tonight, she might clock me one. Still, I’ll have Monica with me for support, so it’s two against one. Or one and a half against one, ’cos I’m no good when it comes to trouble,’ Kate said.

  ‘Pete’s mam is all right, she’ll be made up,’ Billy said. ‘She knew he had a tear in his trousers, she told me. But his only other pair were in the wash.’

  ‘Okay, that’s enough for now, get back to yer seat,’ Kate said. ‘The dinner is probably not fit to eat now, but it’s a case of Hobson’s choice ’cos I’ve nowt else.’

  John put the photographs back in the envelope. ‘Are yer going out with Monica tonight, then, love?’

  ‘Yeah, just to get a bit of fresh air. After calling at Pete’s, we’re going to the Blackmores’. We haven’t seen Betty for a while, she’ll think we’ve fallen out with her.’

  ‘But they only live four doors away, down the back entry, yer’ll not get much fresh air.’

  ‘We won’t go down the entry, we’ll walk to the main road, do a bit of window shopping, then call at the Blackmores’. It’s not far, but it’s a break.’ Kate could see her husband’s appetite wasn’t up to par. Usually he tucked in with gusto but tonight he seemed to be eating just for the sake of it. ‘If yer don’t feel well, I won’t go out, love. It’s not important, I’d just as well stay in.’

  ‘Mam, yer haven’t told me dad about the policeman coming,’ Nancy said. ‘Had yer forgotten about that?’

  ‘No, I hadn’t, sunshine, but I was going to wait until after we’d eaten, otherwise I might as well have emptied these plates in the midden. I’ll tell him later, I won’t bother going out.’

  ‘There’s no need to stay in for me, love, you go out with Monica. I’ve made up me mind to go to bed very early and I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.’

  ‘I’ll stay in with yer!’ If her beloved husband wasn’t feeling well, then Kate wasn’t going over the door. ‘I’ve got a bit of darning and sewing to do anyway.’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with me, love, I’m just tired with working in the heat. I’m not the only one, I bet every bloke that works in a factory feels the same but I’ll be right as rain in
the morning.’ John smiled at her. ‘I’ll see the children to bed, then hit the sack. So you keep yer promise and go out with yer mate.’

  ‘I’ll make sure I’m back for nine to see to the kids.’ Kate didn’t want to upset him by insisting she stayed in, but she certainly wouldn’t be away for long. ‘Then I might darn a sock before turning in meself. I’ll try not to wake yer if ye’re asleep, I’ll be as quiet as a mouse. And I’ll tell yer all about Sergeant Bridgewater tomorrow, when we’re having our breakfast.’

  Pete’s mother was over the moon. She brought her husband to the door to see the photograph. ‘By, it’s a treat, that is. Never seen nothing like it, except in books they have in the library.’

  ‘I would have got a copy for yer, but they’re so dear, I didn’t like to ask yer. We only got them done to send to Miss Parkinson, and we sold something to raise the money.’

  Elsie Reynolds was as pleased as Punch, and her husband, Vincent, looked as though he’d come up on the pools. ‘If the chance does come, and yer see the feller again, we’d like a copy. It would be nice to look back on when we get older. And Pete, of course. The only time he’s stopped talking about it is when he’s eating his dinner or sucking a bull’s eye.’

  ‘If I ever see the photographer again, I will ask, I promise.’ Kate began to step back. ‘And when I’ve got the money to have it framed, if ever, I’ll let yer see it again. So ta-ra for now, Elsie, you and Vincent go back to listening to the wireless.’

  ‘Yer might not believe it, looking at us now, girl, but me and Vincent were two of the best jazzers in Liverpool. Out every night dancing, we were. And the toes were tapping when you knocked, ’cos Ray Noble and his orchestra are on, with Al Bowlly singing. And I’d swap that for a roast dinner any day.’

  ‘Oh, er, am I missing that?’ Monica shook her head from side to side. ‘Al Bowlly is me favourite singer. I’ve told my feller I’d leave him any day if Al Bowlly asked me to.’

  ‘Take no notice, she’s got a smashing husband.’ Kate took a firm grip on her friend’s arm and was about to pull her away when, on impulse, she looked up at Elsie and handed her the envelope. ‘Yer can hang on to this until tomorrow so yer can have a good look at it in peace. Pete as well, as long as he washes his hands first. I’ll call for it in the morning.’