by Joan Jonker
Eliza bent her head and was quiet for a few seconds. Then she looked up, and in a soft voice told them, ‘There was a purpose to his visit last night. He asked me to go and live with him and Vera. He said he worries about me being on me own, especially with winter approaching. And there’s plenty of room in their house, now there’s only the two of them. I’d have me own sitting room and bedroom, so I could have as much privacy as I wanted. And they’ve got a bathroom, so I wouldn’t have to go down the yard to the lavatory.’
Ada met Hetty’s eyes, and each knew what the other was thinking. They’d be sad to see this gentle old lady go, for they were very fond of her. The street wouldn’t be the same without her; she’d be missed by all the neighbours.
The first to find her voice was Ada. ‘And have yer made up yer mind to go, sunshine?’
‘I told John to give me time to think about it. It’s not something which yer can make up yer mind about right away. I’ve lived in this house for the best part of me life. I moved in on the day I got married, and that’s nigh on sixty years ago. It would be a wrench to leave it, for there’s so many memories here. I can still see my beloved husband sitting in the rocking chair at the side of the fireplace, puffing away on his pipe after a hard day’s work. That’s when he had a few coppers to buy some baccy. And I can still see his face on the day John was born. There wasn’t a prouder man in the whole of Liverpool.’ There was a catch in Eliza’s voice now, brought about by the memories. ‘He was a wonderful husband and I loved him dearly. And I still miss him, to this very day.’
‘I bet he adored you, sunshine,’ Ada said, ‘’cos yer can tell yer’ve been a real beauty when yer were younger. Ye’re still a fine-looking woman now. We all love the bones of yer, yer know that. And we’d be very sorry to see you go, we really would. Everyone in the street likes and respects yer. You would be much missed, Eliza, and I can’t imagine this house without yer. It wouldn’t be the same with strangers living here.’
‘And I’d be sorry to go, sweetheart, ’cos I’d miss all me friends and neighbours. Particularly you and Hetty, and Edith and Jean. You’ve all been so good to me, always there when I needed yer, and I’ll never forget that.’
Ada looked into the tear-filled, faded blue eyes, and knew her old friend’s heart was being torn in two. And they shouldn’t be making her miserable by saying they’d miss her, they should be cheering her on her way. ‘Me and Hetty will be very sad to see yer go, sunshine, but that’s because we’re being selfish, and only thinking of ourselves. We should be happy for yer, ’cos yer’ll live the life of Riley with John and Vera. With yer own living room and bedroom, and a proper bathroom, yer’ll be better off than any of us.’ She forced a grin. ‘Every time I go down the yard on a cold winter’s night, with me backside freezing, I’ll think of you in yer posh bathroom. And I don’t mind telling yer I’ll be dead jealous. I know this house holds a lot of memories for yer, but don’t forget the house is only bricks, while yer can take yer memories with yer. No matter where yer go, they’ll always be with yer.’
Hetty carried on where her friend left off. ‘Ada’s right, Eliza, yer’d be mad not to take John up on his offer. If you won’t, then I’ll gladly swap places with yer. If I had the chance to be fussed over and mollycoddled, I’d jump at it. And it isn’t as though yer’d be getting rid of me and Ada, ’cos we can come and visit yer in yer fine house.’
‘Would yer really come and visit me?’ Eliza started to show interest. ‘That would be something for me to look forward to. And Vera makes lovely cakes, so I can offer yer some refreshment.’
‘Too blinking true we’d come and visit yer,’ Ada said. ‘Yer don’t think yer could get away from us that easy, do yer? Not now we know Vera makes nice cakes.’
‘Do yer really believe I’d be doing the right thing? I couldn’t sleep last night, with it going round and round in me head. What would I do if I went, then regretted it, and wished I was back in me little house?’
‘Yer’ll not do that, sunshine, I promise yer. Yer’ve got yer son with yer, who yer can talk about the old days with. Him and Vera are yer family, and they really want yer with them. It’s not as though ye’re going to live with strangers, and I bet yer’ll be able to take some of yer belongings with yer. If ye’re to have yer own sitting room, then yer’ll have all these things around yer, just as they are now.’
Eliza nodded. ‘John went all through that with me. And as they’ve had two empty bedrooms since Pat got her own house, I can take all me bedroom furniture with me as well. John has a friend with a van, so everything would be done for me. He said all I had to do was get meself there and sit with Pat in their living room while the men sort it out.’ She smiled as her son’s words came back to her, and when she spoke her voice was stronger. ‘He even said all me furniture would be put in exactly the same position it’s in here, so I won’t even know I’m in a different house.’
‘Well, yer can’t ask for more than that, sunshine, and yer’d be crazy to turn it down. Don’t you agree with me, Hetty?’
‘Yer’d want yer bumps feeling, Eliza, ’cos from the sound of things ye’re going to be much better off there than yer are here. We come in to see yer, and so do Edith and Jean, but for the best part of the day ye’re on yer own. And yer must get lonely sometimes. So just think, yer’d never be lonely again, ’cos Vera would be there with yer.’
The old lady nodded. ‘Me and Vera get on like a house on fire, always have done. She’s a good wife, mother and daughter-in-law. And of course she’s a good grandmother to Pat’s children.’
‘Ay, just think what a difference it will be for yer at Christmas,’ Ada said. ‘Knowing John, I bet the house will be decorated and they’ll have a big tree with presents on, and Christmas dinner with yer whole family around yer. Ye’re lucky, sunshine, and if I were you I wouldn’t hesitate to tell John that ye’re ready when he is.’
‘Me and Ada will give yer a hand with any packing yer want doing, Eliza,’ Hetty told her. ‘Don’t you be trying to do it on yer own. I can ask at the shops for any empty cardboard boxes, and we’ll keep our newspapers for wrapping your ornaments in.’
‘That’s kind of yer, and I’ll be glad of your help. What I must do as soon as you’ve gone is knock for Edith and Jean. I want them to know before the rest of the street find out, ’cos like yerselves, they’ve been very good to me. I don’t want them to hear the news from anyone else.’
‘So it sounds as though yer’ve definitely made up yer mind, sunshine.’ Ada left her chair to plant a noisy kiss on the old lady’s cheek. ‘Good on yer, ’cos ye’re doing the right thing.’
‘It’s listening to you two that’s done the trick. I’ll miss all me friends, and I’ll miss me little house, but what yer’ve told me makes sense. I’d be a fool to turn John down, and selfish, ’cos I know he worries a lot about me. And I remember last winter, when the snow was thick on the ground, he trudged all the way through it to get here. Well, he won’t have to do it this winter, because I’ll be living with him and Vera.’
‘Would yer like us to tell Edith and Jean? We’re going shopping now, we could give them a knock.’ Ada knew her offer would be turned down, for Eliza would want to tell her next-door neighbours the news herself. ‘I know yer won’t, but just thought I’d ask.’
‘No, sweetheart, I wouldn’t like them to hear it second-hand. Not after they’ve been so good to me. After yer’ve gone I’ll give a knock on each wall. They’ll get a shock, I should imagine. I know you two did ’cos I could see it on yer faces.’
‘Well, it came as such a surprise,’ Ada told her. ‘We knocked to see what yer wanted for yer dinner, and got told ye’re leaving! It was certainly a shock, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised how much better off yer’d be.’ Her chuckle brought a smile to the old lady’s face, even before a word was spoken. ‘I can make a joke of it now, and ask if our cooking has anything to do with yer wanting to leave home. I know Hetty’s Lancashire hotpot leaves a lot to be desired, but I do
n’t think mine’s that bad.’
‘You cheeky beggar! My cooking’s as good as yours any day! My family all smack their lips after they’ve had their dinner, ’cos they’ve enjoyed it so much.’
Ada gave Eliza a sly wink before telling her friend, ‘I’ve always said your family were good actors, sunshine, and that proves it. Even if the food yer served was terrible, they’d keep their faces straight because they wouldn’t want to hurt yer feelings.’
Hetty showed she could give as good as she got. ‘Ay, girl, I think yer’ve solved a mystery for me. Now I know why they queue up every night to go to the lavatory, it’s me cooking what does it.’
‘Don’t worry about it, sunshine, yer haven’t killed them off yet. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it if I were you.’
‘Oh, it won’t worry me, girl, but I have often wondered about it. And it’s not something yer can ask about, is it? I mean going to the lavatory is quite a private thing, don’t yer think?’
Her face straight, and her lips pursed, Ada nodded. ‘Oh, definitely a subject that would go in the personal and private file.’
Eliza looked from one to the other. ‘I’m going to miss you two. Yer never fail to give me a laugh, even though it might be at the expense of some poor unfortunate creature.’
‘Oh, don’t think of Hetty as some poor unfortunate creature, Eliza, ’cos believe me, she can hold her own with anyone. She keeps me on me toes, I can tell yer.’
Hetty nodded. ‘And I’m going to get yer on yer toes, now, girl, for it’s time we were on our way to the shops. I’m getting a sheet of ribs for tonight, and they’ll need steeping for a couple of hours to get the salt out. So move yerself off that chair and let’s get cracking.’
Ada curled her fists to push herself up. ‘See what I mean, Eliza? She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing is my mate. Soft as putty on the outside, but as hard as nails inside. I might be bigger than her, but she’s proved to me that there’s good stuff in little parcels.’ She bent and kissed the old lady’s cheek. ‘We’ll love yer and leave yer for now, sunshine, but we’ll be over tomorrow to see yer. In the meanwhile don’t do anything Hetty wouldn’t do.’
Hetty’s jaw dropped. ‘What did yer say that for? Honestly, if anyone but Eliza heard yer say that, they’d get the impression I was some fast floozy.’
Tongue in cheek, Ada asked, ‘What’s a floozy?’
Eliza showed she wasn’t without humour when she said, ‘A floozy is a woman who sells flowers, sweetheart, and fast floozy means she’s quick at selling her wares.’
‘Oh, is that all? I got the impression, from Hetty’s face, that floozy meant someone who sells her wares, but they definitely ain’t flowers.’
‘Ah, well, that’s what comes from having a bad mind, yer see, girl,’ Hetty said. ‘All is pure to the pure.’
‘There speaks a woman whose mind is as pure as the driven snow,’ Ada said. ‘She’s like the three wise monkeys, who hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil. There’s a word to describe my mate, Eliza, and I think it’s pronounced sanctimonious. Don’t ask me to spell it, though, ’cos I wouldn’t know where to start.’
‘I know what it means, Ada Fenwick, even though I can’t spell it,’ Hetty said, trying to look hurt. ‘And I’m cut to the quick that my best mate can say that about me. Just wait until I get home and get me dictionary out. If it takes me hours, I’ll find a word what suits you.’
‘Don’t go to all that trouble, sunshine, I think I can help yer out. I know yer’ll be looking for a big word, so would ignoramus satisfy yer? If it does, then it means yer think I’m as thick as two short planks.’
‘While it suits the purpose, girl, it hasn’t got as many letters in as sanctimonious, so it doesn’t really satisfy my hurt feelings.’
‘Oh dear, I can’t have yer walking round with hurt feelings all day, sunshine, so how about stupid ignoramus? Yer get twice as much for yer money there.’
‘As long as yer admit to being that, then yeah, it’ll satisfy me.’
‘Right now I’ll agree to anything, ’cos yer’ve kept me standing here like a lemon for so long, me corns are giving me gyp. So while I might argue the point with yer tomorrow, I’ll give in now. We’ll say goodbye to Eliza and be on our way.’ Ada bent and kissed the old lady who was smiling at their exchange. ‘See yer tomorrow, sunshine. Ta-ra for now.’
When the friends called at Eliza’s the next day they were surprised when Edith opened the door. She grinned at the look on their faces. ‘I hope you two have got yer pinafores on under yer coats, ’cos there’s work going on here, and it’s all hands to the pumps.’
Ada brushed past her, followed by Hetty, who asked, ‘What’s going on? I haven’t got me pinny on, but I don’t mind getting me hands dirty in a good cause.’
Standing in the living-room doorway, Ada was amazed at the state of the room. For there were cardboard boxes on the couch and on the table, and Jean Bowers was on her knees in front of the sideboard cupboards, passing crockery into Eliza’s waiting hands. ‘In the name of God, sunshine, ye’re not moving out today, are yer?’
‘No, sweetheart, we’re just packing a few things into the boxes John brought with him last night. He thought if the small things were out of the way, there wouldn’t be so much to do on Saturday when the van comes.’
‘Are yer moving out on Saturday? I didn’t think it would be so soon.’
‘Neither did I,’ Eliza told her. ‘John came last night to tell me the friend of his who drives a van had asked his boss if he could borrow it to do a favour for an elderly lady. And the boss was very kind, and said the man could have it for a few hours as long as it wasn’t in working time. So Saturday afternoon it is. And John reckons if I can get the small items out of the way, him and his friend can finish the job in a couple of hours.’
Jean had her head turned towards Ada, and with a grin on her face, she jerked her thumb. ‘Get yer coat off, Mrs Woman, and take over from Eliza. As yer can see, she’s wrapping the crockery in paper as I pass it to her, and putting it carefully into the boxes. She must be getting tired now, though, so yer could do the job and give her a break.’
As Ada was taking her coat off, Hetty asked, ‘What can I do to help?’
‘Yer can be my assistant,’ Edith said. ‘I’m emptying the drawers in the dressing table. And there’s a tea chest upstairs to put all the bedding in, and the clothes Eliza won’t be wanting to wear before she moves. Only the bare necessities are being left, to save time.’
When Hetty followed Edith up the stairs, Ada waved Eliza to a chair. ‘Sit down and let us do the work. And if John comes before Saturday, yer can tell him there’ll be plenty of men to give a hand. Jimmy and Danny will be glad to help, and so will Arthur.’
Jean passed over six small china plates, with the words, ‘Be careful, girl, they’re real china. Eliza’s had them about fifty years, so I’d hate to see them get broken, or even cracked.’ She watched as Ada spread out the sheets of newspaper on the table and wrapped each plate separately. ‘Gordon and Joe are going to help as well, so everything should go smoothly. But it won’t half take some getting used to when it’s all over. We’re so used to Eliza, it won’t be the same with new neighbours.’
Ada had a thought. ‘Ay, sunshine, what about the rent man? Yer know ye’re supposed to give a full week’s notice?’
The old lady nodded. ‘John’s calling to the office today in his dinner break. He’s going to pay the rent up to the end of next week. He’ll be handing the keys in on Monday.’
‘He doesn’t stand around, your John, does he?’ Ada said, smiling at the old lady whom she was really going to miss. Always quiet and polite, never a shout and never a swear word crossed her lips. ‘Organised and efficient, that’s him.’
‘He’s always been tidy and organised,’ Eliza told her with pride in her voice. ‘Even as a boy, everything in his bedroom was exactly where it should be. And always thoughtful. He’s sending a taxi here on Friday to take me to his ho
use, so I won’t get flustered with all the goings-on. At least that’s what he said, but I think he’s afraid of me getting upset when the time comes to walk out of the front door for the last time.’
‘Are yer going in the taxi on yer own?’ Jean asked, thinking Eliza shouldn’t be left alone at any time on Friday, for it was bound to be a sad day for her.
‘No, I’ll not be on me own. Vera is coming with the taxi.’
Jean passed over a small china sugar basin and milk jug, a match to the plates which were already wrapped and in the box. ‘That’s this cupboard empty, Eliza.’ She used her fists to push herself to her feet. ‘Where shall we start next?’
‘There’s only the cupboard next to the fireplace now. The things in the kitchen are not worth taking, they’re very old and Vera would have no use for them. Perhaps if the rag and bone man comes in the street, they could be given to him. Better for him to make a few coppers than putting everything in the bin.’
‘We’ll keep our eyes open for him,’ Ada promised, ‘and I’ll tell Ronnie in the butcher’s as well. If he sees the cart in the road he can tell him to call here.’
‘What about the drawers in the sideboard, Eliza?’ Jean asked. ‘D’yer want me to empty them or not?’
The old lady shook her head. ‘I’m going to sit and go through them tonight, sweetheart, ’cos although there’s mostly junk in them, there’s also old cards and letters which I’d like to keep for sentimental reasons.’
‘Right, then me and Ada will start on the cupboard, and there’s not much more after that. It hasn’t taken long, has it?’
‘What about yer clothes, sunshine?’ Ada asked. ‘Yer’ll need to take yer dresses and that nice warm coat of yours.’
‘Apart from a few pair of bloomers, which I’ll need over the next few days, the rest of me clothes are going in the tea chest on top of the bedding.’
Ada was full of admiration for the old lady. ‘I’ll tell yer what, sunshine, if I ever move house I’ll ask you and John to organise the proceedings. This is running like clockwork.’
