The Girl From Number 22

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Oh, I’ll be going home before I go to the bleeding doctor’s. I’ll be paying me wife a call.’ Tom hiccuped loudly three times in quick succession, but didn’t think to apologise. ‘She’ll do me more good than any bleeding medicine. As much as I want, and all for nothing.’

  Jim shook his head in disgust and pulled his hand away. This left Tom without support, and he fell back against the tiled wall of the pub. The fresh air, combined with the drink, had him swaying as he staggered away. ‘I’ll get me bleeding bellyful when I get home. Then I’ll go to bed for a couple of hours, so I’m fit for me pint tonight.’ He turned back, to add, ‘She’ll be glad to see me will the missus. Always ready to oblige.’

  ‘I hope ye’re fit to make it to the tram stop.’ Jim was fast losing patience. ‘This is a busy road, yer need to have yer senses about yer if yer don’t want to get knocked down.’

  ‘I’ll be all right, mate, I can take me ale.’

  ‘Okay, if you say so.’ The landlord walked back through the pub doors, saying under his breath, ‘Good riddance to bad rubbish.’

  Unsteady as he was, Tom Phillips had enough wits about him to lean back against the wall. He breathed in the fresh air, and stayed there until his head felt clear enough to move. Then he made for the tram stop, a sinister smile on his face. He couldn’t wait to see his wife’s face when he walked in. She’d be on her own, with no kids to come to her aid.

  When a tram came trundling along, he pulled himself on board and made for a seat by a window. He’d be home in twenty minutes, and then the fun would begin.

  ‘Fares please.’ The conductor came down the aisle clicking his ticket machine, and he stopped by Tom’s seat. ‘Fares, please.’

  Tom handed over two coppers. ‘Tuppenny single.’ He took the ticket, put it in his overall pocket, then went back to thoughts of his wife. He could feel himself becoming excited, for the power he had over her made him feel like someone special. He was a docker at work, like all the other men. But in his bedroom, he reigned supreme. He was well aware that he wasn’t popular with the blokes he worked with, they made that quite clear. But he didn’t care, in fact he felt sorry for them. He often heard them talking about what good wives they had, and he felt like laughing in their faces. If they only knew.

  Annie heard the sound of the latch clicking on the entry door, and a frown creased her forehead. It was far too early for any of the family to be coming home, unless there was something wrong. She pressed her face close to the kitchen window, and suddenly felt as though all her breath was leaving her body. For she could see her husband closing the door after himself, then turning to walk up the yard. For a few seconds her mind clouded over, then she dashed into the living room. ‘I’m going to have to ask yer to leave. I’m sorry, but me husband’s come in the back way, and he doesn’t like visitors.’

  Hetty, as naive as ever, smiled. ‘Oh, we may as well stay and make his acquaintance.’

  But Ada was quick to see the panic in Annie’s eyes. ‘It’s too late, sunshine, he’s just opened the kitchen door. We’d never make it out in time.’

  The scene that met Tom Phillips’s eyes was like a tableau. Two women sitting and one standing, all like statues. No movement, not even a blink.

  ‘What the bleeding hell is going on here?’ Tom took in the empty plates and the cups. ‘Having a bloody party, are yer?’ He jerked his thumb towards the front door. ‘Two bleeding gasbags, with nothing else to do all day but sit on their fat backsides.’ The smell of beer filled the room as he leaned over the table. ‘Sod off, the pair of yer.’

  Annie’s face drained of colour as she wrung her hands. ‘Tom, these are two of our neighbours from opposite.’ She felt so ashamed, having to make excuses to a man who was the worse for drink. ‘They’ve only been here a few minutes.’

  Hetty was feeling very uncomfortable now. She wasn’t used to bad language, or drunken men. She made a move to get off the chair, but saw Ada make a sign for her to stay where she was.

  ‘Are yer both bleeding deaf, or what? I told the pair of yer to get off yer backsides.’ Tom’s rage was frightening. ‘It’s my house, and I’m telling yer to bugger off.’

  As quick as the click of someone’s fingers, the fog in Annie’s mind cleared and she saw the scene for what it was. This had been a happy room until her husband had filled it with the smell of beer and bad language. And he was making a show of her in front of the only friends she had. Belittling her, and taking away her pride and dignity. She couldn’t take it any more. Even if he took his belt to her and beat her to pulp. ‘This is my home as well as yours, Tom Phillips, and these are friends of mine. They will stay until they are ready to leave.’

  Ada hadn’t spoken a word so far. She wanted to make sure her instinct was right before saying anything or walking out. So she sat still, her eyes going from husband to wife, then back again.

  Tom Phillips was beside himself with rage. This wasn’t what he’d imagined himself coming home to. ‘Don’t you dare answer me back, yer stupid cow. If yer know what’s good for yer, yer’ll get them out of here now, before I belt yer one.’ He raised a curled fist to Annie’s face. ‘Do as I tell yer, unless yer want a taste of this.’

  When Ada saw Annie cower in fear, she could no longer stay quiet. She pushed her chair back and got to her feet. Passing behind Hetty’s chair, she stood in front of the man whose nostrils were flared, and whose eyes were wild with rage. ‘I have never interfered between husband and wife before, because I’ve never had cause to. But I’ll not stand by and see any woman, friend or stranger, beaten by a drunken bully.’

  Tom roared like a lion, and lifted his fist. ‘If yer don’t want a taste of this, then get to hell out of my bleeding house, yer fat cow.’

  Hetty gasped. Ooh, she said in her mind, my mate isn’t going to like being called a fat cow. Why didn’t they leave when Annie asked them to? If it was up to her, they’d get out now, while the going was good. Before the situation got any worse. But it wasn’t up to her, and she wasn’t leaving without her mate.

  Ada’s face was inches away from Tom Phillips’s, and she found the smell sickening. ‘I will willingly leave your house. In fact, I’ll be delighted to leave your house. I wish I was anywhere but in yer ruddy house. And it pains me to say I’d like to leave this house, because I’ve been coming in here for twenty years now. I’ve always been happy and welcome here, because the person who lived here before was a lovely lady. Yer wouldn’t hear bad language in here then, or have to put up with the stink of beer. However, I will only leave if I’m sure in me mind that Annie won’t come to any harm after me and me mate have gone.’

  Annie touched her arm. ‘Don’t get yerself upset over him, Ada, he’s not worth it. He’s fond of using his fists. In his tiny mind, he thinks hitting women and children makes him more of a man.’

  ‘Tell me the truth, Annie,’ Ada said. ‘Are yer certain that he won’t belt yer as soon as me and Hetty are out of the house?’

  Annie lowered her eyes. ‘I’m fed up with telling lies about my husband, but I’ll not lie to yer now. The man I married, God help me, has always been a down and out rotter. And I’m ashamed to say I’ve never had the strength to stand up to him.’ She turned to stare at Tom’s face, which was distorted with rage, then looked back at Ada. ‘At least I’d never stood up to him until last night. I’ve never ever told anyone that he beats me, not even the children. Or that he gets such a kick out of it that he’s laughing as he’s beating me. But last night, with the help of the children, I turned the tables on him. I actually hit him on the hand with the rolling pin. And he’ll want his revenge. I’d bet every penny I’ve got in me purse that revenge is the reason he’s taken time off work. He knew he’d find me on me own in the house. As soon as you and Hetty leave, he’ll take off his leather belt and pay me back in his usual way.’

  Annie wasn’t watching her husband but Ada was. And out of the corner of her eye, she saw him raise his arm. She quickly pulled Annie out of the way, an
d Tom’s heavy blow missed its target. Then he became a raving lunatic. ‘This is my bleeding house,’ he screamed, ‘and my bleeding wife. I am master of both, and can do as I bloody well like with both. So sling yer hook if yer know what’s good for yer. If yer don’t get out, and take yer mate with yer, then yer’ll both be kicked out on yer arse.’

  Ada ignored him. ‘Get yer coat on, Annie, and come over to mine until yer dear husband has sobered up.’

  ‘Oh, I can’t do that, Ada,’ Annie told her tearfully. ‘I’ll have to have a meal ready for when Jenny and Ben come in from work.’

  ‘Yer can come back then,’ Ada said quietly. ‘I’m sure they won’t mind dinner from the chippy for once. If they’re anything like mine, they’ll enjoy chips and scallops for a change.’

  ‘Don’t you bleeding well be telling my wife what to do.’ Tom’s voice and stance were threatening as he stood in front of Ada, and the veins standing out on his temples and neck told of the rage he had bottled up inside him. ‘I’m the boss in this house, and what I say goes. Now sling yer bloody hook, yer nosy biddy, I’ve got some unfinished business to sort out with me wife.’

  That was the deciding point for Annie. She’d taken punches, even the belt, for a quiet life. But she knew her husband’s unfinished business would be carried out in the bedroom, and she couldn’t face being humiliated and degraded. ‘I’ll get me coat on the way out, Ada. Let’s go.’

  Tom Phillips’s jaw dropped and he looked stunned. His wife had never defied him before, she didn’t dare, for she knew what her punishment would be if she stepped out of line. It was all the fault of that bitch from over the road. She was egging his wife on. He grabbed Annie’s arm. ‘Don’t you walk out on me, yer stupid cow, or yer’ll be sorry. Your place is here, looking after my needs, not listening to bloody women what have got nothing better to do. What d’yer think I pay yer for?’

  But Annie closed her ears to his ranting. For the first time in her married life she didn’t care any more. She slipped her arms into her coat, picked up her purse and keys, and followed Ada and Hetty out of the front door. She crossed the cobbles with the two women, and never once looked back. If she had, she would have had cause for concern. Tom Phillips had his face pressed to the window, and it was distorted with anger, while his eyes blazed with rage. How dare she walk out on him. She’d suffer for it, by God she would. She’d rue the day she disobeyed him, he’d make sure of that. And as for the two bitches over the road, they’d be sorry they ever encouraged her to walk out on him.

  Tom watched until the three women entered the house opposite and the door was closed behind them. Then he let the curtain fall back into place and walked to the fireside chair. He was in a dark mood, and the blame was all laid on his wife’s shoulders. Oh, the two biddies from opposite had encouraged her to defy him, but he was her husband and Annie had sworn to love and obey him. As far as he was concerned, that meant she was there to do his bidding. To satisfy his needs. And he’d come home early today to have those needs satisfied. He’d been looking forward to an hour or two of fun in the bedroom. Of seeing his wife squirm as she carried out the tasks he ordered her to do. All the way home his body had been getting excited at the thought of what was ahead. It wasn’t love he felt, it was lust. And now his body was crying out for release as he squirmed in the chair. He tried to comfort himself by thinking she’d be home soon, and then he’d have some fun with her. He didn’t doubt she’d come back in time to make dinner for Jenny and Ben. They were the aces up his sleeve, and he knew it. She loved them, and would do anything to keep the peace in the house so they wouldn’t be upset. Yeah, she’d be back home soon to start their meal, and he could satisfy his urgent needs then. He’d leave the fun until later, when they went to bed. He could take as long as he liked to get his own back on her. All night if he wanted, and she wouldn’t make a sound.

  With the warmth from the fire, and the four pints of beer still having an effect, he soon became drowsy. And with thoughts running through his mind of the satisfaction he was going to get by teaching his wife a lesson, he went to sleep with a smirk on his face.

  Jenny walked through the factory gates with two of her mates. They were going to the Rialto dance hall that night, and were coaxing her to go with them. ‘Come on,’ Barbara said, ‘don’t be so ruddy miserable. Yer’d enjoy it once yer made the effort. Me and Pat have a whale of a time, don’t we, Pat? We’re never short of partners.’

  ‘It’s all right for you two, yer can go and come home together,’ Jenny told them. ‘I’d be by meself, and I don’t fancy going home in the dark on me own.’

  ‘Yer wouldn’t be on yer own for long,’ Pat said, ‘not with your face and figure. There’d be no shortage of fellers to take yer home. Yer could pick and choose.’

  ‘I’ll see what I feel like when I’ve had me dinner,’ Jenny said. ‘I’ll leave yer here, so I can catch an earlier tram. It would give me more time to get ready if I feel like joining yer.’ She began to run. ‘I might see yer later. Ta-ra.’

  There was a tram at the stop when Jenny turned the corner into the main road, and she sprinted for it. ‘Yer just made it, lass,’ the driver said. ‘Got a heavy date, have yer?’

  Jenny grinned. ‘Yeah, with a hot dinner. Thanks for holding the tram for me.’

  The driver turned the handle and the tram moved on. ‘Ye’re welcome, lass. Mind you, if yer’d been twenty years older, I might not have been so obliging.’

  The conductor was coming down from the top deck, and he heard. ‘I’m going to tell yer missus, Bert. Does she know yer’ve got an eye for a pretty girl?’

  ‘She should do, smart lad, ’cos I married her and they don’t come prettier than that.’

  ‘Oh, ay, bragging, are yer?’ The conductor laughed. ‘Well, if we’re boasting, I may as well tell yer that my wife’s got a figure like Lana Turner. And figures don’t come any better than that.’

  Jenny was smiling as she took a seat near the front of the tram so she could be off quickly. If she felt like it after dinner, she might surprise her mates and turn up at the Rialto. It all hinged on whether Ben was going out, though. If he was, she’d stay in and keep her mother company.

  It was dark when she ran up the entry, and she was glad when she was inside the back yard. She noticed there was no light on in the kitchen, but thought her mother must have the dinner ready and be keeping herself warm by the fire until she and Ben came in. But when she opened the kitchen door it felt strange. There was no smell of cooking, and none of the gas rings were lit. She walked into the living room expecting to see her mother, but sitting in the chair in front of the fire was her father. What was he doing home at this time? There was something wrong. Her mother not here when she should be, and her father sitting there as large as life when he shouldn’t be. She didn’t want to talk to her father, for he filled her with disgust, but it was unavoidable. ‘Where’s me mam? Is she upstairs?’

  ‘No, she’s gone to the chippy,’ Tom growled. ‘She’ll be back in a minute.’

  Alarm bells were ringing in Jenny’s head as she slipped off her coat and put it over her arm. ‘That’s not like me mam. Are yer sure she’s gone to the chip shop?’

  Tom eyed her blossoming figure. She was a looker all right. Slim waist and firm breasts. ‘That’s what she told me. Hang yer coat up, she’ll be here any minute.’

  Jenny didn’t believe him. The whole set-up was wrong. Her mother always had a dinner ready for them, she never went to the chip shop. But Jenny knew it was pointless to ask her father; she wouldn’t get the truth out of him. So she walked to the hall to hang up her coat. She was stretching up to reach the hook, when she was pushed forward with force and pinned against the wall. Then a hand was pushed under each of her armpits, and cupped her breasts. It all happened so quickly she was unprepared, and although she tried to push her father back, she was no match for his weight. She could hear him groan as he pressed his body into hers, and she could smell the stale beer as he breathed over her
shoulder.

  ‘Get off me, yer dirty, filthy thing. I’ll scream if yer don’t take yer filthy hands off me.’ Jenny put all her strength into trying to push him back, but she couldn’t move him. ‘I’m warning yer, I’ll scream the house down if yer don’t get away from me.’

  ‘No yer won’t, my girl, ’cos yer wouldn’t want to upset yer mother, would yer? Besides, I’m enjoying meself too much to back off. I bet you’re enjoying yerself too, on the quiet. No one else has ever had their hands on these, have they?’ He caressed each breast. ‘Yer can tell yer mam if yer like, she can’t do nowt about it. In fact yer can tell the whole street if yer like, it’s no skin off my nose. My house, and my daughter. Who’s to say yer didn’t encourage me, eh?’ His cackle sent shivers down Jenny’s spine. ‘Yeah, I’ll tell them I was asleep in the chair and yer came and sat on me knee and put yer hand down me trousers.’

  When Jenny felt the saliva from his mouth trickle on to her neck, she thought she was going to vomit. She’d always disliked the man who had fathered her, but right now she hated him with every fibre of her being. And her hatred spurred her into action. She managed to wriggle one of her arms free, and she bent her elbow so she could reach back and claw his face. She heard his cry of pain at the same time as the kitchen door opened, and she heard Ben’s voice, followed by her mother’s. ‘Jenny, are yer upstairs, sweetheart?’

  Tom Phillips moved back, a hand held to his cheek where Jenny had clawed it. ‘Tell yer mother, and yer’ll live to regret it,’ he hissed. Then he fled silently up the stairs.

  Jenny was trembling with shock, but she tried to pull herself together before walking into the living room. She wouldn’t tell her mother because she knew how upset and hurt she’d be. And God knows, she had enough on her plate as it was. So pulling her jumper down, and forcing a smile to her face, Jenny walked into the living room. ‘I was just hanging me coat up.’ She kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘What’s going on, Mam? I was worried to death when I came home and there was no sign of any dinner on the go, and no sign of you. Me dad was sitting in the chair, and when I asked him where yer were, he said yer’d gone to the chippy. Then he took himself off upstairs.’