by Joan Jonker
Ada put a hand to her mouth and coughed behind it several times. She did this to stop herself from bursting with laughter. Her four friends were drinking in every word, as though they were seeing the scene as she told it. But it was Hetty who was bringing Ada to a point where she wouldn’t be able to keep the laughter back for much longer. For Hetty, who was the one who started all this off, was listening as though she believed what Ada was telling them, and she could almost hear the music being played. She was hunched over the table with her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on her mate’s mouth. And she was getting impatient. ‘Well, go on, girl, tell us some more.’
But Ada’s hunger got the better of her, and she decided she’d better cut it short or she’d starve to death. ‘You’re the one that can finish it off, sunshine, ’cos you were the one who caught the eye of a very handsome toff. He came over, and acting like a knight of old, he bowed down from the waist, then held his hand out and asked if he could have the pleasure of dancing the waltz with yer. Well, I got fed up sitting there like a wallflower, all on me own. So after watching you and yer partner gazing into each other’s eyes, and him lifting yer hand to his lips every few minutes, I decided to call it a day. And I came home on the tram, all on me lonesome.’
There was a burst of applause, the loudest being from Hetty. She was over the moon to have been the heroine in one of the best fairy tales her mate had ever told. ‘Yer might have gone on a bit further, girl, I was enjoying that.’
‘Yeah, me rumbling tummy told me yer were enjoying it so much, yer’d have kept me at it until bedtime. Anyway, sunshine, how much further did yer want me to go?’
‘Well, he could have wooed me. Even asked for me hand in marriage.’
‘Let me have a cup of tea and something to eat first, sunshine, then I might feel more like it. At the moment me tummy thinks me throat’s cut.’
‘You’ve had your turn, Hetty, anyway,’ Jean told her. ‘When Ada’s refreshed, she can start with it being me who has attracted the knight in shining armour. I could tell Gordon about it in bed tonight, and it would put some spice back in our lives.’
‘That’s an idea,’ Edith said. ‘Ye’re good at making things up, Ada, so couldn’t there have been two knights, instead of one? Then I could have one.’
Annie, who was by now completely relaxed with her neighbours, thought she’d join in the fun. God knows, she’d had little of it in her life up to now. ‘Excuse me, ladies, but didn’t the knights of old travel in threes?’
‘No, yer’ve got yer wires crossed, Annie,’ Jean said. ‘It was the musketeers what travelled in threes.’
‘Well, one of them would do,’ Annie said, feeling very daring. ‘Yer must all admit that if anyone needs to be carried away by a good man, then it’s me.’
Ada bit into her cream slice, a look of bliss on her face. What a wonderful afternoon it had turned out to be. She couldn’t get a knight in shining armour for Annie, or even a musketeer, but she had been able to get her two more very good friends.
‘D’yer know, I feel on top of the world,’ Ada told the family while they were having their meal. ‘Jean and Edith were marvellous with Annie. They didn’t look down on her or anything. They did mention the fuss her husband caused, and said if it happened again they’d be out to him with a rolling pin. But they said it jokingly, so Annie wouldn’t get upset or embarrassed. She did look nervous at first, and if she’d had her way she’d have been off down the entry before they came. But I managed to talk her into staying. And believe me, after the first half-hour, she looked like a different woman. She joined in the laughter, and even took part in the little fantasy tale I’d made up. When the three of them left here at four o’clock, she was as happy as Larry. Anyone would think they’d been mates for years.’
The fork was halfway to Jimmy’s mouth when he said, ‘Yer said three of them, love. Wasn’t Hetty here?’
‘Oh, yeah, me mate was here. It wouldn’t be a show without Punch. But she didn’t leave with them, she stayed behind for a little natter. Only to say how well things had gone, and how glad we are that Annie’s next-door neighbours now know what the score is. If Tom Phillips starts any shenanigans, they’ll hear him and either knock on the wall, or get the men to go to the front door and confront him. So Annie and the kids have friends watching out for them now, and I feel more contented knowing that.’
‘Mam, what did yer mean when yer said yer made up a fantasy tale?’ Monica asked. ‘D’yer mean like the Three Bears, or Cinderella?’
‘I was going to ask yer that, Mam,’ Danny said, his eyes shining with laughter. ‘What weird and wonderful gem did yer come up with this time? Yer must have a brilliant imagination to dream up these tales of yours. Yer should write a book.’
Ada chuckled. ‘There’s one drawback, sunshine. I’ve got a good mouth for telling stories, it comes easy to me. But if I was asked to write them down I’d be stumped. Ruddy hopeless at spelling, son, and that’s my downfall.’
‘Tell us what yer told yer mates this afternoon, Mam,’ Paul pleaded. ‘Go on, it’s ages since yer told me and our Monica a story.’
‘Ye’re too grown-up for fairy stories, son. If I told yer the one about Dick Whittington and his cat, yer’d be bored stiff.’
But her son persisted. ‘Tell us the one yer made up today, then. Yer said it made the ladies laugh, so it must have been funny.’
‘I thought it was funny, sunshine, and so did they. But we are all the same age, three or four times your age. You might not find it a bit funny.’
‘Ah, go on, Mam,’ Monica coaxed. ‘If yer told yer friends, why can’t yer tell us? Don’t be a meanie.’
‘Eat yer dinner before it gets cold, and then I’ll tell yer.’ Ada turned to where her eldest son was sitting. ‘I think you’d be better finishing yer dinner quick, Danny, and start getting yerself ready for going out. Once yer start to listen to me, yer’ll make yerself late for the dance. And I’d hate to get the blame for making yer miss a slow foxtrot.’
‘How long is this tale?’ her son asked. ‘Surely it didn’t last for the whole two hours yer mates were here for?’
‘Of course it didn’t, soft lad. I started it in the kitchen with me and Hetty having a laugh. Then it sort of carried on when we got back in the living room, and took on a life of its own. One thing led to another and I found meself inventing things in me head. The ladies were enjoying it, and adding their own ideas. We all had a good laugh and it was a really nice afternoon.’
‘Go on, Mam,’ Danny said. ‘If I don’t listen to it, I’ll be filled with curiosity all night and won’t enjoy the dances. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate, and I’d be treading on me partner’s toes.’
‘While I’d hate to be responsible for yer standing on a girl’s toes, I still think yer should skip my little tale for tonight, and hear it another time. It’s yer birthday and all yer partners will wonder what’s happened to yer.’ Ada’s eyes went to the ceiling. ‘I have to say I was glad yer were here last night, though, sunshine, to give yer dad a hand. He’d have had a struggle on his own.’
‘I was glad I was here, Mam, ’cos think what I would have missed. I’ve never seen a performance like that in me life. It shows what a sheltered life we’ve led. We don’t know how lucky we are to have a mother and father who have shown us nothing but love and laughter.’ Danny’s dimples appeared when he added, ‘Except the odd clip round the ear when I’ve put a ball through someone’s window, or sagged school to go to the park with me mates.’
Monica was taken aback. ‘I never knew yer sagged school, our Danny.’
‘He’s pulling yer leg, sunshine,’ Ada said quickly. ‘He’d have got more than a clip round the ear if he’d ever sagged school. That’s something he wouldn’t have got away with.’
Danny leaned across the table to pick up the now empty dinner plates. ‘I’ll take these out, Mam, and then I’m staying to listen while yer tell us what made yer afternoon so enjoyable. It won’t kill me to miss the fir
st dance.’
Ten minutes later, in the house next door, Hetty lifted her hand for silence. ‘Just listen to the screams of laughter from next door. I bet Ada’s been telling them about this afternoon, and even adding a bit more to it. How she dreams all these things up I’ll never know. But I’m glad she’s got a good imagination, and I’m glad she’s me mate. My life would be really dull if it wasn’t for her.’
‘So would ours be, Mam,’ Sally said. ‘What would we talk about over the dinner table if it wasn’t for Auntie Ada and her tales?’ Just then a loud burst of laughter could be heard, and Sally raised her brows. ‘See what I mean? We’ve all got a smile on our face, and yet we haven’t got a joke between us. Long live Auntie Ada, that’s what I say.’
Chapter Nineteen
When Jenny and Ben came home that night from work, they were met by a very animated mother. Annie couldn’t wait for them to hang their coats up before she was telling them about the wonderful day she’d had. The words poured from her mouth as she told how Ada had introduced her to their next-door neighbours, and how she’d got on with them like a house on fire. Her face was aglow, and her happiness brought a smile to her children’s faces.
‘I was afraid of meeting Jean and Edith, in case they looked down their noses at me after the way yer father behaved last night. In fact, I was so ashamed, I would have run for me life. But Ada wouldn’t let me run, she made me stick it out. And I thank God she did, for Jean and Edith are two of the nicest people yer could wish to meet. They soon put me at me ease, and it wasn’t long before I thought I’d known them all me life.’
‘What did they have to say about the way me dad was last night?’ Jenny asked. ‘They must have seen or heard him.’
‘Oh, they did! But Ada had told them a bit about how things are here, and they were sympathetic. Towards us, like, not yer father. They said if he takes off again, like he did last night, they’d be out like a shot with a rolling pin.’
‘I hope me dad doesn’t make a habit of getting drunk and being rowdy in the street, though, Mam,’ Ben said. ‘Even the best of friends would find that hard to take.’
‘Yer don’t need to tell me that, sweetheart, haven’t I had twenty years of it? And haven’t I had mates who turned out to be fine weather friends? At the first sign of trouble, they couldn’t walk away quick enough. But I’m as sure as I’ll ever be of anything that Ada and Hetty will be good mates. And although I’ve only really met Jean and Edith today, I’d say they were from the same mould. Don’t forget, the day we moved in, Edith came to the door and offered to make us a pot of tea. And didn’t I throw her kindness back in her face because I knew it wouldn’t be long before she found out what yer father was like?’
‘Did she mention that today, Mam?’ Jenny asked. ‘She must have felt terrible when yer sent her packing that day.’
‘No, she never mentioned it, sweetheart.’ Annie glanced at the clock. ‘The dinner is ready in the oven, I’ll see to it now. I want to have our meal over before yer father comes in. After the show he made of us, and himself, last night, I don’t think I could sit at the same table as him. The food would stick in me throat.’
‘Would it be all right if I went out tonight, Mam?’ Jenny asked. ‘I promised two of the girls in work I’d go to a dance with them.’
‘Ah, I’ve promised me mate I’d go round to his tonight,’ Ben said. ‘I let him down last time I was supposed to go, I don’t want to let him down again.’
‘We can’t both go out and leave me mam in here on her own,’ Jenny told him. ‘Yer know what me dad’s like. He’d take off on her if she was here alone.’
Annie turned at the kitchen door. ‘Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right. Yer can’t let yer mates down, and I wouldn’t want yer to. At your age, yer should both be out enjoying yerselves, and I’m not going to stand in yer way.’
‘No, I don’t like the idea of yer being in here on yer own with me dad.’ Jenny had a determined expression on her face. ‘I’d never forgive meself if I came home and saw he’d given yer a black eye.’
While Annie was opening the oven door, she called through to the living room, ‘There’s a very easy solution to the problem, sweetheart.’
Jenny got up from her chair and made her way to the kitchen, with Ben close on her heels. ‘What solution is that, Mam?’
‘I’ll go out somewhere. Yer father could get his own dinner out of the oven for once. He’s going to have to learn that I’m not waiting on him hand and foot any longer.’
Ben asked, ‘But where would yer go, Mam?’
‘I could go to the pictures. If I’d thought of it before, I’d have prepared meself to go to first house, but it’s too late for that. So I’ll go to the last house.’
Jenny bustled into the kitchen and took the two plates her mother had in her hands. ‘Mam, yer wouldn’t miss much of the first house if yer ate yer dinner quick and went straight out. I’d see to our Ben, yer don’t need to worry about that. And by the time yer came in from the pictures, me dad would have had his dinner and gone out to the pub. He won’t come home till closing time, and Ben will be back by then. I won’t stay until the last dance, so I won’t be home late, either.’
‘I’ll not let yer spoil yer night because of me, sweetheart. It’s not often yer go out, so make the most of it.’
‘Don’t argue, Mam! Go and sit at the table and I’ll carry yer dinner in.’ Jenny jerked her head at her brother. ‘You too, Ben. Sit down and get stuck in.’
Annie picked up her knife and fork, but she looked uncertain. ‘If Ben goes out after his meal, it could mean yer’d be on yer own with yer father for a while. Have yer thought of that, sweetheart?’
‘He doesn’t usually come in until half seven, and he’s out again as soon as he’s had his dinner. Anyway, I might be gone before he gets in from work, and I won’t set eyes on him.’ And to put her mother’s mind at ease, Jenny added, ‘Even if he came in, I’d ignore him. I wouldn’t even acknowledge his presence. So get that dinner down yer, and go and see a nice romantic film. Anything would be better than staying in the house on yer own. And Mam, how long have yer been saying ye’re going to put yer foot down with me dad? Talking about it isn’t going to get yer anywhere, so stop the talking and begin the action. Start now, right this minute. And if yer feel yerself weakening, then just think of yer new friends. Yer don’t want to lose them, do yer?’
Annie was smiling when she shook her head. ‘I certainly don’t, sweetheart, and I shouldn’t need me daughter to remind me. It just shows how pathetic I’ve been. But I give yer me solemn promise that I’ll stand up to Tom Phillips no matter what he says or threatens me with. I can’t fight him, for I’m no match for him. But I can beat him in other ways, you’ll see.’
‘I believe yer, Mam,’ Jenny said, ‘but will yer get that dinner down yer, and be off before the terror comes in.’
‘I’ve finished me dinner,’ Ben said. ‘So hurry up with yours, Mam, and we can go out together. If we see me dad, we’ll pretend we haven’t and walk past him.’
It wasn’t long before Jenny was seeing them off. ‘I’ll clear the table, Mam, and wash the dishes, so that’s one thing yer don’t have to worry about. You enjoy the film, and yer first taste of freedom.’
Annie blew her a kiss before linking her arm through Ben’s. ‘This is the man in me life, and I couldn’t ask for better. And although I say it as shouldn’t, I think we make a very handsome couple.’
‘Ay, Mam,’ Jenny said, ‘I told yer to get tough, not big-headed.’ She was smiling as she closed the door. It was such a change to see her mother looking almost carefree, with not a frown on her forehead, nor anxiety in her eyes. Let’s hope it keeps up, Jenny thought as she began to collect the dinner dishes. She’d wash them first, then get herself ready for the dance. Her workmates would be dressed to the nines, and she didn’t want to turn up looking dowdy.
When she heard the key in the door, Jenny ground her teeth together. The dishes were washed
and put away, and she’d shaken the tablecloth in the yard. All she had to do now was see to herself, and she’d hoped to do that before her father came home.
Tom Phillips stood in the kitchen doorway, his usual scowl on his face. ‘Where the hell’s yer mother? She should be here, waiting to put me dinner down in front of me.’
‘Me mam’s gone out, and yer dinner is in the oven. Surely ye’re capable of lifting a plate out of the oven?’
‘That’s yer bleeding mother’s job, not mine. What does she think I pay her for?’ His lip curled as he growled, ‘You get me dinner out, I’ve been bleeding working all day. Wait till yer ma gets in, it’s a hiding she’s asking for.’ He swayed into the living room and fell back into the fireside chair. ‘Where the hell’s she gone, anyway?’
Jenny’s mind was ticking over. She felt like telling him to get off his backside and see to his own dinner. Anyone would think he was the only one working all day. But her common sense told her that to cross him would be asking for trouble. Best to give him his dinner, and while he was eating she could get herself ready to go out. It would be less trouble all round to do it that way. So, using a tea towel to shield her hands against the heat, she opened the oven and carefully removed the plate that was covering the dinner so it wouldn’t dry up.
‘Here’s yer dinner.’ The plate was put down in front of Tom Phillips, and the look he gave his daughter showed he was in a raging temper and ready to flare. ‘I asked yer a question, yer stupid mare. Where’s yer mother gone?’
‘How do I know? I’m not me mother’s keeper, she doesn’t have to tell me where she’s going. Or you, for that matter. Anyway, there’s yer dinner, so stop yer moaning. I’m going to get washed. I’m going out, too.’ With that she turned on her heel and walked back to the kitchen. A quick wash, clean her teeth, change her dress, apply a little lipstick and comb her hair. Ten minutes at the most, then she’d be on her way. Thank goodness. She didn’t fancy spending any time with a man who had no control over his violent temper.
