The Girl From Number 22

by Joan Jonker

  Jimmy raised his brow. ‘That’s a bit drastic, isn’t it? I agree he needs a good hiding, but I draw the line at murder.’

  ‘That was a slight exaggeration on my part, sunshine,’ Ada said. ‘And notice I said a slight exaggeration, ’cos if I had married Tom Phillips, I’d have either killed him or left him two days after the wedding. He’s a dreadful man, an insult to all males. I feel heartily sorry for Annie, and the kids. Although I do think Annie is partly to blame for not cutting him down to size many years ago.’

  ‘It’s not too late, Mam,’ Danny said. ‘Something has to be done, ’cos they can’t spend the rest of their lives with a madman. Jenny and Ben can’t, anyway. When they’re earning enough money they’ll want to spread their wings and enjoy life.’ He shook his head. ‘Having said that, I don’t think they’ll ever leave their mother. They’re devoted to her.’

  Ada tilted her head. ‘How did yer get on with Jenny at the dance? Was her dancing good enough for yer?’

  ‘She’s very stubborn, Mam. Insisted on paying her own tram fare, and I had to argue with her before she’d let me pay for her dance ticket. She’s definitely got a mind of her own.’

  ‘If she seems a bit difficult to get on with, yer’ve got to make allowances for her. Having a father like Tom Phillips is bound to have had an effect on her. Not only on her, but the whole family. They’ve been hounded out of every home they’ve had, because of his rotten behaviour. And Jenny is bound to feel ashamed, knowing we know what’s going on. She probably feels embarrassed, and that’s why she was on the offensive with yer. I doubt she’s ever had a boyfriend in her life.’

  ‘She might not have had a boyfriend, Mam, but I bet it’s not because she’s never had the chance. We’d only been in the dance hall for two minutes before she was asked up. I know the bloke . . . his name’s Tony . . . he’d have had her up for every dance if I’d let him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he hadn’t asked her for a date.’

  ‘Oh, that’s nice!’ Ada said. ‘I’m glad she enjoyed herself. Yer’ll have to ask her to go with yer again, sunshine. She needs to get out more.’

  ‘Don’t tell him that, love,’ Jimmy said. ‘Yer’ll have his regular partners getting upset.’

  Danny grinned. ‘They pulled me leg over her, but they all thought she was very pretty. Tony certainly did, he was really taken with her.’

  ‘Is she a good dancer, then?’ Ada asked. ‘Or not to your standard?’

  ‘She’s a good little dancer, I was surprised.’ Danny’s dimples showed. ‘Mind you, I haven’t had the tango or rumba with her yet.’

  Ada gathered the empty cups and pushed her chair back. ‘Be a good lad and ask her to go with yer again, sunshine. Get her out of that house and away from that rotter for a change.’

  ‘I can’t ask her to come with me, Mam! That’s like asking her for a date, and I’ve only known the girl a few days. She’d probably tell me to get lost.’

  Ada looked down at him and shook her head. ‘No, she wouldn’t do that. But if yer like, I’ll ask her for yer.’

  Danny looked horrified. ‘Mam! Don’t you do no such thing! She’ll think I can’t get a date meself, if me mam has to ask for me.’

  Jimmy was in complete agreement with his son. ‘Yer can’t do that, love. Yer’d put the girl off. She’d think Danny didn’t have a mouth of his own. Besides, Danny has his own friends. He might not want to feel obliged to ask Jenny.’

  ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about,’ Ada said. ‘I don’t see any harm in it. I’m not asking Danny to marry the girl, just to be a bit thoughtful. I bet with the father the way he is, she hasn’t got many friends, and it wouldn’t hurt to take her to the dance now and again. He doesn’t need to stay with her once they get there. From what he’s said, she’s capable of getting her own partners.’ She began to make her way to the kitchen with the dirty cups. ‘I’ve always thought a little kindness goes a long way.’

  Danny looked across at his dad and grimaced. ‘Now she’s making me feel like a heel.’ He got to his feet and walked through to the kitchen. ‘Look, Mam, I don’t want yer to say anything to Jenny, ’cos she’ll think I’m a right baby. But if I see her to talk to, I’ll ask, casually, if she’d like to come to the dance with me. Does that make yer feel any better?’

  Ada patted his cheek. ‘I know yer don’t need me to tell yer what to do, sunshine, so I’ll leave yer to get on with it. And as it’s well past our bedtime, I think we should make tracks for bed, otherwise we’ll never be up in time.’ She put her arms around him and kissed his cheek. ‘Good night and God bless. See yer in the morning.’

  Jimmy was in bed when Ada slipped her legs between the sheets. ‘Ooh, let’s snuggle up, sunshine, and keep ourselves nice and warm.’

  Jimmy held her tight. ‘We won’t be long getting warm, love. And I won’t be long getting off to sleep. I’m dead tired.’ He nuzzled her neck. ‘Let our Danny live his own life, love, don’t try to live it for him.’

  ‘Oh, I’ve got the message, sunshine, and I’ll mind me own business.’ She pulled his arm across her waist. ‘Unless he changes his mind, of course.’

  The next morning, Hetty brushed past Ada, eager to sit down at the table to hear the news. ‘Well, how did yer get on? I kept watch through the window, and I saw yer coming out with the Bowerses and the Bensons. I was dying to know what happened, and I would have come over to yer, but Arthur put his foot down and told me not to be so nosy.’

  ‘D’yer want me to tell yer now, or shall I make us a cuppa first?’

  ‘Ooh, er.’ Hetty pretended to be all of a quiver. ‘Decisons, decisons.’

  ‘Knock it off, sunshine, or yer’ll have me a nervous wreck,’ Ada said. ‘Come to the kitchen and I can be telling yer while we’re waiting for the kettle to boil. And before yer ask, I haven’t got a biscuit of any description in the house. When we go to the shops, you can buy a packet of ginger snaps and treat me for a change.’

  Hetty’s face went through a range of expressions as she sat listening to her mate’s account of the goings-on the night before. ‘Oh, I’d love to have been there. Being told something isn’t the same as seeing it with yer own eyes.’

  ‘I know what yer mean, sunshine, and I really did feel lousy about leaving yer out. After all, yer are me best mate. But like I said, Annie’s only got the four chairs, and it was more important that Jean and Edith were there than you. They’re the ones who would be on hand if Annie or the kids needed help. And in the end, the little plan worked out a treat. For it gave Gordon and Joe the chance of seeing for themselves what Tom Phillips is really like. They were absolutely disgusted, and they’ll be ready for the blighter if he starts any shenanigans.’

  Hetty leaned forward. ‘Ay, I saw your Danny going out with Jenny. How did he get on with her? Will he be taking her out again?’

  ‘My lips are sealed on that subject, Hetty. Last night I was told in no uncertain terms that I was to mind me own business. By Jimmy, as well as Danny. So like meself, sunshine, yer’ll just have to look, listen and wait.’

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  There were a lot of wagging tongues and raised eyebrows amongst the workmates of Tom Phillips. Instead of the surly expression they were used to, he was walking around with a half-smile on his face. He was even humming as he helped two dockers to load the crane which would swing the cartons on to the ship. And he hadn’t skived off once to have a sly smoke behind the crates. ‘They say there’s always a change before death,’ one of the gang said, ‘but we wouldn’t be that lucky.’

  It was about ten o’clock when John Griffiths, the gang foreman, called a meeting with the men under his command. ‘This ship has to be loaded and ready to sail by Sunday. So I need half a dozen men to work overtime on Saturday afternoon. Put your hands up if you want to earn some extra money.’

  A couple of men shook their heads. Liverpool were playing at home on Saturday, and they wouldn’t miss a match for the sake of a few bob. Their wives might have thought dif
ferently, given the choice. They wouldn’t know, though, because their husbands weren’t daft enough to tell them they were missing out on overtime. But Tom Phillips was one of the six who volunteered. And for the rest of the shift his smile stayed in place, and his humming became so loud, and so tuneless, he was told to put a sock in it. Which he did with good humour. Nothing was going to spoil this day for him.

  It was going dusk when Tom Phillips walked towards the pub, his eyes peeled for sight of the prostitute who’d approached him a few days previously. He had thought of the possibility she wouldn’t be there, for there was always business for women like her when the men were finishing work for the day. He wouldn’t have far to look for another woman touting for business, but he was hoping to find the same woman, for she was younger than most. And his heartbeat began to race when he spied her leaning against the wall at the side of the pub. He would have liked to down a few pints first, to heighten his desire, but if he went into the pub she might be snaffled up by someone else and he’d miss his chance. So he nodded to her as he approached, and she moved away from the wall and came towards him. ‘Out for a bit of fun, are yer, lad?’

  Tom licked his lips. ‘How much, how long and where?’

  ‘Sixpence paid in advance, as long as it takes to make yer happy, and I’ll tell yer where when yer give me the tanner.’

  ‘How do I know I’ll get me money’s worth, if I pay yer in advance? Yer could take me money and then bugger off.’

  The woman, who would have been pretty without the thick make-up plastered on her face, huffed. ‘I wouldn’t last long in business if I did that. Yer’ll get yer money’s worth, I’ll promise yer that.’

  Tom took the silver sixpence he’d been hoarding from his pocket and passed it over. ‘Treat me well and I’ll be back for more.’

  ‘I’m not always available,’ the woman told him. ‘I have me regular punters.’

  In case, at the end of the day, Tom didn’t think her services were worth sixpence, he didn’t take that conversation any further. He’d wait to see if he was satisfied, first, then he could well become one of her regular punters. The very thought excited him. ‘Come on, let’s go.’

  ‘We’re not walking together,’ the woman said. ‘I’ll go first, you follow.’ She nodded to a side street opposite. ‘Go into that street, turn into the entry on yer left, then turn to yer right into the long entry behind the houses. Ten doors up, yer’ll see a yard door with a circle in white. Open the door and step into the yard. I’ll be there waiting for yer.’

  Tom looked surprised. ‘Yer mean we’re going in your house?’

  ‘Not on yer bleedin’ life! Only me best punters, what pay me well, get inside me house. I’ve got a couple what pay me for the whole night, and they spend a full night going to heaven and back. I’ve got two young kids, but they know better than to come into the yard when I’m doing business.’

  ‘Yer mean yer’ve got kids who know what yer do?’ Tom was having second thoughts. It seemed a queer set-up to him. ‘I don’t like the idea of being watched by two kids.’

  ‘I think more of my kids than to let them see what I do. They just think they’ve got a lot of uncles, that’s all. And they won’t see you, there’s no chance of that. They go in me neighbour’s next door, she looks after them if I’m busy. I need to earn money to keep them, and me neighbour is glad of the few coppers she gets for minding them, and for keeping her mouth shut.’ The woman looked him up and down. ‘Yer can have yer money back if it doesn’t suit yer. I don’t mind, there’ll be another punter along soon. Please yerself.’

  Tom had geared himself up for this, and he wasn’t going to be put off. ‘Go on, and I’ll follow yer. I’ll walk slow, to give yer time.’ As she moved away, he asked, ‘What’s yer name?’

  ‘As far as you’re concerned, me name’s Bella. And don’t be too long following me, ’cos in my trade, time is money.’

  When Tom found the entry door with the white circle on it, his hands were shaking and his heart pounding so loud he thought the whole street would hear. If he hadn’t paid the sixpence, he would have seriously thought of walking away. But it was the money, plus the thought of his wife and her new friends, that moved his hand to the latch on the door. He was a red-blooded man and he needed a woman.

  He opened the entry door, stepped inside and found himself facing Bella. To the left of her was the outside lavvy, and she opened the door to it. ‘Inside with yer, and undo yer trousers. Make it snappy, for as I told yer, time is money.’

  It was fifteen minutes later that Bella opened the yard door and stepped into the entry with Tom. ‘Well, from the sounds yer made, and the way yer carried on, I’d say yer got yer money’s worth twice over.’

  Tom Phillips’s head was reeling. There were times in that small outside lavvy when he’d thought his heart would burst. He’d never known anything like it. Had never even thought of half the tricks this woman had up her sleeve. ‘Yer know yer job all right. And I’ll be back for more.’ He thought of the overtime he’d be doing on Saturday. He wouldn’t get the money until next week, but what a way to spend it. ‘How are yer fixed for Saturday, about half six?’

  Bella shook her head. ‘Saturday’s me best day. I don’t do any quickies.’

  ‘What’s the usual for a Saturday, then?’

  ‘I’m booked up by one of me regulars for the night, so he’ll be sleeping over. And I’ll be doing a couple of punters who come every Saturday. The kids go next door, and I service the men in me house. They get half an hour for a shilling, and they leave very happy men.’ There was sarcasm in Bella’s voice when she said, ‘It’s amazing how many men have wives who don’t understand them. Still, it takes all sorts, and at least it gives me a living.’

  ‘Haven’t yer got a husband?’

  ‘Me name’s Bella, and that’s all yer’ll ever find out about me. Ask no questions and yer’ll be told no lies.’

  ‘Suits me, girl. I’m Tom, and that’s all yer need to know. I’ll not ask yer any questions, except the one. Can yer fit me in on Saturday? You know, in yer house for a shilling.’

  ‘I’ll fit yer in if yer can be here for half six. Any later, there’s nothing doing, ’cos I start getting busy at seven o’clock.’

  Tom was eager. ‘I’ll be here. Shall I come in the back way, like now?’

  Bella nodded. ‘Better not be late, or yer won’t get the full time. If ye’re late, then it’s you what loses the money, not me. And I want the shilling in me hand before yer get in the door. Is that understood?’

  Tom wasn’t used to being spoken to like that by a woman. If Annie spoke out of turn he’d belt her one. But he’d take it from this woman, for she’d given him a taste of the ecstasy and delights she could provide. His body was still tingling and his heart still pounding. And on Saturday, he’d have double the time. ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t expect any different. But I bet there’s fellers who would let yer give them the works, then walk out without paying yer.’

  Bella shook her head. ‘They wouldn’t get far, I can promise yer. A few buggers tried it on when I first started, but not now. I can read a feller inside out by just looking at them.’

  ‘I’ll see yer Saturday then, Bella,’ Tom said, and began to walk back down the entry. ‘I’ll be here dead on half six.’

  ‘Yer dinner will be dried up by now,’ Annie said when Tom walked in. ‘We had ours ages ago, and the kids have gone out.’

  ‘Just see to me dinner and keep yer gob shut.’ Tom flopped into the fireside chair. His body was still alive, a bit tender in parts. And when he tried to relive the feelings he’d felt when Bella’s experienced hands had worked their magic, a quiver ran down his spine.

  Annie put the plate down on the table. ‘Get it while it’s hot.’ She watched out of the corner of her eye as he pushed himself out of the fireside chair and sat down at the table. He was very quiet tonight, no shouting or swearing. It’s to good to be true, she told herself, it certainly won’t last. But Tom ate his dinne
r in silence, the only sound in the room being the ticking of the clock.

  He finished his dinner, wiped a hand across his mouth, and moved back to the fireside chair. ‘Get off yer fat arse and bring me a cup of tea.’

  Annie stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil. There was something not right here. Tom was far too quiet for her liking. She’d expected a torrent of abuse off him, and a few thumps, at least. He was bound to pay her back for letting the neighbours know their business, and humiliate him. As she poured the boiling water into the teapot, a little voice in her head warned her to watch out, and not to get too close to him.

  With the warning still in her head, Annie didn’t hand her husband the cup and saucer, but put it down on the end of the table where he could reach it easily. Then she sat on one of the wooden chairs on the opposite side. Not a word was spoken for several minutes, then Tom snarled, ‘What the bleeding hell are yer staring at, yer gormless cow?’

  ‘I’m staring at you, yer bad-tempered so-and-so.’ Annie had been telling herself all day that she had to start standing up to him. She’d left it late, perhaps too late, but she couldn’t expect her friends to do what she wouldn’t do herself. And that was to put Tom Phillips in his place. ‘I was just wondering if yer were sickening for something, with yer being so quiet.’

  ‘I’m quiet because I want to be quiet, not because I’m sick.’ Tom glared at his wife. What a dried-up old prune she was. She didn’t know how to make a man happy, not like Bella. Now there was a woman for yer. She was the one he’d be going to to fulfil his needs. A red-blooded man needed a woman with experience. One who could thrill him and make him happy. He sneered, ‘Yeah, I am sick, sick of the bleeding sight of you.’