by Joan Jonker
‘Ooh, I want to hear this,’ Ada said with relish. ‘I want to hear every word, yer mustn’t leave anything out.’
Hetty gave her a dig. ‘Ye’re not going to hear it now, girl, ’cos here comes Ivy Thompson the troublemaker. Every word yer say, she doubles, then adds anything she can think of to spice it up.’
‘Damn and blast her,’ Ada said. ‘I had geared meself up for a bit of excitement. But never mind, yer can come back to mine when we’ve finished shopping, sunshine, and give me and Hetty the news over a nice cup of tea, and the biscuits what Hetty is going to bring in.’
Hetty just had time to say, ‘Ye’re a cheeky article, Ada Fenwick,’ before the neighbourhood gossip and bully came up to them. Most people in the area would scuttle away, or cross the street, when they saw Ivy Thompson, for she had a terrible mouth on her, and if you tried to argue with her she’d think nothing of belting you one. So, all in all, she was very unpopular, and afraid of no one. No one except Ada Fenwick, who, when it came to fisticuffs, could give as good as she got. Not that Ada was a bully, like Ivy, for she wasn’t. Ada was very popular with everyone, whereas Ivy liked nothing better than to pick on someone she knew was afraid of her.
Ivy stopped in front of the trio, effectively barring their path. ‘Good morning, Ada.’
‘Good morning to you, Ivy,’ Ada answered. ‘Not that it is a good morning, mind yer, ’cos it’s ruddy freezing. Still, we have to be polite, don’t we?’
Ivy was a big woman, easily twenty stone, and with muscles any man would be proud of. And now she was eyeing Annie up and down. ‘This yer new neighbour, is she? The one that took over Eliza’s house?’
Ada nodded. ‘Yeah, this is Annie Phillips. Annie, this is Ivy Thompson, otherwise known as the neighbourhood bully. Yer’d do well to cross the road when yer see her coming towards yer, sunshine, ’cos she packs a very hard punch.’
As Ada was wearing a smile when she spoke, Ivy looked uncertain. She didn’t know whether to treat it as a joke, or an insult. After a few seconds’ debate in her head, she decided there was no use picking a fight, not with Ada Fenwick. She’d tried a couple of times but in the end had had to admit defeat. ‘Take no notice of Ada, queen,’ she told Annie. ‘If ye’re a friend of hers, then ye’re a friend of mine.’
And to the surprise of everyone, Annie did something no one else had ever done. She held out her hand to the local bully. ‘Pleased to meet yer, Ivy.’
Ivy looked down at the outstretched hand, and a second later she was pumping it up and down. No one had ever shaken her hand before, and she was over the moon. She squared her shoulders and her mountainous bosom stood proudly to attention. Over the next hour, the whole neighbourhood would hear about this. Ivy Thompson was going up in the world, and woe betide anyone who wouldn’t stop to listen, and nod their head in agreement. ‘Nice to make yer acquaintance, Annie. As I said, any friend of Ada’s is a friend of mine.’
‘Well, it does me heart good to know we’re all friends,’ Ada said, smiling to take the sting out of her next words. ‘But I’m afraid I’m going to have to break the party up, ’cos I’ve got a load of shopping to do. I’ve no spuds and not a crust of bread in the house. It’s been nice talking to yer, Ivy, and we’ll see yer around.’ She gripped an arm either side of her and marched her friends forward. ‘Come on, ladies, time and tide wait for no man.’
When they’d walked what Hetty thought was a safe distance, she said to Annie, ‘I hope yer know how privileged yer are, girl, ’cos If Ada hadn’t been with us, Ivy Thompson would have made mincemeat out of you and me.’
‘She’s a big girl, all right,’ Annie said. ‘I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of her.’
‘There’s no reason to get on the wrong side of her,’ Ada said. ‘If yer see her before she sees you, then run to the nearest entry. But if she sees yer, then give her a big smile, and be as polished as Hetty’s sideboard on a Monday morning.’
Hetty screwed up her eyes, thought for a few seconds, then asked, ‘Why Monday, girl, and not any other day of the week?’
‘Because Monday is yer day for hard work, sunshine, that’s why. I know yer dust every single day, but Monday is the day for using yer elbow grease.’
‘Yer haven’t half got sharp eyes, girl, ’cos I think me furniture looks highly polished every single day.’
‘Now don’t be taking the huff, sunshine, just because yer took what I said the wrong way. The only reason I mentioned yer sideboard was because it’s the first thing anyone sees when they go in yer living room. And one Monday I called to yours for something, and me eyes were so dazzled by the shine I couldn’t see properly for over an hour. All I could see was flashes before my eyes.’
‘This is one of yer made up stories, isn’t it?’ Hetty asked. ‘I know it is, so yer’ve no need to deny it. I’m used to yer by now, I know all yer little tricks. And what makes me so sure is that yer’ve never been in me house on a Monday morning.’
‘Or any other morning, sunshine, don’t forget that. I have never once been over the threshold of your door in the morning.’
Annie was finding this very interesting, but was hard put to it to know if the two friends were really having a serious conversation, or whether it would end up as a leg-pull. ‘Does this story have an ending, or is it one of the tales Hetty mentioned? I’m only asking so I’ll know whether to take sides if it comes to blows.’
Ada shook her head. ‘No, it’s all right, sunshine, ’cos that’s what I use while Hetty is busy sweating using elbow grease.’
Hetty’s head quivered and her lips became a straight line. ‘I do not sweat, Ada Fenwick. Even on a really hot day, yer’ll not see any sign of perspiration on my brow. And would yer mind answering Annie’s question? What is it you use when I am supposedly sweating?’
‘Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Yer do take on so, Hetty! If yer’d listened carefully, yer would have heard me telling Annie that while you polish yer furniture, all I do is blow the dust away. I know it only goes from one end of the sideboard to the other, but on the second blow I can sometimes get it as far away as the kitchen.’
‘Go ’way!’ Annie was chuckling inside. ‘D’yer know, I’ve been taught more in the last ten minutes than I was in the whole nine years I was at school. Do you two often have these deep conversations?’
Hetty looked at Ada and raised her brows. ‘How often would yer say, girl? Once a week or once a month?’
The women were standing outside Irwin’s the grocer’s by this time, and Ada rubbed her chin. ‘No, ye’re miles out, sunshine. I’d say twice every day.’
‘Yer must have learned a lot from each other,’ Annie said, straight-faced.
‘Oh, we have, girl, ye’re so right. We are twice as daft now as we were when we first moved into the street and became neighbours.’
Ada nodded her head vigorously. ‘I blame the landlord. If he hadn’t given us houses next door to each other, we would have been much saner people now.’
‘Yeah,’ Hetty agreed. ‘Not as happy, like, but much more sane.’
‘Well, no matter how it came about, the pair of yer would be lost without each other. And for meself, I have good reason to be grateful to the landlord for putting yer next door to each other. And for letting me have the tenancy of number twenty-two. My life has been changed completely since yer were kind enough to make friends with me. It’s not perfect by any means, but much better. And after I tackled Tom Phillips last night, I know there’s going to be a real improvement.’
‘Yes, I was going to go back to what yer said about last night,’ Ada said. ‘I’m really interested to know whether yer were as firm with him as yer sounded. So how about you getting yer shopping done, while me and Hetty do ours? We’ll all meet up at my place in an hour’s time. How does that suit yer?’
‘Wonderful, sweetheart. I’ll be knocking on yer door in an hour’s time. Ta-ra for now.’
When Ada opened the door to Annie later, she let her neighbour pass, then said
, ‘Not one word until we’ve got a cup of tea in front of us. I can always think better with a cup in me hand. And Hetty has mugged us to a cream slice each, so that’s two things to look forward to.’
While Ada was making the tea, Hetty asked, ‘What are yer having for yer dinner, Annie? Me and Ada bought some pig’s liver, and we’re doing it with onions and mashed potatoes. It’s quick, easy and tasty.’ She gave an exaggerated wink. ‘At least that’s what me mate told me when she talked me into buying the same as her.’
‘Ay, buggerlugs, I heard that.’ Ada came in carrying a tray set with cups, saucers and a plate with three cream slices on. ‘I hope when ye’re enjoying yer very tasty dinner tonight, yer tell yer family it’s all thanks to me.’
‘Oh, I will, girl! I’ll even get them to knock and thank you.’
The tray was set down on the table, the cups of tea were handed out, and the plate of cakes was put down in the centre. The cream slices were filled with lots of mouth-watering fresh cream, and Ada insisted they leave the talking until the cakes were eaten, for it was torture to sit and look at them. So it was ten minutes later before Annie got to tell her tale. And she told it well, with actions and words. Her changing facial expressions added to the drama. She finished by saying, ‘He ate his toast this morning, drank two cups of tea, and left for work without one word leaving his mouth. No punches, no bad language, not even a sneer. Now, whether it will last or not is something I can’t be sure of. But I’ve got a feeling that Tom Phillips will be a different man from now on. Please God.’
‘Good for you, sunshine. I’m proud of yer.’ Ada was really pleased to see Annie looking relaxed and confident. ‘What a difference it’ll be for you and the children not to be looking sideways all the time.’
Hetty spoke her thoughts aloud. ‘It seems too good to be true. Can a person as bad as yer husband change so quickly? I wouldn’t have believed it possible.’
‘Ye’re as wise as me, sweetheart,’ Annie said. ‘I can only wait and hope for the best. But if he does start his bullying again, and coming home drunk, then I will do what I threatened to do. I’ll go and see his boss, then his workmates will know him for what he is. That is one thing that would put the fear of God into Tom Phillips. I could tell I’d frightened him when I said that, ’cos I could really see the fear in his eyes. He’s brave when he hits me or the kids, but he’d be terrified if his workmates gave him a hard time.’
‘What do Jenny and Ben think about it?’ Ada asked. ‘If their father has changed, it’ll make a big difference to their lives.’
‘When they came in last night and I told them Tom had gone to bed early, and how I’d had a big row with him, they shrugged their shoulders and said it was a flash in the pan. They were surprised he hadn’t gone to the pub, but I couldn’t convince them that there were going to be big changes in the future. Jenny pulled a face and said give it a day or two and her dad would be back to his old ways.’
‘Well, for what it’s worth, sunshine, my gut feeling is that yer hit the right spot when yer told him yer would expose his wickedness to his workmates. And although I don’t think he’s ever likely to be a nice person, I’ve got a feeling yer life is going to improve from now on. In fact, if I had the money to spare, I’d buy a bottle of sherry and drink a toast to a good future for you and the kids.’
‘It would be wonderful if yer were right, sweetheart, but I haven’t got the high hopes you have. I don’t expect a miracle. I’ll settle for a quiet and peaceful life for meself, and for Jenny and Ben. I’d like to see them enjoying their teenage years.’
Hetty had been listening with interest. She had grown fond of Annie, and wanted to give her some hope. ‘My mate Ada here is not very often wrong, girl. In fact, I sometimes think she has what they call second sight. I often think she’s making things up, for a laugh, like, but more often than not the joke’s on me. I’ll bet a pound to a pinch of snuff that she’s right about your feller. Give it a week or so, and see if she’s not right.’
‘I’ll keep me fingers crossed, sweetheart, and I’ll keep yer up to date with the goings-on. And now I’ve told yer that news, I’ve got something else to tell yer.’ Annie uncrossed her legs so she could get them under the table and lean forward. Her eyes were bright with excitement and the words she’d had trouble keeping under control poured from her mouth. ‘After I left yer this morning, I nipped along to the wallpaper shop, just to have a look at the paper and find out the prices. And while I was looking at the paper on display, I saw a notice saying a part-time worker was wanted. From nine to one o’clock, six days a week.’
Ada grinned. ‘And yer got the job.’
Annie gasped. ‘How did yer know that?’
‘I could tell by the look on yer face. Like when yer were telling us about Tom Phillips, yer eyes were glistening. I am right, aren’t I?’
‘Yeah, I start on Monday!’ Annie’s face showed her surprise. ‘I’m beginning to think Hetty is right, and ye’re a mind-reader, sweetheart. Anyway, I went in the shop pretending to look at the wallpaper, and as yer know, I’m not a one for pushing meself. I’m a defeatist, really, and I was telling meself I didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of getting the job ’cos I was too old and not the type to be able to talk to customers. But even though I thought I didn’t stand an earthly, a little voice in me head told me I was a coward. And that is what gave me the courage to ask the man behind the counter. It’s his shop, and the assistant he had left last week to go to a job what paid better. We got talking, and the man asked if I was interested. I told him I’d never worked in a shop before, but he said that wasn’t important. He asked me age, where I lived and what ties I had at home. Well, with it only being a morning job, I told him there was nothing to tie me down at home and I’d be grateful if he’d give me a chance. So I start on Monday, and I’ll be on a two-week trial. If I don’t like the job, or he thinks I’m not cut out for it, then I can leave with no hard feelings.’
Ada was sitting with a satisfied grin on her face, while Hetty’s jaw had dropped and she was shaking her head. ‘If you two are pulling me leg, then I don’t think it’s very funny.’
‘I’m not pulling yer leg, sweetheart,’ Annie told her. ‘I’m not clever enough to have made all that up. And I’m so happy, I really can’t believe me luck. It only pays sixpence a morning, but that mounts up to three shillings a week, and that’s a lot of money to me. Wait until I tell the children, they’ll be really surprised.’
‘And what about Tom Phillips?’ Ada’s eyes were wide as she asked, ‘Will he be pleased, or will he cut yer housekeeping money down, for spite?’
‘Oh, I made up me mind first thing that I wouldn’t tell him. I know for certain he’d cut down on what little money he gives me. There’s no way he’ll know I’m working, ’cos I don’t start until nine, and I’ll be home again at one o’clock. He won’t even notice the difference. He calls into a pub on his way home every day, so he won’t notice any change.’ Annie was determined her husband wouldn’t gain by her working. ‘I just wish it had come along a few weeks ago, then I could have saved up enough money to give the children some decent presents for Christmas. As it is, I’ll only get one week’s wages before the holiday. But even that will be a blessing.’
Ada leaned across the table and patted her hand. ‘Annie, ye’re a different woman from the one that moved into number twenty-two just a short while ago. Yer’ve gradually gained in strength of character, and ye’re showing more backbone.’ She turned to her mate. ‘Hetty, am I right in saying that Annie has been changing gradually over the time we’ve known her, but the change since yesterday has been drastic?’
Her mate quickly agreed. ‘She has surprised me, girl, I can tell yer that. And I’m hoping that husband of hers doesn’t spoil it with his shenanigans.’ Hetty was usually very mild-tempered, but just the thought of the things Annie had suffered was enough to raise her blood to boiling point. ‘I’d even take the poker to him meself if he starts his messing again.�
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Ada chuckled. ‘Now, that is saying something, sunshine. That’s probably the first time I’ve ever heard yer threaten to have a go at someone. And I hope Annie realises yer must regard her very highly if ye’re prepared to go into battle on her behalf.’
‘Oh, don’t for one second think I don’t appreciate what you two have done for me. If you hadn’t come along and offered the hand of friendship, then I know only too well that I would still be terrified of opening me door to anyone, hiding behind the curtains to see who was knocking. And I’d still be cowering whenever Tom Phillips looked at me, or ordered me to do something that would humiliate and degrade me.’ Annie shook her head slowly, and there was a hint of tears in her eyes. ‘No, you two have been my salvation, and I’ll never forget that. Neither will my two children.’
Ada tried to lighten the atmosphere by changing the subject. ‘Talking of children, I believe our Danny asked Jenny if she wanted to go to the dance with him on Saturday?’
‘Your son takes after his mother for being thoughtful and kind. But unfortunately, my lovely daughter hasn’t been brought up to appreciate those qualities in people, because she’s never known them. Because of her father, she doesn’t trust people as she should. But don’t blame her, Ada, ’cos it’s not her fault.’
‘Not for one moment would I do that, Annie, for Jenny’s a lovely girl. And Danny understands because he’s very caring. We’ll just leave the kids to go their own way, eh?’ Ada scraped her chair back. ‘As I said before, if I had a bottle of sherry we could drink a toast to yer good fortune. But as we’re not members of the idle rich, we’ll have to make do with tea. I’ll put the kettle on for a fresh pot.’
Tom Phillips saw Bella standing against the side wall of the pub, and his senses reacted in anticipation. As she walked towards him, he was thinking she’d be a nice-looking woman if she didn’t plaster the thick make-up on. Mind you, that was part of her trade. She wanted to stand out to attract the punters. He nodded his head in acknowledgement.
