Meadow Lane

by Maureen Reynolds

  ‘Dad has written to ask why you haven’t answered his last letter.’ He waved the blue piece of paper in her direction. ‘When did you get this letter and why didn’t you tell me about it?’

  Sadie lost her temper. ‘That letter wasn’t meant to be opened by you, Eddie, it was written to me so give it to me.’

  He snatched it out of her reach. ‘No, it was addressed to me as I wrote to him, asking why he wasn’t getting in touch, and he says he did write but got no answer.’

  By now she was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking as if she was ready to cry. ‘I was going to answer it, Eddie, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by telling him we’re not going back to America.’

  ‘Well I’m going to write back and tell him I’m going home even if you don’t want to come, Mum.’ By now he was almost in tears as well.

  Then came a knock on the door; it was Evie. ‘I’m not coming to school,’ he said just as Tommy joined her.

  ‘There’s a row going on at home,’ she said. ‘We got a letter from Ireland and Dad is angry about it.’

  Eddie gave his mother a warning glance and placed the letter in his pocket as Evie asked him why he wasn’t going to school. Eddie gave this some thought and at that moment, as he didn’t want a fight with his mother, he picked up his bag and walked out.

  Sadie felt ill with shock. She had no idea that Ed would write to Eddie, and if the letter had arrived later she would have burned it. She glanced at the clock to see it was almost nine o’clock so she decided it was no use going into work, not with her head pounding like mad. A cup of coffee and an aspirin tablet would shift the headache but not the way she was feeling. Everything was going wrong with this new life she had planned for ages, saving up small sums of money in an effort to make her escape. Ed had bought the two tickets for their travel but he was under the impression it was to visit her sick mother and that they would be coming back.

  She was angry and humiliated with Peter and the way he had spoken to her last night and she suddenly made up her mind about this job. She wouldn’t go back and maybe her absence would make him realise how much he needed her and he would come running back to her. It had happened in the past so why not now, she thought.

  She carried the cup of coffee and aspirin back to bed, satisfied she had made the right decision.

  Next door at the Cassidy house, the argument was still in full flow because of the letter they had received. Anna was desperate to get off to work, as she was already late, but Thomas was still angry.

  The letter had come from Anna’s sister Lizzie in Belfast and it stated that she was coming over to see them. Thomas had never got on with Anna’s family and he wasn’t pleased about the visit. ‘Why is she coming over now, Anna? Have you been in touch with her?’

  Anna said she had no idea and she hadn’t been in touch. ‘I haven’t written since sending the card at Christmas and I don’t know what she wants so stop shouting at me.’ She picked up her handbag and went to the door. ‘I’ll answer her letter tonight and ask her what she wants.’

  Thomas was immediately contrite as Anna was almost in tears. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, love, I shouldn’t take it out on you but your family don’t like me and they’ve never made a secret of that dislike.’

  Anna walked over to him and gave him a hug. ‘I know, Thomas. I don’t get on with them either. That’s why we live here and not in Ireland. I’ll write tonight to see what’s happening.’

  On that note Meadow Lane returned to its placid place in the world but both Anna and Sadie knew that there were ructions looming on the horizon.

  Evie had overheard a snatch of the Boyds’ row as she stood at the door which had been left open when Eddie met the postman and she knew it was all about his dad in America and his mum’s refusal to go back. Tommy, on the other hand, was full of her parents’ letter.

  ‘My Auntie Lizzie is coming over for a week soon and Dad can’t stand her or Mum’s family. It all goes back to when he lived in Ireland but I don’t know what the matter is with them.’ She sounded disappointed.

  Eddie was still angry. He suspected his mother had destroyed his dad’s first letter and as he was also worried about her, it made him confused about his feelings. He loved them both but how it was all going to end he had no idea. All he knew was the fact that he wanted to be back in his old life.

  Evie felt sorry for the two of them and she was grateful for her happy home with two loving parents.

  Later in the afternoon Sadie had a change of plan. She dressed carefully and made her way to her job. She would plead a sudden illness and no doubt they would be grateful for the fact that she had turned up in spite of being in pain.

  One of the apprentices noticed her and he went back into the workshop to pass on the news. It was common knowledge that Bert and David were annoyed that she hadn’t turned up. Peter, who was working there, stopped what he was doing for a moment then bent his head back to the radio he was repairing. It looked like he would need to search for a new job, he thought with sadness.

  Bert was serving at the counter but after the customer left he told Sadie that she had to go and see the boss. She was taken aback as she thought she could just go behind the counter to see to the other customer who was looking into the glass shelves.

  She went into the small back office where David Fleming was sitting behind a desk piled high with paperwork. A black telephone was on one corner and it began to ring. He motioned for her to sit down on one of the odd assortment of chairs and she sat with her ankles crossed and her hands in her lap, looking like a little girl who had been caught pinching the cakes.

  After the telephone call he looked at her but before he could say a word she hurried on with her prepared speech. ‘I’m really sorry, Mr Fleming, but I was ill this morning and I couldn’t get in touch as I had to get my son off to school before going back to bed.’

  He sat quietly until this speech came to an end. ‘I’m really sorry as well, Mrs Boyd, but I’ll have to let you go. We need someone who is reliable.’ He gestured to the pile of paperwork on the desk. ‘All these invoices have to be written up and dealt with and I can’t rely on you to turn up on time or even turn up at all.’

  Sadie was annoyed at him. He made her sound like she was work-shy and she wasn’t like that. ‘I promise I’ll not be late again and I’ll even stay late tonight to do all that office work.’

  He wavered. He was a decent man who knew the reason for her search for work and he didn’t like the thought of her son suffering. ‘All right then but no more late mornings or absences. If that happens I’ll have to let you go and look for someone else.’

  Sadie was triumphant. She knew how to get round men and she made a start on the paperwork. ‘I’ll stay until I finish this and I promise I’ll be in on time every morning.’

  David wasn’t so sure but he was willing to give her another chance. Bert however was annoyed. ‘She’ll let you down again, mark my words. I’m a good judge of character and she’ll never change.’

  David was fond of his cousin Bert, but he was displeased at the fact that he didn’t think he was a good judge of character like him. ‘Well let’s see what happens. If she doesn’t pull her weight then you can sack her.’

  It was only a matter of time, Bert thought. Just a matter of time.

  When Peter heard the news he felt worried and he hoped he wouldn’t run into her at the end of the day. However she was nowhere to be seen when he set off for home.

  In the tiny office, Sadie was getting fed up with all the work so she called through to Bert. ‘I’m off home now but I’ll be in early tomorrow and finish all this work.’

  ‘Aye,’ thought Bert. ‘We’ll see.’

  Sadie emerged into the sunshine of the early evening. She half hoped to see Peter but he was nowhere in sight so she made her way along the sun-dappled pavements, stopping at the off-licence on her way home. As usual Eddie was with Evie in her house but Maryanne was sitting with Martha and Eliza at their door. She saunter
ed along but only after she put her bag under the bed.

  Martha said, ‘Have you had a good day at work, Sadie?’ knowing full well she didn’t leave until the afternoon as she has seen her through the window.

  Sadie said she had. ‘I had a lot of the office work to do and I’ll have to finish it tomorrow. They are so pleased with me in the shop.’

  Martha also knew about the argument over the airmail letter as Eliza had passed the house in the morning and had heard the row with Eddie. ‘How is your husband, is he well?’ she asked with a wicked glint in her eyes.

  Sadie said all was well in America and she asked her mother if she had made her meal. Maryanne had already eaten as had Eddie so Sadie said cheerio to the three women and made her way back along the lane.

  The house was quiet with the sunlight filtering through the window which she noticed needed a good wash. It hadn’t been done since Grace had cleaned the house but she wasn’t going to bother with housework tonight. This room depressed her as it had done all those years ago with its ancient furniture and the worn lino on the floor.

  She made up her mind there and then that she would work hard at her job and look for a place of her own. She would fill it with modern furniture like Rory and Morag’s house which was bright and clean and a pleasure to be living in.

  But first she would have a drink to relax and she lay on her bed with a large tumbler of gin and tonic. When she had been in the bar it had been served with a slice of lemon so she made a mental note to buy a lemon tomorrow.

  She must have fallen asleep in her clothes because she didn’t hear either her mother or son arrive back. And when she awoke the next morning it was ten o’clock. She hurried down to the shop but Bert was waiting for her with the news that she was no longer employed there.

  ‘Try and get yourself together, lass,’ he said as he told her the bad news.

  As a reply she swore at him and marched off, which didn’t surprise him. He knew all along what her nature was but she had been given the chance to redeem herself and she hadn’t done that.

  As she walked away in a fury she thought she would find another job easily so Bert could shove his job up his backside.

  When Peter heard the news he breathed a sigh of relief but he still felt something for her and he was sorry on her behalf.

  Norma noticed a difference in him that night. ‘You look happier, Peter.’

  He smiled at her. ‘Yes, I am. I had a difficult week at work but everything is fine now.’ He meant every word and maybe later he would tell her the truth but not at the moment. The peace of his house washed over him and he put his arm around her shoulders as they sat on the couch with their nightly cup of tea.

  28

  Grace was annoyed as she cleared up the breakfast dishes. In fact she had been quite sharp with Bill before he left for work which surprised him as she was always so calm and cheery.

  Two things were to blame. Evie had been to see her granny last night and had come home with the message that Evelyn had a bad cold and she wanted Grace to come and do her shopping, which Grace didn’t mind as long as her own domestic arrangements were in order. That was the second thing: they weren’t. The bakery tins were all empty which meant she would have to have a baking day, but she wondered if she would have time.

  She didn’t begrudge looking after Eddie, giving him his meals and generally having him in the house until Maryanne came home but she had been really angry that Sadie seemed to take all this help for granted and never said thank you or contributed to the cost. It had all come to a head last night when Maryanne came in with her week’s wages and offered her a ten shilling note.

  ‘I hope it’s enough to cover Eddie’s food, Grace,’ she had said.

  Grace was furious at Sadie for allowing her mother to take money from her weekly wage when it was her job to look after her son. She had refused the money, saying Eddie was always welcome in her house. The look of relief on Maryanne’s face made her more angry. She couldn’t help herself when she said, ‘I hope Sadie helps out with money.’

  Maryanne looked embarrassed and said it wasn’t easy for her to give any help when she had only started her job. ‘When she gets sorted out with work then she’ll help out.’ Grace couldn’t help noticing she didn’t sound too sure about this.

  After putting the dishes in the cupboard she set off for Ann Street. Evelyn was feeling sorry for herself as she sat at the fire with a blanket around her shoulders. She suddenly gave a huge sneeze and she wiped her nose with a large white hanky that looked like it had belonged to her late husband.

  ‘I hate getting a summer cold, Grace, as it always seems to be worse than one in the winter.’

  Grace just nodded and began to tidy up the kitchen. ‘When I get everything tidied up I’ll go and do your shopping, Mum, have you got a list?’

  Evelyn picked up a scrap of paper from the table and handed it over. ‘Now mind and get Anchor butter, Grace, as I don’t like anything else and make sure the tomatoes are small as I hate eating a huge one, I don’t like keeping a half back as it gets all soggy.’

  Grace said she would bring the right butter back and the dainty tomatoes and she was almost out of the door when Evelyn called out, ‘Make sure you get soft rolls and not hard fired ones.’

  Grace almost threw the list at her but instead she smiled. Her mother had always been a fussy shopper which was all right when she did it herself but having to get this lecture was irritating. Then halfway down the stairs, Grace stopped to consider her anger and realised it had nothing to do with her mother or Eddie but it was aimed at Sadie. Bill kept remarking what a lovely woman she was and Grace wondered if she was jealous of her.

  Later when she got back home she started her baking with a vengeance and she soon had the tins filled up again. Afterwards, sitting down with her cup of tea, she saw Sadie passing the window and she wondered what had happened to her job with the electrical shop.

  Although Grace didn’t know it, Sadie was also annoyed. She had just left the Potter house and Martha had been sarcastic to her. Sadie didn’t like Martha although she felt sorry for Eliza having to live with this dragon of a mother who liked to stir things up.

  She had been chatting to Eliza, telling her that she was looking for another job, when Martha had piped up, ‘What happened to the other job you had? Did you get the sack?’

  Sadie tried to look indignant. ‘No I didn’t. They begged me to stay on but I hated having to deal with people having to buy things on the never-never.’

  ‘Well, hire purchase is the only way most people can buy things,’ said Eliza. ‘Not that we have ever bought anything without paying for it outright but not everyone can do that.’

  Sadie said airily, ‘Well I didn’t like the job and now I’m going to an interview for another one but I don’t want to say much about it as this lane is a gossip’s paradise.’

  Martha was outraged. ‘I hope you aren’t referring to me, young lady.’

  Sadie didn’t reply but merely stood up and said she had to be off for her interview.

  After she left, Eliza had to console her mother with a couple of chocolate biscuits.

  Another house at war in the lane was the Cassidys’. Thomas had asked Anna to put her sister’s visit off but Anna said she couldn’t. ‘I haven’t seen Lizzie for a couple of years and she’s only coming for ten days. You’ll just have to put up with her, Thomas.’

  He had gone off to his job in the pub in a bad mood. His wife’s family was a noisy disruptive bunch of folk who didn’t like him and they didn’t try to hide this dislike. He had crossed swords with Lizzie back in the early days of his marriage and he still felt bruised by the encounter.

  When he opened the pub, the only customer was Albert who remarked on his unhappy face.

  ‘Are you feeling all right, Thomas? You look really fed up.’

  Thomas, who didn’t want to discuss Lizzie, said he was fine but just a bit tired.

  Albert took this with a satisfied nod of his he
ad. ‘Have you seen our glamour queen recently?’

  Thomas said he hadn’t. ‘Anna tells me she got a job, she heard it from Martha.’

  Albert brought him up to date with the situation. ‘I don’t know how Martha knows but she told Bella and I that she had got the sack because she was always late.’ He added, ‘One of Eliza’s pals who lives in Caldrum Street has a son who worked in the same shop as Sadie so maybe he told his mother and the woman had passed on this bit of gossip. Martha seems to have her finger on all the gossip.’

  Thomas said he never said a truer word.

  Meanwhile, the subject of all this gossip was making her way to her interview with the owner of a pub in Logie Street. She had seen the job advertised in the paper and she had written and received an answer.

  Hal’s Bar was between a dry cleaning business and a chip shop in the busy and bustling street. It had a small window set in glossy brown brick and a small doorway. Sadie thought it looked a bit rundown but she was desperate for a job so she went in.

  It was quite large inside with an assortment of chairs and modest tables. A plump man was behind the bar and Sadie introduced herself to him. He was about fifty years old and shabby looking but she saw he had deep brown eyes that were shrewd. She also noticed that there weren’t any customers.

  They went to sit down at a table. Hal shook her hand and she had to stop herself from wiping it as he left a sweaty film to her palm. He looked as if he couldn’t believe his eyes that this gorgeous creature was hoping to work for him. ‘I’m Harry Anderson, also known as Hal. I need someone to do my bookkeeping and also help out in the bar during the day. There won’t be any evening work as you said in your letter you have a young son.’

  Sadie said, ‘Yes I do, his name is Eddie and he’s almost eleven.’

  Hal wasn’t sure about employing her. He was a good judge of character, a trait that was helpful in his business, and there was something about this young woman that puzzled him.