by Joan Jonker
Chapter Sixteen
‘I feel a right idiot, sittin’ talkin’ to meself.’ Bridie swung a wooden chair from the table and set it in the doorway of the kitchen. ‘There, that’s better.’ She smoothed down the front of her dress over her knees. ‘As I was sayin’, not a wink of sleep did I get last night. I’ve offered more prayers in the last twenty-four hours than I have in the whole year.’
‘You an’ me both, Ma.’ Molly had her hands full trying to wash Ruthie. The little girl was perched on the draining board, naked except for her knickers, her face all screwed up as her mother rubbed the soapy flannel in every nook and cranny. ‘Will yer keep still, for heaven’s sake, yer like a flamin’ worm!’
‘Well, yer ’urting me, an’ yer’ve rubbed soap in me eyes.’ Ruthie was willing herself to cry in a bid for sympathy, but to her disgust she couldn’t summon up even one tear-drop. ‘Have yer finished?’
‘I haven’t started yet! Just look at yer knees, they’re as black as the hobs of hell.’ Molly pulled a face at Bridie. ‘Her an’ our Tommy are a fine pair, they both hate the sight of water.’
‘Talk of the devil an’ he’s bound to appear.’ Bridie smiled as Tommy came to stand beside her. ‘Wasn’t yer mother just after singin’ yer praises?’
Tommy’s two hands were cupped together, and he winked at his grandmother before opening them wide enough for the head of a white mouse to poke through.
Bridie scrambled from her chair, making the sign of the cross and screaming. ‘Keep that thing away from me!’
Molly spun round, the flannel dripping water on to the brown-tiled floor. ‘What’s he up to now?’
‘It’s only a mouse, Mam!’ Tommy held his hands out. ‘Ginger gave it to me, look ’ow tame it is.’
‘If yer think for one minute that I’m ’aving a flamin’ rat in the ’ouse, then yer’ve got another think comin’, me laddo! Now out with it!’
‘Ah, ray, Mam! Can’t I keep it?’
‘Never mind “Ah, ray, Mam”! Just get that thing out of ’ere . . . give it back to Ginger, let his mam ’ave the pleasure of it.’
Tommy hung his head. ‘His mam won’t let ’im have it. She chased ’im with it.’
‘No, she’s not soft!’ Molly huffed. ‘Just take it out, Tommy, before I belt yer one.’
Tommy looked towards his nan, but the sympathy he was hoping for wasn’t forthcoming. Bridie was pressed against the wall, a grimace on her face.
‘What can I do with it?’ Tommy asked. ‘I can’t give it back to Ginger.’
‘For all I care, yer can stick it where Paddy stuck ’is nuts,’ Molly said. ‘Just get it out of here, pronto, before I lose me temper.’
Ruthie’s brow was puckered as Molly washed her back. ‘Mam, where did Paddy stick ’is nuts?’
Molly let out a peal of laughter. Get out of that one if yer can, Molly Bennett! ‘Paddy stuck ’is nuts somewhere where the sun don’t shine, sweetheart.’
‘Where was that?’ asked the inquisitive child.
Molly was thoughtful for moment. ‘Well, that’s where the mystery comes in, ’cos nobody knows. Paddy kept it a secret.’
Ruthie’s eyes swivelled from side to side as her brain ticked over. ‘If it’s somewhere where the sun don’t shine, an’ nobody ever saw it, ’ow d’yer know Paddy wasn’t tellin’ fibs?’
‘’Cos Paddy never told lies, that’s why.’ Molly was giggling inwardly. Paddy mightn’t have told lies, but here’s me lying me head off! Still, it’s only to keep the child happy. Like a fairy story, really. And it was making life easier for her, ’cos Ruthie wasn’t struggling any more. ‘Yer’ve heard nanna talk about the leprechauns, haven’t yer, sunshine? The little fairies that live at the bottom of people’s gardens in Ireland? Well, the story is that they were a friend of Paddy’s, an’ they were the only ones who knew where he stuck his nuts.’
Bridie moved from the wall to lean against the door jamb. ‘Molly, me darlin’, yer’d talk yer way out of anything, so yer would. If I didn’t know yer’d never set foot in Ireland, I’d be willing to swear yer’d not only kissed the Blarney Stone, yer’d swallowed the thing whole.’
Molly lifted Ruthie down from the draining board. ‘It did the trick, Ma, kept a certain someone nice an’ quiet.’ She gave her daughter a slap on the bottom. ‘Run upstairs an’ get yer nightdress, sunshine, there’s a good girl, while I make Nanna a cup of tea.’
‘What about seeing to the dinner?’ Bridie was gazing at the stove. ‘No pans, no smell of cooking.’
‘We’re not ’aving a hot meal, the weather’s too nice.’ Molly put a light under the kettle then followed her mother into the living room. ‘Jack said he felt like some tripe and onions, and the rest of us are ’aving brawn with lettuce an’ tomatoes.’
Molly took two china cups and saucers from the sideboard cupboard. They only saw daylight when her mother came. ‘What about me da’s dinner? I’ve never known yer be out when he comes in from work. I think yer slippin’, Ma!’
‘He’s calling here straight from work to see how Jill got on,’ Bridie said, huffily. ‘We decided we’d like fish cakes an’ scallops for a change, so we’ll call in at the chippy on the way home.’
A knock on the door coincided with the whistling of the kettle. ‘Ma, be an angel and answer the door, will yer, while I see to the tea?’
Molly was pouring the boiling water into the pot when she heard Corker’s booming voice, and a smile lit up her face. ‘Get another of me best cups out, Ma!’
Corker had to bend his head to get through the door. ‘Molly, me darlin’, yer a sight for sore eyes.’ He put his huge hands around her waist and lifted her high. His eyes twinkling with humour, he grinned into her face. ‘It’s good to see yer, Molly.’
‘An’ it’s always a treat to see you, Corker.’ Molly’s dress was riding high, exposing too much leg for her liking. ‘Will yer put me down, so I can make meself decent?’
Corker’s laugh boomed out. ‘I’ve no objection to seeing a bonny pair of legs, Molly. Not after being at sea for six weeks.’
‘If it’s legs yer want to see, Corker, the legs on our table ’ave got more shape to them than mine.’
‘Such talk,’ Bridie tutted, in mock disapproval. ‘Come and pour some tea for your visitor.’
The china cup lost from sight in his huge hand, and Ruthie settled on his knee, Corker asked, ‘How’s the family, Molly?’
She brought him up-to-date, finishing with Jill’s interview and Tommy’s attempt at making a mouse an addition to the family.
‘And next door – Ellen an’ Nobby?’
Molly glanced from her mother to Ruthie, and when her eyes met Corker’s they sent a message that she wasn’t able to tell him all there was to tell. ‘Nobby’s holdin’ his own, that’s all I can tell yer about him. But Ellen seems fine. She’s got two part-time jobs, and although she only took them ’cos she needed the money desperately, they’ve done her the world of good. Brought ’er out of herself, given her some confidence.’
Bridie’s little finger curved as she raised her cup. ‘Will yer not be telling Corker how she got the jobs?’ When she shook her head at Corker, Bridie kept her face straight. But her eyes gave her away. She couldn’t disguise the love and admiration she felt for her daughter. ‘When her and Nellie McDonough get together, sure yer never know what they’ll get up to. Bold as brass, the pair of them.’
Molly had Corker in stitches as she recalled the events of that afternoon, both in words and actions. By the time she was finished he was wiping tears from his eyes. ‘Only you and Nellie would ’ave got away with a stunt like that, Molly, but I take me hat off to yez. Ellen’s lucky she’s got such good friends.’
Molly stopped in mid-sentence when Jill walked in unexpectedly. She stood inside the door, her face expressionless. For seconds the only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock. In the end it was Molly who couldn’t stand the suspense any longer. ‘Well, out with it, sunshine, how did it go?’
Jill spread her hands out, disappointment in the gesture. ‘They’re going to write to me.’
‘Well, the miserable buggers!’ Molly exploded. ‘Why couldn’t they tell yer there an’ then whether yer’d got the job or not?’
Jill put her handbag on the sideboard. ‘It wasn’t only me, there were two other girls and they were told the same thing.’
‘Don’t look so down-hearted, darlin’,’ Corker said. ‘That’s how they do things. It doesn’t mean you haven’t got the job.’
‘Of course it doesn’t, sweetheart!’ Bridie put her cup on the table and gave her granddaughter a hug. ‘You stand as much chance as the other two, so yer do.’
‘How did the interview go?’ Molly wanted to go to her daughter but was afraid that if she did she’d burst out crying. ‘D’yer think yer did well?’
‘Yes, but so do the other two!’ Jill managed a weak smile. ‘There’s three solicitors, Pearson, Sedgewick and Brown, and I got Mr Sedgewick. He was very nice, friendly like, and I wasn’t a bit nervous with him. I showed him my school report, the certificate from night school and the letter from Mr John. Then he dictated a letter to me, and I was made up because I could keep up with him. And when I’d typed the letter out, he read it and seemed pleased that I hadn’t made any mistakes.’
Molly felt calm enough now to go to her daughter. She took her in her arms and hugged her. ‘Good for you, sunshine, I’m proud of yer.’ She held Jill at arm’s length and smiled into her face. ‘I bet yer a pound to a pinch of snuff yer get the job.’
‘Ooh, I hope you’re right, Mam, I really do. But it’ll be next week now before I hear anything.’
Molly turned to Bridie and grinned. ‘A few more sleepless nights, Ma, and a lot more prayers. I think I’ll add Saint Theresa to me list for good measure.’
Molly opened the door to Corker about eight o’clock. ‘You again, Corker! Yer’ll ’ave the neighbours talking.’
He declined when Molly stood aside to let him pass. ‘I won’t come in, Molly, thanks. I’ve been next door since I left, an Ellen’s told me about yer goin’ to the hospital with her yesterday. Didn’t get a very good reception, did yer?’
‘Sshh!’ Molly put a finger to her lips. ‘It’s a sore point with Jack. He did ’is nut yesterday, ’cos I was so upset. But whatever Ellen ’as told yer, then take it from me she’s tellin’ yer the truth.’
Corker stroked his beard. ‘I might take it upon meself to go an’ see Nobby tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m trying to coax Ellen to come for a drink with me.’
‘Ye gods, Corker!’ Molly laughed. ‘Yer determined to give the neighbours somethin’ to talk about, aren’t yer? Yer’ll be the talk of the wash-house.’
‘Yer know my feelings on that score, Molly, the neighbours can take a running jump as far as I’m concerned. It’s Ellen I’m thinkin’ about. She gets no pleasure out of life at all, an’ it’s not right.’ Corker stared hard into Molly’s eyes. ‘You haven’t got a bad mind, Molly, yer wouldn’t see any harm in me taking Ellen for a drink, would yer?’
‘I wouldn’t, no! But we’ve got some nosy beggars in this street, an’ Ellen has to live here.’ Molly pressed her lips together, a look of determination on her face. ‘But she’s got a few good friends, too, an’ we’ll look after her.’ She chuckled. ‘I’ll set Nellie on anyone who even looks sideways at her.’
‘Thanks, Molly.’ Corker looked relieved. ‘Now another reason for me visit. Is Jill around?’
‘Yeah, she’s inside playin’ cards with Jack an’ Steve. Why?’
‘If I can talk Ellen into coming for a drink, would Jill sit with the two girls? The boys are in bed already.’
‘I think she’d jump at the chance. It would mean her an’ Steve havin’ some time on their own. But yer’d better ask her yerself.’
Half an hour later Molly was standing by the front window, peeping through the net curtain. ‘Here they come. Ellen looks like a scared rabbit, as though every eye in the street is watching.’
‘If everyone is like you, they will be.’ Jack rustled the Echo. ‘I don’t know whether I approve of this, yer know.’
‘Oh, grow up, for heaven’s sake!’ Molly let the curtain fall back into place. ‘Where’s the harm in it? God knows, Ellen could do with a bit of pleasure in ’er life. She never goes over the flamin’ door, only to work an’ back. Some life that is!’
‘I understand all that,’ Jack said patiently. ‘I don’t begrudge Ellen gettin’ some fun out of life, but yer know as well as I do that the neighbours will ’ave a field day . . . nice juicy bit of gossip, they’ll lap it up.’
‘Let them!’ Molly straightened the chenille cloth on the table, then stood back to make sure the overhang was even. ‘Pity they’ve got nothin’ better to do.’
‘I couldn’t give a damn about the neighbours,’ Jack said, his voice angry as he folded the paper and threw it on the couch. ‘But I do give a damn about you an’ Jill getting involved. I just wish yer’d stay out of it.’
‘Oh, aye, Jack, stay in me own backyard, eh? Don’t help anyone, just look after number one, is that it? Be selfish, an’ to hell with everyone?’
As Jack closed his eyes, pictures of Nobby flashed through his mind. Nobby with his face contorted with anger, evil written all over it. Then Ellen appeared. A sad, pathetic creature, worn down by years of abuse and brutality. And the children. No flesh on their bones, rags on their backs, empty bellies and haunted eyes.
Jack sighed, rubbing a hand across his forehead. ‘I’m sorry, love, you’re right as usual. I’m a selfish bastard, all cosy and content in me own little world, without a thought for anyone else. Never even gettin’ off me backside or liftin’ a finger to help. And that’s wrong. I can’t just take what I want from life without putting somethin’ back.’
Molly sat on his knee and put her arms around his neck. Holding him close, she whispered, ‘I love the bones of yer, Jack Bennett.’
He chuckled. ‘What about the rest of me?’
‘Oh, yer’d pass in a crowd.’ Molly ruffled his hair before standing up, a wicked twinkle in her eye. ‘A very big crowd.’
There was no letter for Jill on Monday or Tuesday, but on the third day when Tommy Maher turned into the street and saw Molly at the door, he dropped his heavy post bag and broke into a trot. Waving the letter over his head, he called, ‘It’s come, Molly!’
Her hands trembling, Molly took the letter. ‘Thanks, Tommy, yer a pal.’
‘I hope she’s got the job.’ He kept his eyes on the post bag, there were some dishonest people about. ‘Let’s know tomorrow, won’t yer?’
Molly nodded before closing the door. She looked at the typed name and address on the envelope, as though concentrating on it would reveal its contents. She put the letter by Jill’s plate, paced the floor a few times then picked it up again. ‘Oh, blow it, I can’t stand it any longer, she’ll ’ave to get up.’
‘Jill!’ Molly gently shook the sleeping form. ‘Come on, sunshine.’
She rolled on her back, rubbing her eyes. ‘What time is it?’
‘It’s early yet, but I thought yer’d like to know, the letter’s come.’
Jill was out of bed and down the stairs like greased lightning. Molly wasn’t so sure-footed in the darkness of the hall, and by the time she got downstairs Jill was already reading the letter. ‘I’ve got it, Mam! I’ve got the job!’ She was hopping up and down with excitement. ‘I start two weeks next Monday.’
Molly held her hand out for the letter, but the words were all running into one. Taking it to the window, she held the paper closer to her face, muttering, ‘I’ll get meself a pair of glasses one of these fine days.’
Her prayers had been answered. Oh, thank you, God, thank you!
Jill came up behind her mother, put her arms around her waist and together they did a little jig. ‘Wait till yer dad comes home, he’ll be over the moon.’
‘And me nanna and grandpa.’ Then the tears of happiness and reli
ef started, and Jill sat at the table and sobbed her heart out while Molly made her breakfast.
‘Come on, sunshine, yer’ve got to eat. Can’t go out on an empty stomach.’
Jill wasn’t hungry, but she nibbled on a piece of toast to please her mother. ‘I didn’t tell yer before, Mam,’ she sniffed, ‘’cos I didn’t think I’d get the job, but the wages are ten bob a week more than I’m getting now.’
Molly’s mouth gaped. ‘Oh, love, that’s marvellous! Fancy that, now! But it couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Your Mr Sedgewick knew a good thing when he saw one.’
‘I’ll be sad to leave the shop, though,’ Jill said. ‘They’ve all been so good to me, especially Mr John.’
‘It’s him yer’ve got to thank for this job.’ Molly nodded knowingly. ‘A reference from him must ’ave gone a long way.’
‘I won’t be working on a Saturday, so I’ll be able to go down and see them all,’ Jill consoled herself. ‘I won’t half miss them.’
‘Yer’ve got the chance of a lifetime,’ Molly said, her mind going back to Miss Bond. ‘Grasp it with both hands.’
When Tommy came home from school that day, Molly sent him to tell her mother the good news. And as she knew they would, her ma and da hot-footed it around as soon as they’d had their tea. With a warm glow of happiness in her heart, and a grin on her face stretching from ear to ear, Molly sat back and watched the different reactions to Jill’s good fortune. Jack was so happy you’d think he’d won the pools, and Bridie and Bob were full of admiration, praise and pride. But Doreen now – well, although she professed to be pleased, Molly thought she detected a note of envy in her voice. But that’s only natural, she defended Doreen in her mind. She’s only a kid, and seeing Jill getting all the attention is probably making her feel a bit left out.
Tommy’s response made Molly chuckle. Although he didn’t say it, you could see he was asking himself what all the fuss was about. ‘I leave school at Christmas, so I’ll be workin’ meself soon.’
