Try a Little Tenderness

by Joan Jonker

  ‘I dunno,’ Mary said as she slipped along the seat. ‘Coming out with you is becoming a test of endurance. We’ve only been out of the house five minutes and me nerves are shattered. I hope ye’re not going to carry on like that in TJs, I couldn’t stand it.’ She turned to see her friend gripping the bar that ran across the back of the seat in front with both hands to keep herself from falling off, while half of her backside was suspended in mid-air. And as she clung on like grim death, her face was set and her tongue was sticking out of the side of her mouth. Mary felt a rush of tenderness towards the woman who could bring smiles to a tram full of people, all because she had short legs. ‘Just look at the state of yer,’ she said. ‘Why don’t yer go and sit over there and have a whole seat to yerself?’

  ‘No, I’ll stick with you, girl.’ Amy just managed to throw herself sideways as the tram lurched around a corner and threatened to unseat her. ‘That’s the worst of having a backside the size of a rhinoceros – they don’t make seats big enough to accommodate it. Mind you, it wouldn’t be worth their while when yer come to think of it because they probably don’t get many rhinoceroses round here.’ The eyes she turned on Mary were full of laughter. ‘Except for that Madge Phillips – have yer seen the backside on her? Blimey, she puts me in the meg specks.’

  Tom and Jim were talking on the platform when the tram came to a halt in London Road, and they watched with amusement as Amy prepared herself for the step down. ‘Close yer eyes, love, and jump for it,’ Jim laughed. ‘That’s the best way.’

  ‘Sod off, the pair of yer.’ Amy reached down to where Mary was standing on the pavement with her hand extended ready to help. And when she was safely on the ground, she gave one of her cheeky grins. ‘If me prayers are answered, some big bloke is going to give one of yer a black eye for not running on time and making him late for work. Yer’d be laughing the other side of yer faces, then.’

  ‘Amy, will yer knock it off and let’s get to the shops? And if yer start acting the goat in TJs I’ll pretend ye’re not with me.’

  ‘I’ll be as good as gold, girl, you wait and see. I’ll be that quiet yer won’t even know I’m beside yer.’

  Jenny was the first home from work and the first to be greeted by her mother wearing her new dress. ‘Oh, Mam! Yer look lovely!’ Her eyes were bright with pleasure and her heart filled with pride. The pale blue cotton dress was set off by a deep frill around the neck and short sleeves, and it fitted to perfection. ‘It really suits yer, and yer look young enough to be me sister. Ooh, wait till me dad sees it, he’ll be made up.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m pleased with it meself. It was a bargain, reduced in the sale from seven and eleven to five and eleven.’ Holding the skirt out, Mary did a twirl. ‘Not bad, eh?’

  ‘It’s beautiful. I wouldn’t mind one meself. If I nip down on Saturday straight from work, d’yer think they’ll have any left?’

  ‘I couldn’t tell yer, sunshine. I did think about yer, and if I’d had the money I’d have bought one for yer. But by the time I’d bought two pillowcases and this, I was skint.’

  ‘I know what I can do! I can go in me dinner hour tomorrow! It’s only ten minutes on the tram to London Road, and I can eat me sandwiches on the way.’ Jenny clapped her hands. ‘That’s a good idea, isn’t it? They won’t be sold out by then, will they?’

  ‘You can but try, sunshine, you can but try.’

  Laura arrived home then and she eyed her mother up and down. ‘Mmm! Not bad!’

  Jenny put a hand on her hip and glared at her sister. ‘Not bad! It’s a beautiful dress and me mam looks lovely in it. I’m going to TJs tomorrow in me dinner hour, to get one for meself. And if I look as nice in mine, I’ll be more than happy.’

  ‘How much was it, Mam?’ Laura asked.

  ‘Reduced in the sale to five and eleven.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind one meself, in a different style and colour.’ Laura put her handbag on the sideboard and pulled out a chair. ‘Yer can get me one when yer go down, our kid.’

  Jenny glanced at her mother before holding her hand out. ‘I’ll take the money off yer now, if yer don’t mind.’

  ‘I haven’t got it now, I’ll pay yer on Saturday when I get me wages.’

  Jenny saw her mother walk through to the kitchen and knew it was because she didn’t want to get involved, didn’t want to take sides. Anyway, this row was between her and her sister, and it had been brewing for a long time. ‘Some hope you’ve got! Where d’yer think I’m getting the money from?’

  ‘Yer never go anywhere to spend yer money, and yer said this morning that yer had some saved up. Don’t be so flaming miserable, yer’ll get it back on Saturday.’

  Jenny narrowed her eyes, and although she knew what the answer would be, she asked, ‘Give me half of it now, then, and I’ll get yer one.’

  ‘I can’t give yer half, I haven’t got it! I’ve told yer, I’ll give it yer when I get me wages, so stop harping on it, for crying out loud.’

  ‘I’d have to be pretty stupid if I couldn’t work out that yer don’t get enough pocket-money to pay me back. Don’t take me for a sucker, Laura. I choose to save me money, that’s my business, nothing to do with you. You choose to spend yours, that’s your business and nothing to do with me. So let’s leave it that way, eh?’

  ‘You tight-fisted little cow!’ Laura’s eyes were blazing. She wasn’t used to her kid sister refusing her, or answering her back. ‘It’s no wonder yer never go anywhere. No one would want a misery guts like you for a friend.’

  Mary stood in the kitchen, her hands gripping the edge of the sink. She was vexed over Laura calling her sister a little cow, and was in two minds whether to interfere. But Jenny seemed to be holding her own, so perhaps it was better to keep out of it. So she listened, ready to move quickly if things got out of hand.

  ‘I might be a tight-fisted little cow, but I’m the one with the money to buy meself a dress. You’ve spent all your money, now ye’re scrounging off me because yer can’t bear to see anyone having something that you can’t have.’ The main reason Jenny was standing up to Laura had nothing to do with money. She was angry at the thought that her mam very seldom bought anything new for herself, and now the pleasure was being taken out of it by her selfish sister. ‘I don’t like coming down to your level, Laura, it goes against the grain. But you have asked for it and it’s the only language you understand. You are a greedy, selfish little cow who only thinks of herself.’

  When Mary heard Laura’s cry of anger, followed by the sound of her chair scraping back, she rushed into the room, at the same time as Stan came through from the hall. ‘What on earth is all the shouting about?’

  Jenny turned. ‘It’s nothing, Dad, just me and Laura acting soft.’

  ‘No, it’s not, yer little liar.’ Laura was so angry she didn’t realise she was being offered a truce. ‘D’yer know what she called me, Dad? She said I was a greedy, selfish little cow.’

  Stan looked taken aback. He couldn’t imagine Jenny uttering such words. ‘Yer didn’t, did yer?’

  Jenny’s eyes never wavered. ‘Yes, I did, Dad.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘Ask Laura.’

  ‘It was for nothing, Dad!’ Laura saw her mother watching and listening. She must have heard every word so she couldn’t lie herself out of it. ‘All I asked was for her to lend me the money to buy a dress like me mam’s, that’s all. And she took off on me.’

  Stan’s expression softened when he looked at his wife. ‘Yer look very pretty, love.’

  ‘I’m sorry I bothered now, all the fuss it’s caused.’

  Stan looked from one daughter to the other. ‘Yer mam only gets a new dress every blue moon, and you two have to start an argument over it! Jenny, I’m really disappointed in yer, I never thought I’d ever hear yer call anyone a cow, let alone yer own sister. What made yer say such a thing?’

  ‘I’d rather Laura told yer herself. Let’s see if she can tell the truth.’

  Mary banged h
er fist on the table. ‘Enough is enough! While all this is going on, the dinner is in the oven getting ruined. To cut a long story short, the word “cow” came from Laura first, and Jenny retaliated. It’s as simple as that. So can we have this table cleared, otherwise the dinner will only be fit for the back of the fire.’

  ‘I’m going round to Janet’s, Mam, but I won’t be out late.’ Jenny kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘Yer look lovely. I bet me dad will fall for yer all over again.’

  There had been tension throughout the meal, but looking at Jenny’s open face, Stan knew it had not been caused by his youngest daughter. ‘Ye’re right there, love, she looks good enough to eat.’

  When she heard the front door bang behind her sister, Laura got to her feet, her pretty face marred by a sulky expression. ‘I’m going to Cynthia’s.’

  ‘Stay where yer are, Laura. Me and yer mam want to talk to you.’

  Laura remained standing. ‘What about? Can’t it wait until I come back?’

  ‘No, it can’t! Now sit down.’

  Defiant to the last, Laura jerked her head in disgust as she pulled the chair out and sat down heavily. ‘Blimey, it’ll be time to come home before I get out.’

  ‘Any lip out of you, Laura, and it’s up the stairs yer’ll be going, not out of the door.’ Stan glanced at Mary. ‘Do you want to start, love, or shall I?’

  ‘You can do it, but first I’d like Laura to tell yer the truth about the row yer heard when yer came in. Ever since she was a baby Jenny has taken the blame for Laura’s wrongdoing, and I think it’s time to put the record straight.’

  Laura, reluctantly and with a scowl, related what had happened. But because in her selfish mind she couldn’t see why her sister wouldn’t get the dress for her, her tone was full of self-pity. She ended by saying, ‘There was no need for it, Dad. It wouldn’t have hurt her to get me one while she’s getting one for herself, and I’d have paid her back on Saturday.’

  ‘Where would yer have got the money from?’

  ‘Well,’ Laura blustered, ‘I could have given her half on Saturday and the rest next week.’

  ‘You get an extra shilling a week pocket-money since yer got yer raise, so yer have more in yer pocket than Jenny does. Don’t ever ask her again, d’yer hear? And while we’re on the subject, yer whole attitude to her is just not on. God knows, she does her best to make friends with yer, but all she gets back is a load of abuse and sarcasm. Sisters are supposed to be close, and love each other. What’s gone wrong in your case, I don’t know. But from now on yer treat her with respect and civility, or yer’ll have me to answer to.’ Stan leaned his arms on the table and laced his fingers. ‘Now to last night. Yer’ll come in at the time ye’re told to, not when it suits yer. I’m not telling you yer can’t go to yer grandad’s, but whether he goes to bed early or not, ye’re to leave in time to get home for half ten. You are not to stay talking to Celia, she’s too old for yer. Now, have yer got that straight?’

  ‘I heard yer, Dad, I haven’t got doll’s ears.’ Laura wasn’t liking this one little bit. She was nearly sixteen, for heaven’s sake, old enough to know what she was doing. ‘I don’t know what yer’ve got against Celia, she’s nice. At least she doesn’t treat me like a child.’

  ‘I’m not going to argue the toss with yer, Laura, so just get it into that big head of yours that I mean every word I say. You’ll be more pleasant in the house, nicer to yer sister, and yer’ll be in by half-ten every night. It’s not much to ask, and it would make life easier for everyone. But keep on as yer are, with an attitude that stinks, then I’ll come down hard on yer and yer won’t know what’s hit yer.’

  ‘Yeah, okay.’ Laura would have agreed to anything to get out of the house. She and Cynthia were meeting two boys and she was ten minutes late. ‘Is it all right if I go now?’

  ‘Have you listened to a word I’ve said?’

  ‘Of course I have, Dad.’ Laura left her seat, picked up her handbag from the sideboard and made for the door. ‘I’ll be in by half ten, I promise.’

  Stan and Mary watched her flying past the front window, her black hair bouncing on her shoulders. They looked at each other and sighed. ‘I may as well have been talking to meself. I don’t think it penetrated the first layer, did it, love?’

  Mary shook her head. ‘No, it didn’t, sunshine, but at least yer’ve made a start. Yer’ll have to keep it up, though, otherwise she’ll go off the rails altogether. And I’ll do my bit, too.’

  Stan felt cheered when he saw a smile light up his wife’s face. ‘I don’t know what’s brought the smile on, but it suits yer, and it suits the dress.’

  ‘I was thinking of our Jenny. Yer should have seen the way she stood up to Laura. She gave back word for word, and even though I was as mad as hell, I felt like clapping.’ Mary cupped her husband’s face. ‘Yer know, love, it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s our Jenny who brings Laura to her senses. It may take a while, but I think she started tonight.’

  Chapter Seven

  ‘I’ve a good mind to go up and see that Celia meself.’ Mary spoke to the empty room as she walked around the bed tucking the ends of the overhanging blanket under the mattress. ‘She has no right to discuss what goes on between her and me dad with our Laura. Fancy talking to a fifteen-year-old like that, and our Laura feeling sorry for her, too! She’s old enough in the head as it is, without the bold Celia telling her things that should be private between her and me dad.’

  Mary gave the eiderdown a good shake before throwing it over the bed. ‘I’d like to tell her to her face exactly what I think about her, the brazen hussy.’ She rubbed her temples to ease the headache that had started during the night as she’d tossed and turned, unable to sleep with the worry on her mind. Any idea of friendship between her daughter and the older woman had to be nipped in the bud before it took hold. It was no good telling Laura because she wouldn’t take any notice of them. Oh, she’d agree with them, promise them anything they wanted to hear, but she would do as she pleased on the sly. They had no idea where she got to every night because she didn’t tell them. And Mary didn’t want to involve her father, he must have enough problems with his wayward wife without her adding to them.

  She gave a deep sigh. She’d never been back to her old home since her dad had married the girl younger than his own daughter, because she couldn’t bear to see her taking the place of her beloved mother. But she would know no peace until she’d voiced her fears. And the only way to do that was to face the woman who was the cause of her headache and upset tummy.

  Still talking aloud, Mary made her way downstairs. ‘I’ll go now and be back in time to go to the shops with Amy.’

  Her neighbour’s brows shot up when she opened the door. ‘In the name of God, girl, has yer clock gone wonky or something? It’s not ten o’clock yet.’

  ‘I’m going on a message, but I’ll be home to go to the shops with yer.’

  A frown crossed Amy’s chubby face. ‘What d’yer mean, ye’re going on a message? Yer never go on a message without me.’

  ‘It’s not that sort of message, sunshine, it’s personal.’ Mary tutted, wondering how she ever, for one moment, thought she’d get away without her mate worming the truth out of her. ‘Oh, all right, I’ll have to tell yer I suppose, or yer’ll plague the flaming life out of me. I’m going to me dad’s to have a word with Celia.’ Briefly, she told of the reason for her going. ‘But yer keep that to yerself, d’yer hear? I’ll never speak to yer again if it gets out.’

  Amy’s answer was prompt. ‘I’m coming with yer.’

  ‘You are not! This is something I’ve got to do by meself.’

  ‘I’m coming with yer in case she thumps yer one.’ Amy nodded her head and her chins quivered in agreement. ‘You won’t be able to thump her back because yer’ll be flat out on the floor, so I can do it for yer.’

  ‘I’m quite capable of looking after meself, sunshine, and I’d rather go on me own. But I do appreciate the offer.’

  ‘T
hat’s what mates are for, isn’t it? To help each other out in times of trouble.’

  ‘I don’t know how long I’ll be gone because I can’t walk past me mam’s old neighbour, Mrs Platt, without giving her a knock. So I might be a couple of hours. But don’t worry – no matter how long I am, I won’t be getting meself into trouble.’ Mary turned to walk away. ‘I’ll try to get back before the shops close for dinner.’

  ‘Don’t worry, girl, I’ll wait for yer.’

  After turning to wave, Mary increased her pace. She wasn’t looking forward to this one little bit, so the sooner it was over, the better.

  Mary stood outside her childhood home and felt like crying. Her mam used to have the place looking like a little palace, with windows shining, lace curtains as white as snow, front doorstep scrubbed every morning and the red-raddled window sill polished until you could see your face in it. If it hadn’t been for the number on the door, Mary would have thought she was at the wrong house. Behind the dirty net curtains the draw curtains were still closed. The windows were filthy, as was the step and window sill. It was as if nothing had been touched since her mam had died. The house was a disgrace, the scruffiest in the street. And as she knocked on the door, Mary thought how ashamed her dad must be, having to come home to this every day. He was a proud man and this must be so humiliating for him.

  As she lifted the knocker for the third time, the next door opened and Monica Platt’s head appeared. ‘Yer’ll not get an answer there before twelve.’ Then when recognition dawned a wide smile lit up her face and she almost jumped from the top step to embrace the daughter of the woman who’d been her neighbour and best mate for years. ‘Mary, sweetheart, it’s good to see yer. Me and Phil often talk about yer, and wonder how you and Stan are, and the girls.’

  ‘I came to have a word with Celia, but she must have gone out.’