by Joan Jonker
The room filled with laughter. Stan was beating his fists on the arm of his chair, Jenny’s arms were holding her tummy as she bent double, and Mary made no attempt to wipe the tears away. Even when she wasn’t here, her mate Amy had the knack of filling her heart with happiness. ‘She is one corker, your mam.’
‘She is that, Mrs Nightingale. The best mother anyone could have, and that’s why we all love her to bits.’ John suddenly snapped his finger and thumb. ‘Oh, I almost forgot. She said something about custard creams.’
‘Are we all present and accounted for?’ Seamus asked as Mary banged the door behind her. ‘I hope ye’re all well wrapped up, ’cos it’s a night the divil himself wouldn’t venture out in.’
‘Amy went on early to give herself plenty of time to walk there slowly. But Jenny’s friend and her brother haven’t arrived yet.’
‘It’s no good hanging around waiting for them,’ Stan said. ‘They may have gone straight there with it being so bad underfoot.’
‘But I promised them,’ Jenny said, ‘and I’d feel mean if they came all the way around here and we’d gone without them.’
‘If we leave it any longer, sunshine, we’ll not get seats.’ Mary linked her arm through Stan’s. ‘I’m not going without yer, and it’s their own fault for not being here on time. So come on, grab hold of John and Mick so yer don’t slip.’
The boys had always liked Mary, but right now they thought she was wonderful. Taking up positions either side of Jenny, they bent their elbows. ‘Stick yer leg in, Jenny,’ John said, feeling very grown-up and protective. ‘We’ll make sure yer stay upright.’
‘Yeah.’ Mick felt a thrill run through his whole body as Jenny slipped her hand through his arm. This was a mighty step forward in his quest and he wanted to jump for joy. ‘Yer’ve got two escorts tonight and I hope yer know how lucky yer are. There’s not a girl in the neighbourhood who wouldn’t swap places with yer right this minute.’
John ground his teeth. He’s talking too much, he is. If he keeps that up I’ll never get a word in edgeways. ‘It’s true, Jenny, me and me mate are very much sought after by every beauty from here to Glaxton.’
Mick looked over Jenny’s head. ‘Where’s Glaxton when it’s out? I’ve never heard of the flippin’ place.’
‘Ah well, yer see, that just shows how far our reputation has spread. If yer’ve never heard of the place it must be hundreds of miles away.’
The grown-ups, walking ahead, were listening to the two lads with smiles on their faces. Now Seamus decided to add his twopennyworth. ‘If I’m not mistaken, John, I’ve seen the name Glaxton on the map. And if me memory isn’t playing tricks on me, it’s in South Africa.’
‘Oh well, that puts those girls out of the running, doesn’t it? I feel sorry for them, ’cos they’ll be really heartbroken. But, sadly for them, yer can’t get to South Africa on the twenty-two tram for tuppence.’
Mary turned her head. ‘Here’s Janet and her brother, Jenny.’
‘I’m sorry we’re late, Jenny,’ Janet said breathlessly, ‘but the clock was slow.’ She smiled at John. ‘Can I walk beside me mate?’
By silent, mutual consent, John and Mick put their hand over Jenny’s and held it tight. Oh no, this was their night, they’d put a lot of organisation into it. So neither Janet nor her big brother were going to spoil it. ‘Ah, not now, Janet,’ John said, returning her smile. ‘We’re just nice and comfortable.’
‘Go on, yer big soft nit, let me next to her.’ When there was no move made to accommodate her, Janet appealed to her friend. ‘Make him move, Jenny.’
But much to Jenny’s surprise, she found she was enjoying having a boy either side of her holding her hand. Especially when those two boys were making her laugh. ‘Leave it for now, Jan, I’m all nice and warm and these two are making sure I don’t slip.’
‘You hang on to me, Jan,’ Bill said, not liking the situation any more than his sister did. ‘We can swap over on the way home.’
Mick’s lips were moving as he talked to himself. ‘On yer bike, pal, this is definitely not your night.’
While John muttered silently, ‘What a hope you’ve got, mate. This is one night ye’re not walking Jenny home. I know it’s Christmas, but ye’re not getting a present off me!’
Janet, oblivious to the thoughts of the three boys, linked one arm through her brother’s and the other through John’s. ‘There yer are, we’ll all be nice and warm now. All pals together, eh, isn’t that nice?’
Chapter Eighteen
They’d just finished their dinner when the knock on the door came, and Mary tutted loudly. ‘Just look at the state of the place; what a time for visitors to come.’ She pushed her chair back. ‘Jenny, will you clear the plates away, and you, Laura, pick up all the wrapping paper? Be quick!’ As she walked to the door, she muttered, ‘I hope it’s no one important – the room looks like a pigsty.’
‘I don’t know what ye’re worrying about, love,’ Stan called. ‘Every house in the country will look the same – it’s to be expected.’
When Mary opened the door her misgivings fled. ‘Dad! Oh, it’s lovely to see yer.’ They held each other close and didn’t speak for a while. Then, after wishing each other the compliments of the season, she said, ‘I expected yer last night, same as usual. We waited until half eleven and then had to leave. I was worried when yer didn’t come because it’s not like you to miss Midnight Mass. I thought yer were ill or something.’
‘No, sweetheart, I went for a few drinks with the men from work and by the time I got home the weather put me off going out again.’
Mary pushed the living-room door open. ‘Come in and get a warm.’
Stan jumped to his feet, his face beaming, and shook his father-in-law’s hand. ‘It’s good to see yer, Joe, all the best.’
Jenny ran in from the kitchen and took a flying leap to put her arms around Joe’s neck. ‘Grandad, a Merry Christmas.’ She rained kisses on his cheeks. ‘I’m glad yer’ve made it, ’cos me mam was worried when yer didn’t come last night. I told her I’d walk to yours this afternoon to see what was wrong.’
Laura watched with the fear she always felt when her grandad came these days. She wouldn’t put it past Celia to let the cat out of the bag if she got in a temper. But today, mixed with the fear of being caught out, was another emotion – one of guilt. She knew the woman he’d married wasn’t a nice person, and that Celia was cheating on him.
‘What’s wrong with yer, sweetheart, have yer fallen out with yer old grandad?’ Joe bent to look in Laura’s eyes. ‘I thought yer’d be glad to see me.’
Laura dropped the papers she’d been picking up and walked into his arms. And as he hugged her tight and kissed her, she kept telling herself it wasn’t fair, it just wasn’t fair. And she was as much to blame for deceiving him as Celia. In fact, she was more to blame because he was her grandad. He’d always loved her and it would kill him if he knew what she’d been doing behind his back.
‘Come on, break it up.’ Mary slapped her daughter’s bottom. ‘Anyone would think yer hadn’t seen yer grandad for years.’ She plumped a cushion on the fireside chair facing Stan, the one that she usually sat in. ‘We’ve just finished our dinner, Dad, and there’s plenty over. So sit yerself down while I rustle a meal up for yer.’
‘Give me yer coat, Grandad and I’ll hang it up for yer,’ Jenny said, smiling up into his face. ‘Then yer’ll look as though ye’re at home.’
‘Wait until I empty me pockets, sweetheart, I’ve got some presents for yer. They’re not much, mind, but it shows I was thinking of yer.’
Mary watched him take the badly wrapped packets from his pocket and sighed. Who would have thought her dad would come down to this? He’d lost so much weight his shirt collar was miles too big for him, and the shirt looked as though it had never seen an iron. And she’d noticed when she followed him in from the hall that he had a hole in the heel of his sock.
Joe handed the girls a packet each, gave St
an his, then with a smile that held a tinge of sadness, he offered the last one to Mary. ‘As I said, sweetheart, they’re not much. I haven’t been getting any overtime in, so I haven’t been exactly flushed for money.’
‘Dad, I wouldn’t care if there was only fresh air in this paper, as long as you’re here. That’s all the present I want.’
Laura was thoughtful as she began to unwrap the paper. No wonder her grandad had no money; his wife spent it all. Celia never seemed short, and she had something new on nearly every week. And Thursday night wasn’t the only night she went out, either. Laura had heard Charlie talking to her when they were leaving the dance one night. He’d said, ‘I’ll see yer tomorrow night, my lovely, and we’ll have more time on our own.’
Jenny’s shriek of delight brought Laura away from her thoughts. ‘Oh Grandad, it’s beautiful! Look, Mam, a bracelet with red stones in.’ She rushed to her grandfather and knelt in front of his chair. ‘It’s the best present I ever had and I love it. I love you, too, ye’re the best grandad in the whole world.’
Laura looked down at her hand and nestling in the palm was a bracelet identical to the one her sister was holding high, except the stones in hers were blue. The guilt she felt almost brought tears to her eyes. They weren’t good bracelets, they probably came from Woolworth’s, but he must have left himself skint to buy them. ‘Move over, Sis, give someone else a chance.’ She pushed Jenny out of the way and took her place. ‘Thank you, Grandad, it’s lovely. I haven’t got any jewellery worth speaking of, so I won’t half swank with this on me wrist. Just wait until Cynthia sees it, she’ll be green with envy.’
‘Yer did well all round, Dad,’ Mary said. ‘The girls are over the moon, I’m always glad of a pair of stockings and Stan’s already opened his packet of ciggies. Now while I see to some dinner for yer, the girls will get your presents off the tree.’
Mary spooned potatoes and carrot and turnip on to a plate, and covering it with another plate, she put it in the oven to heat up. Then she lit the gas under the pan of gravy and gave it a stir before picking up the carving knife. As she cut into the turkey, Mary’s sadness turned to anger. Not for one moment did she believe her dad’s story about not working overtime. For as long as she could remember, he’d always worked late at least three times a week. He wasn’t on a bad wage, so why was he still wearing the same shabby overcoat and shoes that were down-at-heel? She sighed and said softly, ‘Do I really have to ask that question? It’s that bitch he’s married to, she probably bleeds him dry. And if this was a three-bedroomed house, I’d persuade him to leave her and come and live with us. No one would blame him. She’s not a proper wife, never has been and never will be.’
Jenny came skipping into the kitchen. ‘Me grandad’s made up with his presents, Mam. He said they’re just what he wanted.’
‘They’ll come in useful, sunshine, especially in this weather.’ When Mary had bought her father the warm scarf, gloves and thick woollen socks, she’d told herself that when he went out to work on these cold mornings, at least parts of him would be warm. ‘He needs looking after, he’s not getting any younger.’
Jenny held her wrist out and twisted it around. ‘Isn’t that lovely, Mam? I’m going to wear it at the parties.’
‘All the boys will be after yer, sunshine, yer’ll be the belle of the ball.’
Jenny giggled. ‘All the boys – there’s only John and Mick.’
‘Well, they’re boys, aren’t they? If they’re not, they shouldn’t be wearing trousers.’
‘Yeah, but they’re me mates, I wouldn’t swank in front of them. I’d get me leg pulled soft if I did.’
Mary opened her mouth, then decided not to say what was in her mind. If she told her daughter that she didn’t think the two boys thought of her as a mate, she might put Jenny off and she didn’t want to do that. Best to let nature take its course. ‘Set the table for yer grandad, sunshine, and I’ll bring his dinner through.’
Jenny hesitated as she got to the door. And when she spoke, her voice was low. ‘Mam, his wife doesn’t look after him proper, does she?’
Mary was surprised, but she kept her voice light. ‘What makes yer say that?’
Jenny shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know, he doesn’t look as though anyone cares for him. And sometimes he looks so sad I could cry for him.’
‘Yer all know there’s no love lost between me and Celia, sunshine, I’ve never tried to hide it. But it’s not up to me to interfere in yer grandad’s life, much as I’d like to.’
‘Well, I love me grandad, and I hate her for not looking after him proper.’
‘Keep that to yerself, sunshine. Don’t say anything that will upset him.’ Mary picked up a tea-towel to take the plates from the oven. ‘Get that table set, there’s a good girl.’
While Joe was tucking into his dinner as though he hadn’t eaten for a week, Mary said casually, ‘We’re having the gang here tonight, Dad, for a bit of a party. Why don’t yer stay and have a good laugh. That is, of course, if yer haven’t got something else on.’
Joe chewed slowly on the food in his mouth, buying himself time. When he’d left the house this morning, Celia had still been in bed. But she must have heard him unbolt the front door, and she shouted down to him. ‘I’m going to a party at one of me mates’ tonight, so don’t worry if I don’t come home, I might sleep there.’ Then, with sarcasm dripping from her words, she added, ‘It would be no use you coming, they’ll all be young people.’
‘I haven’t got anything else on, sweetheart, but yer don’t want an old man at yer party.’
‘Who’s the old man, Joe?’ Stan asked. ‘I hope ye’re not referring to me.’
‘Go on, Grandad, say yer’ll stay,’ Jenny pleaded. ‘Yer’ll be the most handsome man at the party.’
Laura looked up from admiring her bracelet. ‘Yeah, go on, Grandad, stay. Yer’ll enjoy yerself.’
Mary’s brow shot up. ‘Don’t tell me you’re staying in? That would be a change, a real turn-up for the books.’
‘I’m going down to Cynthia’s to see what presents she got, but I’ll be back in time.’ Laura lowered her eyes. ‘I don’t suppose yer’d let her come back with me for an hour, would yer?’
Mary exchanged glances with Stan. This was the first time their eldest daughter had ever asked if she could bring a friend home; they couldn’t refuse. ‘Of course yer can, sunshine, but warn her that there’ll be no room to breathe.’
Laura looked both surprised and pleased. ‘She won’t mind that, Mam. It’ll be better than sitting at home twiddling her thumbs.’
Joe wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, pushed his plate away and rubbed his tummy. ‘Well, seeing as there’ll be so many lovely girls here, I’ll stay meself. But not till too late, mind, ’cos there’s no trams running and it’s a long walk.’
Amy sat on Mary’s couch, cushions beneath her and pillows at her back. ‘I must have come a real cropper, ’cos me backside and me back are every colour of the rainbow.’
‘How d’yer know that, Mam?’ John asked. ‘Yer’d need eyes in the back of yer head to see that part of yer body.’
‘Don’t be looking at me,’ Ben said, shaking his head and holding his hands out. ‘I did offer to have a look, but was told if I went near her she’d give me a go-along.’
‘I should think so, too!’ Amy huffed and puffed. ‘A girl’s got to have a bit of privacy. So yer’ll just have to take my word for it, won’t yer?’
‘Have yer a mirror in yer bedroom, Amy?’ Seamus had a grin on his face and a pint glass of beer in his hand. ‘Is that how yer did it, me darlin’?’
‘Don’t yer be so personal, Seamus Moynihan, or I’ll set my feller on yer.’ Amy turned to Joe, who was sitting next to her on the couch, looking more relaxed and at ease than he’d looked for a long time. ‘Wouldn’t yer think they’d show a bit of sympathy for someone who nearly broke their neck? They’ve got no bleedin’ hearts, none of them.’
‘Ye’re te
lling fibs, Mam,’ John said. ‘I did tell yer that me heart was bleeding for yer.’
‘Yeah, and yer were laughing all over yer bleedin’ face when yer said it.’ When Amy looked at Joe, her chubby cheeks were almost hiding her eyes. ‘I was laughing me own head off, Joe, but because I’m the one with the pains, I’m entitled to that privilege, aren’t I? And seeing as I’m the only one in the room with a backside the colours of the rainbow, I’m one up on all of them.’
Joe grinned. ‘Take a little bit of advice, Amy. If they ask yer to play truth or dare, just flatly refuse.’
Amy looked puzzled for a few seconds, then the light dawned. ‘Oh yeah, I get yer, Joe! That’s just what the buggers would do, an’ all, the cheeky sods.’
Jenny was standing between John and Mick, looking very pretty in the new jumper and skirt she’d got for Christmas. And her hand kept going to her cheek so she could show off the new bracelet she was so proud of. ‘Your mam’s a scream, John. I’ve never yet known her to be down in the dumps.’
‘Oh, she has her moments. But if she ever does get in a bad temper, it never lasts long because all me dad’s got to do is tell her to look in the mirror and see the gob on her.’ He took a deep breath and then said what was in his heart. ‘Yer look really pretty tonight, Jenny.’
Mick had been all ears, listening to every word. ‘Yeah, yer do, Jenny. Yer look good enough to eat. I bet yer’d taste better than me mam’s Christmas pudding. And that’s saying something, ’cos the pudding was delicious.’
Any other time, Jenny would have told them to stop acting daft, they were making her blush. But last night, as they were holding her hands, she suddenly became aware that what they were doing was flirting with her. It was a new experience for her, and one she enjoyed very much. So now she gave a little curtsy and said, ‘I thank you, kind sirs.’
