MB04 - Down Our Street

by Joan Jonker

  ‘As expected!’ Doreen was so delighted and excited she could barely conceal it. ‘Lily looks a dream in the dress, it fits perfect.’

  ‘But you’re not allowed to see it,’ Jill told him. ‘Only close family until the big day.’

  ‘Doreen got her words mixed up,’ Lily said, pulling a face. ‘It’s the dress that’s a dream, not me. But she really has made a good job of it, it’s absolutely gorgeous.’

  ‘I’m starting on the next one now, and it should be easier knowing the measurements are right. It’ll be cut out tonight, ready for tacking together tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll leave yer to get on with it, then. I suppose it’s a daft question to ask if Tommy’s in?’

  ‘He’s round at me ma’s, sunshine, as yer might know.’ Molly raised her brows. ‘I thought yer were going out with Paul?’

  ‘I didn’t feel like dancing tonight. Every night on the trot is a bit too much. Anyway, I haven’t seen Tommy for a couple of weeks, so I’ll walk round to yer ma’s and have a game of cards or a natter with them.’

  ‘Are yer not staying for a cup of tea?’ Molly asked. ‘It’ll only take a couple of minutes for the kettle to boil.’

  ‘No, I’ll only be in the way. Doreen’s keen to get on with her work.’

  ‘I’ll get out of the way, too,’ Lily said. ‘Yer don’t want me under yer feet.’

  ‘I’m sorry to be so unsociable, but if I don’t keep at it I’ll never get finished on time,’ Doreen said. ‘It’s only for a few weeks, not for ever.’

  ‘Ye’re not being unsociable, only realistic,’ Lily told her. ‘So come on Archie, let’s make ourselves scarce.’

  Archie breathed in deeply before taking the plunge. ‘If ye’re not going anywhere, Lily, why don’t yer come with me to see Mr and Mrs Jackson? We had a good laugh last time, if yer remember. That’s if ye’re at a loose end, like.’

  When Molly saw the refusal in Lily’s eyes, she thought of Nellie’s belief that Archie had a crush on the girl. Her mate might have got it wrong, but then again she might have got it right. So she decided there was no harm in trying to fan a flame between the couple. He was a nice lad, Lily was a nice girl, what more could anybody want?

  ‘That’s a good idea!’ Molly broke in. ‘I’d come with yer if I could, ’cos I could do with a good laugh. But Ruthie’s over at her mate’s and if I’m not here when she gets in, she’ll give Jill and Doreen a dog’s life.’

  ‘Ooh, yer not leaving us to put her to bed, Mam.’ Doreen sounded very definite. ‘She doesn’t take a blind bit of notice of us.’

  ‘She certainly doesn’t! Apart from carrying her, there’s no way we could get her to go up those stairs.’ Jill felt a pang of guilt, talking like this about her kid sister. There was no doubt Ruthie would be in the way and slow Doreen down, but she wouldn’t do it deliberately, it would be just out of childish curiosity. ‘Yer can’t really expect her to like being bossed around by us, Mam. After all, she’s not far off thirteen.’

  ‘I’ll see to Ruthie,’ Jack said. ‘You go round to yer ma’s with Lily and Archie, love. It’ll do yer good to have a break.’

  Oh dear, I wasn’t expecting that, Molly thought. I’m sure Archie would love having me chaperone them – I don’t think! He needs me like he needs a hole in the head. ‘I’ll tell yer what, you two go on and I’ll come round when Ruthie comes in.’

  There was a look of astonishment on Lily’s face. She had every intention of saying no to Archie, but she hadn’t been given the chance. And things had gone too far now to back out. She had no reasonable excuse and they’d think she was a miserable beggar if she pleaded a feeble excuse like a headache. Anyway, what the hell! She was only going to sit in and listen to the wireless with her mam and dad, and that wasn’t a very exciting prospect for a girl her age. ‘Yer’ll have to take me as I am, Archie, ’cos I’m not dressed for going out.’

  ‘Yer look all right to me, Lily.’

  ‘I’ll see yer out.’ Molly watched them walk up the street, a good yard between them. But she hadn’t missed the look of joy on Archie’s face, nor was she imagining the spring in his step. Nellie had been right, he did have a crush on Lily. She must remember to tell her mate tomorrow, and see if between them they could work towards bringing the matter to a mutual and satisfactory conclusion.

  ‘Surprise, surprise!’ Tommy jumped to his feet when Archie walked in. He was, as ever, pleased to see his old army mate, and never failed to show it with a firm handshake. ‘I thought yer were going out with Paul?’

  ‘Certain events changed me mind, mate.’

  Tommy cocked an ear. ‘Who’s Rosie talking to?’

  Archie’s face gave nothing away. If there was any leg-pulling, it would spoil his chances. ‘Lily walked round with me.’

  ‘Well, now, isn’t that nice?’ Bridie, like everybody else, knew of Lily’s falling-out with her boyfriend. And while she didn’t know any of the circumstances, she thought the girl had done the right thing. ‘Come in, me darlin’, it’s lovely to see yer, so it is.’

  ‘What have you two been whispering about?’ Tommy asked, while his brain was trying to work out why something had cropped up to stop Archie from going dancing, but it hadn’t stopped him from being here with Lily.

  ‘Now it wouldn’t be of any interest to yer, Tommy Bennett,’ Rosie said. ‘But because ye’re me intended, I’ll tell yer. Doreen has finished one of the dresses and Lily said it is the most beautiful creation she’s ever seen. Fit for a film star, indeed!’

  ‘I didn’t say that, Rosie.’

  ‘Not in so many words, yer didn’t, and that’s the truth. But God gave me an imagination and I’m making use of it now.’

  Bob chuckled. ‘I wonder why God gave women the power of imagination, and not us men? Sounds like favouritism to me.’

  ‘Now, sweetheart, don’t be blaming the good Lord,’ Bridie said. ‘He gave yer imagination, same as us. Sure, how was He to know that men weren’t going to be very good at using it?’

  ‘That’s put us in our place, Mr Jackson.’ Archie grinned as he sat on the chair Bridie had pulled out for him. ‘We’ll have to think of something we can do that women can’t.’

  With Bridie and Bob settled in their fireside chairs, and Rosie and Tommy on one side of the table holding hands, Lily had no option but to sit next to Archie. ‘I can think of lots of things men can do that we can’t. Like being a coalman, for instance. Or riding a horse in the Grand National.’

  ‘I can go one better than that, so I can, Lily.’ Rosie’s face beamed. ‘We wouldn’t be brave enough to be a soldier and fight for our country. Like Archie did, and me very dearly beloved intended.’

  Tommy stuck his chest out. ‘I feel better already! At least we’re good for something.’

  ‘We’re not as nosy as women, that’s a plus,’ Archie said. ‘For instance, Tommy, you don’t seem to be interested in the event that made me change me mind about going dancing with Paul. It was the biggest surprise I’ve ever had in me life and I’m dying to tell someone.’

  ‘Go on mate, we’re all ears.’

  ‘Let me tell them?’ Lily pleaded. ‘Just up to the time where I had to leave?’

  ‘No!’ Archie leaned towards her until their faces were nearly touching, and the closeness sent shivers down his spine. ‘Yer can join in, but let me tell them the first part, please.’

  ‘Now I am interested,’ Tommy said. ‘Come on, let’s be having it.’

  ‘Well, yer knew I was bringing me mam to see Mrs McDonough, didn’t yer? Me mam doesn’t get out much, and when Mrs Mac said she’d like to meet her, she was over the moon. Anyway, I was introducing them, and they were shaking hands, when me mam said—’ Archie broke off and turned to Lily. ‘Are yer any good at impersonating people?’

  Lily grinned. ‘I’ll have a go.’ She stuck out her hand and Archie took it. ‘Pretend you’re my mam, and I’ll be yours. You go first.’

  With the best will in the world, Archie couldn’t imperso
nate Nellie, so he just said, ‘Pleased to meet yer. Archie’s told us a lot about yer.’

  Lily was shaking his hand when she narrowed her eyes. ‘Bleedin’ hell! If it isn’t Nellie Blackburn! Well, I never!’

  Archie tried the narrowed eyes bit, but didn’t even attempt the voice. ‘Do I know yer?’

  ‘Ida Smethwick, yer daft ha’porth! I used to sit next to yer in school.’

  ‘Oh, my God, I don’t believe it! And you’re Archie’s mother?’

  ‘His one and only, queen!’ Lily pulled her hand free. ‘That’s my part done, you can just tell them the rest.’

  ‘Ay, that was a surprise, wasn’t it?’ Tommy said. ‘And did they know each other well?’

  ‘Best friends all through their schooldays. They lost touch when me mam’s family moved to another district. And until today they hadn’t seen each other for thirty years.’

  ‘That’s a lovely story, so it is,’ Bridie said. ‘Friends meeting after all those years. I bet yer mother was pleased, Lily?’

  ‘She was, until Mrs Higgins started giving us the low-down on her. Apparently she was a little devil in school, always up to mischief. I didn’t hear it all because I had to go down to the Bennetts’, but I’m glad I was there to see them meeting for the first time. And I had to laugh when me mam said she wouldn’t have known Mrs Higgins ’cos she hadn’t half changed, and was told, “I’m not going to say you haven’t changed, queen, because yer were as skinny as a whippet when we were at school”.’

  ‘Sounds as though Nellie has met her match,’ Bob said. ‘I never thought I’d live to see the day.’

  Archie grinned. ‘My mam and Lily’s are very much alike in temperament. Both have a marvellous sense of humour and have an answer for everything. It was good to listen to them and imagine what they were like as kids. Mrs Mac sat while me mam told of all the tricks she used to get up to, giving the teachers a dog’s life, and she laughed as loud as the rest of us. Then she got her own back by reminding me mam that she’d been no angel. They were so funny, it was better than going to any dance or the pictures.’

  ‘I’d love to have been there,’ Tommy said. ‘Are they seeing each other again?’

  ‘Oh yes, definitely.’ Archie was thoughtful for a while, then he said, ‘I’d like to tell yer how they parted, but I couldn’t do it justice on me own. So would yer mind, Mrs Jackson, if I took Lily into yer kitchen and we rehearsed?’

  Lily looked shocked. ‘I’m not going into no kitchen with yer!’

  Tommy whispered into Rosie’s ear and they began to chant, ‘We want Lily, we want Lily.’

  When Bridie and Bob joined in, Lily had no choice. ‘But if yer make a fool of me, Archie Higgins, I’ll never speak to yer again.’

  There was a lot of laughing and giggling in the kitchen before the couple made their entrance. His face straight, Archie said, ‘I am taking the part of Mrs Higgins, and my partner is Mrs Mac.’

  Lily crossed the room and folded her arms. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, it was so unlike her to be the centre of attention. But, funnily enough, she was beginning to enjoy it. Pretending to hitch up a mountainous bosom, she said, ‘Keep in touch, won’t yer, Ida? Don’t leave it another thirty years.’

  In a high-pitched voice, Archie answered, ‘We should live that long, Nellie!’

  ‘I intend to, girl! And don’t you dare go and die on me until yer’ve told me all yer’ve been up to since I last saw yer.’

  ‘I’ll try not to, queen. I’ll make it me number one priority. Ta-ra for now.’

  Lily didn’t hear the laughter because she was laughing so heartily herself. She could picture her mother saying those words, her arms folded and her face dead-pan. Oh, she was so lucky to have such a wonderful woman for a mother.

  ‘That was brilliant!’ Tommy couldn’t get over Lily. She’d always been the quiet one of the McDonough family. Mind you, that feller she was going out with wasn’t exactly a bundle of joy.

  ‘Isn’t that the truth?’ Rosie said. ‘Sure, haven’t I got the feeling, Archie, that yer mam is going to enrich all our lives?’

  Bridie spoke her mind. ‘I think you make a good double act. Have yer no more for us?’

  ‘Plenty more, Mrs Jackson,’ Archie laughed. ‘But I don’t think I’ll get Lily to come in the kitchen again with me. Not tonight, anyway.’

  ‘In that case I’ll put the kettle on. We’ll pretend it’s the interval and the show will start again in fifteen minutes.’

  ‘I won’t be in the cast next time, Mrs Jackson,’ Lily said. ‘Someone else can make a fool of themselves.’

  ‘Ah, child, making people laugh doesn’t make yer a fool!’ Bridie said. ‘Would yer say yer mam was a fool? Of course yer wouldn’t! She has a wonderful gift which she uses well.’

  When Rosie nodded in agreement, her thick curls bounced up and down on her shoulders. ‘My mammy used to say, if yer can put a smile on someone’s face, then sure, yer day hasn’t been altogether wasted.’

  ‘I’m not like me mam, I’m afraid.’ Lily grinned. ‘My two brothers are, but somehow I got missed out.’

  ‘I don’t agree with yer,’ Archie said. ‘I think ye’re very much like yer mother. Except perhaps a little more shy and afraid to let yerself go. And I mean that as a compliment, before yer clock me one.’

  ‘No amount of flattery will get me back in that kitchen with yer, Archie Higgins, so yer may as well save yer breath.’

  ‘How about a new act after the interval, then?’ Bob asked. ‘Archie can bring us up-to-date with the bloke who has a vivid imagination when it comes to excuses for staying off work.’

  Archie laughed. ‘Oh, yer mean Fred Berry! Let’s see now. Last week he came up with a smasher, and me boss has started writing them down. He says one day, when he retires, he’s going to write a book about this bloke. No one will believe it’s true, but he reckons it’ll be so funny it’ll be a bestseller.’

  Bridie had put the kettle on and now came to stand by the kitchen door. ‘And what was this smashing excuse, Archie?’

  ‘He reckons he was halfway to work, and so deep in thought he didn’t look where he was going. And didn’t he slip on some dog dirt and go flying? According to him, he sat right in it and it was all over his trousers. He told the boss he couldn’t come in to work because the smell was something awful. And I have to say that I’ve watered it down for the sake of the ladies. He had another name for dog dirt which was very ungentlemanly.’

  Tommy chuckled. ‘I don’t know how he gets away with it. If I tried, I’d be out on me ear.’

  ‘I think the boss is keeping him on until he’s got enough excuses to fill a book. But the best of it is, the next day he was wearing the trousers that he’d said were covered in dog dirt! And he used the same trousers for this week’s excuse! This time he said a dog went for him and tore a big rip down one of the legs. And he actually had the trousers on when he was telling the boss! When he was asked where the rip was, he pointed to the back of one of the legs and said yer couldn’t see it because his wife had invisibly mended it!’

  And the fun and laughter lasted until it was time for Lily and Archie to bid their friends goodnight.

  They were nearing the side of the corner shop on their way home, when Lily’s footsteps faltered. ‘Oh, my God, there’s Len!’

  ‘Would yer rather I walked on and left yer to talk to him?’ Archie asked.

  ‘No – don’t leave me! I don’t want to talk to him ever again! Why doesn’t he just leave me alone!’

  Len moved away from the wall and stood in front of them. ‘Can I talk to yer, Lily?’

  Archie cupped Lily’s elbow. ‘She doesn’t want to talk to you.’

  ‘I’m not asking you, I’m asking her. Who the hell are you, anyway? She’s my girlfriend.’

  ‘Not any more she’s not. She’s my girlfriend now and I want yer to move out of the way before I make yer.’

  ‘Oh, aye?’ Len said, his manner cocky. ‘You and whose army?’r />
  ‘Don’t get involved, Archie,’ Lily said, her voice shaking. ‘He’s not worth fighting over.’

  ‘No, he’s not, but you are.’ Archie took a step forward. ‘Now, are yer going to move?’

  Len was blazing. He couldn’t believe any girl would pack him in, it was a blow to his ego. His anger made him reckless. ‘You won’t get anywhere with her, mate, she’s as cold as a wet fish.’

  ‘You go on, Lily, and wait for me outside yer front door.’ Archie swept Len aside to let her pass. ‘I won’t be a minute.’

  Lily didn’t see the blow, but she heard it. And when she turned, Len was on the ground rubbing his chin and groaning, while Archie stood over him. ‘I’ll repeat what I said. Lily is my girlfriend now and she doesn’t want to speak to yer or set eyes on yer again. If I ever hear yer’ve been bothering her, I’ll put yer in hospital.’

  ‘I am so sorry,’ Lily said tearfully when Archie caught her up. ‘I shouldn’t have asked yer to stay with me, I should have faced him on me own.’

  ‘Nonsense, I quite enjoyed it. I’m just sorry that where he fell hadn’t been used by a dog as a toilet!’

  Lily managed a tearful smile. ‘I certainly know how to pick ’em, don’t I? I should have seen through him ages ago.’

  ‘Better late than never. And don’t worry, we’ll keep what happened to ourselves. I hope yer didn’t mind me telling him yer were me girlfriend, I thought it was one way of keeping the blighter away.’

  ‘Yer’ve been very kind.’ Lily sighed. ‘I’d really enjoyed meself tonight, and he had to come and spoil it. I hope to God I’ve seen the last of him.’ And she really meant it. She’d stopped loving him the day she went to see his mother, but deep down there was still a spark and she couldn’t help thinking of him and missing him. Not now though. Not after the incident with Uncle Corker, and now Archie. Twice he’d been the cause of her being humiliated and her feelings for him were of intense dislike, fringing on hatred.

  ‘I hope this won’t send yer back into yer shell, Lily. I mean, yer won’t hide yerself upstairs when yer know I’m coming? I would like us to be friends.’