Walking My Baby Back Home

by Joan Jonker

  Her pity turning to anger at the injustice of it all, Dot caught John’s eyes. She nodded first to where the bag stood, then to the kitchen door. And when she left the room he picked up the bag and followed her. ‘I’ve got an idea,’ she told him. ‘It might not work but it’s worth a try. Will yer empty what yer’ve got on to the draining board, please, John?’

  Dot gaped when she saw the size of the turkey. ‘My God, that would feed a family of ten! If I know Tom Campbell, he’d take one look at that and put it on the fire out of spite.’

  ‘She needs plenty of nourishment, Dot, she’s far too thin,’ John said. ‘If she’s expecting a baby, as you say, she’ll have to start getting some food down her, and she’d get several dinners out of that.’

  ‘If she was allowed to.’ Dot gazed at the other items he’d taken from the bag. A small Christmas cake, a tin of shortbread biscuits and a box of mince pies. Then her eyes turned to the pans on the stove. It wouldn’t hurt them to have a roast potato and a few sprouts less. ‘I’ll see if I can get her to stay here for dinner. If her husband lies in bed all day he won’t even miss her.’

  ‘Then you must use the turkey.’

  ‘I’d have to use some of it because we’ve only got a chicken and it’s got to do us tomorrow, as well. But I’ll make sure she gets a good dinner today, tomorrow and the next day. I can’t promise anything after that because I’ll be skint until me next payday.’

  ‘It’s not right that anyone should have to live the way she does, is it, Dot?’

  ‘No, it isn’t, John, but neighbours can only do so much. She’s very proud, she won’t ask for help. But we’ll keep our eye on her, don’t worry. Her husband’s determined she won’t have this baby, but me and the O’Connors are just as determined that she will. And when I’ve had a good talk to me mate in there,’ Dot nodded towards the living room, ‘we’ll have her on our side, too. There’ll always be someone watching out for Mary.’

  ‘Good! Then I’ll go on my way and leave you in peace.’

  Dot followed him out of the kitchen. ‘Going visiting, are yer?’

  ‘No, I’m going home,’ John said, before smiling down at Betty who was sitting next to Mary and holding the thin hands in her chubby ones. ‘It was nice meeting you, Mrs Mason, and I wish you all the best. And you, too, Mrs Campbell. I hope the New Year will bring you better fortune.’

  Mary raised her head and tried to smile, but the action brought a grimace to her face. ‘Things couldn’t get any worse, Mr Kershaw.’

  Dot was standing behind him and all she could think of was that huge turkey in her kitchen while he was going home to an empty house.

  ‘Ye’re welcome to stay here for yer dinner, John.’

  Katy and Colin had been as quiet as mice, now they both shrieked with pleasure. ‘Oh yes, Mr Kershaw, say yer’ll stay!’

  ‘Thank you, but I think not. There’s work to be done and I’d be in the way.’

  Dot poked him on the shoulder. ‘I’m not asking yer, John, I’m telling yer. Now sit yerself down in that chair ’cos, as I’ve told yer before, yer make the place look untidy.’ With her hands on her hips, she turned to Betty. ‘Mrs Mason, will yer do me a favour and send your Doreen up with two dinner plates and two knives and forks?’

  ‘I’d have to go home to do that, girl.’

  Dot leaned forward and pinched her cheek. ‘Yes, I know that, Betty, and it’s about time yer went home to see yer family.’

  ‘Blimey! Talk about “here’s yer hat, what’s yer hurry?” isn’t in it!’ Betty patted Mary’s hands before releasing them. ‘I’m cut to the quick, I really am.’ She winked at John who was now sitting in the fireside chair. ‘I’ve got a very delicate constitution and I get upset real easy.’

  John winked back. ‘Yes, I knew as soon as I saw you that you were a very shy, vulnerable woman.’

  Betty had half-pushed herself up from the chair; now she let her backside fall back on to the wooden seat. ‘What did yer say I was?’

  ‘Shy and vulnerable.’

  Betty screwed her face up and her eyes disappeared in the folds of flesh. ‘Shy I can understand, but what’s that other thing yer said I was?’

  John chuckled. ‘Vulnerable.’

  ‘And what’s that when it’s out?’

  ‘It means you are easily hurt.’

  ‘Oh yeah, I am! Ooh, aren’t yer a good judge of character, eh?’

  Dot grabbed her friend’s arm and pulled. ‘Missus, will yer get going so I can start on the dinner, please? Me tummy’s rumbling like no one’s business. I’ll finish the story next time I see yer.’

  ‘No need, girl, John told me while yer were in the back yard.’ Betty leaned towards Mary and cupped her face. ‘You stay here, love, and have a bit of company for a change. Do yer the world of good.’

  A look of fear crossed Mary’s face. ‘Oh no, I’ll have to get back in case he decides to come down. There’d be murder if I wasn’t there.’

  ‘If yer weren’t there, girl, the only person he could murder would be himself and think what a blessing that would be. One less bad ’un in the world.’

  ‘Mary’s staying here for her dinner.’ Dot lifted her hand when Mary moved to protest. ‘No argument, yer’ll have a good dinner here, then I’ll take yer home and see how the land lies. If his nibs starts anything I’ll clock him with the poker.’ She took Betty’s arm. ‘Come on, sunshine, I’ll see yer to the door. And don’t forget the plates and things, otherwise they’ll be eating from the pans with their fingers.’

  While Dot was in the kitchen seeing to the dinner, she could hear laughter coming from the living room. John had started a guessing game and even Mary seemed to have relaxed and was joining in. It was her turn now. ‘I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with M.’

  Colin’s hand shot up. ‘Mirror.’ Wrong.

  ‘Mantelpiece,’ Katy said. Wrong.

  ‘Mat,’ was John’s guess. Wrong.

  Dot poked her head around the door. ‘Will yer take yer seats at the table, please? All except you, Colin, you’d better stay put.’ As she was putting Mary’s dinner in front of her, she asked, ‘Was it the matchbox?’

  Mary’s nod brought a cry of complaint from Colin. ‘Ah, ay, Mam, that’s not fair, yer weren’t even playing! I bet I’d have got it.’

  ‘What you’ll get, sunshine, if yer spill any gravy on me couch, is a thick lip.’

  ‘Oh dear, oh dear.’ John laughed. ‘What a sorry sight that would be. A thick lip to go with your thick ankle. No can walk, no can talk.’

  Even Colin joined in the laughter and this set the seal for a very happy and jolly Christmas dinner. What they lacked in such niceties as serviettes, decent cutlery and crockery, they made up for in laughter. And it was John who brought forth much of the hilarity. He was a born story-teller with a marvellous sense of humour. Katy and Colin were delighted with him, he was the perfect finishing touch to the happiest and most exciting day of their young lives. And Dot was thanking her lucky stars that she’d asked him to stay because he brought Mary out of her shell. She looked so relaxed, laughing easily at John’s jokes and contributing some of her own. And when the meal was over her plate was clean.

  ‘That was a lovely meal, Dot.’ Mary pushed her plate away and patted her tummy. ‘I’m full to the brim.’

  ‘Yer must have a little space left for a piece of Christmas cake?’

  ‘I couldn’t, I really am stored.’

  ‘I’ll wrap yer a piece up to take home with yer, then.’ Dot began to stack the dirty plates. ‘And a mince pie and some shortbread biscuits.’ She was laying the knives and forks on the top plate when the door knocker sounded. ‘I’ll go, I’m on me feet.’

  When she came back into the room, she jerked her head at Katy. ‘Someone for you.’

  ‘For me? Who is it, Mam?’

  Dot kept her face straight. ‘I couldn’t tell yer, sunshine, I didn’t recognise him.’

  Katy’s frown grew deeper. ‘Yer must know him
– yer know all me friends.’

  ‘I didn’t recognise him, Katy, and if yer don’t get a move on he’ll be turned to a block of ice ’cos it’s freezing out there.’

  When Katy turned her back, Dot put a finger to her lips for silence. ‘Just listen.’

  They didn’t have to wait long for the squeal, followed by, ‘Billy, yer’ve got long trousers on! Ooh, yer don’t half look grown-up.’

  Billy eyed her new skirt and blouse with admiration. ‘So do you, yer look a cracker.’

  ‘Come on in and let’s have a proper look at yer.’ Katy closed the door and pushed him ahead of her into the room. ‘How about this, then, Mam? Quite the little gentleman, isn’t he?’

  Dot nodded, her face serious but her eyes laughing. ‘I told yer, I didn’t recognise him.’

  His face the colour of beetroot, Billy shuffled his feet. ‘Me mam bought me them for Christmas. She bought me these and another pair to go to work in.’

  ‘Very smart, young man,’ John said. ‘But I don’t know why Katy said you looked like a little gentleman because you’re not so little. You must be about five feet seven or eight from where I’m sitting.’

  Billy’s chest expanded with pride. ‘I’m five foot seven and a half.’

  ‘I thought so.’ John pursed his lips for a second. ‘By the time you’re eighteen, you’ll be over six foot.’

  This caused Billy to stretch to his full height. ‘Yeah, that’s what me dad said.’

  Dot picked up the plates and made for the kitchen. ‘Sit yerself down, Billy, we’re just going to have a cup of tea.’ She plonked the dishes on the draining board before popping her head back in the room. ‘We don’t mind yer standing if yer don’t want to get yer new trousers creased.’

  ‘Nah.’ Billy moved his shoulders in a cocky manner. ‘That don’t worry me, I’ve had them on since I got up.’

  ‘Sit down then, while I give me mam a hand.’ As Katy walked towards the kitchen she was thinking she’d never even imagined there was such a thing as complete happiness. But she knew now what it was and to let her feelings out, she put her arms around her mother and hugged her tight. ‘Mam, hasn’t this been the most marvellous day?’

  ‘It has, sunshine, it really has. God has been looking down on us this year.’ Dot put her arms around her daughter’s waist and the pair clung to each other. ‘Let’s hope it’s the start of a better life for us.’ A shadow crossed her eyes and she looked over Katy’s shoulder to see John standing in the doorway. She smiled at him before releasing her hold on her daughter. ‘We’ve always been a soppy family.’

  ‘I think loving is the word. And that’s how a family should be.’ John nodded towards the pile of dirty dishes. ‘I came out to give a hand with the washing up.’

  ‘What – in that suit? Yer must be joking!’

  ‘That’s easily remedied.’ John slipped his jacket off and hung it on the knob of the kitchen door before removing his cuff links and rolling his shirt-sleeves up. ‘I’m house-trained and can wash dishes with the best of them.’

  ‘I’ll help me mam, Mr Kershaw,’ Katy said. ‘There’s no need for you to get yer clothes dirty.’

  ‘Oh, and what about your clothes? I didn’t say it before because I didn’t want to embarrass Mary, but you both look very pretty in your new clothes.’

  Katy beamed with pleasure while Dot bowed from the waist. ‘Thank you, kind sir.’

  ‘You can thank me by allowing me to help with the dishes.’

  ‘OK, if you insist.’ Dot took the kettle of boiling water from the stove and poured it into the sink. ‘I’ll wash, you dry, and Katy can make a pot of tea. Mary will be on pins to get home so let’s get cracking.’

  ‘I’d rather go on me own, Dot,’ Mary said, clasping her hands together to stop them from shaking. ‘I’ll be all right, honest.’

  ‘I’m coming with yer to make sure. If he’s come down, and the fire’s gone out, he’ll be like a raving lunatic.’ Dot slipped her arms into her coat. ‘If he’s still in bed, then all well and good, I’ll leave yer to it.’ She linked her arm through Mary’s. ‘Hide those cakes from him and eat them tonight for supper.’

  John didn’t look very happy. ‘I think it would be far better if I took her.’

  ‘No, that would be like waving a red flag at a bull. I’ll give a shout if we need help, don’t worry, I’m not a ruddy hero.’ Dot squeezed Mary’s arm. ‘Come on, sunshine, let’s get it over and done with. Say goodbye to yer Auntie Mary, kids, and with a bit of luck yer might see her again for dinner tomorrow.’

  When Dot opened the door from the entry into her neighbour’s yard, she felt a pull on her arm. ‘What is it, sunshine?’

  Mary’s whole body was shaking. ‘He’s up.’

  ‘How d’yer know?’

  ‘I put a shovelful of coal down in the yard when yer called me. I thought I’d only be gone a few minutes. It’s not there now.’

  Dot felt her tummy tighten with fear. She didn’t fancy facing the violence of Tom Campbell and it flashed through her head to shout for John. Then she remembered the horrible things Mary’s husband had said about her and her fear turned to anger. ‘Come on, love, there’s two of us, he can’t eat us.’ She propelled Mary up the yard, opened the kitchen door and pushed her neighbour in ahead of her. She deliberately left the door open in case of emergency.

  Tom Campbell was sprawled in a chair, his battered face almost as bad as his wife’s, but he still managed to curl his lips in a sneer. ‘Oh, yer’ve decided to come home, have yer? Where the bleedin’ hell d’yer think yer’ve been?’

  Mary didn’t answer. She was shaking so much she couldn’t have spoken if she’d tried. Fear was written all over her and it was enough to incense Dot. ‘Mary knows where she’s been, she doesn’t have to think about it. I invited her to ours for an hour, and seeing as you were in bed snoring yer ruddy head off, what difference does it make to you where she’s been?’

  Tom put his hands on the arms of the chair and pulled his body forward. ‘She’s my wife, she should be here when I want her. Not that it’s any of your business, yer nosy cow.’

  ‘Oh, so when yer want something, yer remember she’s yer wife, eh? That’s convenient for yer, isn’t it? What a pity yer don’t remember when ye’re propping the bar up at the pub every night, spending the money on ale that yer should give her to buy food and clothing for herself. Just look at the state of her,’ Dot waved a hand towards the cowering woman. ‘She’s expecting a baby and she needs to eat good food, both for her sake and the baby’s. If she was married to a real man he’d make sure she was getting looked after properly. But then, she’s not married to a real man, more’s the pity.’

  ‘Oh, expectin’ a baby, is she? Up the bleedin’ spout, eh?’

  ‘That’s a funny thing to say, seeing as you gave it to her.’

  ‘I gave it to her an’ I can take it away from her.’

  The evil written on his face sent shudders down Dot’s spine. Afterwards she was to wonder how she had the guts to do it, but she crossed the floor and stood directly in front of him. Wagging a stiffened finger in his face, she ground the words out through clenched teeth. ‘You ever again lay a hand on Mary and it’ll be the sorriest thing yer ever did. I know two men at least, who would like nothing better than to teach you a lesson. And they’re both within shouting distance of where I’m standing now. D’yer want me to call them?’

  ‘This is my house an’ they’ll not get through the bleedin’ door.’

  ‘Oh no? If yer’d like to get off yer lazy, fat backside, yer’ll see I’ve left the kitchen door open just in case. If I raise my voice, they’ll come running and you won’t be able to stop them. Yer see, yer’d have to get past me first and I wouldn’t advise yer to try.’

  A sly look crossed Tom’s face. He knew she wasn’t lying because she sounded too sure of herself. She was a nosy bleeding cow and he’d get her one of these days. And he knew exactly how he’d get back at her, through his wife. Mary woul
d be made to suffer for this, by God she would, but it would be in his own sweet time. ‘I don’t know what all this commotion’s about, just because I asked me wife where she’d been. Bloody hell, any husband would ’ave asked the same if his missus had gone missing.’

  Dot knew what his tactics were and was filled with disgust. He’d wheedle and worm his way out of anything if he thought his precious hide was at stake. If she weren’t so fond of Mary she wouldn’t even want to be in the same room as this man. ‘You’re pathetic, d’yer know that? I’m not going to waste any more of me breath on yer.’ She turned to Mary. ‘One of us will give yer a knock later, just to make sure ye’re all right. But if yer need us, all yer have to do is bang on the wall either side.’ As she was going through the door Dot turned around unexpectedly and caught an expression of such fierce hatred on Tom Campbell’s face it made her flesh crawl. It threw her for a second, then strengthened her resolve. ‘I’ve asked Mary to come for dinner tomorrow. If yer’ve any objections, speak up now.’ When there was no reply, she looked at the timid woman who was too afraid to speak up for herself. ‘One of us will call for yer about one o’clock, Mary.’ Then, glaring at Tom, she added, ‘If yer don’t come, we’ll know why.’

  With her head held high and her shoulders squared, Dot marched down the Campbells’ backyard. But once out in the entry she leaned back against the wall and gulped in the cold, clean fresh air. She hoped she never had to go through that again. Standing in the same room as that man, you could almost touch the wickedness of him. He was evil through and through and capable of doing great harm to Mary without batting an eyelid.

  ‘Well, how did it go?’

  Dot was so lost in thought she jumped when she heard the voice. ‘Ooh, yer gave me a fright! And that’s the last thing I need after battling it out with the queer feller.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,’ John said. ‘But when you were so long the children began to get worried about you.’