by Joan Jonker
‘Oh dear God in heaven.’ Dot threw her hands in the air. ‘I give up, I really do. We’ve got four wooden chairs, all exactly the same, and she wants that particular one. How awkward can yer get?’
‘Ah, now, girl, be fair.’ Betty, her pale blue eyes as innocent as a new-born baby’s, held out her chubby hands, palms up. ‘Be truthful, they’re not all exactly the same.’
‘Oh yes they are! I can’t tell one from another and I’m ruddy sure that you can’t either.’
‘It grieves me to tell yer, girl, but ye’re wrong there. My chair, the one I always sat in before his nibs came on the scene, is facing south and the others aren’t.’
While she joined in the laughter, Maggie was thinking she’d have to remember every word and every action to tell Paddy. He liked a good laugh, did her husband.
John stood up, bent from the waist and waved a hand at the now vacant chair. ‘I will never again sit on your chair, Betty, you have my word on it.’
Wearing a smile of satisfaction, Betty sat down. The chair would only accommodate half of her backside and the rest hung over the sides. ‘It’s not that I want to be awkward, you understand, John, it’s just that if I’m not facing south I get all dis . . . er . . . distated.’
‘I quite understand, Betty, and I know how easy it is to become disorientated.’
‘I knew that word all along, yer know. I was only testing yer.’ Parting her legs wider for comfort, and showing an expanse of her blue fleecy-lined knickers, Betty winked across at Dot. ‘He’s well educated, this lodger of yours.’
‘Betty Mason, will yer be told, he’s not my lodger! If yer say it one more time, so help me, I’ll throttle yer.’
Betty fluttered her eyelashes at John, and said coyly, ‘Yer’ll be looking for more digs, then, John, if she’s thrown yer out. I have a spare bedroom yer can have, and it’s nicely decorated and well furnished. I’d only charge yer ten bob a week, and that’s all in. And yer’d get a good laugh for yer ten bob a week, I’m not as straitlaced as some I could mention. I’ll not name no names, but just follow me eyes.’
Colin was horrified. His mam was always saying that once you got in Mrs Mason’s, yer could never get out. If Mr Kershaw went there, he’d never see his friend and hero again. ‘You haven’t got no spare room, so there! We’ve got stacks more space than you, so Mr Kershaw can live here if he wants to be a lodger.’
‘Which he doesn’t,’ Dot said, turning to glare at Betty. ‘See what yer’ve started now, you and yer fancy tales. By dinnertime tomorrow every kid in our Colin’s class will know, and by tea-time the whole ruddy neighbourhood. John won’t be able to walk down the street without being accosted by women wanting to offer him digs.’
‘As long as that’s all they’re offering, girl, he won’t come to no harm. But I think it would be only right and proper to warn him that if Rita Williams offers him bed and board, she might just forget to mention that she goes with the bed.’
Oh dear, Dot groaned inwardly. Once Betty starts on bedroom jokes she’ll never stop, and Maggie won’t know where to put her face for the best. Besides, Colin was sitting listening intently and this sort of talk was not for young ears. ‘That’s it for now,’ she said briskly. ‘Comedy time is over. Up to bed with you, sunshine, while me and me mates get down to brass tacks.’
‘Ah, ay, Mam, just another ten minutes, please?’
‘No, it’s nine o’clock, plenty late enough for yer. So go on, poppy off and be a good lad.’
Colin walked behind the couch, trailing his hand along the top. ‘Will yer be here tomorrow night, Mr Kershaw?’
Before John could get a word out, Betty said, ‘Of course he’ll be here! He ruddy-well lives here, doesn’t he?’
‘Don’t answer, Colin, just go to bed like a good lad.’ Dot kissed him on the cheek and hugged him. ‘Yer know what yer Auntie Betty’s like, she’ll harp on it all night if yer let her.’
‘Well, Mr Kershaw’s not going to lodge with her, is he?’
‘He’s not going to lodge with anyone, sunshine. He’s got a perfectly good house of his own. Better than any of ours, I’ll bet.’
His mind reassured, Colin waved good night and made his way to bed to lie awake for a while contemplating the visit to the pictures on Saturday. He wished it was tomorrow, but five days would soon pass over. If he had a calendar he could mark them off, day by day; that would make them go quicker. But it was too late to buy a calendar; he wouldn’t get his money’s worth now that three months of the year had gone. As his eyes closed and sleep was seconds away, he was wishing he’d be as tall as Mr Kershaw when he grew up.
Downstairs, Dot flopped on to the couch, next to Maggie. ‘Yer’ve caused enough mischief for one night, Betty Mason, so can we be serious for a change? It doesn’t look as though Mary’s coming, which means her feller hasn’t gone out.’
‘Did yer say the funeral was on Friday, girl?’
Dot nodded. ‘Yes, but I don’t know what time.’
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Betty said, fingering the dimples in her elbow. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if one of us went with her? With her feller not going it means she’s really got nobody on her side. Her brothers will have their wives and children with them and Mary will feel terrible being on her lonesome.’
‘I’d go if I could,’ Dot said, ‘’cos it does seem lousy her going on her own, as though she hasn’t got a friend in the world. But I can’t afford to lose a day’s pay. It takes me all me time to manage as it is.’
‘I’ll go with her, girl,’ Betty said. ‘I’d have nightmares if I let her go through that without someone to lend her a hand, or a shoulder to cry on.’
‘I’ll come with yer, so I will,’ Maggie said. ‘Sure, in her condition the poor soul needs someone to keep an eye on her.’
Dot sighed. ‘That’s a load off me mind, I have been worried about her.’ She banged her fist on the arm of the couch. ‘I’m that angry with Tom Campbell I could strangle him with me bare hands. He should be the one standing by her side giving her the support she needs.’
‘He should be, girl, but he won’t, so me and Maggie will look after her.’
‘If you find out which church the service is at, I’ll take a couple of hours off work,’ John said. ‘I’d like to support Mary and also pay my respects to her family.’
‘Tom Campbell won’t go two nights without his ale, so she’ll definitely be in tomorrow night and we’ll get all the details then. But to save embarrassing her, can we talk about having a whip-around between us to help her pay for a wreath?’
‘She needs more than a wreath, girl, she needs some decent black clothes. She’ll feel bad enough as it is, without having to go to her father’s funeral dressed like a tramp.’
‘Maggie’s lending her a black coat, Betty, so that’s a big worry less. But she could do with black stockings and a good pair of shoes. There’s not much I can do about it, I’m afraid. I can throw a couple of bob in the kitty, but that’s about all.’
‘I’ll buy the stockings,’ Maggie said, ‘and I’ll throw a couple of bob in the kitty as well. Sure, aren’t I in a better position than yerself, Dot? With Paddy working all the hours God sends and us with no family to keep, we can afford to help Mary.’
‘May I make a suggestion, ladies?’ John asked. ‘If you three can club together to sort her clothes out, I’ll pay for the wreath. I’ll get the address off Mary and have the wreath delivered to her mother’s house on Friday morning.’
‘There yer go!’ Betty flung her arms wide. ‘The man has solved all our problems in one single sentence. No wonder Dot keeps him on a tight lead, he’s too good to lose. If he was my lodger I’d sit on him all day to make sure no one ran off with him.’
‘If you sat on him, no one would be able to run off with him – he’d look as though he’d been run over by a steamroller. As flat as a ruddy pancake.’ Dot grinned. ‘Like one of those cardboard cut-outs yer see outside a picture house.’
‘Ho, ho, very f
unny. Ye’re livening up now, are yer, girl?’
‘No, I’m not! I’m bone weary, if yer must know. So, if yer don’t mind, I’m giving you yer marching orders. I’ve got a stack of washing to get in steep, then I’m off to bed.’
‘What!’ Betty’s eyebrows nearly touched her hairline. ‘Don’t we get a cup of tea out of yer brand-new cups and saucers?’
‘Not tonight, sunshine, I’m too tired. It’s all right for you, ye’re not standing on yer feet all ruddy day. Yer’ll get a cup of tea tomorrow night, when Mary’s here, and if ye’re a good girl I’ll throw in a biscuit. And don’t forget to bring the money with yer to save her worrying, and give her time to buy what she needs.’
Maggie stood up and cupped Betty’s elbow. ‘Come alone, me darlin’, it’s time we were on our way, so it is.’
Allowing herself to be propelled towards the door, Betty grumbled, ‘Fine bleedin’ way to treat yer friends. Common as muck, she is, no bleedin’ manners at all.’ She looked over her shoulder when she reached the door and nodded towards John. ‘Isn’t he getting thrown out, as well?’
‘In about two minutes,’ Dot said. ‘I want him to shift me mangle first, so I can pull the dolly tub out. I may as well make use of him while he’s here.’
Betty pulled herself free of Maggie’s hand and spun around. ‘Blimey, girl, couldn’t yer do better than that? I’ve never heard such a lame excuse in all me bleedin’ life. Ye’re up to no good, the pair of yer, and ye’re too miserable to let yer best mate in on it.’ Her chins waved from side to side with the shaking of her head. ‘I dunno, I’ll not get a wink of sleep tonight with wondering what ye’re up to.’
‘I wouldn’t want you to lose any sleep because of me, Betty, so I’ll tell you.’ John managed to keep his face straight. ‘I’m going to have my wicked way with her.’
Betty just had time for a mischievous smile before Dot made a dive for her, and with Maggie’s help got her down the step into the street. ‘Well, that’s charming, I must say.’ Shrugging herself free, she struck up a dramatic pose. ‘It’s coming to something when yer best friend throws yer out on yer backside. Just wait until I tell my Alec I’ve been manhandled.’
‘In case yer haven’t noticed, sunshine, me and Maggie are not men.’ Dot cupped the chubby face and planted a noisy kiss on each of her cheeks. ‘Yer do know I love the bones of yer, don’t yer?’
‘Yeah, I know that, girl. And I know ye’re tired. The trouble with me is, I never know when to stop. But I’ll see yer tomorrow. Good night and God bless.’
‘Good night and God bless, and you too, Maggie. Thank you for coming down.’
‘Sure I wouldn’t have missed a second of it for the world. It’s a good laugh my Paddy will have when I tell him. And it’s meself that’ll be going to sleep with a smile on me face, and that’s the truth of it.’
John was still standing in the same spot when Dot went back into the house. ‘I didn’t know whether you meant it, about me moving the mangle, so I thought I’d better wait.’
‘Of course I meant it! And while ye’re doing it I’m going to give yer the length of me tongue for encouraging Betty. The things she comes out with, I don’t know where to put meself at times. So don’t you be egging her on, especially in front of Colin.’
John didn’t answer until he’d shifted the heavy mangle. Then he smiled at her. ‘You are not really angry with me, I can tell. Which is a pity, because you look your best when angry.’
Her head fell sideways as her hands moved to her hips. ‘John Kershaw, I know when I’m angry, and I’m angry now.’
Fighting back the desire to hold her in his arms, John nodded. ‘Yes, D.D., all right, I can see you are angry – and very pretty you look, too. In fact, I’d go so far as to say you look adorable.’
‘Don’t be acting the goat, yer daft ha’porth. Pull me dolly tub out for us, then be on your merry way and let me get me clothes in steep.’ Dot smiled. ‘I keep forgetting ye’re not used to being spoken to like that, so I’ll ask nicely, shall I?’
‘No need, you’ve already done it beautifully. And I don’t ever want you to change, I like you the way you are.’
‘Ye’re easy pleased, then, Mr Kershaw. Now, if yer’ll make yerself scarce I can get the tub filled and me clothes in steep.’
John hung back. ‘Katy’s late, isn’t she?’
Dot attached the hose to the tap and turned the water on. ‘She’s only in Billy’s, playing cards. I’m expecting her any minute.’ She gazed at him for a few seconds, then said, ‘You’ve got something on yer mind, haven’t yer? And whatever it is, yer don’t know how to say it. Well, spit it out, John. I can’t eat yer.’
‘Come into the living room and I’ll tell you. The tub takes ages to fill so you don’t have to stand and watch it.’
Dot followed him into the room. ‘Well, why all the mystery?’
‘Give me your hands to hold, then I know you can’t let fly at me.’
‘What! Are yer crazy or something? You can get lost, I’m certainly not going to hold hands with yer.’
John shrugged his shoulders, praying he was going to get it right. ‘OK, forget I ever asked. It doesn’t matter, it wasn’t important.’
Dot was silent as she studied his face. She couldn’t read anything from it and her curiosity got the better of her. ‘OK, if you want to play silly buggers, don’t let me stop yer.’ She held out her two hands. ‘I don’t know who’s the daftest, you or me.’
John held her hands and felt a shiver run down his spine. He was getting there, but it was a very slow process. ‘I want you to give Mary a pound to help pay her fares and anything else she needs. I would hate to think she was walking around without a penny to her name. And I don’t want the other ladies to know. So, if I let go of your hands now, will you promise not to smack me across the face?’
‘If you were offering me a pound, John, I’d get on me high horse because I’d think yer were feeling sorry for me. And because I couldn’t stand that, I’d probably smack yer across the face. But not when ye’re offering to help Mary. God knows the woman needs all the help she can get. I think it’s very generous of yer,’ Dot grinned, ‘and thoughtful.’
‘And what about kind, caring, compassionate and lovable?’
‘Ooh, I’ll have to think about that. Can I have me hands back now, please?’
It was with reluctance that John released the hands that were making his pulse race. But he knew he’d gone as far as Dot would allow. Try to go any further and he’d be sent packing a damn sight quicker than Betty had been. And there wouldn’t be a welcome for him ever again. So, patience was the name of the game, to win the only woman he’d ever really wanted as his wife.
On the Tuesday night, Mary watched her husband spruce himself up. He never bothered when he was going to the corner pub, all the men went in their working clothes. So there was definitely something in the wind tonight. She didn’t care where he went, or who he went with, as long as he left her in peace. He never spoke to her, but then they’d never had a real conversation since the day they got married. He’d given her a punch last night as she was passing his chair, for no other reason but that he enjoyed it. Tonight however, she might not have been there for all the notice he’d taken of her. That suited her fine, and as soon as he’d gone she’d go next door, to be with the only friends she had.
Tom Campbell slipped the comb into his breast pocket and gave one last look in the mirror over the fireplace. Satisfied with his appearance, he walked past his wife without a word and left the house. He could feel the excitement building up inside him as he walked down the street. He hoped Elsie would be there, but if not he’d try one of the other whores. She said they all gave the same service so it didn’t really matter. And with two bob in his pocket it meant he would get half an hour in bed with one of them.
His steps quickened as his eagerness mounted. He was walking to Seaforth to save the tram-fare and it was a fair walk. But he needed to count his pennies so he coul
d go again on Saturday. He had it all planned in his head. Twice a week he could have sex any way he wanted it. Those whores would do anything you wanted for a few bob.
Whistling as he walked, Tom Campbell had no idea that some time in the not-too-distant future he would have cause to remember this night. And curse it.
Chapter Fifteen
‘A quarter of walnut toffee, Katy, and a penny bar of Fry’s chocolate cream.’ Doreen studied her reflection in the glass of the counter and noticed her hair was not hanging right. She twisted the offending curl around her finger before putting it in the position that suited her. She was a vain girl, couldn’t pass a mirror or a shop window without checking her appearance. Not even a hair on her head was allowed to be out of place. ‘What time are we going tonight?’
Katy pushed the sweets across the counter and held out her hand for payment. ‘We’re all meeting outside here at a quarter to six. Mrs Edwards is letting me go off early.’
‘That doesn’t give us much time to get to the pictures,’ Doreen pouted. ‘We’ll be lucky if we get in, it’ll probably be full.’
Katy sighed as she handed over the change out of sixpence. Why was her friend always so blinking miserable? ‘You can go on without us, if yer like, then yer’ll be sure of getting a seat.’
‘No, I’ll wait for yer.’ Doreen put on her hard-done-by face. ‘I wouldn’t care if we didn’t get in, anyway, ’cos Joan Bennett is on and I don’t like her at all.’
Katy bit on the inside of her mouth to keep back the hot words that sprang to her lips. Billy was right – Doreen was a pain in the neck. ‘I’m surprised at yer coming, then. Why don’t yer go somewhere else?’
‘No, I’ll come,’ Doreen said, her expression and tone condescending. ‘After all, it is Mr Kershaw’s birthday and I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.’
Katy was stung into saying, ‘Doreen, he wouldn’t even miss yer! He’s got me mam and our Colin, as well as me and Billy. And me mam was trying to persuade Mrs Campbell to come with us, to try and cheer her up a bit.’
