Walking My Baby Back Home

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Ay, what d’yer think, girl? Our Freddie’s got himself a girlfriend.’

  ‘Go ’way!’ Dot was suitably impressed. Betty had two sons, Freddie eighteen and Stan, seventeen, and neither of them had ever shown any interest in girls. ‘What’s she like? Have yer seen her?’

  ‘Not yet.’ Betty gave the teapot a shake before pouring the tea into the two cups. ‘He must be keen though, ’cos he’s asked if he can bring her for tea tomorrow. Our Stan says she’s a bit of a drip, but then he would, wouldn’t he? He’s probably jealous because, as yer know, him and Freddie have always gone everywhere together.’

  ‘Your Stan won’t be long getting himself a girl. Him and Freddie are both nice-looking lads and I’m surprised they haven’t been snapped up before now.’

  Betty preened herself. ‘Yeah, they are nice-looking, aren’t they? Have yer ever noticed how like their mother they are?’

  Dot smiled and sat back, her hands curled around the cup. It was nice to relax and have a chat, and if she was a bit late getting to the shops, so what? She’d have to run, that’s all.

  Mary had fed the baby and was making her comfortable on the couch when her husband came in. ‘I’ll get yer dinner.’

  Tom’s response was a grunt as he flopped in the armchair. He didn’t even look at the baby, she was just another irritation to him. Something else to fuel his bad temper. He hadn’t been feeling well all week, what with headaches and a sickly feeling in his tummy. And he kept getting spells where he was sweating, even though the weather was bitter. He put it down to a cold coming on, that’s all it was. The little voice in his head which kept reminding him that the doctor had warned of these symptoms, was always quickly silenced. The doctor was a bloody fool and didn’t know what he was talking about.

  Tom ate the sausage and mash Mary set before him, even though he had no appetite. Not for food, anyway. He had an appetite for something else, and that he intended to get off his wife today. She’d had it easy for too long; it was now time for her to pay for her keep. He pushed the plate away, undid the top button on his trousers and belched loudly. He saw Mary wince, and hid his evil smile behind his hand. He’d give her something to pull a face about, any minute now; just let his dinner settle.

  Mary felt uneasy. She couldn’t put a finger on it, but there was something different about her husband today. It wasn’t that he was quiet, for they never spoke to each other at any time and that suited her fine. But she had this premonition and it frightened her. Perhaps she was being stupid, imagining things, but she couldn’t shake it off. The best thing she could do, to be on the safe side, was put Trudy in the pram and take her for a walk.

  Having made up her mind, Mary stood up at the same time as Tom pushed his chair back and got to his feet. They stared at each other, and Mary watched with mounting horror as he rounded the table and came to stand in front of her.

  ‘Put her in the pram and get up those stairs.’

  ‘Oh no, not on your life! If you think I’m going up those stairs with you, then ye’re sadly mistaken. Move out of the way, I’m taking the baby for a walk.’

  ‘Yer’ll do as ye’re bleedin’ well told.’ Tom put the palm of his hand on her chest and pushed her away from the couch and into a corner. ‘What d’er think I keep yer for, eh? I want something back for me money and I intend getting it. Ye’re me wife and I’m entitled to me marital rights, yer can’t refuse.’

  ‘I’ll not let yer lay one of yer dirty hands on me, Tom Campbell. Go and get what yer want off one of yer floosies.’

  He grabbed her by the front of her dress and pressed his face close to hers. ‘I said get up the stairs and give me what I want.’

  ‘I am not going up those stairs with you, get that through yer head.’

  ‘Suits me, I can take what I want right here.’ He moved his hand to the neck of Mary’s dress and gave one sharp pull, ripping the dress from top to bottom. Then he stepped back a pace to gaze leeringly at her full breasts. ‘Get on the floor.’

  Mary moved so quickly she took him offguard. She picked up the poker and waved it at him. ‘Touch me, and yer’ll feel this.’

  But Tom was one step ahead of her. Before she knew what he intended, he had picked the baby up by an arm and a leg and dangled the whimpering child in front of her. ‘Go on, hit me now.’ His laugh was that of a maniac, his smile that of the devil. ‘Go on, see if yer can miss the brat and hit me.’

  Mary froze. If she lifted the poker, he’d shield himself with his daughter, she knew that. Her silence brought forth more laughter and he began to swing the baby around by an arm and a leg, missing the table and fireplace by inches. Faster and faster he went and Mary knew he didn’t care if he killed the child. She started swinging the poker at his legs, and the blows must have hurt, but he gave no sign. Round and round he went, with the baby screaming. He’s mad, he doesn’t care if he kills her. He’s going to kill my beautiful baby.

  Mary opened her mouth and desperate, tortured screams filled the air.

  ‘Here’s our Colin coming up the yard now, sunshine, so I’d better make an effort. Much as I enjoy hearing about Mrs Cousins being a brazen hussy for hanging her fancy rayon knickers on the line, I’ve got to get some food in for the weekend.’

  ‘Haven’t yer been to the shops, yet, Mam?’ Colin’s face had been whipped a bright red by the brisk wind. ‘I thought yer’d be well gone.’

  ‘Blame yer Auntie Betty, sunshine, yer know what she’s like for talking. Once she starts there’s no stopping her until she needs winding up again.’

  ‘Ay, missus, you’ve done yer share as well. Anyone hearing yer would think yer’d just sat there like a dummy and I’ve done all the yapping.’

  ‘I was only kidding, can’t yer take a joke? Anyway, I’m—’

  The screams turned Dot’s blood to ice. ‘In the name of God, he must be killing her!’ She jumped to her feet, the screams ringing in her ears. ‘Come on, Betty.’

  She made a dash for the companion set and grabbed the poker and tongs. ‘We’ll have to go the back way, the front door won’t be open.’ As they ran down the yard, she passed the tongs to Betty. ‘If he’s giving her a hammering, or the baby, I’ll give him a taste of this.’ She brandished the poker. ‘He’s a bad bastard.’

  ‘I’ll be right beside yer, girl, yer can count on me.’

  They met a worried-looking Maggie in the entry and without exchanging a word she joined them in running up the Campbells’ yard. The screams were louder and more chilling as they passed the window, and the women feared what they would see inside. Dot didn’t bother knocking, she threw the kitchen door open and made straight for the living room, Betty and Maggie at her heels. The sight that met their eyes was one that would stay with them forever. Tom Campbell had the look of a madman as he swung the baby around as though she was a rag doll. It was a miracle he hadn’t bashed her head against the furniture or fireplace. Mary was raining blows on his legs while screaming her head off. ‘He’s going to kill my baby!’

  Dot pulled the table back and raised the poker, intending to strike Tom when he had his back to them and the baby wouldn’t be in danger of being hit. Beside her stood Betty, who had discarded the tongs, believing her fists would serve her better. Behind them, Maggie was wringing her hands and crying.

  While she was waiting for just the right moment, Dot happened to glance at Mary and saw her raising the poker until it was on a level with her chin before swinging out wildly. She heard it connect with Tom’s head, and in that split second it flashed through her mind that they hang people in this country for murder. So she let fly with the poker on his back just as he began to totter and followed it quickly with another blow as he was hitting the floor.

  The screaming stopped and Mary ran forward to pick up Trudy and hold her close. ‘He was going to kill her.’

  Dot took a deep breath. Her head was fuddled, she couldn’t think straight, only that they were in trouble and she didn’t know how to handle it. She called to Colin
, her voice urgent. ‘Go to John’s, sunshine, then run to the doctor’s. Tell them both it’s an emergency and to hurry. Run all the way, please, love, faster than yer’ve ever run before. And not a word to anyone except the two men.’

  ‘Is he dead?’ Mary’s whole body was shaking as she gazed down at the still form lying on the floor. ‘I don’t care if he is, he doesn’t deserve to live.’

  For the first time the women saw the state of Mary’s dress and knew right away what had caused the trouble. It was ripped from top to bottom and that hadn’t happened by accident. Nor had the deep scratch on her neck come by accident. He must have dug his nail in while pulling at the dress. Dot sighed. He didn’t deserve to live, Mary was right. She must have refused to give him what he wanted and he was taking his revenge on the one thing she loved, the baby.

  ‘I’m not touching him, we’ll wait until the doctor gets here.’ Dot met Betty’s eyes and they silently agreed it was best to say nothing to the woman who had suffered enough already. ‘I think you should take the baby into Maggie’s and get a cup of tea down yer to calm yer nerves. Me and Betty will wait for the doctor.’

  ‘I’ve killed him, haven’t I?’

  ‘Listen, sunshine, I’m not very good at things like this. He could be unconscious for all I know. Anyway, yer weren’t the only one to hit him, I gave him a few belts.’

  ‘And me,’ Betty lied. ‘I hit him, too.’

  Maggie dried her eyes with the corner of her pinny, then, skirting the body on the floor she held out her arms to Mary. ‘Come on, me darlin’, let’s get you and the baby out of here. Sure, it’s a terrible shock yer’ve both had.’

  As they were leaving, Dot whispered in Maggie’s ear, ‘Go out the back way, Maggie, there’s a crowd outside. And leave her dress the way it is, for the doctor to see. It might not be important, but yer never know.’

  When they were alone, Betty said, ‘He’s dead, yer know. His chest isn’t going up and down so he’s not breathing.’

  ‘I know that, Betty, but I wanted to get Mary out of here so I can sort me thoughts out.’ Then Dot told her friend about the to-do over the poker last year, and what John had said. ‘But if three of us say we hit him, they can’t hang three of us, can they?’

  ‘I bloody-well hope not, girl, I quite enjoy living.’

  The shock that had numbed Dot’s senses was wearing off and the enormity of what had happened began to sink in. She could hear the babble of voices, loud knocking at the door and there were faces at the window, trying to peer through the net curtains. ‘I’d better go and shift them, they must be wondering what’s going on. They’re not being nosy, they probably came to see if they could help.’

  Dot told the neighbours gathered outside that Mr Campbell had fallen and banged his head, and they were waiting for the doctor. ‘So will yer go home now, please, and we’ll let yer know later what’s happening.’

  She returned to her friend with her shoulders slumped. ‘Let’s stand in the kitchen, Betty, this room’s giving me the creeps. Me flippin’ nerves are shot to pieces.’

  ‘Ye’re not the only one, girl, my heart’s in me mouth. But if it’s bad for us, what’s it like for Mary? We saw a bit of what was going on, but God knows what she had gone through before we came.’

  ‘Through hell, that’s what she’d gone through. She’s been living a life of hell since she married Tom Campbell. It’s terrible to speak ill of the dead, but he was a rotter. She’s well rid of him, so is the baby.’

  ‘It’s to be hoped she doesn’t get into trouble, girl. If that man’s dead, and we both know he is, then there’ll be questions asked.’

  ‘It was self-defence, Betty! Mary is a mother who was protecting her baby. We all saw what he was doing to her! Surely to God, no one would expect her to stand by and do nothing. Anyway, I hit him twice so they can do what they like about it.’

  ‘No, girl, you hit him once and I hit him once. That’s our story, we’ll stick to it and won’t let anybody budge us.’

  They heard the entry door close, then footsteps hurrying up the yard. And when John entered the kitchen, the anxiety and concern on his face was all Dot needed to let her tears flow. Her face crumpled, she sobbed, ‘Yer should have seen what he was doing to Trudy, John, I’ll never forget it as long as I live.’

  Betty took up the story. ‘He had hold of one of her little ankles and a wrist, and he was turning around, like this.’ She closed her eyes and couldn’t go on, the lump in her throat was like a hard rock.

  John stretched his arms wide and drew them to him. He held them close as they sobbed their hearts out. And as he listened, he wondered what on earth the outcome of this would be. He waited until their crying eased, then asked, ‘Is he dead?’

  Dot lifted tear-stained eyes and nodded. ‘We haven’t touched him, we were too afraid. But we both think he’s dead.’

  There came a loud knocking on the front door and John dropped his arms. ‘This will be the doctor, I’ll let him in.’ As he passed through the living room and saw the lifeless form of Tom Campbell, he asked himself again what the outcome would be.

  Dot and Betty clung to each other as they heard the doctor ask what had happened. And they heard John say he’d only just got here and didn’t know the details, but Mrs Baker and Mrs Mason were in the kitchen and could perhaps tell him more. ‘I’d better have a look at Mr Campbell first.’ The doctor’s words had the two women covering their ears. Neither of them wanted to hear what they knew already.

  ‘Dot, Dr Gray would like a word with you and Betty.’

  ‘I’m not going back in that room, John, I couldn’t.’

  ‘It’s all right, Mrs Baker, we can talk out here.’ The doctor’s voice was sympathetic. ‘Where are Mrs Campbell and the baby?’

  ‘I sent them next door, Doctor, they were both in a terrible state. Me and Betty can tell yer what we saw, and Mrs O’Connor was with us, yer can ask her. And we can also tell yer what we think started it off.’ Slowly, and with a catch in her voice, Dot told him everything from beginning to end. ‘How he didn’t kill that baby I’ll never know. I couldn’t believe me eyes when I saw what he was doing to it. And he had this look on his face, like a madman.’

  ‘Mr Campbell was a scoundrel, Mrs Baker, but he’ll never hurt them again – he’s dead.’ Dr Gray turned to John. ‘I’ll have to see Mrs Campbell to get the facts right before I can issue a death certificate. I would like you to stay with me, John, until all the arrangements are made. There’s a lot to do and I would like to take as much of the burden from Mrs Campbell’s shoulders as possible.’

  ‘Of course I’ll come with you, anything to help,’ John put his hands on Dot’s shoulders and bent to kiss her cheek. ‘You and Betty go home, I’ll be with you as soon as I can be.’

  ‘But what about—’ Dot pointed to the living room. ‘We can’t leave Mary on her own to face that.’

  It was Dr Gray who answered. ‘I’m sure Mrs O’Connor will allow Mrs Campbell to stay there for a few days. And as soon as I’ve had a word with her, to establish the cause of death, I shall ring an undertakers and have the body removed.’

  Establish the cause of death! Oh, my God! ‘We all hit him, yer know, Dr Gray,’ Dot blurted out. ‘It wasn’t only Mary.’

  ‘So you said, Mrs Baker. However, I need a statement from Mrs Campbell. So I suggest you do as John says, and go home. It’s been a nasty experience and I’m sure you and Mrs Mason are upset. Try not to worry, though, I’m sure there’s no need.’

  John took her elbow as he lifted the latch on the kitchen door. ‘Send Colin for the messages, don’t you go out yourself. I’ll be in to see you as soon as I can.’

  Betty slipped home to tell her family what had happened and asked them to see to their own meals as she wanted to stay with Dot. ‘Is there anything I can do?’ Alec asked.

  ‘No, love, we’ve just got to wait. But me and Dot are in this together and I want to stay with her.’

  Colin was sent to the shops with a
hastily written list, and the two friends sat at the table drinking cup after cup of tea. ‘Dr Gray said not to worry, but how can we not flaming-well worry?’ Dot kept glancing at the clock. ‘A man’s dead, and he didn’t die through natural causes, so someone, somewhere, is bound to want to know how he did die.’

  ‘D’yer know, girl, this is one time I wished I smoked. They say it calms yer nerves and I could do with puffing me bleedin’ head off right now.’ Betty couldn’t settle and was fidgeting on the chair. ‘To think we were laughing about Mrs Cousins’ fancy knickers just a minute before all this started. It just goes to show that yer never know from one minute to the next what’s going to happen.’

  ‘If you hadn’t wanted to come for a natter, sunshine, I’d have been at the shops. And where would Mary have been without us? It was fate, that’s what it was.’

  The hands on the clock turned and an hour passed, with still no sign of John. Colin came back with the shopping and Dot busied herself putting the groceries away while her son went out to play before it got too dark. ‘I wonder if I should nip up to the O’Connors’ and see what’s happening?’

  ‘I wouldn’t if I were you, girl, I’d wait for John. For all you know, yer could be walking into a bundle of trouble.’

  It was turned five o’clock when John finally arrived to be greeted by a barrage of questions. He held his hand up. ‘Calm down and I’ll tell you what’s happened so far. It’s not a very pleasant story, but I’ll tell it quickly to put your minds as rest. Firstly, the undertakers have been and taken the body of Mr Campbell away. They’re going to ring me in work on Monday to give me the date of the funeral.’

  Dot couldn’t wait. ‘What did the doctor say he died of?’

  ‘Bear with me, will you, Dot? There are some unpleasant surprises in store. Apparently Tom Campbell went to see Dr Gray some weeks ago and was told he had a venereal disease called syphilis. He’d caught it from prostitutes and it was quite advanced. There is no cure for it, and in some cases it affects the brain, among other things.’