by Joan Jonker
‘And would your friend object if I joined you? I do want to be friends with you, Poppy. I was attracted to you as soon as I set eyes on you in the Grafton.’
‘You are very persuasive and persistent, aren’t you? I’m surprised you haven’t got a steady girlfriend already. Or do you have half a dozen to choose from?’
‘I’ve had several dancing partners, and one or two girlfriends.’ The bus swayed and Peter was thrown closer to her. He quickly pulled away and put a hand on the seat in front to steady himself. ‘But I’ve never had one I liked well enough to take home to meet my mother. Does that satisfy your curiosity?’
Poppy grinned. ‘I’m giving you a hard time, aren’t I? I’m not always like this, honestly. This just happens to be your unlucky day, unfortunately. But I’ll make it up to you at the Grafton, I promise. And in case you haven’t noticed, the next stop is where I get off.’
‘Correction,’ Peter said, standing in the aisle to let her out. ‘It’s the stop where we both get off.’
Peter wouldn’t let Poppy talk him out of walking her right to her front door. She wasn’t too happy about it, for now he knew exactly where she lived. And no boy she’d ever been out with had got any further than the corner of the street. That was because none of them had lit a flame in her heart. Her mother had told her she’d know the man who was right for her as soon as she saw him. If just being near him didn’t set her heart beating, then a touch of his hand, or a kiss, would light the flame.
‘Shall we meet at the Grafton tomorrow night, then?’ Peter asked. ‘Although I would prefer to meet you outside and escort you in. And your friend, of course. A casual meeting in a dance hall isn’t a date, but if it’s the only way I can get to see you, then so be it. But before I bid you goodnight now, will you promise to come out with me again? Just the two of us?’
When Poppy didn’t answer right away, fumbling in her bag for the door key, Peter gripped her arm. ‘Please say you will, Poppy, then I can go to sleep with a smile on my face.’
‘Oh, I’d better agree then,’ Poppy said, thinking he hadn’t put a foot wrong all night, or said anything she could fault. He’d been thoughtful and attentive, and she wasn’t going to tell a lie to let him down. He deserved better. ‘I’ll see you on Wednesday at the Grafton. And I promise I won’t be late this time.’ She put the key in the door and pushed it open. ‘Thank you for a nice night – I’ve enjoyed meself.’ She stepped into the hall. ‘Goodnight, Peter. See you Wednesday.’
Chapter Five
‘Well, how did the date go, sweetheart?’ Eva searched her daughter’s face. ‘Was the boy nice?’
Poppy gave her mother a hug. ‘Mam, he wasn’t a boy, he’s a man. I stopped going out with boys when I was sixteen.’ She draped her coat over her arm. ‘He’s about twenty-one or two, I would guess. And yes, he was very nice. Well dressed, well spoken, and just the type you would bring home to meet the family. Not me, of course – I’ve only been out with him tonight for the first time, so I wouldn’t know what he’s really like. He could have been on his best behaviour, trying to make a good impression.’ Then she felt a stab of guilt. ‘I’m being unfair to him, Mam, ’cos he was well mannered and treated me like a lady.’ She handed over the chocolate box. ‘Not only the best seats, but a box of chocolates to go with them. He did the job properly – even insisted on bringing me home right to the door.’
‘He sounds a good person, sweetheart. You should have asked him in. I think I’ve only ever met one boy you went out with, and although I didn’t say it at the time, I really wasn’t impressed. He wasn’t the sort I would like for a son-in-law.’
Poppy went into the hall to hang her coat up, and she was laughing when she came back. ‘Oh dear, Mam, that was years ago. I remember the lad now: his nickname was Ginger ’cos he had red hair. Oh, and he had pimples all over his face. But I didn’t go out with him, Mam. I was only sixteen and he walked me home from a dance at the church hall.’ To her mother’s surprise, Poppy took a fit of laughing. Bent over double, she spluttered, ‘He doesn’t have pimples any more. What he does have is the last laugh on me, you, and all the other girls around here. I saw him last week and he was driving his own car! He stopped to ask how I was, but I think it was only to make sure I didn’t miss the car. His dad used to work in a garage, as a mechanic. He told me his dad owns the garage now, and the car was a birthday present.’
‘Go ’way!’ Eva looked astonished. ‘Driving a car at his age? I didn’t think it was allowed.’
‘Oh, I think you can drive at seventeen or eighteen, as long as you pass a test. Anyway, Ginger looked the picture of health and very prosperous. And I say good luck to him. He deserves it, after all the ribbing he got at school. The lads in his class gave him a terrible time. That’s why I danced with him, ’cos I felt sorry for him. But he’s got the last laugh at all the lads who made fun of him.’
Eva nodded. ‘You always get paid back if you make fun of anyone worse off than yerself, sweetheart. I hope I’ve drummed that into you and David. And now would you like a cup of tea, and you can tell me what the film was about? And are you seeing this young man again?’
‘I won’t have a drink, thanks, Mam. But I am seeing Peter again, so that’s one little bit of news for you. I’m meeting him in the Grafton on Wednesday. Yer know I always go with Julie, and I’m not going to let her down. He wasn’t very happy about it, but he can’t expect me to let a friend down when I’ve only known him a few days.’
Eva agreed. ‘Never let a friend down, sweetheart, because a good friend will be for ever, while a boyfriend can be here today and gone tomorrow. Unless he’s the man you want to spend the rest of your life with.’
‘I’ve never met one yet that sent a shiver down my spine.’ Poppy tilted her head. ‘I remember you saying that the first time my dad looked into your eyes, your feet tingled and your heart beat fifteen to the dozen.’
‘I can remember that feeling as though it was yesterday,’ Eva said with a touch of sadness. ‘And the first time he kissed me I thought my legs were going to give out on me ’cos they turned to jelly.’
‘I hope I get that feeling one day, Mam, but I’ve got plenty of time.’
‘I was only seventeen when I fell in love with your dad,’ Eva said. ‘And I remember my mam and dad telling me I was too young to be courting. They gave yer dad a hard time, I can tell you. I was so embarrassed when they asked him about his family, where he worked, and had he ever courted anyone else before me? It’s a wonder he didn’t wipe his hands of me.’
‘He didn’t though, did he, Mam? I was only young, but I still remember that he used to kiss you before he went to work every morning, and when he came home. And when he thought me and David weren’t watching, he used to put his arms round you when you were by the sink washing the dishes. Me and David would giggle when you used to say, “Away with you, the children might come in.”’
There were tears in Eva’s eyes, but they were tears of thankfulness that her children had never forgotten their father, and talked about him openly. How proud he would be now if he could see how they had grown into kind and caring adults.
‘You go to bed, sweetheart,’ she said. ‘I’ll wait up for David. He should be in any minute.’
‘No, I’ll wait up for him, Mam,’ Poppy said. ‘You have to go out to work, same as us, so you need your sleep.’
They heard the key turn in the lock and smiled at each other. ‘Well,’ Poppy said, ‘here’s the man himself, so it saves any argument.’
David came in looking very pleased with himself. ‘Did I hear someone saying argument? Surely not! We don’t have raised voices in this house, let alone full-scale arguments.’
‘Someone is looking very happy,’ Poppy said to her mother. ‘Is the look on my brother’s face the look you were telling me about when love is in the air?’
David was humming as he hung his coat in the hall. ‘Can’t a bloke be happy without his family thinking there is something wrong?’
/> ‘It wouldn’t be wrong to fall in love, son.’ Eva gave Poppy a sly wink. ‘I think your cheerful face and glazed expression speak volumes. So who is the girl who brought all this about?’
Poppy nodded her agreement. ‘She must be some girl to have managed that in one night.’
David sat on the arm of the couch, his face still wearing a smile. ‘You women don’t half have a vivid imagination. And if it wasn’t so late I’d hang around just to see how far your fanciful imagination will take you.’
‘Me and me mam are both tired and ready for bed,’ Poppy told him. ‘So why don’t you just tell us the girl’s name to be going on with? That would satisfy us for tonight, and you could fill in all the details tomorrow.’ She gave her mother a gentle dig. ‘Such as when the wedding is?’
David’s guffaw was loud. ‘Oh dear, oh dear! Well, I guess I’m going to have to come clean if any of us are going to get some sleep tonight.’ He looked from his mother to his sister. ‘I hope you are both strong enough to take this, and won’t faint on me.’
‘David, so help me I’ll clock you one if you don’t put us out of our misery. And I mean right now! Me mam has to be ready for work at half seven, and me half an hour later. So, out with it.’
‘Right! If you insist, here goes. I have spent a very pleasant evening with a very good friend. And tonight I won the hand of that good friend.’
There were gasps from Eva and Poppy. Surely he would have told them if he was going serious with a girl? But he’d never even hinted at it! ‘This is all very sudden, David,’ Eva said, with visions of her lovely son getting married and leaving home. ‘How long has this friendship been going on?’
David rubbed his chin as though deep in concentration. Then he answered, ‘Oh, since we were both in the infants, all the way through to leaving school.’ He bit on the inside of his cheek to stop himself laughing. ‘You’ll remember who I’m talking about, Mam, when I tell yer I used to play marbles with him. Of course you remember Vincent Bellamy. He was never away from our house.’
Not a sound came from his mother and sister, who were looking at him as though he’d gone crazy. ‘The hand I said I won was a hand of whist. The first time I’ve ever beaten Vincent since I’ve been playing with him. But I beat him tonight, and I feel on top of the world.’ He chuckled. ‘He looked as if he was ready to cry his eyes out. He’s good at cards, but he’s a lousy loser.’
Poppy looked at her mother. ‘Will you hit him or shall I?’ Then, before Eva had time to answer, Poppy had grabbed the evening paper, rolled it up and let fly at her brother’s shoulder. He raised his arm to protect himself, but brother and sister were laughing so much they ended up clinging to each other. ‘We fell for that all right. Me and me mam thought yer were out with a glamorous girl, and all the time ye’re having a game of ruddy cards with a lad yer went to school with!’
Eva was curious. ‘When you go out every night, son, saying you’ve got a heavy date with a girl, are yer telling the truth or pulling our legs?’
‘I usually go out with a girl, Mam, but I’m not going steady with any particular one. I don’t want to settle down yet – I want to enjoy my freedom while I’m young and fancy-free. But I go to Vincent’s at least one night a week, sometimes two. We’re good mates, enjoy a game of cards with a bottle of beer, and have a good laugh.’
‘I’d like to see Vincent some time, David. I don’t think I’ve set eyes on him since you left school,’ Eva said. ‘But right now I’m so tired I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open. You two stay down as long as you like. You’ve got youth on your side, but me, I’m dog-tired and I’m off to my bed. Goodnight and God bless.’
‘I’m coming up with yer, Mam. I’m tired meself.’ The bottom of Poppy’s back was stiff and sore, and she was hoping a night’s rest would cure it. ‘We’ll have a night in sometime, and talk about all our schoolmates and how many of them we still see. But no secrets, our David. We’ll be asking you about any girlfriends yer’ve got or had. But right now I’m going to follow me mam’s example and go to bed.’
‘I’m going to make myself a quick cuppa,’ David said. ‘I’m thirsty.’ He took his mother’s hands, saying, ‘Goodnight and God bless, Mam. And when I go on full pay in a few weeks, I want you to pack in your job. You’ve worked long enough to keep this house going, and it’s time for you to retire. Not that you’ll be idle, for you’ll still have the housework to do, plus the washing, ironing and shopping. But you can do those at your leisure, and sneak off to a matinee when you feel like it. Or go into town with Margie one afternoon to look round the shops and go to Reece’s for tea and a cake.’
Eva patted his cheek. ‘We’ll talk about that tomorrow, son. I’m too tired now. I could do with two matchsticks to keep me eyes open. Try not to make a noise when yer come to bed. I’m hoping to drop off to sleep as soon as my head touches the pillow.’
Poppy linked her arm. ‘Me too, Mam. I’m bushed. Goodnight and God bless, our kid.’
‘Goodnight and God bless, little sister.’
Poppy sat up in bed when her mother called to say breakfast was on the table. She slipped her legs over the edge of the bed and shivered when her feet touched the cold lino as they searched for her slippers. She cursed herself for kicking them off before she got into bed, instead of placing them neatly together so she just had to slip her feet into them. She had a warm dressing gown, thank goodness, and she tied the belt before walking on to the landing. From the bathroom she could hear the sound of running water, and tutted because her brother had once again beaten her to it. The trouble was, she always turned the alarm clock off when it rang, promising herself just another five minutes in the warm bed, and then she’d get up. But on cold mornings it was hard to keep that promise when the bed was warm and the room was cold.
‘Good morning, sweetheart.’ Eva carried a plate of toast in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. She put them down in front of Poppy, and smiled. ‘Your brother beat you to it again, did he?’
Poppy smiled back. ‘It’s my own fault, Mam. I hate getting out of me warm bed. But our David adds insult to injury when he’s singing at the top of his voice while I’m shivering.’
Eva sat facing her daughter with her two hands round her cup. ‘Men don’t feel the cold like we do, sweetheart. I don’t know why, but they don’t.’
‘I don’t mind David going first, really, ’cos he warms the bathroom up with the hot water. So it won’t be freezing by the time I get up there.’
‘You need to wrap up warm today, sweetheart,’ Eva warned. ‘I think we’re in for snow. It’s certainly cold enough for it.’
Before taking a bite out of the piece of toast she was holding, Poppy said, ‘I’ll put a thick jumper on. My raincoat is fine in wet weather because you can wear anything underneath and nobody knows the difference. They’re too busy rushing to get their business done and be back in work out of the rain. But I need a decent coat for when the winter really sets in. It would be warmer than my raincoat.’
‘You’d probably get a decent one in T.J. Hughes for a few pound, love, so why don’t you nip up there in your dinner hour?’
‘Mam, I’ve only got about fifteen shillings to my name! I’ll have to save up for a few weeks to raise enough cash.’ Poppy’s eyes flew wide as she had an idea. ‘I know what I’ll do, Mam. If I’ve got money in my purse I’ll spend it, ’cos I’ve no willpower. So I’ll give you ten bob now, and you can mind it for me. And I’ll do the same next week, and so on. If I haven’t got it, I can’t spend it. So do me a favour, and if I try to cadge some of the money back, just refuse me point-blank.’
Eva pushed her chair back and picked up her cup and saucer. ‘It’s time I was on my way. But give me the ten bob before I go, then you can’t be tempted. And when I get me wages on Friday, I’ll add ten bob to your money.’
‘You’ll do no such thing, Mam, or I’ll be annoyed. You haven’t had a new coat for years, and you need one more than I do.’
Eva put her
dishes in the kitchen, then popped her head round the door. ‘You’re a young girl, sweetheart, and I’m an old woman. No one would notice if I went out in a coal sack.’
Poppy was indignant, and David came into the room just as she was saying, ‘You are not an old woman, Mam, you’re in the prime of life! And I’m not going to let you spend your hard-earned money on me. We’ll both save up and buy ourselves a coat. And I bet the person who serves us will think we’re sisters. So I’ll leave me ten bob note on the sideboard, and you can add your money to it. When we’ve both got three pound, then we’ll get the bus down to TJs and buy ourselves a coat.’ She started to giggle. ‘The neighbours will think we’ve bought them out of a catalogue and are paying a few shillings a week off them.’
‘I’ve never worried what the neighbours thought, sweetheart, and I’m not going to start now. They don’t pay the rent or put food on the table, so why fret about what they think?’
David had plonked himself down next to Poppy, and listened with interest while chewing his toast. ‘I heard most of that, but can someone tell me the beginning? I missed that bit.’
Eva went into the hall for her coat, and as she was putting it on she said, ‘I haven’t got time, son. I’m going to have to run. Poppy will tell you.’
They heard the door close after their mother, then David asked, ‘Well, what was all that talk about money for?’
‘I can’t tell yer word for word, David, ’cos I haven’t got time either. But it started with the weather being cold, my raincoat not keeping me warm, and me saying I’ll put ten bob a week away to buy meself a new coat. That’s why that ten bob note is on the sideboard. If I’ve got money on me I’ll spend it. I’m too weak-willed.’ She reached for the teapot and filled up her cup. ‘Anyway, mam said she’d put ten bob away with mine, so I could buy my coat sooner. But I wouldn’t have that under any circumstances, because our mam has always gone without to make sure we never went cold or hungry.’ She pushed her chair back. ‘Look at the time! I haven’t even washed yet. I’m going to have to run like the devil. You can hear the rest tonight, if you’re still interested.’
