by Joan Jonker
‘I’ll go and tell them, girl, while you start telling him what’s going on. They won’t mind waiting another ten minutes or so.’
Molly started at the beginning and told the surprised, but now interested, pawnbroker everything that had happened. From Claire, to how she and Nellie had been nosy enough to want to see for themselves the man who seemed too good to be true. She described his fine clothes, his posh accent, and how the elderly mother he said he lived with didn’t exist. There were other things they’d found out that had given them cause to dislike and distrust the man, and they were certain he was out to rob people.
When Nellie came back into the shop, she nodded to agree with everything Molly was saying. ‘He’s a right rotter, Bob, and we would love to put a halt to his gallop. There are three women outside, waiting for us. They believed what he said to them, and had gathered things together to sell to him. They’re nice, ordinary working-class people like ourselves, and we don’t want to see them robbed.’
‘And what made you come here?’
‘The first reason was to let yer know what was going on, ’cos it would affect your business,’ Molly told him. ‘He’s a flyby-night, who I think will try to make a killing in this area, then move on elsewhere. As yer can see, he’s crafty enough not to put his name and address to anything.’ Molly took a deep breath. ‘Now I’ll let Nellie carry on to tell yer about the favour we’d like yer to do to help us stop this swindler.’
Nellie lifted her bosom on to the counter, folded her arms over it, and grinned into Bob’s face. It was a grin he remembered well, and the laughter that usually came with it. ‘It’s a big favour, Bob, and I know yer’ll think we’ve got a bleeding cheek. But it’s the only way we could think of to stop this bloke. In that basket there’s three things what belong to the three women waiting outside. Three family heirlooms what have been in the families for donkey’s years. We thought if we could get some clever person to value them for us, before this bloke comes round on Tuesday, then we’d know if he was robbing people. And if it turned out he is a crook, then he wouldn’t be able to show his face round here again, or anywhere from here to the Pier Head.’ Bob’s expression didn’t change, and Nellie sighed. ‘I told yer we had a bleeding cheek, but we’re not asking for ourselves. Anyway, we did try, and God loves a trier.’
‘Yer want me to put a price on three articles?’
Molly’s hopes were raised. ‘We don’t expect yer to know exactly how much they’re worth, just approximate. Like, should they be offered coppers, shillings or pounds. We’d be very grateful, Bob, ’cos I know we’re asking a lot.’ She glanced at the door at the rear of the shop. ‘Is the boss in? Would we be getting yer into trouble?’
‘I am the boss now, Molly. I own the shop, and have done for several years. Put the items on the counter and let’s have a look.’
When Molly was carefully unwrapping the ornament, picture and crystal bowl, Nellie was leaning on the counter giving Bob the benefit of her smile. ‘It’s good of yer, Bob, and I could kiss yer for it.’
Bob stepped back, his hands raised and a look of mock horror on his face. ‘Oh, not that, Nellie! Anything but that.’
‘There’s something wrong with yer then, ’cos ye’re the only man what hasn’t fallen in love with me voluptuous body.’
‘Will yer get yer voluptuous body out of the way, Nellie,’ Molly said, ‘and mind yer don’t knock any of these off the counter.’
‘Ye’re only jealous, that’s what yer are.’
‘Yes, I know I am, sunshine, but over the years I have resigned meself to the fact that the good Lord couldn’t give everyone a voluptuous body. If He did – and He realised this – no man would ever go out to work. The world would come to a standstill.’
Bob couldn’t believe his ears. These two hadn’t changed a bit. Many’s the laugh he had with them. The man who had owned the shop before him hadn’t thought the pair a bit funny. But then again, he didn’t know what a sense of humour was.
He picked up the picture first. It was a country scene, and the frame was heavy. ‘You have to understand that the prices I am going to give are not dead on the nose, but they will be near enough to what they would be offered if they took the goods to a bona fide dealer. This picture is by a good artist, and the frame is original. I’d say it’s worth four or five pounds.’
Molly looked at Nellie with eyes wide with surprise. ‘Ooh, I didn’t expect that, did you, sunshine?’
Nellie shook her head. ‘Five pounds, eh? What about the ornament and bowl?’
Bob examined them, then said, ‘Not quite as much as the picture. The bowl about three pound, and the ornament two pound ten shillings. If they are offered ten bob less than the amounts I’ve given to you, then tell the ladies not to sell. Or go elsewhere for a better deal.’
‘I don’t think they’d part with them no matter what they were offered,’ Molly told him. ‘They’ve done a lot of thinking since the bloke came round, and now they feel they’d be selling things their parents were proud of. And to most people, the memory of their parents is more important than money.’
‘Can you remember the prices I’ve given you?’ Bob asked. ‘Or shall I write them down for you?’
Nellie, who had a lousy memory, jumped at the offer. ‘Write them down for us, Bob, if yer don’t mind. And when I say it’s been smashing seeing yer again, I’m not saying it just ’cos yer’ve done us a favour. It reminds me of the old days, when we used to haggle with yer. But yer were always fair, I’ll say that for yer.’
Molly took the slip of paper Bob handed over. ‘Thanks, Bob, I really appreciate what yer’ve done. And we’ll call in next week and let yer know what happens. The three ladies outside are the first ones he’ll be calling to, and if he tries to fool them, well, they’ll tell him to take a running jump. And within no time the news will be round every street in the neighbourhood. He’ll not be able to show his face again.’
‘I hope you do call in – it would be nice to see you and find out whether your work has been rewarded. But I’m going to ask a favour of you, now. Please don’t tell anyone I valued the items, or I’ll be snowed under with requests. Say you were very lucky that a man who deals in antiques was paying me a visit. And you can tell them I remembered you from years ago and talked the man into looking at the items you’d brought in. Will you do that?’
It was Nellie who nodded. ‘I’ll tell them, Bob. I’m a better liar than Molly.’
Molly picked the basket up off the counter, making sure the goods were well wrapped. ‘Telling lies is nothing to be proud of, sunshine. Saint Peter will put that down in his book as a black mark against your name.’ She walked towards the door with Nellie following closely on her heels, saying, ‘No he won’t, girl, ’cos I’ll say an extra prayer tonight to make up for it.’
‘I hope you ladies don’t forget to call next week,’ Bob said again as Molly was opening the door. He was feeling a little sad at seeing them go, for he was remembering the way they had always been able to bring a smile to his face. ‘I’d like to know how things go.’
Molly turned. ‘We won’t forget, Bob, that’s a promise. Nor will we forget what yer’ve done for us today. We’ll be here next Tuesday, come hell or high water.’
Sally and her neighbours made to rush forward when the friends came out of the shop, but Molly put a finger to her lips. ‘Let’s walk to the corner of the street. We can’t talk here.’
There was a crush as all the ladies moved together, all eager to hear the news, and Molly was fearful of the basket’s being knocked. She caught hold of Sally’s hand. ‘You take this basket, sunshine. I don’t want to be responsible for any breakage.’
‘How did yer get on, queen?’ Sally asked, as the ladies gathered round. ‘Did yer talk him into putting a value on them?’
Molly was quick to answer in case Nellie, in her excitement, let the cat out of the bag. ‘The pawnbroker didn’t, but we were dead lucky on two counts. First, the pawnbroker, Bob, remembe
red us from all those years back. He only worked there then, but now he owns the shop. And ye’re not going to believe our second piece of luck. There just happened to be a business acquaintance of his there, a man who deals in antiques. And with a little persuasion from Bob, he agreed to value the goods for us. We were very lucky to have been at the right place at the right time.’
‘What did the man say about the leaflets?’ Gertie asked. ‘Did he think there’s something fishy about them?’
Molly shook her head. ‘He wouldn’t comment on them, sunshine; it wouldn’t be business-like. But he did say if yer were offered ten bob less for yer goods than the prices he’s written down, then you shouldn’t sell to the man. He’s not going to say more than that, Gertie, ’cos he wouldn’t want to get involved in what me and Nellie are trying to do.’
‘What did he say me picture was worth, queen?’ Gertie asked. ‘Is it worth a few bob?’
‘Look, we can’t stand talking here,’ Sally said. ‘Let’s go back to mine.’
‘Oh, we can’t come back to yours, sunshine, ’cos me and Nellie haven’t got our shopping in yet, and I’ve got a stack of ironing to do.’
‘I’ve finished my housework,’ Nellie said. She loved being in company and would happily spend the day nattering. And she didn’t give a toss if there were jobs in her house that needed doing. ‘We can get what shopping we want from the corner shop.’
‘Not on your life, Nellie McDonough! When my Jack gets in from work he expects a dinner put in front of him, not two ounces of corned beef. And a dinner is what he deserves and what he’ll get.’ She saw the crestfallen faces of Sally and her neighbours. ‘I’m sorry, but I have to be making tracks home. But here’s the list of what the items were valued at.’ She handed the list to Gertie. ‘I think that’ll be a pleasant surprise to yer, sunshine?’
Gertie gasped. ‘Five pounds! Oh, my God, I thought it would only be worth a couple of bob.’ She passed the list to Harriet. ‘I still won’t sell. I’ll keep it to pass on to my kids.’
Alice was peering over Harriet’s shoulder. ‘Ooh er. Look, Harriet. Three pound for yer bowl, and two pound ten shillings for the ornament of me mam’s. I never thought they’d be worth that much. It just goes to show, doesn’t it? We could have been daft enough to sell them for coppers if we hadn’t decided we wouldn’t sell them for any amount of money.’
‘I hope ye’re still prepared to help find out if that bloke what came round is a fraud?’ Molly asked. ‘One good turn deserves another.’
Gertie was the first to speak, while the others nodded. ‘Oh, we’ll do that, Molly, have no fear. We won’t say nothing to him if he offers us less than what’s on the paper, we’ll just say we’ve changed our mind. And then we’ll pass the word on to all the neighbours that he’s a con-man, and it’ll be all over the neighbourhood like wildfire. Why don’t you and Nellie come on Tuesday, and find out for yerselves? Yer can sit in my house and hear what he’s got to say.’
Molly grinned. ‘Me and Nellie would love to. We’ll be there at half ten on Tuesday. Does that suit you, sunshine?’
‘Down to the ground, girl.’ Nellie’s smile was a joy to behold. ‘Down to the ground.’
‘Ay, don’t think ye’re leaving me out,’ Sally said. ‘I’ll be there to supervise operations.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
Walking back from the shops on Friday morning, Nellie could hardly contain her excitement. ‘Ay, aren’t yer going to say anything to Claire when she comes this afternoon? Perhaps yer could just drop a hint.’
Molly stopped walking and placed her heavy basket on the pavement. ‘Nellie, I’m fed up telling yer that if we tell Claire what we’ve been up to, the chances are she won’t ever speak to us again. So one word out of you, sunshine, and so help me, I’ll brain yer.’
Never one to take offence, Nellie grinned. ‘Yer’d have a hard job there, girl, ’cos I’ve got no brains to speak of.’
‘Who are yer trying to kid, Nellie?’ Molly wiped the back of a hand across her brow. ‘Who is sweating cobs, carrying your potatoes on top of all her own shopping, while you trip along swinging a half-empty basket? I am, of course, and I must want me ruddy bumps feeling.’
‘Let’s swap over then, girl, and I’ll carry the heavy basket while you take this one.’
‘Nellie, in case yer haven’t noticed, we’re in our street. It would be pointless to swap over now. Yer should have thought of that when we came out of the greengrocer’s.’
‘I couldn’t put the spuds in my basket, girl, ’cos I’ve got the cakes in there. Yer wouldn’t want them to get squashed, would yer?’
Molly bent and picked up the basket. ‘No, sunshine, I wouldn’t want to give a squashed cake to a visitor. But I can’t see you worrying, ’cos there’s nothing in this world yer enjoy more than sinking yer teeth into a cream slice and squashing the life out of it.’
‘Ah, now, girl, that’s not true. There’s two things I enjoy more in this world than cream slices. One is being in bed with my George when he’s in one of his passionate moods, and the other is seeing the blush on your face when I describe it to yer.’
Molly grinned as she put the basket down to root in her pocket for the door key. She never won a battle of wits with her mate, and she should know that by now. ‘Come in while I separate our shopping. Yer can take yours home with yer, and I’ll put my stuff away in the larder. Then I’m going to sit down and have a nice cup of tea. I’ll swill me face in cold water first, though, ’cos the sweat’s been rolling off me.’
‘I’ll tell yer what I’ll do, girl, to make up for leaving yer to carry that heavy basket. I’ll come in with yer and make a pot of tea while you sit and calm down.’ Nellie’s eyes were like slits, as they always were when she was playing crafty. ‘I’ll put the shopping away for yer as well, save yer bothering, and I’ll pour our cups of tea out. Yer’ll feel much better after that.’
Molly closed her eyes, then raised them to the sky before looking down at her friend. ‘Did I hear yer say our cups of tea? Listen, sunshine, if you think ye’re coming in with me to sit for a couple of hours nattering, then yer’ve got another think coming. I’m going to have a couple of hours to meself, all nice and quiet. So I’ll take the cakes off yer now, ’cos I wouldn’t trust yer with them, and yer can take yerself to yer own house, where yer belong.’
‘Ah, come on, girl, don’t be so bleeding miserable! If yer’re making a pot of tea, yer’ll never drink it all yerself, and yer’ll end up pouring half down the sink. And just think of the waste! Yer’d be the first one to say it’s a sin to waste good food when there’s people starving.’
‘Yes, I know I would, Nellie, but you aren’t starving, are yer? In fact, yer look more healthy than anyone I know. And if yer’re so worried about waste, then I’ll make yer a solemn promise that I won’t waste any tea. I’ll drink it all, right to the very last drop.’
Nellie’s head wagged from side to side. This was an action that pleased her chins, for they could feel a cool breeze. ‘Yer’ll never drink a whole pot full of tea – yer’d never get it all down. Anyway, it would be greedy.’
‘Then if it is your considered option that I could never drink a full pot of tea, sunshine, I will just make myself half a pot. So hand the cakes over, and then toddle off home. I’ll put your potatoes in a bag and give them to yer when yer come back at half past three. That should be just before Claire gets here.’
With ill grace, Nellie took the cake bag out of her basket and handed it over. ‘For being so mean, I hope yer swollen ankles don’t go down, and I hope after yer’ve poured yerself a cup of tea out, yer find the milk’s gone sour.’ She turned away, and with her head held high she waddled the few yards to her door.
Molly had a smile on her face. ‘I’ll see yer half three then, sunshine?’
Nellie had put her basket down and was standing on tiptoe to put her key in the lock. ‘Okay, girl! Oh, and when yer’re making the ham sandwiches, don’t spread the butter on the
bread and then scrape if off again. Leave enough so we can taste it.’
‘I’ll try, sunshine, but it’ll be a hard battle. It’s the miser in me, yer see. I can’t help it.’
‘Well, if I can’t taste the butter, I’ll make a holy show of yer in front of Claire. And don’t think I won’t, either.’
‘Oh, I know ye’re bad enough to. Well, two can play at that game, so it’s tit for tat. You mention the word butter in front of Claire, and I’ll tell her I saw yer sneaking yer hand in the cake bag when yer thought I wasn’t looking. And as yer were turning yer head away, I saw a chubby finger, covered in white cream, making its way up to your mouth.’
‘Trust me to have a mate with eyes in the back of her head and in her backside.’ Nellie finally managed to fit her key in the lock and she pushed the door open. ‘D’yer know, girl, while yer’ve been arguing the toss with me out here, we could have been comfortably seated in your house with a cup of tea in our hand. Yer’ll never learn, will yer?’
‘It’s a bit late in the day for that, sunshine. But I can still tell the time, so I’ll see yer here at half three.’
Claire was wearing a happy smile when Molly opened the door. ‘Hi, Molly. Enjoying the lovely weather I hope?’
‘You’re looking very pleased with yerself.’ Molly stood aside to let her pass, then closed the door. ‘Yer look as though yer’ve lost sixpence and found a shilling.’
‘I’m always happy when the weather’s nice and I can feel the sun on me face.’ Claire put her bag on the floor by the sideboard. ‘Hello, Nellie. It’s nice to see yer sitting on yer throne again. And you and Molly look well, getting brown with the sun.’
‘Yeah, we’re both browned off, girl, and we won’t blame the sun for it. It’s lack of interest, that’s our problem. Not enough excitement in our lives.’ A cheeky grin appeared. ‘I get a bit more excitement than Molly, but she doesn’t like me to talk about it.’
