by Joan Jonker
‘Certainly, girl! Yer know I’m not one to interfere.’ Then under her breath, Nellie said, ‘Anyone would think she was used to having visitors. Two-faced, that’s what she is.’
Molly began the tale of Corker’s party-to-be. How Claire, Ken and Amy were on the list of guests, and what wonderful parties they’d had in the reception room over Hanley’s cake shop. Claire was taken by surprise. ‘Corker hasn’t invited the three of us, surely? I wouldn’t dream of accepting, Molly, for we’re practically strangers to him.’
Nellie thought she’d been well behaved for long enough. ‘Listen to me, girl,’ she said. ‘If ye’re a friend of ours, then ye’re a friend of Corker’s and all our families and friends. We’re one big gang, and we stick together.’
‘I know that, Nellie, have done since the first day I came. And I’ll admit to wishing I had friends like you. But I couldn’t expect Corker to invite us. I mean, it must be going to cost him a lot of money as it is.’
‘I wouldn’t bother arguing if I were you, Claire,’ Molly told her. ‘Apart from the fact yer’d be silly for missing a really good night’s entertainment, Corker would be really upset if yer refused his invitation.’
Nellie nodded her agreement. ‘He would be very upset, would Corker. He loves his family and his friends. And me and Molly would be upset too, ’cos we’re the ones what would have to tell him our mate didn’t want to come to his party.’
‘I wouldn’t like to embarrass you two, but to tell the truth, I haven’t got anything decent to wear to a party, and neither have the children.’
Molly and Nellie looked at each other and burst out laughing. ‘Join the club, sunshine, we’re in the same boat. But we’re not worried ’cos we’ve got friends at the market and they’ll fix us up. They’d fix you and Amy up, too, if yer like?’
‘Oh, yes, please! I’ll go with yer to the market when yer go. Oh, that’s made me feel better. Will yer tell Corker I’d love to come to his party, and thank him for asking me and my children.’
Molly was telling herself she was getting more crafty than Nellie every day. ‘I’m not telling him, yer can tell him yerself. He only lives next door, and Ellen will be in, too. I’ll come with yer – it won’t take a minute. All yer have to do is thank him, and when we come back yer can tell us how yer got on with Graham Collins the other day, and what happened on the ferry trip.’
Claire patted her hair and straightened her skirt while Molly knocked on the house next door. It was Ellen who answered, and she smiled a welcome. ‘This is unexpected. Come on in, ye’re very welcome.’
Molly had to pretend to be surprised. ‘Derek! I didn’t know you were here!’
He thought that was funny, because she’d waved to him through the window as he passed. But as Claire was with her, he guessed there was method in her madness. He hoped so, ’cos he could do with someone on his side. ‘I come up most nights, to go for a pint with Corker. It’ll be different when I start work, so I may as well make the most of it. How are you, Claire?’
‘I’m fine, thanks, Derek. I’ve just come to thank Corker and Ellen for inviting us to their party. It really is very kind of them, considering they hardly know us.’
‘If ye’re a friend of Molly’s, me darlin’, then ye’re a friend of ours.’ Corker towered over her when he kissed her cheek. ‘Welcome to our gang.’
‘Where’s Ken and Amy?’ Derek asked. ‘Did they come with yer?’
‘They did, but they’ve gone across to Doreen’s. Amy to see the baby, and Ken to see his hero, Phil.’
‘I’ll walk yer home then,’ Derek said. ‘Me and Corker are only having the one pint tonight, so I’ll be ready to leave by the time you are.’
‘You really don’t need to walk us home, Derek. We’ll be all right.’
‘I’ll tell yer what then. I’ll walk Ken home, and you take care of Amy.’
Molly thought this was a very opportune moment to leave. Another minute would give Claire time to refuse. ‘Come on, sunshine, or Nellie will be spitting fire when we get back. Yer know how she hates to miss anything.’
Claire only had time to thank the Corkhills again, before she was pulled into the street and up the steps of the house next door. ‘Ay, Molly, take it easy. Yer nearly pulled me arm out.’
‘If I hadn’t, then Nellie would, wouldn’t yer, sunshine?’ Molly smiled, her eyes telling her friend to go along with her.
‘I’d have marmalised the two of yer, girl, ’cos I was fed up talking to meself. So sit down and dish the dirt.’
The next hour was spent with Claire telling them Graham had been in the shop that morning, and she’d made it very clear she wouldn’t be going out with him again. Apparently he got quite angry, and she could see there was another side to him. So when he tried to coax her, she refused to change her mind. Then the talk went to the forthcoming party, with Claire getting excited when she heard what was in store. ‘I hope they don’t all go dressed up. I’d feel like a poor relation.’
‘For heaven’s sake stop worrying about that! Me and Nellie need something decent to wear, so we’ll take yer with us to the market. Yer don’t have to worry about money, ’cos the most yer’ll pay for a good second-hand dress will be five bob. And I promise yer, sunshine, by the time it’s been washed and ironed it will look like a new one.’
All too soon it was nine thirty, and Claire began to worry about the length of time her children had been in Doreen’s. ‘I hope they haven’t been a nuisance. I’m surprised our Amy has stayed so long. She’s usually shy with strangers.’
‘I’ll nip across and fetch them. And I’m sure they haven’t been a nuisance. They are both very well behaved.’
Molly was crossing the cobbles with Ken and Amy when Derek came out of Corker’s. ‘I see I timed it nicely.’ He grinned at Ken. ‘I’m walking you home, and yer mam is walking Amy. Is that all right with you?’
Ken thought it was Christmas and his birthday all rolled into one. He’d been talking to Phil about work, and how he’d enjoyed going on the ferry with Mr Corkhill’s friend. And as usual Phil treated him as an equal. He would always be one of Ken’s favourite people, for he’d got the lad a job when the family were at rock bottom. And now seeing Derek again, well, life was really good right now.
Molly and Nellie stood at the door and waved the foursome off, Claire in front, swinging her daughter’s arm, followed by Derek and Ken. And when they were near the bottom of the street, the two mates closed the door and went inside.
Nellie narrowed her eyes. ‘You knew Derek was next door, didn’t yer?’
Molly nodded. ‘I think they make a lovely couple, and a helping hand won’t go amiss.’
‘Yer haven’t forgotten where we’re going tomorrow, girl, have yer?’
‘No, sunshine, I haven’t. We’ll have to be out by ten in the morning to make sure we get to Gertie’s before the queer feller arrives. I don’t know exactly how they’re going to do it, so we’ll need a bit of extra time. I’m looking forward to seeing Sally and the other ladies again. And it should be interesting to see if we’re right about Mr Graham Collins. I think we are, from what Claire said about him. In any case, whether we’re right or not, he’s out of Claire’s life now, thank goodness.’
At quarter to ten the next morning they were knocking on Sally’s door. ‘Don’t bite our heads off,’ Molly said. ‘We wanted to get here early to see what’s happening, but I think we’re a bit too early for yer.’
Sally shook her head. ‘No, I’ve finished me housework, except for me washing. I haven’t had the fire lit, so I didn’t have that to clean out, which makes a difference. The washing is in steep, and I’ll rinse it and have it on the line this afternoon. I’m dying to see what happens when that bloke comes. Just to see if he offers them a good price, or if he’s a fraud.’ She pointed to the chairs. ‘Sit down and I’ll tell yer what the ladies intend to do. I’m going to stand in Gertie’s kitchen and listen to what he has to say. You told her the picture was worth five po
und, and she shouldn’t sell it if offered ten bob less than that. If he does, she’s going to refuse to sell, and I’ll use the back way to get to Harriet’s to put her in the picture. If he offers Harriet a lot less than three pound, she’ll refuse to sell, and I’ll go on to Alice’s. The whole street know what we’re up to, so if he undervalues the first two by a large amount, everyone in the street will be after him. And in a few hours it’ll be round the neighbourhood and he’s not going to do any business in these parts. Nor does he deserve to.’
‘Let’s not judge him until we have proof, eh?’ Molly shrugged her shoulders. ‘Me and Nellie could be wrong, but I don’t think so. Anyway, we should know in a couple of hours’ time. But where can me and me mate go while we’re waiting? I don’t fancy hanging around the streets for that length of time.’
‘Don’t be daft! Yer can stay here, of course. Gertie said it was between eleven and half past when he came last week, so the whole thing could be over before twelve. I’m not going to Gertie’s yet, so yer can keep me amused for three quarters of an hour.’ She grinned at Nellie, who had been very quiet. ‘I’ll tell yer what, queen, why don’t I make a pot of tea, and when yer’ve wet yer whistle, yer can tell me a few jokes.’
‘That’s the best news I’ve had since I got out of bed,’ Nellie said. ‘But I can’t tell yer any dirty jokes, ’cos me mate won’t let me.’
‘I’ll settle for anything that’ll make me laugh, queen. If yer run out of clean ones, I’ve got a tub full of washing, so yer can clean up some of yer dirty jokes.’
‘Don’t encourage her, sunshine,’ Molly said. ‘Just give her a cup of tea, a biscuit if yer have one, and she’ll keep yer amused for as long as yer like.’
Nellie winked at Sally as she stood up to go to the kitchen. ‘See how my mate looks after me? She’s me manager, yer know. All professionals like me have a manager.’
‘If yer keep on working that mouth of yours, sunshine, yer’ll talk us both out of a cup of tea and a biscuit.’
‘It’s twelve o’clock, girl. What the hell is keeping Sally?’ Nellie was getting restless and had been to the window half a dozen times. ‘Something should have happened by now.’
‘I should hope so, sunshine, or we’ll have been wasting our time.’
The words were no sooner out of Molly’s mouth than the back door was flung open. Sally’s face was bright red and her eyes were glistening. ‘I’m sorry yer’ve been left on yer own so long, but it couldn’t be helped. My God, yer haven’t half missed something. Yer were right about that swine, he’s a real rotter.’ Taking a deep breath, she pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘He offered Gertie thirty bob for the picture, what your friend had down for five pound. And he got a right cob on when she said she didn’t want to sell. I left while he was telling her she was stupid for not taking the money while she could, for she wouldn’t get that much for it off anyone else.’
Molly gasped. ‘Thirty bob! That’s as bad as stealing. No wonder he dresses to kill. He can afford to by stealing from poor people.’
‘He wants stringing up,’ Nellie said, ‘the bad bugger.’
‘Oh, wait until yer hear the rest.’ Sally leaned her elbows on the table. ‘He offered Harriet one pound for her crystal bowl, where your man said three pound. And Alice was offered fifteen shillings when on the list yer gave us, it was worth two pound ten shillings.’
‘He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it,’ Molly said. ‘Someone should stop him.’
‘Well, because of you and Nellie, he has been stopped. Round here, anyway. Yer see, when I heard about Gertie and Harriet, I didn’t wait to see how Alice got on, I was too busy knocking on doors. And like yerselves, the women round here don’t like people who rob from the poor. And they were waiting for him when he came out of Alice’s. The last I saw of him he was legging it up the street as though the devil was on his tail. He lost his hat – one of the women knocked it off his head. And when he was out of sight we all had a good laugh. He’ll not show his face in this area again. In fact, me and the other ladies are taking the leaflets to the police, and we’re going to tell them what their items were worth, and how much he had offered for them. His days of living the good life are over. If he wants money, then he’ll have to dirty his hands and go to work for it.’
Molly gave a sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad me and Nellie were right. And I’m glad the rotter won’t be stealing from anyone else.’
Nellie lifted her bosom on to the table so she could look into her mate’s face. ‘The McDonough and Bennett Private Detective Agency have won another case, eh, girl?’
Molly shook her head, ‘No, Nellie, it was the Bennett and McDonough Agency what won the case.’
Sally looked puzzled. ‘What are you two talking about now?’
‘It’s just our little joke, Sally, take no notice of us.’ Molly pushed her chair back. ‘I’m glad I know the truth now, and I’m glad none of yer friends were taken for a ride. So we’ll leave yer in peace to get on with yer washing. Come on, Nellie.’
‘Aren’t yer going to see Gertie, Harriet and Alice?’ Sally looked disappointed. ‘They’re waiting to see yer, to thank yer.’
‘We haven’t got any shopping in yet, Sally, and I hadn’t finished me housework when we came out. I don’t like to love yer and leave yer, but we’ll have to be on our way. Will yer explain to yer friends, and tell them I appreciate that they believed me and Nellie.’
‘Well, will yer come and see us again some time?’ Sally didn’t want to think she would never see the two friends again. ‘When yer’ve got a couple of hours to spare?’
‘We’ll try, won’t we, Nellie?’ Molly liked Sally, and knew she’d be a good friend. But a person can only have so many friends. And with the Bennetts, McDonoughs, Corkhills, Jacksons and Higginses, plus the likes of Maisie and Alec from the corner shop, well, they were enough friends to enrich her life.
The friends were walking slowly up the street, discussing the downfall of the high and mighty Graham Collins. ‘When are yer going to tell Claire, girl? She won’t half get a shock.’
Molly shook her head. ‘No she won’t, sunshine, because we’re not going to tell her. She’s finished with him now, so let’s leave it at that. Let her get on with her life now.’
Chapter Thirty
‘What time did Claire say she’d get here for?’ Nellie asked as she carried her carver chair to the table. ‘And how come she can get off work on a Thursday afternoon?’
‘She coaxed her boss to let her have it off, saying she’d work through her dinner hour for a few days to make the time up. She’s getting worried about not having anything decent for the party. And with it being only two weeks off, it’s time we got ourselves sorted out as well, sunshine. I don’t want to have to go in a dress I’ve been wearing to go shopping in for the last couple of months.’
‘Yeah, I’ll be glad when I’ve got something nice.’ Nellie’s chubby face creased. ‘I’m going to look for something slinky, what will show off me voluptuous body.’
‘That voluptuous body will come between you and yer sleep, sunshine,’ Molly told her. ‘It’s all yer ever think about.’
‘Ye’re only jealous, girl, ’cos you haven’t got one. It’s me what the men look at as they go past. Their eyes are drawn to me.’
Molly pushed her chair back. ‘I’m going to put the kettle on, and when I come back d’yer think we could find something else to talk about, instead of that ruddy voluptuous body of yours? Like how much money we’ve got to spend on dresses.’
Nellie pushed herself up and followed her mate into the kitchen. ‘I hate talking to anyone when I can’t see their face.’ She folded her arms and they disappeared beneath her bosom. ‘I’ve got two pound, girl, so I should be able to get a lot for that much.’
‘I’ve only got thirty bob, and it’s going to have to do. Jack needs a new shirt and tie, so I’ll have to go careful.’
‘Yer can borrow off me if ye’re short. I won’t be spending th
e whole two pound.’
‘Thanks, sunshine, that’s good of yer. But remember not to brag about money when we’re out with Claire, ’cos she must have a struggle to make ends meet.’
‘Has she seen any more of Derek, d’yer know?’
‘I couldn’t tell yer, sunshine. I don’t know any more than you do. Derek started work last week, with Corker, so he won’t be around as much.’ The kettle began to whistle and Molly reached for a cloth to cover her hand and protect it from the steam. ‘I’m pleased that Corker managed to get him taken on, ’cos he was getting fed up having nothing to do all day.’ As she poured the boiling water into the teapot, Molly was in two minds whether to tell her mate something she’d heard. ‘Oh, I suppose I’d better tell yer, ’cos Claire is bound to mention it, and yer’d think I was mean for not telling yer.’
Nellie moved away from the sink, and her arms appeared like magic. ‘Oh, aye, girl, what’s that? And how come you know and I don’t?’
‘Because I always feel a bit guilty when I pass on something I’ve been told. Not that I’ve been told in confidence, like, ’cos if I had then I wouldn’t tell yer.’
Nellie blew out her breath in exasperation. ‘Would yer mind speaking in plain English, girl, instead of going round the houses? Are yer going to tell me what yer know, or do I have to drag it out of yer?’
‘It’s nothing to get excited about, sunshine, not like another war breaking out. It’s just that I heard Derek had taken Ken to Anfield to see Liverpool play last Saturday.’
‘Ooh er. That sounds promising, doesn’t it, girl? It looks as though yer might be right about Derek and Claire getting together.’
‘Watch what yer say in front of Claire, Nellie, or yer might put her off if she thinks people are talking. And I haven’t said anything about her and Derek getting together. All I said is that they’d make a nice couple.’
‘Molly Bennett, I’ve known yer long enough to know what’s running through yer mind. And I know yer’d be delighted if they did click.’ Nellie waited for Molly to pick up the tray, then followed her into the living room. ‘And I’ll tell yer what I think, shall I? I think that with you and Ken both moving in the same direction, it’s a foregone conclusion.’
