Rough Clay

by Chrissie Loveday

  ‘That Elsie’s looking at you,’ Ernie said. The discussion was apparently over. ‘Go and ask her to dance. She’s smiling at you.’

  ‘I daren’t,’ Archie said miserably. ‘Besides, it’s probably you she’s after.’

  ‘Get over there, lad. Before I have to drag you. She’ll be all right for you to practise on.’

  ‘You’re terrible, you,’ Archie protested but his friend gave him a shove and he tottered towards the girl. He danced with Elsie for the rest of the evening. She cuddled up to him whenever she got the chance and whispered things he could scarcely hear above the music. He just grinned and hoped he wasn’t making too much of a fool of himself. Though he’d never have admitted it, he quite enjoyed it.

  ‘You can walk me home if you like,’ he heard her whisper when the music stopped.

  ‘Oh I couldn’t do that,’ he said hastily. ‘I’ve promised to go with my friend.’

  ‘I wouldn’t bank on it,’ she said with a grin. ‘I think he’ll be walking someone else home, by the looks of it.’ Archie looked across the room. Ernie was wrapped in the arms of some other girl, not even noticing that the music had stopped. How on earth did he get out of this one?

  He was saved by Ernie. He glanced across the room, said goodbye to his partner and came to Archie’s side.

  ‘You ready then, mate?’

  ‘Certainly am,’ he said gratefully. ‘See you around, Elsie.’ The two young men left together, grinning as they walked along the street.

  ‘I take it I did the right thing,’ Ernie inquired.

  ‘You certainly did. I was bloomin’ terrified.’

  ‘Well, I hope you realise what I gave up for you. I reckon I could have scored with that one. You didn’t look as if you were doing too badly yourself.’

  ‘Ah dunno what you mean. Innocent I am. Pure as the driven snow.’ They laughed all the way home. The only trouble was, Archie knew he was speaking the truth. He was innocent as far as women went.

  After this first dance, Archie was slightly less nervous about the work’s social. He was hardly looking forward to it but it was better than he expected. He got a certain amount of teasing from the girls but he managed to cope. He was very relieved that he hadn’t taken Elsie home the previous week or he’d have suffered a great deal more unwelcome attention.

  ‘I s’pose we’re all too common for the likes of you?’ Elsie asked him.

  ‘I’m saving myself,’ Archie replied, quick as a flash. ‘When I meet the right girl, there’ll be no stopping me. Besides, I couldn’t walk out with anyone here, now could I? Think about it. You’d all get to know all me secrets!’ The girls giggled and good humour was restored.

  When Christmas came, Archie went to town and bought presents for his Dad and William. He brought home the precious plate and sneaked it upstairs one evening, wanting to keep it secret till Christmas Day. He had no idea what his mother would think of it but he prayed she would appreciate it. He was very proud of his efforts and it represented a huge achievement in his life. Tom himself had approved it and said it was better than anything he’d ever painted at Archie’s age.

  ‘You’ve got talent, lad. Don’t waste it.’

  On Christmas morning, he put the presents on the table, before anyone else had got up. He’d bought two comics and some colouring pencils for William and some smokes for his Dad. At last they came down and he stood by the fire, waiting.

  ‘What’s all this then, lad?’ asked Ralph.

  ‘Happy Christmas, everyone.’

  ‘Presents is it? Good to have another working man in the house.’

  He waited anxiously until his Mother opened her parcel. She looked at the plate and gave one of her sniffs.

  ‘I did it myself, Mum. Specially for you.’

  ‘It’s lovely,’ she said grudgingly. ‘Very clever I’m sure.’

  ‘Well done, lad,’ his Father added, aware of the boy’s disappointment at his Mother’s somewhat tepid reaction. ‘Very clever, our lad, isn’t he, Frances? Takes real talent to do summat like that.’

  ‘Oh yes. Very,’ she replied. ‘Now, I’d best get breakfast. Shame we haven’t got four posh plates, then we could use them for eating our toast and dripping.’

  ‘These are plates to hang on the wall, not to eat off,’ Archie told her.

  ‘Bit of a waste, then.’

  ‘I thought you’d like it. It’s me very first effort. Mr Tom says I show real talent. He’s the Master painter. Allowed to sign his name on the back and everything.’

  It was several weeks later that Archie noticed his plate had disappeared. He’d put up a piece of wood on the wall so the plate had a proper stand of its own. Frances saw him looking at the space and hurriedly went into the kitchen.

  ‘Where’s me plate gone, Mum?’ he demanded.

  ‘Thought it was my plate. To do with as I liked.’

  ‘Well, yes. But I painted it specially for you. My very first piece. Summat really special.’

  ‘Yes well, I’m afraid it’s gone.’

  ‘How do you mean, gone? Broken?’ His face was aghast with shock.

  ‘Oh no. If you must know, I had to get some new shoes for your brother. Mr Swinbourne offered me a good price for it.’

  ‘You sold it? How could you? My very first piece of hand-painted china? If you’d said, I’d have given you the money for his new shoes. How long will they last? My plate is the only one that can ever be my first piece. It could have lasted forever. I’ll never, ever forgive you, Mother.’

  ‘What did you mean that you’d have paid for his shoes? Where’ve you got that sort of money from? Have you been holding back on me? I’ll see your wage slip next week, my lad.’

  ‘Oh no, Mum. You’ve really blown it this time. You have to realise I’ve grown up. I’m not your little lad any more.’ He could hardly contain himself.

  ‘What’s the use of some fancy plate if you haven’t got fancy food to put on it?’

  ‘That wasn’t the point. It was summat that can never, ever be replaced. I’m going out. Expect me when you see me.’ He went straight round to see Mr Swinbourne at the second hand shop, to try to buy it back. It was no use. The piece had gone and the old man refused to say who had bought it. Archie knew he would never see it again.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ‘There’s going to be a few changes,’ Mr Draper announced to the assembled staff in the decorating shop. It was the largest room in the factory, where people could gather without falling over the growing amount of machinery. He outlined some of the plans for the future. There were some lean times ahead and something drastic needed to be done to increase Draper’s share of the market. It was 1928 and the Art Deco movement was gathering pace rapidly. Many of the old lines produced by Draper’s simply weren’t selling any longer. In charge for some years now, Ernie’s father was determined to introduce some new merchandise. He made a number of announcements about staffing, including Archie’s promotion to under manager of the decorating shop. Some of the girls nudged each other and Archie plainly heard some of the whispers.

  ‘Told you he was in with the bosses.’

  ‘Shows what you can expect when you know the right people.’

  He blushed to his roots, as Mr Draper spoke of the extraordinary promise he showed and how he would probably be among the leaders of the next generation of potters. He’d suspected that something was in the offing, after he’d been out with Ernie the previous Saturday. His friend had been rather cagey about the future and kept telling him to wait and see.

  He was floating high on a cloud. He had arrived. He was almost where he wanted to be and he was only twenty-one. His heart sank suddenly. He’d have to smarten up. Buy more clothes and even keep some stuff for best. Since the incident with the plate, even though it was a long time ago now, Archie had barely tolerated his mother’s ways. He paid her what he considered a reasonable amount for his keep and something towards expenses but she had no idea how much he earned. Neither did she know how much he s
pent each week, nor about the savings account he’d begun. It wasn’t much but he felt a glow of pleasure that he had been thrifty enough to put a few coppers by each week. It didn’t leave much over for anything else. Maybe Mr Draper would be giving him a rise in wages to match his new job.

  ‘We’ll go out and celebrate next Saturday,’ Ernie promised. ‘There’s a special do on at the Town Hall.’

  ‘I’m not much for the Town Hall any more,’ Archie said. ‘Tell you the truth, I find it embarrassing, dancing with all the girls from work. Especially now . . . well, you understand.’

  ‘Now you’re management you mean,’ Ernie teased. He punched his friend’s arm. ‘All right. We’ll go a bit further afield. I’ll drive us out somewhere different. I’ll let you know.’

  Ernie was now part of the sales department. He enjoyed the office work and going out on selling trips. He was often away from home and spent time in London meeting with representatives from all over the world. He seemed to have few friends, apart from Archie, but he was liked by most people and respected by the factory workers.

  When Saturday came, Ernie collected his friend from work. They drove to see Port Vale playing and then went back to his house.

  ‘I haven’t found us anywhere very special to go but there is a dance on at Longton Town Hall. Makes a change from Burslem and at least you won’t get our girls there. What do you say?’

  ‘I s’pose so.’

  ‘Don’t look so bloomin’ enthusiastic. What else is there to do but go dancing? Apart from the pub, that is. You don’t exactly meet any decent girls in the pubs.’

  ‘I s’pose not. But I don’t know what to say to girls. I can’t talk to strangers like I talk to the factory girls, now can I?’

  ‘Whatever am I going to do with you? You’re hopeless.’

  They went to the dance and for once, Archie was able to relax. There were no familiar faces leering at him from the sides of the room.

  ‘Maybe you’re right, Ernie,’ he said. ‘You do get different girls here. How about those two over there?’

  Ernie looked. Pleasant enough types, he thought. If his mate was at last showing some interest, he’d give it a go.

  ‘OK. Mine’s the dark one.’

  ‘You’re on. I like the one with light brown hair.’

  Once on the dance floor, Archie’s confidence evaporated. He could think of nothing to say and the girl seemed equally tongue-tied. She was pretty in a conventional way, blue eyes and hair that was obviously cared for. It was carefully waved in the current fashion. It suited her, Archie thought.

  ‘Do you live near here?’ he asked her, eventually.

  ‘Not far,’ she said. ‘I’ve only come with my sister because me Dad said I couldn’t come on my own. I don’t really know what to do. She wants me out of her way. I usually go out with my friend but she couldn’t go tonight. My sister keeps telling me off all the time. Says no-one’s asking us to dance ’cos I’m too young and look so miserable.’

  ‘How old are you then?’ Archie asked without thinking.

  ‘You’re not s’posed to ask how old a lady is. Seventeen, nearly eighteen, if you must know.’

  ‘That’s not bad. Just about right. I’m twenty-one.’

  ‘You don’t look it.’

  ‘Don’t I?’

  ‘The music’s stopped. Hadn’t we better get off the floor? Me sister’s waving at me. I’ll have to go.’

  ‘Might see you again sometime. Thanks for the dance.’

  ‘Yes. Thanks.’

  He went back to Ernie.

  ‘Let’s get a drink. What a fast worker that one was.’ Archie stared. Ernie had been dancing with his girl’s sister.

  ‘Why? What did she say?’

  ‘I don’t want to talk about it. Not my type at all.’

  ‘I’m sorry. Her sister was quite nice. In fact, very nice.’

  ‘Her sister? She said she was her friend and she’d had to bring her. Said she was cramping her style something rotten. Wanted to ditch her and could I give her a lift somewhere decent. She’d make it worth my while.’

  ‘I see. Well, the other one is quite shy. I doubt yours will go too far wrong if her sister has anything to do with it.’

  A few weeks later, Ernie left a message at work for Archie. He wanted his friend to join him and two guests for a dinner dance at the North Staffs Hotel, the following weekend. Archie wasn’t entirely sure what a dinner dance was but he did know the North Staffs was way out of his league. When he protested as much, Ernie took him in hand.

  ‘Now look here. You’re one of the managers now. You’ve done pretty well for yourself. It’s time you started to branch out a bit.’

  ‘Who are these guests?’

  ‘Couple of girls from the tennis club. Daughter of someone Dad knows. You should join. Meet all sorts there. Now, are you on for this dinner dance, or not?’

  ‘How expensive is it?’

  ‘Nothing. Dad’s paid. We’re doing him a bit of a favour, taking these two. Besides, he thinks I should expand on my social acquaintances, as well. Says it’s good for business. You will have to dress up a bit though . . . summat a bit special and not my old stuff. Not that there’s owt wrong with it, of course. Can’t you buy yourself a new suit? You should be earning enough by now. You never spend anything on yourself.’

  Archie thought of his nest egg. It would certainly be enough to get something off the peg. Maybe it was time to break it open.

  ‘I s’pose so. But isn’t the North Staffs a bit posh? And how does the dinner part fit in with the dance?’

  Patiently, Ernie explained it all to him. Archie was not at all sure that this was the right way forward for him. He was only a miner’s son, for goodness sake. Wasn’t he trying to fly just a little too high? He thought of his childhood dream of a big house with a proper bathroom. The big car he was going to have parked outside. A flood of energy went through him and he renewed his promise to himself. He spoke with conviction.

  ‘You’re right, Ernie. It’s high time I started trying to better myself. Really started. Take myself in hand. Will you help me choose my new suit on Saturday, for starters?’

  Archie didn’t go home on Saturday after work. His mother had given up on him and rarely even bothered to ask what he was doing. He felt a bit bad about his father and brother but it was too bad. They seemed to have little to do with his life these days. He got himself changed at Ernie’s house, being assigned to one of the spare rooms.

  ‘You might as well stay over here afterwards. It’ll be far too late by the time we’ve dropped the girls off,’ Ernie said with a lecherous wink. ‘Your mother won’t mind will she?’

  ‘Doubt she’ll notice. Thanks. I haven’t got anything with me though. Clothes and that.’

  ‘We’ll fix you up. Don’t worry about a thing. This is the night, Archie my boy. I feel it in my water.’

  They collected the two girls, a young looking, giggling pair, and drove to the hotel. There seemed to be dozens of people milling round and Archie felt very nervous. He was worried about making a fool of himself. It was all right for Ernie. He was used to eating in company and always knew which knives or forks to use. Archie was never used to more than one of anything on a table at one time. If he hadn’t shared a good few meals at the Drapers’ over the years, he’d have been even more lost. Ethel and Ada disappeared into the ladies powder room and he stood by the bar with Ernie.

  ‘ ’Ere you are, mate. Get that down ya. Dutch courage.’ Archie took the glass and sipped at the spirit. It burned his throat and made him feel warm all over.

  ‘Not bad that. Not bad at all.’

  ‘We’ll stick to beer after this,’ Ernie advised. ‘It’ll be a long night and we don’t want to ruin anything by getting pissed, now do we? Here come the ladies. Now then, what can I get for you?’

  They both asked for orange juice and stood awkwardly sipping, giggling if anyone spoke to them. Archie was already wishing the evening was over, despite the whis
ky. He caught sight of someone, reflected in the mirror behind the bar. He swung round. The girl across the room smiled at him and gave a little wave.

  ‘Who’s that?’ murmured Ernie.

  ‘Just a girl. I met her at the Town Hall do. Longton. You remember? The one with the sister.’

  ‘Oh yes. I remember. You liked her, didn’t you?’ Archie nodded.

  ‘She’s obviously with her boyfriend tonight though, damn him. He’s far too good looking for his own good.’

  ‘P’raps it’s her brother.’

  ‘No such luck. They’re probably engaged or something.’

  ‘Really, you two. Are you here with us or not?’ Ethel asked petulantly.

  ‘Sorry, girls. We were being thoughtless. Shall we go and find our table?’

  Gradually, Archie relaxed. He couldn’t help looking over to the girl. Her hair was crimped into Marcel waves. Very stylish. The bloke she was with seemed to be very casual and there were several other men sitting at their table. He thought she was the nicest looking girl he’d ever seen. He wished he wasn’t having to make conversation with the boring Ada, his allotted partner for the evening. He wanted to gaze at the girl of his dreams. He wondered what her name was. He tried to pull himself together and concentrate on dancing with Ada between the courses. Somehow, it felt all wrong to be dancing and then eating again. There was movement at the table where his mystery girl was sitting. All the blokes got up and went behind the curtains. A few moments later, they came onto the stage, as the regular hotel orchestra left for a break. They began to play some of the popular tunes of the day and the boyfriend seemed to be at the front of the band. He began to sing, as he played his guitar. He wasn’t bad. No wonder she had fallen for him. Archie excused himself for a few moments and went to the gents. It gave him the excuse to go past the girl who was now sitting alone. She didn’t seem to mind.

  ‘Hallo again,’ he said to her as he passed.

  ‘Oh hallo. Didn’t expect to see you here.’

  ‘I didn’t expect to see you. That your boyfriend, then? The singer?’