Stay as Sweet as You Are

by Joan Jonker

  ‘Music to my ears, Ma, music to my ears.’

  ‘I knew she was in when I knocked,’ Irene said, ‘but I couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to see me. After the third or fourth attempt, I gave up.’

  ‘Yer’d understand if yer saw the state of her house.’ Titch looked from Irene to George. ‘And yer wouldn’t know Olive, she’s like a bag of bones. Anyway, I’ll fill yer in on what’s gone on today. It all started with Lucy falling out with her mate.’ He went on from there, right through to his mother and his clothes. ‘She’s got them all stacked up nicely, even to socks. And she said she’ll ask Steve tomorrow what size shoes he takes.’

  ‘I feel terrible now,’ Irene said. ‘I should have made more of an effort.’

  ‘You weren’t to know, love.’ George reached for his wife’s hand. ‘I should have given some thought to how Olive and the son were managing. I owed it to Jim to do that. But the years go by and the longer yer leave it, the harder it is to make it up. I’ve seen how badly dressed the boy’s been, and I could kick meself now for not getting off me backside to offer some sort of help. For old times’ sake, if nothing else. Jim would have expected that of me because we were good mates.’

  ‘I haven’t thought of packing me job in,’ Irene said. ‘I want to stay on a while to renew some of me furniture and bedding. But if I thought Olive wanted the job, I would pack in. Although, if she’s as weak as yer say she is, she’d never manage it. It’s hard graft, cleaning the pub in two hours. Yer’ve got to get on yer hands and knees and scrub hell out of the floor. Then there’s all the woodwork and tables to polish.’

  ‘I wouldn’t expect yer to pack yer job in, Irene,’ Titch said. ‘I only mentioned it to try and liven Olive up. I think it worked, too, because in her heart she knows it’s not fair on Steve to have to carry all the worry. He’s a smashing lad, he really is. I’m just hoping that between us we can do something to get her back on her feet. Give her an interest in life. Are yer game to give it a try?’

  ‘Of course we are!’ Irene was blaming herself for not trying hard enough. She often talked to Steve, but never once had she asked about his mother. Not because she wasn’t interested, but because she thought that for some reason Olive didn’t want to be friends any more. ‘D’yer think she’d mind if I came with yer tomorrow, to see her?’

  ‘I think she’d mind, but only for a few minutes. She spoke very highly of you and George and what good times yer had together. And Steve said my calling had bucked her up, she was better than she’d been for a long time. So we can but try, Irene.’

  ‘Well, I’m game. If she throws me out, at least I’ll know I’ve tried. But I’m at the pub from nine until eleven, so it’ll have to be after that.’

  ‘That’s fine. And leave yer working clothes on, girl, so Olive doesn’t get embarrassed.’

  ‘I want to help too, yer know,’ George said. ‘If there’s anything in her house that wants doing, I’m more than willing to get stuck in.’

  ‘Let’s see how me and Titch get on first, love. We can’t make up for all those years in one day. If we try too hard, we’ll put her off. So we’ll do things slowly.’ They heard the front door being slammed against the hall wall and Irene put a finger over her mouth and said softly, ‘Little pigs have big ears.’ Then her face lit up when the two boys barged in, elbowing each other out of the way to be first in the room. They looked so happy it brought a lump to her throat. Thank God she’d been able to give her children a good home. ‘Here’s my two angels back from playing footie. There’ll be no more peace now until they’re in bed.’

  ‘I’m going for a pint, are yer coming, George?’

  George grinned at his wife. ‘How’s the money situation, love? Will it stretch to a pint?’

  ‘Oh, I think I can spare a few coppers. And just think, in a couple of weeks yer’ll be able to borrow off yer son.’

  ‘I’ll want interest on it, Dad,’ Jack said, his face straight. ‘I can’t go lending money without getting interest. It’ll have to be on a business footing.’

  George slipped his arm into his coat-sleeves. ‘What interest rate did yer have in mind, son? If it’s too high, I’ll stick to yer mam.’

  ‘I’ll make enquiries and see what the going rate is. I can’t be fairer than that.’

  Titch ruffled Jack’s hair as he passed. ‘Yer’ll end up a rich man, you will.’

  Jack grinned from ear to ear. ‘That’s the general idea, Mr Titch.’

  George’s chuckle was deep and hearty. ‘If I borrowed money off yer and had to pay yer back with interest, it would mean that in a few weeks yer’d be lending me me own money. So I think I’ll stick with yer mam. Otherwise I’d have a rich son, but I’d be a pauper.’

  There was a look of fear on Olive’s face when she opened the door and found Irene standing beside Titch. ‘I told yer I wasn’t ready for visitors, Titch.’

  ‘Don’t blame him, it wasn’t his fault.’ Irene mounted the step, her usual smile beaming. ‘When he told me he’d seen yer, nothing would keep me away.’ She was shocked to the core at the sight of her old friend, but not by a flicker did she let it show as she bent to kiss a pale cheek. ‘It’s good to see yer. I really thought I’d done something to offend yer and yer’d fallen out with me.’

  Olive had no option but to stand aside and let them pass. ‘I’d never have any reason to fall out with you, Irene, but when yer see the state of the place yer’ll know why I shut meself away from everyone.’

  Irene stood at the door of the living room, and it took every ounce of self-control to keep the smile pasted on her face. ‘Good God, Olive, anyone would think the place was a pigsty to hear yer talk. Yer’ve got it spotless.’

  ‘There’s not much to keep clean, is there? No ornaments or pictures to dust, no grate to clean out because we never have a fire.’ The initial shock had worn off now and Olive pointed to the chairs. ‘Now ye’re in, why don’t yer sit down.’

  Irene took one of the wooden chairs, but Titch remained standing. ‘Where are you going to sit, Olive?’

  For a brief second, they saw a glimpse of the old Olive. With a half-smile, she said, ‘It’s all right, Titch, I’m not getting on the couch.’

  ‘Thank God for that! I had to get me ma to rub me neck with liniment last night because it had a kink in it. That’s with bending down to yer for so long.’

  ‘Me heart bleeds for yer,’ Olive said.

  ‘Yeah, mine too,’ Irene chuckled. ‘Men can be proper babies sometimes. The least little thing and they’re moaning.’

  ‘Thanks for the sympathy, I feel better already.’ Titch waited until Olive had seated herself on a wooden chair next to Irene, then he dropped onto the couch. ‘Before I forget, Olive, me ma said to ask yer if she could adopt Steve? The two of them have really hit it off. And I’ve got to say he’s a crackin’ worker. He’d have the job done today if me ma would stop making him cups of tea every five minutes.’

  ‘Tell yer ma I wouldn’t part with him for the world. He’s a good son and I’m so proud of him. It grieves me to see him walking around in clothes only fit for the dustbin, because he’s really good-looking. But I’ve made up me mind that somehow or other I’m going to make life better for him. You woke me up, Titch, and I’m determined to start pulling me weight.’

  Irene put a hand over Olive’s. ‘Titch mentioned the job I’ve got in the pub. I haven’t made up me mind whether I’m packing it in yet, but it would be too heavy for you, sunshine. Yer need something a bit lighter, just until ye’re feeling a hundred per cent. I’ll scout around and see if there’s anything going for yer.’

  ‘Thanks, Irene, I would be grateful.’

  ‘You two probably have lots to talk about,’ Titch said, ‘and I’ll only be in the way. But before I go, I’ve got something to ask yer, Olive, and I don’t want yer to fly off the handle about it.’ He gave one of his cheeky grins. ‘Before I tell me ma something I think she might not like, I always make her promise not to go for the po
ker. And I’m going to ask you for the same promise.’

  ‘I’ll sit on her, if yer like,’ Irene said with a laugh. ‘Would that help?’

  ‘There’s no need, Irene, I won’t take off on him. So go ahead, Titch, out with it.’

  ‘Well, it’s like this. I’ve got stacks of clothes I’ll never wear. I’m a bugger for hoarding things, and some of them are years old. But they’d do Steve a turn and I’d be made up to see them put to good use. That’s if yer wouldn’t mind me offering them to him.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind in the least, as long as you’re not going to need them. God knows he could do with something decent to wear. Have yer asked him?’

  Titch shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t do that without asking you first in case yer didn’t take kindly to the idea.’

  ‘I wouldn’t let me pride stand in the way of me son being able to walk around with his head held high. I love him, yer see, and if I could, I’d give him the world. That’s not possible right now, so I’m more than willing to accept help from an old friend. And I thank yer from the bottom of my heart, Titch.’

  Titch rubbed his hands. ‘Thank you for that! Yer can never tell with you women, which way ye’re going to turn.’

  ‘Well, I like that!’ Irene said. ‘We women are an open book compared to you men.’

  ‘And I don’t think! It would take a good man to get to the bottom of a woman, believe you me.’ Titch pressed his hands on the couch and pushed himself up. ‘I’ll leave you two to have a good gab, yer’ve got a lot of years to make up. Me, I’m going to see how the working man is getting on with me ma’s yard walls. I’ll see meself out, Olive, so stay where yer are.’

  ‘Remember me to yer mother, and say I was asking after her. I often see her passing the window and she still gets around like a two-year-old.’

  Titch turned at the door. ‘Olive, a word of warning in yer lily-white ears. Me ma’s not going to stay away from here now she’s taken a shine to yer son. So be a good girl and keep off that ruddy couch, eh?’

  As he walked down the hall he could hear both women laughing, and the sound was like music to his ears.

  Titch let himself in and walked through to the living room. He could hear gales of laughter coming from the yard, and when he looked through the window it was to see Steve, paintbrush in mid-air, looking down at his mother. Both of them were in pleats. It would seem that the boy had the same sense of the ridiculous as his mother, he thought, making his way out to the yard. ‘Well, you two seem to be enjoying yerselves.’

  Aggie had her back to him and his voice startled her. ‘Yer silly sod, why didn’t yer whistle or something to let me know yer were there? I nearly jumped out of me skin.’

  ‘Ma, yer were that busy gabbing, yer wouldn’t have heard me if I’d come in playing “I Belong To Glasgow” on a set of bagpipes.’

  ‘Yer haven’t got no bagpipes.’

  ‘There wouldn’t have been much point, would there, seeing as yer wouldn’t have heard them anyway.’

  ‘Oh, I’d have heard them if yer’d been playing “I Belong To Glasgow”. That’s one of me specialities, that is. Particularly when I’ve had a few drinks. Me feet won’t keep still when they hear that tune, and I can dance in time to the music, too.’

  ‘I know that, Ma, I’ve seen yer. And I’ve seen the way yer show yer bloomers off while ye’re doing it.’ Titch looked at Steve. ‘It’s not a pretty sight, lad, for a son to see his mother showing her bloomers off. Particularly when the elastic in one of the legs has snapped.’

  Aggie gave him a playful push in the chest. ‘Away with yer, yer’ll have the lad believing yer. He’ll probably go home and learn to whistle “I Belong To Glasgow”, just so he can see me bloomers.’

  ‘I can whistle it, Mrs Aggie.’ Steve had never heard anyone as funny as these two, nor had he ever laughed so much. He shouldn’t be getting paid for this job, he should be paying them. If his mam wasn’t so desperate for the money, he’d have done it as a favour. ‘D’yer want to hear me?’

  ‘No, lad, I’ll sit this one out. Yer see, I haven’t got me dance shoes with me.’

  Titch put an arm across her shoulders and held her close. ‘Shall we stop blabbering and see how the worker’s doing?’

  ‘He’s doing fine, son, really fine.’

  ‘He certainly is.’ Titch nodded his head in appreciation. A grown man couldn’t have done better. ‘Ye’re doing a good job, Steve, it looks really professional.’

  Steve blushed with pride. ‘Thanks, Mr Titch. But I think it’ll need two coats. As yer can see, one coat isn’t covering the brown bricks properly. I’ll try and get it all done today, then come back tomorrow and give it another coat. We didn’t mix all the whitewash, so there’ll be enough to finish the job.’

  ‘You’re the expert, Steve, so I’ll leave it to you.’

  ‘And we’ll leave yer alone now to get on with it.’ Aggie linked her son’s arm and drew him away. ‘I’ll give yer a shout when I’ve got a bite to eat ready.’ She pushed Titch ahead of her then closed the kitchen door after them, so her words wouldn’t carry. ‘Did yer ask Olive about the clothes?’

  ‘Yes, Ma. I used me charm, and all the right words, and she said she’d be delighted. It really got to me when she said she wouldn’t let her pride stand in the way of her son being able to walk around with his head held high. We don’t know how lucky we are, do we?’

  ‘No, son, we don’t. And it’s because God’s been good to us, we should try and help someone who isn’t so fortunate.’ Aggie hugged herself. ‘I can’t wait to see his face. I just hope yer clothes fit him, but it’s not the end of the world if they don’t. It’s years since I did any sewing, but I used to be a dab hand with the needle and thread.’

  ‘Ma, I think ye’re in yer element with—’ Titch broke off as a knock came on the front door. ‘I’ll see who it is, you start getting something ready to eat.’

  He was whistling as he opened the door. ‘Irene, I didn’t expect yer so soon. I thought you and Olive would have plenty to say to each other.’

  ‘I’ll come in for a minute, Titch, but it’ll only be for a minute ’cos I’ve got all me shopping to do and a dinner to get ready.’

  Aggie heard the familiar voice and came through. ‘Hello, queen.’

  ‘Good morning, Aggie.’ Irene leaned sideways to glance in the kitchen. ‘Where’s Steve?’

  ‘He’s in the yard,’ the older woman told her with a smile, ‘going like the clappers.’

  ‘He won’t come in, will he? I don’t want him to hear what I’ve got to say.’

  ‘No, he won’t come in.’ Titch looked puzzled. ‘Why?’

  ‘Olive’s a sick woman, Titch. After yer’d gone we were nattering about old times and she seemed fine. But after a while I could see the effort was too much for her and she was getting tired. She did her best to put up a front, God knows, but she just hasn’t got the energy or strength. As for her getting a job – well, there’s no chance of that. In fact, unless something drastic is done, and soon, I don’t think Olive will ever come out of that house alive.’

  Aggie gasped, her face white. ‘Don’t say that, queen.’

  ‘It’s true, Aggie. And I feel heartbroken because I blame meself for it. I should never have let her put me off getting into the house years ago. Me own common sense should have told me what was going on, just by looking at Steve. The old Olive would never have let her son walk around the way he does. I feel terrible, racked with guilt.’

  ‘It’s not your fault, Irene, we must all shoulder some of the blame,’ Titch said. ‘But surely it’s not too late for all of us to get stuck in and help?’

  ‘There’s one drawback to that, Titch, and that’s Olive herself. I doubt if she’d accept help, she’s too proud. And anyway, to get her back to what she was would take a miracle. She needs plenty of good food down her, and a tonic from the doctor. That part would be easy, if we can talk her round. But we can’t do much about her mental state. With the best food
and tonics in the world, she’s not going to get better while she’s living in a house where all the furniture is only fit for a bonfire, and the decoration is enough to send yer round the bend. And on top of all that she hasn’t got two ha’pennies to rub together.’ Irene sighed, her pretty face showing her sadness. ‘I just don’t know what the answer is, I feel absolutely helpless.’

  ‘Don’t be getting yerself upset, queen,’ Aggie said. ‘If we put our heads together and all rally round, we’ll find a way.’

  ‘Me ma’s right, Irene,’ Titch said. ‘We can’t just sit on our backsides and do nowt. I know I’ll be away at sea in eight or nine days, and you lot will be left with the worry. But I can muck in with some money.’

  ‘There’s plenty we can do, Titch, like me and Aggie making sure she gets wholesome food every day. And George has offered to decorate her house. But it would all come to nothing if we can’t find a way to get through to Olive. She has to have the will to live.’

  Aggie pinched on her bottom lip, her brow furrowed in concentration. ‘I know of a way to get through to her.’

  ‘What’s that, Ma?’

  ‘The way to Olive’s heart and conscience is through her son. And if it’s all the same with you two, I’ll go down tomorrow, while Steve’s here, and have a good talk to her.’

  ‘It wouldn’t do no harm, Ma.’

  Irene nodded. ‘If she’d listen to anyone, it would be you, Aggie. But tell Steve to warn her that ye’re going, otherwise she won’t open the door.’

  ‘I’ve got it all worked out in me head, Irene. I know a good way of making sure she opens the door. And I’ll let yer know how I get on.’

  ‘Yeah, don’t forget, Aggie, ’cos I’ll be on pins.’ Irene looked down at her working clothes and grimaced. ‘I’ll have to go to the shops in these, I haven’t got time to change. I’ve usually done me shopping by now and got the dinner on the go.’ She put her arms around Aggie and kissed her cheek. ‘Lots of luck tomorrow, sunshine. I hope Olive listens to yer words of wisdom.’