by Joan Jonker
‘Yer should hear the things he says about the other apprentice he had. It came to the point where he was more relieved when the lad took the day off than when he came in. One time, he was fixing a leaking gas pipe in a house, and he thought the apprentice was watching him as he was supposed to do. Anyway, he just happened to turn around and found the lad about to have a sly smoke. He had a cigarette in his mouth and was just going to strike the match he had in his hand when Jeff threw himself on top of him. If that match had been lit, they would both have been blown to kingdom-come, and the house with them. And after the shock, Jeff said he was shaking like a leaf at how close he’d come to losing his life, while the lad couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about and got a real cob on ’cos his ciggie had been broken in two.’ Bobby’s chuckle was deep. ‘The first thing Jeff said to me after we’d been introduced, was, “Ay, mate, I hope yer don’t smoke?” ’
By this time the girls were more interested in the conversation taking place in the corner of the room than they were in their own. So they each had an ear cocked, listening.
‘And the lad didn’t learn his lesson, like most people would have. Jeff said he was as thick as two short planks, ’cos he didn’t understand the danger involved in gas fitting. Not long after the first incident, Jeff was repairing a gas leak and had the lad standing next to him, talking him through the job. He happened to say he’d need a blow torch later, to solder the pipe. The lad walked off without saying anything, and Jeff said he thought he must have gone to the lavatory. But then he began to feel uneasy, and had a foreboding that something bad was going to happen. So he switched the gas off at the mains and went looking for the missing apprentice. And didn’t he meet the silly nit coming towards him with the blow lamp! Now an apprentice has to have a good few years’ training under their belt before they can touch a blow lamp, but this lad wasn’t only carrying it, he’d lit it! Jeff didn’t think it was funny at the time and he could have strangled the lad. But he said afterwards, when his heart and stomach were back in the right place, he could see the funny side because the lad looked like Florence Nightingale carrying her lamp. The only difference was, Florence Nightingale didn’t go around blowing people up.’
While the males laughed and the girls giggled nervously, Ginny asked, ‘Why don’t yer come and sit at the table? We seem to be missing all the fun.’
Bobby wasn’t so sure about that. He was at ease in male company, but four young girls were a bit of a challenge. ‘I’m only telling them about the bloke I work with, yer wouldn’t be interested.’
‘We’re talking about work, too,’ Joan said. ‘But we’re not laughing our heads off.’
Joey had his own solution, which was abrupt and to the point. ‘If yer all shut yer mouths and gave yer tongues a rest, yer’d hear what was being said. Bobby can’t repeat things just for your benefit.’
‘There’s not much more to tell, anyway,’ he said. ‘But I’m sure there will be, ’cos Jeff never stops laughing, he’s great to work with. So in future I’ll make a note and remember to tell yer any funny incidents.’
‘Well, why don’t yer have a game of cards to pass an hour away?’ Beth suggested. ‘Yer can have a laugh playing cards.’
Marie’s rich chuckle filled the room. ‘Yer can if I’m playing, I’m hopeless! But I don’t mind yer laughing at me, and I don’t worry about losing either, as long as it’s only the game and not money.’ Her head went back and again her laughter filled the air. ‘Mind you, I’d have a job to lose any money ’cos I haven’t got none.’
‘We’ll teach yer how to play,’ David dared to say. ‘Rummy isn’t hard, yer’ll soon get into the hang of it.’
‘We can’t play cards, Mam,’ Ginny said. ‘We’ve only got one pack and that’s no good with six people playing. Seven, if our Joey wants a game.’
‘I can borrow a pack off Lizzie, if yer like?’ Beth offered. ‘I know they’ve got a few packs ’cos they play a lot. So if you get yerselves sorted out with chairs, I’ll nip across the road.’
But Ginny didn’t see how seven people could share four chairs, or five if you counted the rickety one in front of the window. ‘We haven’t got enough chairs, Mam!’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, sunshine, yer’ll just have to make do! I’m not going to borrow chairs as well as cards. You and Joan could share one, neither of yer has got a big bottom.’ Beth slipped her arms into her coat. ‘Just use yer imagination and have yerselves sorted out by the time I get back.’
As she was crossing the cobbles, she was muttering to herself, ‘I hope this isn’t going to become a regular thing. I don’t mind once in a while, but we never seem to have been free of visitors since Christmas. Dot’s offered to have them one night, so I’ll take her up on that.’ As she waited for an answer to her knock, she added, ‘Still, it’s better than them roaming the streets, at least we know where they are and who they’re with.’
Mick O’Leary, at sixteen, was Lizzie’s eldest child. Having been brought up in Liverpool, he had no trace of an Irish accent, but he’d spent his life listening to the lilting brogue of his parents and when the mood took him, his accent was pure Irish. And this is the way he greeted Beth. ‘Is that yerself, Mrs Porter! Sure it’s happy I am to see yer, and it’s very welcome yer are, so it is. Bring yerself in to see the family. They’ll be delighted to see yer, and that’s the truth of it.’
‘Less of yer blarney, Mick O’Leary, and let me in, I’m freezing.’
Lizzie looked up from the sock she was darning. ‘This is a surprise, me darlin’, I wasn’t expecting yer this time of night.’
‘I’m on the cadge as usual.’ Beth smiled at Paddy who had looked up from his paper. ‘Every time I see Mick, he gets to look more like you.’ The Irishman had black hair, deep brown eyes and a weatherbeaten complexion which came from working outdoors all of his adult life. He was also built like a battleship, with hands as big as shovels. But his size belied his nature, because he was a gentle, caring man who wouldn’t hurt a fly. ‘Except for his blue eyes, of course, and I’ve heard it said that black hair and dark blue eyes are the signs of a real Irish beauty.’
‘Well, if yer’ve come to cadge something, me darlin’, ye’re going the wrong way about it, so yer are,’ said Lizzie, whose own auburn hair and green eyes had been inherited from her mother and then passed on to three of her children: Seamus, who was fifteen and working, and her two daughters, Molly who would be fourteen and leaving school in the summer, and Eileen who was almost twelve. ‘Yer’ve just insulted two-thirds of me family.’
Beth lifted her hands in mock horror. ‘Well, begosh and begorrah, sure that wasn’t me intention at all, at all. And yer mustn’t be forgetting I’ve insulted meself at the same time, so I have.’ Beth’s wasn’t a good imitation, but it was funny and had the kids laughing. Slapping an open palm to her forehead, she looked up at the ceiling and asked, ‘How do I get meself out of this?’ And then, as though with divine intervention, she smiled. ‘Auburn hair and green eyes are well known as the perfect combination for beauty.’ With eyelids fluttering and stroking her hair, she added, ‘And, of course, it goes without saying that blonde hair and blue eyes are the stuff that sexy film stars are made of.’
‘Well, me darlin’, seeing as yer’ve put us at level pegging in the beauty stakes, I think we’ll forgive yer. But what was it yer came over to cadge?’
‘A packet of cards, if ye’re not going to use them. Ginny’s got some friends in and they seem to be running short on conversation so I thought a game of cards might put a bit of life into the proceedings. Hannah’s two grandchildren are there, and a friend of Ginny’s from work, plus Dot’s two, so our one pack of cards wouldn’t be enough.’
‘We won’t be having a game tonight so ye’re welcome to them, me darlin’. But why not let Mick run over with them, and you stay and visit for a while? It’s not often we get the pleasure of yer company.’
That sounded too tempting to refuse. ‘I’d be very happy, as lon
g as Mick doesn’t mind taking the cards over. Yer could stay for a game yerself if yer like, sunshine, it would be a change for yer. David and Bobby are your age, both working, so yer’d have company. And there are four pretty young ladies.’
Mick’s deep blue eyes twinkled as he puckered up his lips and let out a loud whistle. ‘Sounds good to me. Are the cards in the sideboard drawer, Mam?’
Beth thought she’d better tell him that it wasn’t all milk and honey. ‘There’s one drawback, though, Mick, I’m afraid. We haven’t enough chairs to go round so yer’ll just have to muck in and make the best of it.’
He slipped the packet of cards into his pocket before lifting one of the wooden dining chairs. ‘I’ll take me own chair, then perhaps one of the pretty girls can sit on me knee.’ He was only joking because if a girl ever got that close to him, he’d run a mile. ‘As yer say, Mam, yer never know yer luck in a big city.’
‘Don’t take the chair, Mick,’ Beth said. ‘If the neighbours see yer, they’ll think we’re really poverty-stricken.’
‘The neighbours don’t pay yer rent, Beth,’ Paddy said. ‘Nor do they put the bread on yer table. So I’d not be worrying about what they think.’
‘Yeah, ye’re right, Paddy, why should I worry about them? Go on, Mick, and enjoy a game of cards. And tell my feller I’ll be home in about an hour.’
There were a lot of surprised faces around the table when Mick walked in with a chair in one hand and a pack of cards in the other. ‘I’m not as pretty as yer wife, Mr Porter, but she said to tell yer it’s only for an hour.’
Andy was laughing as he stood up. ‘She’s a crafty beggar is my one, I can’t keep up with her. Anyway, put yer chair down and make yerself at home. I think yer know everyone except Amelia and Bobby Bailey, and Marie . . .’ He raised his brows at the girl. ‘I’m sorry, love, I don’t know yer surname.’
‘That’s me mate for yer, she’s got no manners.’ Marie stuck her hand out, thinking this young man had to be the most handsome she’d ever seen. ‘Marie Whittaker.’
Amelia was more shy, lowering her eyes as she shook hands. But Bobby got on with Mick from the word go. ‘I know David works with his father, and I believe you do, too. What type of work d’yer do?’
‘Me dad’s a skilled bricklayer, that’s all he’s ever done. But I’m only just coming out of me second year so I’ve got a long way to go yet.’
‘Yer mean, yer build houses, like?’
Mick grinned. ‘We sometimes pull them down, if they become dangerous. And we work on the roads, so it’s pretty mixed.’
Ginny knocked on the table. ‘Excuse me, but we’re supposed to be playing cards, not talking shop. So will yer all settle yerselves down, please? Me and Joan are going to share this chair, and our Joey has offered to stand. Well, perhaps offered wasn’t the right word, but he’s going to stand. And as he’s a cheat, yer’d all do well to keep yer cards close to yer chest.’
Andy wasn’t going to play, but he shuffled the cards and dealt the first hand. Then he returned to his Echo with the words, ‘Yer can look after yerselves now until the missus gets back. Yer’ll get a cup of tea then.’
It turned out that, apart from Marie, everyone was pretty good at the game. But she didn’t mind being called a slowcoach, and no one could fall out with her when she smiled and said, ‘Everyone has to learn, it’s just that I’m slow in starting. But I will catch yer up.’
Joan huffed. ‘When, like? This time next year?’
Marie was undaunted as she faced her old classmate. ‘When I’ve learned me two times table, clever clogs. I’ll let yer know when I find out meself.’
The truth was, Joan was jealous that Marie was getting all the attention from the boys. She wasn’t that funny, so why were they laughing at everything she said?
When the game got into its stride, there was lots of chatter, jeering and cheering, and everyone was enjoying themselves, even Joan. In fact she was holding her own with Marie when it came to making them laugh, especially when she was taking her mother off.
Ginny herself was feeling very proud. The first time she’d had friends around and it was going great. Marie had just surprised herself by putting three sixes down, and her antics had them in hysterics. Anyone would think she’d won the pools. And Amelia and Bobby really seemed to be enjoying themselves. Ginny was glad about that because she often lay in bed and wondered how she would feel if she lost her dad or mam. At a time like that you need friends to help you keep your sanity. In fact, everyone needs friends, whether they be girl or boy, and she hoped all those around the table tonight would stay friends and always be there for each other in times of need.
Bobby leaned across the table. ‘A penny for them, Ginny? Yer were miles away.’
‘They’re not worth a penny, Bobby, yer can have them for nothing. I was just wondering how I came to be lumbered with two friends who are tuppence short of a shilling.’
‘Well, you cheeky article!’ Joan feigned horror. ‘It’s a pity about you now!’
‘It certainly is.’ Marie did her Stan Laurel impersonation, making her hair stand on end and putting on a tearful expression. ‘If that’s the way yer feel, Ollie, then I’m not going to let yer teach me me two times table, so there! Yer can put that in yer pipe and smoke it.’
Beth was crossing the cobbles when she heard a burst of laughter coming from her house, and hugged herself. How lucky she was with her family and friends. No one could have better.
Chapter Twenty
The coldest winter for years moved on to make way for the winds and showers of March and April. Then along came May, bringing sunshine, blue skies with white fluffy clouds, and smiles to the faces of people who’d thought the good weather would never come.
Ginny had been working at Woolworth’s for just over four months now, and if it hadn’t been for her senior assistant, life would have been blissful. She’d got to know most of the women behind the counters she had to pass on her way to the canteen, and although there wasn’t the time or opportunity to become close friends, at least there was always a smile and a wave from them. And at break time she had Marie and Pat to talk to, and Miss Sutherland when she took over for the dinner break. The work was enjoyable, meeting new customers every day and exchanging pleasantries. She was allowed to serve now, but wasn’t allowed to give receipts or handle any money. Ginny had been told this when she’d come for the interview, so knew exactly where she stood and was in agreement with the rule. Staff had to prove they were capable before being given responsibility.
For the first few weeks she’d worked there, she’d thought Frances Landers was strange, and frightening in a way. She was a horrible woman, and dreadful to work with. But Ginny had made up her mind to take it all in her stride and not be put off the job she enjoyed. It wasn’t easy when working in a restricted area with someone, but she’d managed it by spending more time at the front of the counter filling up so she wouldn’t have to witness the bizarre actions of a woman she was secretly convinced was sick in the head.
However, for the last two months Ginny had been carrying around a dark secret, one she was too frightened to confide in anyone. She was almost sure Miss Landers was stealing money and hiding it in her shoes. Too often now Ginny had caught her bending down, several times with her fingers actually in her shoe, and each time the girl had been the victim of a vicious tongue lashing. At first she was too naive to suspect the woman of stealing, but over the weeks she would have had to be stupid not to see what was happening. It terrified her. Who was going to believe her word against a woman who had been a senior assistant for years? It was too terrible to contemplate and Ginny was at her wit’s end as to what to do. They’d think she was making it up and sack her. Either that or Frances Landers was clever enough to turn it around and make out Ginny was the thief.
Another thing that kept her awake at night was the stocktaking she’d been told about. It hadn’t happened yet, but if it came before she told someone of her fears she could end u
p in real trouble, branded a thief and sent home in shame. If only she had someone to confide in, it would lift the heavy burden from her shoulders and ease her mind. She had thought of telling Miss Sutherland yesterday, when they were together behind the counter, but was afraid she wouldn’t be believed. She’d have to tell someone soon, though, or she’d make herself really ill with the worry.
‘Are yer not going out tonight, sunshine?’ Beth asked, eyeing her daughter’s face which lacked its usual animated smile. ‘No Joan or Marie, or card game anywhere?’
Ginny shook her head. ‘I felt like a night in for a change.’ She glanced at the top of her father’s head as he bent forward to read the paper. This would be an ideal time to unburden herself because Joey was out playing with his mates and wouldn’t be home until after nine. But how to begin, she just didn’t know.
The decision was taken out of her hands when Beth asked, ‘What’s the matter, sunshine? Yer look sad somehow. In fact, yer haven’t looked yer chirpy self for a while now, is there anything bothering yer?’
Andy looked up from his paper. He’d noticed himself that Ginny had been looking pale but had put it down to a woman’s complaint. ‘If there is, sweetheart, get it off yer chest. Yer know what they say about a trouble shared being a trouble halved. Me and yer mam are very good listeners, that’s what we’re here for.’
‘There is something worrying me,’ Ginny admitted, feeling sick in her tummy. What if her parents thought she’d made a mistake and didn’t believe her? ‘I’ve been terrified to say anything in case no one believed me.’ Then the words came tumbling out. ‘That woman I work with, my boss . . . well, she steals money and hides it in her shoes. I didn’t believe it meself at first but I’ve been keeping an eye on her for the last few weeks, just to make sure it wasn’t me imagination or me having a bad mind ’cos I really don’t like her.’
