by Joan Jonker
Joey was delighted he’d made his sister happy, but one hug and kiss was enough for anyone. ‘Marie said yer’d like it,’ he told her, while disentangling himself from her arms. ‘And she was right, wasn’t she?’
‘I go over to the jewellery counter nearly every day with Marie, ’cos they have lovely things on it. But this ring took me eye the first day I saw it, and it’s been me favourite ever since.’ Ginny put the ring on the third finger of her left hand and held it up for all to see. ‘Isn’t it lovely? I’ll wear it this afternoon to go to Miss Meadows, shall I, Mam?’
‘That’s up to you, sunshine, but if she’s posh, I can’t see it being the sort of thing she’d go for. She probably wears the real thing.’
‘Yeah, ye’re right, Mam, perhaps she’d think this was common. I’ll wear it when I go dancing, though, ’cos those boys and girls won’t know it came from Woolworth’s.’ She grinned. ‘That’s if yer’ll let me go to the dance next week? Yer did promise I could when I was fifteen. Amelia, Joan and Marie said they’re almost sure their mams will say they can go.’
‘If the whole gang are going, and yer won’t be walking home alone in the dark, me and yer dad don’t mind yer going, do we, love?’
‘Not at all, as long as we know who she’s with,’ Andy said. ‘And she wouldn’t come to any harm with the lads that were here last night. Smashing lads, all of them.’
Joey gave his sister a dig in the ribs. ‘Ay, yer’ve still got a pressie to open.’
‘I know, I haven’t forgotten. I just wanted to keep meself in suspense a little bit longer.’ Ginny picked up the small parcel which had no weight to it at all. ‘Mmm! It feels soft, I wonder what it can be?’
‘It’s from yer dad, sunshine, I had nothing to do with it. I’d already bought yer the dress and the party cost me a few bob.’
Ginny tore the paper off to reveal two fine linen white hankies, with an inset of wide lace in two of the corners. ‘Oh, aren’t they pretty!’ She shook one of the hankies out of its square shape and held it up. ‘These are too nice to blow me nose on. Thank you, Dad, they’re a lovely present.’
‘Yer could take one of them with yer this afternoon,’ Beth said. ‘I’ve been thinking, the sleeves on yer new dress taper in at the cuffs, so yer could push one of those up and leave the lace showing. Now that would look very chic.’
Ginny’s pretty face was aglow. ‘I am one lucky girl, aren’t I?’
‘I’ll say,’ said Joey, ‘first the party and presents, and now more presents!’
‘The party was a success then, was it, love?’ Andy asked.
‘Oh, Dad, we did nothing but laugh. If yer’d seen the state of us learning how to do the waltz, yer’d have done no more good. It was absolutely hilarious.’
‘It was, Mam, honest.’ Joey was grinning from ear to ear. ‘Me and Amy never stopped laughing, only when it came time to eat. That girl, Pat, she was a scream. Yer should have seen her doing a tango on her own, it was dead funny. She said that’s the way George Raft did it in a film, but I don’t think he would have been as funny as her.’
‘You all seemed to have enjoyed yourselves when we got home,’ Beth chuckled. ‘I had to laugh when Mick said he’d see Joan home. Her face was a study when she said, “I only live next door, yer daft nit.” ’
‘I wonder what time the boys got home after seeing Marie to her door and then going on with Pat?’ Andy said. ‘Marie only lives ten minutes’ walk away, but Pat said she had to go five stops on the tram.’
‘They’re young, love, they can stand the pace. We used to be the same at their age.’ Beth stretched her arms high above her head, gave a little shiver and then stood up. ‘I’ll make some toast for yer now, sunshine, and a fresh pot of tea all round. Then I’ll have to start on the dinner, although heaven knows, I don’t feel like it. I could just do with a really lazy day, with me feet up and doing absolutely nothing.’
‘Don’t make much dinner for me, Mam, or I won’t be able to eat anything at Miss Meadows’. And I don’t want to tell her I’m not hungry if she’s gone to the trouble of making a spread for me.’
When Beth went to the kitchen, Andy asked, ‘She’s meeting yer off the bus, isn’t she? Did she say where?’
‘Yeah, she said if I get the bus opposite Queen’s Drive baths, I can ask the conductor to put me off at Childwall Fiveways. She’ll be waiting at the stop for me at four o’clock. And yer’ve no need to worry about me getting home in the dark, Dad, ’cos she’s promised I’ll be brought right to the door. She said to tell yer she won’t keep me late, I’ll be home for nine o’clock.’
‘She sounds a very caring person, and seems to think a lot of you.’
Ginny nodded. ‘She is nice, Dad, you’d like her.’
‘If she asks yer back again, tell her yer’ve got a brother,’ Joey said. ‘I might get an invite next time if yer do. I don’t see why you should have all the fun.’
‘Your turn will come, son, and soon,’ Andy said. ‘Only a few more weeks and yer’ll be fourteen. Able to go out to work and make yer own friends.’
Joey thought about this with his brow furrowed. ‘Dad, do yer meet any posh people in your job? I mean, if I’m going to work with yer, I’d like to know.’
He couldn’t understand why his dad and sister laughed, and his mam could be heard chuckling in the kitchen. Grown-ups could be a bit daft at times.
From the moment Ginny stepped on to the platform of the bus, she started to get the collywobbles in her tummy. She’d spent ages brushing her hair till it shone, her shoes had been polished so you could see your face in them and her nails were clean. But did her coat look as though it had been bought second-hand? And the dress, would it pass inspection?
Ginny gave a start when the conductor called, ‘This is your stop, love. Childwall Fiveways.’ She pulled herself up by the top of the seat in front, then held on to each seat to steady herself as she made her way down the aisle to the front of the bus. Her hands were shaking and she felt quite sick.
Alicia Meadows came towards her, smiling. ‘Hello, Virginia, I am so glad you made it. Happy birthday, my dear.’
Honesty was the best policy, Ginny decided, and said, ‘I’m very nervous ’cos I’ve never been out to tea before. I’ve been in neighbours’ houses, but that’s not the same ’cos I see them every day and can’t remember a time I didn’t know them.’
Alicia cupped her elbow. ‘There’s nothing to be nervous about, Virginia. Surely you’re not afraid of me?’
‘I’m not afraid, Miss Meadows, just shy. I’m not usually, but I am now. It will wear off, though, or so me dad told me.’ As they were walking along Queen’s Drive, Ginny was noting the big detached houses with their well-kept gardens. Some of them even had a car standing on the drive. They must be rich people who lived along here, and she’d bet they’d never lived in a two-up-two-down.
‘We’re home now.’ Alicia opened the gates to a large house which was all painted white except for the front door which was dark with a bright brass lion’s head knocker. ‘I’ll leave the gates open because my nephew will be coming shortly in his car.’
Ginny’s eyes were everywhere when they entered the hall which was almost as big as their living room. There was an umbrella stand just inside, with umbrellas in and a couple of walking sticks. Then there was a table in shiny dark wood with a parade of ornaments which the girl could tell were expensive. The hallstand on the opposite side was intricately carved, like the antlers on a reindeer, and the whole hall floor was covered wall to wall in thick carpet which Ginny’s feet sank into. Fancy having carpet in the hall! She’d never known that before. In their house, and all the neighbours’, the floors were covered in lino with small rugs here and there. And it was freezing getting out of bed in the winter and putting your feet on cold lino.
‘Let me take your coat, Virginia.’ Alicia looked for a tag on the neck of the coat to hang it up by but there was none. So as not to make her young visitor embarrassed she just hung it b
y the collar. ‘Come into the drawing room, my dear, and get warm. Sit by the fire while I make a drink. Would you like tea or coffee?’
Ginny had never drunk coffee in her life because her mam said it was too dear. She’d smelt it in the canteen, and thought the aroma was lovely, so now was her chance to find out. ‘I’ll have coffee, please, Miss Meadows.’
It was hard for Ginny not to cry out when ushered into the drawing room. She had never seen anything like it. Once again the whole floor was covered in thick carpet, but where the hall one was patterned, this carpet was a uniform pale beige. The fireplace was very ornate with a huge mirror above it, and in the magnificent grate a cheery fire burned.
The room was at the back of the house, and Ginny could see a large garden outside with many tall trees. She would have loved to have been nosy and stood up to see everything there was to see, but didn’t like to. So she contented herself with sitting back on a large moquette-covered couch which had two matching chairs. The walls were covered in pictures, but although Ginny liked them, she would have been stunned if she’d been told how much they were worth. The same with the Edwardian sideboard – she had no idea of its age or value. She thought it was lovely, and very nicely polished. But then, Miss Meadows had no children. Her mam could keep her furniture nice if she and Joey weren’t there, Ginny told herself.
Alicia came in with a small table covered with a snow-white, lace-trimmed cloth. She set it down in front of Ginny and went back to the kitchen to fetch a silver tray on which sat a silver coffee pot, milk jug and sugar basin, and cups finer than any the young girl had ever seen. ‘I’m not going to offer you biscuits because I’ve arranged to have tea at five o’clock. My nephew agreed to run you home in his car, so I invited him too.’
Ginny’s jaw dropped. ‘Yer mean, I’m going home in a car?’ When Alicia nodded, the young girl couldn’t hide her excitement. ‘I’ve never been in a car before! Oh, I hope the neighbours see me, I’ll be proper posh.’
Alicia patted her hand. This was what she so liked about Virginia. There was no side to her, she didn’t try to be something she wasn’t. She would always be straight and tell you exactly what she thought. But she would always do it in a way that wouldn’t hurt you. ‘You’ll like Charles, he’s very easy to get along with.’
Ginny wasn’t really listening now, her mind was full of the thrill of being driven home in a car. Oh, she hoped her mam and dad looked out of the window and saw her before the man drove away! Then she had another thought. Oh, please, don’t let their Joey be in the street with his mates, ’cos they’d be all over the car and make a holy show of her. Then she felt a stab of guilt. He was her brother, and like all boys would be interested in cars. She must never be ashamed of someone she loved.
Ginny was brought back to reality by the ringing of a bell and Miss Meadows jumping to her feet. ‘This will be Charles now.’
The male voice Ginny heard was deep, and she was expecting a man to walk in. But much to her surprise, the person who followed Miss Meadows into the room was young! He didn’t look any older than Mick or Bobby. He couldn’t be the one driving her home, he was surely too young to drive?
‘Charles, this is Virginia Porter whose birthday it is today. Virginia, this is my nephew, Charles Moore-Latimer.’
Charles saw a very pretty girl with lovely blonde hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a nice blue dress which really suited her. She was also wearing a very shy expression. He held out his hand, saying, ‘I won’t eat you.’
‘I know yer won’t, ’cos I won’t let yer.’ Her handshake was firm and her eyes looked straight into his. ‘I thought Miss Meadows said her nephew Charles was driving me home, but that can’t be you ’cos ye’re not old enough to drive. I must have got the wrong end of the tale.’
‘No, I am the nephew, and I will be driving you home!’ Charles, like his aunt, was very well-spoken, and very confident for his age. ‘I’m seventeen and have been driving for six months now. In fact, Father bought me the car for my birthday in July.’
‘Golly, that was some birthday present, wasn’t it? I got hankies for mine.’
At first Charles thought he detected sarcasm in her words, until he noticed the laughter in her blue eyes. ‘We both received useful presents then. My car enables me to travel to and from college, while your hankies are useful for blowing your nose.’
Ginny’s rich, throaty chuckle filled the room. ‘Oh, I don’t think so, Mr Charles.’ She plucked the dainty hankie from her sleeve and held it out. ‘One good blow on this and it would fall to pieces. It’s only for show, yer see.’
Smiling broadly, he dropped into one of the easy chairs. ‘I smell coffee, Aunt Alicia. It seems my timing was perfect.’ He crossed his legs, brought his hands together and laced his fingers – a young man very sure of himself and very much at home in his aunt’s house. ‘Would you like me to pour?’ he suggested.
‘No, of course not.’ Alicia was delighted to be entertaining two of her favourite people. There were times when she regretted not being married. She’d certainly had plenty of offers, and from men of means who would have kept her in luxury for the rest of her life. But she was independent and pig-headed when she was younger, and she loved her job at Henderson’s. It had been stimulating and satisfying to work her way up over the years to the position she held today, that of Welfare Officer. She still loved working for the firm that had been so good to her, but lately she had been looking ahead to a future which seemed very bleak. While she was working she had something to occupy her mind, but when she retired her life would be very lonely. She only had the one sister, Bernice, who was Charles’ mother. They met quite often for meals or a trip to the theatre. There were also several cousins dotted about the city, but they only met at weddings and funerals. Most women of Alicia’s age would be married with children and have a long-term circle of friends.
‘Aunt Alicia, where have you gone to?’ Charles was leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. ‘Have you forgotten you have visitors?’
Alicia shook herself mentally. ‘Most certainly not! My mind strayed for a moment, that’s all.’ She waved a hand. ‘An incident at work, something quite trivial.’
‘Work should be forgotten when you have a birthday girl here who is dying of thirst. Not to mention your favourite nephew.’
‘I’m not dying of thirst,’ Ginny said. ‘Anyway, yer can’t always tell what yer mind is going to do, it plays tricks on yer sometimes.’
While he watched his aunt pick up the elegant silver coffee pot, Charles chuckled. ‘Like yours did when it told you I would be an old man.’
The richness of her surroundings had made Ginny feel out of place at first, but Miss Meadows and her nephew were very friendly and she began to relax. ‘It didn’t tell me yer’d be an old man, just someone old enough to drive a car. And I still don’t think yer look old enough to be allowed to drive. Ye’re not that much older than me, and anyone who allowed me behind the wheel of a car would want their bumps feeling.’ Again that contagious chuckle, bringing smiles to the faces of the two watching. ‘That’s if I hadn’t run over them before they had time to get their bumps felt.’
The Liverpool accent, the grammar and the jokes were novel to Charles. His family and friends didn’t have an accent, nor did they have that easygoing sense of humour. This young girl was very interesting as well as being very good-looking. ‘I promise I won’t run over anyone while you are a passenger in my car. Does that make you feel any better?’
Alicia had a smile on her face as she poured the coffee. Things seemed to be working out as she had hoped. Bringing Charles and Virginia together had been in her mind for a while, and the girl’s birthday had been the ideal excuse. The pair were from very different backgrounds which was obvious, but both were good at heart. And although Virginia was a little rough around the edges, it was nothing that couldn’t be put right with time.
It was in the dining room later, when they were enjoying the delicacies being served
by Alicia, that she suddenly asked, ‘Do you ever go to the theatre, Virginia?’
Ginny shook her head. ‘No, I’ve never been, Miss Meadows. My mam has never had the money to take us to places like that.’
Charles had had a privileged upbringing and never for one moment had he thought about people who couldn’t afford the luxuries he took for granted. He was about to ask Ginny why her father didn’t give her the money to go to the theatre when his aunt caught his eye and shook her head slightly. ‘What a pity,’ Alicia said. ‘We must take you one night, I’m sure you would thoroughly enjoy the experience.’
‘Oh, I say, that would be jolly good fun,’ Charles agreed. ‘I’ll find out what shows are coming to the Playhouse or Royal Court and I’ll let you know, Aunt.’
Virginia nodded but didn’t say a word. They were being kind to her, she knew that, but they weren’t her type of people and she would feel totally out of place in their company. She would love to go to a theatre – what girl wouldn’t? – but she’d rather go with someone who spoke as she did, and didn’t have loads of money or wear fancy clothes.
In her mind’s eye, Ginny could see the living room at home as it was last night. She could see her friends falling about laughing, and really enjoying themselves. None of them had ever been to a theatre because none of them could afford to go. But they didn’t mind, they made the most of what they had and enjoyed life.
‘What time are your parents expecting you home, Virginia?’ Charles asked. ‘I don’t want to get in their bad books.’
‘Miss Meadows said I’d be home by nine o’clock, so that’s what I told them. They’d worry if I was much later, ’cos they don’t know you.’
‘Have no fear, I’ll have you home on the dot, safe and sound. After your parents have met me, and seen that I’m not an ogre with two heads, I’m sure they’ll have no objection to your accompanying Aunt Alicia and myself to a theatre.’
Ooh, thought Ginny, what if me mam has got pipe cleaners in her hair? She wouldn’t like a stranger walking in on her unexpected. Especially one who was dressed like a toff in a fine suit, with snow-white starched shirt and perfectly knotted silk tie. And if his shoes weren’t real leather she’d eat her hat. He was a handsome lad, with dark hair, hazel eyes and a set of strong white teeth. And he was nice as a person, very friendly, and didn’t make her feel out of it or talk down to her. But he would be a bit much for her family if they weren’t expecting him. ‘I don’t think you’ll get to meet my parents tonight, they said they would be having an early night in bed after being up till the early hours of this morning ’cos of me party. But some other time, perhaps, eh?’
