by Joan Jonker
Martha’s eyes moved from one to the other as Mary asked, ‘Is that good news for us?’
‘I think so! He’ll be fighting on more fronts now, and God only knows where he’s getting all the troops from. He’s got to keep armies in all the countries he’s occupied because of the underground movements there.’
Mary folded his coat over her arm. ‘Will the war be over quicker?’
‘Well, I think Hitler’s crazy; but crazy or not he’s lifting his two fingers up to the rest of the world. Look at the fool he made of Chamberlain! Peace for our time, Chamberlain said when he came back with that piece of paper, and the ink wasn’t even dry on it when Hitler’s troops invaded Czechoslovakia.’
Mary’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Here’s the nurse! Let her in will you, love, while I get the water ready.’
Rose Nolan gave Bob a cheerful smile. ‘So you’re the boyfriend Mary never stops talking about?’
Bob laughed as he followed her into the room. ‘I hope it’s all good.’
‘According to Mary, you’re going to stop the war single-handed when you get over there.’ She beamed at Martha before adding, ‘Listening to her, you’re Cary Grant, James Stewart, and Gary Cooper, all rolled into one.’ She took the bowl from Mary and nodded towards the kitchen. ‘Vamoose, while I get on with my work.’
Mary pulled Bob’s arm. ‘Let’s go before she gives us all a bed bath.’
As soon as the kitchen door closed behind them, Bob took Mary in his arms. ‘How’s it been?’
Mary’s head went back and she smiled into his face. ‘When the nurse said it would be as easy as falling off a bike once I got the hang of it, I didn’t believe her. But she was right, and I can manage fine, now.’
‘You’re going to make a smashing wife.’ Bob nibbled her ear. ‘Slippers waiting by the fire when I get home from work, and a cushion for me back.’
‘Some hope you’ve got, Bob West! If you think I’m going to wait on you hand and foot you’ve got another think coming.’
‘I wish we were married.’ Bob fingered her hair. ‘Then I wouldn’t have to go to our Joyce’s tonight to sleep.’
‘How’s your mam and dad? I didn’t want to ask in front of me mam in case she got upset. D’you think they’ll settle down there?’
‘Me dad might, but I don’t think me mam will. She’s walking round in a dream and even I couldn’t get through to her. They got some emergency clothing coupons and I took her round the shops thinking it would pull her out of herself, but she wasn’t interested. The only time she showed any emotion was when it was time for me to leave, and it nearly broke my heart to walk away from her.’
They broke apart as the door was pushed open and Nurse Nolan grinned at their blushes. ‘Caught you in the act, did I?’ She looked over her shoulder at Bob as she tipped the water into the sink. ‘What d’you think about Adolf starting on Russia?’
‘He must be mad if he thinks he can get away with it.’
‘He’s got away with it so far! He collects countries like other people collect stamps.’
‘Wait till I get over there.’ Bob grinned. ‘I’ll sort him out!’
Eileen’s nose twitched. ‘Got yer Evening in Paris on, kid? Yer smell like a rose garden.’
Mary flushed as three pairs of eyes fastened on her. ‘Where d’you want to go, Bob? Margaret Lockwood on the Vale, or Abbott and Costello on the Atlas?’
‘It’s up to you, love! I don’t care where we go.’
Eileen’s push sent Bob reeling. ‘Yer’ll get more than a laugh if yez go to the Atlas! They don’t call it the flea pit for nothing! Yez go in there in a blouse and come out with a jumper!’
Mary was smiling as she kissed her mother. ‘We won’t be late.’
‘Don’t hurry on my account,’ Eileen told them. ‘Just enjoy yerselves.’ When they passed the window, their arms around each other, she grinned at Martha. ‘Love’s young dream! What it is to be young, eh?’
Martha gave her lopsided grin. ‘Eth.’
Eileen tilted her head. ‘Yer know, Mrs B, if yer can say that, yer can say other things.’ When Martha shook her head, pointing to the side of her face, Eileen tutted. ‘Yer don’t need to move yer lips! A bloody ventriloquist doesn’t move his lips, does he? Just watch me!’ She pressed her lips together hard before half opening her mouth, and from the back of her throat came a deep mumble. ‘Can yer hear me, Mother?’
Martha nodded, her eyes full of laughter at Eileen’s comical face. ‘Never mind how bloody daft I look, just try it!’
Over and over Martha tried. She would have given up but Eileen wouldn’t let her. ‘Yer know what they say … cruel to be kind! Have another go.’
When the first recognisable word came it was supposed to be ‘Mary’, but came out‘’ Ary’. Eileen was so excited she nearly hit the ceiling. ‘See, I told yer, didn’t I?’ Her eyes roamed the room picking on items. ‘Come on, have a go!’ Mirror came out as ‘’irrer’, and couch as ‘’oush’, but Eileen was delighted. ‘Keep that up, Mrs B, an’ yer’ll be talking proper in no time.’
Martha’s faded blue eyes were bright with pleasure and hope. What a blessing it would be if she could talk!
‘Practise when yer on yer own,’ Eileen advised. ‘And don’t give up or I’ll have yer guts for garters if yer let me down.’
They heard the key in the lock and Eileen’s eyebrows shot up. ‘They’re early!’ She put a finger to her lips. ‘Not a word to Mary! It’s our secret till yer can surprise her. And don’t do it when I’m not here, ’cos I want to see her face when yer start talkin’ to her.’ When Mary came through the door, Eileen asked, ‘Yez didn’t come home early because of me, did yer?’ Mary shook her head. ‘We came out before the second house started. We’d seen most of the big picture anyway, so we knew how it ended.’
‘Don’t believe her!’ Bob chuckled. ‘She’d have sat through it all again if I’d let her. Of all the pictures to take me to, she picked one she could sit and cry all the way through.’
‘Margaret Lockwood, eh?’ Eileen grinned. ‘Yer big soft nellie!’
‘Stewart Granger was in it, and it was lovely.’
Bob raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘If it was so lovely, why did you cry all the way through? I can’t understand you women … never happier than when you’re crying.’
‘Yer should have stayed at home,’ Eileen told them. ‘We’ve had a fine time, haven’t we, Mrs B? Pulling everyone to pieces.’
‘Take no notice of him,’ Mary said. ‘I haven’t cried all night … only part of it! We came home early so you can get to work on time tonight, in case we’re late tomorrow. Bob’s taking me somewhere tomorrow night and he won’t tell me where.’
Eileen smiled at Martha as she reached for her coat. ‘Try and think of someone we haven’t pulled to pieces, an’ we can have a go at them.’ She brushed aside Mary’s thanks. ‘I’ll see yez tomorrow … ta-ra.’
Mary had her coat on ready when Eileen came the next night. Bob had been at the house since early morning and had been restless all day. But when Mary questioned him about where they were going, all he would say was ‘wait and see’.
‘Has he told yer where yez are going, yet?’ Eileen asked.
‘No!’ Mary pouted. ‘He says it’s a surprise.’
‘I ’ope it’s a pleasant one!’
Bob tapped a finger on his nose. ‘You know what curiosity did to the cat!’ He pulled on Mary’s arm. ‘Let’s go before she wheedles it out of me.’
Mary turned at the door and winked at her mother. ‘Don’t let Eileen teach you any bad habits, Mam!’
Eileen feigned amazement. ‘Bad habits! Me! Me mind’s as pure as the driven snow.’
‘Aye! When you’re asleep!’ Bob ducked as Eileen raised her arm. ‘Come ’ed, Mary, before she floors me!’
As they turned into the main road Mary grabbed Bob’s arm. ‘Quick, there’s a bus coming.’
Bob pulled her back. ‘Let’s wait for the tram. This is m
y night, remember, and I’d rather go on one of the old rib ticklers.’ As the bus pulled away they heard the familiar trundle of a tram car. ‘See, we didn’t have to wait long.’ Bob pinched Mary’s bottom as she ran up the stairs. ‘Sit in the front.’
‘Buses are much more comfortable,’ Mary grumbled as she sat on the hard wooden seat. ‘You get corns on your bottom from these hard seats.’
‘Buses may be more comfortable but there’s no magic to them. Give me the old trams any day. They remind me of when we were kids and could go anywhere for a penny.’
Mary grinned as fond memories flooded back. ‘A bottle of water, a ha’porth of lemonade powder, a jam buttie, and a penny for the tram! We could spend a whole day at one of the parks for three ha’pence.’
Bob slipped his arm across the back of the wooden seat. ‘Even when I was only ten, I wanted to marry you! You were the prettiest girl in school, and every playtime I used to stand with me face pressed between the railings watching you playing hop-scotch. All me mates used to make fun of me because I fancied you.’ The tram was travelling towards Scotland Road and Bob leaned forward to point out the bombed buildings. ‘They’ve had it pretty bad around here.’
Mary’s voice was sad. ‘The poor old Rotunda. That corner won’t look the same without it.’
‘There’s going to be a lot of building up to do after the war.’
‘I don’t care what they do after the war, as long as you’re home.’
‘It might be over sooner than we think, now the Russians are in it. I think Hitler’s got too much on his plate. He was better equipped than we were because he’s been preparing for years, but we’re starting to fight back. All we had in the beginning were a few planes and some very brave fighter pilots. If it hadn’t been for them we’d have been done for.’ Bob envied the bravery of those pilots who risked their lives daily to keep the skies over Britain clear. He wished he was that brave, the thought of being sent overseas frightened the life out of him, and he knew he wasn’t the only one. The lads in his unit joked about killing Germans, but Bob knew that deep down they were as afraid as he was. Perhaps everyone was afraid when faced with danger … even the fighter pilots. Perhaps it was only when it was a case of kill or be killed, that a person found the courage to fight back. He leaned forward and rubbed the sleeve of his jacket across the steamed-up window.
‘Come on, this is our stop.’
The tram lurched on its way leaving Mary and Bob standing outside St George’s Hall in Lime Street. ‘We should have got off in London Road.’ Mary looked up into Bob’s face. ‘Aren’t we going to Sampson and Barlows?’
Bob shook his head and pointed across the road to the Grand Western Hotel which fronted Lime Street Station. ‘That’s where we’re going.’
‘We can’t go in there!’ Mary started to laugh. ‘You’re pulling me leg.’
‘I am not pulling your leg! That’s where we’re going!’
‘I can’t go in there looking like this.’ Mary looked down at her coat, made out of a blanket to save coupons. ‘That’s where all the posh people go.’
‘If you wore rags you’d still look lovely. And, Mary, I’ve been saving up for something special, so let’s blow it on one good night out.’
Mary’s eyes widened when they entered the foyer of the large Victorian hotel. Her first instinct was to turn tail and run when she took in the rich velvet curtains, ornate chandeliers, carved wooden doors and deep soft carpets. ‘Let’s go,’ she whispered. ‘I’m not staying here.’
‘Too late,’ Bob whispered back as a waiter in black suit and bow tie appeared and beckoned them to follow him into the dining room. At every table they passed sat servicemen with pips or heavy gold braid on their uniforms. Mary’s heart pounded as she wished the floor would open and swallow her up. After showing them to a table the waiter left to fetch a menu, and Bob smiled encouragement as he reached across the table to take hold of her hand. ‘It rather looks as though I’m the only private here, but my girl outshines all their gold braid.’ He glanced around. ‘Some of them are probably catching trains tonight back to their base.’
Mary shuddered. ‘Don’t let’s talk about the war tonight.’
The waiter was clearing away their plates, and Bob ordered another drink. ‘Bang goes me ciggie money, but what the hell! It’s been worth it.’
The two glasses of sherry were having an effect on Mary. Her face was lit up with happiness and her shyness gone. The people around her were forgotten as she looked across the table. ‘Can Eileen be me maid of honour when we get married? She is my very best friend.’ Bob thought he’d never seen her looking so lovely as he nodded in agreement. ‘And can we get a parlour house so me mam can have her own room?’
‘Mary, you can have the world if you want it,’ Bob teased. ‘And now, how about telling me why you want to marry me?’
‘Because I love you so much it hurts.’
‘Let’s go.’ Bob beckoned the waiter. ‘I think it might cause a stir if I kiss you here.’
The waiter brought the change from the £5 note on a small silver tray and Bob picked up the £1 note, leaving the loose change as a tip. He waited till they were on the street outside before throwing back his head and laughing. ‘The tip was almost a week’s army pay!’
When they got home Eileen was bursting with curiosity but Mary wouldn’t let Bob tell her where they’d been. ‘I want to tell you, and it would take too long. Wait till you come next time and you’ve got more time.’
Eileen’s eyes disappeared in a grin. ‘OK, kid! I’ll call tomorrow and yer can thrill me with excitement.’
‘I’ll see Eileen out.’ Bob moved to the door after her. ‘We don’t want an audience for our farewell kiss.’
‘A man at last!’ Eileen winked at Martha. ‘See yer tomorrow, Mrs B. Ta-ra.’
Bob looked down from the top step. ‘Thanks for letting us have some time on our own, Eileen. And will you do me another favour and keep your eye on Mary for us, while I’m away?’
‘Course I will! She’s me best mate, isn’t she?’ Eileen wrapped her coat over her ample bosom. ‘Now, how about that kiss? It’s such a long time since a man kissed me I’ve forgotten what it feels like.’ She lifted her head for Bob’s peck on the cheek then walked away shouting over her shoulder, ‘I hope my feller does better than that when he gets home! Proper bloody tame, that was! Ta-ra, Bob … look after yourself.’
‘What was Eileen shouting about?’ Mary was perched on the side of the bed. ‘She’s got a voice like a foghorn.’
‘She was complaining that my kiss wasn’t passionate enough for her.’
‘Cheeky beggar! I’ve got no complaints.’ Mary’s lighthearted chatter didn’t fool Martha. She knew it was put on for her sake. And later, when Bob was leaving and he bent to kiss her, saying he’d probably be home again in a few weeks, she tried not to let her sadness show. It was all pretence, but she went along with it.
‘What will happen if there’s a raid, with your mam the way she is?’ Bob whispered in Mary’s ear as he held her tight. They were standing in the tiny hall and in a few minutes he’d have to be on his way.
‘I’ve been thinking about that meself,’ Mary whispered back. ‘The only thing is a Morrison shelter, but I don’t think we’d get one in the room with the bed in as well.’
‘What’s a Morrison shelter?’ Bob asked. ‘I’ve never heard of them.’
‘There’s a family down the road got one. They’re like a big steel table with wire mesh round the sides.’ Mary managed a weak smile. ‘They’re like a monkey’s cage, but they reckon they’ll stand up to a house falling on them. I wouldn’t like to put it to the test meself, though.’ She heard Bob sigh and knew the longer they put off saying goodbye the worse it would be. She was steeling herself not to cry because she didn’t want to upset her mother, but the lump in her throat was growing. ‘Don’t forget to wipe the lippy off your face before you get to your Joyce’s. There’s more on your face than there is on my l
ips.’ There was a catch in her voice as she hugged him one last time. ‘I’ll say a prayer to St Anthony every night to watch over you.’
Chapter Nine
‘Shall I take Madam’s coat?’ Mary stood in the middle of the room and with raised eyebrows, bowed from the waist. She folded an imaginary coat over her arm and walked towards the door with her nose in the air and her back as stiff as a poker. Then, bending double she shook with laughter. ‘Honest, I nearly died of embarrassment when he walked down that posh room with me blanket over his arm.’
Even the floorboards trembled as Eileen’s laugh boomed out. ‘Can yer imagine ’is face if I’d handed him this Paris model?’ She looked down at her old faded coat, and with a finger indicated the various coloured stains, the frayed cuffs and the missing buttons. ‘I’d have been thrown out on me arse, that’s for sure!’ She winked at Martha whose eyes were wet with tears of laughter. ‘I think your daughter needs taking down a peg or two, don’t you, Mrs B? How about her makin’ us a cuppa?’ A sly grin on her face, she reached into her shopping bag and produced a packet of tea and a pound of sugar. ‘Don’t ask me where I got them. If yer ask no questions yer’ll be told no lies.’
‘We can’t keep taking things off you! Every time you come you bring us something.’
‘You don’t have time to go to the shops and stand in a queue, so shut yer gob an’ take them.’ Eileen shoved the packets in Mary’s hand. ‘And don’t worry about us going short at home, ’cos we’re not!’ A wicked grin crossed her face. ‘There’s only one thing I’m goin’ short of, and I won’t be gettin’ any of that till my Bill gets home. Unless, of course, I can find meself a bit on the side.’
‘You’re past the post, you are!’ The sound of the door knocker brought a frown to Mary’s face. ‘I wonder who this can be?’ She dropped the precious tea and sugar on to Eileen’s lap. ‘Shove these in the kitchen for us, will you? It might be Elsie Smith, and the least she knows the better.’
