by Joan Jonker
Once again Ann thought she’d better change the subject before her sensitive daughter decided she’d never eat another fish. ‘Lizzie, what is your other piece of news, or do we have to drag it out of you?’
‘I don’t know quite how to put this, queen, but I’d say it was good news for me, but bad news for me very best friends the Richardsons.’
‘Oh dear, it sounds ominous,’ George said. ‘Perhaps we’d be better not knowing.’
But Lizzie was having none of that. ‘Ye’re going to sit and listen whether yer like it or not. I’ll bleedin’ sit on yer if necessary.’
‘Oh, not that! Anything but that, I beg you!’
‘George, will yer stop arsing about and get off yer knees? I can’t stand to see a grown man grovelling. Sit on yer chair and behave yerself. The time to get on yer knees and plead is when yer’ve heard what I’ve got to say.’ Lizzie waited until he was seated, then said, ‘Yer know this holiday ye’re going on, to Wales? Well, I was wondering if the house ye’re going to could take another one?’
‘Who is this other person?’ Ann had a gut feeling, and she was praying she was right. ‘Do we know them?’
‘It’s me, yer silly sod! Who else would it be?’
The two girls screamed with delight and threw themselves on to the rocking chair, nearly sending it flying. ‘Ooh, Mrs Lizzie, that would be marvellous!’
‘Watch it, girls, or I won’t live to tell the bleedin’ tale!’ Lizzie pulled down her skirt, which was riding high up her thighs. ‘Get off, I’m showing all I’ve got!’ She looked across to see George and Ann laughing their heads off. ‘Is that laughter I hear, or hysterics?’
‘It’s pleasure, Lizzie,’ Ann told her. ‘We’d love you to come with us. I’ll write to Gwen in the morning and catch the dinner-time post. She does have a spare room, and I don’t think she’d let it with us going, but best to find out. We’ll know for certain in a couple of days.’
‘What about Norman?’ George asked. ‘Doesn’t he want to come?’
Lizzie shook her head. ‘Yer know my feller won’t go far from the pub. It’s what he likes, and I say everyone to their own taste. He doesn’t mind being left for a week, he’s big and ugly enough to look after himself. It was him what suggested I go with yer.’
‘I’m glad he did, it’ll be lovely having you with us.’ Ann meant every word of it. This woman had made such a difference to her life she would never forget her. Gone were the days when she was robbing Peter to pay Paul, they now lived comfortably and had a few bob over every week. And they had made many friends. But their best friend would always be Lizzie, who gave so much and asked for little in return. ‘You’ll get on like a house on fire with Gwen, she’s just your type. Always laughing and cracking jokes.’
‘Does she swear?’
‘Not so you’d notice, why?’
‘Well, you know me, queen, I can’t abide folk that swear. Especially women. They sound as common as muck. I can’t help being a snob, it was the way I was brought up.’ Her face deadpan, Lizzie got to her feet. ‘Anyway, that’s two missions successfully carried out. Now I’d better get down to that bleedin’ shop before the bugger puts the shutters up. I’ll see what I can get out of Lily and let yer know.’ She was near the front door when there was a banging on the wall. ‘Don’t tell me the queer one’s up to her tricks again?’
‘No, she’s not!’ The words were out before Tess could stop them. Oh, how she wished she could tell them the truth. ‘Mrs Bingham’s not bad now, is she, Mam?’
‘Not as bad as she used to be, love, I admit. Just now and again she takes off.’
‘Well I like her, and I feel sorry for her.’
Lizzie ran a finger down Tess’s cheek. ‘That’s right, queen, it’s far better to like people than to hate them. For hatred brings no reward.’
Bert was bending down behind the counter when he heard the shop doorbell tinkling. He looked up and groaned when he saw who was closing the door behind her. ‘In the name of God, Lizzie, I was just going to put the bar on, I’m closed!’
‘If yer were closed, Bert, I wouldn’t be standing here, would I? I’m clever, but even I can’t walk through bleedin’ wood.’
‘Is that you, Lizzie?’ A voice came from the stock room. ‘I’ve just made us a pot of tea, come on through.’
Then Bert made a remark that was to make Lizzie’s mission much easier. ‘Blimey! She’ll be asking yer to come to bed with us next!’
‘Yer’ll be needing someone to sleep with yer before long,’ Lily called, ‘’cos it won’t be long before I’m taking meself off to the spare room.’
Lizzie lifted the hinged part of the counter and made her way through to the stock room. ‘Am I right in thinking he’s been a naughty boy and put yer in the family way?’
They heard Bert curse as he bumped into something in his haste to get to the stock room. ‘Ay, I heard that, Lizzie Ferguson! Don’t you be trying to cause trouble between man and wife.’
Lizzie lifted her hands and feigned horror. ‘Me cause trouble! Me what’s quiet and shy, who never says a word out of place? Me what’s the most peaceable customer what comes in your shop? I’m cut to the quick, Bert Green.’
‘Aye, with bells on! Yer’d cause trouble in an empty house, you would.’
‘D’yer hear that, Lily? Next he’ll be saying it’s my fault ye’re in the family way!’ Lizzie wagged a finger at the grinning shopkeeper. ‘Why don’t yer be a man and admit yer’ve been a naughty boy?’
‘It takes two to make a baby, so I can’t put all the blame on him.’ Lily made room for Lizzie to sit next to her on an upsidedown orange box. ‘Anyway, we’ve been married ten years, so it’s about time we started a family.’
‘Yeah, I’m made up for yer, Lily, and you, Bert. If I’d known I’d have brought a bottle of sherry to celebrate.’
‘What d’yer mean, if yer’d known! I bet yer’ve known since the very minute of conception, Lizzie, ’cos nothing escapes those eyes of yours.’ Bert was feeling on top of the world. They hadn’t told any of the customers yet, so he was glad it was out in the open and he could stick his chest out and show how happy and proud he was. ‘Me and Lily are delighted. We’ve put off starting a family because of the shop, but we’re not getting any younger and we don’t want to go through life childless. The shop is important because it’s our livelihood, but so is a family.’
‘Yer’ll be looking for someone to help yer in the shop, then?’
‘Yeah, I’ll be keeping me eye open. Lily wants to work for another month or so, but I’ll have to look around before then or I’ll be left in the lurch. One person couldn’t run this shop even if they had ten feet and ten pairs of hands.’
Lizzie couldn’t believe her luck. Norman was always saying how jammy she was, that if she fell down the lavvy she’d come up with a ruddy gold watch. And she had to admit she seldom disappointed herself. ‘Will yer be wanting someone with experience?’ She kept her voice casual. ‘Yer know, someone what’s worked in a shop before?’
‘It would be a help, but it’s not essential. As long as they’re honest, pleasant, good at adding up and will get along with the customers. If I get someone with all those qualities I’ll consider meself lucky. Oh, and as long as they’re not a slow coach, ’cos yer need to move like greased lightning in this place.’ Bert caught her eye and grinned. ‘Ay, ye’re not thinking of yerself, are yer, Lizzie? ’Cos if yer are yer can forget it, I’m not a glutton for punishment. We’d have the whole street in, standing gossiping all day, and I’d never make any money. And the idea is that me and the wife want to save up for our old age. When I’m too old to run the shop I want to have a few bob to retire with.’
‘Go ’way, who d’yer think ye’re kidding? I bet you and Lily have got a long stocking stashed away somewhere. This place must be a little goldmine.’ Lizzie took the cup Lily held out to her. ‘But yer work hard for yer money, I’ll say that for yer. The pair of yer are on the go from morning till night. And
yer need the patience of a saint with some of the customers yer get in. If yer not salting some money away for yer old age, then yer want yer bumps feeling.’
‘I wouldn’t like to be doing this when I get old,’ Lily said. ‘In fact I couldn’t! Me feet are nearly dropping off some nights, and once the bar’s on the door, the most I can do is flop in a chair and that’s me lot.’
‘Then yer want to start taking it easy, what with the baby and all.’ Lizzie took a sip of tea and pulled a face. ‘Flippin’ heck, there’s no bleedin’ sugar in me tea! Yer know I take two spoonfuls! I know I’ve told yer to salt money away for yer old age, but I didn’t mean at my expense.’
Bert passed the sugar bowl over. ‘All right, Lizzie, don’t get out of yer pram, I’ll pick yer dummy up.’ He watched her put two heaped spoonfuls of sugar in her tea, then stirred it for her. ‘I dunno, yer get waited on hand and foot when yer come here.’
‘Well now, in repayment for all yer kindnesses to me, I might just be able to do yer a favour in return.’ Lizzie’s haughty pose came into play, and her little finger was stretched to curve outwards from the handle of the cup, like she’d see them do in the pictures. Mind you, the film stars weren’t sitting on an upturned orange box in a little stock room at the time, but that was only a minor detail. ‘I know a young girl what has all the qualities yer mentioned. She’s very pretty, with a good sense of humour, has a brilliant head on her shoulders and I can vouch for her honesty.’ Her eyebrows were raised and her eyes were so intent on looking down her nose she appeared to be cross-eyed. ‘She’s the daughter of my very best friend, and her sister is a writer what has had a story published in a very well-known magazine.’
Lizzie looked so comical Bert and Lily were in stitches. This was why she was always welcome at the end of a day when they’d been rushed off their feet; she made them forget how tired they were. ‘If she’s as posh as you sound, Lizzie, she wouldn’t last five minutes in this shop. Yer know what the customers are like, they’d pull her leg something shocking.’
‘I never said she was posh! She does speak nicely, her mother sees to that, but a snob she ain’t. Anyway, I don’t even know whether she’d want to work here, it was just a thought that came to me.’
‘Do we know her, Lizzie?’ Lily asked. ‘Does she live local?’
‘Yeah, only up the street! It’s Ann Richardson’s daughter, Maddy. As nice a girl as yer’ll find anywhere, and she leaves school the week after next.’
‘I know who yer mean,’ Bert said. ‘She is a nice polite girl, but is she the right sort for the shop? Or, to put it another way, is the shop right for her?’
‘I’ll tell yer what, Bert.’ Lizzie drained her cup before handing it to him. ‘Before any more is said, ’cos we’re not really going to get anywhere just talking between ourselves, why don’t yer have a word with the girl? That’s if she’s interested, of course. I’ll ask her to pop in tomorrow if yer like, or, better still, I’ll bring her down tomorrow night when ye’re closing up. That way yer won’t be interrupted with customers wanting to be served.’
‘Wouldn’t do no harm, Bert,’ Lily said. ‘She does seem a nice girl, and yer need someone who’s on the ball and not afraid of being on the go all the time. And above all, as Lizzie said, she’s honest.’
‘Okay, it’s worth a try. At least she wouldn’t have any travelling to do, so no reason for her being late for work.’ Bert nodded his head. The more he thought about it, the more interested he became. ‘You bring her down tomorrow night, Lizzie, and we’ll take it from there.’
Lizzie stood outside the shop and heard the bar being put across the inside of the door. Then she began to rub her hands together and did a little jig. ‘Not a bad night’s work,’ she muttered aloud. ‘A job for Maddy and a holiday for meself! I don’t think the girls will be in bed yet, so I’ll nip up and tell them what’s been said. Then I’d better get home before my feller comes in, or he might get his hopes up and think I’ve run off with the coal man.’
Maddy and Tess were walking up the street the following day on their way home from school when Nellie Bingham passed them with a basket over her arm. ‘Hello, Mrs Bingham,’ Tess called. ‘I’ll go on a message for you if you like?’
The answer she received was a shake of the head as the little woman carried on walking with her eyes on the ground.
‘You’d think the least she would do is answer you,’ Maddy said. ‘All she had to do was thank you and say she preferred to do her own shopping.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Tess said. This was the first time she’d ever kept a secret from her sister, and she would dearly love to confide in her so she’d understand why their neighbour behaved as she did. But it wasn’t her secret to share, it was Jack’s. ‘I still like her, and one day she’ll be my friend, I know she will.’
Maddy knocked on the front door before putting an arm across her sister’s shoulders. ‘If she isn’t, it won’t be for want of trying on your part.’
Ann stood aside to let them pass. ‘Did you have a word with Miss Harrison about working in the shop, Madelaine?’
‘Yes, and she said shop work can be very rewarding, as I’d be in contact with lots of people. And the experience would be good for me, building up my confidence. She also said there was no reason why I couldn’t move on if I decided it wasn’t what I wanted, and suggested I attend night school to learn shorthand and typing. She said there would always be work for secretaries.’
‘That’s a very sensible suggestion.’ Ann nodded, in total agreement with Miss Harrison. ‘I believe you should give that some thought. There’s nothing wrong with working in a shop, Madelaine, but there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious, either.’
‘I know that, Mam, and I will think about it. But at the moment the idea of working in a shop appeals to me, so I’ll give it a try. That’s if Mr and Mrs Green think I’m suitable.’
‘Ooh, I’d love to work behind the counter in a shop,’ Tess said. ‘I’d be very polite, asking people what they would like and putting things in their baskets for them. It would be more exciting than working in a stuffy office.’
‘Work is not all about enjoying yourself, Theresa, it’s about making a living and earning a wage. If you happen to find work you enjoy, then that is a bonus.’
‘Then our dad is lucky, isn’t he, ’cos he enjoys his job.’ A frown creased Tess’s forehead. ‘At least I think he enjoys it, he’s always laughing when he tells us funny stories about the men he works with. And Mrs Lizzie, of course, and what she gets up to.’
‘I was only thinking the other day that if it hadn’t been for your father’s accident, we would never have met Lizzie,’ Ann said. ‘I was worried to death at the time because we didn’t know how badly hurt he was, but when I look back and remember how helpful she was to us, I realise that some good came out of the accident. She’s a true friend.’
‘I’m glad she’s coming on holiday with us, we’ll have a marvellous time.’ Maddy was standing in front of the mirror over the fireplace, combing her hair. She was trying it in different styles so she would look her best when she went down to the shop tonight. ‘Do I look better with a middle parting, Mam, or a side parting? Which makes me look more grown up?’
‘You suit either way, Madelaine, but you shouldn’t be trying to make yourself look older. Enjoy your childhood and don’t be wishing your life away. When you get to my age you’ll be doing whatever you can to make yourself look younger.’
‘All you had to do to make yourself look younger was to cut your hair.’ As Tess spoke to her mother she was eyeing her sister’s thick lustrous black hair. ‘You’ve both got better hair than me, I’ve hardly got any.’
Maddy spun around. ‘You’ve got nice hair, Tess! Come here and let me comb it for you. See if I can make you look like a film star. Who would you like to look like . . . Janet Gaynor or Lillian Gish?’
Tess giggled. ‘Can you do me ringlets, like Shirley Temple?’
‘If you learn to sing a
nd dance like her, I promise to put rags in your hair so you get the curls.’
‘Madelaine, I think you should change out of your gymslip to go and see Mr Green. Put your blue dress on and a cardigan.’ Ann wasn’t too keen on the whole idea of her daughter being a shop assistant, but if she was going for an interview she wanted her to look her best. ‘First impression is important.’
‘Yes, I’ll do that, Mam.’ A mischievous glint came to Maddy’s eyes. ‘If you wore lipstick I’d ask if I could borrow it.’
‘You certainly would not!’ Ann turned to see both daughters giggling, and knew she was having her leg pulled. ‘It will be a long time before you’re ready to paint your face.’
‘When I’m going to my first dance, that’s when I’ll wear lipstick.’ It was obvious Maddy had already given this much thought. ‘I’ll be old enough then.’
‘It’s too early for you to be even thinking about it. You’re not fourteen yet!’
‘I will be in a couple of weeks.’
‘And I’m twelve in a couple of weeks,’ Tess said. ‘But I won’t be asking if I can wear lipstick, Mam, ’cos I know I’d look daft, and you wouldn’t let me anyway.’
‘I haven’t forgotten about your birthdays, and I was wondering if you’d each like to invite one of your friends for tea?’
Tess clapped her hands in glee. ‘Oh, goody, a party!’
‘No, Theresa, not a party as such, just afternoon tea. You could invite one of your friends from school.’
‘Mam, could I invite James?’ Maddy asked. ‘He’s a friend, and I’d rather ask him than anyone else. And Billy Cartwright, if you wouldn’t mind.’
Ann was on the point of refusing, but changed her mind. Far better for her daughters to bring their friends home so she could get to know them properly. ‘I suppose so. And we’ll have to invite your cousins, Joyce and Billy, we couldn’t leave them out.’
