by Joan Jonker
When Bill and Harry came in, the conversation was centred around the car. ‘You got a bargain,’ Bill said. ‘It’s a nice-looking car, and in very good nick.’
‘Yes, but it eats the petrol. The gallon a week ration would just about get me to work and back on one day.’
‘Tell yer what, lover boy,’ Eileen said. ‘How about doin’ a swap? We’ll ’ave your car, an’ you can ’ave our Edna’s scooter? Yer wouldn’t need petrol for that … only yer shoes soled and ’eeled every week.’
‘I’ve got a better idea.’ The dimple in Harry’s chin deepened when he laughed. ‘We’ve still got our Tony’s pram. You’ve got nothing else to do all day, so you could come up to ours and push me to work.’
‘What about getting a rickshaw?’ Arthur joined in. ‘Then you could take Bill and Harry to work.’
‘Ha-ha-ha!’ The floorboards began to creak as Eileen rocked with laughter, and Bill was smiling before she even said a word. ‘I’ve got an idea that knocks all yours into a cocked hat! I could give yez a piggy back, an’ yer could use our Edna’s whip to gee me up. A crack on the backside would set me off at a gallop, an’ I’d ’ave yez at work before yer knew yer’d left the ’ouse.’
Vera’s laugh was forced, her eyes continually going to the clock. She was afraid of leaving, but more afraid not to. She let a half hour slip by, then said she’d really have to get home to get the tea on.
‘I’ll have to be on my way, too,’ Arthur said, easing himself off the couch. ‘I’ll walk down the road with you.’
Bill looked surprised. ‘But I thought we were going for a pint?’
‘It’s not worth it, Bill! It takes me an hour, on two buses, to get home. By the time the pubs open, it would be time for me to leave.’
‘I’ll run you home, Vera.’ Harry felt in his pocket for the car keys. ‘Then I can drop Arthur off at the bus stop.’
Carol’s face was radiant, sitting on Arthur’s knee on the front seat. But when the car stopped outside their house, and Vera tried to lift her out, she clung to Arthur’s neck and screamed.
‘Move back, Vera, and I’ll get her.’ Harry had walked round the car and stood behind her. ‘She’ll come for me, won’t you, sweetheart?’
With a bit of coaxing, and a promise to go in the house with her, Carol kissed Arthur goodbye. ‘Open the door, Vera, and I’ll bring her in.’
‘There’s no need.’ Vera tried to take Carol’s hand but Harry pushed her gently. ‘I’m coming in, Vera.’ He looked down at Arthur, who had wound the car window down. ‘I’ll only be a tick, Arthur.’
Arthur noticed Vera’s hand shaking as she inserted the key in the lock and he breathed in deeply before blowing his breath out slowly.
Harry slammed the front door and walked round to the driver’s seat. He didn’t say a word as he turned the engine on and pulled away from the kerb. But half way down the road he slammed on the brakes so hard Arthur just saved himself from going through the windscreen. ‘What’s wrong?’
Harry drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. He was silent for a while, then he turned to Arthur. ‘I forgot I had a message for me mam. She only lives three doors away from Vera, and Mary asked me to call in.’
‘You’re a lousy liar, Harry,’ Arthur said. ‘It’s something to do with Vera, isn’t it?’
‘Of course not! What would …’
‘Harry, I know all about Vera’s troubles,’ Arthur interrupted. ‘You see I often call there on me way home from work to take Carol some sweets.’ Seeing Harry’s eyes widen in surprise, Arthur went on quickly, ‘There’s nothing in it, Harry, I swear to God. It’s just that we’re alike, me and Vera. Two lonely, lost souls, without much to look forward to. So we can sympathise with each other, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to who understands.’
Harry’s eyes searched Arthur’s face for several seconds before he spoke. ‘I don’t know what to say, Arthur. I’ve known Vera a long time, nearly all me life, and I’m very fond of her and the kids. It doesn’t seem right to talk about her.’ There was another short silence, then Harry said, ‘Damn and blast Danny Jackson. He’s not fit to wipe Vera’s shoes.’
‘What did he have to say?’
‘He didn’t say anything, that’s what’s worrying me. Didn’t say hello, goodbye, or kiss me backside.’ Harry’s knuckles on the steering wheel were white. ‘He stalked the room like a tiger after its prey, and you could see the anger raging inside him. He wouldn’t say anything while I was there, he knows better, but I had a feeling he would start on Vera the minute I walked out of the house.’
‘I’m going back.’ Arthur had his hand on the door handle when Harry grabbed his arm. ‘Hang on a minute, Arthur. If you rush back there you’ll make things ten times worse for Vera and Carol. Just let’s think things over carefully.’
‘Sit here while she’s getting a hammering?’ Arthur shook his head. ‘No chance! I’m going back.’
This time Harry’s grip was like iron. ‘If you go there, a strange man, what d’you think Danny would make of that? He’d kill Vera, and Carol as well. And don’t think I’m exaggerating, Arthur, ’cos I’m not. You don’t know what Danny Jackson’s like … I do.’
Arthur closed the door. Harry was right. It would look bad for Vera if he went knocking on the door. ‘What shall we do?’
Harry was rubbing his forehead, seeking a solution. ‘Look, I told you my mam and dad live near them, so I’ll drive round the block and stop outside our house. That way I won’t have to pass their window, and Danny will think we’re miles away. I’ll sort something out when we get that far.’
They drove round the block and came to a stop outside the house Harry was born in. Making a motion with his hand to tell Arthur to stay where he was, Harry rapped on his mother’s window. When Lizzie Sedgemoor opened the door, Arthur saw her face light up at the sight of her son. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but as Harry’s finger pointed down the street, Arthur saw the smile leave Lizzie’s face. Then, as Harry went to walk away, she held his arm, as if to physically stop him from doing something she thought was dangerous. But Harry freed his arm, smiled to assure her there was nothing to worry about, then walked the few yards to the third door down.
Arthur left the car to stand beside Mrs Sedgemoor. He didn’t introduce himself, merely smiled. Time enough for pleasantries later. They saw Harry stop outside the door, his head cocked. In a matter of seconds he was hurrying back to them, his face pale and angry. ‘He’s having a go at them, I can hear him. In fact it’s a wonder the whole street can’t hear him. What’s wrong with the neighbours, Mam?’
‘The people in Mary’s old house, it’s their wall that’s next to the Jacksons’, they don’t know Danny. He’s been away all the time they’ve lived there.’ Lizzie looked worried to death. ‘They don’t know Vera that well, either, because you know she doesn’t bother with anyone. They probably don’t like to interfere.’ Lizzie straightened her pinny, and her face was an angry red now. ‘If he touches Carol, I’ll take the brush to him meself.’
‘We’re not just going to stand here, are we?’ Arthur demanded. ‘If you’re not going, I am!’
‘And how are you going to get in?’ Harry’s chest was heaving. ‘If we knock at the door, d’you think he’s going to answer it? Not bloody likely, he’s not!’ Harry scratched his head. ‘Mam, d’you know if they leave their back yard door unlocked?’
‘They haven’t got a lock on it,’ Lizzie said. ‘It’s only on a latch.’
‘I’ll go through yours and down the entry.’ Standing on the top step, Harry looked over his shoulder at Arthur. ‘You stay here, and don’t move.’
‘I’m coming with you,’ Arthur said. ‘You might need some help.’
‘Stand in the entry with me mam, if you must, but don’t come near the house,’ Harry warned. ‘If I need you, I’ll yell.’
Harry lifted the latch, and keeping close to the wall, out of sight of the window, he crept stealthily to the kitchen door.
The noise from inside was enough to urge him forward. As he tried the door, his shoulder was ready to burst it open if necessary, but the handle turned in his hands.
The scene that met his eyes sent him into a rage. Vera was cowering in the corner, next to the fireplace, and Carol was behind her, screaming in terror. One of Danny’s hands was gripping Vera’s neck while the other one was raised to strike. Harry moved quickly, but wasn’t in time to prevent the blow from landing on the side of Vera’s face, sending her reeling.
‘You bastard!’ Harry grabbed Danny by the back of the neck and threw him to the other side of the room. ‘I warned you once before what would happen if you ever raised your hand to Vera or Carol, or have you forgotten? If you have, let me remind you.’
Danny straightened himself up, his face purple with anger. ‘An’ I told you not to interfere between man and wife. This is my ’ouse, so get the hell out of ’ere, quick, before I throw yer out.’
Without taking his eyes off Danny, Harry said to Vera, ‘Take Carol and go up to me mam’s. Go out the back way.’
The sight of Vera leading Carol out of the room incensed Danny further. Roaring like a bull, he charged. ‘I’ll teach yer not to meddle in my affairs.’ Head down, arms waving madly, and eyes bulging, he lunged with full force. But when he threw his fist, Harry sidestepped and the blow landed in the air before Danny hit the floor. Expecting Harry to take advantage while he was down, Danny lifted an arm to shield his face. When the blows he was expecting didn’t rain down on him, he peeped under his elbow to see Harry standing before him, his arms folded. Fooled by Harry’s calm, Danny tried to bluff. ‘Go on, get out if yer too frightened to fight.’
‘Not frightened, Danny, I just don’t like hitting a man when he’s down. So do us both a favour and stand up and fight like a man. Of course you’re not used to fighting with men, are you? Women are more in your line.’
Still Danny didn’t stir. So Harry resorted to more insults. ‘You are a coward, Danny Jackson. A cruel, mean coward. And if you don’t get up off that floor, I’ll drag you out into the street so all the neighbours can see you for what you are. A wife beater.’
And Danny knew by Harry’s tone of voice he meant what he said. So he tried to talk his way out of it. ‘How would you like it if yer wife started goin’ out and leavin’ yer, eh? Wouldn’t like it, would yer? And yer wouldn’t put up with her turnin’ ’er back on yer in bed, either, would yer? Oh, yer don’t know the half of it. She’s a real bitch, is my wife.’
Danny’s whining voice was the last straw. Harry grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and yanked him up. ‘You can either put up a fight, or stand there and be beaten to a pulp, it’s up to you. But either way, I’m going to give you what Vera can’t … a bloody good hiding.’ Harry drew his arm back and threw it forward with his full strength behind it. When he heard it land, he said through clenched teeth, ‘That’s for Vera.’
Chapter Twenty-Five
‘Oh, thank goodness for that!’ Mary sighed with relief as Eileen hurried to answer the knock on the door. ‘Harry’s been gone so long I thought he must have had an accident.’
‘Oh, my God!’ Eileen’s words sent Mary scurrying down the hall to peer over her shoulder. When she saw Harry with Carol in his arms and Vera by his side, her first thought was that her fears had been right, and there had been an accident with the car. Pushing Eileen’s arm aside, she asked, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Can we talk inside, please?’ Harry waited till Vera was in the hall then followed, closing the door behind him with his foot. He lowered Carol to the floor, saying, ‘Run in and see Uncle Bill, there’s a sweetheart.’
‘What’s up?’ Eileen asked, her eyes going from Vera to Harry.
Harry put a finger to his lips. ‘Keep your voice down or you’ll upset Carol. She’s had enough frights in the last hour.’ He explained briefly what had happened, then said, ‘Let’s go inside and we’ll tell you the whole story. But for heaven’s sake don’t raise your voices or you’ll scare the wits out of the poor kid. It’s taken us all our time to calm her down.’
Eileen walked straight to the window in the living room and lifted the net curtain. ‘Our Joan and Edna are in the yard making a tent out of an old blanket, Carol can play with them.’
Bill’s eyes flicked from one to the other, questioning, but Eileen shook her head. ‘Later, love.’
She knocked on the window to attract the girls’ attention, then when they came running in, she told them they could take some of the things out of the cupboard to play shop with. ‘An’ take Carol out with yez.’
With Carol safely out of the way, Eileen sat down. ‘Now, out with it.’ Then she noticed the angry red mark on Vera’s cheek and her eyes rolled upwards. ‘Oh, Danny’s left ’is trademark again, eh?’
Vera lowered her head in shame. ‘I’m sorry to be such a nuisance to all of you, but I couldn’t go back in there the way he was. Not with Carol, anyway.’
‘Tell them what happened, Vera, then I’ll carry on from where I came into it.’ Harry urged her on. ‘You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, just tell them the truth.’
Vera started slowly, then as the anger in her built up, her words poured out. As soon as Harry had left, she told them, Danny had started shouting and swearing. When she didn’t answer, he started pushing her around. Her one thought was to protect Carol, so she carried the child into the corner and stood in front of her. Her action inflamed Danny more, and he started lashing out at her with his fists. All the time he was hitting her he was shouting obscenities and blaming her for making him a laughing stock by giving him a daughter who was a gormless imbecile.
Vera picked at a speck on her coat, and was silent for a while. Then she said, ‘My whole body must be black and blue all over with the belts he gave me. And all I could think of was that I mustn’t black out, because then he would have a go at Carol. I was never so glad to see anyone as I was to see Harry walk through that door, because I couldn’t have taken much more.’ She turned her eyes to Harry. ‘You can tell them the rest.’
Harry told in detail what he had seen when he walked in, and what had happened when Vera left. He ended by saying, ‘He was sitting in a chair with his head in his hands when I came away, nursing his bruises.’
‘I hope yer gave ’im what he deserved.’ Eileen was the first to speak, her voice thick with disgust. ‘He’s an evil man.’ She looked across at her husband. ‘What do you say, Bill?’
‘He’s not a fit husband or father, that’s for sure.’ Bill looked at Vera’s bowed head, and there was sympathy in his voice when he asked, ‘Has he hurt you badly, Vera? D’you think you should see a doctor?’
Vera shook her head. ‘I’m all right. My body is sore and stiff, but I know from experience it’ll ease off in a few days.’
‘She can’t go back home … not today anyway.’ Harry looked at his wife who was standing by Vera’s side. ‘I asked her to come home with us, Mary, but she’s worried about the boys and doesn’t want to go too far away. Me mam tried to persuade her to stay in their house, they’ve got a spare bedroom, but as Vera said, if Danny found out she was there, me mam would get the height of abuse from him.’
‘She’ll stay ’ere,’ Eileen said promptly, having already worked it out in her head. ‘Our Billy can sleep on the couch, and Vera and Carol can ’ave ’is room.’
Vera’s whole body slumped. ‘I can’t put Billy out of his bed, it wouldn’t be fair.’
‘He won’t mind, lass,’ Bill said. ‘It’ll only be till you can get yourself sorted out.’
‘Me mam’s going to watch out for the boys coming home,’ Harry said. ‘And she’ll tell them not to worry, that Vera will get in touch with them tomorrow. She’s going to warn them not to say anything, just to keep quiet and pretend they don’t know anything.’
‘What a bloody life!’ Eileen exploded. ‘We’ve just got one war over an’ Danny Jackson ’as to start one of ’is own! The man’s a ravin’ bloody lunatic.’
‘I know that, Mary, but what can I do?’ Vera cried. ‘I’ve got Carol and the boys to think about. Even if I could get a house, away from Danny, where do I get the money from to keep us?’ She threw her arms wide. ‘I’ve been over it a dozen times in me head, but there’s no answer. I can’t get a job because of Carol, the boys don’t earn enough to keep us, so what do I do? The only thing I can do is stay with Danny.’
‘Where was Arthur while all this was goin’ on?’ Eileen asked. ‘Had yer dropped ’im at the bus stop before yer went back to Vera’s?’
‘No, I left him with me mam.’ For the first time a smile crossed Harry’s face. ‘He was straining at the leash, wanting to come with me to “sort the bastard out”, as he put it. But I didn’t think it was advisable. Mind you,’ Harry chuckled, ‘if the army had turned Danny into a Tarzan, and I’d been in trouble, I’d have yelled me head off for him.’
‘If I’d known what was going on, I’d have been there with you as well,’ Bill said. The thought of anyone harming a hair on Carol’s head was enough to put the normally mild man in a fighting mood. ‘I’ve a good mind to go round there now and tell him what I think about him.’
‘I’m gettin’ jealous now, Vera.’ Eileen kept her face straight. ‘All these men wantin’ to fight over yer … yer’ll ’ave to tell me yer secret.’
‘I think Vera could do with a cup of tea, Eileen.’ Harry stood up. ‘We better be going, love, or your mam will think we’ve left home.’
‘I’ll come up tomorrow and see if there’s anything I can do.’ Mary stroked Vera’s hair. ‘Try not to worry, Danny won’t find you here.’
