MB02 - Last Tram To Lime Street

by Joan Jonker

  Molly smiled as the memory came flooding back. ‘Yeah! She did a good job there, the crafty little madam. Planned it like a military operation.’

  ‘Couldn’t we do something like that?’

  Molly glanced at the clock and pushed her chair back. ‘We’ll talk about it another time … right now I’ve got to see to Ruthie. It’s my turn to take her an’ Bella to school. I’ll be glad when she’s old enough to go on her own. I feel more like flying than walkin’ all that way.’

  ‘Now, Mam,’ Jill said, ‘remember what you’re always telling us about wishing our lives away?’

  Molly turned at the door, a huge grin on her face. ‘I know. I’m fond of givin’ other people advice but refuse to follow it meself. I’m what polite people would call contrary … but if yer weren’t polite, like me mate Nellie, then yer’d say I was just plain bloody awkward.’

  ‘Can yer throw us a bag of nutty slack in as well, Tucker?’

  The coalman took his jacket off and threw it on the long wooden seat in the front of his cart. Wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of a blackened hand, he blew out a deep breath. ‘The weather’s beautiful, but no good when yer luggin’ bags of coal around.’ He gazed up at Molly, who was standing on the top step. ‘I’m not gettin’ me usual delivery, Molly, so to be fair I’m rationin’ me customers to one bag each.’

  Molly opened her mouth with the intention of wheedling an extra bag, but her conscience stopped her. Her coalhole was full because she wasn’t lighting the fire so much with the weather being warm, so it would be greedy to ask for more. Tucker was right, he had to be fair to all his customers. ‘Just give us the bag of nutty slack, then. The coal lasts longer when the fire’s banked down with a shovelful of slack.’

  Tucker spanked his faithful horse on the rump to signal it was time to move up to the side entry. ‘I bet yer glad to see the back of the workmen, Molly.’

  ‘Yer can say that again! We’ve been in a right mess for the last few weeks, but today’s the big day an’ I can’t wait. They’re still doin’ a few little wiring jobs in the house, but they said they’ll definitely be finished this afternoon.’

  Tucker heard a door opening nearby and grinned when Nellie appeared. ‘Look out, here comes trouble.’

  ‘Ay, you watch it!’ Nellie wagged a chubby finger. ‘Any more cheek out of you an’ I’ll clock yer one.’ Suddenly her face creased and she fell back against the wall, clutching her tummy as her whole body shook with laughter.

  ‘Oh, aye,’ Molly said, walking towards her friend, ‘what’s tickled yer fancy now?’

  Nellie shook her head, unable to speak. Then, trying to compose herself, and gulping in air, she spluttered, ‘I … I was just thinkin’, I’d be wasting me energy givin’ him a black eye. Have yer seen the colour of his face? It’s as black as the hobs of hell! If he had two shiners, sky-blue pink with a finny haddy border, no one would flamin’ notice!’

  ‘Take no heed of her, Tucker.’ Molly winked broadly. ‘She’s havin’ one of her funny half-hours. If she doesn’t have at least three a day, I worry about her.’

  When Tucker winked back, the white of his eyelid showed in sharp contrast to the rest of his face. ‘Well, she can laugh the other side of her face now, ’cos by insulting me she’s talked herself out of a bag of coal.’

  Nellie straightened up. Moving her hands from her tummy to cover her heart, and with a straight face, she struck a dramatic pose. ‘Oh, sir, I didn’t mean no harm. Won’t you take pity on a poor woman with a husband out of work and twelve children to care for?’ With a sob in her voice, she stretched her arms wide and fixed a pained expression on her face that would have put Bette Davis’ acting in the shade. ‘Please, sir,’ she begged, ‘I’ll do anythin’ yer ask … even let yer have yer wicked way with me … but don’t deprive me poor kids.’

  Molly started to clap. ‘Yer gettin’ better, Nellie! If yer don’t end up in films one day, I’ll eat me hat. At least, I would if I had a hat.’

  The neighing of Tucker’s horse had him walking backwards towards the entry. ‘I’ll throw yer a bag in, Nellie,’ he grinned, ‘but I want payin’ for it. Yer acting was good, but not that good.’

  ‘Ay, hang on a minute,’ Nellie called, ‘what about havin’ yer wicked way with me? Surely that’s worth a bag of ruddy coal?’

  His hands reaching backwards over his shoulders to grab the ends of a sack, Tucker roared, ‘Nellie, yer’d kill me!’

  ‘Yeah, but what a lovely way to die! Just think, yer’d still have a smile on yer face when they were nailing the lid of yer coffin down.’

  ‘In the name of God, she’d get yer hung, this one! Yer never know what she’s goin’ to come out with next!’ Molly tutted. ‘Now get in our house, Nellie McDonough, before I die of shame.’

  ‘I only came down to cadge some sugar so I could have a cuppa,’ Nellie protested as she was pushed unceremoniously up Molly’s steps. ‘I’ll pay yer back when I go to the shops.’

  ‘Here we go again! Yer like the cow’s tail … always on the bum.’

  ‘Well, I like that!’ Nellie grunted, swaying down the hall. ‘I’ll have yer know I wouldn’t be askin’ if it wasn’t for me being so kind-hearted. Mrs Gillespie sent their Betty down to borrow some for her feller’s breakfast, an’ I gave her what was in the bag, thinkin’ I had another full one in the cupboard. Only I was wrong, yer see, ’cos when I got to the cupboard it was like Old Mother Hubbard’s … bare.’

  ‘I haven’t got much meself,’ Molly called from the kitchen where she was filling the kettle. ‘The ruddy workmen are drinkin’ me out of house an’ home.’

  ‘Won’t be long now, girl!’ Nellie said, shaking her head as she eyed the couch. Thank you very much, she thought, but I’m not getting stuck on you again! A nice piece of furniture you may be to look at, but you should come complete with block and tackle! So she opted for a chair. ‘Remember me tellin’ yer that George wasn’t the least bit excited about gettin’ the ’leccy on, an’ you said Jack was the same? Well, I’m gettin’ me own back on him tonight. I’ve got a nice little trick lined up for him.’

  ‘Oh, aye!’ Molly set the two cups of steaming tea on the table. ‘Tell me more.’

  Nellie leaned closer. ‘Even if I do say it meself, it’s a masterpiece, this. So pin yer ears back, girl, and listen to what I’ve got planned for my beloved.’

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jack let his eyes travel slowly from the naked light bulb up to the moulding in the centre of the ceiling from where the length of flex was suspended. ‘Yer mean to tell me they’ve left us without any light at all? Taken the gas fittings away before they were ready to switch the electric on?’

  ‘I know … it’s maddening, isn’t it?’ Molly had to turn her head away to hide the sparkle in her eyes. ‘I played merry hell with the workmen, but they said they couldn’t do anythin’ about it today, it was late and their knockin’-off time. The foreman said somethin’ about a fault on the cable … somethin’ like that.’

  ‘Well, I must say it’s a pretty kettle of fish. What are we supposed to do when it goes dark? Feel our way around?’ Jack reached for the switch on the wall and flicked it up and down several times before grunting, ‘Stupid buggers.’

  ‘Oh, it won’t hurt us for one night. I’ve got a couple of candles ready, we’ll have to make do with those.’ Molly glared at the three girls, who sat around the table, their dinners forgotten as they nudged each other and bit on their lips. If they didn’t take those smirks off their faces, sure as eggs they’d give the game away. ‘You lot get on with yer dinner or it’ll be stiff.’ With that, she marched through to the kitchen to get Jack and Tommy’s dinner out of the oven. But as she turned the knob on the door of the stove, she allowed a smile to settle on her face for a few seconds. They’d fallen for it hook, line and sinker, just like Nellie had said they would. She couldn’t wait to see their faces when she switched the power on. All she had to do was push down the lever at the side of the
new meter, like the workman had shown her, and hey presto, the lights would come on. It was as easy as falling off a bike.

  ‘You’re up late tonight, love.’ Jack smiled at Ruthie as he picked up his knife and fork. ‘How come?’

  ‘Me mam said I could stay up a bit later ’cos I’ve been a good girl, didn’t yer, Mam?’ Ruthie was swinging her legs backwards to kick the bottom of her chair. ‘I came top of the class in sums today.’

  ‘Clever girl!’

  ‘She’s always swanking.’ Tommy’s muffled voice came through a mouthful of potato. ‘I bet she doesn’t even know her two times table.’

  Ruthie stuck her tongue out. ‘Yes I do, so there! One two is two, two twos are four, three twos are six …’

  ‘All right, sunshine, we’ll take your word for it.’ Molly ruffled her youngest daughter’s hair. ‘Keep yer legs still and stop kickin’ me good chairs.’ A bright flash took her eyes to the window just as lights flared in the upstairs and downstairs windows of the house opposite. Oh Lord, she groaned to herself, it’s getting dusk out and soon every house in the street will be lit up. ‘It’s only our side that’s affected.’ She crossed her fingers behind her back as the lie left her mouth. ‘The houses across the street are okay.’

  ‘Seems fishy to me,’ Jack said, mopping up his gravy with a piece of bread. ‘I’m surprised they were allowed to knock off before the job was finished.’

  Molly began to collect the empty plates. She’d only let Ruthie stay up late because the child was so intrigued with the new lighting she’d probably have been hopping in and out of bed playing with the switch and spoiled everything. But it was way past her bedtime and the sooner the charade was over, the sooner she could take her upstairs. ‘Doreen, you give Jill a hand with the dishes while I get Ruthie undressed.’

  Jack had bought the evening Echo on his way home from work and he went into the hall to get it from the pocket of his jacket. ‘I may as well not have bothered buying this.’ He waved the paper in the air. ‘I’ll never be able to read in this light.’

  ‘Wait till I shake the tablecloth out, then I’ll light yer a candle.’ Molly suppressed a giggle. ‘If yer stand it on the mantelpiece yer should be able to see to read.’

  The two older girls were standing at the sink, doubled up with silent laughter. ‘Mam, me dad will kill yer for this,’ Doreen tittered, ‘he’ll have yer guts for garters.’

  ‘He’ll have to get through you first, ’cos I’ll make sure I’m standin’ behind yer.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Mam,’ Jill whispered, ‘I’ll protect you.’

  Molly put a finger to her lips. ‘Yez know the plan. Doreen, you go upstairs and make sure all the light switches are down … don’t forget the landing and the hall. This one’s all right, so is the one in the living room. All you’ve got to do, Jill, when yer hear me striking a match to light the candle, is pull that lever down. Okay?’

  ‘I’ll run up now,’ Doreen said, tapping Jill on the shoulder. ‘I’ll only be a tick, then I’ll dry the dishes.’

  Molly took a deep breath and put on a straight face as she gazed towards the ceiling. If Jack doesn’t see the funny side of this, Nellie McDonough, she thought, so help me I’ll flatten yer.

  ‘Come on, sunshine, let’s get yer ready for bed.’ Molly pulled Ruthie’s gymslip over her head. ‘A quick cat’s lick and a promise, then it’s up the wooden stairs for you.’

  ‘This is bloody ridiculous!’ Jack, holding the newspaper just inches from his face, sounded frustrated and impatient. ‘I can’t see a flamin’ thing!’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, love!’ Molly heard her daughter’s footsteps running down the stairs and winked as Doreen dashed through to the kitchen. ‘I went out to get you a candle and forgot what I’d gone for. I must be gettin’ forgetful in me old age.’ She picked Ruthie up and set her on a chair. ‘I won’t be a minute, sunshine.’

  ‘Yer know, for two pins I’d come home in me dinner hour tomorrow and give these workmen a piece of my mind,’ Jack called after her. ‘I’ve never heard anythin’ like it … leaving folks in the dark! It shouldn’t be allowed.’

  ‘I’ll come with yer,’ offered Tommy, who was sitting on the couch waiting patiently for the dishes to be finished so he could get washed before going up to Ginger’s. ‘If yer ask me, I think they’ve got a ruddy cheek.’

  In the kitchen, Molly and her two daughters were huddled together, trying to muffle their laughter. ‘If I don’t go to the lavvy soon, I’ll wet meself,’ Molly spluttered. ‘Yer dad’s got a right cob on.’

  ‘An’ did yer hear our Tommy, the big he-man?’ Doreen’s hand was covering her mouth. ‘He wants to sort the workmen out! They’d make mincemeat of him!’

  ‘Hush now,’ Molly warned. ‘Give us that candle and the box of matches. An’ don’t forget, as soon as yer hear me strike the match, switch on.’

  Placing the candle in the middle of an old chipped saucer, Molly carried it through. ‘Where d’yer want it? On the hearth or the mantelpiece?’

  ‘Makes no odds.’ Jack sounded grumpy. ‘It won’t make a ha’porth of difference no matter where yer put it.’

  ‘Well, hold the damn thing while I strike a match.’

  The match was halfway down the strip of sandpaper when it burst into flame, and at the same instant the room flooded with light.

  ‘What the … ?’ Jack fell back against the chair, his mouth gaping, his eyes blinking rapidly against the sudden glare. It took a few seconds to adjust to the brightness, then he noticed the figures of his two daughters silhouetted in the light coming from the kitchen. He turned his head to see that the hallway was also well lit. ‘They must have found the fault and put it right.’

  Tommy opened his mouth to agree, then closed it without saying a word. Frowning, he looked from his mother to the two girls by the kitchen door, then to his kid sister. And it was the look of mischief on Ruthie’s face that confirmed his suspicions. ‘They’ve been pullin’ our legs, Dad! Can’t yer see, we’ve been had!’ He fell forward, and with his head resting on his knees shook with laughter. ‘Oh, God, wait till I tell Ginger!’

  Jack looked bewildered. ‘Will you stop acting daft an’ tell me what yer find so funny?’

  Tommy turned his head, tears of laughter running freely down his cheeks. ‘Ask me mam.’ His body shook as a fresh outburst threatened. ‘This has got to be the funniest stunt she’s ever pulled.’

  ‘Stunt!’ Jack blazed at Molly. ‘Is he crazy? ’Cos if he’s not, then you are about to get yer neck broken.’

  Molly beckoned the two older girls over. ‘Stand in front of me an’ hit him with the poker if he so much as lays a finger on me.’ She peered between the two blonde heads. ‘It was like this, yer see, Jack. Me an’ Nellie were talkin’ and sayin’ how miserable you an’ George were about …’

  As Molly’s voice droned on, Jack eyed the scene before him. He could see tears of laughter on the faces of his two elder daughters as they stood like sentries protecting their mother. And as he looked, Ruthie came to stand in front of the trio. There was an expression of puzzlement on her pixie-like face that told Jack she couldn’t understand why he wasn’t amused like everyone else. And when she planted her feet firmly apart, stretched her arms wide like a shield and glared at him defiantly, he had to bite hard on the inside of his cheek to keep a grin at bay.

  Molly had stopped talking and her eyes were narrowed to slits. ‘I know you, Jack Bennett, it’s takin’ yer all yer time to keep yer gob straight, isn’t it?’

  There was silence for a few seconds as they waited with bated breath for his response. Then, when his loud laughter bounced off the walls, they all let loose. ‘Dad, yer should ’ave seen yer face,’ Doreen spluttered. ‘Talk about a picture no artist could paint.’

  ‘Yeah, it was good, wasn’t it, Dad?’ Ruthie pushed her fringe out of her eyes before scrambling on to his knee. ‘Wasn’t me mam clever to think of pullin’ yer leg like that?’

  ‘Ooh, hang on a minute,’
Molly said. ‘Before I take any credit, I want to make sure yer dad’s laughing an’ not having hysterics. If it’s hysterics then Nellie can take the blame. If it’s funny ha-ha laughter, then I’ll sit back an’ bask in the glory.’

  Jack couldn’t control himself. Banging his clenched fists on the arms of the chair, he rocked back and forth. In his mind’s eye he could see himself holding the Echo two inches from his face, his eyes squinting while he cursed to high heaven. He must have looked a right nit! And holding the candle while Molly struck a match … Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! He’d never hear the end of this lark.

  In the house opposite, Victoria Clegg moved from one foot to the other as she kept watch through the back window for the entry door to open, heralding Philip’s arrival. She could smell the pan of stew simmering on the stove in the kitchen and hoped he wouldn’t be too long in case it boiled dry. Not that he was any later than usual; he worked overtime most nights. But tonight there were two special reasons she was eager for the sight of the boy she’d grown so fond of. The first was the electric light, which he’d see as soon as he opened the entry door because she’d left the curtains open and the whole yard was lit up. And the second and more exciting reason was the letter she was holding in her hand. When the postman had delivered it this morning she’d been full of misgivings, worrying that it might be from his family, asking him to go back to them. She’d got so used to him now she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. He gave her a reason for living and she’d be devastated if he left her. But as the day had progressed, she’d talked herself out of that possibility. He’d never go back to that family, not Philip, not after what they’d done. So the letter must be from a friend, and this idea delighted her. It would be lovely for him to have friends, people his own age he could go out with. He could even invite them here and she’d make them more than welcome.