MB02 - Last Tram To Lime Street

by Joan Jonker

  Victoria was so lost in thought she missed the opening of the yard door, and before she knew what was happening, Philip was waving to her from the other side of the window. ‘I thought I’d come to the wrong house,’ he called, his handsome face beaming. ‘Proper posh now, aren’t we?’

  Victoria grinned. ‘Yes, you’ll have to wipe your nose and your feet before yer come in now.’ She moved to the kitchen and as soon as he was in the door handed him the letter. ‘This came for you this morning.’

  The smile dropped from his face. ‘For me? I don’t know anyone that would be wanting to write to me.’ He scanned the barely legible writing on the envelope and his heart sank. He’d know that childish, spidery scrawl anywhere.

  ‘Aren’t you going to open it?’

  ‘Nah, I’ll have a look around first, see if I like this electricity lark. If it doesn’t come up to scratch, they can take it away and put the gas back in.’ He laid the envelope casually on the table, hoping that she couldn’t hear the loud beat of his heart. The contents of that letter could only mean trouble, because ‘trouble’ was Tom Bradley’s middle name. ‘I’ll have a look-see upstairs while yer dishing me dinner up, then I’ll wash me hands and read the letter.’

  His air of indifference didn’t fool Victoria at all, and her misgivings grew. He knew who the letter was from, she could tell, and he wasn’t happy about it. If she’d known, she’d have torn the blasted thing up and said nothing.

  ‘How many times have I got to tell yer that yer shouldn’t carry anythin’ heavy?’ Phil came into the room to see her bringing in his heaped plate in her one good but unsteady hand. He rushed to take it from her. ‘Aunt Vicky, yer’ll be the death of me! One of these days yer’ll have an accident.’

  ‘I get so frustrated, not being able to do things.’ Tears were not far from the surface. ‘I’m hopeless and useless.’

  Phil put the plate down and his arms around her shoulders, feeling the frailty of her body through the thin dress she was wearing. ‘You are not hopeless and useless … yer do very well considerin’. But I worry about yer trying to do too much.’ He stroked the white hair from her brow before planting a kiss. ‘Yer the kindest, loveliest person I’ve ever known in me life, an’ I love yer to bits.’

  ‘Oh, Phil.’ Victoria buried her head in his chest. ‘That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.’ She sniffed loudly. ‘God was certainly looking after me the day he sent you along.’

  ‘Yer mean He was looking after me!’ He patted her shoulder before pushing her gently towards a chair. ‘Now, sit yerself down and watch a hungry man lick his plate clean.’

  ‘Aren’t you going to read the letter?’ Victoria couldn’t keep the words back. ‘It might be important.’

  ‘Oh, all right, nosy poke.’ With a fixed smile on his face, Phil tore at the envelope. The smile stayed firm when he took out a piece of paper covered in dirty finger-marks and jam and grease stains. Holding it close to his chest, he read and reread the brief but sinister note which had no address on and was unsigned.

  Thort I’d let yer know I haven’t forgot yer. I’ll turn up when yer least expect it so keep lukin over yer showlder.

  Phil felt his adopted aunt’s eyes on him and held back the sigh that had risen from the very depths of his soul. ‘It’s only from me mam,’ he lied, folding the paper and returning it to the envelope. ‘Just to let me know she’ll get down to the works one day to see me.’

  ‘That was nice of her.’ Victoria sounded relieved. ‘She must miss you, you know.’

  Phil gazed into the faded grey eyes and felt an overwhelming desire to hold the frail elderly lady in his arms and tell her that she’d shown him more love in the short time he’d been with her than his mother ever had. How could he tell her that the Bradley family didn’t know the meaning of the words respect, politeness or compassion? That they never uttered a sentence that didn’t contain obscenities or blasphemy? They weren’t fit to wipe Miss Clegg’s shoes, and although he didn’t know right now how he could protect her from them, by God, he would think of a way.

  ‘I’m goin’ to tuck into this dinner now before it gets cold.’ Phil gave her a cheeky wink. ‘If I can move after gettin’ this lot down me, an’ if yer behave yerself, I’ll make yer a nice cuppa. How does that sound?’

  Molly brushed the dirt into a small mound in the middle of the yard and reached for the shovel standing by the lavvy door. With two brisk strokes she had the dirt on the shovel and emptied it into the bin. There, that was another little job done.

  ‘Is that you, girl?’ Nellie’s voice winged its way over the two yards separating them.

  Molly grinned as she called back, ‘No, it’s someone else.’

  ‘Well, whoever yer are, d’yer feel like a cuppa? Or are yer a miserable bugger like me mate Molly Bennett?’

  ‘How can she be yer mate if yer call her a miserable bugger? I don’t think I’d like you for a friend.’

  ‘Molly Bennett, shut yer gob an’ get yerself up here! I’m dyin’ to know how yer got on last night.’

  ‘Then yer’ll have to prolong yer dying, Nellie, ’cos I’m not stopping for a gossip until I’ve swilled the front and washed me windowsill. I’ve got all me jobs planned out, an’ I’m sticking to me routine.’

  ‘Right ho, Sergeant Major!’ Although no one could see her, Nellie gave a smart salute. ‘I’ll see yer in the street in five minutes.’

  Molly plunged the bucket in the dolly tub and brought it out full to the brim with soapy water left over from the washing she’d done earlier. When she’d swilled the front, she’d throw the rest of the water over the yard … no point wasting good suds.

  Nellie was waiting outside the front door. ‘Throw it, girl, an’ I’ll sweep the pavement.’

  ‘If yer don’t move yerself, Nellie McDonough, I’ll throw it over you!’

  ‘Temper, temper!’ Nellie moved back, resting her hands on top of the handle of the stiff brush, ‘You’re not in a very con … convo … convu …’

  ‘Nellie, I think the word yer looking for is convivial,’ Molly said, grinning as she threw the contents of the bucket over the paving stones.

  Nellie’s eyes darted to where the water was running down the pavement into the gutter. Dipping the bristles of her brush in the small pools that had gathered, she then shook the handle and sent the water spraying over an unsuspecting Molly. ‘I don’t need fancy words to tell yer yer a bad-tempered so-and-so.’

  Drops of water were running from Molly’s hair, nose and chin. Her pinny was sodden and she could feel the dampness seeping through to her knickers. It wasn’t even clean water, either! She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. A sly glance from under her lowered lids showed her Nellie leaning against the wall doubled up with mirth. She felt like joining in the laughter, ’cos it was funny, but she decided she’d get her own back first. ‘Right!’ Molly picked up the bucket and made for the front door. ‘Wait till I fill this an’ see if yer still laughin’ when I pour it over your head. See how you like it.’

  Nellie waddled behind her down the hall, the brush held firmly between her chubby hands. ‘Now hang on a minute, girl! Let’s be reasonable about this … it was only a joke.’

  Molly plunged the bucket into the dolly tub. ‘Then yer won’t mind if the joke’s on you, will yer? So out into the street with yer … go on, on yer way.’

  ‘I ain’t movin’ an inch.’ Nellie planted her feet firmly together. ‘If yer want to throw it over me, then yer’ll have to do it in here, all over yer nice clean floor.’

  Molly lowered the bucket to the floor. ‘Yer’ve got to leave sometime, so I can bide me time.’

  ‘Well, seein’ as how it’s goin’ to be a long wait, can we have a little natter while we’re standin’ here doin’ nothing?’ Nellie asked in all innocence. ‘Like, for instance, how did yer get on with Jack last night over the ’leccy? An’ why didn’t yer come down to ours like yer said yer would?’

  ‘Don’t think yer can talk y
er way out of it, Nellie McDonough, ’cos I’m determined to get me own back on yer.’

  ‘I don’t blame yer for one minute, girl! If it was me, I’d want to get me own back on me too!’ Nellie held her tummy as laughter rumbled. ‘By the way, that water must be filthy, ’cos yer’ve got dirty streaks all down yer face.’

  As Molly reached for the towel hanging from a nail on the kitchen door, she asked herself what she would do without Nellie to brighten up her days. There was never a dull moment when the big woman was around. Holding the end of the towel under the tap, she wet it before wiping it over her face. ‘I thought the trick was going to backfire at first, but then we didn’t half have a laugh.’ She went on to tell her friend in detail what had happened, then listened as Nellie told her it had been the same in their house. ‘I intended coming up to yours,’ Molly said, hanging the towel back on the nail, ‘but young Phil came over, and by the time he left it was too late.’

  ‘What did he want?’

  ‘He went next door first, but the kids told him Corker and Ellen had gone for a drink so he came here. The poor lad was out of his mind with worry about this letter he’d had.’

  When Molly explained what was in the letter, Nellie’s chins wobbled with indignation. ‘The ruddy swine! What that Bradley feller needs is to meet someone like Corker in a dark alley one night … put the fear of God into him.’

  ‘Phil’s in a terrible state about it. He’s got it into his head that they’ll do somethin’ to frighten Victoria.’

  ‘I can’t see them comin’ down here, girl, not if they’ve got any sense. Everyone in the street has got their eyes peeled for them.’

  ‘I told Phil that, but he said we don’t know them like he does. They want him home for his few bob a week, and they’ll move heaven an’ earth to get Victoria to throw him out.’

  ‘She’ll not do that! She thinks the world of him.’

  ‘Aye, well, we’ll just have to hope nothing comes of it. But the letter has certainly upset the lad. Last night he looked as though he had all the troubles of the world on his shoulders.’ Molly folded her arms and leaned against the sink. ‘One good thing came out of it, though, and that seemed to cheer him up. As I was seein’ him to the door, who came in but our Doreen! And surprise, surprise, she actually smiled and said “hello” to him.’

  Nellie used her tummy as a ledge to rest her arms on while taking in this latest bit of juicy gossip. ‘Go ’way, she never did?’

  ‘Scout’s honour! That’s as far as it went, like, ’cos she came straight through to the living room. But it’s a start. And the lad was as pleased as Punch, I could tell.’

  ‘She could do a lot worse than young Phil.’ Nellie nodded knowingly. ‘I wouldn’t mind havin’ him for a son-in-law.’

  ‘That’s rushing things a bit,’ Molly laughed. ‘But I think before the next week is out, they’ll be dating.’ She put her hands on her friend’s shoulders, ‘Now, missus, have you got a home to go to?’

  ‘Okay, okay! I don’t need a house to fall on me to know when I’m not wanted.’ Nellie got halfway to the door, then turned. Delving into her apron pocket, she brought out a tattered purse. ‘I nearly forgot to ask, have yer got three pennies for a thru’penny joey? Me gas is likely to go before me ham shank is cooked.’

  Molly reached up to the top shelf where she kept her coppers. ‘I’ll get some change when I go to the shops, I’m nearly out meself.’

  ‘Ta, girl!’

  Molly watched her friend sway through the living room, then eyed the full bucket of water at her feet. No, don’t do it, she warned herself. Then the mischievous part of her mind egged her on. Go on, she’d do it to you if she was in your place.

  Picking up the handle of the zinc bucket gently so as not to make a noise, Molly tiptoed down the hall. Nellie would be almost at her door now. She wouldn’t throw the water over her, just aim for the ground around her feet. Grinning at the thought of getting her own back, Molly stepped into the street and came face to face with Nellie.

  Shaking her head and sending her chins in all directions, the big woman said, ‘Yer didn’t really think yer’d catch me out that easy, did yer, girl? God, yer must think I came over on the banana boats!’

  ‘Helen Theresa McDonough, if I had the energy to lift this flamin’ bucket I’d empty the whole lot over yer.’

  ‘Tut, tut, temper!’ Laughing eyes disappeared as the fat on Nellie’s cheeks moved upwards. ‘I’ll tell yer what, girl, seein’ as yer me best mate, I’ll help yer out. Now I can’t be fairer than this, can I, when I tell yer how yer can get one over on me?’

  Molly’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘How come I’ve got a horrible feelin’ I’m goin’ to come off second best again?’

  ‘’Cos yer already have!’ Nellie walked away chuckling. ‘Yer see, girl, the secret is bein’ like the bird what got up early to catch the worm.’

  ‘Are you callin’ me a worm, Nellie McDonough?’

  Nellie turned, a look of mock horror on her face. ‘Now would I do a thing like that? After all, we’re mates … so if I called you a worm, I’d have to call meself one.’

  ‘Well, with you I could see a resemblance.’ Molly was well pleased with herself because she had a feeling that for once she was going to get the last word in. ‘I’ve seen you worm yerself out of more scrapes than anyone I know.’

  Nellie held up her hands in surrender. ‘You win, girl! I can’t think of an answer to that. Mind you, I might come up with one by the time I come to yours for afternoon tea.’

  Molly gaped. ‘Who invited you for afternoon tea?’

  ‘You did, about half an hour ago.’

  ‘You flamin’ liar! I did no such thing, Nellie McDonough!’

  Nellie shook her head, a look of sadness on her face. ‘It breaks me heart to see yer goin’ down the nick, girl. Why don’t yer go an’ see yer doctor, see if he can give yer somethin’ to help yer memory? I’ve noticed yer gettin’ very forgetful lately.’ She pecked at her bottom lip. ‘I bet yer’ve even forgot that yer said I’d be getting a cream slice with me afternoon tea.’

  Nellie just had time to hop on to the step before the bucket of water was emptied at her feet.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  There was a broad beam on Mary Watson’s face as she let the net curtain fall back into place. ‘They’re all off to the pub for a farewell drink with Corker,’ she told her husband. ‘He goes back off leave tomorrow.’

  Harry lowered the evening paper. ‘Who d’yer mean by all?’

  ‘The usual gang … Molly and Jack, Nellie, George, Molly’s ma and pa, and Ellen an’ Corker.’ Mary pulled a chair out and sat down. ‘There’ll be some fun there tonight, ’cos when Molly an’ Nellie get together there’s no stopping them. This mornin’ they had me laughing so much I had a pain in me side.’

  ‘Oh, aye!’ The comic duo had given Harry many a chuckle and there was a smile of anticipation on his face when he asked, ‘What were they up to?’

  ‘It was only half past nine, I hadn’t been back long from takin’ the girls to school, and I was washing the front step when Nellie shouted over on her way to Molly’s.’ To do justice to her impersonation, Mary pushed her chair back. ‘I’ll have to stand up to tell yer what happened next. Just pretend I’m Molly, opening the door to Nellie.’ Mary swept her arm wide to open an imaginary door. ‘In the name of God, Nellie, what yer doin’ knockin’ this time of the morning? I’m sure yer tryin’ to haunt me … every time I turn around, there yer are, like me flamin’ shadow.’

  Mary changed position to indicate she was taking over another personality. Puffing her chest out, she folded her arms, a habit of Nellie’s that was familiar to everyone in the street. ‘Ay, girl, if your shadow is the same size as me, then I think yer should get yer eyes tested. After all, anyone with half an eye can see I’m a few pounds heavier than you.’

  Harry guffawed as he banged his fist on the table. ‘A few pounds! More like six stone!’

  Mary clutc
hed her tummy and doubled up. ‘It’s the expressions on their faces that make it so funny.’ She pulled a chair out and flopped down. ‘Nellie had been up to the corner shop and Maisie had shown her the new vacuum cleaner she’s bought. Of course, Nellie thought it was magic and was tryin’ to coax Molly up to the shop so she could see for herself the machine that sucks up the dirt. Poor Molly kept saying, “Will yer go away, Nellie?” But once Nellie gets into her stride, there’s no stoppin’ her.’

  ‘So what happened in the end?’

  ‘Well, I suppose yer could call it a draw. Molly refused point-blank to go to the shop, but after half an hour she ended up askin’ Nellie in for a cup of tea to shut her up.’

  ‘You could have gone with them tonight for a drink, yer know,’ Harry said. ‘I’m here to listen for Bella.’

  ‘No, I’d be the odd one out … a gooseberry. Anyway, I wouldn’t want to go without you. When Bella’s a bit older, then we’ll have plenty of time to go out together.’ Mary pushed her chair back and stood up. ‘I think I’ll nip up to the corner shop though, and treat meself to a quarter of mint imperials.’

  Coins jingled as Harry fished in his pocket and brought out a sixpenny piece. ‘Here yer are, I’ll mug yer to a slab of chocolate.’

  ‘Who’s a lovely man, then?’ Mary rounded the table and planted a noisy kiss on his cheek. ‘I’ll slip out the back in case our Bella’s still awake an’ hears the front door open.’

  Mary glanced up and down the entry as she let the latch fall into place. There was no one about except for a solitary man walking towards her. He held her attention because he was walking so close to the wall his clothes were brushing the brickwork. Mary didn’t recognise him from Adam and wouldn’t have given him a second glance, but there was something shifty about him that aroused her suspicion. A flat cap was pulled so low over his forehead that the peak hid most of his face from view, a white knitted scarf was tied in a knot at his throat and he was carrying what appeared to be a workman’s tool bag.