The Pride of Polly Perkins

by Joan Jonker

  John knew only too well what loneliness was. He’d grown accustomed to it over the years and had accepted that this was how it was going to be for the rest of his life. It was Ada Perkins who had opened his eyes to what he was missing. A wife who was considerate, warm-hearted and loving.

  ‘Well, that’s me lot.’ Ada struggled to her feet and picked up the bucket and the wooden box which contained the furniture polish, Brasso, blacklead and dusters. ‘There’s nothin’ else yer want doin’, is there, Mr John?’

  ‘No, that’s fine, thank you.’ He was willing himself to say something that would keep her there, but no words would come until she was walking through the door. ‘Ada!’

  She stopped but didn’t turn around right away. That was the first time he’d used her first name and she was taken by surprise. ‘Yes, did yer want something?’ she asked, her back still to him.

  ‘Would you come back for a minute, please?’

  After laying down the working utensils, she wiped her hands down the front of her pinny before walking back to stand in front of the highly polished desk. ‘Yes?’

  John coughed nervously as his mind sought the right words. ‘I just wondered how you were managing for money. I know it’s none of my business and you are within your rights to tell me so. But I want you to know I’m asking as a friend.’

  ‘We’re doin’ all right, Mr John. We’re not livin’ in the lap of luxury an’ I’d be tellin’ lies if I said it wasn’t a struggle. But we scrape along.’

  ‘Ada, I’m going to ask you something. But before I do, will you promise not to take umbrage and put your coat on and walk away from this house for ever?’

  Ada, though mystified, smiled. ‘If umbrage means will I take the huff, then no, of course not. Yer’ve been too good to me for me to do that.’

  ‘If you do get mad, throw the bucket of water over me. But don’t stand on your pride and walk out.’ John took a deep breath. ‘You’re not really managing for money, are you?’

  ‘I’ve just said it’s a struggle, but we get along. Don’t you worry about us, Mr John, we’re fine.’

  John looked away from the forced brightness of her eyes. ‘Then why are you wearing a pair of shoes with the soles worn through?’

  It was anger and not pride that made Ada say, ‘Because I haven’t had time to go to Paddy’s market to get a pair of second-hand ones, that’s why!’ Then she banged a clenched fist on his desk. ‘No, that’s a lie! I did go to the market one day for a pair of shoes, but they were for me son, Joey. His had gone too small for him an’ the poor kid could hardly walk. So he was me first priority. This afternoon I’m goin’ to the market again for a pair of shoes, this time for Polly, me daughter. The sole’s hangin’ off hers. Next week will be my turn, then we’ll all have decent shoes on our feet. All second-hand, mind, but we can’t afford to be proud. At least we won’t be barefoot.’

  This was a long speech for Ada, and John watched with admiration the changing emotions mirrored on her face. Anger had put colour in her cheeks and a sparkle in her deep brown eyes.

  ‘I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, Ada, but I did it out of concern for you. Now, do you want to get that bucket of water and throw it over me, or are we still on speaking terms?’

  Ada glared at him for several seconds, before shaking her head. ‘I’m not in that much of a temper that I’d spoil that expensive suit. An’ I’m not falling out with yer, Mr John, ’cos I know yer mean well. But I’m livin’ on a shoe-string an’ have to do the best I can. What I haven’t got, or can’t afford, we have to do without.’

  ‘You don’t have to go without, I’ll help you.’ John saw her eyes widen and quickly went on, ‘There’d be no strings attached, I can assure you my intentions are strictly honourable. I have more money than I need, and helping you would be one way of getting satisfaction out of the money I have.’

  ‘I can’t take money off yer, Mr John, not without earnin’ it. What would that make me!’

  John knew he would have to tread carefully if he wasn’t to offend her pride. ‘There is a way you can earn it, unless you’ve too much work on already. As you know, I keep a lot of clothes here but have to take my shirts and other items home to be washed and ironed. It would be of enormous help to me if you could work an extra hour to keep my wardrobe in order.’

  Ada looked at him through narrowed eyes. ‘What about Aggie? She’s been here a long time, she’d think I was pushin’ her nose out an’ I wouldn’t want that. She’s been good to me, has Aggie.’

  ‘I’ll ask Agnes if it would make you feel better, but I know beforehand what she’ll say.’ To Ada’s amazement he adopted Aggie’s voice. ‘Here, Mr John, what d’yer think I am, a ruddy horse! Yer can iron yer own bleedin’ shirts, or get that wife of yours to do ’em.’

  Ada laughed aloud. ‘I can almost hear her! She does have a certain way with words, does Aggie.’

  ‘Usually words that are not in the English Dictionary.’ It was John’s turn to laugh aloud and Ada was surprised at the difference it made to him.

  ‘D’yer know, yer look ten years younger when yer laugh.’

  ‘In that case I’ll go around with a permanent grin on my face.’ Why does she have the power to make me feel a different man when she’s around? John asked himself. The answer came back promptly. Because she’s warm and natural, with no falseness about her. No made-up face, no fancy expensive clothes, no cloying smell of perfume and no putting on airs. And above all, she treats me like a man. ‘I’ll put it to Agnes so there’s no ill-feeling, but as I know what she’ll say, can I ask if you’d be prepared to work an extra hour or so?’

  ‘Yeah, it suits me as long as it doesn’t upset me mate downstairs. I can’t work over on a Saturday, though, ’cos it’s too much of a rush. But I’ll stay an extra hour at night, as long as I have notice. I don’t want me children to worry if I’m late home. They might think I’ve run off with the coalman.’

  Ada walked into the ward to find Tommy sitting in a chair at the side of his bed. His pale face lit up when he saw her, and at the sight of the bunch of roses his eyebrows almost touched his hairline. ‘Have yer come into money, love?’

  ‘These are off Polly, aren’t they lovely? They come with all her love, an’ Joey’s.’

  Tommy had been told about his daughter’s weekend work, but without the real reason for it. He thought she was doing it as a favour to an old lady, although he knew she got a few bob for it. ‘She shouldn’t be spendin’ her money on me,’ he said, but inwardly he was delighted that he was still in the thoughts of his children. ‘Give her my thanks an’ a whoppin’ big kiss. An’ Joey, of course. Don’t leave him out.’

  ‘Joey won’t be left out! He’s come on a lot in the last few months, even starting to answer me back, the little tinker.’

  Tommy laughed. ‘He’ll need to stick up for himself when he starts school, otherwise he’ll get picked on.’

  Ada saw a nurse further down the ward. ‘I’ll give these to the nurse an’ she can put them in water. I won’t be a tick.’

  When she came back she sat on the side of the bed. ‘How are yer, love? Yer look a lot brighter.’

  ‘I’ve been for a walk in the grounds an’ the fresh air an’ sunshine have cheered me up a bit. But I do get fed up, Ada, the days seem to drag. All I’ve got to look forward to is seein’ you on a Sunday. I miss yer so much, an’ I miss the children.’

  ‘Ay, never mind sayin’ yer’ve got nothing to look forward to – of course yer have! When yer better yer’ll be coming home, isn’t that somethin’ to look forward to? An’ as for missing me an’ the kids, the same goes for us as well. The kids never stop asking when yer’ll be home, they miss yer somethin’ terrible. As for me – well, that bed is awful lonely without yer.’

  ‘I haven’t been capable of being a real husband to yer for a long time, have I, love?’

  ‘There’s more to marriage than what goes on in bed, Tommy, an’ to me yer always have been, an’ always will be, the be
st husband in the world. I wouldn’t swap yer for a big clock.’

  ‘An’ I wouldn’t swap you for all the tea in China.’ Tommy reached for her hand and stroked it with his thumb. ‘How are the jobs goin’, love? Not overdoin’ it, are yer?’

  ‘No, I’m fine. The mornin’ one is hard going, but the one with Mr Roscoe is a doddle. In fact, it’s a pleasure to work there. Me an’ Aggie get on like a house on fire – she’s an absolute scream. When yer come home I’ll invite her down to meet yer. Her language is a bit choice, but yer get used to it after a while.’ Ada smiled into his eyes. ‘I know yer won’t be able to work for a while after they let you out of here, but when yer are well enough I’m still goin’ to keep one of the jobs on so we’re never down to rock bottom again. Unless Polly gets a decent job when she leaves school, o’ course. In that case, I’ll retire an’ live the life of Riley.’

  ‘I don’t care how we live as long as I get home.’ There was a catch in Tommy’s voice. ‘I love me family an’ I just want to be back with them, back where I belong.’

  Chapter Eleven

  Ada was pegging Polly’s gymslip on the line when she heard her neighbour emptying her ashcan into the bin set in the wall, and singing at the top of her voice. Ada chuckled. ‘Is that you, Dolly?’

  ‘No, it’s Jeanette MacDonald,’ came the reply. ‘Practisin’ for me next film.’

  Ada laughed. ‘Yer know, it’s times like this when I’m glad I never ’ave the time or money to go to the pictures. I always thought Jeanette MacDonald was a good singer.’

  ‘Well, people thought so until I came on the scene. She’s not a patch on me for singin’, or for looks come to that.’ Dolly banged the bin lid down. ‘Have yer got time for a cuppa? I’ve got somethin’ I think yer’ll be interested in.’

  ‘Yeah, all right. Put the kettle on an’ I’ll have the rest of me washing out by the time it’s boiled.’

  When Ada opened the front door the noise out in the street was deafening. Children seemed to be everywhere … girls jumping with their skipping ropes or playing hopscotch, several groups of boys were playing footie and two were even swinging from the lamp-posts. Thank goodness it was the last week of the school summer holidays. There’d been no peace in the street for the past seven weeks, what with the kids fighting between themselves, balls being kicked through windows and arguments between neighbours over whose child was responsible and who was going to fork out for a new pane of glass.

  The trouble was, Ada thought as she pulled the door behind her, the holidays were far too long and the children got bored. There was no money around for them to go to a matinée every afternoon, so the only place they could play was in the street.

  Joey was sat on the kerb with his feet in the gutter, watching what the other children got up to. He turned his head when he heard the door bang. ‘Where yer goin’, Mam?’

  ‘Only next door, sunshine, I won’t be long. Yer can come with me if yer like.’

  ‘Nah, I’ll stay here. It’s better than sittin’ in the house.’

  ‘Don’t yer move away from yer own front door, d’yer hear?’ Ada gave a brisk rap on Dolly’s knocker. ‘Tap on the window if yer want me, but do it gently. Don’t put the ruddy glass in.’

  ‘Come in, girl, the tea’s made.’ Dolly pressed back against the wall to let her neighbour pass. ‘And I’ve got fresh milk so yer in luck.’

  When she was seated with a cup of steaming tea in front of her, Ada asked, ‘What have yer got that might interest me?’

  ‘Some things Les picked up on his round.’ Dolly pointed to a neat pile of clothing on the couch. ‘There’s a couple of dresses there that look brand new. They won’t fit me, I can’t get them over me bust. But with you not havin’ no bust, they’d fit you.’

  Ada placed her cup back in the saucer. They weren’t the china ones – those were long gone. Dolly had kept them especially for when Mr Roscoe collected the rent, but as soon as their old collector was back on the round they’d been put out for everyday use and had been smashed in no time. ‘What d’yer mean, missus, I’ve got no bust? What d’yer think these two things are?’

  ‘Plums. They’re not big enough for oranges, that’s a dead cert.’ Dolly let out a hoot of laughter. ‘You should see yer face, girl – it’s a picture no artist could paint.’

  ‘I should flaming well think so! It’s not that I’ve got a small bust, it’s you whose got two ruddy mountains!’

  ‘Don’t exaggerate now, girl. Hills perhaps, but never mountains.’

  ‘Well, I think we’ve just about exhausted the topic of who’s got the biggest bust, so can I have a look at these dresses?’

  Dolly closed one eye. ‘As long as we agree that I’ve got hills an’ not mountains.’

  ‘Aye, okay.’ Ada smothered a laugh. ‘But I’ve seen hills smaller than your bust.’

  ‘You’re jealous, that’s your trouble. My Les thinks I’ve got a smashin’ pair of … er … er …’

  ‘Mountains?’

  Oh, she’s not getting away with that, Dolly vowed. This is my house and I’ll have the last laugh if it kills me. ‘D’yer know, yer may be right! I’ve never thought of it before, but d’yer think that’s why me feller tries to climb them every night?’

  Ada had just taken a mouthful of tea and now it spluttered all over her dress. ‘Dolly Mitchell, you really are past the post!’

  ‘First past the post, girl. With my bust I couldn’t be anythin’ but first. Me backside might come in last, but me bust would definitely come in first.’

  ‘I give up.’ Ada wiped the front of her dress with the corner of her pinny. ‘Now, can I see the dresses, please?’

  Dolly pushed herself up and walked to the couch. ‘This is my favourite. If it fitted me yer wouldn’t get a look in.’ She held up a long-sleeved soft wool dress in deep maroon. ‘Whoever bought this paid a pretty penny for it. Feel the quality, girl.’

  ‘I can see, it’s beautiful.’ Ada fingered the soft material. ‘Who’d give a dress like this away? It’s just like new.’

  ‘Them what have more money than sense, girl, that’s who.’

  ‘Well, whoever, they had good taste.’ Ada admired the plain round neck, the nipped-in waist that flared out into a full skirt, and the straight sleeves. ‘It’s plain but well-cut, and definitely expensive.’

  ‘Try it on, girl, see if it fits.’

  Ada shook her head. She’d be ashamed getting undressed in front of anyone because her underclothes, although clean, were well worn. ‘I’m a sight underneath.’

  ‘Oh, sod off, Ada Perkins! Who the hell d’yer think’s goin’ to see yer? Yer’ve only got the same as me, even if I do have a bit more of it. Go in the ruddy kitchen if it makes you feel better.’

  When Ada came out of the kitchen wearing the dress, Dolly whistled. ‘My God, girl, yer look a million dollars! It fits yer a treat an’ the colour doesn’t half suit yer.’

  Ada ran her hands over her waist and hips. ‘It feels as though it’s been made for me. Fits like a glove.’

  ‘If yer say yer can’t afford that, yer want yer ruddy bumps feelin’.’ Dolly nodded to emphasise her strong feelings. ‘Yer’ll never get another chance like it.’

  ‘How much does Les want for it?’ Ada knew she was going to have the dress come what may. She’d do without food rather than let a bargain like this go. Anyway, she wasn’t too badly off these days. The extra ten bob a week she got for doing Mr Roscoe’s laundry had made all the difference. It meant she could pay all her ways and they didn’t have to have blind stew to fill their tummies. And for the past six weeks Polly had been flower-selling every day and she’d been handing over six shillings every Saturday. She would have given more, but Ada told her to save up while she had the chance and buy herself a new pair of shoes or a pretty dress.

  ‘There’s another one here just as nice,’ Dolly was saying when Ada had collected her thoughts. ‘Les wants a shillin’ for the two of them. An’ yer couldn’t fall out with the price
, girl, he’s not makin’ hardly any profit on them. It’s only because it’s you he’s lettin’ them go so cheap.’

  ‘Where’s the other one?’

  ‘Here.’ Dolly held up a dress in midnight blue. It was in the same soft wool and the same simple pattern, except this had a square neck and three-quarter sleeves. ‘It’s the same size so it’ll fit yer.’

  ‘I’ll give Les one and six for them – would that do?’

  ‘He’d be over the moon, girl! But are yer sure yer can afford it?’

  Ada nodded. ‘I’ve been doing well for the past few weeks, what with me extra few bob from Mr Roscoe and Polly’s money, so the dresses turned up at the right time.’

  ‘I keep forgettin’ to ask yer, but did yer ever do anythin’ with that green coat?’ Dolly asked. ‘Yer never mention it an’ I just wondered.’

  ‘I unpicked it, but never seem to have any spare time to get down to tacking it together. That’s good material, too, an’ if I turn it inside out where it isn’t faded, it’ll look all right. I was thinkin’ of makin’ Polly a coat out of it, but I might just keep it for meself and try an’ get her one from the market.’

  ‘Ay, girl, I can just see your Tommy’s face if yer walk in the hospital with one of those dresses on an’ a posh coat. He’ll think yer’ve got a rich fancy man tucked away somewhere.’

  ‘He’ll more likely think I’ve robbed a bank. He knows I’ve no time for a rich fancy man. I work twice a day, every day but Sunday, an’ then I go in to see him. Me life’s all planned out for me, Dolly, all ruddy work an’ no play.’

  ‘It won’t be like that for ever. Time passes quickly an’ yer’ll soon have Tommy home again.’ Dolly grinned. ‘Life’s not all pain an’ misery, girl. Yer’ve got one good thing to look forward to.’ She saw Ada’s puzzled look. ‘Your Joey starts school next week, or had yer forgotten?’

  ‘I’d have a job to forget, he talks about nothing else. I’ve got to kit him out at the weekend … new shirt, kecks, socks an’ shoes. I can’t keep up with him with shoes, he grows out of them so quick.’