The Forgotten Family of Liverpool: A gritty postwar family saga novel that will break your heart

by Pam Howes

  She nodded at Sadie, who’d followed her around while she took everything in. ‘I like it. What’s the backyard like?’

  Sadie rolled her eyes. ‘If anything will put you off, this will.’ She unlocked the back door and led the way into the communal backyard. The cobbles were free of weeds and a few window boxes with marigolds adorned the donkey-stoned sills. Sheets, towels and nappies hanging on a line blew in the stiff breeze coming up from the Mersey. ‘Although we’re a short walk from the river here,’ Sadie began, ‘it’s good for drying your washing. Always a breeze in this yard, even on a nice day like today.’ She led Dora across the yard to a low outbuilding with a slate roof and four black-painted doors.

  ‘Only four between all the street?’ Dora’s jaw dropped. Her mam had warned her there’d be shared lavatories.

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ Sadie said. ‘We all keep them clean and well-bleached though, so you won’t catch anything.’ She opened the middle door and waved her hand. The white toilet bowl was topped with a wooden seat, faded from regular bleaching, and on the wall, hanging from a nail, sheets of neatly cut newspaper awaited their next recipient. The red quarry-tiled floor looked freshly painted and clean and there was a hint of Dettol in the air. ‘Because some of the neighbours have already gone, you’ll only be sharing with us and Vi, so that’s not too bad, is it?’

  Dora shook her head. Her parents had always had their own lavatory in the private back garden, and then the prefab she’d lived in with Joe had a proper bathroom, so sharing wasn’t something she was used to. It was a wake-up call.

  ‘I was hoping each house would have its own lav, but Mam did warn me I might be sharing.’

  ‘I know. It was a shock to me too when we moved in. But we got used to it pretty quickly. I use a chamber pot for the little ones at night, and we don’t use newspaper either. Those squares are Vi’s. I buy rolls of Izal cheap from the market. The kids use it for tracing paper as well. But if you do buy it, don’t leave your rolls in there, or they’ll get pinched by them across.’

  Dora looked aghast. What was she letting herself in for?

  ‘Come on, I can see you’re in shock. Let’s go back to mine while you have a think about it,’ Sadie said, linking her arm through Dora’s. ‘It’s really not that bad once you get used to it. And think of the future, when we’ll have nice new places with indoor lavs and baths and hot running water.’

  Back at Sadie’s, Dora sat and mulled things over while her friend went next door for Belinda and Peter. She had three choices. Stay with Mam in Knowsley, go back to Joe or move down here and stand on her own two feet. She thought about the house. She and Jackie could live in the back room and she’d make it nice and homely and then keep the front room for best and use it as a sewing room too. There was plenty of space for a table and her sewing machine. She could make it nice so her customers would feel welcome – that’s if she could persuade any to come down to this street. Parts of it were kept nice by the residents but other parts left a lot to be desired. Well, she’d work hard and make her little house stand out from the others by getting Frank to give the front door a nice lick of black gloss and maybe even paint the step and sill red, to give them an edge over the donkey-stoned steps. Save her time each week as well, they’d only need a wipe over. Frank could also come straight here from work some nights and maybe sleep over. They’d be company for one another. She knew he got lonely and a bit down at times. He was also reluctant to talk about Joanie unless he was pushed.

  By the time Sadie came back she’d made up her mind. ‘I’ll take it,’ she said. ‘Give me the lease to sign.’

  7

  When Dora arrived back at Sugar Lane Mam and Jackie were finishing their tea and Frank had just come in from work.

  ‘How did it go, Sis?’ he asked, swilling his face and hands at the kitchen sink.

  Dora smiled. ‘I’m taking it. It’ll do us fine until I get offered a new place. Needs a bit of tidying up, painting and carpets and stuff, but I reckon I’ll soon have it looking okay. I’ve got the keys.’ She dangled them in front of him. ‘The landlord told Sadie to give them to me if I signed the lease. So there you go. I’m now officially a tenant of Wright Street.’

  ‘Smashing. We’ll get stuck in at the weekend. I’ll ask a couple of mates from the docks to help with the painting in exchange for a pint or two. I can get my hands on some distemper, and I’ll ask around if anyone’s got any carpet squares they want rid of. Are there any oilcloth borders around the outer edges of the floors?’

  ‘Yes,’ Dora replied. ‘All the rooms have them, and they’re sort of a brown pattern like the dance floor in the village hall.’

  ‘Parquet-floor style. That’ll look nice. I’ll try and get carpets that will go with it.’

  Mam smiled. ‘And I’ll treat you to some curtains, chuck. We can perhaps do what we did when you moved into the prefab. Get some good-quality second-hand pairs from Paddy’s market that you can alter to fit.’

  ‘Thanks, Mam, that will be lovely. I’m sure we’ll get something nice.’

  Mam nodded. ‘I’m sure we will, and I’ll ask around the village to see if anyone is getting rid of any bits of furniture. It’s the WI meeting next week – bet they’ll all want to help when I tell them.’

  ‘Oh aye.’ Frank laughed. ‘Give ’em a chance to offload some junk.’

  ‘Cheeky.’ Mam swiped at him with a tea towel. ‘Right, you two sit yourselves down. It’s liver and onions with mash tonight. Your plates are in the oven. Use a cloth to lift them out, Frank,’ she warned.

  Frank lifted out the plates of food and placed one in front of Dora.

  ‘Get stuck in while it’s hot,’ Mam ordered. ‘Me and Jackie will have a story before she goes to bed while you two have your tea. By the way, make sure you lock that back door if you go out to the carsey I was cleaning my front windows outside this afternoon and when I came back in the door was wide open and two of my loaves had gone.’

  As Dora and Frank looked up in surprise, she folded her arms and continued. ‘I’ll kill the thieving bugger, when I get my hands on them. That’s at least half a dozen of us who’ve had food pinched in the last couple of weeks. I’d report it to the police but they’ve better things to do than chase after a pie and bread thief. We just need to be more careful and keep a look-out, see if we can’t catch them at it.’

  By the time Joe brought Carol for her first visit to Wright Street, Dora and Jackie were settled in. As Dora opened the front door to greet them the two identical gossipy sisters from across the road were standing on their adjacent doorsteps, arms folded, bleached blonde hair up in curlers, cigarettes dangling from their red-painted lips. Both stared at Joe, eyeing him up and down and nodding approval. One of them smirked at Dora and yelled, ‘Hey, gel, didn’t know youse gorra fancy man. Bit of all right ’im, ain’t ’e? An’ he’s gorra nice car too.’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Joe said, blushing and ushering Carol inside. ‘You didn’t tell me the Ugly Sisters lived opposite.’

  ‘You know them?’ Dora asked, shocked.

  ‘I don’t know them personally, but I know of them,’ Joe said. ‘They come to one of the social clubs we do regularly, the Eldonian. Always make a right show of themselves. Loud and drunk for most of the night, cavorting around on the dance floor. The steward’s always threatening to chuck them out, but I think they put the fear of God in him, plus their husbands put a lot of money over the bar. Hope they didn’t recognise me then.’

  ‘Well we’ll just ignore them,’ Dora said. ‘They’re common as muck, as Mam would say. They were the same when Frank and his mates were painting the house. Wolf-whistling, even. Jackie won’t be long. Frank’s taken her to her dancing lesson. I had to stay behind to finish a dress that someone’s picking up tonight and I knew you and Carol would be arriving soon.’ She dropped to her knees and held her arms out to Carol, who hung back and looked up at her father.

  ‘Go on, chick, give Mammy a hug. She’s been waiting for you,’ Joe
encouraged and gently pushed her forward.

  Carol stepped into Dora’s embrace, but Dora felt her stiffen as she hugged her tight, and her heart sank. This wasn’t going to be easy; her daughter was clearly uncomfortable with their close contact and there was no point in forcing her to share hugs and kisses. That would come in time, and if there was one thing Dora had plenty of, it was time. She desperately wanted to rebuild a relationship with Carol. She took a deep breath.

  ‘I’ve made some little cakes, and when Jackie gets back we’ll put some icing on them.’ She smiled encouragingly. ‘And I’ve got some of those special tiny biscuits that I know you love. Shall we go through to the back room and make Daddy a cup of coffee while we wait for Jackie?’

  Carol nodded shyly and followed Dora.

  ‘Have you settled in then?’ Joe asked, looking around. ‘You’ve got it nice. Feels quite cosy in here.’

  ‘Yes, sort of,’ Dora said. ‘I miss having Mam and Frank around, of course, and it’s a bit quiet once Jackie’s in bed. But I have the wireless for company and my sewing work to keep me occupied.’ She was conscious of him looking closely at her, his eyes speaking volumes. ‘Have a seat. Won’t be a minute.’ She dashed into the kitchen and filled the kettle before her pink cheeks gave away her feelings. She missed him more than she’d ever admit to anyone, except for Joanie, her best friend who’d died in the factory fire five years ago. She had Joanie’s framed photo on the mantelpiece in her front room and when she worked she often chatted to her as though Joanie was in the room with her. It felt comforting and made her feel less lonely. But this was her life from now on and she’d better get used to it. She made two mugs of Camp coffee and poured a glass of orange juice for Carol. She emptied the bag of iced gems she’d bought especially for today onto a small plate, then loaded up a tray and carried everything through.

  Carol smiled happily and rammed several gems into her mouth at once. ‘Save some for Jackie,’ Joe said, laughing. ‘Greedy girl.’ They sat in companionable silence for several minutes until he took a deep breath. ‘School holidays soon,’ he began.

  ‘Yes, I know. Er, Mam and Frank were wondering if they could have Carol occasionally so they can do something nice with both girls. Frank’s got time off the second week and he suggested New Brighton and Southport for trips out.’

  Joe scratched his chin thoughtfully. ‘It would certainly help me if they did. Dolly’s away for that second week and I’ve booked my holidays off at the end of August. So I’m a bit stuck. If your mam and Frank could have her the week Dolly’s away it would be great. She could even sleep over. Nobody needs to know. That bloody fella from the welfare doesn’t check up. The only thing that bothers me is, whoever reported you is still out there, and until we find out who it is we won’t know if they’re watching and will tell tales. So just be careful if you stay at your mam’s when Carol is sleeping there. Might be best not to. I don’t for one minute imagine it’s any of your mam’s neighbours, but you never know.’

  Dora nodded. ‘I doubt it is too, but you’re right about me not staying at Mam’s just in case. I can’t take the risk of not being able to see Carol again. Have you any plans for the weeks you’re off?’

  Joe lit a cigarette and threw the spent match into the grate. He took a long drag and blew a cloud of smoke into the air above his head. ‘Sort of, but nothing’s set in stone yet.’

  ‘We’re going to Morecambe with Aunty Ivy,’ Carol, who’d been absorbed in her juice and biscuits, blurted out. ‘And we might be taking Roly with us.’

  Dora nearly dropped her mug as Joe coughed and spluttered on his ciggie. ‘Carol, nothing’s been decided yet,’ he said.

  Dora stared at him, this man who still looked at her with hunger in his eyes. To say she felt shocked was an understatement. ‘You’re going away with Ivy?’ she said. ‘After everything you said to me at the street party?’

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘You gave me your answer that day. And you told me to get on with my life. So that’s what I’m trying to do.’

  ‘Yes, but Ivy,’ she whispered, feeling close to tears.

  ‘We’re just good friends, that’s all. I get lonely too, you know, Dora. So does Ivy. She knows someone with a caravan and we’re hoping we can use it for a week. But like I say, nothing’s set in stone. Look, maybe we shouldn’t be talking about this in front of…’ He inclined his head towards Carol, who was now rooting in Jackie’s box of puzzles and books.

  Dora shook her head. ‘Fine. But it’s okay for you and Ivy to discuss it in front of my daughter, is it?’ She got up and took his half-finished coffee and hurried into the kitchen with the tray. As she rinsed the pots at the sink her eyes filled and she blinked the tears away. Why was she crying? This was her choice and Joe was free to do as he pleased. So why the heck did it hurt her so much?

  ‘Dora,’ he said softly from the doorway. ‘Please don’t get upset. Ivy’s just a pal. There’s nothing between us other than friendship. She knows I still love you.’

  ‘Yet she’s happy to go away with you? She’s the sort who doesn’t care whether a man’s married or not as long as she gets her claws in him. She’s no better than those two across the road. I’m surprised at you, Joe.’ She wiped her eyes on her hanky as Joe shrugged and walked back into the sitting room to Carol. Dora followed him.

  She composed herself and smiled at Carol, who was staring curiously at her. She took a deep breath and turned back to Joe. ‘When Jackie arrives home will you look after the pair of them while I nip to the market for some cotton and stuff, please? I won’t be too long and we’ll ice the cakes when I get back, Carol.’

  ‘Of course,’ Joe said. ‘Grab yourself a bit of free time. Then maybe we could take them out for a stroll to the Dock Road and Pier Head and treat ourselves to an ice-cream at Stan’s café. We can watch the big ship go out, eh Carol? The Queen Mary sails off to America this afternoon. They’d love that, I’ll bet.’

  8

  JULY 1953

  Dora took a pen from her handbag and scribbled down an address on a bit of paper she found in her jacket pocket. Samuel Jacobs Drapery Store on Homer Street was advertising for a seamstress, with hours to suit. The postcard was fastened to the inside glass of the front door, but the shop was currently closed until Monday. She wondered why until she remembered that Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath day and, with a name like Samuel Jacobs, the proprietor was most likely Jewish.

  Hours to suit, too. Dora smiled. Jobs like that were few and far between in her line of work. She could still make clothes for her regulars but a bit more money coming in would help until she built up her customer list again. She hurried back through North Hay Market and down Scotland Road. She’d been a bit longer than she’d intended to be, but Joe had told her to take her time. With a bit of luck, Sadie might look after Jackie on Monday morning while she popped back to Jacobs’ and made enquiries about the job vacancy. Fingers crossed, if she went early enough she might be first in the queue.

  Back at the house Joe was looking perplexed as Carol sat in the armchair, her arms folded and a mutinous expression on her face, while Jackie lay on the rug crying her eyes out.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Dora asked, dropping her shopping bag on the floor and holding her arms out to her youngest daughter, who jumped up and ran into them, throwing baleful glances at her sister.

  Joe held his hands up in a gesture of helplessness. ‘I popped outside to the carsey, and came back to find Carol pulling Jackie down onto the rug by her plaits. She’s had a smack on the bottom and Jackie’s had a cuddle, but she wants her mammy, not me.’

  ‘Oh, dear.’ Dora shook her head. ‘Carol, it really hurts when you pull hair. It’s not a nice thing to do. Come and say sorry to your sister.’

  Carol reluctantly slid off the chair and stood in front of Dora and Jackie. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled. ‘Want to go home now, Daddy,’ she directed at Joe.

  ‘Say sorry like you mean it, Carol,’ Joe said. ‘And we’re not going home yet. Mam
my said she’d ice the cakes with you, and then we’re all going for a nice walk.’ He raised an eyebrow at Dora and nodded towards the kitchen.

  She put Jackie down and followed him, pushing the door half-closed while still keeping an eye on the girls.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Joe began. ‘Like I’ve said to you before, she needs stability. She’s jealous of Jackie because she’s with you and she still thinks you don’t want her. No matter how much I tell her that’s not the case, she doesn’t understand. I find it difficult to deal with at times.’ He ran his hands through his hair and lit a cigarette. ‘I come home from work knackered, pick her up from Dolly’s and I don’t always have the time to play with her. We read the book that she brings home from school and by the time she’s had her tea she’s tired and ready for bed. She’s missing out on the time she should be spending with you and her sister after school.’

  Dora blew out her cheeks. ‘So it’s all down to me again, is it? If your bloody girlfriend hadn’t reported me to the welfare people we wouldn’t be in this situation. Carol would still be with me, I’d be living in the prefab and life would be fairly normal for them both, with you dropping in when you can. Instead of which I’m stuck down here in a place I don’t want to be, but I have no choice.’

  ‘Dora, you did have a choice, and it wasn’t Ivy. She’s not my girlfriend. How many times?’ Joe took a long drag on his ciggie while Dora got a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. She drank slowly and looked at him.