by Joan Jonker
With an imagination as good as her daughter’s, Maggie could visualise the scene and she chuckled, ‘He’ll give Joan a wide berth in future, that’s for sure. So let’s hope they’ve both learned a lesson and forget it, eh? No good upsetting Bill and causing a bad atmosphere in the house. You’ll just have to keep your eye on her, that’s all.’
‘I’ll be watchin’ her like a bloody hawk, don’t worry. If she steps out of line again, I’ll definitely tell Bill an’ he can sort ’er out.’
Chapter Twelve
‘I’ll never be ready in time.’ Eileen plumped up the cushion on Bill’s chair and glanced around the room. ‘Everything’s done, but look at the state of me, I look like the wreck of the bloody Hesperus.’
‘Don’t panic, chick!’ Bill was gazing into the mirror, wrestling with the knot in his tie. ‘You’ve got half an hour before they come.’
It was Boxing Day, and young Billy and Mavis were having a party to celebrate their engagement. Because the Radfords’ house was too small for the number of people invited, Eileen had happily volunteered to have it in their house. ‘We should ’ave put the Christmas tree in me mam’s room,’ she fretted. ‘We’ll need all the space we can get.’
The tie now to his liking, Bill turned to his wife. ‘Go upstairs and get yourself ready. I’ll carry the tree through.’
‘Do as you’re told, lass.’ Maggie’s voice came from the kitchen where she and Mary were arranging sandwiches and sausage rolls on plates. ‘You’re fussing that much, you’ve got everyone a bundle of nerves.’
‘Well, look who’s talkin’!’ Eileen waddled to the kitchen door. ‘And who is it, pray, that’s been rushin’ round like a blue-arsed fly all day?’
‘Not me.’ Maggie gave Mary a sly dig. ‘I’ve been as cool as a cucumber.’
‘Eileen, for heaven’s sake will you move yourself?’ Mary covered a plate of salmon sandwiches with a damp tea towel to stop them from going dry and curling up. ‘It’s a big occasion for Billy and he’ll want his mother looking nice.’
Eileen stood to attention and gave a smart salute. ‘Aye, aye, sir.’
When she came down later, she gave a twirl to show off the dress Bill had bought her for Christmas. ‘Well, ’ow do I look?’
‘You look champion, chick.’ Bill squinted through the haze of cigarette smoke. ‘It looks a treat on you.’
Mary, her head to one side, nodded in agreement. The dress really suited Eileen. It was a loose-fitting crepe dress, deep blue with three-quarter sleeves and a cowl collar. ‘It looks lovely on you, Eileen.’
‘Me hair spoils it.’ Eileen pulled a face at herself in the mirror. ‘Old tatty ’ead.’
‘Heat the curling tongs on the gas stove and I’ll put a few curls in the front,’ Mary said. ‘It’ll only take a few minutes.’
Mary was just putting the finishing touches to Eileen’s hair when Harry’s car pulled up outside bringing Billy, Mavis and Mr and Mrs Radford. After that, Eileen was in a whirl as the other guests arrived. ‘Blimey,’ she whispered to Mary, ‘where we goin’ to put them all?’
Billy had invited four of his mates from work, and Eileen had asked Milly and Jack Knight, Cissie Maddox and her husband George, and Doris and Jim from next door. With her sister, Rene, and her husband, Alan, Vera, Arthur Kennedy, Mary, Harry, and Harry’s parents, Lizzie and George, there were twenty-seven people squashed into the living room and kitchen.
‘Spread out, will yez, folks? The eats and drinks are in me mam’s room,’ Eileen shouted, pushing her way through the mass of bodies, her face glowing with happiness. After all, it wasn’t every day your only son got engaged. She felt on top of the world in her new dress, and Mary had done her hair a treat. ‘Help yerselves an’ get stuck in.’
It was later, when all the food had been eaten, the dishes put away, and everyone had a drink in their hand, that Bill made his planned speech and Billy placed the solitaire engagement ring on Mavis’s finger. ‘A toast to the happy couple.’ Bill raised his glass, his face flushed after a few drinks. ‘May they have all the luck in the world.’ He saw the tears rolling down Eileen’s face and added, ‘If they’re as happy as Eileen and I have been, they won’t go far wrong.’
‘Go on, yer soppy beggar,’ Eileen gulped before wrapping her arms around her son’s neck, her tears falling on his shoulder. ‘Yer a good lad an’ yer’ve got yerself a smashin’ girl.’
‘Let’s have some music.’ Harry looked through the records and put one of Jim Reeves’ on the turntable. ‘Take your partners, but you’ll have to dance on the spot ’cos there’s no room to move.’
Eileen noticed Billy’s friends looking ill at ease. ‘Why don’t you young ones go in me mam’s room? You don’t want to be with all us oldies.’
Billy, his arm around Mavis, took his friends out, followed by Joan. But Edna hung back. ‘I’d rather stay here.’
‘Go on,’ Eileen urged. ‘Yer might get a click.’
‘Come on, George.’ Cissie Maddox pulled her husband up. ‘It’s years since we ’ad a dance together.’
‘Vera?’ Arthur held his hand out. ‘Shall we?’
Jack Knight winked at his wife. ‘How about it, Milly?’
Soon the room, and the kitchen, were packed with bodies swaying to the strains of a waltz, then a quick step. ‘I think we should ’ave booked Buckingham Palace,’ Eileen whispered in Bill’s ear as he held her close. ‘There’s no room to breathe.’
‘It’s a good excuse to hold you tight.’ Bill nuzzled her neck. ‘I feel all romantic.’
‘That’s the drink talkin’,’ Eileen laughed. ‘It’s amazin’ what a few pints will do.’
The drinks flowed freely and the noise grew louder. Harry put on a Mrs Mills record of party songs and Eileen gave Cissie the nod. ‘Come on, girl, let’s give ’em a treat.’
With their arms across each other’s shoulders they stood in the middle of the room and belted out the old tunes for all they were worth. The sight of two eighteen-stone women who were more than a little merry, with their mouths doing contortions as they sang, had everybody in stitches as they clapped and cheered them on. They made so much noise, Billy and his friends came through to see what was going on and it wasn’t long before their voices joined in.
Everyone was too occupied to notice the sullen look on Joan’s face. Why did her mother have to make a spectacle of herself? It was bad enough her being so big and fat without making a show of herself. It made her feel ashamed of saying she was her mother.
One of Billy’s friends, Benny, was standing next to Joan and he turned to her with a huge grin on his face. ‘They’re dead funny, aren’t they?’
‘D’you think so?’ Joan’s lips curled. ‘I’m going back in the front room, are you coming?’
Benny hesitated, looking to his friends. ‘D’you think we should?’
‘Yes, come on.’ Joan took his elbow. ‘The others will follow.’
From the other side of the room, Edna was watching. She saw the look of bewilderment on Benny’s face as her sister pulled at his arm and knew he must be wondering what was going on. This was the first time he’d met the girl and he’d only exchanged half a dozen words with her.
She’s a fly one, our Joan, Edna thought. But if she messes around with Benny, Billy will have her guts for garters.
Lizzie Sedgemoor and Milly Knight had joined Eileen and Cissie in the middle of the room to add their voices to ‘My Old Man’ and ‘Maybe It’s Because I’m a Londoner’. Then they started on all the old Irish songs, raising the roof with their enthusiasm.
Edna laughed and clapped with the others, but her eyes were on the door all the time. Half an hour later, Joan and Benny still hadn’t put in an appearance and Edna was worried. She’d kill their Joan if she did anything to upset her mother or Billy. Edna knew what her sister was like when there were boys around. She’d gone to one or two dances with Joan but was so disgusted with the way she flirted with every boy she danced with, Edna refused to go out with
her again.
Bill was laughing at Eileen’s antics as he went round topping up glasses. She was now doing her impersonation of Mae West and the audience were doubled up as she hitched up her enormous bust before standing with one hand on her hip and the other patting her hair. ‘It’s not the men in my life,’ Eileen’s hips swayed and her eyes narrowed, ‘but the life in my men.’
‘Aren’t you having a drink, love?’ Bill stood in front of Edna with a bottle of sherry in his hand. ‘How about a sherry with lemonade in?’
‘No, thanks, Dad,’ Edna said. ‘I’m just going up to the bathroom.’ She elbowed her way through the crowd but in the hall she stopped at the bottom of the stairs and made sure no one was looking before stepping back to the half-open door of the front room. Not a sound. Oh, dear, Edna sighed, what do I do now? I can’t barge in or our Joan will give me the height of abuse and make a fool of me.
Edna made her way slowly upstairs. She sat on the lavatory seat and told herself she didn’t care what their Joan did. If she wanted to flirt with boys, that was her business. But tonight of all nights, and with a friend of Billy’s, surely she should have more sense.
Edna made her way downstairs and on the pretence of looking in the mirror of the hallstand, she cocked her ears. Still no sound. Not even the sound of anyone talking. And if they weren’t talking, what were they doing?
‘What yer doing out here, Sis?’ Billy had been on his way to the bathroom when he spotted Edna. He gave her an affectionate hug. ‘Why aren’t you in there enjoying yerself?’
Billy had had a lot to drink but something clicked in his fuddled mind when he looked at Edna. He remembered someone asking where Benny had got to and now he put two and two together. His eyes went from Edna to the half-open door and without further ado, he pushed the door fully open. ‘What the hell d’yer think you two are doing?’
Edna caught a glimpse of Joan and Benny standing in the middle of the room with their arms around each other and their lips locked. She just heard Benny’s gasp of surprise before fleeing back to the party to witness Cissie Maddox doing her impression of Norman Evans’ ‘Over The Garden Wall’ sketch.
‘Well, I’ll not forget our Billy’s engagement in a hurry.’ Eileen flopped down after waving goodbye to most of the guests. ‘It’s been one ’ell of a night, eh? What d’yer say, folks?’
‘One of the best parties I’ve ever been to.’ Harry’s words were slurred, his smile that of a man who has had more than enough to drink. ‘We should do it more often.’
‘You, Harry Sedgemoor, are drunk.’ Mary tried to look severe but there was laughter in her voice. ‘You made a show of yourself doing that tango with Cissie.’
Arthur and Vera had stayed behind, with Mary and Harry, to give Eileen a hand to clear away the mess. But first, Eileen had insisted, a cup of tea and a sit down were called for.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in all me life,’ Arthur said. ‘You and Cissie make a very good double act.’
‘Don’t put ideas into her head.’ Bill handed Arthur a cigarette. ‘She’s bad enough as it is.’
‘Hey! “She” is the cat’s mother, Bill Gillmoss! I’ll ’ave me full title if yer don’t mind.’
‘Young Billy enjoyed himself,’ Vera said. ‘You certainly did him proud, both of you. And he’s got a nice girl in Mavis.’
‘Yeah, I’m made up for both of them,’ Eileen said, kicking off her shoes and sighing with relief. ‘Our Billy’s a good kid an’ he deserves the best.’
Mary took Harry’s cup. ‘Come on, let’s get cracking and clear this lot up. The men move the furniture back and the women will wash up.’
‘Bloody slave driver,’ Eileen grunted, rubbing her swollen feet. ‘Me plates of meat are killin’ me.’
‘You stay put, and me and Mary will wash up.’ Vera rolled her sleeves up. ‘Half an hour and we’ll have the place back to near normal.’
‘Except for me mam’s room.’ Eileen heaved herself off the chair. ‘That looks as though a bomb’s hit it. She’s gone to bed with glasses and half-eaten sandwiches all over the floor, God love ’er.’
‘I didn’t see much of our Joan.’ Bill’s brows drew together. ‘In fact I don’t remember seeing her at all until she came over to say she was going to bed.’ He shook his head. ‘I must have had too much to drink because I counted four of our Billy’s friends when they came, but I only saw three leaving.’
Eileen laughed. ‘There were four, but Benny left early ’cos he had promised to go on to another party. Billy said he didn’t say goodbye because there were so many people here he was shy. And as for our Joan, she went to bed early ’cos it’s work temorrer.’ Eileen bent and grabbed hold of the front of Bill’s shirt. ‘Now, Bill Gillmoss, if that answers all yer questions, get off yer backside an’ get stuck in.’
There were no buses running and very few cars on the road as Arthur and Vera walked along Rice Lane. Now and again a group of revellers would pass, on their way home from parties, but otherwise the streets were deserted. Harry had offered to drive them to Vera’s, pick up his two boys and take them to the Dingle, but Arthur said it would be better if they walked. Harry was more than a little drunk and it wasn’t worth taking a chance.
It was a clear night but bitterly cold, and they walked briskly to keep warm. ‘You can’t walk all the way home,’ Vera said. ‘By the time you got there it would be time to go to work. You’d better stay at ours and get a couple of hours’ sleep on the couch. The boys can stay till you pick them up after work.’
‘What about Elsie Smith?’ Arthur chuckled. ‘Aren’t you afraid she’ll label you a scarlet woman?’
‘You’re not walking all that way home at this time of night, Elsie Smith or no Elsie Smith. Let her think what she likes.’
But when they reached Vera’s front door, Arthur held her arm as she reached to put the key in the lock. ‘I’ll leave the boys here because it would be a shame to wake them, but I think it would be better if I didn’t stay. I don’t want you getting a bad name.’
Vera pulled her arm free and opened the door. ‘Arthur Kennedy, you are not walking all the way to the Dingle and that’s that!’
The fire had died out and there was a chill in the room. ‘I’ll put the electric fire on to warm the place up. I don’t know about you, but I’m chilled to the marrow.’
Arthur stood just inside the door, making no effort to move. ‘Vera, what about the children? My two will still be in bed when I leave for work, but Colin and Peter will be up. Aren’t you worried what they think?’
‘What is there to think?’ Vera asked. ‘Colin and Peter know you well enough by now, they’re certainly not going to read anything into you sleeping on our couch.’ She slipped out of her coat and threw it over a chair. ‘I’ll make us a hot drink and then I’m off to bed.’
Sitting close to the warmth of the electric fire, her hands around a mug of steaming cocoa, Vera asked, ‘Have you been to the hospital since I saw you last?’
Arthur nodded. ‘Several times. But Sylvia still refuses to see me. The Sister said Sylvia gets so agitated when they mention my name, it’s best if we leave things as they are.’ He sipped his cocoa. ‘When I went on Christmas Eve with some presents from the boys, I was leaving them in the Matron’s office when Sister Duffy came in. She said Sylvia was in a deep sleep, so if I wanted I could see her without her knowing.’
‘And?’ Vera coaxed, seeing the distress on Arthur’s face. ‘You’ll feel better if you talk about it.’
‘I talk to Sister Duffy when she’s on duty, she’s very understanding. She told me the doctors don’t know how Sylvia has hung on for the last two years.’ Arthur met Vera’s eyes. ‘And I don’t know meself, after seeing her. She looked so old, like a wizened old woman, it knocked me for six. I wouldn’t have recognised her, would have walked past the bed if Sister hadn’t been with me.’
‘I’m sorry, Arthur.’
‘If God has any mercy, he’ll take her.’ Arthur’s
voice cracked. ‘I can understand why she refuses to see me. Sylvia was always proud of her looks, she wouldn’t want me to see her the way she is now.’
Vera could hear the distress in Arthur’s voice and she stood up. Holding out her hand for his mug, she said, ‘I’ll get a pillow and something to throw over you, and you can put your head down for a few hours.’
When she came downstairs, Arthur was still sitting where she’d left him. ‘Come on, take your coat off.’ Vera put the pillow and blanket on the couch and turned round to find Arthur standing close behind her. There was a look of such despair in his eyes, she held her arms open and he walked into them. ‘What would I have done without you these last three years?’ he asked. ‘You’ve been a tower of strength, my anchor.’
Vera stroked his head. ‘It cuts both ways, Arthur. You’ve helped me as much as I’ve helped you.’
When Arthur put his arms around her waist and held her tight, Vera didn’t resist. This was what he needed, physical and moral support. But wasn’t it what she needed, too?
‘I’ve stuck to the promise I made all those years ago, that I would never do anything to hurt you,’ Arthur whispered into her hair. ‘But holding you close like this, it’s hard to keep that promise.’
‘Arthur, there’s been times over the years when I’ve cursed you for making that promise, and for being the decent, honest man you are. If you had made any advance towards me, I wouldn’t have turned you away.’
‘Oh, Vera.’ Arthur’s cry was like that of a hurt animal. ‘Don’t say that or I’ll lose what little self control I’ve got. I’ve wanted you so much, for so long, there’s times I thought I’d go mad with the need for you.’ He held Vera from him. ‘I think you should go to bed now, Vera, before I go too far. I’m only human and I can stand only so much.’
