MB05 - After the Dance is Over

by Joan Jonker

‘We never came to blows, girl, even though at the time I did feel like clocking yer one ’cos yer accused our Steve of making Jill cry.’

  ‘Yeah, I remember now, it was more of a tussle, really, even though we’d both rolled our sleeves up. And the upshot of it was, it wasn’t Steve who’d pulled Jill’s hair, it was another kid.’ Molly shook herself mentally. It was nice to reminisce but there was a time and place for everything and now wasn’t the time. ‘Lizzie’s had some good news, sunshine, Corker’s coming home today. That’s why I was cleaning the front windows and I’ve still got the back to do. I’ve given the room a good going over so I want no crumbs when we finally get to eat our cakes. And talking of them, let me pick me own if yer don’t mind. I don’t fancy the one yer’ve had yer finger in, ’cos God knows where that finger’s been.’

  Nellie picked up the two bags and waddled to the kitchen, muttering under her breath. ‘She’s a fussy bugger, that one. Where the hell does she think me finger’s been? Dirty mind, that’s what she’s got.’

  ‘We can hear what ye’re saying, yer know, Nellie, we’re not deaf.’

  There was no reply for a few seconds, then Nellie’s head appeared around the door. ‘Did yer say something, girl? I couldn’t hear proper ’cos I was washing me finger under the tap.’

  When Jill came in at one o’clock, it was to say that Uncle Corker had been walking up with her but he got waylaid by Auntie Nellie.

  ‘Oh, lord, she’ll keep him for ages!’ Molly groaned. ‘Once she gets talking there’s no stopping her!’

  ‘No, I don’t think so, Mam, ’cos he called into the butcher’s to see Auntie Ellen and she told him about Auntie Lizzie not being well. He’ll be here any minute.’

  Jill had barely finished speaking when the door opened and in walked the gentle giant with his seaman’s bag flung over his shoulder. He had eyes for no one but the mother he adored. Dropping the bag, he stretched out his arms and picked Lizzie up from the chair as if she was a china doll. Cradling her like a baby, he smiled down at her beloved face. ‘What’s this I hear about yer not being well? Yer have no right to be sick while I’m hundreds of miles away in foreign waters.’ Swaying gently, he asked, ‘Haven’t yer got a kiss for yer son?’

  Molly turned her head away, feeling she and Jill were witnessing something private. She never failed to be moved by the love shown openly by mother and son. It always brought a lump to her throat. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’

  ‘I’ll do it, Mam, you sit and talk to Uncle Corker.’

  ‘Let’s put you down, Ma, so I can say hello to Molly.’ The man with hands as big as shovels gently lowered his mother into her rocking chair and picked up the blanket to cover her knees. Then he turned to Molly with his blue eyes twinkling in his weatherbeaten face. With his hands on her waist, he lifted her high. ‘Molly, me darlin’, ye’re still as pretty as ever.’ He kissed her cheek, bringing a smile as his moustache and beard tickled her skin. ‘Yer don’t look a day older than yer did twenty years ago.’

  ‘Put me down, yer daft ha’porth. I was going to say flattery will get yer nowhere, but it wouldn’t be true ’cos it’ll get yer a nice cup of tea and a cream slice. And there’s a story behind the cream slice which Lizzie will tell yer later.’

  His mother grinned. ‘I’ve got a few tales to tell yer, son. It’s almost worth being sick to be looked after by Mollie and Nellie. Ye’re frightened to die in case yer miss something.’

  ‘Ellen told me how good yer’ve been, Molly, and not for the first time in our friendship I owe yer a debt of gratitude.’ He raised his voice to call, ‘And you, princess, I’ve had glowing reports on how well you and Steve have cared for the woman I love most in the whole world.’

  ‘Ay, I’m going to tell yer wife on you,’ Molly said, smiling. ‘All this talk about loving another woman more than her.’

  ‘I didn’t marry Ellen under false pretences, me darlin’, she knew about the other woman in me life and agreed to share me.’

  ‘Tea up, folks.’ Jill came in carrying a neatly set tray. ‘You pour, Mam, while I see if there’s any biscuits. I haven’t been shopping yet, so there won’t be much on offer.’

  ‘There’s a white bag in the pantry, sunshine, with four cakes in. All courtesy of the one and only Helen Theresa McDonough. I’ll leave Lizzie to tell yer the tale behind that when I’ve gone, but right now I could just murder a cup of tea.’

  ‘I won’t sit down, Mam, ’cos Steve will be in soon and I want to have his dinner ready. Not that he’s getting much, just egg and chips.’ Jill placed the cakes on a plate and set it on the table. ‘Why did Auntie Nellie buy four cakes, Mam, who are they for?’

  ‘They’re for Corker and Lizzie, and you and yer husband. And as for why she bought them, well, I could say she was shamed into it, but yer’ll hear all about that after I’ve gone. Suffice to say yer should never look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when it comes to Nellie. For it may never happen again.’

  ‘Ay, Mam, that’s my mother-in-law ye’re talking about.’

  ‘Yes, I know that, sunshine, but more importantly she’s my best friend and I’m allowed to say what I want about her ’cos everyone knows I don’t mean it.’ Molly waved a hand towards the kitchen. ‘Go and see to Steve’s dinner, he’ll be in any minute.’

  The delicate china cup looked out of place in Corker’s hands, and he could have drunk the contents in one gulp. He was used to the huge mugs on board ship, and Ellen had bought one for him after she realised he was drinking three cups of tea to her one. But all he was used to drinking out of in this house was china cups. And he wouldn’t have it any other way because his mother prided herself on her china cups. Many of them he had brought home from the foreign countries where his ship docked, and he knew there was enough carefully wrapped in newspaper on the top of the wardrobe to keep her going for years. ‘Ellen told me yer had a really bad cold, Ma, and they thought they might have to get the doctor out to yer.’

  ‘I did have a temperature, son, but Molly gave me Beecham’s powders every four hours and they were a blessing. In fact Molly herself was a blessing. Half-past seven every morning she’s been here to wash and dress me, and then her and Nellie kept their eye on me all day until Ellen came. So what with yer wife, and Jill and Steve, I’ve been watched over twenty-four hours a day.’

  ‘Her cold was much worse than she’s letting on, Corker, there was a time I thought she was heading for pneumonia,’ Molly said. ‘I think it’s the cold in the bedroom that caused it, it’s freezing up there. Jack blocked our fireplace over with hardboard to keep the draught out and it really helps.’

  ‘Many’s the time I wanted to do that, Molly, but Ma said to leave it in case she ever wanted a fire. But I’ll get it done today whether she likes it or not. And I’ve got ten days’ leave so I’ll be here to look after her during the day until Jill and Steve get home from work.’ His huge hand covered one of Lizzie’s. ‘I hope ye’re taking all this in, Ma, ’cos it’s all for yer own good. I can’t go away to sea and worry meself sick ’cos yer were too stubborn to let me block the ruddy fireplace up. I wouldn’t care, but in all the years we’ve lived here I’ve only ever known yer to light that fire once, and that was when I was off colour.’

  ‘Jack’s got a piece of wood under the stairs that might just be the right size. If I see Peter in the street I’ll send him up with it.’ Molly put her cup on the tray and pushed her chair back. ‘I’ll leave yer to it now, Lizzie, seeing as ye’ve got plenty of people to wait on yer hand and foot. But I’ll slip up tomorrow to see how yer are.’ She tugged playfully on Corker’s beard. ‘Yer’ve got five days to make her better, sunshine, ’cos she’s coming to the Christmas party.’

  Corker’s loud guffaw filled the room. ‘At your house again, is it, Molly? Ye’re not half a sucker for punishment.’

  As she slipped her arms into her coat, Molly winked at the old lady. ‘Yer can tell them about the party and the cream slices, sunshine, that should bring a few laughs. Mind
you, I shouldn’t find them funny because most of the time the laughs are on me. Still, I can take it, me shoulders are broad.’ She walked through to the kitchen where Jill was slicing potatoes ready for chips. ‘You and Steve will be calling in to see us later, won’t yer? Yer dad doesn’t see much of yer, and he doesn’t half miss you and Doreen.’

  ‘We’ll be there, Mam, seeing as Uncle Corker is here to look after Auntie Lizzie. And we’ll be calling to see how Doreen is.’

  When Corker got to his feet the room seemed to shrink in size. ‘I’ll see yer to the door, Molly, me darlin’.’

  ‘Don’t be daft, I’m big and ugly enough to see meself out.’

  ‘And what sort of a gentleman would I be if I didn’t escort a lady to the door? Ma would think I’d forgotten all the manners she taught me.’

  ‘Oh go on then, spoil me.’ Molly winked as she waved goodbye to Lizzie. ‘I’ll be having words with my Jack tonight about why he never escorts me to the door.’

  Corker stepped down and joined Molly on the pavement. ‘I can’t thank yer enough, me darlin’, yer’ve been more than kind. Tony said he’d have given Ellen time off, but with Christmas only a matter of days away, they’re rushed off their feet.’

  Molly held up a hand, thinking of all the favours that this man had done for her over the years. ‘I don’t want yer thanks, Corker, it would be a poor kind of friend who didn’t offer help when it was needed. And I haven’t done it on me own, Nellie was there to give a hand.’

  ‘I was talking to Nellie on me way up, and she said it was you who did most of the work. She said she’s hopeless when anyone’s sick and wouldn’t know where to turn. And Ellen said yer’d been paying for things out of yer own pocket. I can’t let yer do that, Molly, so if yer’d tell me what I owe yer, I’ll settle up.’

  ‘Don’t you dare offer me money, Corker, don’t even think about it. Anyway, it was only a few coppers, not worth talking about.’

  ‘I’ll make it up to yer, Molly, some way. And to Jill and Steve. What a good job they’re here, otherwise Ma would have been on her own and God knows what would have happened to her.’

  ‘I’ve told yer before, Corker, that when ye’re away yer don’t have to worry about Lizzie. Me and Nellie call in most days, and Ellen never misses a night coming up and bringing one of the kids with her. I’d say your ma has more visitors than anyone I know.’

  ‘It’s a lucky man I am to have such a loving family and friends, Molly, and I thank God for me blessings. And for giving me the best mother anyone could have.’

  ‘She’ll be sitting there on pins, waiting to give yer the news. Well, it’s not news really more the antics of Nellie. She surpassed herself a couple of times this week, has my mate, so yer should get a good laugh. And I hope yer’ll call in and see Jack when yer get the chance, he’ll be made up when I tell him ye’re home.’

  ‘I’ve got ten days’ leave, Molly, isn’t that a lovely thought? Depending how things go with Ma, I’ll be having a few nights out with Jack and George. There’s nowhere in the world yer can buy a pint of beer as good as here.’

  She stood on tip-toe and kissed his cheek. ‘And I’m always glad to see yer, Corker, yer’ve always been one of me favourite people.’ Molly turned away, saying, ‘I’d better be getting home to see to the dinner. But I’ll see yer later, I hope. Ta-ra.’

  It was the morning of Christmas Eve and Molly and Nellie were up and out bright and early, hoping to miss the crowds. But it seemed every woman in the neighbourhood had the same idea, for when the friends reached the butcher’s it was choc-a-block. ‘Bloody hell,’ Nellie moaned, ‘we’ll be here all day! Let’s go to the greengrocer’s and come back later when it’s not so crowded.’

  ‘It’s going to be like this all day, so we may as well get it over with. And don’t be making a show of me like yer did last year by saying we should be served before anyone else ’cos we’d ordered our meat. Yer nearly caused a flaming mutiny.’ Molly had to grin when her mate stretched herself to her full four feet ten inches to try and count how many people were before them. ‘Another thing, sunshine, yer shouldn’t be swearing on Christmas Eve. If ye’re thinking of going to midnight mass, take a tin hat with yer ’cos the church will probably collapse on top of yer.’

  They moved apart to let two customers who’d been served out of the shop. ‘That’s two less, anyway,’ Nellie said. ‘You’re taller than me, can yer see how many are before us?’

  ‘About twenty at a rough guess, but Tony and Ellen are pretty quick so we shouldn’t be here that long.’

  ‘I hope it’s not too long or I’ll be wanting to go to the lavvy. It’s the cold weather, yer see, girl, it has that effect on me.’

  ‘Cross yer legs and hope for the best, sunshine, that’s what I do.’

  Five minutes passed before another two customers left the shop enabling the two friends to stand inside. ‘Yer see,’ Molly said. ‘We won’t be here that long at this rate.’ Then she cocked an ear. ‘Eh, guess who’s in front, sunshine, our friend Elsie Flanaghan. I’d know her voice anywhere.’

  Nellie bristled. ‘I’ll flatten her if I get the chance.’

  ‘You dare make a show of me, sunshine, and I’ll never speak to yer again.’

  When her friend didn’t answer, Molly took it that her words had been heeded. But Elsie Flanaghan herself wouldn’t let them forget what a bad-minded gossip she was. Her loud voice could be heard above the chatter, and this time the victim of her vicious tongue was a close neighbour of hers. She didn’t worry that there were other neighbours listening who could repeat the nasty things she had to say because she knew no one would tackle her as she was well-known for being handy with her fists. ‘She’s a lazy, dirty cow, that Hilda Staples. Yer can’t see through her windows ’cos it’s that long since they were cleaned.’ There were a few gasps and heads were shaking because Hilda Staples was a sick woman. She had problems with her chest and could hardly breathe at times. But she was well liked in the streets because she hardly ever moaned and always managed a smile. And she never said a bad word against anyone.

  ‘And have yer seen her front step?’ Elsie wasn’t talking to anyone in particular and more of the women in the shop had their eyes averted or were gazing down at the floor wishing they could be served and away from the wicked tongue. ‘Once a month she does it, and it’s so dirty it spoils the look of all the other houses.’ After hitching her bosom, she carried on. ‘And as for that no-good husband of hers, well, if he was mine I’d make him jump through hoops, the lazy bugger!’

  Molly’s temper was rising as she listened. ‘She’s a bad bitch,’ she whispered to Nellie, ‘yer couldn’t find a nicer family than the Staples’.’

  ‘I offered to flatten her, girl, for what she said about Steve and Jill, but yer wouldn’t have it! So I’m saying nothing right now. But I’ll bide me time, and one day I’ll have her. You needn’t worry yerself ’cos I won’t raise me hand to her if I’m with you.’

  Molly gave her a dig. ‘Just look at Tony’s face, sunshine, he’s giving her looks to kill. I bet she gets the smallest turkey in the shop.’

  ‘I hope he gives her one that’s going off and she spends Christmas in the lavvy. It would be the price of her.’

  Several more people had crowded in behind the friends so their conversation stopped. But not so with Elsie Flanaghan who was now picking on another neighbour in her street. This one, a Vera Southall, was, according to Elsie, giving the eye to every man she saw. ‘None of our husbands are safe with her, she’s a right bleeding trollop if ever there was one. Anything wearing a pair of trousers will do her, she’s a slut.’ The reason Vera Southall was being picked on was because she was a very attractive widow who drew many admiring glances from the men in the neighbourhood, John Flanaghan included. But she was a quiet, reserved woman who kept herself to herself. ‘She’s out every night dolled up to the nines, and I’ll lay bets she goes to Lime Street to see what she can pick up.’

  Tony had had enough. T
here were one or two women in front of Elsie, but he said, ‘I hope yer won’t mind, ladies, if I serve Mrs Flanaghan first? Yer see, I think she’s in a hurry.’

  The women didn’t mind, they too had had enough of her. But Elsie was so thick-skinned she thought Tony had chosen her as one of his favourites and she drew herself to her full height and smirked. ‘Thanks, Tony, lad, I am in rather a hurry.’

  Nellie’s screwed up eyes were a sure sign she was intent on something, but Molly didn’t think anything of it when her mate said, ‘Change places with me, girl, I can’t see anything from here and I’ve got a kink in me neck.’

  ‘Okay, sunshine, if that’s what yer want, but yer won’t see any better ’cos there’s nothing to see, only heads and backs. Unless yer look up and see the turkeys hanging from that iron bar, and yer have to admit they’re not the prettiest sight in the world.’

  ‘Not now they’re not, girl, but neither would we look pretty if we were dead and hung up by our necks.’ Nellie held her tummy in as they changed places. ‘But they’re a grand sight on the table on Christmas Day. All golden brown, stuffed with tasty sage and onion stuffing and surrounded by roast potatoes.’

  ‘Shut up, sunshine, ye’re making me feel hungry.’ Molly lowered her voice. ‘I asked Tony for a big turkey ’cos Jill and Steve are coming to dinner, plus Doreen, Phil and Victoria. I’m glad they’re coming ’cos it wouldn’t be the same without all the family together.’

  Nellie stopped listening at that point, she was too busy watching Tony pass a bag over the counter to Elsie Flanaghan. And she was working out a strategy to pay the woman back for all the evil things she’d said about people. She had a plan in mind but didn’t know whether it would work or not.

  ‘Will yer move out of the way?’ Elsie Flanaghan didn’t believe in being polite and pushed her way through the crowd regardless. It was when she came level with Nellie that the little woman stuck her foot out and tripped up her unsuspecting victim. Those at the back of the shop moved aside so Elsie fell flat, face forward on the floor. And not a soul went to her aid.