One Rainy Day (19 page)

Eva tapped an open hand on the table. ‘Do I get a prize if I get it right first time?’

‘There’s no prizes, Mam, but me and David will wash the dishes if you win. If he gets it right first, you and me do the dishes.’

‘It was the bloke who knocked you over last week,’ Eva said. ‘Am I right?’

‘You’re warm, Mam, but not right.’

David was getting impatient. ‘Come on, sis, tell us who it was and get it over with.’

‘It was the bloke’s sister.’ Poppy didn’t want to go over the whole episode, or they’d think she was crazy. ‘She’s a really nice girl, and she even came to the café with me and Jean for some lunch. And before you start, David, she did offer to pay for me and Jean, but we wouldn’t let her. As I
said, she’s a lovely girl, very pretty and very friendly, so I couldn’t be rude to her. Anyway, I’ll probably never see her again.’

David leaned towards her. ‘You told us she was well off, and now you tell us she’s very pretty. You don’t happen to know if she’s got a boyfriend, do you? From the sound of things, she seems like the girl I’ve been searching for.’

Poppy patted his cheek. ‘Unfortunately, my dear brother, you wouldn’t be in a position to keep her in the manner to which she is accustomed.’

With a cheeky grin on his handsome face, David answered, ‘I’m very adaptable, sis. I could easily get used to the manner to which she is accustomed. I would have no qualms about being a kept man. In fact the idea appeals to me.’

‘You might not, son, but wouldn’t the young lady in question have a say in the matter?’ Eva asked, a smile hovering around the corners of her mouth. ‘Or do you think your looks are so devastating she’d fall at your feet?’

‘It has been known for girls to give a second glance when they pass me. In fact, two girls were walking past me just today, and they both stopped in their tracks to stare at me. It was quite embarrassing really. I could feel myself blushing.’

‘Oh, dear, the poor girls must be hard up for boyfriends, that’s all I can say.’ Poppy winked across the table at her mother. ‘Are yer sure there wasn’t another bloke walking beside yer that they were looking at?’

David stroked his chin. ‘Let me think now. Yes, I do believe there was someone sharing the pavement with me. It was a young mother with a baby in a pram.’

‘Then that accounts for the girls stopping. All women, young and old, are suckers for babies.’

‘Blast and damnation,’ David said. ‘Here’s me thinking I’m
God’s gift to women, and my own mother and sister kick the legs out from under me.’

‘Enough about you, David,’ Poppy told him. ‘I want to spend an hour on brushing up my shorthand before I go out. So let’s finish our dinner, or I won’t have time to do all I want to do. Like getting washed and making myself look pretty.’

‘What’s on tonight, then?’ Eva asked. ‘Have you got a date?’

Poppy nodded, ‘I’m meeting Peter. It’s either the Grafton or the pictures, I don’t mind one way or the other. But I’m determined to spend an hour trying to make a sentence out of the dots, dashes, and half-moons in my notebook. I want to be able to show Mr Jones that I’m not as thick as I look.’

‘You are not thick,’ David said. ‘I bet by the end of the month you’ll be top of the class.’

‘I appreciate your faith in me, brother. And without wanting to sound big-headed, I do have a little faith in meself. That’s because I’m getting help off Jean in work. What I get through tonight, she’ll check for me tomorrow. And I don’t mind her telling me where I’ve gone wrong, not like I would Mr Jones. I felt a bit daft asking him to explain something twice, but not Jean.’

‘Don’t blame me if you’re late,’ David said. ‘You’re the one doing all the talking. And another thing. We said last week that we would correct each other’s grammar, but we haven’t, not once!’

‘Oh, dear, it’s very hard trying to do so many things at the same time. I’m quite happy with the way I speak, and no one has ever pulled me up over it before.’

‘Well, we wouldn’t would we, sweetheart, ’cos we all speak the same. Like Londoners, who have a cockney accent, or people from Birmingham, or Newcastle. They all speak the
local dialect. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.’ Eva leaned forward and put a finger under Poppy’s chin. ‘Go and do what you want to do, or you’ll end up being late for your date. It’s one thing keeping a man waiting ten minutes, but half an hour is going too far.’

Poppy stood up. ‘I’ll get washed and change me dress, first, then I’ll get me nose in the book until a quarter to eight. I’m meeting Peter at eight.’ As she was passing her brother’s chair, she asked, ‘Where did I slip up?’

‘Only twice, kid, which wasn’t bad.’ David put a hand on his sister’s arm as she started to walk away. ‘By the way, what did you say the girl’s name was?’

‘I didn’t say, clever clogs. But if you are so interested, her name is Charlotte. And before you ask, I haven’t the foggiest idea what her second name is. So unhand me and let me get moving.’

Peter hurried towards the bus when he saw Poppy standing on the platform. He held her hand as she stepped down, saying, ‘You’re late again. I thought you weren’t coming.’

‘I’m sorry, Peter, but by the time I’d had my dinner, chatted to my mother and brother for a while, and spent some time on homework, well, the time seemed to fly over. And I had to get washed and changed. So don’t shout at me, or I’ll cry.’

Peter cupped her elbow and whispered in her ear, ‘If you’re going to cry, please do it on my shoulder so I’ll have an excuse to hold you tight. I could even kiss your tears away.’

‘Don’t push your luck, Peter, or I’ll set my brother on to yer. He’s as tall as you are, and he packs a powerful punch.’

‘He wouldn’t see us sitting in the dark in the back row of the stalls. The rendezvous of courting couples.’

‘Some hope you’ve got,’ Poppy huffed. ‘The only thing
I’m courting for the next few months is my homework book and the night class teacher.’

‘You’re really serious about changing your job, aren’t you? Why this sudden urge?’

‘I’ve never been more serious in my life. I messed up when I left school, but I’m not going to mess up again. I’m going to stick at it this time.’

‘If your job doesn’t suit you, then look for another one. I might be able to help you get an office job. My father has a small business; I could have a word with him.’ Peter squeezed her arm. ‘I’m sure my father would find you work you enjoyed.’

Poppy shook his arm away. ‘I don’t want just an office job, Peter. I’ve already got one of those and I don’t like it. I want a change, and a chance to better me … er, myself. So if I’m late for one of our dates, then you’ll have to put up with it. Either that or tell me to get lost. That may be the best for you.’

‘You won’t get rid of me so easily, Poppy, so you may as well calm yourself down and tell me whether we’re going to the flicks or dancing?’

‘Let’s go dancing, please. If we go to the pictures and it’s a sad film, I’ll only cry me … er, my eyes out.’ Poppy’s shoulders began to shake with laughter. ‘I may as well finish off by saying that if the band start playing a sentimental slow foxtrot, you’ll have to lend me your hankie ’cos I didn’t bring one with me.’

‘You little minx,’ Peter said, laughter in his voice. ‘Have you been having me on since you got off the bus? And like a fool I fell for it! I even offered to ask my dad if he could give you a job! And all the time you’ve been having the time of your life, laughing up your sleeve at me.’

‘A minx I might be, Peter, but little I am not. Five foot five is not small for a girl.’

When they reached the entrance of the Grafton, they could hear the strains of a waltz, and Peter said, ‘They always have a slow foxtrot after a waltz, so don’t stay long in the cloakroom. My feet are itching to get on the floor.’

‘I’ve only got to hang my coat up and give my hair a quick comb. I can do that in less than a minute. Is that quick enough for you?’

‘Don’t waste time asking me questions, my five foot five minx, be on your way.’

Poppy was smiling when she pushed the cloakroom door open, thinking Peter was a very easy bloke to be with. She was hanging her coat up when she heard her name being called. She turned. ‘Hello, Julie. How are you? Are you still going out with Jim?’

Julie wrinkled her nose. ‘No chance! I thought I told yer last time I saw yer that I wouldn’t waste me time on him. I’ve got better fish to fry.’

Poppy had no intention of being drawn into any further conversation, because she thought Jim was a really nice bloke. Too nice for Julie to pull to pieces. ‘I’d better go. I told Peter I wouldn’t be long.’

‘Still going out with him, are yer?’ Julie asked. ‘Courting strong?’

‘I wouldn’t say that.’ Poppy could hear sarcasm in the voice of the girl who was once her best mate, and she thought it best to walk away. ‘We’re good friends who enjoy each other’s company. And I better hadn’t keep him waiting.’

But Julie wasn’t going to be put off. ‘Yer were dead lucky getting in front of me that night. If yer hadn’t, I’d have got Peter, and you’d have been left with soft lad Jim.’

Poppy spun round. ‘Jim is a nice bloke, far too good for you. He’s had a lucky escape. And now I would be grateful if you went your way and allowed me to go mine. Please keep away from me in future.’

‘Oh, Miss Hoity-Toity now, eh? Aren’t I good enough for yer?’

‘I used to think you were,’ Poppy said as she walked on. ‘But people change, it’s only natural. We all grow up sometime.’

Peter was waiting with a hand outstretched. ‘That is the longest minute I have ever known. What kept you?’

Julie was passing at that moment and she sniggered. ‘She’s been looking at herself in the mirror. No one else could get a look in.’

Peter raised his brows as he took Poppy’s hand. ‘Lucky old mirror. It must have thought it was its birthday, seeing such a beautiful face.’

Poppy pulled him towards the door of the dance hall. ‘Come on, or the dance will be over.’

‘What’s got into your friend?’ Peter asked as he took Poppy in his arms. ‘She’s not exactly full of the joys of spring. Do I detect jealousy rearing its ugly head?’

‘Oh, take no notice of her. I’m not going to let her spoil my night. And earlier on you said yer feet were itching to get on the dance floor, so let’s enjoy the dance.’

‘My arms were itching too, Poppy. They couldn’t wait to wrap themselves round you.’

Poppy found herself relaxing and enjoying the strains of the sentimental song. Peter really was a very smooth dancer, and it was easy to follow his steps. And if he was holding her very close, and stealing the odd kiss on her cheek, well, there was no harm in that. He would never take advantage of her: he wasn’t the type.

It was when they were dancing the waltz that Poppy suddenly remembered what Peter had said about his father’s helping her to get a job she liked. She had to ask. ‘Peter, what did you mean when you told me your father might be in a position to help me get a job? I don’t need him to help, and I’m not being nosy, but I just wondered.’

‘My dad has a business, and I thought he might be able to help. I really thought you were upset, but you were having me on. In future I’ll have to keep my eye on you, and learn to know when you’re pulling my leg.’

‘I do have an odd mad half-hour now and again, but most of the time I’m quite sane. And I am never dangerous.’ The music ended then, and Peter was leading Poppy off the floor when she asked, ‘What sort of business does your father have? Just out of interest – you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. In fact, thinking about it, it was rude of me to ask, so forget I did.’

Holding on to her hand, Peter answered, ‘I don’t mind you asking questions, Poppy, because it means you are interested in me. And dad’s business is no secret. He deals in property.’

‘Oh, that sounds interesting.’ Poppy had a grin on her face. ‘The only deal I’ve ever done is when I deal a hand at cards. And I’m dead unlucky. I never win.’

‘You are not unlucky, Poppy, not in anything. Certainly not in looks or personality. And when I said my father deals in property, I meant he owns some houses in the Walton area, and around Bootle. He has an office in Walton, employs a couple of men as rent collectors, and has two women working in the office.’

‘Do you work for your father?’

‘I work with him, not for him.’ Peter put an arm round her waist and walked her towards the dance floor, where couples
were spacing themselves for a tango. ‘Dance now and talk later, sweetheart.’

‘Oh, you can’t call me that!’ Poppy met his eyes. ‘That’s what my mother has always called me, ever since I can remember.’

‘I’ll think of another name for you while we’re dancing. I wouldn’t dream of copying your mother.’ They had only gone a few steps when Peter asked, ‘How about pet? Would you like that?’

‘I might if I was a dog or a cat. But as I’m not, you’ll have to think of something else. Although I don’t know what’s wrong with calling me by my proper name.’

‘I love your name, and it really suits you. But I’d like to have a special, more romantic name for you.’ Peter had pressed his cheek close. ‘One that no one else is allowed to use. One which means you are my girl and out of bounds to any other bloke.’

‘You might be able to do that in a few months, Peter, but not yet. It’s too soon. When I’ve found myself a decent job, and I’m settled in my mind, then perhaps we can talk about pet names and going steady.’ The music came to an end and she led him off the floor. ‘You are too nice to be messed about, Peter; that’s why I’m being honest with you. To have the life I yearn for, I’ve got to go for it, or I’ll never forgive myself. I want to feel I’ve accomplished something, so I’ll know I’ve done the best with whatever gifts I’ve got. And my aims are not all for myself: it’s not all selfishness. As I told you, my mother had to go out to work when my dad died, to keep my brother and me. And she’s never once complained. My brother can start making it up to her the week after next, when he comes out of his time. We won’t be so strapped for money then. And I want to pay her back for the sacrifices
she’s had to make over the years. To do that I need to earn more than I do at the moment. So now you have the list of my aims. If you don’t want to wait six months or more, then I’ll understand. You deserve more than I’m prepared to give right now. You’ll have no trouble finding yourself a nice girl.’