Sadie Was A Lady (56 page)

Peter had taken a seat next to Ellen at Sarah’s table. He was wearing his best suit and his patent leather dance shoes had been laid on the floor next to the sideboard. ‘I thought Sadie would have been home by now, it’s nearly half-seven.’

‘Don’t look at me, son,’ Sarah said. ‘Yer as wise as I am.’

‘She’ll not come to any harm with Tommy and Spike with her.’ Joe was not to know that as far as Peter was concerned, he was pouring oil onto troubled waters. ‘With two big lads like them, she’ll be as safe as houses.’

‘She’d have been just as safe with me,’ Peter said, his face without a smile for once. ‘I can handle meself, yer know.’

‘I’ve no doubt about that, son, I’m quite sure yer can more than hold yer own.’ Joe tried to repair the damage to the lad’s ego. ‘It’s just that the other two were on the scene, so to speak. If Sadie had been at home then I’m sure it would have been your door she knocked at.’

The old man’s words went some way to restoring Peter’s humour, and Ellen went even further when she touched his arm. ‘Yer look very smart, Peter. I bet all the girls at the dance will be after yer.’

‘Thank you, Ellen.’ A smile was back on Peter’s face. ‘It’s nice of yer to say so. That sister of yours has never once said that I look smart.’

Ellen bridled. ‘Don’t you call our Sadie that sister of mine, like that. If she doesn’t want to say yer look smart, then she doesn’t have to, does she?’

Sarah and Joe exchanged amused glances as they sat back and listened.

‘Well, I’m always telling her she looks nice,’ Peter said. ‘It wouldn’t hurt her to return the compliment now and again.’

‘Our Sadie always looks nice, she doesn’t need you to tell her.’ Ellen’s deep brown eyes flashed. ‘She’s beautiful, she is. I bet none of the other girls yer go out with are as beautiful as my sister.’

‘I don’t go out with other girls.’ Peter was wondering how he’d got himself into this when they heard a key turn in the lock and silence descended.

‘I’m sorry I’m late, Grandma, but what a day it’s been.’ Sadie lifted her brows in surprise when she saw Peter. ‘What are you doin’ here? I thought yer’d have gone on to the dance.’

‘Well I didn’t, did I? And don’t you start on me ’cos this sister of yours has been giving me a really hard time.’

Sadie smiled at Ellen. ‘Are yer all right, sunshine?’

‘Oh Sadie, I’m so happy I can’t believe it.’ Ellen wrapped her arms around her body and hugged herself. ‘I keep pinchin’ meself to make sure I’m not dreaming.’

‘Next time yer feel like pinchin’ yerself, let me know an’ I’ll do it for yer.’ Peter grinned into her face before asking Sadie, ‘How did yer get on? Come on, we’re all dying to know.’

‘Hang on to yer last breath until I’m ready. It’s first things first.’ Sadie went to Sarah and hugged her. ‘Yer didn’t mind me sending Ellen, did yer, Grandma? I was at me wit’s end, I didn’t know what to do.’

‘Yer did the right thing, sweetheart. She’s more than welcome.’

Joe lifted his face for his kiss. ‘Like me dear wife said, we’re more than happy to have Ellen. This house has never known such activity since the day it was built.’ He winked at her. ‘Mind you, if Peter and your sister ever come to blows, it might not be standing much longer.’

‘Shall I get yer dinner out of the oven, sweetheart?’

‘Not yet, Grandma. I’ll tell yer what happened first, and get it over with. It won’t take that long, then I can have me dinner, a quick swill and change me clothes.’ Sadie pulled a chair from under the table and positioned it so she could see all four of them. Then she began to relate the day’s events, quickly and without interruption.
And
as she talked, it was Joe’s face she watched. His lined face was full of character, clearly showing his changing emotions as they moved from anger to silent laughter.

‘So there yer have it.’ Sadie sat back and clasped her hands in her lap. ‘That’s the lot, practically word for word.’

Ellen’s mouth was open, her eyes as round as saucers. ‘Yer mean me dad’s got a black eye as well as the scratches on his face?’

‘I haven’t seen the black eye, but according to Tommy it’ll be a belter by now. But I did see the scratches and they are very noticeable. I can’t see him turning into work for a few days, or makin’ any trips to the pub.’

‘And yer really said all those things to me mam?’

Sadie nodded. ‘Every word, sunshine.’

‘Ooh, yer not half brave, our Sadie.’

‘That’s what you think,’ Sadie laughed. ‘Me knees were knocking so loud it’s a wonder the whole street couldn’t hear them.’

‘Did yer not see anyone yer knew in the street?’ Sarah was thinking of Harry. Sadie hadn’t mentioned his name since the day they took the Christmas tree down and she’d held the little teddy bear in her hands. ‘I’m goin’ to keep this for ever, to remind me of the best friend I ever had, or am ever likely to have.’ Those had been Sadie’s words, and it set the old lady wondering if this was the boy who’d stolen her heart. She certainly didn’t let any of the boys she went out with get too close. Any one of them, Peter, Tommy or Spike, would give their eye teeth to be her sweetheart, but the girl kept them at a distance.

‘No, Grandma, I didn’t see anybody. I just kept me head down and walked as fast as me legs would carry me.’

Sarah pressed her hands on the couch and eased herself up. ‘We’ll have plenty of time tomorrow to go over it all again in detail, but if yer don’t make a move, sweetheart, yer’ll be getting to Blair Hall in time for the last waltz. The kettle on the hob is full of hot water, so bring it through and have a quick swill while I see to yer dinner.’

There was a small square of thick cloth kept near the
grate
for carrying the hot kettle, and after making sure her hands were well protected, Sadie carried the water through to the kitchen. ‘Grandma, I’m awful selfish, I haven’t even asked yer how Mrs Benson is?’

‘She’s just the same, sweetheart – no better but no worse. The doctor said if she stays nice and warm, gets plenty of drinks and soups down her, there’s a chance she’ll make it.’

‘Oh, that’s good. I’ll say a prayer for her tonight.’ Sadie poured some of the hot water into the sink and set the kettle on the gas stove. Then she put her arms around Sarah. ‘Thank you for letting Ellen stay here, Grandma, you really are good to me. She’ll be no trouble to yer, I promise. She’s a good girl, not cheeky or forward. And she’ll do her share in the house; she’s not frightened of work. And I know she’ll love you and Grandad as much as I love yer.’

Sarah stroked the long blonde hair that shone like silk. ‘Get yerself ready, sweetheart, and enjoy yerself tonight. Forget all yer troubles for a few hours and we’ll talk about Ellen’s future in the morning. Everything’s going to be fine, you’ll see.’

On Sunday morning they sat having breakfast, a fire crackling in the grate and bacon and egg on their plates. Ellen felt as though she was living in a dream. She’d never known such peace, such a feeling of well-being. And a proper breakfast was something she’d never had. At home they were lucky to get a round of bread and dripping and it would be stuck in their hand to eat off a dirty, cluttered table. And the air would be filled with shrill voices screaming obscenities at children too afraid to bat an eyelid. Here, there were no raised voices, no bad language; the table was set with a nice white cloth and the room was clean, warm and comfortable. She’d slept like a log in a clean bed with plenty of bedclothes to keep her warm and her sister to snuggle up to.

‘Yer very quiet, Ellen,’ Sarah said. ‘But I suppose it’s all strange to yer and it’ll take yer a while to settle down.’

‘Oh, it’s not strange to me, Grandma, it’s lovely. I’m quiet because I was thinking what a lucky girl I am.’

Sadie laughed. ‘I bet yer didn’t think yer were lucky when I made yer get up early this morning.’ She winked at Sarah. ‘I thought we should start as we mean to go on, so while I lit the fire, Ellen dusted and tidied the room. She knows where everything is now, so she’s no excuse for gettin’ out of doing any work.’

‘Yer awful, you are, our Sadie. I wouldn’t try and get out of doing any work.’

‘I know yer wouldn’t, sunshine, I was only pulling yer leg. I’ve already told Grandma what a smashing little worker yer are.’

Joe was eyeing the
News of the World
which was folded on his chair. He loved Sunday mornings when he could spend the whole time reading about what was going on in the rest of the world. ‘Would you ladies excuse me while I retire to me chair?’

Sarah’s smile for him was full of love and tenderness. ‘It’s not the chair that’s attractin’ yer, Joe O’Hanlon, it’s the newspaper and that old pipe of yours.’

‘Partly true, love, partly true. But I did think it would be better for you ladies if there wasn’t a man sittin’ listening to every word yer say. I know yer’ve got a lot to talk about.’

Ellen waited until Joe was settled in his chair, then asked the question that had been burning in her mind. ‘Will I be able to get a job now?’

‘Grandma says yer will, but I don’t know. I hope yer will because we could do with yer contributin’ to the housekeeping.’

‘Don’t be worrying the child about money, sweetheart – we’ll not starve.’ Sarah smiled at Ellen who was looking a little less happy. ‘The school leaving age is fourteen, and if yer’ve a good reason for leaving then, I can’t see them stopping yer. I’ll take yer to the Labour Exchange in the morning, explain that yer’ve come to live with me and there’s not much point in me putting you in a school around here for the sake of a few weeks.’

Ellen sighed with relief. ‘Ooh, thanks, Grandma.’

‘What sort of a job would yer like, sweetheart – in a shop or a factory?’

‘I don’t mind.’ Ellen was feeling really grown-up with someone asking her opinion. ‘Any job would do.’

‘There was a notice in Irwin’s window the other day asking for a junior shop assistant, but the job may have gone by now.’

Sadie leaned forward, her interest sparked. ‘When did yer see the notice, Grandma?’

‘A couple of days ago, sweetheart, I can’t remember the exact day.’

‘We could take a walk along there if yer like, Ellen.’ Sadie thought a job in a shop was more suitable for her sister than working in a factory. ‘The sign might still be in the window.’

‘Ooh, er.’ Ellen pulled a face. ‘Would I be any good in a shop?’

‘Of course yer would. Everyone has to learn when they get a job – look at me at the market. I never thought I’d have the nerve to do it, but I soon learned. And I’ve tried to drum it into yer that you are as good as anybody else, Ellen, don’t ever forget that. No matter who they are or what they do, you’re as good as them.’

Joe lowered his paper. ‘Yer sister’s right there, queen, yer up there with the best.’

‘I’ll wash yer hair for yer tonight, after our Jimmy’s gone, and I’ll rout some of me clothes out for yer to wear until we get yer some of yer own.’ Sadie eyed her sister’s blossoming figure. She definitely needed a couple of dresses that would fit her properly, and she needed to wear a brassière. ‘We’ll have a good sort-out tonight, and in the morning, before I go to work, I’ll doll yer up to the nines.’

Ellen was all eager. ‘Can we walk to Irwin’s now, see if the notice is still in the window?’

‘Hey, hold yer flippin’ horses, sunshine!’ Sadie raised her brows. ‘Are yer just goin’ to walk out and leave the table for someone else to clear?’

Ellen blushed with embarrassment. Her first day and she was making herself out to be selfish. ‘I’m sorry, Sadie, sorry, Grandma. It’s just that I’m so excited, me heart’s racing like mad. I don’t know whether I’m comin’ or going.’

‘I’ll clear away,’ Sarah said. ‘You two poppy off out.’

‘We will not.’ Sadie was very definite. ‘That would be a fine start, wouldn’t it? Two young girls buzzing off and leaving you with all the work? Not on your life, Mrs Woman. Ellen can clear the table and I’ll do the washing up. After that we’ll do the spuds and the veg.’

Ellen began to stack the plates. ‘I wonder how our Jimmy got on? I can’t wait to see if he’s all right.’ She began to giggle. ‘And I want to know what me dad said about how he got a black eye.’

‘Yer’ll find out soon enough, now get crackin’. The quicker yer move the quicker we get to Irwin’s.’

Sadie’s words had Ellen moving like a flash of greased lightning. If she got a job she wouldn’t be a child any more; she might even be able to go dancing with Sadie … and Peter.

Ellen skipped backwards in front of Sadie, her face alive with excitement. They were coming back from Irwin’s, where the card advertising a job for a junior shop assistant was still on display in the window. ‘D’yer think I’ve got a chance of gettin’ the job, Sadie? It would be marvellous if I could, it’s so near home.’

‘It depends how yer get on at the Labour Exchange. If they agree it’s not worth yer goin’ to school for a few weeks, then yer stand as good a chance as anyone of getting in at Irwin’s. I’ll make sure yer look presentable, so if yer do get an interview all you’ve got to do is be pleasant and civil. Yer good at sums, aren’t yer? I mean, yer can add up?’

‘Yeah, I’m good at adding up.’ Ellen turned to walk beside her sister. ‘I’ll say me prayers tonight, and you’ll say a prayer for me, won’t yer?’

Sadie grinned. ‘I will, sunshine, and we’ll get Grandma and Grandad to say one for yer too. With all those prayers winging their way up to heaven, God is bound to listen to them.’

‘I hope so, ’cos I want to be able to pay Grandma for me keep.’ Ellen slipped her arm through Sadie’s. ‘I haven’t thanked yer properly for what yer’ve done for me, but I want yer to know I really am grateful an’ I’ll love yer all me life and never let yer down.’

‘I know yer won’t let me down, sunshine,’ Sadie said as they turned the corner into their street. ‘And I know yer’ll be happy with Grandma and Grandad.’

‘Happy? I’m like a dog with two tails. I still can’t get it
into
me head that I won’t ever have to go back to our house.’ Ellen pulled her sister to a halt just before they reached the front door. ‘We could have been a happy family except for me mam and dad, couldn’t we, Sadie?’