The Girl From Number 22 (23 page)

‘Ye’re a proper tea-tank, you are, Ada Fenwick. I reckon yer must go through about twelve cups a day.’

‘It could be worse, sunshine. It could be twelve bottles of milk stout, and then yer’d have something to say.’ Ada chuckled. ‘Mind you, that wouldn’t worry me, ’cos I’d be far too drunk to hear yer.’

‘I hope that nice smell is coming from a pan of hotpot, Mam, ’cos I’m cold right through to me bones.’ Jenny closed the kitchen door behind her. After kissing her mother, she unwound the scarf from her neck. ‘I’m glad of this scarf, it keeps me neck and ears warm.’ She was a very pretty girl, with a mass of auburn hair framing her face, and deep brown eyes. And she slipped her
coat off to reveal a slim, shapely figure. ‘I’ll hang me coat up, then stand by the fire to get warmed through.’

‘I’ve put dumplings in the hotpot, sweetheart,’ Annie said. ‘As soon as yer brother comes in, I’ll put the dinner out. That will warm yer up.’

Jenny had just left the kitchen when the door was opened again, and Ben came in, bringing a blast of cold air with him. He quickly closed the door and grinned at his mother. ‘It’s not fit for man nor beast out there, Mam.’ His nose and cheeks were bright red, as were the lobes of his ears. ‘I tried to catch up with our Jenny, but she legged it up the entry as though she was being chased.’

Jenny left the fire to pop her head round the kitchen door. ‘I was being chased. The wind practically lifted me off me feet and carried me along.’

‘Go in by the fire and I’ll put yer dinner out.’ Annie ruffled her son’s mousy hair. He took after his father in colouring and features, but his nature was entirely different. Unlike his father, he had a good sense of humour, and a smile came easily to him.

Annie put two plates of dinner on the table, and Jenny and Ben quickly took their seats. ‘I’m ready for this, Mam,’ Ben said. ‘Me tummy’s been rumbling with hunger.’

‘Then tuck in, son, while I fetch mine. Then I’ve got something to tell yer.’ Annie’s heart was feeling lighter than it had for ages. And it was down to the neighbours across the street. They had made her feel welcome, and given her two hours free from worry. And she wanted to share this with her children. She sat down and picked up her knife and fork, but made no attempt to use them. ‘I want to tell yer about the nice afternoon I’ve had. I’ll be as quick as I can, but if yer dad comes in before I’ve finished, then I’ll have to leave the rest for another time.’

Jenny and Ben leaned forward in their chairs. It wasn’t often they saw their mother’s eyes so bright, or her voice so animated as she told them about the dropped purse, and having afternoon tea with the neighbours opposite. ‘I really enjoyed meself. They are very funny, and it was a change for me to be with nice people and have a laugh. Ada, that’s Mrs Fenwick, she’s just had her living room decorated and it’s lovely. Her and Hetty even offered to help me if I decided to do this room. I couldn’t let them, of course, not with yer dad being the way he is. But it was nice of them to offer.’

‘It’s about time yer had some friends, Mam,’ Ben said. ‘If me dad doesn’t know, then he can’t stop yer. Me and Jenny won’t say nothing.’

Jenny laid down her knife and fork. ‘Mam, if the two ladies are as nice as yer say, then it would be great if yer could make friends with them. Yer can’t go through life being worried about what me dad will do. I know what he’s like, and I don’t care who hears me say it. He’s a cruel, bad-tempered, foul-mouthed villain. He’s not fit to be a husband, or a father. All he’s fit for is getting blind drunk and using his family as punch bags. When me and Ben are older, and earning more money, we aren’t staying here. We’ll be off like a shot, and we’ll be taking you with us. But as that’s a few years off yet, can I tell yer what I’d do if I was in your position?’

Annie nodded. There was affection in her eyes for the daughter who reminded her of herself at that age. ‘Go on, sweetheart, tell me what yer would do in my position.’

‘I’d confide in the women. Tell them what a brute yer husband is. They’ll find out some time, anyway, ’cos although me dad’s only taken off once or twice since we moved in here, we all know it won’t last. This is the lull before the storm, Mam, and
you know it. One night he’ll come home rotten drunk and the neighbours will get a taste of what an animal he really is. So, if these women want to be friends with yer, grab their friendship with both hands. But empty yer heart to them first. Tell them the truth. It’s not your fault that the man yer married turned out to be a lousy husband. You shouldn’t have to go through life looking over yer shoulder, as though it’s you who’s in the wrong. They may turn out to be real friends, Mam, and heaven knows, the day might come when yer need friends. Me and Ben are out at work every day, and we’d both feel better if we knew yer were getting some pleasure out of life. And that there’d be someone there for yer if yer ever needed help.’

Ben loved his sister, but he was more proud of her now than he’d ever been. He agreed with every word she’d said, but he would never have been able to put the words together himself. ‘Yeah, our Jenny’s right, Mam. Yer should do that.’

Annie heard the key turn in the front door, and she held her hand up for silence. Then she pushed her chair back and hurried to the kitchen to put her husband’s dinner out. She didn’t want her day spoiled by him being in one of his bad moods.

Tom Phillips was a big man, six feet tall and very well made. He would have been quite handsome if it wasn’t for his flabby beer belly, and the florid complexion common in men who liked their beer. He flung the living room door open so hard, it banged against the end of the couch. Then he stood looking at his son and daughter, a sneer distorting his face. Suddenly, without warning, he lunged forward and grabbed Ben by the scruff of his neck, and dragged him off his chair. The young lad’s breathing was cut off and he started gasping for air.

Jenny rounded the table with a fork in her hand. ‘Let go of him.’

With his free hand, Tom pushed her away. ‘Sod off, or you’ll be the next.’

Jenny looked down and saw the fear in her kid brother’s eyes. Then she pressed the prongs of the fork against her father’s cheek. She was shaking inside, for she knew only too well how violent he could be. But she was now more concerned for her brother than herself.

‘Let him go now, or I’ll stab yer with this. And don’t think I won’t.’ She pressed the prongs into his fleshy cheeks. ‘Leave go now!’

Annie came rushing through from the kitchen. She was carrying her husband’s dinner in her hand. But she didn’t put the plate down on the table, she held it in front of his face. ‘Take yer hands off my son, or yer’ll get this plate broken over yer head.’

Tom relaxed his grip on the boy’s neck and flung him on to the couch. It wasn’t his wife’s threat that worried him, it was the look of hatred on his daughter’s face. And he knew she wouldn’t hesitate to stab him. So, like the Artful Dodger, he pretended he was only fooling. ‘Put me dinner down, yer silly cow. Can’t yez take a bleeding joke?’

Jenny wouldn’t have let him get away with it, but when she saw her mother’s face drained of colour she held her temper and hatred in. She hadn’t finished her dinner, and though she had no appetite for it now, she sat at the table. Patting the chair next to her, she said, ‘Sit here, Ben, and eat yer dinner. Me mam’s having hers in the kitchen. Eat it all up after she went to the trouble of making it for us.’

They were silent as they ate their meal, the only sound being the occasional loud belch coming from the man facing them. He never put a hand over his mouth, or excused himself, and the
sound sickened Jenny. She waited until Ben had finished his meal, then she put her plate on top of his. ‘I’ll take them out, our kid. Are yer going round to yer mate’s?’

Ben was still shaking inside from fear. He really had thought he was going to choke to death. ‘I told Billy I’d go round to his for a game of cards, but I’m not fussy now.’

‘You go, Ben, ’cos he might be waiting for yer. Yer don’t want to let a mate down. I’ll give yer a couple of coppers to buy some sweets to share between yer.’

Tom’s top lip curled. ‘That’s all he’s fit for. Sucking sweets like a baby.’

Jenny was walking towards the kitchen when she turned her head to say, ‘It’s better than propping a bar up, spending all yer money on beer and making a show of yerself.’ She didn’t hear the obscenities following her, as she was speaking softly to her mother. ‘Mam, I want yer to promise yer’ll invite Ada and Hetty over for tea tomorrow afternoon. I’ll look forward to yer telling me and Ben how much yer’ve enjoyed yerself.’ She kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘Promise?’

Annie kissed her back. ‘I promise, sweetheart.’

Annie stood by the window with her coat on and a woollen scarf round her neck. She was watching for Ada’s door to open, then she intended to open her door at the same time, and act as though it was a coincidence. She had butterflies in her tummy, but she’d made a promise to her daughter and wasn’t going to back out. Jenny’s words that morning, as she’d left for work, had been, ‘Don’t let me down, Mam. Remember yer promise.’

When Ada’s door opened, Annie moved like streaked lightning, so fast she banged her shin on the leg of the small table. Another time she would have rubbed at the pain, but she couldn’t spare the time right now.

‘Hello, Annie,’ Ada shouted. ‘Going to the shops, are yer?’

Annie waved and nodded simultaneously. ‘I’m late today. I’ve usually been there and back by now.’

‘Yer may as well walk down with us,’ Hetty called. ‘Yer can keep me and Ada company.’

Annie picked her way over the cobbles. ‘I’m afraid I’m not very exciting company, Hetty. I’ve got no jokes up me sleeve. In fact I couldn’t tell a joke to save me life.’

The women walked three abreast down the street, which was a regular experience for the two mates, but a new one for Annie.

‘Hetty will tell yer some jokes, Annie,’ Ada said, a smile on
her face. ‘As long as yer don’t mind dirty ones. She makes me blush sometimes when she’s telling them to the man in the butcher’s. And his face goes as red as the blood in the meat he’s got on the chopping block.’

Hetty gasped. ‘Ada Fenwick, I’ve never told a dirty joke in me life. I don’t know any, and I don’t want to, either! If you told one, I wouldn’t listen.’

Ada’s head went back when she chuckled. ‘Yer’d have to listen to know whether it was a smutty joke or not, sunshine. And by then it would be too late. The damage would have been done, and your mind sullied for ever.’

‘Trust you to think of that.’ Hetty jerked her head at Annie. ‘She’s got an answer for everything. I’ve never known her lost for words in twenty years.’

‘I’m often lost for words,’ Annie told them. ‘I think it’s being on me own too much. I don’t know what to say to people.’

‘Surely yer have the children to talk to? Mine never stop. Except when they’re asleep.’ Ada glanced sideways to where Annie was walking on the other side of Hetty. ‘When we’re sitting round the table having our dinner, it’s hard to get a word in sideways. They’ve all got something to say, and they’re all talking at once. And my feller is as bad as the kids, he won’t be left out.’

‘Oh, my husband doesn’t talk very much.’ Annie decided to drop a hint, and gradually build up to the truth about her husband. ‘When he does, it’s usually to find fault. He’s not the easiest person in the world to live with.’

‘Then yer haven’t got him house-trained, Annie,’ Ada said. ‘I started with Jimmy on the day we got wed, and he’s well trained.’

‘Take no notice of her, Annie, ’cos Jimmy can stick up for himself,’ Hetty said. ‘To hear my mate talk, anyone would think
her husband was henpecked. But I can tell yer, he’s far from it. He’s got a smashing sense of humour, and always good for a laugh. And Danny takes after him.’

Ada narrowed her eyes. ‘How come yer know so much about my husband, Hetty Watson? Yer must stand with yer ear glued to the wall.’

‘I don’t need to, girl, ’cos yer’ve all got loud voices,’ Hetty told her. ‘We’d have to put cotton wool in our ears if we didn’t want to hear yer. But we do want to hear yer, especially the laughter. Even though we don’t know what ye’re laughing at, we all laugh with yer.’

‘It’s funny how laughter can be contagious, isn’t it?’ Annie said. ‘If I hear anyone laugh, it always brings a smile to my face.’

They were walking along the main shopping street by this time, and Annie still hadn’t plucked up the courage to invite her two neighbours over for afternoon tea. She was telling herself if she didn’t speak now it would be too late. They’d be parting company soon, for the butcher’s would be the first call for the two mates, and Annie didn’t want to ask in front of strangers. Then the problem was solved for her.

‘It’s my turn to buy the cakes today, Annie,’ Ada said. ‘So, unless yer have a more pressing engagement, then it’s two o’clock at my place.’

Annie pulled on Hetty’s arm and they came to a halt. ‘Oh, I was going to ask yer over to mine this afternoon. To repay yer kindness, like. My living room isn’t as posh as yours, but I’m sure neither of you are the type to lift me rug to see if I’ve brushed the dirt under it. Me house may be humble, but it is clean.’

‘I’m sure it is, sunshine, I wouldn’t expect anything else,’ Ada told her. She was surprised by the invitation, and beginning to wonder if she was wrong in her judgement of the Phillips family.
But she and Hetty had a routine, and for today they’d stick with it. ‘Would yer mind if we swapped round, Annie? You come to me today, and tomorrow me and Hetty will come to you? I know it sounds daft, but I’m a creature of habit, and I go all funny if I don’t stick to me normal routine. Yer don’t mind, do yer?’

‘Of course Annie won’t mind, will yer, girl?’ Hetty asked, raising her brows. ‘A cake is a cake, no matter which house it’s eaten in.’

‘That’s fine with me.’ Annie nodded. ‘Ada’s today, and mine tomorrow.’ She was feeling light-hearted now. It was something to look forward to, and Jenny would be pleased that she was to have company on two afternoons.

As soon as Jenny closed the kitchen door behind her, she asked, ‘Well, did yer have yer visitors today, Mam?’