The Girl From Number 22 (42 page)

Jenny had her pride and wanted to look her best. Especially if Danny was there. For the last two nights he’d had to carry her father home, rotten drunk, and he must wonder what sort of family they were. She didn’t know much about the lad, except he was nice-looking and seemed kind. And she didn’t want him to think that because her father was a rotter, it ran in the family. So with her change of dress came a quick dab of powder and a trace of lipstick. She heard Ben leaving the house, and although she knew her mother would be waiting, she allowed herself a few seconds to run the hairbrush through her thick auburn hair. Then she felt she could face anyone without feeling guilty about who she was.

Annie was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and at the sight of her daughter looking so pretty, she could feel tears stinging the backs of her eyelids. ‘Oh, yer do look bonny, sweetheart. A sight for sore eyes.’ She had to turn away, for she didn’t want her daughter to see her upset. But running through her mind was the thought that the only good things that had come from her marriage to Tom Phillips were her beautiful children. They were her life, and she adored them. But the man who had fathered them had no love for them, or pride in them. To him they were
just figures he could vent his anger and wickedness on. Well, the day might soon come when he wasn’t around to treat them like slaves, and they would have no cause to be ashamed of who they were. And that day couldn’t come quick enough for Annie.

When Jenny stepped down into the street, she looked up at her mother. ‘Mam, don’t let me dad knock yer around, d’yer hear? Run over to Mrs Fenwick’s, and I’ll come back with yer. Promise me yer’ll do that?’

‘I’ll give yer me promise, sweetheart, but I don’t think it’ll come to that. I won’t say any more now, let’s wait and see. For all we know, this might turn out to be the best day of our lives. The turning point, perhaps.’

Jenny couldn’t see that happening, but she wasn’t going to put a damper on her mother’s spirits. ‘I’ll be home at half ten, then, Mam. Okay?’

Annie nodded. ‘I’ll be fine, don’t worry.’

Tom Phillips was smirking as he walked out of the dock gates. He had two bob in his pocket that he’d scrounged off the men he worked with. Several of the men had sent him packing with a flea in his ear, because they didn’t like him. But four of the gang, unknown to each other, had been talked into lending him sixpence each. They didn’t know it was for beer; he’d told them he’d lost his money through a hole in his trouser pocket, and they’d believed him. And he’d promised to pay them back the next day. He’d given the same excuse to his boss for being so late clocking on. No money for the tram fare, so he’d had to walk all the way.

As he neared the pub, and the smell of beer invaded his nostrils, he was feeling on top of the world. Two shillings would see him all right for a few pints here, with a bit over. Still, it was
a mystery what had happened to the money he had in his pocket last night. He must have had more to drink than he thought, or he’d lost it somewhere. Anyway, there was no point in spending time worrying about it. He could get what he wanted from that stupid cow of a wife of his.

There was a woman of about thirty leaning against the wall of the pub. With a cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth, her face thick with powder, rouge and bright red lipstick, she looked what she was . . . one of the many prostitutes who plied their trade near the docks. She approached Tom as he neared the door of the pub. ‘You look like a feller who appreciates a bit of fun. How about it? For a tanner, yer can have anything yer like.’

‘I can get what I want at home for nothing.’ Tom brushed her aside. ‘I’ve got me own slave there who’s very well trained. I don’t need no whore.’

‘I can turn tricks yer’ve never even thought of.’ The woman sneered. ‘Yer don’t know what ye’re missing, lad. Yer wife’s an amateur. Yer should try a professional, then yer’ll be a real man.’

The words brought Tom to a halt. The woman was touting for business, and he’d always looked down on the women who hung around the docks. But her words had him wondering. Was he missing out? Then he shook his head. No, he was quite happy with his wife. She wasn’t enthusiastic in what she did for him, on the contrary, she hated it, and he knew it. But that was part of the thrill for him.

Tom picked his glass up off the counter and took it to one of the small tables. The whore’s words stayed in his mind as he drank his way through that pint, and the next two. Perhaps he should try it some time. It wouldn’t hurt. If he never tried, he’d never know and would always wonder. It seemed they only
charged a tanner, so it was worth a try. He’d take the sixpence out of his wife’s housekeeping. Yeah, that was a good idea, he liked that. He’d be having the time of his life at her expense. Comparing his wife with the whore reminded Tom that he’d ordered Annie to be in his bed tonight. And on that thought, he downed his third pint of beer, left the empty glass on the table and headed for home.

As an hour ticked by, Annie knew her husband must have borrowed money off someone to go for a few pints. Which meant he’d be in an excitable, but unpredictable, mood. Drinking beer seemed to have different effects on different men. Some became happy and talkative, while Tom Phillips became an abusive bully. She wasn’t looking forward to hearing his key in the door, but she was not going to back down. Not this time. There were a lot of people putting themselves out to help her, and she’d rather take all the blows Tom Phillips aimed at her than let those people down. It would be throwing their kindness back in their faces. She just hoped things worked out as Ada had planned. Not only for herself, but for Jenny and Ben. They were only young once, and when they were older she wanted them to be able to look back with fond memories.

Annie’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the key in the door. And she had to take a deep breath to calm her jangling nerves. She could smell the beer before her husband even entered the room, but she forced herself to sit down and remember word for word what she’d been advised to say. ‘I thought yer’d be home earlier than this, because I knew yer had no money.’ She picked up a half-crown from the table and held it out on her open palm. ‘This must have fallen out of yer pocket when yer
were asleep on the couch. I found it when I was brushing the floor.’ This wasn’t exactly true, but part of the plan hinged on Tom Phillips’s going to the pub that night. ‘Here, take it while I see to yer dinner.’

Tom grabbed the money without so much as a thank you. But he was gloating inside. He’d be able to go for his pints after all, and still have a bit of money over. And if he added that to the coppers he had in his pocket, he only needed another shilling and he could give the money back that he’d borrowed off his workmates. He threw his cap on to the sideboard before sitting down. ‘I need a shilling off yer. Where’s yer purse?’

Annie came in from the kitchen. ‘I haven’t got a shilling to give yer. It takes me all me time to manage on the pittance yer give me. I’m living from hand to mouth now.’

‘I don’t care if yer starve to bleeding death, yer stupid cow. When I say I want a shilling, then it’s up to you to find it from somewhere. What d’yer think I give yer housekeeping money for? It’s no good having a dog and barking yer bleeding self.’

The plate Annie was carrying had just been taken out of the oven, and it was very hot. And for one wild moment, she felt the urge to dump the contents of the plate on his head. But Ada’s words pulled her up short. She put the plate on the table, saying, ‘If I give yer the last shilling I’ve got, I’ll have no money to buy any food for tomorrow’s dinner.’

‘That’s your bleeding worry, not mine.’ Tom let fly with a punch to her ribs, then laughed when she cried out in pain. ‘That’s just a taste of what yer’ll get tomorrow if there’s no bleeding dinner on the table when I get home from work.’ He remembered the prostitute outside the pub, and threw his head back, laughing like a maniac. ‘Go down Lime Street, and see how much yer can make. Ha-ha! They charge a tanner a trick, but
they’re good at the game. You’d be bleeding lucky if yer got one of the dirty old men in long raincoats. Yer might get one of them to take yer down an entry for a threepenny bit.’

He was deliberately taunting her, hoping to see her cringe in horror at his words. When she didn’t, he picked up his knife and fork and started on his dinner. His lack of manners when eating disgusted Annie far more than his words had. This was one of the many times when she felt like killing him. She would get a lot of pleasure out of seeing him writhe in agony. He’d caused her so much pain, she wouldn’t feel any pity for him if he pleaded for mercy.

‘Don’t stand there like a gormless idiot, yer stupid bleeding cow.’ Tom Phillips jerked his head. ‘Get out there and make me a cup of tea. Yer’ve been sitting on yer big fat arse all day, now get cracking.’

After putting a light under the kettle, Annie stood by the sink, her hands gripping the edge. She whispered softly, ‘May God forgive me for me bad thoughts, but he is a bastard and I wish he was dead.’ Then she closed her eyes. If things went as Ada had promised they would, then tonight he could get a taste of his own medicine. It might only happen the once, but oh how she would enjoy seeing him cower in fear, as he’d often reduced her to doing over the years.

‘Get that bloody tea in here on the double, yer lazy fat cow.’ The beer, as usual, was having the effect of making Tom Phillips feel powerful. It also gave him a warped sense of humour. When Annie carried his tea through, and put it down in front of him, he gripped her wrist. ‘I hope yer haven’t forgot the treat I promised yer this morning? I bet yer’ve been looking forward to it all day. Ye’re in my bed tonight, so be ready for me when I get back from the pub.’

Annie kept her face straight. ‘Oh, ye’re going to the pub, are yer?’

‘Of course I’m going to the pub, yer stupid cow. Yer don’t think I’m going to sit in and look at that bloody face of yours all night, do yer?’

Annie didn’t answer as she carried his dirty plate out. Everything was turning out as Ada had forecast. She’d keep her fingers crossed, and say a little prayer, that her friend from across the street had got the ending right as well.

‘Take yer coat off, sunshine, and I’ll hang it up,’ Ada said to Jenny, a wide smile on her face. ‘Then sit down and make yerself at home. The two children have gone round to their friends, so there’s only me and Jimmy here, and we’re not strangers to yer.’

‘Take a pew, love,’ Jimmy said, feeling sorry for the girl, who was looking ill at ease. ‘We don’t charge for the use of a chair.’

Danny, who had been getting washed in the kitchen, popped his head round the door. ‘A word of warning, Jenny. They don’t charge for sitting on a chair, but they do if yer break one of the legs.’

Jenny thought he looked very handsome when he smiled, and he always seemed happy, as though he enjoyed life. Heaven only knows what he thinks about me and my family, she thought, he can’t have a very high opinion of us. But he was looking at her expectantly, so she put a smile on her face and answered, ‘I’ll try not to break a leg.’

Ada pulled a chair out and sat next to her. ‘Me bold laddo is off jazzing, as per usual. If he could, he’d spend his ruddy life on the dance floor.’

‘Ay, don’t be talking about me behind me back.’ Danny came
and sat on a chair facing them. ‘It’s coming to something when me own mother tells people I’m a good-for-nothing.’

‘Well, I can criticise yer, sunshine, seeing as I’m yer mother. But woe betide anyone else who did.’ Ada winked at Jenny, before saying, ‘Me first born, yer see, and he’s been spoilt rotten.’ Then for the next ten minutes the talk was about the cold weather, work, and how soon Christmas would be upon them. And Jenny was coming out of her shell and joining in. It was easy to feel comfortable in the warm atmosphere in the Fenwicks’ house.

Then Danny looked at the clock, tutted, and pushed his chair back. ‘I’d better get me skates on. Me dancing partners will think I’ve deserted them.’

Ada’s face was the picture of innocence, and no one would have guessed it had all been rehearsed. ‘Why don’t yer ask Jenny to go with yer, sunshine? I’m sure she’d enjoy it more than sitting with two old fogies.’

Jenny seemed to shrink in her chair. ‘Oh, no, Mrs Fenwick, I’d rather stay here with you. Danny doesn’t want me hanging on to him. He’s got his own friends.’

‘Ay, that’s a good idea, Jenny!’ Danny was playing his part well. ‘I’ve got three dancing partners, but I’m not the only one they dance with. And remember, yer never did tell me what yer favourite dance is. So, if yer come with me, I’ll find out for meself. Unless yer don’t want to come with me, of course. I can’t make yer.’

‘It’s not that I don’t want to come with yer, Danny, but I don’t want to spoil yer night for yer. I’m not really dressed for a dance, and I haven’t got me dancing shoes with me.’

‘Yer look good enough to me,’ Danny said. ‘It’s only a local hop, the girls don’t wear long dresses or tiaras. And only the show-offs wear silver shoes.’

‘Yer look fine to me, lass,’ Jimmy told her. ‘If I was your age, and I went to a dance and saw yer, I’d be across the floor before anyone else could snap yer up.’

‘Oh, would yer now?’ Ada curled a fist under his nose. ‘When we’re on our own, sunshine, yer can expect some sharp words from me. Fancy sweet-talking a young girl in front of yer very own wife, what yer paid seven and six to marry. I’ve a good mind to get meself all dolled up and go to the dance with our Danny.’

‘Ah, ay, Mam!’ Danny held his hands up in mock horror. Then he fell on one knee in front of Jenny. ‘Please, I beg of yer. Say yer’ll come with me, before me mam starts putting her lipstick on.’

Jenny couldn’t help but laugh. What fun this family were. ‘I’ll come with yer, but I won’t stay with yer. It wouldn’t be fair on you or the girls yer usually dance with.’

Danny jumped to his feet. ‘It’s a bargain.’ He stooped to kiss Ada. ‘It’s not that I don’t love yer, Mam, ’cos yer know I love the bones of yer.’

‘Be a gentleman and get Jenny’s coat for her.’ Ada smiled at the young girl, who was dazed by the speed everything had been arranged. ‘Yer look very pretty, sunshine, and if the other boys have got eyes in their head, there’ll be no shortage of partners for yer.’