Lizzie of Langley Street (16 page)

‘I bet you’re glad he’s here for your birthday.’

Lizzie smiled. ‘Yeah, I am, Ethel.’

‘It’s a shame you can’t go with him, you know.’

‘Well, I can’t and that’s that.’

‘What about Babs? Why can’t she stay at home? You had to do it when you was her age.’

This had been Danny’s suggestion, but Lizzie couldn’t see Babs washing the clothes and scrubbing the floor, let alone looking after Pa and Flo. ‘I don’t think she’d
give up Hailing House. The ladies count on her.’

Ethel gave a sharp tut. She looked up from under her lashes like Lil did. ‘Well, charity starts at home, Lizzie. Why shouldn’t Babs take her turn? I mean, it’s not like
she’s indispensable to Hailing House. They’d soon find someone else to fill her place. But Danny ain’t going to find someone to fill yours, is he?’

Lizzie had been trying not to think like that. Inside her there was always a niggling little voice whispering that she was missing her opportunity. Absently Lizzie smoothed the soft blue pleats
of her dress. Ethel’s cast-off had been brought out once again. Deep in her heart she wanted to have nice new clothes and look beautiful for Danny. To live a life that wasn’t always
overshadowed by poverty. It seemed all this was possible in Australia.

She suddenly heard Ethel’s voice again. ‘. . . so I said I’d mention it, Lizzie. At first you’d just be keeping check of the stock in the warehouse, but that would lead
to a job in the shop. Our manager has a keen eye for a good worker.’

Lizzie blinked, hearing Ethel’s last words. ‘You mean there’s a job going at Rickards?’

‘In a month’s time when someone retires. They’ll want a person who’s good at sewing and can sell to people. Just up your street, I thought, but as Mum pointed out,
Blackheath is on the other side of the river, a blooming long way to go. Still, I thought I’d mention it, as I could put a word in for you.’

‘Is it full time?’ Lizzie asked curiously.

‘Yes, Monday to Saturday.’

‘I appreciate you thinking of me, Ethel, but—’

Just then there was a scream from outside. Both girls jumped to their feet and a moment later they were in the yard staring down at Flo. She was squirming on the ground, holding her knee. Babs
was standing over her, hands on her hips. Lil was bending down examining the wound. Rosie and Timmy peered over their granny’s shoulder.

‘What happened?’ Lizzie demanded, looking at Babs.

‘She was showing off,’ Babs declared. ‘I told her not to jump off the wall but she did, right on Doug’s spade.’

‘She pushed me!’ yelled Flo in tears.

‘Liar!’ Babs’ face went scarlet. ‘I never touched you.’

‘Yes you did. When no one was looking.’

‘You little—’

‘That’s enough!’ Lizzie bent down beside Flo.

Lil raised her eyes. Her handkerchief was soaked with blood. ‘I reckon it’ll need a stitch or two. It’s a deep cut . . . caught the sharp edge of the spade.’

Flo began to bawl even louder. Lizzie stood up and looked at Babs. ‘You’ll have to run round for Dr Tap.’

‘I get the blame for everything round ’ere,’ she screeched. ‘Go and get the doctor yourself.’

At this, Timmy and Rosie started crying. Ethel took their hands and led them indoors, as Lil furiously mopped up the mess. Lizzie tried to decide whether she should make Babs go or run for old
Tap herself.

The problem was solved by Ethel. ‘Danny’s arrived, Lizzie,’ she shouted from the kitchen. ‘And Frank.’

‘What’s up?’ Danny hurried across to where Flo was lying. ‘Blimey, Flo, how did you do that?’ Flo sobbed, piling on the agony, and Danny glanced at Lizzie.
‘Don’t think that little lot will stop by itself.’

‘I know.’ Lizzie sighed, giving Babs a black look. ‘We – I was just going for the doctor. She can’t walk round to his place like that.’

‘Well, that ain’t no problem, I’ll take her,’ Danny said, giving Flo a big grin. ‘We’ve got the cart outside. Come on, young miss.’

But as Danny bent down, Frank stopped him. ‘I’ll do the honours,’ he said quickly, jerking his head towards Lizzie. ‘It’s your girl’s birthday, ain’t
it?’

Danny grinned, his blue eyes meeting Lizzie’s. ‘And I ain’t said happy birthday yet, have I?’

Frank slipped his hands under Flo and lifted her up. ‘Right, young lady, let’s get you round to the old quack. You’ll be as right as ninepence soon.’

‘I’ll help, Frank,’ a sweet voice suddenly said. Babs went to stand beside Frank, looking up at him with a smile. Lizzie was speechless. She could hear everyone talking at once
as they followed Frank, Flo and Babs out to the cart. But nothing was registering. Lizzie’s fingers were itching to throttle Babs!

‘Happy birthday, gel,’ Lil said as she cut the fruit cake covered in pink icing and handed it out.

‘Happy birthday.’ Danny gave her a lovely brown pair of woollen gloves.

‘Just what I wanted,’ Lizzie gasped.

‘I know, don’t I?’ he grinned. ‘Can’t have my girl going around with frozen fingers.’

Everyone had been so kind. Lil had given her a long woollen scarf that smelled faintly of mothballs but was very warm, Ethel the sewing box and Danny the gloves. Flo had made a special card at
school, with a pretty lace edging. Even Babs had given her a navy blue hair ribbon. Earlier that day her father had given her a photograph of Kate. Her mother looked very young, dressed in a white
cap and apron and a long black dress, the uniform of service. The date on the back was 1895. Her mother had been fourteen. With tears in her eyes, Lizzie had hugged him. She knew the photograph was
precious and hadn’t been given away lightly.

When Flo returned, she hobbled in and showed off her bandaged knee. ‘Dr Tapper said it wouldn’t ’urt, but it did,’ she proudly told Rosie and Timmy. The little kids
squealed in horror.

Babs tried to catch Lizzie’s eye. She went to sit beside Frank in the front room. Lizzie ignored the little display of airs and graces. She wasn’t going to let anything upset the
apple-cart tonight. Not even Vinnie’s absence. Bert arrived at seven with a box of fruit and pushed it into her arms. The apples and pears were polished like marbles. It made the perfect end
to her day.

‘Don’t forget to think about the job,’ Ethel said at nine o’clock when she pushed the kids up the stairs to bed. They were staying at Lil’s overnight and still full
of beans.

‘Yeah, thanks Ethel. I’ll let you know.’

‘I’ll wait on the cart,’ Frank told Danny as everyone filed out of Lil’s house. Frank bent down to kiss Lizzie. She quickly turned her cheek. She felt a bit guilty as she
moved sharply away; after all, he had been kind enough to take Flo to the doctor’s.

‘Thanks, Lil. I had a lovely time.’ Lizzie gave Lil a big hug.

‘You’re worth it, gel.’

When Lizzie and Danny were alone on the doorstep of number eighty-two, he took her in his arms. ‘I love you, sweetheart,’ he murmured.

‘I love you too, Danny.’ Lizzie looked up at him. In the darkness, she tried to read his expression, but when Benji moved outside Vi’s he let her go.

She watched him turn then and stride across the road. One agile spring and he was up on the cart. She heard Frank urge Benji on and soon they were vanishing into the darkness. Lizzie swallowed.
She was trying very hard not to let the tears fall in case any of the kids was still up.

S
even days later, there was a tap on the door.

‘Mornin’, Lizzie.’ Frank stood there in his overcoat.

‘What’s wrong?’ Lizzie’s heart was beating fast. ‘It’s Danny, isn’t it?’

Frank nodded as he stepped in. ‘He went to sign on a boat this morning and told me to give you this.’ Frank took an envelope from his pocket. ‘He’s loading coal to pay
for his passage, but he don’t know how far he’s gonna get on this city vessel. Italy, he hopes. Then he’ll board another ship. Soon as he lands he’ll cable you.’

Lizzie slipped the letter in her pocket. She didn’t want to read it in front of Frank. ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’ she asked.

‘If it ain’t no trouble.’ Frank followed her to the kitchen.

He sat down and Lizzie put two enamel mugs on the table. She was trying to ignore the panic growing inside her. Danny had gone. She had been dreading this day and now it had come.

‘I dunno what to say,’ Frank muttered. ‘Is there anything I can do?’

‘No, thanks all the same.’

‘Are you all right for veg? I’ve got some nice King Edwards coming in tomorrow. Dad’s bringing a load back from Covent Garden on the cart. Guaranteed no frost bite. Bert can
fetch a few home for you.’

She knew Frank was making conversation, trying to take her mind off Danny. He leaned his arms on the table. ‘Danny said I should ask you if you wanted a job in the shop.’

She sat down quickly. ‘Danny said that?’

Frank nodded. ‘Dad needs someone on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, ’cos I’m gonna take the barrow up the market.’

‘But Bert will be at the shop, won’t he?’

Frank moved uncomfortably. ‘Yeah . . . well, that’s the point, really. I don’t like to say it, but the truth is, Bert ain’t no brain of Britain. He’s all right when
it comes to humping stuff, but a dead loss at figures. Me dad’ll wants someone a bit quick at totting up.’

Lizzie didn’t know what to say. She had been thinking about the job at Rickards, but it was too far. She couldn’t look after the family and hold down a responsible job, whereas three
days a week in a greengrocer’s would be just right. She could do with the extra bit of money, too.

‘Anyway,’ said Frank when she gave no reply, ‘think about it. No rush.’ He gulped his tea and stood up.

In silence she accompanied him to the door. ‘Well, cheerio, gel. See you soon.’

‘Bye, Frank.’ She watched him walk down the street. A deep sense of loneliness filled her. When would she see Danny again?

Up in the bedroom, she took out the letter. ‘My Darling Lizzie,’ he wrote, and her heart fluttered. ‘I wish that I could say goodbye, but I’ve heard news of a ship
wanting a crew and I’m going to try to sign on. If I’m successful, by the time you read this I shall be on my way, missing you with all my heart. But I intend to strike it rich in
Australia and save enough money to come home a wealthy man. You know I had to do this. The shop is not my line, Frank is the man for that. Be assured that I leave England with one regret, that you
are not by my side. I’ll write and I hope you will write to me, and if things change for you then tell me and somehow I will make it possible for you to join me. Meanwhile, I’ll prove
to you that a costermonger’s son is worth his weight in gold. Until I write again, all my love, Danny.’

She read the letter again and again. He hadn’t mentioned anything about her working in the shop. Perhaps there wasn’t the time. She tried to take comfort from his words, but what
comfort was there in a separation that might last many years? Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes. She thought of the days when she went to market with Pa, eager for the sight of the barrow
and Danny. How he could make her laugh and forget her worries. Tell her jokes and give her hot roasted chestnuts to eat. And how, that day, when he asked her to go out with him, she had imagined
sitting in the Lyric way up in the gods.

She folded the letter slowly. ‘Oh, Danny,’ she sighed, ‘what am I going to do without you?’

And then she seemed to hear Ma’s voice again. The soft voice always came to her when she felt low. A voice that told her there was only one thing she could do. Dry her tears and start all
over again.

Two weeks later, Lizzie was pegging out the washing. The air had a bite to it that still recalled winter, yet a wide blue sky and the occasional sparrow hopping from tree stump
to gutter and flirting with a twig or two indicated the beginning of spring.

‘Hello, ducks,’ Lil called over the fence. ‘Saw you out here, so I thought I’d come and say hello. A bit parky, ain’t it?’

‘It’s freezing, Lil. Doubt if the washing will dry.’ Lizzie pushed a peg over the steaming sheet and joined Lil at the fence. Their hot breath billowed up in the frosty
air.

‘I popped in last week, like I said I would, to chat to yer Pa,’ Lil commented. ‘Dunno that he was too pleased to see me though.’

‘Thanks, Lil. It puts me mind at rest when I’m at the shop. And I really appreciate you keeping an eye on Flo for me till I come home.’

‘Does yer dad go out at all these days?’

‘Last time was weeks ago, with Bert, up Island Gardens. He won’t even let me clean his room properly. And he don’t like me helping him to dress no more, or clean his
stumps.’

‘Well, anything I can do to help, let me know. By the way . . .’ Lil lowered her voice and leaned over the fence. ‘I saw your Vinnie the other day, up Poplar High Street. He
was with that Mik Ferreter. A shifty looking bugger if ever I saw one. To be honest, love, your brother was always a magnet for trouble, even as a kid. I remember when he started to mix with that
bunch from Limehouse. Worried the life out of your poor Ma. Even my two lads, who I’ll admit were no angels, wouldn’t knock around with them.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘Ma must have been really worried.’

‘It was that bloody war,’ Lil remarked acidly. ‘Vinnie might have stood a chance if yer Pa had been at home and told them all to piss off They stood in silence for a moment
until Lil shrugged her shoulders. ‘Anyway, how’s the job going? Do you see much of Frank?’

‘No. He goes up the market with the barrow.’

‘Don’t suppose he sells half as many chestnuts as Danny,’ Lil grinned. ‘What’s it like in the shop?’

‘I was a bit nervous but Bill’s very kind. And I like meeting the customers.’

‘Yeah, and the money comes in handy.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘With me and Bert working I can put a bit aside for emergencies.’

‘What about Babs? Is she earning yet?’

‘No, but I might go up to the House and speak to the ladies. Babs is fifteen next month.’

‘And not before time,’ Lil agreed. ‘It’s up to them to give the girl a fair wage. And if Babs don’t ask, then you’ll have to ask for her.’ Lil touched
Lizzie’s arm. ‘Ain’t heard nothing from your Danny yet, I suppose?’