Stay as Sweet as You Are (27 page)

Steve was dreading her opening his present. It was a tuppenny slab of Cadbury’s chocolate, all he could afford. It seemed so cheap compared to the other two presents. But to Lucy it meant just as much. ‘Ooh, me favourite chocolate! Thank you very much, Steve. And don’t be put out if I don’t offer to share it ’cos I’m going to be real tight with it. One square every night in bed and it’ll last me nearly all week.’

The knots in Steve’s tummy began to relax. He’d been expecting to see a look of disappointment on Lucy’s face, but she’d welcomed his cheap gift with the same enthusiasm as the others. And he vowed that next year he’d buy her an extra nice present. He’d be working then, and money wouldn’t be as tight. With a bit of luck his mam might be well enough to take on a light job and they’d be quids in.

Lucy’s eyes grew wider as Aggie and Irene carried plate after plate through. There were sausage rolls, boiled ham and corned beef sandwiches, colourful jelly creams, iced fairy cakes, crackers with cheese on top and a sponge sandwich cake on a glass stand with a fancy doily underneath. ‘Doesn’t everything look lovely?’

‘It sure does,’ Jack said, rubbing his tummy. ‘Can yer hear it rumbling? And me mouth’s watering that much I’m dribbling.’

Steve was feeling the same symptoms. He couldn’t
remember seeing a table so heavily laden with such fare. ‘Mrs Aggie doesn’t do things by half.’

Greg was sitting facing the back window and he suddenly burst out laughing. ‘Neither does Mr Titch. He’s just coming up the yard lugging a crate of ale. If there isn’t high jinks here tonight, I’ll eat my hat.’

His brother shook his head. ‘Greg, yer haven’t got a hat.’

‘I know that, soft lad. Yer don’t think I’d be daft enough to say I’d eat it if I had one, do yer? I’d have to be barmy.’

Rhoda thought it was about time she got a word in. They’d think she didn’t have a tongue in her head. ‘I’ve always said yer were barmy, Greg Pollard.’

‘Well, you should know, Rhoda Fleming, seeing as ye’re barmy yerself. They say it takes one to know one.’

Aggie came through from the kitchen, minus her pinny. ‘Right, kids, take yer seats at the table and get stuck in. The barmy ones on this side, Lucy and Jack on the other, and me and Steve at either end. So help yerselves to whatever takes yer fancy. Titch will be bringing yer some lemonade in, unless yer’d prefer tea.’

The vote for lemonade was unanimous. After all, they could get tea any time. And when Titch carried a tray of glasses through, he brought coloured paper hats with him. ‘Get them on yer heads and let’s do the thing in style.’

‘Isn’t Mrs Pollard coming in to join us?’ Lucy asked.

‘No, queen, she’s slipped home the back way. She’s going to put her feet up for an hour because she’s been on the go all day. But she’ll be back later to give me a hand with the washing-up.’

‘I’ll wash up for yer, Mrs Aggie,’ Steve said, putting the brown paper hat on his head. ‘There’s no need for Mrs Pollard to come back. She may as well have a rest and be ready for the party tonight.’

‘I’ll help with the dishes,’ Lucy said. ‘It won’t take long.’

Rhoda thought it would look bad if she didn’t offer. ‘I’ll help, too.’

Jack gave his brother a dig in the ribs. ‘Go on, say something.’

Greg grinned. ‘What would yer like me to say?’

‘That yer’ll give a hand to clear up.’

The grin was replaced by a bulldog expression. ‘Why don’t you offer to give a hand? I don’t see anyone holding yer back.’

‘I’ve got me long kecks on, haven’t I? And if I get a mark on them me mam will have a duck egg. That’s after she’s kicked me into the middle of next week.’

Greg considered this piece of information. ‘I’ve a good mind to drop this jelly cream on yer lap. It would be worth it to see me mam lay a duck egg. And the thought of you being kicked into the middle of next week is very tempting.’

‘I’ll tell yer what,’ Jack said, a twinkle in his eye. ‘You help Mrs Aggie and I’ll leave yer these long kecks in me will. And I’ll even leave yer the braces to keep them up. Now I can’t be fairer than that, and ye’re not likely to get a better offer.’

Greg looked at Aggie while jerking his head at his brother. ‘How long d’yer think he’s good for, Mrs Aggie?’

‘Ooh, let’s see now.’ She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. ‘I’d say, at a guess, he’s got at least sixty, seventy years.’

‘I’m not hanging around that long for a pair of kecks that will have been eaten by the moths.’ Greg patted Jack on his shoulder. ‘Sorry, pal, but the only way ye’re getting out of helping with the dishes is by breaking a leg. I could arrange that for yer if ye’re desperate.’

Lucy’s giggling attracted their attention. ‘You two don’t half look daft with yer paper hats hanging down over yer eyes. And while ye’re arguing the toss, we’re eating all the goodies.’

Jack glared at his brother. ‘See what yer’ve done? Why d’yer have to talk so much?’ He reached out and took a jelly cream in one hand and a fairy cake in the other. ‘Honest, ye’re like a flippin’ parrot what’s been living with that Mrs Gibson for a few years.’

This brought forth howls of laughter. Mrs Gibson lived at the very top of the street. She was a thin wiry woman who waved her arms about when she was speaking and her mouth was in constant motion. She lived on her own and because she had no one in the house to talk to, she made up for it by standing at her front door and gossiping to everyone who passed. And once she had you in her clutches she hung on tight. No one knew where she got her information from, but everything that happened in the surrounding streets was known by Mrs Gibson. And she was always willing to pass it on to anyone who would stand and listen to her. The trouble was, she went all around the world to tell you something and people didn’t always have the time.

Aggie wiped the laughter tears away. ‘We shouldn’t be mocking the poor soul, she’s harmless enough. Just a lonely old woman, that’s all.’

‘Yes, she’s all right, really,’ said Steve, who only lived a few doors from Mrs Gibson. ‘She’s always got a smile for yer.’ Then he couldn’t keep the grin back. ‘Mrs Aggie, I’m not making fun of her, honest. But have yer ever noticed that people stop just before they get to her house, take a deep breath and then make a run for it?’

Titch, who’d been leaning his elbows on the sideboard, straightened up. ‘I’ve done that meself, son, I’ve got to admit. She’s a nice woman, but by God can she talk! I was coming home on leave one day, with me rucksack over me shoulder, when she stopped me. And I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. D’yer know, me leave was up before I could shut her up? I had to turn right around and go back to the ship without even seeing me ma.’

Oh, how Jack was enjoying this. He thrived on laughter. ‘Were they only giving yer a few hours’ leave, that trip, Mr Titch?’

Titch shook his head solemnly. ‘No, son, I had ten days’ leave due to me.’

Rhoda gaped. She wasn’t used to the McBride and Pollard
humour and had taken Titch seriously. ‘That’s terrible, that is. Yer should have told her. I know I would have done.’ She couldn’t make out why this brought forth more laughter. But so she wouldn’t look daft, she laughed along with them. What she had succeeded in doing though, was to convince Greg that she was indeed barmy.

By seven o’clock every dish had been washed and the place tidied. All done by the youngsters, who made Aggie sit with her feet up. They’d had the time of their lives and it was their way of saying thank you to her and Titch. And the day wasn’t over for them, they’d enjoy themselves playing games in the Pollards’. But Steve was worried about leaving his mother for so long.

‘Mrs Aggie, I’ll have to nip home and see how me mam is. I wouldn’t enjoy meself if I didn’t know she was all right.’

‘I’m on me way down there right now, lad, so yer’ve no need to worry. I’m taking her a plate of sandwiches and cakes, seeing as she couldn’t come to the party. But if I think there’s the least thing wrong, I’ll let yer know. Yer have me promise on that.’

‘I can’t stay long, girl, ’cos as yer know, our Titch has invited a few friends in for a drink.’ Aggie placed the plate on the table and was heartened to see Olive’s eyes showing appreciation. ‘The kids have had a whale of a time, really enjoyed themselves. And of course, seeing them happy made me happy. Some youngsters are hard-faced and pushy, but not the Pollard boys, or Lucy or Steve. The world won’t go far wrong if everyone grows up like them.’

‘Thanks for inviting Steve, Aggie, I really do appreciate it. He went out of here with his head held high, his chest sticking out a mile and a real swagger to his walk. All courtesy of the McBride family.’

‘He’s worrying about leaving yer for so long, but yer don’t mind, do yer, Olive? Let him get as much enjoyment out of life as he can, eh?’

‘Tell him not to worry, I’m fine. As soon as yer’ve gone, I’ll be tucking into those sausage rolls, sandwiches and jelly creams. God, it’s years since I had a jelly cream, and I used to make loads of them.’

‘I’ll be on me way then, queen, to welcome the guests.’ Aggie got to the door before putting into play the plan she’d concocted in her head. Tutting loudly, she turned. ‘I’ve got a head like a sieve. I was going without giving yer this.’ She pulled a folded piece of beige linen from her pocket and opened it up. It was a sideboard runner, and it had small coloured flowers embroidered on it. ‘I came across this
yesterday, when I was cleaning me cupboard out. It’s that long since I’ve seen it, I’d forgotten I had it. I’ve got no use for it, and it would be a shame to throw it in the bin. Would yer be insulted if I asked if yer wanted it for yer sideboard?’

‘Are you sure yer don’t want it?’ Olive looked suspicious. ‘It looks too good to throw in the bin.’

‘That’s what I thought, girl.’ As quick as a flash the runner was on the sideboard and Aggie was standing back admiring it. ‘There yer are, it looks a treat.’

Olive thought the runner looked lovely, but she wasn’t convinced. ‘I’ve got a feeling ye’re telling me fibs, Aggie McBride.’

‘What would I gain from telling lies, girl? Not a bleedin’ thing. I’ve got loads of stuff at home that’ll never see daylight. Our Titch used to bring me all sorts home after every trip, until in the end I had to put a stop to it ’cos I had nowhere to put the things. A lot of stuff was stored in me loft and I haven’t seen it for years. There’s vases, ornaments and pictures, everything yer could mention.’ Here goes, thought Aggie. In for a penny, in for a pound. ‘I’ll get Titch on the ladder tomorrow and ask him to hand some of the stuff down. Yer may think it’s rubbish, and I wouldn’t be offended if yer said so. But yer may as well have a root through it and see if there’s anything yer like, instead of it rotting up there. This place could do with a few things to brighten it up, God knows. So how about it? D’yer want to have a dekko, or are yer going to go all stubborn and get yer knickers in a twist?’

‘I’m not a stubborn person, Aggie, and I never get me knickers in a twist because they’re that old they wouldn’t stand the strain.’ Olive smiled. ‘How can I refuse such kindness?’

‘That’s settled then. I’ll see yer tomorrow, please God. And now I’d better be on me way, queen. Ta-ra.’

Aggie was nearing her house when she saw Bob closing his front door. And even at this distance she could see Ruby
wasn’t in a very happy mood. If she spoils my son’s night, I’ll marmalise her, the miserable bleeding cow, Aggie thought, but for Bob’s sake she raised a smile. ‘I hope yer singing voice is in tune, Bob.’ She inserted the key in the lock and looked over her shoulder. ‘And you, Ruby – we’ll expect a song from you as well.’

‘Some hope you’ve got.’ Ruby managed to inject a sneer into her voice. ‘I’ve no intention of making a fool of meself.’

Bob looked sideways and shook his head. With her hair dyed a horrible yellowy blonde, and thick bright make-up plastered on her face, his wife didn’t need anyone else to make a fool of her, she did that herself.

As Aggie stood aside to let them enter the house before her, she groaned inwardly. Ye gods and little fishes, this was a fine start to a party. If Ruby kept that face on her all night, Titch wouldn’t think twice about telling her. And that would put the cat among the pigeons. Still, one way or another, the evening promised to be a lively one.

Irene and George greeted Ruby warmly, but all they got in reply was a curt nod. Titch was the only one favoured with a smile. ‘What’s yer poison, Ruby?’ He pointed to the array of bottles on the sideboard. ‘I’ve got beer if yer want it, or there’s port, whisky or gin.’

‘I’ll have gin, please, Titch.’ Ruby sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room to her husband. A move not lost on the rest of the company. And each one asked themselves why this woman always had to belittle Bob. She didn’t know she was born with a husband like him, he was far too nice a person for her.

Irene broke the silence. ‘Do yer like Lucy’s new coat, Ruby?’

‘Yeah.’ Ruby smiled up at Titch and took the glass from him. Then, sensing all eyes on her, she added, ‘It’s very nice.’

George stared down into his glass of bitter. Why should they all put themselves out to be nice to a woman who couldn’t be bothered to be pleasant in return? ‘Nice, did yer
say, Ruby? I thought it was more than nice. I thought it was a real beauty, like the girl herself.’

Titch glanced at his mother as she rocked in her chair, a glass of stout in her hand. He could read her mind and knew that right now she would willingly wring someone’s neck. He wasn’t surprised at Ruby’s behaviour, he hadn’t expected anything else. She was an unhappy woman who thought she deserved more out of life than she was getting. A loving husband and daughter weren’t enough for her, she didn’t want the ties that bound her down.

His elbow leaning on the sideboard, and a grin on his face, Titch said, ‘George is right about Lucy being a real beauty, Ruby. A few years from now there’ll be broken hearts lying all over the place.’

‘So they say.’ Ruby lifted the glass to her lips and downed the gin as though it was water. ‘Can I have the same again, Titch?’

‘Ay, yer’d better watch it, Ruby, this is strong stuff.’ Titch had given her a generous measure to begin with, and she’d drunk it in about ten minutes. At this rate she’d be flat out in no time. ‘I don’t want to see yer rolling home.’