Cockney Orphan (38 page)

‘I told you,’ Pat pleaded tearfully, ‘I’ll pay you when I get a job. I haven’t any money now.’

‘What’s the matter?’ Connie asked anxiously as she ascended the steps.

He turned to frown at her. ‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Mrs Grant’s brother’s fiancée.’

‘Do you live here?’

‘No. Why?’

The man ignored her and turned back to Pat. ‘I must insist on settlement or I shall have to refer the debt to our collectors. We have no wish to involve the bailiffs, but I’m afraid
non-payment will result in just such an action.’

Doris appeared, tears splashing down her cheeks as she clung to Pat’s skirt.

‘I have my job to do,’ the stranger continued, raising his voice over both screaming children.

‘Does your job include frightening women and children?’ Connie demanded as she took Lawrence, who smelled quite badly, into her arms.

A blood vessel seemed to swell in the man’s neck. His red skin bulged over his collar. ‘I can see I’m wasting my time.’ With a glare at Pat, he moved down the steps.
‘Good day to you.’

Pat sighed forlornly after he’d gone.

‘What was all that about bailiffs?’ Connie asked as she stepped into the cold, dark hall.

‘I’m behind with the rent.’

‘How much?’

‘Ten pounds.’

‘Has he called before?’

Pat nodded. ‘I just can’t seem to manage on Laurie’s allowance and I’m too tired to even think about getting a job,’ she admitted as Lawrence’s cries rose to
a crescendo. ‘I feel exhausted.’

‘Then why don’t you go and rest,’ Connie suggested as she took Doris’s hand. ‘I’ll see to the kids.’

Without protest Pat walked wearily into the bedroom.

Connie ushered Doris into the kitchen and noticed at once that her dress was stained. Lawrence’s romper was filthy and his nappy soaked.

‘I’ll change Lawrence,’ she told Doris, helping the little girl on to a chair. ‘And we’ll make ourselves a nice cup of tea.’

‘We ain’t got none, Auntie Con,’ Doris said.

‘No tea?’ Connie looked around. Dirty crocks abounded, the stove was unwashed and crusty with burned food. The place was freezing and a stale smell pervaded the room.

Connie looked in the larder. Apart from half a loaf and a rack of vegetables there was virtually nothing. She closed the door and turned back to Doris, who was looking up at her with expectant
eyes.

‘Are you hungry, Doris?’

‘Yes, Auntie Con.’

‘We’ll go to the shops, shall we?’

‘Mummy’s got no money.’

‘Did she tell you that?’

‘No, she told the man. He was angry.’ Doris sucked her lip. ‘Mummy was crying.’

Connie bent down and balanced Lawrence on her knees. She took hold of Doris’s cold hands. ‘That’s only because she’s tired and needs a good, long sleep. We’ll
change Lawrence’s nappy and make him comfortable, then put him in the pram and go down to buy some nice things to eat.’

Doris smiled. ‘Can I have a gob-stopper?’

‘Don’t see why not.’

‘Goodee!’

When Lawrence was dry and wrapped under his blankets in the pram, Connie helped Doris with her coat and scarf. Five minutes later she was skipping happily beside the pram and Lawrence was fast
asleep, exhausted from all the crying he’d done

Connie used her own coupons at Mrs Gane’s corner shop, filling up Gran’s shopping basket. As they left the shop a car pulled up. The unpleasant man from the council
stepped out. He was about to knock on a door when Connie pushed the pram towards him.

‘Stop!’ Connie called.

Once again she received a sneer. ‘What is it?’ He moved on to the pavement cautiously.

‘I understand Mrs Grant owes you rent.’

‘That’s private business.’

‘But you are the rent collector, aren’t you?’

‘I’m the council’s department representative,’ he corrected her pompously.

Connie reached into her handbag. She still hadn’t opened her wage packet, and now shook out £3 17s 6d from the envelope, adding more coins from her purse. ‘Here’s five
pounds towards what she owes.’

He took it suspiciously. ‘What about the balance?’

‘You’ll get it.’

He looked at her doubtfully. ‘I don’t know what my superiors will say about this.’

‘I should think you’ll get promoted on the strength of this.’ She pushed her purse back in her bag. ‘Anyway, if the bailiffs put Pat and the kids on the street you
won’t get a brass farthing more.’

‘There’s no need to take that attitude,’ he answered nastily. ‘We wouldn’t evict someone unless it was absolutely necessary.’

‘Well, you could have fooled me the way you went on at Pat today. Her health is poor after Gran’s death and her husband is in the army, fighting for his country.’ She
deliberately looked him up and down.

‘Am I to understand, Miss . . . er . . .’

‘Marsh is the name.’

‘That you, Miss Marsh, will stand as guarantor for repayment of the debt?’

‘If that’s how you want to put it, yes.’

He drew himself up to his full height. ‘Then I’ll take your address, please.’

Connie gave it. ‘Now, if you’ll write me a receipt?’

Reluctantly he brought out his little book, counted the money and wrote on the piece of paper. Connie took it and grabbing Doris’s hand she pushed the pram away, her head held high.

‘Is he gonna get cross with Mummy again?’ Doris asked as they hurried on.

‘No, love. No one’s going to make Mummy cry again, I promise. Now, let’s have a little walk to warm us up, then when we get home I’m going to make you a nice big dinner
and we’ll sit round the fire to eat it.’

Connie was thinking about what she had done. She had used up all of one week’s wages. To economize she would have to walk to work and avoid the canteen and postpone any
expenditure. She had five pounds in a jar at home, some of which she’d have to give to Mum. Had she been hasty in her promise to clear Pat’s debt? But she just couldn’t let Pat
and the children be thrown out!

When they got back Connie shovelled the last remnants of coke into the fire. Then she cooked a meal: vegetable pie and mashed potatoes followed by a nourishing dried egg custard that both
children ate swiftly. When this was done she took Pat in a cup of tea and helped her to dress.

‘Go in the kitchen and sit by the stove,’ she told her. ‘I’ll put the kids to bed.’

Connie washed and changed them and, when Lawrence was snoozing in his cot, she read Doris a story and kissed her goodnight.

Returning to the kitchen, she found Pat asleep in Gran’s rocking chair. Her tea was untouched. Connie sat beside her and sighed. What was she to do with this sad little family?

Studying Pat’s gaunt features as she lay in the chair, she knew there was only one decision to make.

And it was one that would solve everyone’s problems.

Sunday dinner was over and Connie finished wiping up. She took off her apron and looked at Olive. The letter that had come from Billy yesterday saying his leave had been
cancelled hadn’t improved her mother’s mood. Still, there was no going back now on what she had decided.

‘Mum, I’d like to talk to you and Dad.’

Olive turned from the sink, an expression of alarm on her face. ‘Oh, God, what is it now?’

‘Nothing to worry about. It’s to do with Pat and the kids.’

Olive sighed in relief. ‘Thank the Good Lord. I’m living on my nerve ends these days wondering what’s going to happen next in this family.’

‘Can we go in the front room?’

Olive dried her hands on the towel. ‘I’ll just make tea.’ The tray was set and brought in. Ebbie folded his Sunday newspaper as Olive poured the tea.

Connie sat beside her mother on the couch. She was ready for an outburst, which she hoped to calm with a bright idea that she’d had last night after coming home from Pat’s.

‘Well, Constance, what is it?’

Connie noted her mother hadn’t picked up her cup and saucer. Her father was looking at her anxiously. She didn’t want to upset either of them and she knew this would be difficult.
But in the end it would be better for everyone.

‘As I was saying, it’s about Pat. She isn’t managing on Laurie’s pay.’

‘But she gets all his soldier’s allowance, doesn’t she?’ her father asked.

‘His pay is only twenty-five shillings a week.’

‘I thought Gran left her some.’ Olive was looking worried now.

‘She did, but it’s gone.’ Connie didn’t say anything about the rent collector or having given him money.

‘Can’t she get her old job back?’

‘She’s still not very well.’

‘What can we do to help?’ Ebbie asked kindly.

Connie took a breath. ‘I thought I would move in as her lodger.’

Olive gasped. ‘You mean leave home – here – Kettle Street?’

‘Only until she can manage again.’

‘But when will that be?’ Olive’s mouth was twitching.

‘Mum, Sylvie could move in then. There would be room for all three of them if I went. It would solve a big problem, wouldn’t it? And you’d still have all your family round
you.’

Olive looked into Connie’s eyes. ‘I . . . I . . .’ she spluttered.

‘After all, I’m engaged and I’d be moving out when—’

‘When what?’ Olive gazed at her incredulously. ‘Vic’s not coming home, Constance, he’s—’

‘Olive!’ Ebbie interrupted sharply, his face darkening.

Connie shook her head slowly. ‘It’s all right, Dad.’

Olive looked hurt. ‘Well, it’s true, isn’t it? Everyone is walking around on eggshells, Constance, trying not to upset you by saying the truth. You must face the fact that
sooner or later—’

‘Olive, that’s enough.’ Ebbie thrust his hand through his hair and looked at Connie. ‘Look, love, we can’t stop you from moving in with Pat. But your mother’s
only got your best interests at heart. You’d be taking on a big responsibility. You’ve got a kind heart, but you’ve only just got your . . . well,
freedom
back again
after Lucky.’

Connie swallowed hard. ‘Dad, I would trade all my so-called freedom for just an hour with Lucky. Without him and Vic, my life is incomplete.’

‘But you’re only young,’ her mother cried. ‘You’ll find someone else and have a family of your own one day.’

Connie knew they didn’t understand. ‘I love you both and I don’t like upsetting you, but this is a way to help everyone.’ She stood up. ‘I thought I’d move
next Saturday afternoon, if that’s all right. Sylvie’s baby can have Lucky’s bed, though some of the bars that went round its sides need mending.’

Both her parents stared at her. She wanted to throw her arms around them and comfort them, but she knew it was only time that would make sense of what she was doing.

She went upstairs and looked around her room. Did she really want to leave home? Was she ready to take on the responsibility of Pat and the children?

Connie sat down on her bed. She knew that one day she would have to spread her wings. This was a little before time but she had a good reason. Pat, Doris and Lawrence were part of her family
now. And they needed her help.

Kevin asked Taffy if he would help to move Connie’s things. On Saturday afternoon, Taffy arrived at two o’clock prompt and helped Ebbie to carry Connie’s
dressing table downstairs and on to the lorry. It was the only article of furniture she was taking with her. All her clothes and personal possessions including Lucky’s toys were packed into
bags and a large suitcase, loaned to her by Nan.

When all the supplies were loaded, Nan and Lofty stood beside her parents on the pavement.

‘I’ve packed you three good blankets to go with your eiderdown,’ Olive told Connie with a heavy sniff. ‘A pair of sheets and pillow cases that I’d been saving for a
rainy day. And there’s a thick pair of brocade curtains that should cover the blackout nicely.’ She had been busy all week, occupying herself with a good ‘sorting out’,
pinning little labels on the bags and boxes: ‘china’, ‘bed linen’, ‘assorted’, and a pile of groceries that expanded by the day.

‘Don’t leave yourself short, Mum,’ Connie had assured her. ‘Gran left plenty of everything.’

‘You’re entitled to a good start,’ Olive had replied, pushing yet another unidentified parcel into the queue.

Connie had had butterflies all week. Her father had not been his usual self. His jokes were few and far between and Connie found him looking sadly at her before averting his gaze. She knew there
would be a big gap in her life when she came home at night, expecting to see him reading his paper in front of the fire.

But she was happy for Kevin and Sylvie. They had set the date for March and Sylvie was going to move into Connie’s room next week after Olive had given it a ‘good going over’.
The young couple were deliriously happy.

Kevin and Sylvie stood hand in hand. ‘Dunno what to say, Con, except look after yourself. And anything you want, just name it.’ Kevin gave her a kiss on the cheek and Sylvie wrapped
her arms around her neck.

‘I’ll miss you, Connie. I hope your mum gets used to me.’

Connie smiled. ‘In a week she’ll have forgotten all this.’

‘Do you think so?’

‘I know so.’

Nan pressed an envelope into Connie’s hand. ‘Just a little something from Lofty and me, ducks.’

‘Nan, you shouldn’t.’

‘You don’t know what it is, yet.’

‘I can guess.’

‘Just a bit of spare to help you set up home like.’

Connie smiled gratefully. ‘Oh, Nan, you’ve been such a good friend to me.’

‘And it’s set to continue that way,’ Lofty interrupted, his big eyes all watery. ‘We expect you to call regular like.’

‘I’m coming for tea on Wednesday.’

‘We’ll pop in, don’t you worry.’

Taffy started the engine. The noise rumbled down the street. Connie hugged them all and they stood in line on the pavement to wave her off. Her family and friends.

She waved from the window as Taffy drove them off. What was it going to be like living at Pat’s? Could she pay off the arrears of the rent as she had promised? And would she regret leaving
home?

A
fter the unexpected snowfall of February, the spell of March sunshine took everyone by surprise. Connie and Pat were debating a walk to the shops.
The slush had disappeared and a hint of spring was in the air. It was Lawrence’s first birthday and a party was being prepared. Just as they were leaving, there was a knock at the front
door.