East End Jubilee (8 page)

‘Have you heard from Em yet?’ Anita asked.

‘No. I only posted me letter yesterday.’

‘I don’t mean to keep on, but how are you going to manage? I mean, do you have any money put by?’

Rose bit her lip. ‘I’ve got more than I thought.’ She paused. ‘Neet, there’s something I want to get off me chest. I’ve got to share it with someone or
I’ll bust.’

‘Blimey.’ Anita lowered her cup into the saucer with a clatter. ‘Not more bad news?’

‘No . . . not really.’

‘You’ve got me guessing, girl.’

‘I found some money.’ Rose paused.

‘Yeah? How much?’

Rose went pink. ‘Five hundred pounds.’

Anita sat in silence, but not for long. ‘Five hundred quid! Are you certain?’

‘Positive.’

‘Where did you find it, for God’s sake?’

‘There.’ Rose nodded to the radiogram. Both women stared at the big, highly polished walnut case.

‘Under that old thing?’

‘Yes.’

‘And you didn’t know it was there when the police searched?’

Rose closed her eyes at the thought. ‘Thank God I didn’t. All I was worried about was Mum’s pearl necklace wrapped up in Eddie’s socks. It wasn’t until I sat down
on Wednesday night and found meself staring at the radiogram that the thought crossed my mind about Eddie’s hidy hole. He used it for a few bits and pieces, but that was ages ago. I was gonna
dust under the gram to keep me mind occupied, but when I pushed it back, the boards were spotless. ‘’Course, I had to have a look then, didn’t I?’

‘Blimey, if that was Benny’s hiding place I’d be down it the moment he walked out the door. Amazing the coppers didn’t find it though,’ Anita murmured, shaking her
head in disbelief. ‘Your old man is a dark horse.’

That was exactly what Rose had been thinking. She’d known Eddie since they were kids. He was just a few months older than her and they’d attended the same school. Raised in a large
family by foster parents he’d never had much of a home life, but his quick wit and broad sense of cockney humour had endeared him to his friends, especially Rose. She was well aware of his
keen eye for a business proposition but during their marriage her reluctance to enquire into his affairs, their compromise as she thought of it, had broken all boundaries. It was as if she’d
been afraid to ask for fear of what she might hear in return.

‘Five hundred smackers will see you all right whilst Eddie’s out of action.’

‘Yes, but I wish I knew where it came from.’

‘Only Eddie can enlighten you on that score,’ Anita remarked dryly.

‘It’s a large amount of money.’

Anita nodded, calculating swiftly. ‘Five hundred quid ain’t chicken feed and that’s the truth. It could feed you, pay your rent and settle all your bills for a year and still
leave you plenty left over.’

Rose looked up. ‘Some of it must be the Parkers’.’

Anita scowled. ‘You and your conscience, Rose Weaver. You gotta put your family first now.’

‘I don’t want people to think Eddie swindled them. By rights fifty pounds is theirs.’

‘You’re not thinking of giving the money back?’ Anita sucked in a sharp breath.

Rose chewed on her lip. ‘There would still be plenty left.’

Anita sighed and lifted her hands. ‘Well, I don’t know what Eddie would say about that. And anyway, won’t questions be asked as to where you got the money to give to
them?’

Rose shrugged. ‘I’ll just say that after giving the matter some thought and as a gesture of goodwill, I’m returning the money they gave to Eddie.’

They lapsed into silence,staring at the radiogram under which was hidden Eddie’s treasure. After a while Anita glanced at the wooden clock on the mantel. ‘I gotta go. Will you be all
right?’

Rose nodded. ‘Are you cycling today?’

‘No, bussing it. Me back’s playing up.’

‘You should rest more.’

Anita laughed coarsely. ‘Yeah, in me dreams. But I’m off tomorrow. We’ll have a nice long chat on the way to market. You are still coming, aren’t you?’

Rose shrugged. ‘I suppose so.’ They always walked to Cox Street market on Saturday mornings to buy cheap veg and meat for the week.

‘I’ll take that as a yes.’

At the front door Rose leaned forward and kissed her friend on the cheek.

Anita looked surprised. ‘What’s that for?’

‘For listening to me.’

Her friend smiled. ‘You’ve done the same for me often enough.’

‘We’re lucky to have you and Benny as friends.’

Anita shook her head. ‘Do you remember when we first moved back to Ruby Street after our Dad died? Everyone gave us a wide berth, ’cos they classed Benny as black. And it
wasn’t until Eddie took my old man to The Lock and warned everyone they’d have to answer to him if they didn’t drink with Benny, that things changed. Your Eddie had the courage of
his convictions. We won’t forget that in a hurry.’

Eddie’s generous nature was why Rose loved her husband so much. He treated everyone the same. He was first to approach the Indian family who moved into the Dobsons’ house two years
ago, when he’d marched down there one Saturday morning, knocked on the door and took Mr Patel’s hand. He didn’t care about colour or creed. As long as a person returned the time
of day, Eddie was happy. Just like the Parkers. Eddie hadn’t cared they were the odd couple. Rose knew he’d felt sorry for them too, just as she had.

Rose waved goodbye. Her gaze went to Marlene and Donnie playing marbles in the street. She was filled with a love for her family that went deeper than anything she had ever known before. Despite
all their troubles, she believed in her husband’s innocence; he was an honest man and somehow she would prove it.

Anita called round on Saturday morning. ‘Did you buy yesterday’s
Evening Gazette
?’ she demanded immediately.

‘No.’

‘Then you’d better see this.’ She produced a folded single sheet of newspaper and handed it over. ‘I’ve had it in my purse to show you.’

Rose read the two short lines. ‘Oh, Neet!’

‘Well, it ain’t very much. Just what the charges were and that Eddie’s been remanded in custody. Not exactly headlines, love. Luckily they’re still banging on about the
Coronation.’

‘Do you think everyone round here read it?’ Rose asked dejectedly.

‘Everyone knew anyway.’ Anita replaced the cutting in her shopping bag before Rose could agonize again. ‘I thought it was best to show you and get it over with. Now, come on,
don’t look so glum, it ain’t the end of the world. In fact it was a blessing Eddie’s trouble arose at this time ’cos no one’s bothered about the small fry. All they
want to see is the Queen and the Royal Family, dressed up to the nines.’

But Rose turned and walked to the kitchen. ‘I know what that poor Elaine Dobson felt like now. No wonder she kept herself to herself.’

‘Yes, poor cow, she had a lot on her plate,’ Anita agreed. ‘But you’re not in the same league as the Dobsons. They were a rough lot.’

‘Even so my sympathies are with her.’

Anita caught her arm. ‘Listen, your situation is different altogether and you want to remember that. Now fetch your coat and we’ll go up the market.’ She frowned at
Rose’s apron and slippers. ‘Blimey girl, you look like Mrs Mop.’

Rose shook her arm free. ‘You walk on, Neet. We’ll catch up.’

‘No you won’t,’ Anita guessed. ‘You’ll stay in and mope all day.’

‘Hurry up, Mum!’ Alan called from the open front door. He was the older of Anita’s two sons and at fifteen looked smart in his white cotton poplin shirt, slim jim tie and dark
trousers. He had combed up a quiff of dark hair and plastered it with Brylcreem. Fourteen-year-old David looked round his brother’s shoulder and gave Rose a cheeky smile. He was an inch or
two shorter than Alan but in looks both were a replica of Benny.

Donnie and Marlene came tumbling down the stairs. They paused to stare at the boys then ran to Rose. ‘David and Alan are coming with us,’ Donnie whispered excitedly. Rose knew she
had a crush on David.

‘You girls all ready?’ Anita asked and they nodded, looking back shyly towards the front door.

‘It seems I’m outnumbered,’ Rose said resignedly. ‘I’ll get me bag.’

Five minutes later they were on their way. ‘Life has to go on,’ Anita was lecturing her as they went. It was a dry, fine morning and the two girls were laughing and giggling as they
walked ahead with the boys.

‘I know. I’m just feeling a bit sorry for meself,’ Rose admitted.

‘Your Eddie wouldn’t want you upset. Put it out of your head for now, Rose.’

Rose wanted to make the effort. It was a lovely morning and she didn’t intend to be a misery. ‘Your Alan is shooting up,’ she said, looking at the two solid frames of the young
teenagers striding out in front.

‘He’s costing us a fortune in trousers. Our Dave has always worn his brother’s but soon he’ll want his own.’

Rose wondered how long it would be before Donnie asked for new clothes. Girls were more advanced than boys. In a couple of years she wouldn’t appreciate Rose’s hand-sewn
garments.

‘They look very smart.’

‘We had a real row over clothes the other day. Alan only favours these horrible new trousers called drainpipes. I told him if he thinks I’m buying that rubbish for him he’s got
another think coming. He’ll be wearing those ’orrible crêpe-soled shoes and gaudy ankle socks next. Or one of them long coats with the velvet collars that you see around
nowadays.’

Rose nodded. ‘Don’t they call themselves Teddy Boys after King Edward VII, I think it was, who started the fashion?’

‘Yeah and what an idiot he must have looked.’

Rose smiled. ‘Oh, I can’t see Alan as one of them.’

‘Give him half a chance and he’d be standing on the corner combing that damn quiff until it fell off his bloody head.’

‘Boys will be boys.’

‘Tell me about it.’

The market stalls came into sight and Rose gave Donnie and Marlene a few pennies. They ran off and the two boys turned to their mother. ‘We’ll see you later then,’ Alan said,
grinning at two pretty girls who gave them the eye as they passed.

‘Make sure you do.’ Anita folded her arms across her chest and threw her sons a frown as they disappeared after the girls. ‘I don’t trust either of them further than I
could throw them. The last thing I need is some young piece with a bun in the oven.’

Rose looked shocked. ‘Alan wouldn’t!’

Anita sniffed loudly. ‘Don’t you believe it. They’re randy little sods at their ages. I’ve told Alan to tie a knot in it till he knows how to use it properly.’

‘Oh, your poor Alan.’

Anita saw the funny side. ‘I remember what his father was like. Benny couldn’t keep it in his trousers from the moment we met. Gawd knows how I had the nerve to walk up the aisle in
white.’

‘Yes, but you did.’

‘Just about.’ She looked at Rose. ‘What about you?’

‘I wore white on me wedding day in 1945. It was summer and very hot. The war was almost over and we were still alive. Our service was a quiet one with just a few friends and neighbours.
Your mum and dad came. You was living with your in-laws in Stepney, remember? You couldn’t come to the service because one of your boys was down with the measles.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Anita nodded. ‘That was David. After which Alan caught it. We had to keep out of circulation for a while.’

Rose smiled reflectively. ‘Em was bridesmaid and Arthur gave me away. Me and Eddie were only seventeen. Donnie was born the following year.’

Anita grinned. ‘You and Eddie made up for lost time, then.’

‘Well, we were mates at school but we never went out or anything.’

‘Didn’t you fancy him?’

‘I never thought about it.’

‘So when did you?’

Rose smiled. ‘After he got back from Normandy. He lied about his age to get into the army. He was only sixteen but said he was seventeen. They needed recruits for the second front and sent
him across on D Day. A bullet went through his shoulder as he tried to leave the landing craft.’

‘Blimey love, I ain’t heard him talk about that.’

‘No, he doesn’t much. He still can’t lift his arm above his head.’

‘It must have hurt.’

‘He don’t remember much. He was fished out of the water by a mate. He thought he was going to drown.’

‘But they brought him back in one piece?’

Rose nodded. ‘I went to see him in hospital. The bullet chipped a bone. He was out of the action for six months and in a lot of pain. When he returned to his unit the war was almost over.
Our forces were closing in on Berlin. He wrote to ask me if I’d marry him when he got home.’

‘And you said yes.’

‘I knew I loved him and I’d nearly lost him.’

Anita sighed. ‘Well, that’s really romantic.’

‘What about you?’

‘Benny was away in the merchant navy. I didn’t get back from Stepney much to see Mum and Dad. I still feel guilty about it now. But what with the doodlebugs and V2s you took your
life in your hands if you only went up the street. Benny never had a scratch on him at the end of the war. He’s a lucky sod.’

‘We were all lucky,’ Rose commented quietly.

‘Where did Em meet Arthur?’ Anita asked after a while.

‘He worked at the town hall in Poplar. The births, marriages and deaths department. He was exempt from the services because of his job. Em met him in the February of ’42. She’d
gone to get Mum and Dad’s death certificate and he was very helpful. He asked her out and they got married at Christmas.’

‘Was she up the spout?’

‘No. ’Course not.’

‘Don’t tell me she fell for Arthur’s good looks and outstanding personality, ’cos I won’t believe you.’

Rose hesitated. ‘Well, she was still getting over Mum and Dad being killed. We were alone in the house. I suppose he was there at the right time, a shoulder to lean on.’

They strolled slowly through the crowded market and stood by the fruit and veg stall. ‘So what about you and Eddie? Was it a mad, passionate romance?’

Rose grinned. ‘To tell you the truth, Eddie was a bit shy. Though you’d never believe it now, would you? He never tried anything on. Not till just after he was discharged from
hospital.’