Sadie Was A Lady (24 page)

Sadie began to shake with laughter as she pictured the scene. ‘What happened?’

‘Nothing … his mam saw to that. She sent the girl back to her own house and made them wait until they
could
be married by a priest, “proper like”, in church. Me mate never lived it down; he still gets his leg pulled soft over it.’

‘Ah, that’s cruel to make fun of him. I’ve a good mind to count that nearly kiss as a full one for bein’ so mean to him.’

‘I’ll tell yer what I’ll do to get back in yer good books.’ Harry nodded his head while his face wore a serious expression. ‘I’ll go an’ buy his mam a new sweepin’ brush, ’cos she broke her one over his head. She’s got to bend double now to brush the floor.’

Sadie spluttered with laughter. ‘Harry Young, yer in a very funny frame of mind tonight, aren’t yer? I bet yer only doin’ it so I won’t have time to give yer earache with all me moanin’ and groanin’.’

‘Oh, I’ve got a much nicer way of shutting you up, Sadie Wilson. Hang on to yer hat ’cos we’re off to the moon.’

Brenda was very quiet all Monday morning, barely opening her mouth. When Sadie asked if she felt all right, she said her tummy was a bit off and that’s all her friend could get out of her until the bell sounded for their dinner-break.

‘I want to have a word with Alec, Sadie, so would you walk on ahead and get in the queue at the chippy?’

‘Oh, so that’s why yer’ve got a face on yer like a wet week. Yer’ve had a row with his lordship.’

‘That’s where yer wrong, see.’ Brenda put her tongue out. ‘We haven’t had no row.’

‘Well, there’s something up, Brenda, it’s stickin’ out a flamin’ mile! If he’s the one who’s making yer so miserable, for heaven’s sake pack him in.’

‘I’m not miserable, Sadie Wilson,’ Brenda snapped. ‘Anyway, it’s none of your business.’

‘Okay, don’t bite me flippin’ head off. If you want to be miserable then get on with it, but don’t expect any sympathy from me.’

Alec was in his usual place, arrogance written all over
him.
Brenda’s welcome to him, Sadie thought as she hurried past. I’m surprised it’s lasted so long because she’s not the type of girl he usually goes for.

‘Sadie, hang on a minute.’

Sadie turned to see Bobby Bennett running after her. ‘Hello, Bobby. Goin’ to the chippy, are yer?’

Bobby, shy at the best of times, blushed the colour of beetroot. ‘No, me mam does carry-out for me.’

‘Oh, what can I do for yer then?’

‘I was wonderin’ if yer’d come out with me one night.’ Bobby scraped the ground with the heel of his shoe. ‘We could go to the pictures.’

Sadie said the first thing that came into her head. ‘Alec’s put you up to this, hasn’t he?’

‘No, honest. I’ve been wantin’ to ask yer since yer fell out with him, but I didn’t have the nerve.’

‘Does he know yer askin’ me now? Is that why he’s got that ruddy smirk on his face?’

‘Yeah, I told him I was askin’ yer.’ Bobby’s eyes went to the ground. ‘He said yer’d laugh at me an’ tell me to get lost.’

‘Oh, he did, did he? Well, you tell him from me that I think yer more of a man than he’ll ever be. I don’t know why yer bother bein’ friends with him, Bobby, he’s always belittling yer in front of people.’

‘He’s not the only one – I’m always gettin’ the mickey taken out of me. I mean, let’s face it, Sadie, I’m not much cop, am I?’

Sadie looked at him and her heart filled with sympathy. He wasn’t much taller than her, he was as thin as a rake and his ginger hair was sticking out like spikes. His complexion had improved though – he didn’t have nearly as many spots as before. ‘It’s not what yer look like on the outside, Bobby, it’s what’s inside that counts. And I think yer a hundred times nicer than the queer feller over there.’

‘But yer don’t want to go out with me?’ Bobby said. ‘Don’t worry, Sadie, I’m used to gettin’ knocked back and I should have known a girl with your looks wouldn’t want to be bothered with me. What I’ll never understand is
why
Alec packed yer in. He must want his brains testing.’

‘Is that what he told yer, Bobby, that he packed me in?’

Bobby shrugged his thin shoulders. ‘He told everyone, Sadie, not only me.’

‘And everyone believed him, I suppose?’ Sadie tutted. Well, there was one way of killing two birds with one stone. She could make Bobby happy by going to the pictures with him, and at the same time give him the opportunity of getting one over on Alec. The arrogant so-and-so would be laughing on the other side of his face when the tables were turned on him. The great Alec Gleeson made a fool of by little Bobby Bennett. And she’d give Bobby enough ammunition to make the big-head the laughing stock of the whole factory. She’d put the record straight once and for all, and have her revenge for the tales he’d spread about her.

‘I’ll go to the pictures with yer, Bobby. It’ll have to be tomorrow night or Thursday because I’ve got dates on the other nights.’

Bobby’s face showed surprise, relief and happiness. ‘Oh, thanks, Sadie!’ He’d been dreading the sound of Alec’s laughter when he went back and said he’d been turned down. ‘Tomorrow night will be fine with me. Where would yer like to go?’

‘You choose, Bobby, and yer can tell me tomorrow dinner-time. And if yer short of money don’t worry, I don’t mind goin’ in the cheap specks.’

‘I’m all right for money, Sadie, I never go anywhere to spend it.’ Bobby thought his heart would burst with pride. The prettiest girl in the factory going out with him – well, that was a turn-up for the books. ‘We’ll go wherever you want to go, money no object.’

Sadie smiled at him, thinking how different he looked when he was happy. If he would only get away from Alec his confidence would grow. His so-called friend only used him because he was so small and thin he made Alec look like a big he-man. ‘I’ll see yer here tomorrow dinner-time and we’ll make arrangements.’

Bobby looked as though he’d lost a tanner and found half-a-crown. ‘Thanks, Sadie.’

‘Don’t mention it, sunshine, it’ll be my pleasure.’ Sadie was smiling as she made haste to the chippy. Oh, how she’d like to see the look on smart Alec’s face when he heard Bobby’s news. They say every dog has its day – well, today was hers and Bobby’s. And Wednesday would be better still when the whole factory found out how she’d left him doubled up in pain after he’d gone too far with his roving hands.

Sadie was next to be served when Brenda came up beside her. ‘Don’t get any for me, Sadie, me tummy’s really upset.’

‘Go and see the nurse when we get back. She can give yer something to settle it down – some of that white stuff that tastes like spearmint.’

Brenda didn’t like that idea. ‘No, I’ll be all right by tomorrow. Me mam said I’ve got a cold on me tummy.’

Outside the chip shop, Sadie made a hole in the newspaper and offered it to her workmate. ‘Are yer sure yer don’t want any?’

Brenda wrinkled her nose as the smell invaded her nostrils. ‘No, ta, I’ll keep me tummy empty for today, see if that helps.’

‘They’re not half hot.’ Sadie pulled a chip out between two fingers and wafted it in the air. ‘I’ll burn me tongue off if I’m not careful.’

There was a strange look on Brenda’s face as her eyes slid sideways. ‘What did that drip Bobby Bennett want yer for?’

‘Ay, Brenda, get yer eyes tested, sunshine, ’cos you were the one talkin’ to the biggest drip walking on God’s earth. Bobby is a gentleman compared with Alec. And that’s why I’ve promised to go to the pictures with him tomorrow night.’

Brenda stopped dead in her tracks. ‘Yer pullin’ me leg, Sadie Wilson. You’d never go out with
him
.’

‘I’m not goin’ to argue with yer, Bren, ’cos yer like a bear with a sore head these days. So just wait until
tomorrow
and find out whether I’m pullin’ yer leg or not.’

‘Ugh, I wouldn’t let him do things to me, he’s all pimples and blackheads.’

A chip was halfway to Sadie’s mouth when she asked, ‘What’s all this talk about fellers doin’ things to yer? It’s all yer seem to have on yer mind these days. What sort of things wouldn’t yer let Bobby do to yer?’

‘You know what I’m talkin’ about, Sadie. Yer used to let Alec do it to yer.’

‘Oh, aye? And precisely what did I let Alec do to me? Refresh me memory, Brenda.’

‘Yer know quite well what it was, Sadie, yer only bein’ funny. But I know yer used to let him put his … er … his … thingy between yer legs.’

Sadie gasped as every emotion it was possible to feel sent her head reeling. If this was what was going around the factory, what must everyone think of her? ‘A cheap tart’ were the words that sprang to her mind. ‘He told yer that, Brenda?’

Brenda nodded, a doleful expression on her face. ‘Yeah, every time yer went out.’

Oh, my God! If Alec had told Brenda that, he’d probably have told Bobby and all his cronies the same story, bragging about his conquest. ‘I’ll break his bloody neck for him!’ Sadie seldom swore. She’d watched her mother one day, her face twisted into ugliness as she shouted abuse and obscenities at nine-year-old Les. On that day Sadie had vowed never to lower herself to her mother’s standards. But she was so angry right at that moment she felt like shouting out every bad word she could think of. Grinding the words out through clenched teeth, she said, ‘Brenda, your dear boyfriend never even got his hand between me legs, never mind anythin’ else. He’s a dirty rotten liar and I’ll find some way of making him pay for spreadin’ tales about me.’ Sadie was so filled with rage she didn’t at first notice the pallor of her workmate’s face. When she did, the truth hit her like a blow between the eyes. ‘Oh Bren, yer haven’t, have yer?’

‘Well, he told me you did!’ Brenda was near to tears as
she
tried to excuse her behaviour. ‘He told me all the girls did and I’d never get a boyfriend if I didn’t.’ Her eyes were pleading. ‘I knew it was wrong but he made it sound like I was a big cry-baby.’

Sadie’s mind was racing. How long had Brenda been going out with Alec? It must be six or seven weeks. Oh, dear God, no! ‘Brenda, yer do know what can happen when yer do the things you’ve been doing, don’t yer? Yer can get in the family way.’ Sadie felt like shaking her friend for not having listened to her, but that wouldn’t help. ‘Do yer really think yer’ve got a cold on your tummy, or could yer be pregnant?’

‘I don’t know!’ Brenda wailed. ‘I’m too frightened to ask anyone. Me monthly should have started last week and it hasn’t. Me mam’ll kill me when she finds out what I’ve been doing. She’ll be so ashamed of me.’

As Sadie twisted the chip paper into a corkscrew she was wishing it was Alec’s neck. He’d certainly picked his mark with Brenda, inexperienced in the wiles of men like him. He’d fed her a load of lies and must have been laughing himself sick when she fell for them. ‘Don’t say anythin’ to her, just wait and see what happens. I know it’s easy for me to talk, I’m not the one in trouble, but don’t start worrying yer mam until yer’ve got to. One thing yer’ve got to do is keep away from Alec. I told yer he was no good for yer. If yer’d listened to me in the first place yer wouldn’t be in this mess now.’

‘I thought yer were tellin’ me that because yer were jealous of me goin’ out with him. That’s what he told me and I was daft enough to believe him.’

‘Yer’ve been daft about a lot of things, Brenda, but it’s a bit late in the day for regrets ’cos yer can’t turn the clock back.’ Sadie linked her arm through her friend’s and gave it a squeeze. ‘Give it another week or two before doing anything; it might be a false alarm.’ They were passing through the factory gates when she asked, ‘Does Alec know yer worried?’

‘Oh no, I couldn’t tell him! I wouldn’t know what to say!’

‘No, well, keep it to yerself for a while. And I think I may be wrong in telling yer not to go out with him again. Perhaps yer should keep on seeing him until yer know for sure that yer not in the family way. But for God’s sake, stop him from messing around with yer.’

‘Don’t tell Bobby Bennett, will yer, Sadie?’ Brenda begged. ‘I don’t want everyone talking about me behind me back.’

‘Scout’s honour, Bren, I won’t mention yer name to Bobby. I will be mentioning Alec’s though, I’ve got a score to settle with him.’ Sadie withdrew her arm as they neared the packing-room door. ‘Now, put a smile on yer face and keep it there for the rest of the day. I know how worried yer are but goin’ around looking like a wet week isn’t going to help you or anyone else.’ She patted her friend’s backside when they reached their bench. ‘I’m the one who’s got to look at yer clock all day and yer look much prettier when yer smile.’

Sadie went upstairs to change and she’d just reached the landing when she remembered she’d left her handbag at the side of her chair. She tripped lightly down the stairs and opened the living-room door just in time to see Dot pick the bag up and press the clasp back. ‘Oh, no you don’t!’ Sadie dashed forward and grabbed the bag. ‘Don’t you ever dare to touch anything belonging to me.’

Dot looked defiant. ‘I was only lookin’ to see if yer had a penny to spare. Yer go out every night and yer must be gettin’ paid for by the fellers yer go out with, so it wouldn’t hurt yer to pass a few bleedin’ coppers over.’

Sadie was clutching the bag with one hand and with her other she seized a lock of her sister’s greasy black hair. ‘If you want money, then get yerself a job and earn it, like I have to. Don’t be stealing it from me like a common thief.’

George Wilson lowered the
Echo
. ‘Don’t you talk to yer sister like that, and let go of her bleedin’ hair before I belt yer one. She was only after a penny, for Christ’s sake.’

Sadie yanked on Dot’s hair before releasing her hold.
‘If
it’s only a penny she wants, why don’t you give it to her? After all, it’s you she’s nice to, so you put yer hand in yer pocket because I’m certainly not. You were the one who said she didn’t have to go to work, so it’s only right you should pay her wages.’

‘Don’t let her talk to yer like that, Dad.’ Dot was rubbing vigorously at her sore scalp. ‘Take yer belt to her, the stuck-up bleedin’ bitch.’

George’s eyes went from one to the other. In his sober moments he regretted ever letting Dot get a hold over him. In his drunken lecherous moments he preferred her youth to his wife’s now sagging breasts and loose flesh. But of his two daughters he feared Sadie the most. If she went around spouting her mouth off, it would be jail for him. And he had no doubt that, pushed far enough, she wouldn’t hesitate to land him in trouble. He rustled the paper. ‘I’ll give yer a bleedin’ penny; it’s not worth all the flamin’ hassle.’