Sadie Was A Lady (28 page)

When Saturday finally came, Sadie hurried home from work to pay her wages over and have a bite to eat before going to the market. She found Jimmy sitting on the front step looking very depressed. There was nothing in his life to be happy about, but today he seemed more miserable than usual. ‘Have yer had yer dinner, Jimmy?’

‘No.’ Jimmy gazed down at his hands, clasped between his knees and with the dirt still on from the day before. ‘I’ve only had a round of bread all day an’ I’m starvin’.’

‘Why isn’t the dinner ready? Isn’t me dad home yet with his wages?’

‘Yeah, he’s home. Me mam sent our Dot out to get the messages.’

‘And she hasn’t come back yet?’

‘Oh yeah, she came back!’ Jimmy stood up and dug his hands into pockets that were ripped to pieces like the rest of his trousers. His young face dark with anger, he looked
at
Sadie. ‘They’re dirty they are, and I hate them! I wish they were dead! When I’m a bit older I’m goin’ to run away from home an’ I’ll go away to sea. I’ll go where they’ll never, ever, find me.’

Sadie was shocked to the core. ‘What on earth’s happened? I’ve never heard yer talk like this before, Jimmy. What’s upset yer so much?’

Near to tears, the lad shook his head. ‘They’re bad, they are. They’re wicked an’ I hope they go to hell when they die.’

‘Tell me what’s happened to get yer in such a state. Come on, Jimmy, yer know yer can talk to me.’

Jimmy cast his eyes down. ‘Yer know how me dad always drags me mam upstairs to the bedroom on a Saturday? Well, when our Dot came back from the shops and found out they were up there, yer should ’ave heard the carry-on out of her! She started screamin’ and shoutin’, and the bad words she used were terrible. Everyone in the street must ’ave heard her.’ The lad’s eyes looked sad and troubled. ‘Our mam and dad are not like a real mam an’ dad, are they, Sadie? They don’t look after us proper.’

Sadie was raging inside. This was a twelve-year-old boy talking. He should be dressed in decent clothes, his tummy should be full and he should be out playing footie with his mates. Instead he was dressed in rags, his tummy was empty and he didn’t have any mates. And because she’d suffered all these things herself, she knew exactly how he felt. And from next week he wouldn’t even have her to tell his troubles to … But even if she stayed, cast aside her dream – what could she do to improve the quality of Jimmy’s life? And that of Ellen and Les and baby Sally? Nothing – because she was too young in years and too short of money. But she wouldn’t abandon them; she’d find some way of helping them.

‘Jimmy, I want yer to know that whatever happens I love you and the other kids. Not our Dot, I’m afraid, I’m not goin’ to be a hypocrite about it, I can’t stand her. But I’ll always be there to help when I can. And keep tellin’ yerself that yer won’t be a kid forever. The day will come
when
yer grow into a man and can choose the life yer want to live.’ Sadie held her hand out to him. ‘Come on, let’s see if your dear sister’s got yer dinner ready.’

‘She’s upstairs in the bedroom with me mam an’ dad.’ Jimmy’s voice was choked. ‘I told yer, she took off like a ravin’ lunatic. Threw all the messages on the table and ran up the stairs shoutin’ her head off.’

Sadie ground her teeth together. ‘Oh, she did, did she? Well, we’ll soon see about that!’ Rage had Sadie taking the stairs two at a time. She banged on the bedroom door with a clenched fist, shouting, ‘If yez are not out of that room pronto, I’m goin’ for the police. And don’t think I won’t, ’cos it would give me great pleasure to see yez all behind bars, which is where yer should be.’

She could hear scuffling behind the closed door and banged again. ‘I want me dinner on the table before yer can say Jack Robinson or I’ll take the kids with me to the chip shop and buy them a dinner out of me wages. Then I’ll go to Blackler’s and spend the rest of me money on meself.’ After one last bang on the door, Sadie tripped down the stairs, beckoned to Jimmy to come in, and they sat side by side on the couch, watched with awe by Ellen, Les and the baby.

Dot was the first to show her face and the look she gave Sadie was one of hatred. ‘I don’t know who the bleedin’ hell yer think yer are, but yer not ordering
me
around. If yer want any dinner, make it yerself, smarty pants.’

‘Right. That suits me fine.’ Sadie stood up and stared back into the hard face of her sister. ‘I’m sure the kids would rather have somethin’ from the chippy than the muck you serve up.’

Dot was having second thoughts. ‘I’ll do the kids’ dinners, but I’m not doin’ anythin’ for you, so yer can bugger off to the chippy.’

Lily Wilson came through the door in time to hear her daughter’s words. She swiftly crossed the room and delivered a stinging slap to Dot’s face. ‘Yer’ll do as yer told, yer hard-faced little madam! And don’t you dare
back-chat
me or I’ll give yer more than a slap across the face. Get in that kitchen and see to some dinner for the whole family.’

Lily didn’t meet Sadie’s eyes as she picked up the baby. What was happening in the house was getting out of hand but she was powerless to stop it. She was being usurped by her own daughter and blackmailed into silence.

Jimmy tugged on Sadie’s skirt and patted the seat next to him. When she was seated he winked at her and braved his mother’s wrath by saying, ‘I wish it was you at home all the time, our Sadie, instead of our Dot. She’s a dirty, lazy thing, and mean. She’s always hittin’ us for nothing.’

Lily shook her fist at him. ‘You keep yer trap buttoned.’

‘Oh Mam, yer should never stop anyone from telling the truth.’ Sadie’s voice dripped with sarcasm. ‘After all, it’s you who’s got yerself in a hole; it’s no good takin’ it out on the kids ’cos ye can’t dig yerself out of it.’

There was venom in Lily’s eyes but she wisely kept her mouth shut.

‘Sarah’s been waitin’ ages for yer, girl, she was beginnin’ to think yer weren’t coming.’ Mary Ann eyed Sadie’s flushed face. ‘Been rushin’, have yer?’

‘Me dinner wasn’t ready an’ I had to wait.’ Sadie wasn’t going to tell the truth. Apart from the shame, she was afraid the stall-holder would be so incensed she’d take the matter further. If that were to happen, the children would be split up and put in institutions and Sadie might never see them again. It was the fear of that happening that had stopped her from ever going to the police or telling her teacher when she was at school. ‘Where is Sarah?’

‘She may have gone to see Andy, to give him the address for delivering the bed.’ Mary Ann grinned. ‘Anyone would think she was expectin’ royalty to move into her spare room, she’s that excited.’

‘Ay, I’ll have you know I’m as good as royalty any day.’ Sadie had used the time it took to walk from home to calm her emotions. Devastated by the state of affairs at
home
and the plight of her brothers and sisters, she’d made a vow to spend some of her weekly pocket money on buying clothes for them off Mary Ann’s stall and finding a way of getting them to the children without disclosing where she lived. She would keep in touch with them until she was old enough to offer them a home where she could take care of them. But she was starting a new life for herself and that must take priority. From next Saturday Mary Ann would be her friend and employer, the market would be her work and Sarah and her husband would be her family. These people were giving her the chance of a new beginning; they didn’t want to take her problems on as well. So Sadie’s smile was wide when she told the stall-holder, ‘I’ve never mentioned it before ’cos I didn’t want to sound big-headed, but me real title is, wait for it, Princess Sadie of Sefton Park.’

‘I’m glad about that, girl.’ Mary Ann’s face was as straight as a poker. ‘It will add a touch of class to yer superior-quality clothes stall. Which, incidentally, has been in great demand. Your friend Elsie has been spreadin’ the word an’ we’ve had several requests. I had to tell them my supervisor in superior-quality clothes hadn’t arrived but would be here later to show them her wares.’ The stall-holder dropped her pose and, jerking her head, said, ‘So yer’d better get crackin’ and sort some of the clothes out, girl, ’cos once a customer is let down they don’t come back again.’ She began to shake with laughter at the thoughts running through her mind. ‘If I were you, girl, I wouldn’t tell Elsie about yer bein’ Princess Sadie of Sefton Park. ’Cos yer see, girl, I think she’d be after yer for the job of lady-in-waiting.’

‘If she brings customers to me stall then she can have the job of lady-in-waiting. In fact, if she brings enough customers, and the money starts rolling in, I’ll let her have a go at bein’ Princess Elsie of Paddy’s Market.’ Sadie tutted at the expression on Mary Ann’s face. ‘Yer only jealous! I’ll tell yer somethin’ else, as well. Andy said it’s quite possible that the King has slept in that bed I’m gettin’.’ She poked her tongue out. ‘So there!’

‘Oh, anything’s possible, girl, but it doesn’t often happen. I was picked to be Queen of the May once, dressed up like a dog’s dinner in a procession. I thought I was really somebody that day, me head was so big they couldn’t get the crown of roses to fit. And it didn’t do me no bleedin’ good because the next day at school I got me hair pulled that much by the girls who were jealous, me head was really sore. Put me off being a Queen, I can tell yer. One girl, Bella Ingham, she said I looked like a witch, and another one, Josie Roberts, she said me dress didn’t fit an’ I looked a mess.’

‘But they couldn’t take that day away from yer, could they? Yer’ll always have it to look back on, which is more than Bella Ingham an’ Josie Roberts have.’

‘It still did me no bleedin’ good, girl, and neither is standin’ here talkin’ to you! The longer yer leave setting up yer superior-quality clothes stall, the more money yer costing me. So get a move on, kiddo – let’s see yer do yer stuff.’

‘Shall I take the half-a-crown to Andy’s first, in case he thinks I’m not coming?’

‘I’m not paying yer wages yet, girl, so I can’t tell yer what to do. But Andy can wait for half an hour until yer’ve got the stall set out. I’ve put a bundle of new stuff under the table so yer can have yer pick of the best before I put it out.’

‘Right, I’ll get cracking on that and go and see Andy later.’

In between serving customers, Mary Ann watched with interest as Sadie selected the best blouses, skirts and ladies’ underwear. Then, as she was serving Maggie, she said, ‘She’s got talent, has that girl. Look at the way she’s arranging those blouses – they look as good as anythin’ yer’d see in Bunny’s. In fact, Maggie, I can see one there I’d buy for meself, and give her a bleedin’ tanner for it!’

‘Now, Mary Ann, don’t do anythin’ rash.’ Maggie’s teeth clicked back into place. ‘Tell her yer won’t give her more than fourpence for it.’

‘Take a leaf out of your book, eh, Maggie? Well, don’t
be
comin’ those tricks with me, sunshine, ’cos that pullover yer hanging onto like grim death is thruppence, and I’ll not take a penny less.’

Maggie already had the threepenny joey in her hand and she passed it over. ‘Tis a hard woman yer are, Mary Ann.’

‘Hard and poor, Maggie, hard and poor. But I’ve got a feeling in me water that me luck is about to change, with the help of me new assistant … the Princess of Sefton Park.’ And Mary Ann chuckled as she walked away leaving Maggie with her mouth hanging open.

It was half an hour before the stall-holder had time to visit her young assistant. There’d been quite a rush on and the weight of coins in Mary Ann’s pocket gave her a warm glow. She knew Sadie was doing well because she’d kept an eye on her. Not just to check how she was doing, but to make sure no one was giving her any trouble. It wasn’t unusual for a fight to break out between two people wanting the same article; this didn’t worry Mary Ann, to whom it was all in a day’s work. But Sadie was new to the game and might not know how to handle two irate women who were in danger of ripping the blouse with which they were playing tug-of-war. ‘How’s it going, girl?’

Sadie was radiant with pride and success. ‘I’ve sold eight things!’

‘Go ’way! Well, I never,’ Mary Ann gushed to add to the girl’s pleasure. ‘Yer’ve got a business head on yer shoulders, girl, no doubt about that.’

‘And they’ve all said they’ll be back next week. Ooh, I’m dead excited, Mary Ann. I can’t wait until I’m working here proper – like, when it’s me proper full-time job.’

‘I know what yer mean, sunshine, and I’m looking forward to it meself. I believe that yer going to bring me lots and lots of good luck.’

‘I don’t know about that, Mary Ann. I haven’t had much good luck in me own life. In fact, the only good luck I’ve ever had was meeting you. It was through you I’ve got meself a real live grandma and grandad, a nice place to live in and me own bedroom.’

‘Listen to me, girl, yer don’t have to keep thankin’ me for what I’ve done for yer. I did it because I wanted to. And yer’ve already paid me back by being here every Saturday to give me a hand. Plus, and this is the very best, plus creatin’ our superior-quality clothes stall. Now, d’yer want me to keep me eye on things while you go an’ see Andy?’

‘There’s no need, I gave the money to me grandma an’ she’s taken it for me.’ Oh, what a lovely feeling it was to have someone of her own to talk about. ‘Andy’s delivering the bed tonight, on his way home from the market.’

‘Not with the King still in it, I hope?’

Sadie’s laugh rang out. ‘Mary Ann, I suppose yer know that yer two sheets to the wind?’

‘I know, girl, but don’t tell the woman that’s waiting for yer to serve her. Word gets around the market like wildfire an’ I don’t want the whole world to know I’m doolally pop.’

‘Your secret is safe with me, have no fear.’ Sadie smiled before turning to the customer. ‘Can I help you, madam?’

Mary Ann’s face was a picture as she walked away. ‘Madam? Blimey O’Riley. If I’m not careful she’ll have us comin’ to work in navy-blue frocks with little white lace collars.’

‘Ay, Mary Ann, they put yer away if yer go around talkin’ to yerself.’ Lizzie grinned. ‘They send men in white coats an’ they put yer in a strait-jacket and take yer to the loony bin.’

‘Go ’way!’ Mary Ann wagged her head from side to side. ‘Did they hurt yer when they put that strait-jacket on yer before they carted yer off to the loony bin?’