The Girl From Number 22 (2 page)

‘Yer were the only child, weren’t yer, queen?’

Ada nodded. ‘I didn’t know, ’cos in those days nobody mentioned having babies, not in front of children, anyway. I must have been about thirteen when I heard one of me aunties talking to me mam, and I heard her saying something about when I was born the doctor had told me mam, and me dad, that she mustn’t have any more babies, for her life would be at risk. It all went over me head, really; I didn’t understand. And I was too young to ask anyone about it. All I knew was, me mam never had any more babies after me.’

Hetty was leaning forward, interest in her eyes. In all the years they’d been neighbours and friends, Ada had never mentioned this. ‘When did yer eventually find out?’

‘When I met Jimmy. He asked me about having any brothers or sisters, and I told him what I’d heard me auntie saying. When I’d been out with him a few times, I asked me mam if I could bring him home to meet her and me dad. I remember she seemed really pleased that I’d asked her, and both her and me dad really liked him. And a few weeks later, Jimmy made it seem like a joke when he asked if I’d been such a bad baby that they’d decided not to have any more. It was me dad who told us, with me mam sitting blushing like mad. But when I heard the real story, it made me pull me socks up, I can tell yer. I made up for all those years when I’d never told them how much I loved them. And I thank God that I did, for me mam was only forty-seven when she died. I took time off work to help me dad nurse her. I was courting Jimmy at the time, and he would call every night to see if he could do anything.’ Ada swallowed hard to rid herself of the lump forming in her throat. ‘She was only bedridden for four weeks, and she wasn’t in a lot of pain, thank God. But me dad was out of his mind when she died. He idolised her. He never went back to work,
he just seemed to fade away. And six months after me mam died, he passed away. The doctor said he’d died of a broken heart.’ She sniffed up. ‘I should never have told yer all that, I’ve upset meself now. Ye’re the first one I’ve ever told the full story to, and I’m sorry, girl, if I’ve upset yer. But yer can blame yerself, for you were the one what started it.’

‘I know, I was being nosy. I’m sorry I’ve brought it all back, queen. I should have minded me own business and kept me mouth shut.’

‘No, it does me good to talk about me parents, even though it does make me weepy. Never a day goes by I don’t think of them, and thank God I made it up to them for the worries I caused when the only person I thought about was meself. And I was also able to give them the love they deserved.’ Ada smiled at her neighbour. ‘Anybody watching us two over the last fifteen minutes would have thought they were in the Gaumont watching a sad movie and clutching their hankies wringing wet with tears. So let’s liven ourselves up and press ahead with our daily chores.’

Hetty looked round. ‘From the looks of things, yer’ve done all yer chores, except seeing to the dinner for the family. My living room doesn’t look like this, it’s a shambles. I cleaned the grate out, washed the breakfast dishes, and was about to start polishing when me mind went on strike. It told me to stop work and go out and get some fresh air in me lungs. So I threw the duster on the couch, combed me hair, and here I am.’

‘That mind of yours will get yer in trouble one of these days. It sounds bolshie to me. If yer were working in a factory, it would make yer into a real troublemaker, and yer’d have the whole factory out on strike. I can see yer now, standing outside
the factory gates, with all the workers behind yer carrying big banners and chanting slogans about low wages.’

Hetty looked at her neighbour with eyes wide. ‘My God, Ada, yer don’t half let yer imagination run away with yer. I wouldn’t say boo to a goose, and you’ve got me bringing a whole factory out on strike. Plus ruddy banners!’

Ada chuckled. ‘There’s worse things yer mind can make yer do than bring workers out on strike, girl, but yer’ll have to put yer foot down hard if it does.’

Hetty’s eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t know whether to ask what it is, or leave well alone. Me mind says don’t bother asking, ’cos there’s nothing can be worse than starting a revolution in a factory. But me nose is telling me not to be so miserable, ’cos it would like to know. So go ahead and I’ll keep tight hold of the table.’

‘Before I say a word, Hetty,’ Ada said, laughter building up inside her, ‘yer do believe that all is pure to the pure, don’t yer? And don’t be looking at me with that blank look on yer face, it was an easy question. You are pure at heart, aren’t yer?’

‘Yeah, I suppose so. As pure as you are, anyway.’

Ada pursed her lips and wagged her head from side to side. ‘Ooh, that was the wrong answer, girl. Yer should have thought of something else.’

‘Why? You’re pure at heart, queen, aren’t yer?’

‘That’s debatable, girl. Sometimes I have very un-pure thoughts in me head. Perhaps we’d better leave things as they are, and get down to the shops.’

‘Not on your ruddy life, Ada Fenwick. I’m not moving from here until yer tell me when I should put me foot down when me mind tells me to do something.’

‘Okay, yer asked for it.’ Ada was really enjoying herself. ‘Can yer imagine yerself in bed one night, and your Arthur is getting very amorous? And just at the height of his passion, your mind tells yer to go on strike! Where would that leave your Arthur if yer didn’t put yer foot down and tell yer mind to sod off?’

A grin spread slowly across Hetty’s pretty face, then it gathered momentum until she was roaring with laughter. ‘Oh, you are a case, Ada,’ she said, wiping her eyes. ‘Yer don’t know my Arthur very well, do yer? If yer did, yer’d know he wouldn’t let a little thing like my mind, or my foot, put him off. When my husband’s feeling passionate, queen, not even a storm would put him off. In fact, we’d both be making more noise than the storm.’

‘Oh, he’s that good, is he? Mmm, I’ll have to have a word in his shell-like ear, and ask him if he’ll pass on any tips to my Jimmy.’

‘Yer’ve pulled me leg over a few things, queen, but I’m not falling for that one. What yer seem to forget is, I live next door, and the walls are not very thick.’

Ada held her hands up in mock horror. ‘Oh, girl, ye’re not saying yer stand with yer ear glued to the wall, are yer?’

There was a look of triumph on Hetty’s face as she tried to even the score. ‘I don’t need to, queen, not with you having such a loud voice.’

Ada leaned forward and patted her hand. ‘Good for you, girl. I think that just about makes us quits now. So I’ll swill me hands and comb me hair, while you carry the dishes out for me. Then we’ll knock and see if Mrs Porter is all right.’ A grin crossed her face. ‘I know we won’t be going in her house, but just in case, I don’t think we should tell her what we’ve been talking about. Not at her age.’

Hetty stacked the cups and saucers on top of the plate, and pushed her chair back before picking them up. ‘I won’t even tell Arthur what we’ve been talking about, never mind a woman of eighty-two. She’d think we’re a couple of brazen hussies.’

Ada opened a drawer in the sideboard and took out a comb. ‘You speak for yerself, girl. I’m proud of being a brazen hussy. Even if the only man in my life is me own husband. We have a very healthy sex life, and it doesn’t half make life worth living.’

‘I’ve left the dishes on the draining board, queen,’ Hetty said, coming in from the kitchen. ‘I’ll help yer wash them when we get back from the shops.’

When Ada had closed the front door behind them, and they were about to cross the cobbles to a house opposite, she put a hand on Hetty’s arm. ‘Ay, girl, yer can’t really hear me through the wall, can yer?’

‘Of course not, soft girl. I was only acting the goat, same as yerself.’

‘Thank God for that,’ Ada said. ‘Yer had me worried. I mean, if you could hear me and Jimmy, what about Danny and me two kids? If I thought for one minute that they could hear, I’d die of humiliation.’

‘Well, if ye’re that worried, queen, there is an answer to yer problem.’

‘What’s that, girl?’

Hetty was lifting the knocker on Eliza Porter’s door when she answered. ‘Yer could behave yerselves.’

‘There’s another solution, girl. I could always join a ruddy nunnery!’

The door was opened by eighty-two-year-old Eliza, and she was smiling. ‘Somehow I can’t see you in a nunnery, Ada. The life wouldn’t suit yer.’ The old lady’s hair was pure white, and
she had it combed back and pleated into a bun at the back of her head. She was a slim woman, with faded blue eyes, who held herself straight and was always neat and tidy. She was the oldest resident in the street, both in years and in the time she’d lived in the same small two-up-two-down house in the narrow street. Gentle and kind, she was very much loved by all the neighbours, old and young alike. She was smiling when she asked, ‘You’re not on your way there now, are you, Ada? You haven’t called to say farewell?’

Ada was really fond of the old lady, and she felt like putting her arms round her and holding her tight. But Eliza was so frail, Ada had to be content with a kiss on the cheek. ‘I did try the nunnery last week, Eliza, but they wouldn’t have me. I didn’t have the right qualifications, yer see. And me and me mate haven’t come to wish yer a fond farewell, but to ask if yer want anything from the shops.’ She gave the old lady a sly wink. ‘I’d have been there and back only for Tilly Mint here. I was soft enough to invite her in, just while I combed me hair, like, so I’d look respectable, and she’s done nothing but gab for an hour. Honest, I couldn’t get a word in with her.’

‘Why, you cheeky article!’ Hetty said with fire in her voice. ‘Yer’ve talked the ear off me without stopping to take a breath, and ye’re standing there like little Miss Innocent, putting all the blame on me. It’s the last time I call to see if I could do yer a favour.’

‘Which brings us to why we came and knocked on Eliza’s door.’ Ada was pleased to see the old lady smiling. ‘If yer want anything from the shops, sunshine, me and Hetty could go on a message for yer. We’ve got to go to the butcher’s, the greengrocer’s and the bread shop. Anything yer want, all yer have to do is say, and we’ll be only too happy to get it for yer.’

‘That’s very thoughtful of yer to think of me, ladies, and I appreciate it. But I’ve got all the food in that I need to last me a few days. My son and his wife came yesterday, and they brought tea, sugar, bread, margarine and some biscuits. And Edith, next door, she was kind enough to get me some stewing beef this morning, which will do me today and tomorrow. There’s really nothing I need, but I’m beholden to yer for asking.’

‘That’s fine, girl. As long as yer larder is full, yer can’t come to any harm.’ Ada smiled. ‘How are John and Vera keeping, and yer granddaughter?’

‘They’re very well, Ada, thanks.’ Eliza’s son and his wife had lived with her when they first got married, and their first baby was born there, a girl they named Patricia. But they found the living conditions cramped in the small two-up-two-down, and they moved to a six-roomed house in Knotty Ash. They never failed to visit Eliza, though, even though they had to get a tram and then a bus from their home. Their daughter was a mother herself now, and Eliza had two great-grandchildren, Brian and Pauline, whom she doted on.

‘Next time they come, sunshine, tell them me and Hetty were asking after them. And Pat and the children. Ay, they must be quite grown up now?’

It was Hetty who told her, ‘They’re the same age as your two younger ones. Don’t yer remember, each time you had a baby, Pat gave birth two months later. We all remarked on the coincidence at the time. Aren’t I right, Eliza?’

Eliza nodded. ‘Yer’ve got a much better memory than me, Hetty, for I would never have remembered that far back.’

There was a chuckle in Ada’s voice when she said, ‘My mate has got a good memory, but I wouldn’t want her mind. Yer see, her mind is stronger-willed than she is, and it orders her around.
I wouldn’t stand for it meself, but then I haven’t got a good memory. So between the two of us, we’ve got one good mind and one good memory. As long as we stick together we won’t come to any harm.’

Hetty decided it was time to move before her mate had the old lady blushing. ‘We’re keeping Eliza standing, queen. I suggest we go about our business and let her get back to that lovely comfortable rocking chair she’s got.’

‘Yeah, I often think of that chair,’ Ada said, well aware she was rubbing her mate up. ‘In fact, I’ve promised to buy meself one when I’ve got the money. I’ve seen the one I’d like, in the window of that furniture shop on Stanley Road.’

Enough was enough, Hetty thought as she pulled on Ada’s arm. ‘Come on, there’s a good girl. And if yer behave yerself, I’ll take yer along to that shop one day, and I’ll ask the kind man if yer can have a little rock in it.’

Ada entered into the spirit of things. Clapping her hands in glee, and speaking in a childish voice, she said, ‘Oh, thank you, Mummy. Can we go there now, Mummy? I’ll cry if yer won’t take me there today.’ Stamping one of her feet in temper, she went on, ‘I’ll tell Daddy on yer when he comes in from work.’

Eliza watched the smaller woman pulling the larger one away, promising she’d buy her a lollipop if she stopped crying. And the old lady had a smile on her face as she closed the door. She lived alone, but her life wasn’t lonely, thanks to the wonderful neighbours she had.

‘I’m not having that sheet of ribs, Ronnie Atwill, yer can give it to some other poor sucker.’ Ada jerked her head back in disgust. ‘That poor bloody sheep died of starvation, there’s no ruddy
meat on his bones. I feel so sorry for him, if I’d known when his funeral was, I’d have gone to it and taken a bunch of flowers.’

Hetty opened her mouth to say ribs didn’t come from sheep, but she noticed the spark in her neighbour’s eyes and kept quiet. The butcher was used to Ada, and he’d give back as good as he got. And the customers in the shop would get a laugh out of the confrontation.

‘Do yer really feel sorry for the sheep, Ada?’ Ronnie asked. ‘If ye’re that partial to lamb, why don’t yer have some nice lamb chops?’

‘I don’t want no bleeding lamb chops, I want a sheet of healthy-looking ribs, with bags of meat on them.’