The Girl From Number 22 (39 page)

His body swaying precariously, and his eyes blinking through a drunken haze, Tom Phillips snarled, ‘Who the bleeding hell are you? Bugger off before I belt yer one.’

Danny could see the funny side of the remark, but this was no time for humour. And he didn’t want to antagonise the man, he just wanted to get him home before he had the neighbours out. ‘I’m a friend of yer daughter, Jenny.’

Tom Phillips was far too drunk to stand upright, or to see clearly, but the words seemed to have got through to him. He tried to lean forward to get a better look at who he was talking to, but couldn’t balance properly. Slobbering and burping, he got the words out. ‘Oh, got herself a feller, has she? Getting what yer want off her, are yer? That’s right, lad, you get in there.’ His words were slurred but understandable, and Danny was stunned. Then came a feeling of revulsion and anger. What sort of man was he, who could talk like that about his own daughter? He deserved a bloody good hiding. And Danny would gladly have given him one, except for the vision in his mind of Jenny and her tears.

But Tom Phillips hadn’t finished. To him it was a huge joke. In between hiccups, he said, ‘Nearly had her meself tonight. Had me hand in her knickers, but the silly bitch ran away.’

Unknown to Danny, his mother and father were standing at
the front door. There was no way Ada was going to sit in the house when her beloved son could be in trouble. They’d been watching their son walk alongside the drunk, but they couldn’t hear what was being said. However, they did see their son raise his arm, and they did hear his fist connect with the jaw of Tom Phillips. Then they saw Tom fall backwards. ‘Oh, my God,’ Ada said, a hand to her mouth. ‘What’s going on?’

‘You stay here, love.’ Jimmy was across the cobbles in seconds. ‘What happened, son?’ He gazed down at Annie’s husband, who was out for the count. ‘What made yer punch him?’

‘He deserved more than a punch, Dad, he got off lightly. But I’ll tell yer later. Ask me mam to knock for Mrs Phillips, and let’s get this feller in the house before some nosy parker comes out to see what’s going on.’

Jenny had dropped off to sleep, but Annie was wide awake. She couldn’t rest until she knew her husband was in and fast asleep. That was the only time she could relax. So when Ada’s light knock came, she was down the stairs in seconds, and slipped her coat on over her nightdress.

‘Don’t get upset, sunshine,’ Ada said, ‘there’s nothing to worry about. Everything is under control. Yer husband got himself plastered, and Jimmy and Danny are here with him. If yer’ll move out of the way, they’ll bring him in and put him on the couch.’

Annie stepped aside, thankful of the darkness for it hid the pain and shame in her eyes. Was her life going to be one of humiliation until the day she died? This was one of the times she felt she couldn’t go on much longer. But she had the children to think of, and they were the only reason she kept going. ‘Shall I put the light on so yer can see what ye’re doing?’ Annie asked,
her voice shaking with nerves. ‘It won’t take a second to put a match to the mantle.’

‘No, ye’re all right, love,’ Jimmy told her, as he and Danny laid Tom Phillips none too gently on the couch. ‘Yer husband is well away, so if I were you I’d go back to bed and forget about him.’

‘If only I could forget about him for ever,’ Annie said wearily. ‘My life might be worth living if it wasn’t for him.’

‘And what of yer children?’ Danny couldn’t help asking. ‘They won’t be having much of a life with a father who is always drunk.’

‘I know that, lad, and God knows I have tried. But now I’ve got to the state where I haven’t the strength to stand up to him. I’ve been given a cross to bear, and it’s a heavy one.’

Ada shooed her husband and son towards the front door. ‘You two go home, I’ll stay for a little while with Annie. Have the kettle on so I can have a hot drink before going to bed.’

When the men had gone, Annie began to sob. ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart, yer family shouldn’t have to carry my burden. They’ll rue the day yer ever made friends with me.’

‘What a load of nonsense, Annie Phillips. Now pull yerself together, and get a grip. Instead of feeling sorry for yerself, start getting angry with that useless, good-for-nothing heap on the couch. Put yer foot down with him once and for all. Yer could stop feeding him for a start, that might bring him to his senses.’

‘Easier said than done, sweetheart.’ Annie’s sigh was heavy and drawn out. ‘I hate him with an intensity that sometimes frightens me. If it wasn’t for the kids, I think I’d have killed him long before now. I’m frightened of him, I’ll admit that, but the fear doesn’t go as deep as my loathing for him. I cringe when I’m near him, for everything about him is dirty. His habits, the way he eats, and the filth that comes out of his mouth. And the
saddest thing, the one that tears me apart, is that the children suffer for my mistakes. I should never have married him, but that is no excuse. I could have left him any time, if only I’d had the guts.’

Ada put a comforting arm across Annie’s shoulders. ‘Listen to me, sunshine, just for a minute, and then you can get back to bed and I can go home. Yer mightn’t like what I’m going to say, but yer’d do well to listen.’ It was dark in the room, with only a glimmer through the curtain from a street lamp a few doors away. It wasn’t possible to see the state of Tom Phillips, she could only see an outline. ‘Tomorrow morning, I want yer to stay in bed until it’s time for Jenny and Ben to get up. Make them their toast and whatever, but don’t offer the queer feller anything. Not even a cuppa, or the time of day. He’s so drunk, he won’t be fit to pick a fight with yer, so ignore him. No matter what he says, or does, ignore him. And tell the kids to do the same thing. He’s giving you a dog’s life, so do the same to him.’

After squeezing Annie’s shoulder, Ada kissed her on the cheek. ‘Think of what a rotter yer’ve picked for a husband, sunshine, and all the bad things about him. That way yer’ll get yer dander up, and yer’ll be ready for whatever he wants to throw at yer. Yer’ll feel better for it, I promise. And with those words of wisdom, I’ll love yer and leave yer, before my feller thinks I’ve run off with the milkman. Good night and God bless, sunshine, and try and get some sleep.’

Annie watched her crossing the cobbles, and called softly, ‘Good night and God bless, sweetheart, and thank yer husband and son for me.’

‘Whatever made yer punch Mr Phillips hard enough to knock him out, sunshine?’ Ada asked, her hand curled round the cup of hot tea. ‘It must have been some punch to knock him senseless.’

‘He was senseless before I touched him, Mam, he could hardly stand.’ Danny’s mind was all over the place. He still couldn’t come to terms with what Jenny’s father had said about her. And he certainly wasn’t going to repeat it to anyone. It wouldn’t be fair on the girl, and would have a devastating effect on Mrs Phillips. ‘I couldn’t help meself, and I’d do it again if the occasion arose. He’s got a filthy mouth on him, Mam, and it’s not only the bad language. If yer asked me what I thought of him, I’d say he was a dirty old man. I’m not going to repeat it, yer’ll have to use yer imagination. And I don’t want yer to tell Mrs Phillips what I’ve said. She’s got enough to cope with without me adding to it.’

‘Yer can say that again, son, she’s got more than enough. The trouble with her is she’s too good. If she hadn’t let him get away with his antics when they first got married, he’d be a lot tamer than he is now.’ Ada leaned over to put a hand on her husband’s arm. ‘You’re an angel compared to the queer feller, and I want yer to know, sunshine, that I do realise how lucky I am. And having a diamond of a husband meself makes me feel more sorry
for Annie. But as I’ve just told her, she’s going to have to change, or her and the kids will never have any chance of a decent life. Whether what I told her penetrated, I don’t know, but I think she’s a smashing woman, and I’m going to keep on at her. She’s a mate now, and me and Hetty aren’t going to stand by and see her ill treated.’

‘What advice have yer given her, Mam?’ Danny asked, telling himself he was lucky to have a mother who was considerate, kind and loving, and had a heart as big as a week, and a wonderful sense of fun. ‘What pearls of wisdom have yer passed on to her?’

Ada chuckled. ‘I’d love to be a fly on their living room wall if she does what I suggested. I said she should stay in bed tomorrow morning until it was time for Jenny and Ben to get up. She shouldn’t cook for the queer feller, nor should she speak to him. If he starts shouting, she should just ignore him, pretend he’s not there. See to herself and the kids, and let him get on with it. If he’s hungry, he can make himself a jam butty.’

‘I don’t know much about drunks, love,’ Jimmy said. ‘My dad was never a drinker, and neither am I. But if Tom Phillips wakes up in time to go to work tomorrow, then I’ll eat me flaming hat.’

‘We’ll have to wait and see.’ Ada put her cup down. ‘Have yer seen the time? Yer’ll be lucky if ye’re up in time to go to work yerself.’ She pushed her chair back. ‘Leave the cups, I’ll see to them in the morning.’ She stood in front of her son, tenderness in her smile. ‘Yer did a good job, sunshine. If Tom Phillips had managed to get home, the state he was in, God knows what havoc he’d have caused. So have a good night’s sleep. God bless.’

‘Good night and God bless, Mam. And let’s hope yer words of wisdom work wonders with Mrs Phillips. She’s the only one who can turn things round for them. We can help, but with the best will in the world, we can’t be watching them twenty-four
hours a day.’ Danny slapped his father on the back. ‘Good night, Dad. See yer in the morning.’

Annie was lying awake, her eyes on the ceiling. She’d had a restless night with very little sleep. Her mind was overactive with worry about the embarrassment and humiliation her husband was bringing down on her. She’d put up with it for twenty years, but didn’t think she could stand it much longer. She was even losing the will to live. If it wasn’t for the love she had for her children, she would have been long gone. She could have found herself a job, or even slept in doorways. Anything would have been better than living with a man she’d come to fear and loathe.

The shrill sound of the alarm clock jolted Annie from her thoughts, and she slipped her hand from under the bedclothes to switch the alarm off on the clock which stood on the floor at the side of the bed. She did it with speed, so the shrill sound wouldn’t wake the girl sleeping beside her. And when Jenny didn’t stir, Annie lay back on the pillow. The clock was set to go off at six fifteen every morning, giving her time to light the fire and start Tom’s breakfast before he came down. But this morning she made no effort to leave the warmth of the bed. Ada’s words about not letting Tom Phillips walk all over her had been running through her mind all night, and she was willing herself to be strong. She’d wait another fifteen minutes, then go down and light the fire and see to breakfast for Jenny and Ben. And if her husband started throwing his weight around she would do as Ada said, and ignore him. But things are easier said than done, and old habits hard to break. After five minutes Annie couldn’t lie still any longer. She made excuses to herself as she slipped her legs over the side of the bed, saying the living room would be
cold for the children to come down to, and it wouldn’t be fair on them. Reaching for the cardigan she’d left on top of the bedclothes, she slipped her arms into the sleeves, shivering as she stood up on the cold lino-covered floor. Apart from the bed, there was no other furniture in the small room for her to bump into, so she put her hand out until she felt the wall, then followed it to the door.

Creeping down the stairs, Annie resolved to be brave, no matter what sort of mood her husband was in. She was apprehensive, of course, for hadn’t she had twenty violent years when she didn’t know how or when she would be attacked. But as she tried to avoid the stairs that creaked, she kept reminding herself that this time she had to be brave, otherwise she stood to lose the only friends she had. And that one thought was enough to strengthen her resolve.

Annie stood outside the living room door for a while, listening to the snores and other sounds coming from within. She was surprised, for no matter how drunk he’d been, Tom Phillips was always up in time for work. But from what she could hear, he was still asleep. She opened the door quietly, slipped inside, then quickly closed it behind her. If he woke in a rage, she didn’t want the children to hear. It was dark in the room, and not wanting to wake her husband by lighting the gas, she lifted the curtain to let in some light. For several seconds she gazed down at the man she was married to. He reeked of beer, and the sounds coming from his throat were sickening, as was the saliva running out of the side of his mouth. He was her husband, but all she felt for him was contempt. And with the contempt came a question. Why had she allowed this rotter to rule, and ruin, her life? ‘Never again,’ Annie told the sleeping form. ‘Those days are over.’

With the curtain pulled back enough to give her sufficient light to rake the ashes out of the grate, Annie set to. She glanced over to the couch several times, expecting her husband to be woken by the noise. But he never stirred. Even when Jenny and Ben came down, he seemed not to hear them as they washed in the sink before sitting down to their breakfast.

‘Is me dad all right, Mam?’ Ben asked, his eyes going to the couch. ‘He’s never slept like that before. He’ll be late for work.’

‘That’s his worry,’ Jenny said. ‘He’s still breathing, so there’s nothing wrong with him. Even if there was I wouldn’t feel sorry for him. He got himself drunk, so let him suffer for it.’

Ben was uneasy, though. ‘He’ll be blazing when he wakes, Mam. You’ll get the blame for not waking him up.’

‘Don’t you worry about that, sweetheart, I can look after meself. I’m not going to back away from him ever again, I’ve made up me mind on that. His days of ruling the roost are over, and the sooner he realises it the better.’ Annie glanced towards the couch before lowering her voice. ‘I went in his pockets for the first time in me married life. And I’ve taken a couple of bob out. He’ll have enough for his fare to work and back, but not enough to get drunk on.’