Under the July Sun (31 page)

Billy blew out his nightlight. ‘Alright. Goodnight, Reggie.'

‘Goodnight, Billy.'

Reggie closed the bedroom door and went over to sit in Louis' chair beside the fire. Tipper whined and Reggie got up to let him out, but the dog wouldn't leave Louis' slippers.

‘Come on Tipper, out you go.' Reggie tried to coax him, but it was no use. He made one last effort. ‘You silly old dog. Why don't you go out for a little while?' He gave up trying to coax the dog and instead sat down, opened the evening paper and began reading. After he had spent an hour catching up on the news he heard a door open and Anna came into the parlour rubbing her eyes.

‘I can't sleep, Reggie. Eileen's making snoring noises.'

‘Come over here then…sit on my lap and I'll tell you a story.' Anna tiptoed across the floor and hopped up onto Reggie's lap. ‘What sort of story do you want?'

Anna thought for a moment, and then smiled at Reggie. ‘A fairy story.'

‘I'll make one up out of my head and you can put little bits in as we go.'

‘That's a good idea.' Anna shivered. ‘I'm cold, Reggie.'

‘I'll get my coat and we can snuggle up together,' Reggie said, easing Anna off his lap. He went to the hallway for his coat, returned to the fire and drew Anna back onto his lap, laying the coat over them.

‘There, that's better isn't it?'

Anna lay against Reggie's chest. ‘Yes, much better. Start the story then, Reggie.'

Reggie began his tale, using his finger to show how tiny the little fairy was compared to Anna.

‘You see she's a really little person and she likes to hop on and off peoples' shoulders without them knowing…just like this.' He tickled Anna's neck and she giggled.

‘What else does the fairy do, Reggie?'

‘She goes tippy toeing along your leg and lifts your nightie up and has a look to see if you've eaten all your dinner up.'

Anna giggled and Reggie lifted the hem of her nightie, and then tickled her knees.

‘That tickles Reggie,' she laughed. What does the fairy do then?'

‘She tickles my tummy too to see if I've eaten all my dinner.'

‘Go on then, let her tickle your tummy.'

‘Just a minute, I have to undo my trousers so she can tickle my tummy.' He undid his trousers and pulled his shirt out exposing some flesh.

‘Now the little fairy can see whether I've eaten my dinner too. Do you want to feel my tummy like the little fairy does, to see if I've eaten my dinner?'

‘Yes, and then I can see what the fairy sees, can't I?'

‘Give me your hand then and I will let you feel my tummy.'

Reggie took her hand and guided it through between his unbuttoned flies.

‘Can you feel my big tummy?'

‘Yes. I think you've eaten all your dinner it's very big.'

Reggie pressed her hand against his penis.

‘There, can you feel that?'

‘Yes. You must have eaten a lot of dinner, Reggie.'

Reggie moaned and began forcing her hand faster and faster against his penis until with a gasp he released her.

Anna looked at him in surprise. ‘My hand's got all wet Reggie.'

Reggie sat breathing deeply before he answered her.

‘You mustn't tell anyone about our little fairy story – it's a secret.'

‘Why?'

‘Because if you do, the little fairy will be very cross with you and put a spell on your daddy and something bad will happen, so do you promise?' He wiped her hand on his shirt.

‘Yes. I promise. Can I tell Eileen though?'

‘
No
! Not Eileen or
anybody
else. If you do, a spell will be cast on whoever you tell and they will die as well as your daddy, so it's very important that it's just our secret. It's our story. So do you promise?'

Anna stared wide-eyed at him and nodded. She didn't want anyone to die because of her; so she knew she would never tell anyone about the little fairy story.

Suddenly Reggie kissed her cheek. ‘Come on now, it's time you went back to bed.'
Anna slid off his lap and walked away towards the bedroom.

‘Remember now, it's our secret, Anna,' Reggie called.

‘Yes Reggie. Goodnight.'

She crept beneath the covers and cuddled up to Eileen, thinking how careful she would have to be not to tell. She had been a little afraid of the fairy and how she had to feel Reggie's tummy. She felt it was wrong, but she couldn't ask anybody about it in case they died - because of the spell.

‘Good luck, Billy. And remember, Daddy will be so proud of ye if ye do well.'

‘I'm very nervous, Mummy.'

‘Ye can only do yer best darlin', that's all any of us can do. Now off with ye to school and don't be late or they won't let ye in to do the exam.'

Billy kissed Cat's cheek and she hugged him, squeezing her eyes shut tight against the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

He pulled away and ran down the steps, along the path and out of the gate without a backward glance. Turning round as he got to the house next-door-but-one, Billy grinned at Cat who waved again, before returning inside.

The girls had a day off school because of the examinations and were helping to clear the breakfast table. Eileen was dashing back and forth while Anna was dragging her heels not doing much.

‘Anna, c'mon now, look lively Love, ye're half asleep.'

The child looked mournfully at Cat and tears formed in her eyes.

‘What's the matter my darlin'?' Cat said, sitting at the table. She pulled Anna onto her lap. ‘Is it Daddy ye're worried about?'

She nodded and began sobbing uncontrollably. Cat rocked her in her arms as Eileen stood watching, then she picked up the remaining cup and saucer from the table and disappeared into the scullery to wash up.

Cat kissed the top of Anna's head and her sobbing subsided. After a little while Cat suddenly squeezed Anna.

‘C'mon' she said, ‘let's get ready and go up to London to see Daddy shall we?'

Anna smiled and slid off Cat's lap looking happier. Cat looked at the child's solemn little face and stroked her cheek softly.

‘That's better now isn't it? G'w'on now and get dressed. I'll help Eileen to finish off in the scullery, and then we'll go.'

* * *

They approached the ward through a small dimly lit corridor, but all visitors had to report to the Ward Sister for permission to visit, so Cat and the girls stopped outside her office.

‘Stay here, and sit quietly on those chairs while I just speak to the Sister to see if it's all right for us to see Daddy,' she whispered.

Cat knocked on the Sister's door and when she heard someone call out for her to enter, she opened the door and disappeared inside.

The girls grew restless as Cat didn't reappear for ages.

Eileen whispered in Anna's ear. ‘Shall we creep in and find Daddy, Anna?'

‘No! I'm scared.'

‘What are you scared of?'

‘All those people in there.' She nodded toward the ward doors.

‘They're only people who've had operations, silly.'

‘Yes, but I don't like them. They're scary.'

‘Oh you're just a cry-baby.'

‘I'm not!'

‘You are.'

‘No I'm not.'

Cat came out of the office. Her face was ashen and she signalled for one of the girls to get up and let her sit down.

Eileen stood up. ‘What's the matter Mummy?'

Cat couldn't answer, but sat gasping and wiping her brow with her hankie. The girls fell silent watching their mother, trying to read her expression and assess the situation. They waited for Cat to speak.

Then the door to the Sister's office opened and a doctor in a white coat came out, followed by a couple of nurses. The doctor pushed through the swing doors to the ward and led his entourage of uniformed staff inside.

Eileen caught a glimpse of the patients inside and something made her shudder.

Suddenly Cat got up and told the girls to wait on the chairs outside the ward.

Eileen immediately anxious said, ‘But I thought we were going to see Daddy.'

Cat sounded agitated when she answered.

‘I'll have to see how he is first. Now just ye wait here and I'll g'w'on in. Be good girls now. I need ye to be good.'

Something in Cat's manner alarmed the girls, so they just nodded and sat down again to begin their vigil. As Cat disappeared through the swing doors Eileen took hold of Anna's hand and held it tight.

Cat tiptoed towards the bed.

‘Louis? Louis?' she whispered stroking the back of his hand. She thought he looked shrunken; he seemed half his normal size.

Louis opened his eyes and she saw his pupils were very large and he had difficulty focussing on her face.

‘Cat? Is that you?'

‘Yes, my darlin' I'm here.'

Louis sighed and licked his dry lips. ‘Water, please.'

She poured water from the jug and held a glass to his lips while he sipped some, then sank back on the pillows, exhausted.

Cat sat watching Louis as he drifted off to sleep again and realised it wasn't such a good idea bringing the girls to see him. She thought she should go, but didn't want to leave him. When she stood up Louis opened his eyes as if sensing her impending departure.

‘Going so soon?'

‘I've got Anna and Eileen outside. I think it may be best if we come back another day when ye're feelin' better.'

‘Don't go Cat,' his voice was so quiet, she could barely hear him. ‘I want to tell you─'

Cat sat down again and waited for Louis to gather his strength and speak.

‘What is it ye want to tell me, Pet?'

‘Insurance. Lize has it. Since before the war.'

There was a long pause while Cat waited for him to explain about some insurance, but he had stopped speaking. Then he opened his eyes and began again.

‘Ask Lize.'

There was another long pause, and then he sighed, ‘Oh God Cat, what will you do?'

Maybe he's rambling, Cat thought. Probably the anaesthetic was mixing up his mind. She felt it was best to let him sleep. She kissed his lips.

‘Now ye just settle down and stop worryin'. I'll go now and come back again soon. Billy has his exam today and I'd better be gettin' back now.'

Louis frowned. ‘Exam?'

‘Ye know, the one for him to get a scholarship to the Grammar School.'

‘Oh. Grammar school.'

Cat realised he was confused, so just told him he'd forgotten. She stood up ready to leave.

‘Louis, I'll be gettin' off home now.'

‘Children at school?'

‘No, Louis. I already told ye, Anna and Eileen are here with me.'

‘Can't hear them.'

‘They're outside the ward, waitin' for me.'

‘I want.' he coughed, and Cat saw pain register on his face. She sensed he needed to see the children, but was afraid it would tax him.

‘Oh Louis, I don't think ye're well enough to be bothered with them. They may tire ye out.'

He shook his head.

‘Cat, please.'

She tiptoed down the ward and pushed the swing doors open and motioned to where the girls sat waiting for the signal to enter the ward. Just then the Ward Sister appeared from behind some screens. ‘I'm sorry, no children allowed in the ward.'

‘Oh, but we've come such a long way and they'll be so disappointed not to see their daddy.' Cat said, her eyes filling with tears.

‘I'm sorry, it's hospital rules. No children.' She turned on her heel and walked out of the swing doors into her office.

Cat looked down at Anna and Eileen's faces and could see their disappointment. She held a finger up to her lips and beckoned them to follow her into the ward. Softly the threesome approached Louis' bed. His eyes were closed and Cat stroked the back of his hand again to let him know they were there.

‘Cat?'

‘Yes, my darlin', I'm here. Anna and Eileen are here too.'

Louis opened his eyes and smiled, but Cat could see his unfocussed eyes were looking past them. She looked at his waxen complexion and saw him struggling to see them, but she could tell he didn't have the energy to hold a conversation.

‘Kiss Daddy, girls,' Cat said. ‘I think we'll go now because he's very tired. We'll come back again when he's a bit better.' Her voice was high pitched and the lump in her throat constricted further conversation.

Eileen leaned forward and kissed Louis' forehead but Anna stepped back hesitating.

‘C'mon now Anna, kiss Daddy goodbye,' Cat encourged.

Anna stood rooted to the spot. So Cat kissed Louis lips; took hold of Anna's hand and led her from the ward.

Irritated with Anna, Cat turned to her.

‘What's got into ye? Why wouldn't ye kiss Daddy goodbye? It would have made him feel better.'

But Cat didn't notice that Anna had failed to answer, or see the look of terror on the child's face, because her mind was focussed on her conversation earlier with the doctor, and all she could think of doing now was praying. ‘God in your mercy, help us.'

‘Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Anna, Happy Birthday to you,' Cat, Billy, Eileen, Lize and Iris sang.

‘Come on blow the candles out, Anna,' Lize said pushing the cake towards her.

‘Don't forget to make a wish,' Eileen reminded her as Anna began to blow. But then, as though remembering something, Anna stopped blowing, closed her eyes and thought hard about her wish, then opened her eyes and blew the candles out in one go.

‘Hooray,' Iris said and lifted the knife to cut the cake. ‘The next cake I cut will be my wedding cake, won't it, Mum?' she said looking round at Lize.