When Wishes Come True (31 page)

Swinging her legs under the table, Milly gave a big sigh. ‘I have had a wonderful time, Auntie Bessie. All those big buildings, and big shops it would take a week to walk around. And I’ve never been in a cafe before, so I feel like the girl in
Cinderella
. Except she had two ugly sisters, while I have two lovely kind aunties.’

‘Well, all good things come to an end, sweetheart, and we’ve got to be making tracks for home. If we leave it any longer, we’ll have a devil of a job getting on a tram ’cos the queues will be miles long with women wanting to get home to make tea for their families.’

‘That goes for me too, sunshine,’ Rita said. ‘If my feller doesn’t get his tea by six o’clock, the people down at the Pier Head will hear his tummy rumbling. It’s been known for people in the street to think it was thunder. And one old lady, terrified that thunder doesn’t come without lightning, didn’t she take a chair and sit under the stairs for an hour until her son convinced her it wasn’t thunder at all, only Mr Wells letting his wife know he was hungry.’

Milly had learned many things since spending time with her Auntie Bessie, and one of those things was that it wasn’t bad manners to laugh out loud, like her mother had always told her. When you laughed, you made other people feel happy. So now she let her head drop back and her childish giggles filled the air, causing people to turn and smile indulgently. ‘Oh, you are funny, Auntie Rita, you do make me laugh. I wish I could think of funny things like you do, things that would make people happy.’

‘Oh, you do, sweetheart! You make me very happy indeed!’ There was affection in Bessie’s eyes. ‘I lived all alone until you came along, and even though my friends the front door and the grate were company for me, they’re not the same as having someone real who can answer me back. I’m really glad your mother lets yer come to me, yer’ve cheered my life up no end.’

‘Are yer going to tell yer mates in school about coming to town today, sunshine?’ Rita asked. ‘I wonder if any of them have been in this cafe?’

‘I will ask them, Auntie Rita, but the first one I’m going to tell is Daisy. I’m going to sit her on my knee and tell her every little thing that’s happened.’ Milly giggled. ‘I bet she’ll laugh when I tell her about the conductor on the tram, he was very funny.’

‘Yeah, he was a corker, he was,’ Bessie agreed. ‘It’s no joke running up and down those stairs in bad weather, ’cos they’re open to all the elements. It’s certainly not a job I’d thank yer for, not when it’s blowing a gale or snowing.’

‘It’s not the best of jobs,’ Rita agreed, ‘but there’s thousands of men in Liverpool who’d be glad of it. They’d put up with the bad weather and the drunks, just to bring a wage packet home to their wives every Saturday. I feel sorry for the poor buggers who go out every morning and traipse around begging for a few hours’ work.’

Milly’s eyes rolled. ‘You said a bad word, Auntie Rita.’

Rita looked surprised. ‘Did I?’ Then she remembered. ‘Oh, yeah, I did, it must have slipped out.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘How d’yer know it’s a swear word? Yer mother doesn’t swear, I’m sure, and neither does Bessie. So how come yer know a swear word from any other word?’

‘Because one of the girls in my class got three strokes of the cane for using it in the playground. Teacher sent her to the headmistress, and as well as getting the cane, she had to write out fifty times, “Nice girls do not swear” .’

Bessie bit on the inside of her bottom lip to stop herself from chuckling. This young girl knew far more than she was letting on. And what a shock it would be to her mother if she ever found out! ‘The headmistress was right, sweetheart, ’cos nice girls shouldn’t swear. It’s bad enough for a grown-up to use bad language, but it’s ten times worse coming from the lips of a child. So don’t you forget that, young lady.’ Bessie picked her bag up off the floor at the side of the table. ‘Come on, let’s make our way to the tram stop in Lime Street. And stay downstairs this time, Milly, ’cos it’s murder climbing those stairs with this wind blowing.’

As Rita slipped her arms into her coat, she said, ‘I might nip over tonight, Bessie, about eight, after the meal’s over. I can’t wait to find out what thoughts yer came up with when yer were in bed.’

Milly took hold of Bessie’s hand as they left the table. ‘Auntie Bessie talks to the wallpaper in her bedroom, Auntie Rita. I know, ’cos I’ve heard her.’

And the three of them walked through the cafe door roaring with laughter.

Milly was sitting on the couch with Daisy propped up on her knee, telling the doll once again about the wonderful time she’d had in the city and the sights she’d seen. It was half-past eight, way past the girl’s bedtime, but she was still so excited Bessie didn’t have the heart to insist she went to bed.

When Rita arrived, she raised her brows in surprise. ‘I thought yer’d have been in bed ages ago, sunshine, tired out with all the walking yer did?’

Milly smiled at her. ‘I’m telling Daisy about the shops, and the cafe, and she really is interested. She said she wants to come with me next time.’ She looked across at Bessie. ‘Do you have to pay to take a doll on the tram, Auntie Bessie?’

‘No, sweetheart, they don’t charge for a doll.’ Bessie saw the query in her mate’s eyes and shrugged her shoulders. ‘There’s no sign of sleep, she’s wide awake.’ But knowing Rita had come for a purpose, Bessie decided firmness was the order of the day. ‘I think yer should go to bed now, though, Milly. You can talk to Daisy while ye’re laying down, nice and warm, and me and Rita won’t be interrupting yer story.’

The girl didn’t argue, for she saw the sense of talking to her doll in bed. ‘All right, Auntie Bessie, I am beginning to feel a bit tired.’ She held the doll close to her face. ‘I’ve still got a lot to tell you, though, before we go to sleep.’

‘Don’t forget to tell her about the conductor on the tram,’ Rita reminded her. ‘I know she’ll enjoy that. I told my family and they were in stitches.’

Milly’s childish giggles rang out again. ‘I was saving that until the last, Auntie Rita, so me and Daisy could go to sleep with a smile on our faces. She does know what I’m saying, you know, I can tell by the way she looks at me.’ She kissed the two woman, but Bessie was also given a special hug and a whispered, ‘I love you, Auntie Bessie.’

‘And I love you, sweetheart. But poppy off now so me and Rita can talk about the day, too! Ye’re not the only one who enjoyed themself, yer know. It was a treat for me and me mate, for we don’t often get the chance to go into the city.’

The two women listened as Milly scrambled up the stairs, and when they thought she was out of earshot, Rita said, ‘I’d give anything for a daughter like her, she’s a little gem.’

‘Same here, girl.’ Bessie heaved a deep sigh. ‘She’s a beautiful child to look at, and her beauty doesn’t stop at looks, she’s got a beautiful nature too. I’d be the happiest woman alive if she was mine.’ She gave a few shakes of her head to clear away such longings. ‘What’s the good of wishes and dreams? We should be thankful we’re alive and have got our health. There’s many a one would swap places with us.’

‘Ye’re right there, sunshine, that goes for half the people in this street. All they’ve got to look forward to, week after week, is scrounging enough money to keep body and soul together. We’ve nowt to complain about.’ Rita slipped her shoes off and swung herself round so she could stretch her legs out on the couch. ‘Anyway, don’t let’s start feeling sorry for ourselves, not after having such a nice afternoon. Tell me about the idea that came to yer in bed last night? If it’s any good, I’ll tell yer what came to me in bed last night. The trouble with that, though, is yer might be too embarrassed to look Reg in the face again.’

‘Rita Wells, I’ll have yer know I have no interest in what happens in your bedroom.’ Bessie feigned disgust, but she was chuckling inside. ‘I wish yer’d remember I am a spinster, as innocent and as pure as the driven snow.’

‘We’ve only got your word for that, sunshine, but once again we’re getting away from the matter in hand. What is this idea yer’ve come up with? If it means a better Christmas for the kids, then I’m all for it.’

Bessie leaned back in the fireside chair, her fingers gently tapping on the wooden arms. ‘Well, yer know I changed me working hours when I started minding Milly? I go in at seven now so I can finish at four, whereas I used to go in from eight till five. They’re always asking me to work longer hours, ’cos although I say it as shouldn’t, I’ve been doing the job so long I get through twice as much work as the younger ones. I used to work all the hours they wanted me to until Milly came on the scene. But what I was thinking, which will help out with the money, is that if you and Aggie have Milly for an hour each night, so I can work until five, it would give yer a few extra coppers every week. It would only be a tanner a week each, but if you and Aggie did help me out, I could put that shilling a week to the two bob I get off Mrs Sinclair, and that would be three bob a week I’d put away until Christmas. I’d still give Milly her tea every night, so it wouldn’t cost you or Aggie any money, and we’re just into October now which means we’ve at least twelve weeks to Christmas. That would be enough for a party for the kids and a present each. There might even be enough over for a few drinks for us grown-ups.’ Bessie took a deep breath and blew out slowly. ‘Well, sweetheart, what d’yer think?’

Rita swung her legs around and put her feet on the floor. ‘And what do you get out of this, sunshine? Sweet bugger all from what I can see. Yer’ve got no kids, while me and Aggie have four between us, and yer’ve got no family! No, I wouldn’t be happy with that, it wouldn’t be fair. It would be you doing all the giving, and us doing all the taking. No thanks, Bessie, I couldn’t go along with that. I’ll mind Milly for an hour every night for yer, but I don’t want paying for it. I’d be tickled pink to have her, I’ve always wanted a girl in the house.’

Bessie tutted. ‘Don’t be so ruddy quick off the mark, Rita Wells, just wait until yer hear the whole story. I went a lot further in me plans last night before I went to sleep. I’d never drop off unless I had it all sorted. So listen to what I think, and hope, might happen. And I’ve a feeling it’s more likely to happen than not.’

‘Ye’re getting me all mixed up with yer mights and might nots, sunshine, so give it to me in plain English.’

‘Well, I think it’s quite likely that I’ll have Milly over Christmas. I’ll lay odds Mrs Sinclair has got herself a man, and I’ll also lay odds she hasn’t told him she’s got a daughter. If she had, it would be only natural he’d want to see the girl. Even this imaginary school friend of hers, Elizabeth, wouldn’t she wonder why Milly never came with her mother on a visit? No, the whole situation is cock-eyed, and the queer one is lying through her hat and taking me for a sucker. At least, she thinks I’m a sucker, and I’m happy for her to go on thinking so for as long as it suits my purpose. When it gets nearer the time, I can actually see her, in me mind of course, sitting in that chair trying to find the right excuse so as I’ll have Milly and she can spend Christmas with her man friend. And I’ll admit to yer, Rita, that if she gets all flustered and finds it hard to make an excuse that sounds plausible, I’ll help her out! I’ll be as nice as pie and encourage her to go out and enjoy herself. She’s selfish enough to take me up on it.’

Bessie grinned ruefully. ‘I don’t usually think badly of people, Rita, and it’s got nothing to do with me what Mrs Sinclair gets up to. She can walk Lime Street picking men up for money for all I care. It’s what happens to Milly I’m concerned about. What sort of a Christmas would she have if there was nowhere for her to go except be with her mother? Whether it was to the boyfriend’s, or the old school chum’s, she’d have a miserable time because she wouldn’t be wanted. And they wouldn’t be having the same sort of Christmas we have because snobs don’t know how to let their hair down like we do. I can’t stand the thought of Milly sitting in someone’s house, watched over by her mother in case she spoke out of turn or put a foot wrong, and being unhappy. I’d crawl to the stuck-up snob next door rather than have that happen.’ The look in Bessie’s eyes begged for her mate’s understanding. ‘So, yer see, Rita, I might have a child over Christmas after all. I’m going to say so many prayers, God will give in just to shut me up.’

‘It would be wonderful if it turns out that way, sunshine. Milly would have a lot of fun with my two and Aggie’s. But don’t pin yer hopes on it, Bessie, ’cos I’d hate to see yer let down. And it wouldn’t only be you disappointed, it would be Milly, too. I know she’d rather be with you than with her mother.’

‘I’m not even going to consider her not being here, Rita, I’m going to be positive and work on the assumption she’s going to spend Christmas with me. And that’s not because I’m selfish in wanting to keep her away from her mother, it’s because I know she gets more love while she’s in this house than she does anywhere else. So, are yer prepared to help me out if I take an extra hour’s work on? If yer are, yer can mention it to Aggie if yer would, see if she’s agreeable to what I’ve suggested. If it turns out I can’t have Milly, it won’t make no difference to you or Aggie, the kids will still have their party and presents, I’ll make sure of that.’

Rita clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. ‘Yer should have had half a dozen kids of yer own, Bessie, ’cos yer’d have made a marvellous mother. And I hope to God things work out as yer want them to. But, that aside, you go ahead and work the extra hour, me and Aggie will look after Milly. It’ll do the girl good to mix with other kids.’ She suddenly took a fit of laughing. ‘But I have to say, neither me nor Aggie will take any responsibility if the girl’s mastery of the English language suffers a severe setback. It’s too late in life for either of us to go back to school to learn how to speak properly. I will ask Aggie to try and control some of the more colourful words she comes out with, but I can’t guarantee success.’

Bessie chortled. ‘I’d be more afraid of Milly teaching Aggie some new words. The girls in her class must hear their parents cursing to high heaven.’

‘My kids don’t hear me swearing often, I try to control meself in front of them. Yer can’t expect children not to repeat things they hear in their own homes, they’re not to know some of them are bad.’ Rita slipped her feet into her shoes. ‘I’ll have a word with Aggie in the morning, sunshine, and tell her what yer’ve got in mind. She’ll be more than agreeable to helping, she’ll be over the moon. If it means a halfway decent Christmas for the family, she’d walk to Timbuctoo and back. But, so she doesn’t think we’re making plans behind her back, I’ll come over with her tomorrow night, after Milly’s gone to bed. Aggie will feel better if she’s involved, and it’ll give her something to look forward to. Like meself, she doesn’t get any social life because of lack of money, and this scheme of yours will be just the job to keep the pair of us going. And if it turns out as you think it might, then it will take a lot of the worry of Christmas off our minds and we’ll be yer friends for life.’ She patted Bessie’s arm. ‘We’ll be that anyway, sunshine, ’cos we couldn’t have asked for a better mate over the years. Yer’ve always been there when we were in trouble, and yer know that even if we’ve never told yer, we’ve always appreciated yer kindness.’