Stay as Sweet as You Are (8 page)

‘Yer can tell he likes his food, Aggie, he’s a giant of a man. That’s why I can’t understand how he got the nickname Titch! There’s nothing small about him.’

‘The kids called him that when he started school because he was very small and skinny. He didn’t start growing until
he was about twelve, and so help me, Irene, I thought he’d never stop. But everyone knew him as Titch, and the name stuck. The only time I call him Tommy is when I’m telling him off.’

Irene chortled. ‘Yer can’t tell a forty-year-old man off, Aggie, that’s daft.’

‘That’s what he gets told off for, queen, being daft. He might be forty, but he’s never grown up in the head. He’s always playing tricks on me, and if he wasn’t so big I’d box his ears for him.’ When Aggie laughed, her top set of teeth became loose and she stuck her thumb in her mouth to push them back into place. ‘Last time he was home he hid me purse on me. I didn’t know he’d hidden it, like, and I searched high and low for the bleedin’ thing. I didn’t let on to him in case he said I was careless, but after looking everywhere, I was getting frantic. It was only when the club woman knocked he took it out of his pocket and handed it to me, looking all innocent, as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “Is this what ye’re looking for, Ma?” he asked. I could have brained him, I didn’t think it was a bit funny. But when I came back after paying the club woman, he had one of the wooden chairs in the middle of the room. He held his hand out and said, “Here yer are, Ma, I’ll help yer stand on it. I deserve me ears boxing for pulling a stunt like that. I’m a fool to meself, that’s what I am. After all, yer could have had a heart attack, and who’d have made me dinner for me then, eh?”’

Irene was shaking with laughter as she pictured the scene. ‘There’s never a dull moment with your Titch around, is there? But I bet yer wouldn’t have him any different, though, because I know yer love the bones of him.’

‘Ye’re right there, queen. He’s been going to sea since he was eighteen, and I don’t see that much of him. But I treasure every minute he’s with me.’ Aggie put a hand on Irene’s arm and pulled her to a stop outside a butcher’s shop. ‘I’m going in here, love, to get some shin beef. When Titch gets home
there’ll be a pan of scouse simmering on the stove, and four light-as-a-feather dumplings ready to pop in. He always looks forward to his favourite meal on his first day home.’

‘I’m made up for yer, Aggie, and I hope he gets a decent leave this time. Tell him to give his friends a knock when he can, we’d love to see him.’

‘If I know my son, he’ll make sure he’s home in plenty of time to eat his meal and go down to the pub. He wouldn’t miss either on his first night. Nor would he miss asking George and Bob to go for a welcome home drink with him. So tell George to expect a knock, will yer?’

Irene nodded. ‘I’ll do that, he’ll be tickled pink to see Titch again. And as luck would have it, Bob’s on early shift this week, so he can join them.’

‘I’ll have to go, queen, ’cos I’ve a fair bit of shopping to do to make me larder look a bit healthier. One egg and one rasher of bacon doesn’t look out of place when yer live alone, but yer can’t feed a hungry man on it. Besides, I can afford to splash out a bit today because Titch put a pound note in with his letter.’

‘So, ye’re not only happy, but rich as well?’ Irene was pleased for her neighbour. Aggie never complained, but she must get lonely at times. Her husband, Les, had died ten years ago, and although Titch had offered to find a shore job at the time, she wouldn’t hear of it. The sea was in his blood, and although he argued otherwise, she knew he wouldn’t be happy working in a factory and sent him off to join his ship, so great was the love this mother had for her son. ‘I might see yer tonight, then, Aggie, if Titch doesn’t bring a bottle of the hard stuff home with him, like he did last time. Yer were too drunk to go down to the pub!’

‘Nah, I wasn’t, queen.’ Aggie’s teeth fell down again. The trouble was, her gums felt much better without them and kept pushing them out. So there was a constant war between teeth and gums. But the gums were fighting a losing battle today. No way was Aggie having her son come home to a mother
with no teeth in. ‘I was a bit tipsy, perhaps, but certainly not so legless I couldn’t make it down to the pub. I just felt the men would feel more free to talk if they were on their own.’

Irene laughed. ‘I’ll believe yer, where thousands wouldn’t. Anyway, sunshine, I’ll be on me way. Ta-ra for now.’

Aggie heard the key turn in the lock and stood up. Her tummy was doing somersaults with excitement and her heart was crying out with hunger for the sight of her beloved son. Then she heard his familiar voice. ‘What’s that delicious smell? I must be in the wrong house. We never have no smells like that in our house, ’cos me ma’s a lousy cook.’

Aggie rounded the table and held her arms wide. ‘Ye’re a cheeky bugger. But I’ll forgive yer, seeing as it’s yer first day home.’

‘Ma, it’s good to see yer.’ Titch put his hands on her waist and lifted her until their faces were on a level. ‘Ye’re still as pretty as ever. I swear yer look younger every time I come home. Give us a kiss.’

They hugged for a while, then Aggie whispered in his ear, ‘I’d better put the dumplings in before the stew burns dry.’

‘What! Dumplings as well!’ Titch gently set her down. ‘Anyone would think yer were glad to see me.’

‘And they wouldn’t be far wrong, son, I’m over the moon.’ Aggie pushed the sleeves of her dress up. ‘Let’s get this dinner on the go, ye’re probably starving.’ She turned at the kitchen door. ‘Where’s yer bag?’

‘I dropped it in the hall in me haste to feast me eyes on yer.’

‘Well, get yer dirty clothes out and I can put them in the tub to steep overnight.’

Titch leaned against the door jamb. ‘There’s no need, Ma, yer can do that tomorrow.’

For a brief second, Aggie felt a stab of sadness. He had all the mannerisms of Les, right down to the way he walked, held his head, and even his lopsided grin. He had the same
mop of brown hair, too, and blue eyes. But he was taller than his father had been, and broader. And his face was weather-beaten with being at sea for so long, out in all weathers. She shook her head to dispel the memories. ‘Do it now, son, so I’m not rushing to get them washed and ironed at the last minute.’

There was a smile on her son’s face as he watched for her reaction to what he had to say. ‘Ma, I’m home for two and a half weeks. So yer’ve got all the time in the world.’

Aggie’s mouth gaped. ‘If you’re having me on, I’ll break yer bleedin’ neck for yer.’

‘Scout’s honour, Ma, I’m home for eighteen days. And with being away such a long time, with nothing to spend me wages on, I’ve got quite a bit saved up. So I’ll take yer into town tomorrow and treat yer to whatever takes yer fancy. Yer can have anything yer like, the sky’s the limit.’

‘I don’t want nothing, son, having yer home is treat enough for me.’ Then the mother in her came out. ‘And don’t yer be carrying a load of money around with yer, either. If I know you, yer’ll be treating everyone in the bleedin’ pub. Throwing yer money around like a man with no flaming hands.’

‘I’m not that soft, Ma, it’s got to last me until I sail again. And I want to see you’re all right when I leave. So I’ll just mug me mates, George and Bob, and that’s about it, apart from a few pennies for the kids. Does that meet with your approval?’

‘I’m not a miser, son, and I’ll help anyone out if they’re stuck. But yer should be putting some money aside in case yer ever need it. One of these days yer might meet a girl, fall in love and want to settle down. And yer’ll need money to do that.’

There was a smile on her son’s face as he watched her lift two plates down from the shelf that ran the length of the kitchen wall. ‘Ma, it’s true what they say about a sailor having a girl in every port, yer know. It’s not that I’ve never had me chances, ’cos to tell the truth I’ve been spoilt for
choice. I’ve had plenty of flings, because being a red-blooded man I do like the ladies. But I’ve never met one who I could fall head over heels in love with. One who I would want to spent the rest of me life with. So ye’re stuck with me, Ma, because I’ve not come across one yet that can hold a candle to yer.’

Aggie tutted. ‘Go ’way, yer daft ha’porth. Sit yerself down and stop yapping to me, or I’ll be burning the backside out of this pan.’

Half an hour later, Titch pushed his empty plate away and rubbed his tummy. ‘The captain would have a very happy crew if the ship’s cook could make dumplings like you. The ones he makes are so heavy I’m surprised the blinking ship hasn’t sunk by now.’

‘Ah, well, there’s a knack to it, yer see.’ Aggie nodded knowingly. ‘He probably puts too much suet in them. Tell him I said to just put half the amount in that he usually does, and see how they turn out.’

Titch smiled as he imagined what the scene would be in the galley if he told the cook his mother had advised him to put less suet in his dumplings. The air would be blue with words his mam wouldn’t even know the meaning of. ‘I’ll do that, Ma.’ He leaned back against the chair and reached into his pocket for his pipe. ‘Any news for me? How are the Pollards and the Mellors?’

‘The Pollards are fine. They’re a lovely family, the salt of the earth. Young Jack leaves school in two weeks and he’s a scream. He was leaning against the wall last night, watching his mates playing marbles, and I asked him why he wasn’t playing. “I’m practising, Mrs Aggie,” he said. I asked him what he was practising, because all he was doing was leaning against the wall. “I’m practising not playing marbles. Yer see, Mrs Aggie, I’ll be going into long kecks when I leave school, and me mam said if she sees me even looking at the gutter while I’ve got them on, she’ll box me ears for me. And as I’m fond of me ears, and don’t want them boxed, I’m
practising hard at not playing marbles.”’

Her son’s hearty guffaw filled the room. ‘Oh, that’s a good one, that is. I can see he takes after his mam. Irene’s always had a quick sense of humour. George has too, but he’s not as quick off the mark as his wife.’

Aggie sighed. She didn’t like gossiping about the neighbours, but if Titch was going to be home for nearly three weeks, he’d notice things for himself. Better he was forewarned so he didn’t say anything out of place. ‘As for the Mellors, well, what’s happening in their house is anyone’s guess.’ She told him briefly what she knew, and watched him shake his head. ‘I feel sorry for Bob, and for Lucy. Their home is not a very happy one, I’m afraid.’

‘Trouble’s been brewing in that house for a few years now, Ma. Anyone with half an eye could see that. I’m surprised Bob’s put up with it for so long. Whenever we go for a pint, which isn’t often with me being away, but when we do he never mentions Ruby’s name. And as they say, silence speaks louder than words. George is full of Irene and the boys, but Bob only ever talks about Lucy. And that set the alarm bells ringing for me ages ago.’ Titch drew on his pipe and there was a look of contentment on his face. He knew he’d be craving for the sea by the time his leave was over, but right now it was bliss to sit with the mother he adored, in the house he was born in. ‘I don’t know what the solution is there, Ma, only Bob and Ruby can sort that out. And they have to have the will to do it.’

‘It’s Lucy I feel sorry for,’ Aggie said. ‘Poor little mite, always has a smile on her face even though her mother gives her a dog’s life. Mind you, Irene has brought about a few changes for her. She heard Ruby having a go at the girl one night and knocked to ask was something wrong because of all the shouting and banging. It seems to have done the trick because Irene said it’s gone much quieter. And, thanks to George, Lucy goes in their house now to play cards with the boys.’

‘Is Lucy still as pretty as ever?’

‘As pretty as a picture, son. She’ll break a few hearts when she’s older.’

‘Then I think I’ll wait for her to grow up and marry her.’

‘I’ll knit yer a wife, if yer like. That way, if yer ever got fed up with her nagging, yer could stick her in a sideboard drawer.’ Aggie began to clear the dishes. ‘I’ll get these out of the way, then yer can have the sink to spruce yerself up. I told Irene yer’d be knocking for George, so he’ll be expecting yer.’ She put the plates on the draining board, then popped her head back in the room. ‘Bob’s on early shift, so yer’ll have yer two mates to jangle to. Yer can tell them all about these girls yer’ve got in every port, and the goings-on that yer wouldn’t dare tell yer old mother about in case she clocked yer one.’

Titch chuckled. ‘If I did that, Ma, they’d both pack their bags and sign up on the next ship out of Liverpool!’

‘That’s as maybe, son. But a life on the ocean wave doesn’t appeal to everyone. Heart and hearth are what most men are satisfied with. Especially if they have a family.’

‘Yeah, I know, Ma. And in ten years’ time I might envy them. But right now I’m happy being foot-loose and fancy free.’

‘I’d better get foot-loose and see to the dishes,’ Aggie said, disappearing into the kitchen. ‘Otherwise yer won’t have time for yer usual quota of the liquid brown stuff. We can’t have yer sober on yer first night.’

‘Ma, I could drink the pub dry and still be able to put the key in the lock. And I’d never be too drunk to miss yer lips for me goodnight kiss. I couldn’t sleep without that.’

Aggie smiled as she poured hot water over the dishes. Oh, it was so good to have him home.

‘It’s great to see yer, Titch.’ George’s smile was wide when he opened the door. His words were sincere, his handshake firm. ‘And yer look the picture of health, as usual.’

‘I wouldn’t say you were exactly sickly-looking yerself, mate. Irene must be taking good care of yer.’

‘And why wouldn’t I? He’s the only husband I’ve got.’ Irene was waiting for him, her pretty face lit up and her arms opened wide. ‘Come and give us a kiss, Titch McBride. And make it a good one, seeing as yer’ve stayed away a long time.’

They embraced as two friends who had a deep fondness for each other. And his eyes looking over her shoulder, Titch glimpsed the two boys watching with interest. ‘Yer don’t mind if I kiss yer mam, do yer, fellers?’

‘I’ve got me eye on yer, Mr Titch,’ Jack said, his face deadpan. ‘Me dad gets one kiss when he comes in. I was watching to make sure you didn’t get two. Otherwise me dad would have had to go out and come back in again.’