Try a Little Tenderness (45 page)

‘Aren’t yer going to let us in on the joke?’ Mary asked. ‘It’s not like you to keep things to yerself, more’s the pity.’

Amy looked at the smiling butcher. ‘Are yer sure yer want to know, Wilf?’

‘If I couldn’t take a joke, Amy, I wouldn’t last five minutes behind this counter.’

‘I was going to say that if yer catch a flea, put it away for us till the weekend. It would probably have more meat on it than that bleeding chicken yer sold me on Saturday. It couldn’t have less, that’s a dead cert.’

Mary’s cheeks were stiff with laughing. ‘What would yer do with her, Wilf?’

‘Actually, Mary, she comes in very handy for me sometimes. Whenever me missus gets ratty and is moaning her head off, I think of Amy and realise how lucky I am.’

Amy got on her high horse. ‘Well, actually, Wilf Burnett, my Ben thinks he’s the luckiest man in the world. He wouldn’t swap me for all the gold in China.’

‘The tea in China, sunshine.’

‘What did yer say, girl?’

‘I said the tea in China.’

‘What about the tea in China, haven’t they got none?’

Mary threw out her hands. ‘I give up! Wilf, I’ll have three-quarters of brawn, please. And when we left the house, me mate was having the same. But if I were you, I’d take her money before yer start weighing it.’

When they got outside the greengrocer’s, Mary stood firm. ‘You can get me five pound of spuds, I’ll wait here for yer. I wouldn’t go through another performance for a big clock.’

‘I won’t do nothing, girl, cross my heart and hope to die.’

‘Then go and do nothing on yer own, sunshine, ’cos I ain’t going in with yer.’

Amy walked away looking down in the mouth. But it didn’t last long. She’d no sooner disappeared inside the shop, when Mary heard her shout: ‘Top of the morning to yer, Billy. Have yer got a pound of those soft tomatoes?’

Mary could feel herself cringe inside. How her friend could do it, she didn’t know. And she got away with it. Nobody ever fell out with her, only her neighbour, Annie Baxter. But Annie didn’t count, ’cos she was as miserable as sin, anyway.

The next thing, Mary heard Billy Nelson roar his head off. ‘Yer what! I’ve a good mind to throw the bleedin’ things at yer. In fact, it would be worth losing the tuppence to pelt yer with them.’

Then came a voice Mary didn’t recognise. ‘She’s a big enough target, Billy.’

There was no mistaking the next voice. ‘Oh, ye’re there, are yer missus? Well, why don’t yer try minding yer own business? And when yer get home, if yer’ve got a mirror that isn’t already cracked, take a good look in it and see the gob on yerself.’

That’s it, Mary thought, I’ll be here all day at this rate.
So she marched in the shop, took the basket from Amy and plonked it on the counter. ‘We just want two lots of spuds when ye’re ready, Billy.’ She turned to say something to Amy and saw her friend and another woman eyeing each other up. Oh Lord, she groaned, these two are going to be at each other’s throats any minute now. ‘I’ll wait for the potatoes, sunshine, you go and get our bread.’

Amy’s eyes never wavered. ‘You get the bread, girl, I’m comfortable where I am.’

Billy weighed five pound of potatoes and threw them in the basket. He’d be best serving them first, for the sake of peace and save his shop from becoming a boxing ring. He covered the potatoes with a newspaper, and weighed out another five pound. Then he had a brainwave. ‘Ye’re the only one that caught me out today, Amy.’

Amy pricked her ears. Praise was something she never ignored. ‘Oh, yeah?’

‘Yeah.’ Billy passed the basket to Mary and took her four pennies. ‘Six of them tried it on, but you were the only one I fell for.’

The woman showed she was curious. ‘What did they try on, Billy?’

‘It’s April Fool’s day, Mrs Chambers.’

‘Oh.’ The woman looked sheepish. ‘I didn’t know.’

‘Well, you wouldn’t, would yer, missus? It’s just another day to you.’ Amy turned when Mary pulled on her arm. ‘What is it, girl?’

Mary thrust the basket at her. ‘You can carry this, me arm’s dropping off.’ She waved to the shopkeeper. ‘Ta-ra, Billy.’

‘Ta-ra, Mary! And you, Amy, my little flower, be careful how yer go.’

When they were outside, Amy said, ‘I could have hit that bleedin’ woman. Billy took it all in good fun and was laughing his head off until she stuck her nose in. Cheeky cow.’

‘All right, sunshine, let’s forget about it now, eh? We’ll get the bread and then go home for a nice cuppa. If yer can manage to keep yer trap shut in the bakers, I’ll mug yer to a cream slice. Is that a deal?’

‘It sure is, girl, it sure is.’

Half an hour later the two friends sat facing each other with a cup of tea in front of them and a plate with a cream slice on. The slice had pink icing on the top and cream oozing out of the sides. Amy ran her tongue over her lips. ‘I know it’s manners to wait until ye’re asked, girl, but I haven’t got no manners so I ain’t waiting.’ She picked up the slice and ran her tongue down one side. ‘Heaven.’ Her eyes were closed as she savoured the luxury. ‘Pure, bleedin’ heaven.’

‘Yeah, yer could get used to being rich, couldn’t yer?’

‘Sure could, girl, sure could. We should have married men with money, that’s where we went wrong.’

‘The trouble is, if yer could have them every day, yer wouldn’t appreciate them. People who are loaded, they don’t have anything to look forward to. They’ve been everywhere, seen everything and can have anything in the world they want. I wouldn’t swap places with them because half the pleasure of getting something yer really want, is the saving up for it, the anticipation. Then yer really appreciate it.’

Amy licked each finger in turn, not missing a speck of cream. ‘Changing the subject, girl, have yer any bright ideas on what I could buy Jenny for her birthday?’

‘Anything at all, sunshine. She’s not expecting anything, so whatever yer buy she’d be over the moon about it.’

‘How about an underskirt?’

‘Fantastic, she’d be delighted. It’s her birthday next Wednesday, and Janet’s is on the Friday, so we’re having one party for both of them. I’ll have to ask the Porters because they offered to have the party, but Jenny said she’d rather have it here.’

‘Is Bill Porter going out with that friend of Laura’s from
down the street? I’ve seen them together a few times.’

‘I couldn’t tell yer, sunshine. I know he goes out with Cynthia, but whether they’re courting is anyone’s guess. Our Laura is not very forthcoming about her friends.’

‘I often wonder about your Laura. She seems to have calmed down a bit, but she’s still a mystery to me. I mean, with her looks, yer’d think she’d have boys knocking on the door every night.’

‘She could have a boyfriend for all we know, she never tells us anything. We don’t know where she goes, or who with. I’ve given up worrying about her, it doesn’t get me anywhere.’

‘Your Jenny’s a different kettle of fish. If she had a boyfriend, she’d bring him home to see yer on the first night. Mind you, she’s got two boys right on her own doorstep who are crazy about her. I think it’ll be a fight to the death with them two.’

‘I suppose ye’re talking about John and Mick? I’m keeping out of it, it’s up to Jenny who she chooses for a boyfriend. But I’ve got to say I’d be very happy if she chose one of them. I’m very fond of both of them.’ Mary reached for Amy’s empty cup. ‘Now, missus, will yer go home so I can get on with some work?’

‘I’m going round for Janet, Mam.’

‘I thought yer were sitting with Lizzie tonight? Surely Janet can find her own way without you walking round there?’

‘I enjoy the walk, Mam, after being sat in an office all day. I enjoy stretching me legs and breathing in the fresh air.’

‘Are the boys going, so one of them can walk Janet home?’

‘We never make arrangements, Mam. They either turn up or they don’t.’

‘Well, it’s not as dark these nights – she’d be all right walking back on her own. Don’t stay too late at Lizzie’s or
yer’ll tire her out.’ Mary walked to the door with her daughter. ‘Will Bill be coming to the party?’

‘I’ve invited all the family, but I’m not sure about Bill. He’s been going out with Cynthia off and on, but according to Janet they’re always falling out, so yer wouldn’t know what was going on. We’ll just have to wait and see.’

Jenny walked with her head bent, deep in thought. Laura was still a source of worry to her. Although her sister wasn’t as hard-faced as she used to be, she remained aloof and secretive about her life outside her home. She still went out with Cynthia a few nights a week, and it wasn’t unusual now for her to have a night in to wash her hair. But there was still a big question mark about what she got up to on Thursdays. She claimed she was going to a dance with Cynthia, and her parents had no reason to doubt her. But Jenny knew it wasn’t true and had this terrible nagging feeling that one of these days Laura would be up to her neck in trouble and would bring it home with her.

Janet was waiting for her with the door open. ‘Me mam and dad said to tell yer hello and they’re looking forward to the party.’

Jenny waited for her friend to fall into step beside her before saying, ‘Me mam needs to know the numbers for the party so she’ll know how much to get in. So will your Bill be coming, or not? And if he is, will Cynthia be with him?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine, Jenny. I would say they’re not on speaking terms at the moment because he’s sitting in the house with a face on him like a wet week.’

‘Oh, well, if he turns up and there’s not enough to eat or drink, it’ll be his own fault. Me mam’s not a mindreader, she can’t cater if she doesn’t know how many to cater for.’

Janet was eyeing her friend. ‘Yer’ve done yer hair different again, Jenny. I wish I could do mine like you do – I’d have a different style every week.’ Then she suddenly reverted back to the babyish voice she’d got into the habit of using. ‘I bet
John would like to see me hair done different. He wouldn’t half get a surprise.’

Jenny put a hand on her friend’s arm. ‘Jan, this is Jenny – remember me? We used to sit next to each other every day in school. And yer were pretty clever in school, always in the top ten of our class. Can yer remember all that?’

‘Of course I can, I’m not daft.’

‘Then why do yer act daft? Yer never used to.’

There was a merry glint in Janet’s eyes. ‘I have me reasons, Jenny, and I’ll tell yer them on me birthday. I’m going to grow up that day.’

‘I don’t get it, Jan, yer’ve lost me. Why would yer go on letting people think ye’re stupid when it’s only a game to yer? I don’t know what yer hope to gain by it.’

‘I might not gain anything by it, but there’s a method in me madness. You’ll see, on me birthday, I’ll be all grown-up and not act daft no more. If I haven’t done what I set out to do by that time, then I never will.’ Janet eyed the blonde hair bouncing on Jenny’s shoulders. She had it in a pageboy bob tonight, a style that was all the rage, and it suited her. ‘On the night of the party, would yer do something with my hair for me?’

‘Yeah, of course I will. How would yer like it?’

‘I’ll leave that to you, whatever yer think suits me. But I would like to look glamorous, Jenny, if yer could manage that.’

‘Yer could manage it yerself if yer put yer mind to it! Yer hair’s lovely and thick, and the auburn chestnut colour is beautiful. I’ll do yer up like a dog’s dinner for the party.’ Jenny giggled. ‘If yer intend growing up that night, yer hair may as well grow up with yer.’

‘Is Cynthia in, Mrs Pennington?’ Bill shuffled his feet in embarrassment. He’d sworn he wouldn’t be the first to give in this time, yet here he was coming cap in hand. He did it every time they had a fall-out, he couldn’t help himself. If
Cynthia wasn’t so indifferent towards him he probably would have lost interest by now, but as it was he was still fascinated by her.

Fanny Pennington smiled at him. She could feel his nervousness and felt sorry for him. He was a nice lad, her daughter could do a lot worse. But then, her daughter was a law unto herself. She pleased herself what she did, regardless of anyone’s feelings. Like this lad here; he shouldn’t have to come crawling, he was too good for that. ‘I’ll ask her to come to the door, son, I think that’s best.’

Cynthia came along the hall with her arms folded and a slump to her shoulders. ‘Hello, Bill. I’m sorry I look a sight, but I’m not in the mood for getting dolled up.’ She leaned against the hall wall. ‘Did yer want something?’

Bill let out a sigh of exasperation. ‘I want to have a talk to yer. Can’t yer slip a coat on and come for a walk?’

‘What is there to talk about? Every time I see yer, we fall out.’

‘You fall out, not me.’ Bill couldn’t go through another sleepless night, so his voice was insistent. ‘Put a coat on, Cynthia, and let’s talk. Yer owe me that much.’

‘Wait there, I won’t be a minute.’ Cynthia took her coat from the hallstand and opened the living-room door. ‘I’m going for a walk with Bill, Mam, I won’t be long.’

Dick Pennington looked over his newspaper. He’d noticed the difference in his daughter but put it down to her age, and women’s trouble. That was why she was on better terms with her mother, he thought, because it was easier for her to talk to a woman than a man. ‘Why didn’t yer ask the lad in?’

‘It’s all right, Dad, we’d rather go for a walk.’

Bill cupped her elbow. ‘Is there anywhere yer’d like to go? The pictures, perhaps?’

Cynthia shook her head. ‘You wanted to talk, so let’s talk.’

‘I’ll get what I’ve got to say off me chest first, shall I?’ Bill
looked sideways at her, but her face gave nothing away. ‘This has been going on for months now, and I can’t understand yer attitude. We seem to be getting on fine one minute, then the next it’s as if I’m a stranger to yer. I can’t hold yer hand, can’t put me arms around you or kiss yer. If that’s the way yer feel about me, why don’t yer come straight out with it and tell me to get lost, instead of going all quiet and backing off from me. Do yer like me or not, Cynthia?’

‘Of course I like yer.’ Cynthia’s voice was husky. ‘But ye’re rushing things too much and I don’t want to be rushed.’

‘Rushing things! Blimey, I’ve been more patient with you than any other girl I’ve been out with! Holding hands with a girl ye’re out on a date with, or giving her a kiss, that isn’t rushing things, Cynthia, that’s normal. That’s what all young fellers do when they’re out with their girlfriend. It’s normal and healthy, Cynthia – no harm in it at all.’