Sadie Was A Lady (17 page)

‘Ooh, er! Aren’t we swanking! Is he serious about yer?’

‘No, we’re just friends. If his mam knew he was seeing me she’d lay a duck egg. Like everyone else in the street, she hates the Wilson family, me included.’

‘Then she hasn’t got the sense she was born with. She doesn’t know a good thing when she sees one.’ Mary Ann patted her arm. ‘Don’t you take no notice of them, sushine, you’ll come off best in the end, you mark my words. Now, I’d better see to Gertie before she has a heart attack. She’s nearly blue in the face now with shoutin’ at me.’

‘I’ll stay and give yer a hand for a while,’ Sadie said,
thinking
the less time she spent in the house the better. She hadn’t spoken a word to her father or Dot since Monday night; the very sight of them made her feel sick. If it wasn’t for her two young brothers and Ellen she wouldn’t have opened her mouth at all because her mother didn’t even give her the time of day, and the baby was usually in bed by the time she got home from work. ‘I’m goin’ dancing tonight so I don’t have to leave the house till seven.’

‘Yer certainly livin’ it up these days, what with yer fairgrounds and dancing,’ Mary Ann called over her shoulder. Then, as she advanced towards an irate Gertie she muttered under her breath, ‘The best dance you could do, would be to dance away from that bleedin’ family of yours.’

When it was time to leave, Sadie said, ‘I’m not buying anything else today. I’m starting to do what yer told me to do – put a few coppers away each week. With a bit of luck I can put me whole shilling pocket money away this week. I won’t be able to do that every time, but no matter how little I save, as you said, it’ll all mount up.’

‘Yer didn’t get any extra, then, out of yer rise?’

‘Me mam wouldn’t hear of it. But when our Dot starts work, if she still won’t give me any, I’ll open me wage-packet before I give it to her and take it out meself. I’m not goin’ out to work all week so me dad can sit in the pub every night.’

‘Good for you, girl. Put yer foot down with a firm bleedin’ hand. He’s livin’ the life of Riley while you’re scroungin’ through second-hand clothes – well, I’m buggered if
I’d
put up with it.’

‘I won’t put up with it much longer, Mary Ann, only till our Dot starts work, and that should be in two weeks’ time ’cos she leaves school next week.’

‘Well, you poppy off now while I serve the few stragglers. Enjoy yerself at the dance an’ I’ll see yer next week. Ta-ra, girl.’ Mary Ann watched until the blonde head had disappeared in the crowd. Then she cursed Sadie’s mother and father for not knowing how lucky they were to have a daughter like her.

Alec was waiting outside the dance hall and his first words were, ‘Have yer got yer new underskirt on?’

Sadie nodded, lifting her skirt just enough for him to catch a glimpse of lace. She hadn’t been able to iron it and it was still very creased, but no one was going to get the chance of seeing that high up. ‘I’m over the moon with it.’

Alec took her arm and led her into the hall. ‘I’ll twirl yer around so everyone will be able to have a dekko.’

‘You just dare! It takes me all me time to walk around, never mind doin’ anything fancy. So if yer try to make a fool of me I’ll walk off the floor and you’ll be the one to look a fool, dancin’ on yer own.’

‘I like a girl with spirit,’ Alec said, paying the entrance fee over and pocketing the tickets for tea and biscuits in the interval. ‘I like them to put up a bit of a struggle.’

‘I should warn yer then that I can put up more than a bit of a struggle, I’m very handy with me feet.’

Alec grinned. ‘It’s not yer feet I’m after.’

‘No, but it’s me feet yer’ll get if yer try any funny business.’ He’s another George Wilson, this one, Sadie thought. He’ll end up like me dad, a dirty old man. ‘I’ve got a mind of me own, yer know, Alec. If I don’t want anything to happen then it won’t happen.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be nice to yer.’ Alec groaned inwardly when he saw the girl he’d taken down the entry last week when Sadie had left early. She’d been very free with her favours, practically throwing herself at him. But it was a stupid thing to have done when he knew she’d probably be here tonight. If she came over and said anything in front of Sadie he’d definitely get his marching orders. She was waving frantically now but he pretended not to see her. And when he heard the strains of a waltz he sighed with relief. If he ignored her she’d soon get the message. ‘Shall we dance, Sadie?’

‘Yeah, I can’t wait. I’ve been practising in work with Brenda when we’ve had a slack five minutes and I think
I’ve
improved. Only a bit, mind you, but at least I won’t be treading on yer toes all night.’

Sadie wasn’t as tense as she’d been the week before and she found it much easier to dance to the tempo with her body relaxed. And when they reached the corner of the dance floor and Alec did a little spin, she was delighted when she didn’t trip over his feet. ‘Ooh, I’m getting good, aren’t I?’

‘Yeah, yer’ll make a good little dancer ’cos yer’ve got the rhythm.’ And she’s got the body to go with it, Alec thought, holding her tightly round the waist. If only she was as free with her favours as the girl last week, he’d be quids in. ‘We’ll have a go at the next quickstep, see how yer get on with that. It’s a bit harder but yer’ve got to learn sometime.’

‘Ooh, er.’ Sadie looked doubtful. ‘I think I should stick to the waltz for now.’

But when they announced an Excuse Me quickstep, he coaxed, ‘Come on, have a go. If yer can’t manage it we’ll sit down. But at least try.’

Sadie was apprehensive but she didn’t want to spoil his night for him so she agreed. For the first few minutes her heart was in her mouth, but then she suddenly found her feet were keeping up with Alec’s and she really began to enjoy herself. After all, she wasn’t the only beginner there, she could see a few who weren’t even getting on as well as she was.

Then a man tapped Alec on the shoulder and said, ‘Excuse me.’ Sadie saw the dark look on Alec’s face before he released his hold and then she found herself in the arms of a strange young man. She looked up into his eyes and told him, ‘I’m sorry, but I’m only a learner. I can’t dance properly.’

‘I know, I saw yer here last week. But I was a learner a few months ago – we’ve all got to start somewhere.’ He looked a bit older than Alec, probably about nineteen. Tall, well-built, thick auburn hair, dark eyebrows and lashes and deep brown eyes. ‘My name’s Geoff, what’s yours?’

Sadie hesitated, but only for a second. What harm would it do if that was all he knew about her? ‘I’m Sadie.’ She could see Alec standing on the edge of the dance floor and he didn’t look a bit happy. Do him good to sweat for a change, Sadie decided. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. ‘I didn’t see you here last week.’

‘I saw you, though.’ When Geoff smiled he showed strong white teeth. ‘Yer didn’t get up for the Excuse Me quickstep, otherwise I’d have introduced meself then.’

Alec appeared at the side of them and tapped Geoff on the shoulder. ‘Excuse me.’ Geoff shrugged his shoulders as he made a face at Sadie. ‘Sorry.’

‘What was he talkin’ about?’ Alec was none too pleased. ‘Yer’d better watch it with him, he’s a fast worker.’

Sadie raised her brows. ‘Oh? Listen who’s talking. He’d have to go some to be faster than you, Alec Gleeson.’

‘What was he saying to yer? Was he tryin’ to make a date?’

‘Holy sufferin’ ducks, Alec, I was only with him for two minutes! It seems to me that your mind works a damn sight faster than his tongue, and it’s all goin’ in the one direction. Everyone’s not a ladykiller like you; they don’t just have one thing on their mind all the time.’

‘That’s what you think! With your looks a feller can’t help wanting to hold yer in his arms and smother yer to death. Unless he’s not normal, that is.’

‘Is that all you’re after, Alec, to smother me to death?’

‘You know what I mean, yer not that innocent.’ The music came to an end and Alec led her from the floor with his arm around her waist, as though to say
she’s mine so lay off
.

It was after the interval during another Excuse Me quickstep, that Alec felt a tap on his shoulder and there stood Geoff. ‘D’yer mind if I cut in?’

‘Yes, I do mind.’ Alec clung onto Sadie’s hand like grim death. ‘Go and find another girl and leave mine alone.’

‘If you don’t want to be excused then yer should sit this dance out. As it is, I’m cutting in.’ Geoff stood his ground and his face was set. He took hold of the hand
Sadie
had on Alec’s shoulder and pulled her towards him. ‘You can have her for all the other dances, but not the Excuse Me.’ With that he moved away, taking Sadie with him and leaving Alec red in the face and fuming.

‘Oh dear.’ Sadie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But somewhere deep inside her she felt pleased with having two men fight over her. It showed she could always get somebody else if Alec began to make a nuisance of himself. ‘There’s a certain person not very happy with you – he’s giving yer daggers.’

‘I won’t let that worry me.’ Geoff smiled down into her face. ‘The only thing is, he’ll be takin’ yer off me in a minute so I’ll have to be quick. Is he yer boyfriend?’

‘No.’ Sadie shook her head. ‘Not really. I know him from work, but this is only the third time I’ve been out with him.’

‘Would yer come out with me one night? We could go to the pictures if yer like.’

‘But I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you.’

‘You would do if yer came out with me. Please say yes because I think yer friend is about to cut in.’

Sadie saw Alec begin to pick his way through the dancing couples. Geoff seemed a nice-enough bloke, she thought, so why not? It would be another night she didn’t have to walk the streets aimlessly rather than be in the house sitting in filth and listening to coarse, vulgar language. ‘Okay, how about Tuesday?’

‘Where?’

‘Outside the pub at Everton Valley – say, half-seven?’

There was no time to say more because Alec was claiming her back. ‘If he does that again I’ll thump him one,’ he glowered.

‘Oh, don’t be so childish, Alec. It’s only a dance, for heaven’s sake.’

‘He knows yer with me, so why doesn’t he find himself a girl instead of pinching mine?’

Her confidence boosted, Sadie said, ‘Perhaps he can’t find another one he fancies. I feel quite flattered, actually.’

Alec looked sullen. ‘I hope yer not leavin’ early again. It’s not goin’ to be worth me while bringin’ yer, if yer goin’ to dance half the night with another feller and then dash off early.’

‘I can’t be too late home, Alec, and I’ve got a long way to go.’ Sadie felt a pang of guilt. After all, she wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t paid for her. Because of him she was able to put all her pocket money away this week. ‘You could leave early and walk me halfway home – I’d like that.’

That sounded like a promise to Alec and he cheered up. ‘Yeah, okay, we’ll leave after the next waltz.’

But Alec wasn’t reckoning on Doris, the girl whose favours he’d enjoyed the week before. She’d waited all night for him to acknowledge her but no, he’d looked through her as though she wasn’t there. Doris was known in the area as a girl who let any boy have his way with her. Half the lads in the neighbourhood had been down the entry with Doris, and quite a few of the married men. But with her reputation she couldn’t get a steady boyfriend. She had a temper, too, and it was reaching boiling point when she decided she wasn’t going to be ignored by Alec. He might have got away with it if the blonde he was with didn’t look like a film star. But if Doris was good enough for him last week, he wasn’t going to get away with ignoring her this week.

‘Hello, Alec.’ Doris got a lot of satisfaction in seeing the surprise and fear on his face when he turned around and saw her standing behind him with an insolent grin on her face and a hand on her hip. ‘I’ve been waiting for the dance yer promised me last week, remember?’

Alec could have willingly strangled her. But if he insulted her now she’d let the cat out of the bag and he’d be done for. ‘Hello, Doris. I didn’t know yer were here. Where’ve yer been hiding yerself?’

‘Yer must be bloody blind, Alec, ’cos I’ve been wavin’ to yer all night.’ Doris asked herself if she should make him squirm a bit more and decided it was what he deserved. ‘I think you’ve got cats’ eyes – yer see better in dark places.’

Alec got the message and the fright of his life. ‘I’ll finish this dance off with yer, Doris.’ He turned to Sadie. ‘Yer don’t mind, do yer?’

‘Not at all, I’m quite happy to sit and watch.’ Sadie was having a problem keeping her face straight. The girl looked tough and as common as muck. If Alec had tangled with her then he’d chosen the wrong one to go down an entry with. You could tell by her face she had something on him and was now making him dance to her tune. Serves him right, Sadie thought as she watched them take to the dance floor. He’s probably had his fun with her and now he’s paying the price.

‘Can I have this dance?’

Sadie looked at Geoff’s outstretched hand. Why not? If someone better came along, Alec wouldn’t think twice about dropping her, so why should she consider him? She smiled and stood up. ‘Yer a sucker for punishment, Geoff, ’cos I’ll be standin’ all over yer toes.’

He grinned as he took her in his arms. ‘Looking at your face will ease the pain.’

Sadie was pleased with the compliment because he didn’t look the type to flatter a girl because he wanted something from her. She could see Alec glaring at her and she gave him a wave. ‘The boy I’m with has met an old friend and is having this dance with her.’

‘Oh, aye.’ Geoff kept his thoughts to himself. He’d noticed Alec come back in the dance hall last week, minus Sadie. And he’d seen him make a bee-line for Doris, the girl no decent man would touch with a barge-pole. And he’d been behind the pair of them when they turned into the entry at the top of the street. But he didn’t know Sadie well enough to warn her that the boy she was with had a reputation almost as bad as Doris. If he said anything she’d think he was telling tales for his own ends. ‘It’s still on for Tuesday, isn’t it? Half-seven at Everton Valley.’