Sadie Was A Lady (32 page)

‘I’ve never done it in me life before, Mrs O’Hanlon. Me and me mates were just discussin’ where we should go tonight, and along comes this dream of a girl. I don’t know what came over me; it all happened so quick – on impulse, like. I felt I wanted to get to know her and if I didn’t do anythin’ about it I’d never see her again. I didn’t know she was livin’ next door to me, or I wouldn’t have dared.’

‘No harm done, Peter, it’ll all come out in the wash. Good night to yer, son.’

Sadie was standing by the sideboard waiting for her. ‘That’s a good start to me first day, isn’t it, Grandma, fallin’ out with yer neighbour’s son. But I’m not taking the blame for it; he frightened the life out of me.’

‘He took a fancy to yer, sweetheart, that’s all.’ Sarah went into the kitchen where Sadie’s dinner was being kept warm on top of a pan of hot water. She brought it through and set it on the table. ‘Here yer are, my girl, get that down yer. I bet yer’ve had nothing to eat all day and that won’t do yer no good.’

Sadie sat down, and as her nostrils were invaded by the aroma wafting up from the plate of stew, she sighed with pleasure. ‘Ooh, that doesn’t half smell good, Grandma.’ She could vaguely remember when she was a toddler her mother making dinners like this. But when the babies
started
to arrive at regular intervals, Lily lost interest, serving up whatever was quickest, easiest and cheapest.

Sadie picked up her knife and fork and licked her lips. ‘Oh boy, am I going to enjoy this!’ She tucked in with relish, watched by Joe and Sarah. The old couple were amazed and delighted at her appetite – little realising it was the first real meal she’d had in years. They didn’t speak until Sadie’s plate was empty and she was rubbing her tummy. ‘I’m full to the brim … me eyes are bigger than me belly.’

‘Lass, it was a treat just to watch yer,’ Joe said. ‘Took me back to when I was your age and could empty me plate in five minutes flat. I remember me ma used to leave me until last because I was such a glutton, but I still managed to clean me plate before the rest of the family.’

‘The appetite of youth and energy, love,’ Sarah smiled at him with love in her tired eyes. ‘At sixteen yer hungry for everything in life, and hunger is good sauce.’

Sadie sat back in her chair feeling overwhelmed by the goodness in her life now. ‘I was hungry, Grandma, but I’d have eaten that even if I wasn’t ’cos it was delicious.’

‘I hope yer’ve left a little spot in yer tummy for rice pudding?’

‘What! You mean there’s more to come? Oh Grandma, don’t be spendin’ extra money just because I’m here.’

Sarah scraped her chair back and stood up. ‘Your extra five bob has made a hell of a difference to us, sweetheart. It means me and Joe can enjoy a few luxuries. And don’t worry, I’m a good manager. I won’t spend what we haven’t got.’

When Sarah put the dish of rice pudding in front of Sadie, all milky and browned on the top by a sprinkling of nutmeg, the girl didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had never tasted rice pudding in her life and it was all too much for her. This day would stay in her memory for ever, with the other eventful days in her life. Like the day Harry gave her the first sixpence, collected his first kiss, and the day he took her on the ferry to New Brighton. Then there was the day she first met Mary Ann, and
through
her, Sarah and Joe. All these events would never be forgotten, no matter how long she lived.

Sarah waited until Sadie was halfway through the pudding before saying, ‘With regards to Peter, from next door, I’d hate yer to have the wrong impression of him. Me and Joe have known him since the day he was born, haven’t we, love? In fact, we used to mind him when his mam wanted to go anywhere. He’s a good lad, honest as the day’s long and he’d always do yer a good turn, never a bad one.’

The spoon stayed halfway to Sadie’s mouth as she gave the matter some thought. Then, wanting to please Sarah, she smiled. ‘We just got off on the wrong foot, Grandma, that’s the top and bottom of it. I’ll say hello to him next time I see him but, I’ve got to be honest with yer, if he tries to get fresh I’ll thump him one.’

Joe was having trouble keeping his false teeth in place. They were a bloody nuisance and as soon as Sadie went out they’d be back in the cup of water. He’d had them twenty years and God only knows how he had persevered, but he just couldn’t take to them. Like now, he couldn’t enjoy a good belly-laugh. He opened his mouth and it came out like the cackle of a hen. ‘That’s right, queen, don’t you stand no messin’. Tell them where to get off and make no bones about it.’

‘I’ll do that.’ Sadie leaned across the table and winked at him. ‘And I’ll tell them me grandad said I had to do it.’

Sarah had her eye on the clock. ‘I don’t want to rush yer, sweetheart, but if yer don’t make a move yer’ll be late. I know they say it’s a woman’s prerogative to keep a man waiting, but I’ve never held with that view meself.’

‘Well, that’s news to me!’ Joe’s raised white eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. ‘If I had a penny for every time I’ve stood outside the Rotunda for half an hour waiting for you, I’d be a rich man.’

Sadie touched his hand. ‘I think yer a very rich man, Grandad. Yer’ve got Grandma an’ that’s worth more than all the money in the world.’

He moved his hand to cover hers. ‘And now we’ve got
you,
me and my lovely Sarah are both lucky and rich.’

‘Will you two cut it out?’ Sarah reached for Sadie’s plate. ‘You go and make yerself pretty for yer young man, sweetheart. Five minutes late is acceptable, half an hour is not.’

‘Geoff’s not my young man, Grandma, he’s just a friend that happens to be of the opposite sex. We’re not going steady or anythin’ like that, I’m too young to be thinkin’ of settling down.’ Sadie tried to stop Sarah from taking her plate. ‘I’ll wash up first, Grandma. It won’t take me long – I’m a quick washer-upper.’

‘Another night, perhaps, when yer’ve got more time, but not tonight. Me an’ Joe will have it done in no time, then we’ll sit and listen to the wireless.’

‘How will I get in, Grandma? We’re going to the pictures and second house doesn’t let out until half-ten. It’ll be eleven before I get home.’

‘Me an’ Joe would stay up for yer, but we’d need matchsticks to keep our eyes open until that time of night. So we’ll let yer have a spare key.’

‘I’ll be as quiet as a mouse when I come in.’ Sadie gave an impish grin. ‘I’ll even stop breathin’ until I’m in bed.’

Ten minutes later, standing in front of the mirror in her very own little room, Sadie pinched her arm to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. All those years she’d longed and prayed for a better life, and now it was here. She raised her eyes to the ceiling and whispered, ‘Thank You, God, for giving me all these things. I haven’t forgotten me brothers and sisters, I’ll do what I can for them, but in the meantime would You keep an eye on them, please, and see they come to no harm?’

Sadie pulled the front door closed behind her and started up the street. She was outside next door when who should appear on the front step but Peter. Oh dear, she thought, trust him! Another minute and I’d have been well away. Then she remembered her promise to Sarah and nodded curtly. ‘Good evening, Peter.’ Without giving the lad time to reply, she walked on quickly, her high heels
tapping
the paving stones. She’d got that over with, now he couldn’t tell her grandma she’d ignored him.

But Sadie hadn’t reckoned on the resilience of Peter. In a few strides of his long legs he was beside her. ‘Good evening, Sadie.’

Sadie’s jaw dropped and her step faltered. What was she going to do about him? Surely he wasn’t going to pester her every time she left the house? If she thought he was getting fresh with her she’d thump him one, like she’d said. But all he was doing was walking beside her and if she told him to get lost he was cheeky enough to remind her that the pavement was public property.

‘Got a heavy date, have yer, Sadie?’

She would have liked to look down her nose at him, but seeing as he was over six foot that was physically impossible. So she settled for what she thought was a look of scorn. ‘I did tell you I had a boyfriend and was seeing him tonight. But perhaps yer a bit deaf, so as I’ve always been told not to mock the afflicted, I’ll tell yer again, this time louder.’

Peter’s hearty laugh rang out as he put a hand on her arm. ‘There’s no need to, I heard yer the first time.’

Sadie looked down at his hand. Now that was what she called getting fresh. ‘If yer don’t take yer hand away, I’ll thump yer one.’ Peter’s laughter riled her even more. ‘I mean it, yer big soft dope! Get yer hand off me or yer’ll be seeing stars.’

Peter looked down on the small slender figure, one he could pick up with one hand, and his whole body shook with laughter. ‘Mrs O’Hanlon said yer had spirit, and she never spoke a truer word. This street will never be the same again, Sadie what-ever-yer-name-is.’

‘My name is for me to know and you to find out.’ Sadie knew she wasn’t going to win with this boy and the knowledge didn’t please her. So she decided it was better to retire undefeated than lose altogether. ‘My boyfriend will be getting worried, so if you don’t mind I’d like me arm back. And I’m sure there’s some daft girl waiting for you. I don’t like pulling people to pieces, especially if I’ve
never
met them, but any girl that would go out with you must have a screw loose.’

‘I can tell by yer eyes that yer dying to know, so I’ll tell yer. Me and me two mates are meeting three girls at the Rialto. All the girls have a head, two arms and legs, and all the other oddments attached to the human body. And although I know yer won’t believe me, I’ll tell yer anyway – they’ve all got a fairly good brain box.’

Sadie jerked her arm free. ‘All very interesting, I’m sure. But if yer’ll excuse me, I’ll be on me way before me boyfriend gets fed up waiting.’

‘Oh, he’ll wait for yer, Sadie. I know
I
would.’

‘That is one occasion that will never arise, Peter I’ve-forgotten-what-yer-name-is, so if I were you I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.’

‘Yer’ll have to come dancing with me one night, Sadie. I’d really enjoy havin’ the last waltz with you.’

Sadie hurried away without answering, but she knew a moment’s sadness when he mentioned dancing. She hadn’t been to a dance since the episode with Alec and she was sorry because she’d enjoyed it. She was beginning to get the hang of the different dances, had more confidence on the dance floor, and even had ambitions to become as skilled as some of the couples she’d seen spinning and twirling so effortlessly. How she had admired them. But whenever Geoff suggested going to the Grafton or the Rialto, she always found an excuse not to because she was afraid of bumping into Harry and embarrassing him. It was even more out of the question now. Tomorrow night he’d be waiting at the park for her as usual, and it grieved her that she’d deceived him so. And at the back of her mind she admitted that the instant dislike she’d taken to Peter was because he reminded her of Harry, and that was the last thing she wanted.

‘I was beginning to think something terrible had happened to yer,’ Geoff said, relief written on his face as he rushed towards her. ‘Yer’ve never been this late.’

‘I’m sorry, Geoff. I’ve moved in with me grandparents
today
and it’s been all go. We’ll still make the pictures in time, won’t we?’

‘Second house has probably started, but we’ll be in time for the big picture.’ Geoff cupped her elbow, thinking he didn’t care where he went as long as she was by his side. ‘When am I going to meet your grandparents?’

‘Oh, give us a chance, Geoff! Let them get used to having me in the house first, before I start bringing visitors. They’re old, yer know, over eighty.’

‘They do know about me, don’t they?’

‘Of course they know about yer! Who d’yer think I told them I was going out with? Icky the fire-bobby?’

‘Yer don’t seem to be in the best of moods tonight, Sadie. I hope it’s got nothing to do with me.’

‘I’m just tired, that’s all, Geoff. So much has happened today it seems like an eternity. But I can have a lie-in tomorrow and a nice quiet, lazy day.’

‘There’s no one buying tickets, it must be later than I thought.’ Geoff pressed on Sadie’s arm to urge her forward. ‘I hope the kiosk isn’t closed, or we’ve had it.’

They were lucky, the attendant was just about to close the window. ‘Yer’d better hurry, the big picture’s starting.’

They were shown to their seats as the credits were rolling, and Sadie was glad to take the weight off her feet. The film opened with a scene showing Victor McLaglen lumbering across a room with his familiar gait, and later that was all Sadie could remember about the picture because at that point she lost her concentration. She was dead tired, emotionally and physically, and the events of the long day had left her drained. It was a big step to leave home; even if it was what you wanted, it was still a big step. And saying goodbye to Brenda, knowing she’d never see her again, that had affected her. After that it had been one big rush … flying to her new home to hand over her five-shilling keep in case the old lady didn’t have enough money to buy the extra food in, refusing to stay even for a cup of tea, then legging it to the market. It had been hard going, and if the truth were known she would have preferred to stay in tonight and spend a quiet night in her
new
home, getting to know her new family. But she couldn’t let Geoff down, so here she was, tired out and with a splitting headache and sore feet.

Geoff glanced at Sadie’s face as he reached for her hand. Her eyes were closing and she was having difficulty holding her head upright. Poor love, he thought, she looks dead beat. ‘Here, put yer head on my shoulder and have forty winks.’

Sadie’s eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to keep them open. ‘I might snore.’

‘I’ll wake you if yer do. Go on, have half an hour.’ Geoff watched her eyes close and within seconds she was sound asleep. He could feel her breath on his neck as he slipped his arm around her waist and held her close. He was crazy about her and wished she would show some sign that she felt the same way about him. But he couldn’t get close to her; she kept him at arm’s length. He’d been going out with her for months, but never once had she suggested taking him home to meet her family. He didn’t even know where she lived; she was very secretive about her home life. Still, she’d half-promised to invite him to her grandparents’ house – that would show she had some feelings for him. He wouldn’t bring the subject up again tonight, she was too tired, but he would press her the next time they met. He had to know where he stood with her.