Sadie Was A Lady (7 page)

‘I’ve never been so glad to see anybody in me life, girl, as I was to see you.’ There was no immediate customer needing to be served, so the stall-holder stood by Sadie to get her breath back. When she’d left the house this morning her bright red hair had been piled on top of her head and held in place with a tortoiseshell comb, but half
of
it had escaped and was now hanging down the sides of her face. ‘I bet I look a bleedin’ mess,’ she groaned, trying to repair the damage. ‘I’ve been on the go since ten this morning.’

‘Hey there, Mary Ann!’ A woman was holding up a black knitted cardi. ‘If I can ’ave this for thruppence, I’ll take it.’

‘Yer can have it with pleasure,’ Mary Ann said, holding out her hand for the money. ‘It was tuppence, but I’ll let you have it for thruppence.’

‘Thanks, Mary Ann, yer a real pal. I don’t know …’ The woman stopped, her brow furrowed in concentration. Then she wagged a finger, ‘Here, give us me thruppenny bit back, yer thievin’ swine.’

‘Uh, oh, Lizzie, we don’t give money back on this stall.’ As Mary Ann shook her head, all the curls she’d just combed up came tumbling down. ‘Yer asked if yer could have it for thruppence an’ I agreed. Now I can’t do fairer than that, can I?’

‘If yer don’t give me me penny change, I’ll come over this counter an’ take it out of yer face.’

‘Lizzie, don’t be gettin’ so excited,’ Mary Ann said. ‘Yer know what the doctor said about yer heart.’

‘Doctor! What ruddy doctor? I haven’t got no doctor!’

‘No, and yer’ve got no ruddy sense of humour, either.’ Mary Ann kept her face straight although the crowd were in stitches. It was better than going to the pictures. ‘Here’s yer bleedin’ penny – now take it an’ sod off.’

Shaking with laughter, Lizzie pushed her way through the mass of people. ‘See yer next week, Mary Ann!’

‘Okay, Lizzie! But don’t forget what I said about the doctor now! Don’t want yer fallin’ down dead, do we? Not in front of my stall, anyway. It wouldn’t be good for business.’

Sadie had been watching, holding her sides with laughter. And when the stall-holder returned to stand by her, she said, ‘Oh, you are funny, Mary Ann.’ Then she covered her mouth with her hand. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called yer by yer first name.’

‘It’s the name I was christened with, girl, so it wouldn’t do yer no good to call me any other ’cos I wouldn’t know yer were talkin’ to me. They’d be cartin’ yer away to the loony bin for talkin’ to yerself.’

‘Yer don’t mind me calling yer Mary Ann, then?’

‘Not at all, love. Yer can call me anythin’ yer like as long as it’s not too early in the morning.’ The stall-holder patted her arm. ‘While there’s a bit of a lull, I’ll show yer the things I’ve put away for yer.’ She bent down to the box where she kept small items that were easy to pilfer and brought out a paper bag. ‘There’s a blouse and skirt in there, and a dress that took me fancy. Pick out which yer like the best while I tend to me business.’ She strolled over to the counter, muttering under her breath, ‘Yer need eyes in yer backside with some of these.’

Sadie pulled a white blouse out first. It was very plain with short sleeves and a round collar, but the material was beautiful; it felt like silk in her fingers. She’d never handled anything so fine before and she tried to imagine what it would feel like against her skin. She sighed as she dipped her hand in again and brought out a skirt in a deep pink cotton. From the waistband it was fitted to the hips then gradually flared out until it fell into folds. Sadie could see herself spinning around and the skirt swirling out. Oh, it was lovely, and it would go so well with the blouse. She could feel the weight of the dress in the paper bag and wondered whether she should look at it or not. She only had one and six, and she really wanted to keep sixpence in case Alec and Bobby didn’t turn up. Or if she didn’t see Harry and had no dinner money for next week.

But curiosity got the better of her. It wouldn’t hurt to have a look at it; she didn’t have to buy. Seconds later she was sorry she’d given in to her curiosity because she fell in love with the deep burgundy dress. It had a low-cut round neck, three-quarter sleeves, a fitted bodice and a flared skirt. It was far too fancy for her; she couldn’t wear it for work and if she walked out of the filthy house she lived in, dressed in this, she’d be a laughing stock. But
one
of these days, when she had a place of her own, she’d have a dress like this.

‘Made up yer mind?’ Mary Ann saw sadness in the eyes that were as blue as the sky on a summer’s day. ‘What’s wrong, girl?’

‘I was just thinking that one day, when I’m older, I’ll have a dress as nice as this. And I’ll be living in me own house, miles away from me family, so there’ll be nobody to make fun of me. Nobody to drag me down in the gutter. I’ll be able to live and dress like a real lady.’

‘Yer a real little lady now, girl, an’ don’t you let anyone tell yer any different. Stick yer nose in the air, hold yer head up high and say to hell with everyone. And when yer’ve got a little wardrobe together, enough clothes and things to keep yer happy, then start salting a few coppers away every week towards that place of yer own. It’ll take yer a few years ’cos no one will rent a house to a youngster like you, but in those years yer can be saving up to furnish the house. A few coppers every week will soon grow into shillings and then the shillings will turn to pounds. Yer’ve got a good little head on yer shoulders, girl, and if yer set yer mind to it, yer’ll get what yer want.’

‘Mary Ann, if you were my mother I wouldn’t be thinking of a place of me own because I’d have everything I wanted at home. I don’t ask much out of life, just a bit of love, understanding and warmth. It’s not asking much, is it?’

‘No, it’s not, girl – and if I ever meet yer parents I’ll break their bleedin’ necks for them. But before yer’ve got me bawlin’ me eyes out, and before everything on me stall has been nicked, tell me if yer takin’ the skirt and blouse.’

‘Yes, they’re really nice. I’m sorry about the dress ’cos it is beautiful, but I’d never have the opportunity to wear it and I can’t afford it anyway. So how much d’yer want for the skirt and blouse?’

Mary Ann’s tummy started to shake and her nose twitched with laughter. ‘Have yer still got that bleedin’ shilling?’

Sadie laughed with her. ‘It’s not the same bleedin’
shilling,
but yer’d never know the difference.’

‘Give us it then. I won’t charge yer for washing and ironing them.’

‘Yer haven’t washed them, have yer?’

‘I have, ’cos I knew yer’d be wanting to wear them tonight. Now, will yer sod off and let me get back to earning a living?’

‘Can I keep the paper bag, please, to carry me things home in?’

The stall-holder rolled her eyes. ‘Go on, take it.’

Sadie folded the skirt and blouse and carefully laid them in the bag. From now on, that bag would have to be her wardrobe. ‘See yer next week, Mary Ann.’

‘I hope so, girl, otherwise me takings will be down.’

Brenda clung to Sadie’s arm as they neared the Gainsborough where Alec and Bobby were waiting for them. ‘I’ll never speak to yer again if yer leave me alone with him.’

‘Don’t talk daft. How can I leave yer alone with him in a picture house full of people! Be yer age, Brenda.’

Alec made straight for Sadie, who was looking very attractive in her new outfit. His eyes were full of admiration as he took her elbow. ‘We thought yer weren’t goin’ to show up.’

Sadie pulled her arm free. ‘Before we go in, me and Brenda don’t want to be split up. We want to sit next to each other.’

‘Suits me, it’s no skin off my nose.’ Alec had visions of sitting in the back row with his arms around Sadie and couldn’t care less what happened to Brenda. But his hopes were dashed when the usherette told him the back rows were full. The lights dimmed for the start of the first house and after she’d torn their tickets in half, she shone her torch to lead them down the aisle. ‘There’s four.’ She lit up the empty seats then hurried back up the aisle.

Alec took charge. ‘Bobby, you go in first. Then you, Brenda.’

Sadie saw Brenda’s face as she squeezed past the people
in
the occupied seats. ‘You get in now, Alec,’ she said in a low voice. ‘You can sit between me and Brenda.’

‘But I thought—’

‘Never mind what yer thought, just get in.’ In the light from the flickering screen, Sadie saw her friend’s angry look change to one of pleasure. I knew that would please her, she thought, having a handsome lad sitting next to her. But I’m not coming out in a foursome again ’cos there’s no pleasure in it. I should be enjoying myself, not worrying whether Brenda does or not.

After two short comedy films and the newsreel, the lights went up for the interval. ‘D’yer want an ice cream, Sadie?’ Alec asked.

‘No, it’s all right. Yer’ve paid enough out for us.’

‘Don’t be daft, have an ice cream.’

Sadie leaned forward. ‘Are you having an ice, Brenda?’

‘If you are.’

‘Okay, then, Alec, we’ll have one.’

Alec stood up, pushing his seat back. ‘Come on, Bobby, you can give us a hand.’ He had just about enough to pay for two ices; he certainly wasn’t well-off enough to pay for four.

Sadie watched the two lads walk down the aisle to where the usherette was standing with a tray of ice creams. The tray was attached either side to a wide leather strap which hung from the girl’s neck, leaving her hands free to serve.

‘D’yer want me to change places and sit next to yer, Brenda?’

‘No, it’s all right.’ Brenda tried to sound nonchalant, as though she didn’t care one way or the other, when in reality she was floating on cloud nine, sitting next to Alec. Their arms had touched on the wooden armrest between the seats and she’d been thrilled. He was the nicest-looking lad in the factory and all the girls were after him. She’d never been this close to him before but now they’d been out together she could stop and talk to him without needing a reason. She knew he had his eye on Sadie, but it had only been since she’d been getting all dolled up. In future, she’d ask her mam if she could buy her own clothes
and
she’d choose something more glamorous to compete with her friend.

‘Are yer sure?’ Sadie asked, although she knew what the answer would be. She’d heard Brenda talking to Alec when the comedy films were on, and although he’d only grunted in reply, it hadn’t stopped her friend from chatting away. Good luck to her, Sadie thought. She can have him as far as I’m concerned. ‘Just don’t come moaning to me on Monday that I broke me promise.’

The lads came back, each carrying two tubs of ice cream. Brenda took hers from Bobby with ill-grace. Never a smile or a thank you. Then she turned to Alec, a silly smirk on her face and her eyelashes fluttering. ‘I’m looking forward to the big picture, are you, Alec? Douglas Fairbanks is one of me favourites.’

Oh, dear God, Sadie thought, dipping the tiny wooden spoon into the ice cream. If I ever had to act like that to get a feller I’d take a running jump off the Pier Head. And she’s being dead mean to Bobby; she hasn’t given the lad a civil word after him paying for her to come in. I know he’s no oil painting, but the poor lad can’t help how he looks.

When the lights dimmed, Alec half-turned his back on Brenda and reached for Sadie’s hand. ‘Does yer friend ever stop talking?’

‘She’s not usually so talkative.’ Sadie wasn’t sure about the hand-holding. She could see couples in front of them holding hands, some of them even had their arms around each other. Better leave it, she thought, otherwise he’ll think I’m childish. I don’t want him to know it’s my first time out with a boy. ‘I think she’s got a crush on yer.’

‘Too bad,’ Alec said, his face close to hers. ‘My sights are set on a girl with blonde hair, blue eyes and a figure like a film star.’

He’s a charmer, probably used to girls falling for his flattery, Sadie thought. But she wasn’t displeased because compliments didn’t come her way very often. So she played him along. ‘Oh, and why aren’t you out with this film star tonight?’

‘I am, but she’s doing a Cinderella on me. She says she
has
to run when the clock strikes eight.’

Sadie didn’t realise it, but she was having her first lesson in how to flirt. ‘Ah, poor Prince Charming. Never mind, your Cinderella will come along again and you might have more luck.’

‘D’yer mean that, Sadie?’ Alec’s voice was eager. ‘Will yer come out with me one night, just the two of us?’

‘Yeah, okay, but make it on a Friday because I don’t want to leave Brenda in the lurch.’

‘Next Friday?’ Alec would have to borrow the money off his mam until he got paid on Saturday, but it wouldn’t be the first time. ‘It’ll have to be second house because I don’t get home from work until six.’

‘All right, next Friday. But will yer shut up now and let me watch the picture?’

Alec sat back, contented now he’d got what he wanted. The furthest he’d get tonight was holding her hand, but next Friday, when they were on their own, he’d get a damn sight more.

Harry was waiting when Sadie stepped off the tram and the sight of her filled him with pleasure. He’d always thought her pretty, even when she was dressed in clothes that a rag-and-bone man would be ashamed to sell, but the last week had seen her blossom into a real beauty.

‘Did yer enjoy the picture?’

‘It was all right, I suppose, but me mate’s beginning to get me down. I seem to spend me life just tryin’ to please her.’ They were walking, hands by their sides, to their usual destination. ‘We made a foursome up tonight, with two fellers from work, and Brenda was a real pain. She wanted the feller I had, and because he wasn’t having any she got a real cob on. I’ll never ever go out in a foursome again.’

The jealousy Harry was feeling made him speak abruptly. ‘Yer better off with yer girlfriend, ’cos yer too young to go out with a bloke on yer own. I’ve warned yer, don’t trust them as far as yer can throw them.’

‘I can look after meself, Harry, don’t you worry
about
that. No feller will ever get the better of me.’

To fuel Harry’s annoyance, another courting couple had taken over their special spot in the park. There they were, their arms holding each other tight as their lips were glued together. And while he blasted them in his temper, he also envied them.