The Girl From Number 22 (53 page)

He’d only taken a few puffs on his cigarette when he heard the kitchen door opening, then Bella’s high-heeled shoes tapping on the cobbled yard. He quickly threw his cigarette down the lavatory, expecting to be told she was ready for him. However, as he made to step into the yard, Bella put a hand on his chest and pushed him back. In a low voice, she said, ‘I’ve got a punter inside, a bloke I’ve never dealt with before. I don’t usually take a chance on bringing a stranger back to me house, but he’s nicely dressed and seems a decent enough bloke. And I can use the money. But as yer can’t always tell when a bloke is going to turn nasty, I want yer to keep an eye out for me. Will yer do that?’

Tom’s chest swelled with importance. ‘Yer want me to stand guard in the kitchen again?’ He didn’t mind, he’d done it a few times now and got a kick out of hearing the sounds reaching him from the living room. Sounds that whetted his appetite, making his heart pound and raising his desire. ‘Of course I’ll do it, anything to help yer.’

Bella jerked her head. ‘I’d better get back or he’ll be wondering what’s keeping me. Give me a minute, then come up to the kitchen. But don’t make a sound, d’yer hear?’

‘I never have so far, so yer’ve nothing to worry about. I’ll not let yer down.’

As Bella turned away, she whispered, ‘I’ll make it worth yer while. Yer’ll get special treatment tonight.’ With that she was
gone, only the tapping of her heels still audible. But what she’d said was going round in Tom’s head. After he’d let himself into the kitchen as quietly as he could, he leaned back against the sink and rubbed his hands together. Special treatment, eh? He hoped it meant something he’d been longing for, but had so far been denied.

Bella was good at what she did, and no punter ever left feeling let down. At the tender age of fifteen, she’d been lured into prostitution by a mate, who’d been on the game for a while. It was the money that drew Bella, for her family were very poor and many’s the time there was no food in the house. The only clothes on her back were rags, and the prospect of money was too great an attraction to turn down.

Tom knew all this because Bella had told him. And the reason for her telling him, was to put a stop to his pleading for full sexual intercourse. He’d tried to touch her breasts one night while she was attending to his needs, and she pushed his hand away. In no uncertain terms she had told him she had only had sexual intercourse with two men in her whole life. Hence the two children. No man had ever got near her since, and no man ever would. She treated her clients like children, slapping them when they tried to touch her. She had respect for the money they handed over, but none for them. But as Tom listened to the sounds reaching his ears from the living room, his desire became strong, and he hoped that this time she would allow him to be the dominant one. If she would only give him the chance, he knew he could satisfy her.

The mumble of voices had Tom moving away from the sink. The session was over, and the punter would be leaving when he’d paid his money. A sneering smile crossed Tom’s face as he muttered, ‘That poor bugger’s had his fun, now it’s my turn.’

The kitchen door opened. ‘Yer can come in now.’ Bella passed him to wash her hands. ‘He was a decent bloke. Nicely spoken and well dressed. And so satisfied, he’s coming again tomorrow night.’

This didn’t please Tom. ‘I’m coming again tomorrow, so what time’s he booked?’

Bella reached for the towel to dry her hands. ‘Same time as tonight. I did ask him to come earlier or later, but he’s on his way home from work and the other times wouldn’t be convenient. And I wasn’t going to turn down another sixpence, so I’m hoping yer’ll do the same as tonight.’

‘I’m on me way home from work, too, yer know. Why couldn’t he come half an hour later?’

Bella could read Tom inside out. There was very little she didn’t know about men, and she was adept at worming them round. ‘Ah, I didn’t think yer’d mind, not when yer get better treated than any of me other clients. It’s a case of I rub your back, you rub my back.’

Tom grew two inches in stature. ‘Do I get extra special treatment now?’

‘Yer get extra time, lad, that’s all. I know what ye’re hankering after, but yer may as well get it through yer thick head that it will never happen. If ye’re not satisfied with what yer get from me, then I suggest yer try one of the other women.’ Bella put her face closer, and her voice was husky and coaxing, for this was one punter she didn’t want to lose. He was too useful to her. ‘I don’t want yer to go to another woman, I’d rather yer stayed with me. But I can’t make yer stay if ye’re not satisfied.’

And Tom fell for it. ‘I don’t want no other woman, they’re dirty and as ugly as sin. No, I’ll do as yer say. And if yer get more
offers, then I don’t mind standing in the kitchen to see yer come to no harm. After all, yer treat me very well.’

When they were in the living room, Bella pushed him down on to the couch. It was always covered in a clean cloth, for she kept her house, and herself, clean. She watched him fumble with the buttons on his fly, and wondered about him. How could he come here every night and stay the extra half-hour? Didn’t his family worry about what time he got home? ‘Doesn’t yer wife have anything to say about yer getting home at different times every night? She must have a dinner made for yer.’

‘Me and the wife don’t see eye to eye. There’s no love lost between us, never has been. She’s a cold fish in bed, thinks sex is dirty. She doesn’t care what time I get in, and for meself I wouldn’t care if I never saw her again. She does make me a dinner every night, but half the time it goes in the bin.’

‘Have yer any children?’

‘Yeah, a boy and a girl, both working. I’ve no time for them, either, they’re all for their mother. We don’t get on at all.’

Bella knew exactly what she was doing when her hands began to work on his body. ‘So, I’m not keeping yer away from yer family by asking yer to stay here sometimes?’

His whole body tingling, Tom would have sold her his soul. ‘I’ll be here whenever yer want me. Every night, if yer like.’

Under the influence of Bella’s expert hands, Tom Phillips’s mind was incapable of any thought beyond his desire for sexual fulfilment. Bella’s head, however, was very clear. She was used to the sounds made by men in various stages of satisfaction; they meant nothing to her except bread on the table and clothing on the backs of her children. But Tom Phillips was someone who gave her food for thought. He was a sucker if there ever was one.
And she was sure that if she treated him right, fuelled his ego, he would come in very useful to her.

Danny was thoughtful as he ate his dinner. Because he was usually so talkative and full of humour, his preoccupation brought a frown to Ada’s forehead. ‘Ye’re very quiet tonight, sunshine. Are yer all right? No trouble at work, I hope?’

‘No, I’m okay, Mam, no trouble at work. I was just thinking about what a bloke at the dance said last night. Yer’ve heard me talking of Tony? Well, he said he’d seen Jenny and a couple of her mates at the Grafton on Saturay night. Nothing wrong with that, like, and he wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. But I’ve been thinking about it today, and it doesn’t seem right. He’d only met her the once in Blair Hall, and yet he said he was with her all night in the Grafton, and she’s promised to come to Blair Hall one night this week. And if she does he’s going to ask her for a date.’

Ada pretended to scratch her nose to hide the smile which threatened. Oh dear, she thought, this sounds like jealousy raising its ugly head. ‘Well, if he’s a nice lad, there’s nothing wrong with that, sunshine, is there?’

‘But she hardly knows him, Mam! I mean, I get on all right with him, but then I’m a bloke. How he treats girls, I really can’t say.’

‘Yer can hardly tell Jenny who to go out with, and who not to go out with. She’d be within her rights to tell yer to take a running jump. On the other hand, she may tell this Tony to take a running jump. It’s up to her, isn’t it?’

‘If you say this Tony is all right, son,’ Jimmy said, ‘then why worry? I’m sure Jenny will be able to look after herself. She seems a sensible enough girl to me.’

Danny was shaking his head. ‘I still think she hasn’t known him long enough to go out on a date with him. I mean, she hasn’t got a decent father to keep an eye on her, so she should be warned about going out with strange boys.’

Ada’s brows shot up. ‘There’s nothing strange about the lad, is there? I mean, he’s not common, or tough, is he?’

Danny was fast losing his patience, which was most unlike him. ‘I didn’t mean he was strange, I meant he’s a stranger.’

It was young Paul who came to his brother’s aid. ‘Ay, Danny, why don’t yer tell Jenny not to go out with this lad until she knows him better?’

Danny feigned surprise. ‘D’yer know, that’s a good idea, Paul. On me way out, I might just give her a knock and tell her.’

Ada winked across at her husband. There’d never been any doubt in her mind that Danny would be knocking on the Phillips’s door that night. Nor had there ever been any doubt in her mind that her son had more than a neighbourly interest in the girl from number twenty-two. So she patted herself on the back for being right on two counts.

When the knock came on the door, Annie got to her feet. ‘You stay where yer are, sweetheart, I’ll go. It won’t be yer dad, or he’d use his key.’

‘It might be our Ben,’ Jenny said. ‘Perhaps his mate was out when he got there.’

‘Only one way to find out, and that’s to open the door.’ Annie was patting her hair into place when she opened the door to Danny. ‘Hello, lad, come on in.’

‘No, I won’t disturb yer, Mrs Phillips, I just wondered if I could have a word with Jenny?’

Annie held the door wide. ‘Of course yer can. But surely yer could do it better if yer came in for a few minutes?’

Jenny came up behind her mother. ‘Did I hear my name mentioned?’

‘It’s Danny, sweetheart, he wants a word with yer. He won’t come in, I’ve asked him.’

‘He’s probably dashing off to Blair Hall,’ Jenny said, her head popping over her mother’s shoulder. ‘You go in out of the cold, Mam, it’s no good two of us freezing.’

Danny smiled when Jenny moved to the edge of the top step. ‘I believe yer went to the Grafton with yer mates on Saturday, Tony told me.’

Even though it was pitch dark except for the faint glimmer of light from the street lamp, Jenny could see Danny’s white teeth gleaming, and his dimples deepen. He really was a very handsome boy, there was no getting away from it. He knocked all the other lads into a cocked hat. But he wasn’t the one for her. He knew too much about her, and the life she led. ‘Yeah, me and a couple of me friends from work went to the Grafton. And yeah, Tony was there. Is that all yer’ve come to talk to me about?’

Danny was mentally questioning his motive, now he was face to face with Jenny. Well, not really questioning his motive, but the way he’d gone about it. He hadn’t changed his mind or his opinion, but standing on a front step wasn’t exactly the place to say what he wanted to. ‘I’d have taken yer to the Grafton if yer’d let me know. Save yer coming home on yer own in the dark. Unless yer mates live near by, and yer came home together?’

Jenny leaned against the door jamb and folded her arms. It was far too cold to stand talking, but just looking at Danny was enough to keep her there. ‘No, me mates live in the opposite
direction. But I’m capable of getting home safely on me own. I’m not exactly helpless, yer know.’

‘I never thought for one minute that yer were helpless, Jenny. But yer have to be careful ’cos yer never know. And yer have to be careful who yer make a date with, as well. Don’t go out with anyone unless yer know them well enough to trust them.’

‘I’m not soft, Danny. I’m a big girl now.’

‘Well, how about coming to the dance with me one night? I know yer can’t come tonight ’cos it’s too late for yer to get ready. But how about tomorrow?’ He had his fingers crossed for luck. ‘And yer can pay yer own fare if it makes yer feel better.’

‘Are yer asking me because yer think I can’t look after meself?’

‘No! Of course not! I’m asking yer as a friend, a mate.’

‘So once we get to Blair Hall we can both go our separate ways? You dance with yer usual partners and I dance with whoever asks me?’ Jenny was thinking it was one way of keeping her promise to Tony. She could dance with him, then have a good excuse for turning him down if he asked to bring her home. ‘Okay, I’ll go with yer tomorrow night. But only on the understanding that yer don’t have to be lumbered with me. You dance with who yer like, and I do the same. Agreed?’

Danny was so intent on looking into her pretty face, he didn’t hear his heart singing. ‘Yeah, agreed. And you tell yer mam she’s not to worry about yer, ’cos I’ll make sure yer get home safe and sound.’

‘Will yer go now, Danny, because the dance will be over before yer get there. Those three girlfriends of yours will think ye’re not coming.’

‘They’re not girlfriends, Jenny, they’re only dancing partners.’

‘I’ll take your word for it, Danny, and now I’ll say ta-ra. Enjoy yerself.’ Jenny was smiling as she closed the front door.
You couldn’t fall out with Danny Fenwick, he wouldn’t let you.

Annie was too happy to try to pretend she hadn’t heard nearly every word of the conversation. ‘I’m glad ye’re going to the dance with Danny tomorrow. He’s a nice lad.’

Jenny took a seat by the table. ‘Mam, don’t be getting any ideas about me and Danny. He knows what me dad’s like, and if he’s got any sense he won’t touch this family with a bargepole. He is a nice lad, but he’s not only nice to me, he’s nice to everyone. So don’t let yer imagination run away with yer.’

‘But yer do like him, sweetheart, don’t yer?’

‘Mam, it would be very hard not to. But that’s as far as it goes, so let’s change the subject, eh?’

Ada pulled the door shut after herself and was just about to link arms with Hetty when she spied two familiar figures walking up the street on the opposite pavement. ‘Oh, look, there’s Jean’s mam and dad! It’s ages since we saw them, let’s cross over.’

Joe and Enid Button came to a standstill when they saw the pair crossing the cobbles. Joe was a fine-looking man of sixty, with hair still more mousy than grey. And like his daughter, Jean, he had dimpled cheeks and a face that was happy when it was smiling. His wife, Enid, was small and slim, with dark hair and eyes that were ever changing from brown to hazel.