The Leaving of Liverpool (7 page)

The twilight was deepening as Phoebe-Ann entered the drawing room carrying the small gallery tray. ‘I’ve brought your coffee, Master James. Your Pa and Miss Olivia have gone. I thought there would be ructions she was so late and your Pa was getting madder and madder! Shall I switch on the lights and draw the curtains? It’s getting dark,’ she prattled on as she moved towards the light switch.

‘No! I like to sit in the dark!’

She stopped and stared at him. It was such a shame to see him like this and he was so handsome. ‘But why?’

He didn’t answer but she moved closer, sensing his desolation and feeling drawn to him, though she didn’t know why.

‘I have to see things clearly in the light. I hate it! I hate the sunlight and I hate the harshness of electricity. Can you understand that, Phoebe-Ann?’

She tried. ‘Is it like waking up with the sun shining right into your eyes . . . a bit of a shock after the darkness?’

‘A bit like that. In the darkness, images are blurred, sounds muffled. I don’t see their faces, hear their cries . . .’

He looked so tormented that she was stricken with pity for him and she knelt down beside his chair. He was looking past her without really seeing her. ‘Who, sir? Who don’t you want to see?’

‘All those men . . . boys . . . all my friends. My father and Doctor Coleman say I must forget. Banish them from my memory. I must not talk about them, but I can’t! I can’t! Don’t the fools understand? I can never forget their screams, their pleading to die as they hung trapped by the wire . . . the bloody wire!’ His voice was shaking and his hands trembled and the tears poured down his cheeks, unheeded.

Phoebe-Ann was mesmerized by his words. His tears caused a mist to blur her own vision. She forgot who he was and her own position. She reached out and touched his cheek and then he was in her arms, clinging to her.

‘Tell me about it? You can tell me. I’ll listen and it will help. I know it will. I’ll listen.’

She didn’t comprehend half of what he said. His words were jumbled. Names and places, some she’d heard of, others she hadn’t. She only knew that he needed comforting the way she had. The way Emily had comforted her, held her and soothed her the night she heard that Rob had been killed.

At length he became quiet and drew away from her. He was more in control of himself she thought as she got to her feet, although he still held her hand.

‘I’m sorry, Phoebe-Ann.’ His voice was low.

‘What for? There’s no need to be sorry. I understand.’

He looked up at her. ‘Do you? How can you?’

‘I lost two brothers. One . . . one was my twin. He was part of me was our Rob.’ She pressed her free hand to her breast, wishing she could find the right words to explain the bond that had been between them.

‘Then you do understand. You’re a sweet, kind girl, Phoebe-Ann.’

‘Thank you.’ Gently she withdrew her hand, feeling a little awkward now that reality seemed to have overtaken him. She bit her lip as she remembered Emily. She’d be mad at being left to clear up alone. She turned to go.

‘Will you come and talk to me again? Sit with me and tell me about . . . Rob?’

‘If you want me to. I . . . I’ve never really spoken about him to anyone except our Emily.’

‘Then it will help us both. Will you promise, Phoebe-Ann? ’

‘I promise, sir.’ She smiled and was rewarded with a ghost of his former smile and she knew a bond had been forged between them.

A
LTHOUGH THE WAR HAD been over for nearly a year, it wasn’t until the end of July that the street parties, or victory parties as they were called, were held, and Lonsdale Street prepared along with all the others.

For weeks, women had been gathering together the makings for sandwiches and cakes and sewing scraps of material for bunting. The men had all clubbed together to buy the beer. The old, one-legged organ grinder had been persuaded to ‘come and cheer us all up’, while Albert, who was the only one in the street who owned a piano and a house big enough to hold it, was cajoled by Lily into allowing it to be manhandled into the street and into playing it. His protestations that ‘I can only play hymns, luv!’ were laughingly ignored and, while Lily busied herself with sandwiches, he began to try to play the more popular songs by ear.

‘I’m off to the
Grecian
for a bit of peace and quiet. It’s like Fred Karno’s circus in here!’ Jack grumbled, wincing at Albert’s attempt at “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”.

‘You’ll be out of luck – they’re closed!’ Lily announced with a note of triumph in her voice.

‘They can’t be! They never close!’

‘Well, they are today! This dinner time anyway. Open again later on, Dolly told me. “I can’t be expected to get a party tea ready with half of Toxteth traipsing in and wanting serving!” were her exact words.’

‘Some victory party if a bloke can’t get a drink in peace!’

‘You’re lucky, lad. I’ve got to keep them all entertained on the piano and I don’t think “Abide With Me” will go down too well. Not when they want “Pack Up Your Troubles”.’

‘I’ve got a good idea! Later on . . .’ Jimmy got no further.

‘Don’t you dare think you’re going to go sloping off, either of you nor our Jack either! You’re going to enjoy yourselves here, in Lonsdale Street! Now get out of my way while I get a bit of muslin over this lot before the flies get at them!’

‘Yes, Mam,’ Jimmy answered glumly while Albert grinned and winked.

Hearing the door, Lily turned and shouted, ‘Is that you, Emily?’

‘No. It’s me, Mam.’ Phoebe-Ann looked pretty in her dark pink skirt and fresh white blouse and with her hair tied up with a pink ribbon.

‘Where is she? She promised to give me a hand?’

‘She’ll be here soon. Can I have one of these? It’s ages since I had my breakfast.’

Lily playfully slapped the outstretched hand. ‘Hold your horses miss! You can have one, no more, or these two will start complaining.’

The plate was consigned to the dresser and Lily attacked another large loaf with the carving knife. ‘Go and help Mrs Harper with the flags if you want to make yourself useful.’

Phoebe-Ann pulled a face. ‘Do I have to?’

‘No, you don’t
have
to! You can sit here being Lady Muck if you like, but don’t expect anything to eat!’ came the tart reply.

Phoebe-Ann raised her eyes, shrugged and went out into the street.

‘Imagines herself to be like Miss Olivia Mercer she does. Oh, there’s no harm in her, she just needs taking down a peg or two at times,’ Lily said.

‘Here’s our Emily and she’s got someone with her,’ Jimmy remarked, peering out of the window.

Lily hastily wiped her hands on her apron. ‘Who? Dear God, she hasn’t gone and brought Miss Olivia with her has she?’

‘Give over, Mam! The likes of that one wouldn’t be seen dead in this street,’ Jimmy scoffed.

‘I hope you don’t mind, but I brought Edwin along,’ Emily announced as she entered, followed by a grinning Edwin.

Lily looked relieved. ‘It’s a while since I’ve seen you, lad. How’s your aunty? I used to see her down Great Homer Street every Saturday but it’s been months since I set eyes on her.’

‘She doesn’t get out as much now. Her rheumatics . . .’ He’d lived with his Aunt Sarah for as long as he could remember. She was his mother’s only sister and she’d never married. Something she didn’t regret at all, she now said. His mam and dad had both died in an epidemic of fever when he’d been four.

‘Poor soul. My old mam was a martyr to it.’ Albert got up and offered his hand to the tall, dark-haired lad. ‘You’re welcome.’

‘Emily Parkinson where’s your manners? You should have introduced Edwin and Albert properly!’

‘Sorry. Edwin, this is Albert, my stepfather. Albert, this is . . .’

‘Oh, stop that! You’re making a mockery of it all!’ Lily cried and they all laughed.

‘Will you have a glass of something?’ Albert asked, not forgetting his position as host.

‘Bit early in the day for me, yet, but thanks just the same.’

Emily had gone into the back kitchen followed by Lily and the two men stared at each other.

‘Left it a bit late for victory parties to my mind. Should have had them months ago. Were you in the army or the navy?’ Albert asked.

‘Army. King’s Own Liverpool Regiment, same as Jimmy here.’

Albert nodded. It was a regiment that had suffered as much as, if not more than, most.

‘Never did understand what it was all about. Thought I did at first. King and country . . . all that.’ Edwin faltered. He hated talking about it.

‘We all did,’ Jimmy muttered.

‘You’re not alone in that. I couldn’t grasp all the ins and outs. Seemed such a bloody waste and all for a few miles of mud. Don’t really understand all this treaty business either,’ Albert continued.

‘Maybe it’s best we don’t.’

‘Aye. Let’s just hope they’ve all learned their lessons this time. I was too old to go myself but I heard the stories and I’ve heard you and your brother yelling in your sleep.’ Albert nodded towards Jimmy who looked down at his boots. No-one wanted to talk about their experiences.

‘No need to think I think any the less of you, Jim, and I know how much your mam still grieves for Harry and young Rob.’

‘There’ll be thousands of women who have little to celebrate today.’

They all turned to see Lily standing in the doorway.

Albert looked abashed. ‘I’m sorry, luv.’

‘You all look as though you’ve lost half a crown and found sixpence. It’s supposed to be a party,’ Emily reminded them, coming in behind her mother.

‘You’re right. Let’s go and see how Phoebe-Ann’s doing.’

‘And I’m off to see if the
Grecian
really is closed.’

Lily began to protest but Albert silenced her with a quick shake of his head. When they’d gone he put his arm around her. ‘Let them go, Lil. Let them look forward, not back. Let them enjoy themselves. God knows those lads went through enough!’

‘We all did,’ she sighed.

By the time the sun had become a huge ball of fire and had dipped below the spire of St Nathaniel’s church and the streetlights were lit, everyone was in a high good humour. Every scrap of food had been eaten and most of the beer had gone too. Children, their faces sticky, their clothes dusty, dodged between the tables that had been placed end to end in the middle of the street. The younger ones sat on doorsteps, thumbs in their mouths, eyelids drooping, leaning contentedly against their older brothers and sisters.

They’d started the day off with “The National Anthem”, then “Rule Britannia”, followed by “Land of Hope and Glory” and on to the popular songs until Albert declared that if he didn’t have a bit of a rest his arms would drop off and his stomach felt that his throat had been cut.

He was instantly deluged with offers of food and drink. Lily leaned against her doorpost and smiled at him. She’d never known him to be so chatty and she’d caught the nudges and raised eyebrows of some of the other women and knew they were thinking the same thing. But he was enjoying himself, she knew that, and she was glad, for he had transformed her life and, although she didn’t have a deep and burning passion for him, she was fond of him and she was grateful. Her smile faded as she caught sight of Phoebe-Ann flirting with the eldest of the Ashton brood from number sixteen. She worried about Phoebe-Ann. She wished she had Emily’s quick, perceptive mind and common sense. Her one dread was that Phoebe-Ann would fall hopelessly in love with some ‘no mark’ who would treat her badly. Still, she comforted herself with the fact that she had little time for gallivanting now she was back with the Mercers.

Lily’s smile returned as she caught sight of Emily and Edwin Leeson leaning on the top of the piano and laughing together. That was a sight that pleased her. He was a good lad and she liked him. She knew the sort of family he came from. His Aunt Sarah was much respected. He was a hard worker, honest and loyal and he had his old job back. She’d raise no objections to that match if it ever came about.