One Rainy Day (10 page)

‘I don’t think my boss would be very happy if I took a day off without leave. But the offer is very tempting, and I thank you.’

Once off the bus, Poppy stood on the pavement until there was a break in the traffic and it was safe to cross the busy road to the offices of John Sutherland and Son. And
standing outside looking up at the windows of the building, a little voice in her head asked if she wanted to spend the next few years being a typist and a messenger. Doing jobs any school leaver could do. All because she was too proud to admit she was wrong. Then she answered the voice in her head. No, she didn’t want to waste her life, having to make her clothes last until they were shabby. She would go back to the night school and if it meant begging them to give her another chance, then she would beg. And it was with a determined mind that Poppy mounted the steps to the office.

‘Miss Meadows, would you please deliver these two letters for me?’ John Sutherland junior stood beside Poppy’s desk holding out two envelopes. ‘They are really important and they need to be delivered immediately.’ He looked down into Poppy’s face, and not for the first time he wished he was in a position to get closer to her. He would be delighted to meet her outside office hours, for she was by far the most attractive woman he knew. His interest wasn’t in having a serious relationship, as his father would be very much against that because of the difference in their social status. But a clandestine affair was something he’d had in mind for the last year or so. He would love to book a room in a hotel out of town and shower her with silk underclothes, the likes of which she would never have seen in her life. He would be prepared to spend a lot of money to win her over.

Poppy was frowning, wondering why Mr John was standing there just staring at her. She began to feel uncomfortable, and said, ‘Is that all, Mr John? I’ll finish this letter I’m typing, then deliver your mail.’ When he didn’t move, she asked, ‘Was there anything else?’

‘No, that’s all, Miss Meadows. Will you wait for replies to the letters, and bring them immediately to my office? Thank you.’

When he’d gone, Poppy felt herself shiver. She had no reason to dislike Mr John, but he had the effect of making her feel uncomfortable. It was as though he was undressing her with his eyes. And whenever he handed her anything, his hand always brushed hers.

Poppy was still thinking of John Sutherland when she put her coat on, picked up the two sealed envelopes and left the office. There had been times when she’d felt like telling him to keep away from her, but the fear of losing her job had always held her tongue. Money was tight enough at home as it was, and if she lost her job the family would really be struggling. Squaring her shoulders and holding her head high, Poppy made herself a promise. She’d make enquiries tonight about night school, and under no circumstances would she talk herself out of it. If she could get a better job, with more money to put towards clothes for herself, and a bigger contribution to the family housekeeping, life would be vastly improved for herself and her mother. It might take six months to master shorthand and get up to speed, but it would be worth it. She could find herself another job and tell Mr John where to go. Let him ogle someone else.

Walking up Castle Street, as she did almost every working day, Poppy’s mind was so full that she didn’t take any notice of the people passing to and fro. So she failed to see the man walking down the street towards her until he was almost upon her, and then she panicked. She recognized him as the man who had pushed her over with his umbrella, and her one thought was to avoid him. There was no time, however, for Andrew had recognized her and stood in her path.

‘Please don’t run away. I mean you no harm.’ Andrew looked into her face and found his heart reacting as it had yesterday. It pounded so hard, it was a wonder she couldn’t hear it. ‘I’m glad we’ve bumped into each other again, for I don’t feel my feeble apology for knocking you over reflected how badly I felt.’

Poppy tried to sidestep, but he barred her path. ‘You don’t need to apologize. There was no harm done. Apart from my vanity being hurt, for I must have looked a complete idiot lying on the pavement and laughing. It wasn’t laughter, actually, it was hysteria. But I’m quite all right, so you don’t need to have a guilty conscience over me.’

‘You could help me ease my conscience,’ Andrew said, not wanting her to walk away, perhaps out of his life for ever. ‘I really do feel dreadful, causing you so much pain and humiliation. Not to mention the damage to your clothes. I would regard it as a great favour if you would allow me to compensate for my action?’

‘I’m sorry, but I couldn’t possibly take anything from you. My pride wouldn’t allow it. Besides, it was an accident. You didn’t deliberately knock me over. You apologized at the time, as did your girlfriend, and I was quite satisfied with that.’

‘That wasn’t my girlfriend, it was my sister!’

Poppy was flustered. ‘I’m sorry, it was an easy mistake to make. She is very pretty.’

‘Actually, she said the same about you. She was quite upset on your behalf.’

‘That was very kind of her. But I really must go now. I am in working hours, and it is important that I deliver these letters.’

‘I’ll come with you.’ Andrew didn’t want to leave her. ‘I’ve
left the office to go on an errand for my father. It isn’t urgent, so I can walk with you.’

Taking in the quality of his fine clothes, and conscious of the tear in the back of her well-worn raincoat, Poppy shook her head.

‘You are very kind, but if you don’t mind I would prefer to go on my way alone. You see, this is working time and I can’t afford to dawdle. But I appreciate your willingness to atone for the accident, and it’s been nice seeing you again. Remember me to your sister.’

Andrew watched her walk away, and he felt sad. But at least he knew she delivered letters daily to somewhere in the vicinity, and his father was always in need of cigars. He would see her again, he had to. She had affected his heart and his mind like no other girl. And he needed to find out why.

David was in the kitchen talking to his mother when they heard the key in the door. He hurried through the living room and was in the hall when his sister closed the front door. ‘Where have you been till this time, Poppy? Our mam’s been worried to death. She wanted me to go out looking for you, but I wouldn’t have known where to start. She had you under the wheels of a bus, and other things just as dramatic.’ He took his sister’s coat and hung it up. ‘Where have you been?’

‘I’ll tell you when we’re sitting down. I’m not going to tell it twice over.’ Poppy patted his cheek, then pulled a face. ‘You need a shave, brother. I nearly cut me hand on yer stubble. It’s easy to see yer haven’t got a hot date tonight.’

Eva’s voice came through from the kitchen. ‘It’s sausage and mash tonight, so sit yerselves down and I’ll bring the dinners in. Oh, David, get the HP Sauce out of the sideboard, save you getting up once we’re settled.’

When they were seated, brother and sister next to each other and their mother facing, Eva picked up her knife and fork and cut into a sausage. ‘Well, sweetheart, are yer going to tell us why ye’re so late? You had me worried to death.’

‘Let’s start on our dinner first, before it goes cold. Ten minutes isn’t long to wait, and I hope you’ll be happy with what I’ve got to tell you. Surprised and happy.’

David finished his dinner first, and as he carried his plate out he said, ‘I’ll put the kettle on for a pot of tea, Mam, then when the tea’s made I’ll fill it again to wash the dishes. You stay where you are and finish your dinner in peace.’

Finally, dishes were washed, the white tablecloth had been shaken in the yard, and a maroon chenille cloth now covered the table. ‘I’ve sugared the tea, Mam, so all you and Poppy have got to do is drink it. I’ve spoiled yer tonight, but don’t expect it all the time.’

‘Your effort has been much appreciated, son, and now if you can manage to stay quiet for a few minutes, we can hear what Poppy has to say. Go on, sweetheart, tell us what you’ve been up to.’

‘It’s a long story, so it’s a good job we’d all planned a night in. Anyway, I’ll start by saying that on the bus going to work this morning, I finally grew up.’ When Poppy saw her mother about to speak, she put up a hand and said, ‘No, Mam, let me get it off me chest, then yer can ask me anything yer want. What started me off was that ruddy raincoat, and my need for a decent winter coat. And you, Mam, you need one just as much as me. Anyway, I got to thinking that if I had stuck to that shorthand course when I was sixteen, life would be much easier now. I’d have a better job as a secretary, earning a good wage. As it is, typists are two a penny and I’ll never get anywhere in life.’ Poppy’s laugh held little humour. ‘I made up my mind that it wasn’t too late to start again. I’m still only nineteen. And if I had any misgivings, they soon disappeared when my boss gave me two letters to hand-deliver to another firm in Old Hall Street. I’ve been a messenger for three years, but today was the final straw. I haven’t given me notice in or anything, ’cos I can’t afford to. But when I got off the bus tonight, I went straight to the school where they have night
classes, and I’ve signed up for a course, starting next Monday night. Two nights a week, Monday and Thursday, and it’s a three-month course.’ She faced her mother. ‘I’ll stick to it this time, Mam, I promise. You were right, I was wrong.’

Eva and her son exchanged glances. This didn’t sound a bit like their Poppy, the beautiful girl who was full of fun and always had a smile on her face. ‘Listen, sweetheart, there’s no need for you to worry about money. We manage, don’t we? I know we could both do with a warm coat, and we’ll get them, you’ll see.’

‘I’ll make sure you do,’ David told them. ‘Don’t forget, in another few weeks I’ll be the man of the house, and responsible for my family being well fed and clothed. They won’t be fur coats yer get, the money won’t run to that. But they’ll be nice coats for the two best-looking women in the street.’

Eva chuckled. ‘Ay, don’t let Margie Boden next door hear yer saying that, or she’ll have yer guts for garters.’

Poppy sounded more like herself when she told her brother, ‘Margie is nice-looking, and she is always well dressed. Plus she is the funniest woman on two legs. And her daughters are both very pretty.’

David lifted his hands in surrender. ‘Okay, I said the wrong thing. Now, our kid, what else have yer decided that we should know about?’

‘There’s nothing much I can do, not until I’m qualified for a better job that pays more money. But I’m going to work hard at night school, and practise at home as well. And if my wishes come true, and both you and me are bringing a good wage in each week, David, then our mam can pack in work.’

Eva tutted. ‘I wish you and David wouldn’t worry so much about me going to work. I enjoy my job, and the women I
work with. If I was at home I’d be bored stiff. Besides, I like to earn a wage. I don’t want to live off you.’

‘Can I add my thoughts on what’s been said so far?’ David leaned his elbows on the table. ‘I know it’s two against one, but I’m a lot bigger than you, so by rights that makes us equal. So, while you two have been airing your views and putting the world to rights, I’ve come up with a solution I believe will suit everyone.’

‘Out with it then, son,’ his mother said. ‘We’ve got all night to sit and natter. It doesn’t happen very often that the three of us sit talking, so we may as well make the most of it.’

‘Well, let’s take it in stages, otherwise we’ll still be sitting here in the morning. First let’s get your coats settled. We haven’t got the money to buy them now, so it’ll be a few weeks at the earliest. I’ll put a quid away each week with your ten bobs, so in three weeks you’ll have enough to buy the coats. They’ll be cheap ones, but they’ll do to be going on with. Does that go down well?’

Poppy’s head was nodding like mad. ‘That would be wonderful, David, and very generous of yer.’ She put an arm across his shoulder and hugged him. ‘The best brother in the world, bar none, and I love the bones of yer.’ She sat back in her chair, feeling happier than she had all day. ‘Now you’ve said your piece, and I’m sure me mam will agree with what I’ve said, I’ll tell yer what’s been going through my mind while you were talking. I’m going to give meself four months to be competent enough to apply for a post as a secretary. I’ll go to the classes twice a week, and I’ll practise at home every night. Not that I’ll be missing me nights out, ’cos I won’t. But I’ll get an hour’s practice in before I go out, come what may.’

‘Don’t build yer hopes up, sweetheart,’ Eva told her daughter. ‘Even if you pass the course with flying colours, it
doesn’t mean you’ll walk straight into a job. It would be lovely if yer did, but I’m just warning you ’cos I’d hate you to be disappointed.’

‘I won’t, Mam, don’t worry about that. I’ll walk the feet off meself until I do get a decent job.’

‘At least you’ll have a respectable coat to wear for your interviews,’ David said, adding in his head that with her looks and figure, his sister should have no trouble finding a decent job.

‘Now can I have my say?’ Eva asked. ‘You both talk of wanting to earn money so I can pack in working. And while your heads have been busy making plans for me, my own mind has been working overtime planning what I’d like to do with my life. I’ve still got over ten years to go before I should retire officially, and I can’t say I relish the thought of another ten years of getting out of bed at half six every morning. Then again, I don’t relish the idea of ten years not working. So what I’ve come up with is a compromise that would suit me down to the ground.’

With the eyes of her son and daughter alive with interest, Eva continued, ‘I would like to work part time. Say four mornings a week, if the boss would let me. I am practically certain he would, ’cos I’m the most experienced machinist he’s got. That way I would have the best of both worlds. I’d have some free time to meself, and I’d have money of my own.’

‘Oh, Mam, that’s the perfect solution, if your boss will let you do that. Oh, I feel a darn sight better than I did earlier on. It all rests on me getting meself a good job, but I’m very determined.’