The Girl From Number 22 (31 page)

‘It’s no good raking up the last twenty years, Mam,’ Jenny told her. ‘It’s over and done with. What yer have to concentrate on is the future. How much more are yer going to put up with from me dad?’ She felt in the paper to see if there were any chips
hiding in the folds, then, clicking her tongue in disappointment, she screwed it up into a ball. ‘He’s not right in the head, yer know, Mam. I bet Mrs Fenwick’s husband doesn’t treat her like a piece of dirt.’

Annie managed a smile. ‘He wouldn’t be allowed to, sweetheart. Ada wouldn’t put up with it. But from what I’ve heard and seen, they’re very happy together. In fact all the family are happy, and there’s a lovely warm feeling in the house.’

‘It’s like that when I go round to me mate’s,’ Ben said. ‘They’re always laughing and joking. I go round there nearly every night, but I wouldn’t ask him round to ours in case me dad took off on him. And it’s not fair. I should be able to ask me friends round without having to worry about them being insulted or thrown out.’

‘I can’t promise yer anything, son, ’cos I won’t make a promise I know I might not be able to keep. But I’ll do my best to make a better life for all of us. I feel more able to stand up to Tom now, thanks to Ada Fenwick. And, please God, if her and Hetty still want me for a friend, then I won’t feel so alone with them to talk to. I can honestly say, that out of all the houses we’ve lived in, and all the neighbours who have shunned us because of the antics of yer father, this house is going to be lucky for us.’

Jenny took her mother’s chip paper and screwed it up with Ben’s and her own. ‘I hope ye’re right, Mam. I’m seventeen years of age, and I’ve lived in about ten or eleven houses. I’ve never been in a street long enough to make a friend.’ A bitter tone came into her voice. ‘I don’t have anything to thank my father for. I know we’re supposed to love and respect our parents, but I have no love, or respect, for my father.’ She shivered as she remembered the feel of his grasping hands on her breasts. She’d
never forget what he did, and never forgive him. ‘I love you to bits, Mam, and our Ben. But for my father I feel only disgust and anger.’

She paused and took a deep breath to calm herself down. ‘When I’m lying in bed at night, waiting to drop off to sleep, my mind often goes back to when me and Ben were little. And I think of all those wasted years. We never had a normal childhood. Never knew what it was like to have a father who laughed and played with us. Never gave us a hug or a kiss, or told us he loved us. He never even gave us a ha’penny for sweets. We never looked forward to him coming home from work, didn’t run to meet him like other kids in the street ran to meet theirs. We dreaded the sight of him. He wasn’t like a father . . . more like a bogeyman, come to frighten us. And he did frighten us, Mam. I can remember how I used to shake with fear.’

There were tears in Annie’s eyes as she opened her arms and gathered her beloved children to her. ‘I am so sorry, sweethearts, so very sorry. I’m more to blame than yer dad, because I’ve been a coward and let him get away with his shenanigans. As yer mother, I should have done more to protect yer. I did me best, but me best wasn’t good enough. I’m a pathetic excuse for a mother, and I’m ashamed.’

‘No, Mam, don’t blame yerself.’ Jenny kissed her mother’s tear-stained cheek. ‘I can remember enough of my childhood to know that many’s the time you stood in front of me and Ben, and took the blows aimed at us. Yer’ve been a good mother, we couldn’t ask for better. But I have to say yer must have had yer eyes closed the first night yer met me dad and made a date with him.’

Ben was telling himself he mustn’t cry, he wasn’t a baby any more. And he tried hard to swallow the lump in his throat before
saying, ‘Yeah, yer did look after us, Mam. I can remember me dad belting yer ’cos yer wouldn’t let him get near us. It’s him what spoils things for us, not you.’

Giving a long drawn out sigh, Annie dropped her arms. ‘Those chips and scallops were very nice, but more good will come from us getting everything off our chests. We’ve aired our feelings, and we’ll feel better for it. From now on, with your help, we’ll make life a damn sight better than it’s been. If we pull together, we can do it. I know we can. I’ve had me eyes opened, and taken stock of meself. And that’s all down to Ada Fenwick.’

Jenny hugged her mother. ‘She’s been good for you, Mam, ’cos yer look and sound a lot more optimistic. And if me dad’s not in when we get home, I’m going across to knock on Mrs Fenwick’s door and thank her.’

Annie looked a bit uncertain as the three came out of the shop doorway and turned towards home. ‘Ada might not feel like a visitor at this time of night, sweetheart. Leave it for another day.’

‘Never put off till tomorrow what yer can do today. That’s what they say, Mam. And I wouldn’t go in the house, anyway, I’ll speak to her at the door. Just for a few minutes, to thank her for what she did this afternoon. And I also want her to know that the rest of the family are not like me dad.’

‘What if me dad’s in?’ Ben asked. ‘If he is, he’ll be in a terrible temper knowing we’ve had something to eat, and he hasn’t.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll not go out if he’s in the house.’

When the knock came on the door, Danny jumped to his feet. ‘I’ll go, Mam, it’ll only be our Monica or Paul.’

‘I’ll put the kettle on to make a hot drink for them,’ Ada said. ‘They’ll probably come in shivering with the cold.’

Danny’s lips were puckered in a whistle when he opened the door. He was expecting his sister or brother, and his whistle was cut off as he gazed at the young girl standing looking up at him. He was quick to note that she looked as surprised as he was.

‘Is Mrs Fenwick in, please?’ Jenny was wishing the ground would swallow her up. She didn’t want to discuss her father in front of anyone, she’d be too ashamed. ‘Could I speak to her for a minute?’

‘Of course yer can.’ Danny opened the door wide and the light from the living room allowed him to see that the girl he was looking at was very pretty. ‘She’s just putting the kettle on. Come in out of the cold.’

‘No, I won’t come in, thank you. I don’t want to disturb Mrs Fenwick if she’s busy. I’ll leave it until another time.’

‘Nonsense! Come on in,’ Danny insisted. ‘Me mam would clip me round the ear if I didn’t act like a thorough gentleman and invite yer in. Besides, she’s not busy really. When we heard the knock, we expected it to be either me kid brother or me sister. And because me mam thought they’d come in shivering with the cold, she wanted to make a hot drink for them.’ He stepped down and took her arm. ‘If yer don’t want me to get a thick ear, then yer’ll come in. I’m sure me mam will be happy to see yer. She’s been stuck with me and me dad for the last few hours, so I’m sure she’ll welcome seeing another female.’

Before Jenny could think of a good excuse not to enter the house, she found herself standing in the hall. Then Danny was closing the front door while calling through to the living room, ‘Yer’ve got a visitor, Mam.’

Ada’s voice came back. ‘If it’s that nuisance from next door, tell her I’m in bed asleep. I’ve had enough of her company for one day.’

‘It’s not Auntie Hetty, Mam, so wake up. I can’t announce the visitor, ’cos she’s a stranger to me. She wanted to have a word with yer at the front door, but I told her ye’re too fragile to stand talking at the door. And I can’t get her to move into the living room. I think her shoes must be stuck to the floor.’

‘In the name of God, Danny, will yer stop acting daft and close the door. I’m getting blown off me ruddy feet here. It’s too cold for one of yer jokes.’

Danny was chuckling as he pulled gently on Jenny’s arm. ‘Here she is, Mam. It wasn’t one of me jokes, yer see.’

Ada was astonished to say the least. But it wasn’t long before recognition dawned. ‘Hello, sunshine. Ye’re Jenny, aren’t yer?’

Jenny nodded. ‘I’m sorry to bother yer, Mrs Fenwick. I didn’t want to come in, but yer son was rather insistent. He said yer’d give him a thick ear if he kept me standing on the step. I only intended to introduce meself to yer, at the door, then leave yer in peace.’ She was backing out as she spoke, but Danny was standing behind her, and she trod on his foot. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know yer were behind me.’

Ada could see the girl was embarrassed and agitated. ‘Don’t worry about Danny, sunshine, he’s used to getting his feet trodden on. But it’s usually in a quickstep, waltz or fandango.’ She patted the chair next to her. ‘Come and sit down, love, and have a cup of tea with us. It’s just been made, so it’s piping hot.’

‘No, thank you, I’ll get back home.’ Jenny was sorry she hadn’t taken her mother’s advice and left her visit for another night. ‘It’s late to be calling on people, me mam did tell me that, and I should have listened to her. So I’ll leave yer to get yer cup of tea in peace, and see yer again some time.’

Jimmy had been watching with interest. He’d never seen the girl before, but as he studied her, he made the connection. It was
the mass of auburn hair that did it. He clicked his thumb and forefinger. ‘Ye’re Annie’s daughter!’

Ada clapped her hands. ‘Very good, sunshine, yer can go to the top of the class. How did yer know?’

Her husband was feeling pleased with himself. ‘It was the hair at first, then I could see the resemblance. Same shaped cheek-bones, and nose.’

Jenny could feel herself blushing. She wouldn’t have been so shy if Danny hadn’t been there. But she knew he and Mr Fenwick had come home from work to find her mother there. They’d heard what a rotter her father was, how he was a drunkard who beat his wife and children. And the little voice in her head which was telling her it wasn’t her fault didn’t stop her from being ashamed. ‘I’ll get back home, Mrs Fenwick. Me mam told me not to stay long.’

Ada’s heart went out to the girl. What sort of life was it for her? She was a lovely-looking girl, and she should be walking tall, enjoying the good things in life. ‘Never let it be said that any visitor left this house without being given a cup of tea. If word got around, I’d be the talk of the neighbourhood. So sit yerself down, sunshine, and Danny will do the honours with the teapot.’ She took the girl’s hand and pulled her down on to the chair next to hers. ‘I always enjoy a cup of tea when our Danny pours it out. I don’t know why, but it seems to have a special taste to it.’

Danny adored his mother, and usually when she asked him to do anything he would jump to it. But he was reluctant tonight, for he wanted to make friends with the girl from number twenty-two. He’d seen the outline of her through the window, but hadn’t ever seen her outside the house. Now he had, and he wanted to find out more about her. ‘Why can’t me
dad pour out for a change?’ He gave his father a knowing, conspiratorial wink. ‘I’m sure any tea he poured out would be twice as sweet as mine.’

Jimmy took the hint. Pushing his chair back, he grinned at Jenny. ‘Even though I say it meself, I pour out a mean cup of tea. You would be very foolish to turn it down. Now, do yer take milk and sugar?’

His smile did wonders for the girl’s nerves. She couldn’t help but smile back. ‘A little milk and one sugar, please.’

Ada was intrigued by the girl’s visit, and wanted to know the reason for it. And she knew she wouldn’t get much out of Jenny with Danny sitting across from her. ‘Give yer dad a hand with the cups, sunshine.’

‘Ah, ay, Mam! Me dad doesn’t need me to hold his hand, he’s a big man.’

Ada nodded. ‘Yeah, yer dad is a big man, and he’s a very clever man. But he’s not ruddy well clever enough to carry in four cups of hot tea! He’s only got two hands, and he’d be grateful for the loan of your two. So out yer go, and don’t forget to take yer hands with yer.’

She waited until her son was in the kitchen, and she could hear him talking to his dad. Then she spoke softly. ‘Was it anything special yer wanted to see me about, sunshine?’

Her eyes on the kitchen door, Jenny whispered back, ‘Not really, Mrs Fenwick, and I’m sorry I’ve interrupted yer evening. I just wanted to thank yer for being so kind to me mam this afternoon. She told me what happened, and how good you and Mrs Watson were, and I want yer to know how grateful me and me brother are. We love the bones of our mam, but we can’t be here all the time with her. She has a terrible life with me dad, but she never complains. He’s a bully, my father. A coward, a
drunkard, and a bully. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile once in me whole life. He sneers and snarls, but there’s never a real smile. And his language is disgusting. How me mam ever came to marry him, I’ll never know. She deserves much better.’ The sound of cups being placed on saucers had Jenny putting a finger to her lips. ‘I won’t say any more, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. In the short time me mam’s known you and Mrs Watson, she seems to be stronger. And I’m so happy knowing she has friends she can talk to – we’ve never lived in the same place long enough for her to make any before.’

‘Don’t you worry, sunshine, me and Hetty will keep an eye out for yer mam. The one thing I can’t abide is a man hitting a woman. I’ve drummed it into Annie that if she ever needs help, then me and Hetty are here for her. And if she needs a bolt-hole, our doors are always open. That also goes for you and Ben. There’ll always be a welcome here for yer.’

Jenny gripped her arm and whispered, ‘Thank you,’ just as Danny kicked the kitchen door open and walked through with a cup and saucer in each hand.

‘I don’t know, you women have an easy life.’ He placed a cup of tea in front of them, his smile wide and his dimples deep. ‘Waited on hand and foot.’

‘And that’s the way it should be, sunshine.’ Ada reached up to pat his cheek, her eyes tender with love for her eldest born. ‘I’ll swap places with yer if yer like? I’ll go out to work every morning, and you stay home and do the washing, ironing, cleaning, shopping and cooking. Would yer like to swap?’

‘I’m not soft, Mam, I know when I’m on to a good thing.’ Danny sat down facing Jenny. ‘I couldn’t find a biscuit anywhere, sorry. Me mam and her mate have got a very sweet tooth. As well as cream slices, they’ve always got their hand in the biscuit tin.’

Jimmy came in carrying cups of tea for himself and Danny. ‘Ay, have yer seen the time, Ada? The kids are out late, aren’t they? They should be well home by now.’