MB06 - The Sunshine of your Smile, page 17
It certainly was, but the stallholder wasn’t going to show his pleasure. If the women knew he was making threepence profit on each pair, they’d hang him. Selling them for elevenpence dropped his profit to tuppence ha’penny, but twelve pairs at once more than evened things up. ‘Go on, yer twisted me arm.’
Four of the six women at the stall said they’d have a pair each, seeing as they were such a bargain. So all in all, the man was more than happy and even began to take a liking to Nellie. If he had someone like her working on his stall they’d do a roaring trade. ‘I’ll put them in a bag for yer, missus.’
‘We’re not in a hurry, lad, we want to see what else yer’ve got. See to the others first while me and me mate decide what we want.’
The two women walked along side the stall. ‘Who are the stockings for, Nellie?’ Molly asked. ‘I need some too, yer know.’
She began to tick them off on her fingers. ‘I want to give Jill, Doreen, Lily, Rosie and Phoebe a pair. That’s five. And as you want the same, only with two pair for Ruthie, then that’s about right.’
‘What about you and me, sunshine? Aren’t we going to have a decent pair of stockings for Christmas? I’m fed up walking round with ladders all the time.’
‘I’ll ask him for an extra two pair, girl, then we’ll be sorted.’ Nellie’s eyes were moving over the goods on display. ‘Ay, there’s something your Ruthie would like.’
Molly picked up one of the small comb cases her mate was pointing to. When she opened it up, she chuckled. ‘It’s got a comb and mirror in. Our Ruthie would be over the moon with one of these ’cos she’s not half vain. She spends a lot of time looking at herself in the mirror. She’s a lot more forward than Jill and Doreen were at that age, and older in the head. If she got one of these she’d be made up and spend half her life looking into the mirror and combing her hair. In a month it would be worn out.’
‘Have they got a price on, girl?’
‘A shilling, which isn’t bad. And I can get the money off Jack so he can give it to her as her present.’
‘What are yer getting for the other two? Yer usually buy underskirts.’
‘I know, but there’s not much use this year because Jill is getting quite big, it would be tight across her tummy, and Doreen’s making her own. Plus she’s making two for Ruthie, which is a big help. So I’m stuck as to what to buy the older girls. Ruthie will need a blouse and skirt, maybe a jumper, because hopefully she’ll get a job after Christmas.’
Nellie was fingering a scarf which was on top of a pile she was leaning her elbow on. ‘Feel this, girl, how nice and soft it is. I bet the girls would appreciate one of these to keep them warm through the winter. And he’s got them in all different colours.’
Molly rubbed the soft fleecy material between two fingers. ‘Oh, yeah, sunshine, ye’re right, they do feel nice and soft, and they’d be warm. How much are they?’
‘Two and six it says on the card. And that’s not bad considering the quality.’
‘No, it isn’t. I think I’ll take a maroon one and the other in dark blue. And I can get them a box of chocolates to go with them.’ She put her hand to her mouth. ‘I nearly forgot about Rosie, what’s the matter with me! Put a dark beige one with the other two, Nellie, while I reckon up how much it will all come to. I’m cutting the stockings down to four pair because if I’m giving the girls scarves and chocolates, I don’t need to give them stockings as well. So, two pair for Ruthie and two pair for me. I’m going all reckless with me money because I’d hate to get a ladder in me stockings on Christmas morning and not have a pair to change into. The man won’t mind me cutting down on the stockings, not when I’m buying the comb case and three scarves as well.’
Nellie contorted her face. ‘I’ve been thinking . . . I could get a scarf for Lily and one for Phoebe. They’re nice presents and I’ll give them stockings as well. When the bloke comes over I’ll ask him how much I owe.’
‘Well, I want four pairs at elevenpence each, a shilling for the comb set and three scarves at half a crown.’ Molly was deep in concentration as she mentally added up how much she would be paying out, her lips moving as she murmured to herself.
Nellie watched the concentration on her friend’s face as she was adding up the prices in her head. Nellie couldn’t count up in her head like that, she’d have to use her fingers and toes. And as she was getting five pairs of stockings at elevenpence each, she didn’t have enough fingers and toes to go round, so she’d wait until the man worked it out and asked for his money. She wouldn’t be overcharged because her mate would be watching and counting.
‘I get that to twelve and tuppence, sunshine, so that’s not bad at all. I’ll get a pair of those socks for Jack, plus a packet of hankies, and I’ll get him cigarettes off me sweet club.’
There had been a little rush as customers buying always brought more people to a stall. So the stallholder was a happy man when he made his way over to the two women. ‘I’m sorry to have kept yer. I had quite a little spurt there, I’m glad to say. But I’m all yours now, so what was it yer wanted – twelve pair of stockings?’
‘Oh, ye’re too late now, lad, we’ve changed our mind.’ Nellie saw the man’s face drop and, telling herself he was only trying to make a living like her own husband, she quickly put his mind at rest. ‘It’s all right, lad, I think yer’ll be pleased about our change of mind ’cos it’s more business for yer.’
He grinned and rubbed his hands together. ‘Suits me, queen. What are yer after now?’
‘Serve me mate first, so we don’t get mixed up with the money. I’ll wait until she’s given yer her order.’
Molly smiled at the man who had been very patient with Nellie when she was rambling on. Not many people would have seen the joke. ‘I’ll have four pair of the stockings, please. And those three scarves me friend’s got in her hand, plus this comb and mirror set. I got that lot to twelve and tuppence before, and I want to add a packet of men’s hankies and a pair of black socks. So what will the damage be for all of it?’
The stallholder added up as he gathered her goods together. ‘That’s thirteen and six, queen, and I don’t think yer’ll find I’ve cheated yer when yer look at the prices on other stalls.’ He put Molly’s purchases in a big brown paper bag and took the pound note she was holding out to him. ‘If those hankies and socks are for yer husband, wouldn’t yer think of treating him to a shirt as well?’
‘Ay, I’m not made of money, yer know. And he’ll be getting cigarettes to go with those, so he won’t be doing too badly.’
‘That’s a shame because I’ve got a new stock of shirts in and they are really pukka quality. Best I’ve ever had at the money, and I’m not spinning yer a yarn either. But if ye’re not interested then not to worry.’ The man turned to Nellie. ‘What’s your order, queen?’
‘Four pair of stockings, lad, and these two scarves. And yer can show me one of those shirts yer were trying to flog me friend. My feller takes a sixteen and he likes white.’
The stallholder reached across to the other side of the stall and picked up a white shirt from the top of a pile. ‘There yer are, missus, just look at the quality of that. Good cotton that will wash and wash until the cows come home. Not like the cheap muck yer buy that looks like a rag after the first wash. That’s only a size fifteen, but I’ve got one in sixteen if ye’re interested.’
Molly was peering over her friend’s shoulder. ‘Ay, that is good cotton, yer can tell by just looking at it. But how much are they?’
‘Four and eleven, queen, and I couldn’t knock anything off that ’cos I’m selling them at rock-bottom price as it is.’
Molly looked at the change in her hand. There were two half crowns there, and Jack really did deserve to have something decent to wear over Christmas. God knows he worked hard enough. Never a day off. Even if he was dying of cold he still turned out for work because he knew they’d be hard pushed for money if he was a day short in his wages.
‘I’ll have a white one, lad,’ Nellie said. ‘Only it’s got to be a size sixteen collar.’
Molly took the plunge. ‘I’ll have one as well, sunshine, a blue one in size fifteen and a half collar. Yer can put it in the bag with me other things. And when I’ve paid yer for it, do me a favour and chase me. Otherwise I’ll go on spending and won’t even have enough left to pay me tram fare home.’
‘I’ll pay yer tram fare, girl, if that’s all ye’re worried about. I’d be a poor mate if I sat on a tram and waved to yer through the window as yer walked home.’
‘I wouldn’t mind walking, the fresh air would do me good. I wouldn’t even mind yer waving to me through the window as yer passed me by, sunshine. But I wouldn’t appreciate yer blowing me a kiss because that would really look as though yer were rubbing me nose in it.’
The stallholder grinned as he collected Nellie’s purchases. He could tell the two women were best of friends because they seemed to get on so well together and had the same sense of humour. But in looks they were as different as chalk from cheese. He’d heard the tall one referred to as Molly, and the short one as Nellie. Molly was quite a pretty woman with a neat figure, blonde hair and clear blue eyes. It was easy to see she’d been a cracker when she was younger. The small one, Nellie, was about seven inches shorter than her friend and at a guess she was about eighteen stone. It was amusing to see her squinting up at her friend with her face doing contortions, as though acting out what she was saying. He imagined she’d be a cuddly bunch of fun, who enjoyed playing tricks on people. Another guess told the stallholder that Molly was the sensible one who kept her friend in check and stopped her from taking her jokes too far.
‘D’yer live near each other?’ he asked. ‘Neighbours?’
‘Neighbours and friends for over twenty years, lad,’ Nellie told him proudly. ‘Yer could say we’re practically sisters.’ She winked up at Molly before adding. ‘Even blood relations, eh, girl?’
Oh, lord, Molly thought, she’s going to tell him the tale about cutting our arms and joining them together like the Indians did. ‘I wouldn’t go as far as blood relations, sunshine, but we’re definitely best mates. Always have been and always will be. And as there are a few potential customers at the stall, I suggest we go on our way and leave the man to earn his living.’
‘Any time ye’re in the market, ladies, don’t walk on by. Stop and pass the time of day with me, and I promise not to try and flog yer anything.’
If it was possible for Nellie’s breasts to become larger, then they did at that moment. She thought it was a compliment to be asked to stop and talk to the man, as though he was a friend. She’d bet he didn’t say that to many of his customers. When she linked Molly’s arm and looked up at her, she said, ‘That’s nice of him, isn’t it, girl? And we will do, next time we’re in the market. Ta-ra, lad, I hope yer have a good day and yer takings are up.’ Then, because there were a few customers listening in, she put on her poshest voice and swanked like no one’s business. ‘We’re going to see one of our friends now. She has a stall the other end of the market. Well, two friends, really, Mary Ann and Sadie.’
‘Oh, yer know Mary Ann, do yer?’ The stallholder laughed. ‘Tell her about the ticket yer threw out of the train window. And tell her Mick said she’d enjoy the joke.’
‘Yer know her and Sadie, do you?’ Molly asked.
‘There’s no one who doesn’t know Mary Ann, queen, she’s been here for donkey’s years, and her mother before her. And as for Sadie, every red-blooded bloke on the market was after her when she first started working here. She’s a real beauty, and a nice girl as well.’
‘Fancy that now!’ Nellie’s chins were glad when she started to nod her head because being shaken would warm them up. ‘It’s a small world, isn’t it, lad? Well, we’ll tell them yer were asking after them. Ta-ra for now.’
As they walked away, she said, ‘Yer wouldn’t believe it, would yer, girl? Yer don’t know who ye’re talking to half the time. Yer could be pulling someone to pieces, calling them all the names under the sun, and it could be their sister yer were talking to.’
‘I’ve told yer that dozens of times, sunshine, but yer don’t take no notice. Many’s the time I’ve had to shut yer up when the person yer were calling fit to burn was walking behind us. And I have warned yer that yer won’t always get away with it. Besides which, I’d probably be the one to get the blame and would end up with me nose broken. They wouldn’t go for you ’cos yer nose would be too low down for them.’
Nellie was quiet for a few seconds, her eyes cast down to the ground. Then she looked up and said, ‘I’m trying to figure out whether ye’re being neighbourly and giving me good advice, or whether yer telling me in a nice way that I’m a midget.’
‘A midget! Who said yer were a midget, sunshine, ’cos I’ll knock their block off! No, ye’re just nice and cuddly.’
Nellie grinned. ‘Ay, girl, can yer hear Mary Ann? She can’t half shout, can’t she? They’ll be able to hear her down at the Pier Head.’
‘Good for business. Just look at the people round her stall. I’d say it’s the only one in the market doing good business. Mind you, it’s a lot bigger than any of the others, and I suppose that’s because she’s been here so long. She did tell us once that the stall used to be her mother’s, and her grandmother’s before that.’
‘Let’s go to the end of this trestle table, girl, then we won’t be in anyone’s way and can have a word with Sadie when she has time. She’s bound to come over when she sees us.’
It wasn’t long before they were spotted by the beautiful Sadie, whose blonde hair shone like gold-dust and whose bright blue eyes reminded you of the sky on a summer’s day. ‘Mary Ann was only saying the other day that we hadn’t seen yer for a while. We thought yer’d fallen out with us.’ When Sadie smiled the sun seemed to come out and shine on those around her. ‘How are yer both?’
Molly had taken this girl to her heart from the moment she first set eyes on her. Mary Ann had told her on the quiet that the girl had come from a dreadful home and family. The eldest child, she’d left home because she could no longer stand the abuse and filth. In the few years she’d worked for Mary Ann, she had managed to get two of her sisters and a brother away from the clouts, the foul language and hunger they’d suffered since birth. From the drunken father who would rather spend his money on horses and beer than put clothes on his children’s backs, shoes on their feet and food in their belly. A father who had abused her from the age of three, and when she was old enough to stop him, had turned to her younger sisters. A father who would lash out with his hands and feet if any of the children dared to complain about being hungry or going barefoot in the depth of winter.
Molly dragged herself from thoughts of what she would like to do to the parents of this girl who would make any normal person very proud. ‘We’re fine, sunshine, and I don’t have to ask how you are ’cos yer look the picture of health. Still crazy about that boyfriend of yours, are yer?’
‘More than ever! And I’ll let yer into a little secret. Me and Harry are getting married next year when we’ve saved up enough money. We’re both saving like mad, but it seems to be taking forever. Mind you, yer know me two younger sisters are courting, don’t yer? Well, they’re helping with the housekeeping money, and me kid brother Jimmy started work a couple of months ago, so that helps as well.’
Mary Ann had spotted them and to the customer she was helping to look through one of the piles of second-hand clothes for a jumper, said, ‘You keep rooting through there, Florrie, while I go and see a man about a dog.’ She started to shake her head and tut when Florrie pulled out a bright yellow jumper and held it up. ‘Put it down, queen, yer’d look like a ruddy canary in that! Besides which, yer’d need a bleeding shoe horn to get into it. Just hang on till I get back and I’ll have yer fixed up in no time.’
Lifting her long black skirt, Mary Ann did a jig as she crossed over to Molly and Nellie. ‘Strangers in the camp, eh? Where have yer been putting yerselves?’ Her sharp eyes never missed a trick and they fastened on a customer nearby who was holding a blue jumper up, inspecting it for holes and also stretching it to see if it would fit her ample figure.
‘Elsie, that jumper was a medium size when yer picked it up, and if it’s now large with yer pulling it all ways, then ye’re buying it whether yer like it or not. Yer’ve got the ruddy thing pulled out of shape so yer either buy it or stand there and try and sell it to someone else. The price is sixpence, but if yer can sell it for more then I won’t mind yer making a profit as long as I get me tanner.’
The woman threw the jumper back on the pile. ‘Ye’re all heart, aren’t yer, Mary Ann? Yer don’t mind me selling it and making a profit as long as yer get your money. Well, yer can sod off, that’s what yer can do. The flaming thing isn’t worth a tanner.’
Molly had seen Mary Ann and Sadie in action before with awkward customers, and thought they were fantastic at smoothing things over with a laugh and a joke. She wondered if their technique would work for her. There was only one way to find out. She called across to the woman, ‘Don’t worry, sunshine, I’ll buy the jumper off Mary Ann. I was watching yer with it ’cos it’s me very favourite colour and it would fit me. I had me fingers crossed that yer’d put it down and I could have it. Yer’ve done me a favour, sunshine, and I’m delighted. Will yer throw it over here, please?’
This got Elsie’s back up. ‘Well, you cheeky cow! Who the hell do yer think you are, telling me to throw the jumper over to you? Yer can sod off, lady, ’cos I saw it first and I’m the one what’s going to buy it. If you want a jumper, then look for one yerself like I had to do.’ She opened her purse and took out a silver sixpence which she held out to Sadie. ‘Here yer are, girl, pass it to Mary Ann right away so she can’t charge me a day’s interest on the money.’
Mary Ann had bright red hair tied up in a bun on top of her head, and she had a very loud laugh. Hair and laugh went very well together. Molly’s first piece of negotiating had tickled her fancy. ‘Oh, that was brilliant, queen, I couldn’t have done better meself. Don’t yer think she was good, Elsie?’
