dinner’s ready so lay the table,’ her mum then ordered as she placed the barrel carefully on the dresser. ‘Ron! Ron, come on, wake up.’
Mavis quickly placed cutlery on the table, smiling when her mother spoke kindly again. ‘Look at him, out for the count. I’ve a good mind to leave him like that and it’ll be all the more bubble and squeak for us.’
‘I heard that,’ he said, stretching his arms before standing up. He then kissed Lily on the cheek and smiled cheekily. ‘Come on, woman. Feed me.’
‘I’ll do more than feed you if you ain’t careful.’
‘Is that a threat or a promise?’ he asked, winking at Mavis as he took a seat at the table.
Oh, this was so nice, Mavis thought. Her mother was in a good mood again, her father cracking jokes, and she wished it could always be like this. Mavis then saw her mother holding out two plates.
‘Be careful giving this to hungry guts,’ she said. ‘Don’t drop it, and that one’s yours.’
‘How’s my girl then?’ Ron asked again as Mavis carefully placed his dinner in front of him.
‘I’m all right, Dad,’ she said, loving the way her father called her his girl. She sat down to eat, the food rapidly disappearing off her plate. They were all quiet while they ate, but as Mavis finished her last mouthful her mother spoke once again.
‘Right, Mavis. You’ve finished your dinner so get yourself round to Edith Pugh’s house. You’ll be working for her after school tomorrow and she wants to show you your so-called duties.’
‘Mrs Pugh? I … I’ll be working for her?’ Mavis stammered. ‘But … but what does she want me to do?’
‘From what she said, a bit of cleaning, and you can get that look off your face. You ain’t fit for much, even domestic work, but the woman thinks she can train you.’
‘Lily, there’s no need to talk to her like that.’
‘Go on, jump to her defence as usual. I’m the one who has to feed her, clothe her, and do you think I like it that my daughter can’t do even the simplest tasks? Mavis will bring in a few bob for a bit of cleaning, which is more than I can say for you.’
Mavis hung her head. Things were back to normal between her parents, but nevertheless her thoughts raced. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to work for Mrs Pugh, yet surely it was better than taking the pram out? But would her mother expect her to do that too? ‘What about stock—the pram?’
‘That depends on your father. If he’s true to his word, which I doubt, and sends me five quid a week, we can knock it on the head. If he doesn’t, well, you’ll have to keep finding me stock.’
Mavis suddenly latched on to her mother’s words. ‘Send it. What does that mean? Won’t you be here, Dad?’
‘No, from tomorrow I’ll be working away. I’ll have to pay a bit for lodgings, but your mother will get her money.’
‘Yeah, and pigs might fly.’
‘I’ll make you eat your words, Lily. You’ll see.’
Before her mother could respond again, Mavis hastily broke in, ‘Will you be away for a long time, Dad?’
‘I’m afraid so, love, at least six months, maybe more, but it’s for a good cause.’
‘Oh, Dad …’
‘Mavis, that’s enough. I said get yourself round to Edith Pugh’s. Now!’
Desolately, Mavis pushed her chair back. She knew better than to argue with her mother, and now the only person who ever came to her defence was leaving—and from what he said, for a long time. Mavis took her coat from the hook, unable to help blurting out as she shrugged it on, ‘Dad, please don’t go.’
‘I’ve got to, love. It’ll be the making of us, you’ll see, and when I come back things are going to be different. I’ll have me own business, making a packet, and your mother will never have to work again.’
Mavis saw the look of derision on her mother’s face and, like her, doubted it was true. She knew her father was a gambler, had heard so many rows, followed by his promises—ones that he never kept. Yet she loved her dad, dreaded him leaving, and tears stung her eyes as she stepped outside. What would happen to her now?
Edith Pugh was struggling to wash up the dinner things when her son walked into the room.
‘Leave it, Mum. I’ll do it,’ Alec insisted.
‘I can manage.’
‘No, you can’t, and it’s about time you listened to me. You need a bit of help, someone to take on the housework and cooking.’
‘I have listened. In fact, I’ve taken someone on to do just that.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Have you now? Well, that’s good.’
‘She’ll only be working for an hour a day until she leaves school, but even that will be a help.’
‘Mum, you need a mature woman with a bit of experience, not a schoolgirl. If you’re taken bad again, a kid would be useless.’
‘I haven’t employed her as a nurse, Alec. It hasn’t come to that yet.’
‘All right, but when does this girl start?’
‘Tomorrow, but I’m expecting her to call round soon so you’ll meet her before then.’
‘Good, now go and sit down. I’ll finish this lot.’
Edith didn’t argue this time. Her feet felt so painful, as though she was standing on broken glass, and she moved slowly across the room to sit on a fireside chair. She had done too much today, walked too far to see Mrs Jackson, but surely it had been worth it?
With a sigh, Edith closed her eyes, unaware that she had dozed off until the doorbell rang. She saw that Alec had finished washing up, that the dishes were put away, and said tiredly, ‘That’s probably Mavis. Let her in, Alec.’
He nodded and as he left the room, Edith managed to sit up straighter in her chair. She heard voices and soon Alec returned with Mavis behind him. ‘Hello, Mavis.’
‘Hello, Mrs Pugh. My mum told me to come to see you. She said I’m to work for you after school tomorrow.’
‘Yes, that’s right, but do sit down. You look frozen.’
‘Thanks,’ Mavis said, taking the chair at the other side of the hearth.
‘Now then, I expect you want to know what your duties will be. I’m afraid I have rather high standards, and with only an hour each afternoon, I think we’ll concentrate on giving one room a day a thorough
