Try a Little Tenderness Read online

  Ben tapped his wife on the shoulder. ‘Ye’re wasting valuable drinking time, love, so come on, get it down yer.’

  True to form, Amy was the first to sing. Her rendition of ‘Daisy–Daisy’ had them not knowing whether to laugh or sing. She always mimed to her songs, her facial expressions and her hands making exaggerated moves to suit the words. It was difficult for those watching to join in the singing while laughing their heads off. And at the end of the song she got a rousing cheer which she accepted by bowing graciously.

  Then Seamus and Molly sang a duet, ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’, and they surprised everyone with their clear, strong voices. They also showed the strength of their love for each other by holding hands and facing each other as they sang, their devotion clear for everyone to see. They refused pleas for an encore, saying they’d sing later when they had a few more drinks down them.

  The Moynihans’ double act put poor Ben in the doghouse. ‘Ay, you, light of my life,’ Amy said, ‘why don’t you sing with me and hold my hand? Got no bleedin’ romance in yer, that’s why. Jeanette MacDonald’s got Nelson Eddy, Molly’s got Seamus, but if I want a partner I’ll have to buy a singing canary.’

  Jenny was sitting on the floor by her mam and dad. This was her first grown-up party and she was having the time of her life. She knew Auntie Amy was always telling jokes and making people laugh, but she’d never seen her in such good form. And the Moynihans were just as funny; there’d never been a dull moment since they’d arrived.

  Laura meanwhile was standing near to John and Mick. She was disappointed because not one person had told her she looked nice in her new dress. But then, apart from the two lads, all the others were old fogeys and wouldn’t know what was nice and what wasn’t.

  ‘I think we’ll have a break for eats now,’ Mary said, her heart light now the party was going so well. ‘Come on, Laura and Jenny, give me a hand to pass the plates around.’

  Laura pulled a face at the two lads. ‘I hope no one spills anything on me new dress.’ She half turned, then asked, ‘D’yer like me new dress?’

  John shrugged his shoulders. What did he know about girls’ dresses? ‘Yeah, it’s nice.’

  ‘Lovely colour,’ Mick said with a smile. ‘It suits yer.’

  It amazed Mary how quickly the piled-high plates were emptied. ‘I thought we had enough food to feed an army,’ she told her husband, ‘but it’s nearly all gone.’

  Stan grinned. ‘Drink always makes yer peckish.’ He put his arms around her waist and held her close. ‘I told yer not to worry, didn’t I? Everyone’s having a whale of a time.’

  Her eyes went to the door. ‘Let me go, yer daft nit, before someone comes out.’

  ‘It isn’t a crime to cuddle yer wife, love.’

  ‘Still, and all, behave yerself and see to the drinks.’

  There was a lot of chattering going on when Amy happened to see her son going into the kitchen with his empty plate. Then she saw Laura follow him out. She was off her chair like a shot. ‘Excuse me, folks, but I’ll have to get meself a glass of water because me throat’s so dry I could spit feathers.’

  When Amy reached the kitchen door she saw Laura standing in front of her son, who was blushing to the roots of his hair. And she heard the girl say, ‘Me grandad said I look beautiful in me new dress, John. Do you think I look beautiful?’

  Amy bustled in. Her face was smiling, but her eyes weren’t. ‘Is yer grandad’s eyesight failing, girl? Poor old bugger.’ She watched Laura toss her head and flounce out of the kitchen, then turned to her son who was looking relieved. ‘Do yerself a favour, John, and keep well away from her. She’s one hard-faced little madam.’

  ‘It’s her house, Mam. I could hardly tell her to scram.’

  Amy smiled at the son who had inherited her sense of fun. ‘Come and sit on me knee, yer’ll be safe there.’

  John returned the smile of the mother he adored. She never complained, was always bright and cheerful. ‘Did yer bring me dummy with yer?’

  It was one o’clock in the morning when Mary and Stan stood at the door seeing their friends out. They’d all had a wonderful time and were loud in their praises. Mary was worried about the noise they were making but Stan whispered, ‘Don’t worry, it’s the first party we’ve ever had. And Christmas comes but once a year.’

  ‘Ay, girl,’ Amy said, her voice loud and slurred, ‘what about New Year’s night? Are we being invited again?’

  ‘Sod off, Amy Hanley, and go home. You can have the next party.’

  ‘Charming, that is,’ Amy chuckled as Ben led her away. ‘And, God help me, she’s supposed to be me best mate.’

  Seamus shouted from across the street: ‘New Year’s night in the Moynihans’. How does that suit yer?’

  Mary grinned as she was closing the door and heard Amy call back, ‘I always knew yer were a man after me own heart, Seamus. Invitation accepted with thanks.’

  Mary stood at the bottom of the stairs and shouted, ‘If yer don’t put a move on, Laura, yer’ll be late for yer first day at work.’

  ‘For heaven’s sake, keep yer hair on.’ Laura appeared on the landing. ‘I’ve got plenty of time yet.’

  ‘You’re supposed to start work the same time as yer dad, and he’s nearly ready to leave.’ Mary sighed. If she had to go through this every morning to get her daughter out of bed, she’d be a bundle of nerves after the first week. ‘You haven’t even had yer breakfast yet.’

  Laura came down the stairs slowly, as though she had all the time in the world. ‘It won’t take me long to have a swill and eat me breakfast. I don’t know what ye’re getting yerself all het up for.’

  ‘Neither do I, sunshine.’ Mary walked through to the living room. ‘In future I’ll call yer once and yer can please yerself. If ye’re late for work and lose yer job, then it’ll be yer own fault.’

  Stan was putting his coat on, but his daughter didn’t even glance his way. She saw the plate of toast ready for her and the pot of tea in front of her cup and saucer. ‘Pour me tea out while I get washed.’

  Mary looked at her husband, sighed and shrugged her shoulders. ‘She’s going to be a real bundle of joy every morning.’

  Stan walked to the kitchen door. ‘Your mother is not yer servant – pour yer own tea out.’

  Laura had her hands in a bowl of water, her face sulky. ‘I’m going to work now, same as you, so why can’t she pour me tea out? She waits on you.’

  ‘A servant or waitress waits on people, and your mother is neither of those. Yer should have got up when yer were first called, same as I do, instead of leaving it until the last minute. If yer think yer can carry on like this every morning, then yer’ve got another think coming. In future yer either come down when called, or do without breakfast.’ Stan picked up the tin with his carry-out in before kissing his wife’s cheek. ‘If she gives yer any lip, let me know and I’ll deal with her tonight.’

  ‘Me voice is hoarse with calling her, Stan, so she’s on her own now. She can just get on with it. I’m going upstairs to wake our Jenny.’

  There was no need to wake Jenny, she’d been wide awake since the shouting started. The two sisters shared a bed and she’d given Laura a few digs in the ribs to try and get her to move but all she got for her efforts were a few digs back from a very angry sister. She sat up in bed with a smile on her face. ‘I’m getting up now, Mam. I was just waiting until the coast was clear. There was enough racket going on to wake the dead.’

  They heard the slam of the front door and Mary hurried through to the front bedroom. She lifted the net curtains to see Laura running up the street eating a piece. What a good start to her working life! You would expect her to be excited and eager about her first day at work, not running hell for leather up the street with a piece of toast in her hand and a very strong possibility of being late. Mary recalled the first day she started work, and the memory brought a smile to her face. She’d been so frightened of being late she’d arrived at the gates of the factory
half an hour early!

  Mary let the curtains fall back into place and made her way downstairs. She’d make a fresh pot of tea and sit at the table for ten minutes while Jenny had her breakfast. That should calm her nerves before she started on the housework. But she hoped this morning’s shenanigans weren’t a sign of things to come. She couldn’t cope with it.

  Mary was cleaning her teeth at the kitchen sink when something hit one of the panes of glass in the window and frightened the life out of her. She cupped one of her hands under the tap, filled it with water and rinsed her mouth out. Reaching for the towel hanging on a nail on the door, she told herself one of the slates must have fallen off the roof and she’d have to see the landlord to have it fixed. Otherwise, if they had a downpour, the rain could come into one of the bedrooms. She put the towel back on the nail, and as she lifted the door latch she muttered, ‘This is turning into a right miserable day.’

  ‘Is that you, girl?’ Amy’s voice came floating over the wall. ‘I’ve been shouting me bleedin’ head off for ages. I was beginning to think yer’d gone and died on me.’

  Mary screwed up her eyes as she stepped down into the yard. ‘Yer wouldn’t by any chance have been daft enough to throw something at the window, would yer?’

  There was silence for a few seconds, then Amy shouted, ‘I cannot tell a lie, girl, ’cos God always pays me back when I tell a lie. So, yes, I did throw something at yer window … a feather.’

  ‘A feather!’ Mary put a hand over her mouth and willed herself not to laugh. After all, it could have ended up with her having to fork out for a pane of glass. ‘From the sound it made, I can only assume you were attached to the feather?’

  ‘Nah, I’m not that daft, girl, ’cos I’d have hurt meself. It was a brick.’

  ‘A brick! Well, now I’ve heard it all. And who, pray, was going to pay for a new window if yer’d broken it?’

  ‘It wasn’t a whole brick, yer soft article, only a little piece of one. And I gave it a good talking to before I threw it. I said if it broke me mate’s window I’d come around there and crush it under me feet.’

  ‘Amy Hanley, the older yer get, the worse yer get.’

  ‘Well, I was worried about yer, girl! I shouted and shouted, but yer didn’t answer. If I never move from this spot, I really thought yer’d fell off yer perch. D’yer know what I said to meself? I said, “I bet that inconsiderate cow has gone and died on me. It’s just the sort of thing she would do when I want to borrow a cup of sugar. The only one she ever thinks about is herself.” That’s what I said, girl, cross my heart.’

  ‘Well, I’m sorry to disappoint yer, sunshine, but I am still alive and kicking. I might not be the happiest person in the world, but I am still breathing.’

  ‘What’s the matter, girl, why aren’t yer happy?’

  ‘Oh, I dunno. Monday morning blues, I suppose.’

  ‘Are we going to the shops?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve only got to comb me hair then I’m ready.’ Mary undid the ties of her wraparound pinny. ‘I’ve got to get something in for the dinner, there’s no turkey or chicken left.’

  ‘Same here, girl. Me cupboard’s as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s. I’ll give yer a knock in five minutes.’

  ‘Just a light tap will do, Amy, don’t put the door in.’ As she stepped into the kitchen, Mary could hear her friend chuckling and suddenly her gloom lifted. Half an hour in Amy’s company and she’d be as right as rain. Ready for anything.

  Arm-in-arm they entered the butcher’s shop to be met by Wilf’s smiling face. ‘Thank God for that,’ he said, ‘I’ve only had two customers so far this morning.’

  ‘What d’yer expect after Christmas?’ Amy was eyeing the rabbits hanging on a hook from the ceiling. ‘Most folk will be eating the leftovers for a few days. It’s only greedy buggers like me and me mate here what have been eaten out of house and home.’

  ‘I’ll have three-quarters of stewing beef, Wilf,’ Mary said. ‘It’s easier to make a pan of stew than anything else.’

  ‘Ay, girl.’ Amy gave her a dig before pointing upwards. ‘How about getting one of those rabbits between us? It’s a while since we had rabbit.’

  ‘But they’re not skinned yet.’

  ‘That won’t take me long.’ Wilf took a long pole and lifted down two rabbits which were tied together. ‘Yer can hang on until I do it, or yer can get the rest of yer shopping done.’

  ‘We’ll get our shopping done.’ Mary linked her friend’s arm. ‘When yer’ve skinned it, Wilf, will yer cut it in half down the middle, so there’s no arguing over one getting more than the other? Otherwise me mate will have the tape measure out when we get home. We’ll be back in twenty minutes, unless Amy starts gabbing to someone.’

  ‘Just hold yer horses, girl.’ Amy gazed down at the two rabbits lying on the counter. Then she pointed to one. ‘I don’t want that one.’

  Mary tugged on her arm. ‘For crying out loud, Amy, they’re both the same!’

  ‘They’re not, girl, just look at them. That one’s cockeyed.’

  Wilf pushed his straw hat to the back of his head. ‘Amy, when yer come back it’ll be decapitated. Yer won’t see the eyes because it won’t have no head.’

  ‘Ah, yer won’t hurt it, will yer?’

  ‘Amy, the bleedin’ rabbit is as dead as a dodo.’

  ‘I know, Wilf, and I won’t say keep yer hair on ’cos yer haven’t got that much to keep on. But yer see, me saying it was cross-eyed was just an excuse. The truth is, it reminds me of my feller.’

  Mary gasped. ‘Amy Hanley, how can yer say such a thing?’

  Amy turned wide eyes on her friend. ‘Yer haven’t seen my feller in bed, fast asleep, have yer, girl?’

  ‘I should hope not!’

  ‘Well, yer don’t need to now, ’cos I’m telling yer, that’s what he looks like … except the rabbit’s better-looking.’

  Mary slipped her arm from her friend’s and put two hands on her ample waist. ‘Out, Amy Hanley.’ She pushed the reluctant woman towards the door, calling over her shoulder, ‘Twenty minutes, Wilf. And if I’m on me own, yer’ll know I’ve pushed this one under a tram.’

  ‘That won’t do yer no good, Mary, she’d only buckle the wheels.’

  Laura was in a very happy frame of mind when she came in from work. She never stopped talking as they were eating their meal, her eyes shining and her arms waving. ‘It’s the gear, Dad, and the women are smashing. Dead friendly, they are.’

  Stan was happy to see the change in his daughter. This was how she should be. How he wanted her to be. ‘What exactly do yer do, love?’

  ‘The cigarettes are in packets when they come to our bench, and we have to put them in cardboard boxes. There’s a supervisor keeping an eye on us all the time to make sure we pack them properly. Her name’s Miss Birch and she’s got the eyes of an eagle, but she’s nice. And as long as we get on with our work we can talk as much as we like.’

  ‘Don’t tell yer Auntie Amy that,’ Mary laughed, ‘or she’ll be applying for a job. She’d be in her apple-cart getting paid for talking.’

  ‘She wouldn’t be able to work there, ’cos ye’re on the go all the time and she’s too fat.’ Laura was looking down at her plate and missed her mother’s expression change. ‘Besides, she isn’t me real auntie.’

  ‘I’m sure Mrs Hanley is delighted she’s not yer real auntie.’ Mary wasn’t going to sit and listen to her best friend being run down by her own daughter. ‘And as for being too fat, she’d run circles round you, any day of the week.’

  Laura smirked. ‘Aye, in her sleep.’

  ‘That’s quite enough now, Laura. Yer’d be advised to keep a civil tongue in yer head.’ Why does she have to go and spoil things, Stan asked himself as his heart plummeted. ‘Amy Hanley is one of our best friends and yer’d travel a long way to find a nicer woman.’

  ‘Yeah, she’s all right, I suppose.’ Laura pushed her plate away and swivelled sideways on her chair. ‘I’m going up to Cyn
thia’s to see how she got on in her job.’

  ‘Stay right where you are,’ Stan ordered. ‘It’s bad manners to leave the table until everyone has finished eating, and yer mam hasn’t finished. And before yer buzz off out, yer can help with the washing up.’

  ‘Ah, ay, Dad! I’ve been on me feet all day. Let our Jenny help to wash up.’

  ‘Oh, I suppose yer think yer mam’s been lounging on the couch all day reading, do yer? I wonder who made the beds, cleaned up, did the washing, and after that went to the shops and came home and made the dinner? D’yer think a fairy with a magic wand did all that?’

  ‘I’ll do the dishes, Dad,’ Jenny said, hoping to calm things down. ‘It won’t take me long and I don’t mind, honest.’

  ‘Let her go up to her mate’s, if that’s what she wants.’ Mary nodded her head in Laura’s direction as she collected the dirty plates. ‘The mood she’s in, she wouldn’t wash them properly, anyway. Me and Jenny will see to them.’

  Laura didn’t wait to hear what her father had to say, she was off the chair and out of the door like a flash of lightning. ‘Yer should have made her stay, love. Yer told me off for spoiling her and now you’re giving in to her.’

  ‘I’m not spoiling her, Stan, just fed up with her. If she can’t see for herself how selfish she is, then there’s no use making her do anything against her will because it would be done grudgingly.’ Mary smiled at Jenny. ‘Come on, sunshine, you and me will have them done in no time.’

  ‘I don’t need you to help me, Mam, I’ll do them on me own. You sit down and tell me dad about Auntie Amy and the rabbits.’ Jenny took the plates from her mother. ‘Go on, give him a good laugh.’

  Stan was laughing already. ‘What’s she been up to now?’

  ‘Don’t you ever repeat to Ben what I’m going to tell yer.’ Mary sat down, rested her elbows on the table and laced her fingers. And while she told the tale, she giggled at the memory of Amy’s face, while Stan roared his head off.

  ‘She’s a caution, she is,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘Ben wouldn’t be upset over that, he’d be the first to see the joke.’