Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle. Leah Fleming

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СКАЧАТЬ me. It’s been a bit of a struggle bringing her up on me own and money’s been tight.’ She scratched her head before continuing. ‘I’m daft really and I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. You see, I’ve got a spare room. It ain’t very big so I couldn’t ask much in the way of rent, but if you’re willing to pay me around fifteen bob a week, it’s yours.’

      ‘Oh, Mo.’

      ‘It’s only when I heard that you needed a bedsit that it came to me. I mean, I’ve got an empty room, you need a place, and I’d hate to have a stranger moving in. I had a word with my Emma, and she’s all for it. We’ve done the room up between us, so, what do you say?’

      Pearl grinned with delight. It sounded wonderful. She would be living in a family house, one with a girl of her own age, and who knew, they might become friends. ‘I’d love to move in with you, Mo.’

      ‘Blimey, girl, you ain’t seen the room yet. Why don’t you pop round tonight? I live at number fourteen Pennington Street. It ain’t far, and you’ll be able to walk to work in five minutes.’

      ‘Mo, it’s about time you got back to the kitchen,’ Dolly snapped, her face red as she marched into the dining room.

      Mo pulled a face and then winked at Pearl. ‘Tonight then?’

      ‘Yes, and thanks.’

      ‘There’s no need for thanks. See you later, or as my Emma would say, “See you later, alligator.”’

      Pearl looked puzzled and Mo chuckled. ‘Everyone says it. That Bill Haley and his rock-and-roll band have even turned it into a song. Emma is mad on him. “See You Later, Alligator” is one of his hit records. You’re supposed to respond with, “In a while, crocodile.” Yeah, I know, daft, ain’t it?’ she added, still chuckling as she bustled away.

      See you later, alligator. It sounded silly to Pearl, but it brought a smile to her face. Rock and roll. Yes, she had heard the foot-tapping music, but without a wireless, she rarely heard the latest trends. Oh, it sounded like it was going to be fun living with Mo and her daughter.

      Derek was disappointed when Pearl told him she’d like to go Mo’s house on her own, but she felt it was best. It only took ten minutes to walk to Pennington Street from Derek’s and, slightly nervous, she knocked on Mo’s door.

      ‘Hello, love, come on in,’ the woman said, grinning as she stood to one side.

      The small hall was immaculate, and at the warm greeting, Pearl relaxed. She was taken immediately upstairs and, flinging open a door, Mo ushered her inside. The room was small, but Pearl fell in love with it at first sight. There were lemon flowered curtains at the window, toning with the lemon candlewick bedspread. The floor was covered in rather dull, brown lino, but a nice rug lay beside the bed. She saw a single wardrobe, a small dressing table, and a tiny wicker chair in one corner.

      ‘I know you usually get a sink in a bedsit, Pearl, but the bathroom is only next door. You’ll have to share it with me and Emma, of course, but I’m sure we’ll all rub along nicely. If you want to cook, you can use the kitchen, and as long as you tidy up after yourself there won’t be a problem.’ With an anxious frown, Mo added, ‘Well, love, what do you think?’

      ‘I love it!’ Pearl cried. ‘It … it’s so pretty.’

      ‘As soon as I decided to let the room, me and Emma done it up.’

      ‘It’s lovely, and the wallpaper is smashing too,’ Pearl said, eyeing the tiny lavender and yellow flowers.

      ‘You should have seen the state we got into hanging it. I think we got more paste on ourselves than the paper. Still, in the end we didn’t make a bad job of it, and now we’re going to tackle our bedrooms. They ain’t been touched in donkey’s years and it’ll be nice to freshen them up. Anyway, Pearl, do you want the room?’

      ‘Oh yes, and can I move in at the end of the week?’

      ‘Of course you can. Emma ain’t in tonight – she’s gone out with her mates – but I’m sure the pair of you will get along fine. She’s a bit older than you, and a little wild at times, but she ain’t got a bad bone in her body.’

      ‘Wild?’

      ‘Maybe that’s the wrong word. It’s just that things have changed so much since the war. When I was a young woman I dressed like my mum – well, there wasn’t any choice. Now, though, there are all these weird and wonderful fashions aimed at youngsters. Only the other day I saw a group of those teddy boys, and if you ask me they look bleedin’ daft. Tight trousers, long jackets, and their hair! My God, with long sideburns and those daft quiff things hanging over their foreheads, it’s a disgrace.’ She sighed before continuing the tirade. ‘My Emma has taken to wearing some very funny clothes too, and she loves to go out dancing. Still, she’s a good girl really, and if you ask me it’s this music from America that’s causing it. Give me a nice crooner like Dickie Valentine, not this flaming rock-and-roll stuff.’ Mo suddenly chucked. ‘Gawd, hark at me, I’m really on me soapbox. Come downstairs and I’ll make you a nice cup of tea.’

      Pearl glanced around the room again before following Mo. The kitchen was small, with a scullery leading to a back yard, and after making the tea, Mo led her into the living room. Like Connie’s, it was stuffed with furniture, most looking faded and old, but again it was immaculately clean.

      ‘I know you’re courting Derek Lewis, but I’m afraid I can’t allow him in your room. My Emma ain’t allowed to bring boys home either, so the same rule applies to both of you.’

      ‘That’s fine with me.’

      ‘Oh, that’s good. I was a bit worried about laying down the law and my Emma says I’m old-fashioned. Old-fashioned! I let Emma stay out until ten thirty, but she still complains. My old dad would have skinned me alive if I wasn’t home by nine thirty in the evening, and that was when I was engaged.’

      ‘With having to get up so early in the morning, I’m mostly in bed by ten. Where does Emma work?’

      ‘She’s got a job in Prices, the candle factory. She’s been there since she left school and seems to like it. Of course, with our surname being Price, she got a bit of ribbing at first, but that soon wore off.’

      Pearl found herself totally at ease in Mo’s company and they chatted for another half-hour. Then, glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece, she rose to her feet. ‘I’d best be off, Mo, and thanks again for letting me have the room. I’ll move in on Saturday night, if that’s all right.’

      ‘That’s fine, and I’ll see you at work in the morning.’

      Pearl hurried along the road, pleased that she had found somewhere so nice to live. It would be easier to leave Derek and Connie now, and she would be living with a small family again. It was odd really. Both Connie and Mo were without husbands and had struggled to bring up a child on their own.

      Pearl’s mind shied away from her next thought. If Mo and Connie could do it – why had her own mother left her on the orphanage steps?

      On Friday, Derek was late coming into the café for his breakfast, and with a few minutes to spare Pearl was standing by his table chatting to him when Kevin appeared.

      His eyes flicked round the room and, seeing them together, he strolled over. СКАЧАТЬ