Sadie Was A Lady (42 page)

Sadie shook her head. ‘You two take the biscuit, yer know that, don’t yer? Yer’ve gone from exhibition dancing to dragons, from pinchin’ a kid’s bike to buckling the wheel on him, from his mam comin’ out and chasing yer, and you getting a clip around the ear off her, then another one off yer mam! Yer’ve covered some ground there all right. And what started it all off, pray? I get pushed to the floor, that’s what started it. And neither of yer have even bothered to ask if I’m dead or alive.’

The two boys exchanged glances. They’d been pals for so long, since infant school, they could practically read each other’s mind. ‘She’s touchy, isn’t she?’ Spike said. ‘Just like a blinkin’ girl.’

‘Yeah,’ Tommy agreed. ‘I mean, it’s not as though she’s broken anything. She’s still in one piece, so I don’t know what she’s got to moan about.’

‘That’s where yer wrong, yer see,’ Sadie said, keeping her face straight. ‘’Cos I did hurt meself.’

Tommy’s grin disappeared. ‘Yer didn’t, did yer? Where did yer hurt yerself?’

‘All over. Me backside, me elbows and me pride.’

‘Ah well, we can’t do anything about yer pride, Sadie,’ Spike said. ‘But me an’ Tommy would be more than happy to rub the other two better for yer.’

Tommy’s shoulders started to shake and Sadie knew he was going to come out with something outrageous. ‘When I was little and I hurt meself, my mam used to kiss it better. That’s where the saying comes from, “kiss me backside”.’

Sadie feigned shock, even though she was laughing inside. ‘You just wait until I tell me Auntie Mary on you, Tommy Seymour. She said, “You tell me, girl, if they say one wrong word out of place and I’ll marmalise the pair of them”.’

‘That’s mean, that, Sadie.’ Spike shook his head sadly. ‘Especially after he’s promised to slay the dragon for yer.’

Tommy gave her a dig. ‘Ay, Sadie, here’s that feller comin’ to claim yer for the slow foxtrot.’

‘He’s an old friend – I go out with him now and again.’

‘Why did yer tell him we lived in the same street as yer grandma?’

Sadie saw Geoff was almost upon them. ‘I’ll tell yer later.’

After a brief nod at the two boys, Geoff led Sadie onto the floor. ‘I never expected to see you here.’

‘I never expected to see meself here,’ Sadie laughed. ‘Tommy and Spike were coming anyway, so when they asked me I thought I might as well. I had nothing else to do and they’re a good laugh.’

‘A good laugh? That ginger-haired one yer were dancing with is an idiot! He can’t dance for toffee an’ shouldn’t be allowed on the floor. He’s lucky you didn’t break a leg.’

‘He’s not an idiot, he’s just a young lad that enjoys life.’ Sadie stared into Geoff’s eyes and it struck her suddenly why she’d never been able to feel more for him than liking. He was a nice, decent, steady bloke, and they’d had many a laugh together. But it had never been a side-splitting belly laugh because he had no sense of the ridiculous. He could never make her laugh like Harry used to, or Tommy or Spike did. And Peter Townley, he was another who could make her giggle even when she was telling him to get lost! It wasn’t Geoff’s fault that he didn’t have a good sense of humour, Sadie didn’t know she had one herself until she’d met Mary Ann. And coming from a home where laughter was rare, she appreciated it more than most. It was an added bonus to the quality of life she now enjoyed.

‘You don’t mind me not sitting with yer, do yer?’ Geoff asked. ‘Only for the last week or so I’ve been staying with Ruby in between dances an’ she’ll expect it.’

‘Of course I don’t mind – I don’t own yer. We agreed to do our own thing, didn’t we? And anyway, I couldn’t leave Tommy and Spike, not after they brought me.’ Sadie looked to where Ruby was sitting, her eyes watching their every move. ‘She looks a nice girl, Geoff, very pretty, too.’

‘Yeah, she is nice. She’s a good dancer, too.’ He slowed
down
to a walk. ‘She’s not as pretty as you, though.’

‘Looks aren’t everything, Geoff. In fact, they can be very deceiving. And I don’t think you should dance with me any more tonight, it’s not fair on her. Besides, I’ve already got two partners.’

‘Some partners. The first dance and you ended up on the floor!’

‘I saw the funny side of it, Geoff. In fact, I thought it was hilarious. They’re as crazy as two coots but I’m not half enjoying meself with them.’ The music was coming to an end so Sadie spoke quickly. ‘Look, d’yer want to skip seeing me on Saturday night so yer can take Ruby out?’

Geoff shook his head. ‘No, I’ve got a date with you an’ we’ll leave it at that.’

‘Don’t be daft, I wouldn’t mind. Give the girl a chance, Geoff. She’s never taken her eyes off yer since we started dancing, so she must like yer. You take her out on Saturday, I’ll see yer here next Wednesday and yer can tell me how yer got on. I’ll come with the boys so I won’t have to play gooseberry.’

Geoff walked her back to where Tommy and Spike were standing. ‘Are yer sure that’s what yer want, Sadie?’

Sadie smiled at him. ‘I’m sure, Geoff. You an’ me are good mates and I want to see yer getting the best out of life.’

Apart from an odd wave as they passed on the dance floor, Sadie had no more contact with Geoff that night. But she didn’t miss him because she was too busy enjoying herself. Spike’s dancing was on a par with Tommy’s – atrocious. But what they lacked in experience on the dance floor, they made up for with their constant chatter and joke-telling. Sadie did have a passing notion that she could perhaps teach them what little she knew, but she dismissed the idea before it could take root. It would take a better one than her to teach these two scallywags how to trip the light fantastic. Unless it was the Sailor’s Hornpipe or an Irish jig – they’d be brilliant at throwing their arms and legs about. Even on their way home they didn’t let up. Down every entry they passed lurked a huge green
monster,
just waiting to pick Sadie up. But the lads vowed to protect her even if it meant being slain themselves. Their acting was so over-dramatic, by the time they reached her front door her face was stiff with laughing and she was pressing at the stitch in her side.

‘Well, we didn’t get much done in the way of dancing, but I’ve had a whale of a time. Thanks very much, boys.’

‘Yer enjoyed it, then, Sadie?’ Tommy asked. ‘I mean, yer not going to close the door on us and breathe a sigh of relief, saying, “Thank God that’s over”?’

Sadie laughed. ‘No, Tommy, I really did enjoy meself.’

‘Come with us again next week, then?’

‘Yeah, okay, but I’m not paying for meself. How soft I’d be to fork out good money just to be thrown on the floor! I’d have to be a head-case, like you two.’

‘Oh, we’ll pay for yer, Sadie, with pleasure.’ Spike jerked his head at Tommy. ‘I’ll have a word with one of the fellers in the band and ask him not to play a tango, then this madcap can’t repeat tonight’s performance.’

‘There’s no fear of that, I’ve learned me lesson.’ It was dark in the street so Sadie couldn’t see Tommy’s face clearly, but she’d bet he was wearing a grin. ‘No, I thought I’d try that other thing next time – you know, where the feller holds the girl’s arm high in the air and she spins around and around while he stands watching her? I mean, I couldn’t come to no harm just standin’ there, could I?’

‘Uh, uh,’ Sadie grunted as she shook her head. ‘The tango is off-limits for you from now on, Tommy Seymour. Yer not the only one who’s learned a lesson.’

‘I’m cut to the quick, Sadie, I really am. Me pride’s been dented.’

‘Well, will yer go home to mend yer pride, Tommy, ’cos I’m going in now, it’s way past me bedtime. I’ll see yer both in the morning, and thanks again for takin’ me out.’

‘Will yer practise that spin in the meantime, Sadie?’ Tommy didn’t want the evening to end, he liked being with Sadie. ‘An’ I’ll practise standing like one of the dummies in Burton’s window, with me arm in the air and pretending to hold yer fingers while yer spin around.’

‘Spike, will yer take him home, please? I’m dead beat.’

‘Anything to oblige.’ Spike took his friend’s arm. ‘Come on, an’ no messing ’cos we’ve got to be up early.’

Tommy sighed. ‘The night’s still young, I’m not a bit tired.’

‘On yer way, pal.’ Spike dragged on his arm. ‘It doesn’t mean that because yer not tired everyone else has to be full of the joys of spring. Good night, Sadie.’

‘Good night, Spike, good night, Tommy.’

‘Ta-ra, Sadie, see yer tomorrow.’ Tommy waved before turning on his friend. ‘Yer like a ruddy wet week, you are. A real misery guts.’

‘Anything you say, pal, I’m too tired to argue.’

Sadie was just about to close the door when she heard Tommy say, ‘No, yer definitely look more miserable than a wet week. More like it’s rained every day for a month and yer shoes are lettin’ in and yer haven’t got an umbrella.’

Spike thought it was time to retaliate. ‘D’yer know who yer a dead ringer for? Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster … only he had more brains than you.’

‘Nah! Yer need yer eyes testin’, you do. Boris Karloff hasn’t got ginger hair! And he’s got a whopping big screw sticking out of his neck an’ he walks funny, as though someone’s wound him up.’

Spike nodded. ‘Just as I said, yer a dead ringer for him. In fact, yer could be twin brothers.’

Sadie turned into Penrhyn Street the following night and was immediately confronted by Peter Townley. ‘In the name of God, Peter, yer frightened the life out of me, I nearly jumped out of me skin!’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t want yer to do that, Sadie, ’cos yer skin suits yer. It fits yer that well anyone would think it had been made for yer.’

‘Don’t make me laugh, Peter, ’cos the muscles in me face are sore from laughing too much last night.’

‘Funny yer should say that, Sadie, ’cos that’s what I want to talk to yer about.’

Sadie’s eyes widened. ‘What is it yer want to talk to me about?’

‘Don’t look at me like that with those big blue eyes of yours. It makes me go all weak in the knees.’

‘Peter, will yer get on with it, please? Me grandma will have me dinner on the table an’ she’ll go mad if I’m late and it goes cold.’

‘Where did yer go last night that made yer muscles sore?’

‘Pardon? What’s it got to do with you where I went?’

‘It was only a friendly enquiry, Sadie. If you wanted to ask me a question, as a friend, like, I wouldn’t bite your head off.’

Sadie gave this some thought before saying, ‘I went to a dance, if yer must know.’

Peter nodded, his face solemn. ‘I thought as much. Now, when I ask me next question I want yer to remember that yer still in the witness box an’ yer’ve sworn on the Bible to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’

‘Peter, what am I going to do with you? If my dinner’s ruined I’ll clock you one.’

‘This matter is very serious, Sadie, so think on. It’s so serious I was back last night to counting the cracks in me bedroom ceiling.’

‘Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.’ Sadie resigned herself to eating a cold dinner. ‘What is it now?’

‘Who were those two strapping lads yer went out with last night?’

Sadie gasped at the cheek of him. ‘As I said before, what’s it got to do with you?’

‘Well, it got me thinking that it was naughty of yer to go out with two strange men when yer supposed to be courting strong. I didn’t think yer were the type of girl to two-time a bloke. And if yer are that type of girl, then why can’t yer two-time him with me? I’d be perfect to two-time somebody with.’

Sadie bit so hard on the inside of her mouth she could taste blood, and the smile she was trying to keep back
turned
into a grimace. ‘Seeing as me life seems to have become a hobby with yer, I’ll bring yer up-to-date. I mean, I’d hate yer to miss out on anything. First, me and the boy I was goin’ out with have decided not to see each other so often. I’m too young to be going serious with anyone. So I’m not two-timing him, see? I’m fancy free and can go out with who I like, when I like. And now you can answer me a question. How did yer know I went out with two blokes last night?’

‘Because I watched yer,’ Peter grinned. ‘I saw them passing, heard them knocking on yer door, then I went up to me mam’s bedroom and kept watch through the window. I sleep at the back of the house, yer see, so it wouldn’t have done me no good to look out of my bedroom window. I’d have sat there all night and seen nothin’, only the woman who lives in the house at the back getting undressed and putting her red flannelette nightie on.’ He pretended to shiver. ‘And I can tell yer that’s not a pretty sight. It’s enough to put yer off women for life.’

‘It doesn’t seem to have put you off.’

‘Ah well, yer see, you don’t look like the woman who lives at the back.’ He leaned forward and gazed into her eyes. ‘Please tell me that yer don’t wear a red flannelette nightie, Sadie – I couldn’t bear it.’

‘Yer a cheeky beggar, Peter Townley, and nosy. I’ve a good mind to go and see that woman at the back and tell her she’s being watched by a Peeping Tom.’

‘Yer could do better than that; yer could do her a big favour by putting a stop to it. If I was taking you out I wouldn’t have time to spare, would I? So do Mrs Thingamajig a favour an’ say yer’ll come out with me?’

Now was a chance to get her own back on him. ‘Can you dance, Peter?’

‘Can I dance? Yer’d have to see it to believe it, Sadie.’

‘I’m going to Blair Hall on Saturday night if yer interested.’

‘If I’m interested – I’ll say I am! What time shall I pick yer up?’

‘The two strapping lads you saw, they’re calling for me at half-seven.’ Sadie’s eyes were pools of innocence. ‘Is that all right with you?’

‘Sadie,’ Peter groaned. ‘Don’t do this to me. I want to take yer out on me own.’

‘What yer want in this life, and what yer get, are two different things, Peter. Yer have to settle for what’s offered. But don’t worry if yer not interested, it was only a thought.’

Peter didn’t take long to decide. After all, it was better than nothing and at least he’d be in her company. ‘Would I get a dance with yer?’

‘Of course yer would.’ Sadie hesitated for a second. ‘Any dance except a tango. I’m hopeless at that.’

‘Ah, what a shame. I’m better at a tango than anything.’