Molly Green - An Orphan’s War

‘I suppose you have told Johnny,’ her mother said, intuitive for once.

‘I’ve mentioned it.’

‘And what did he say?’

‘That’s between him and me,’ Maxine said, gently but firmly.

Her mother looked at her, astonished. But all she said was, ‘When do you plan to go?’ She rose to collect the dirty plates as though she couldn’t wait to get out of the room – didn’t want to hear Maxine’s answer.

‘I told you, Mum,’ Maxine said in exasperation, ‘I haven’t planned that far ahead. I don’t even know if there’s a vacancy. I imagine they’re short of nurses, but I wouldn’t leave here until they offered me a job – presumably I’d have to have an interview first.’

‘Hmm.’ Her mother’s lips pulled tight. ‘Let’s hope they don’t allow married women.’

Maxine made her excuse and left the table as soon as she could and went up to her room. Her unmade bed seemed to reprimand her, but she’d been in such a hurry this morning and hadn’t had time to make it. As she bent to pull the blankets up and plump the pillow, she felt Pearl’s letter sticking out of her skirt pocket. Ripping it open with her fingers, defying her father’s instructions to always use a proper paperknife and make a neat job of it, she pulled out the single sheet.

18th May, 1940

Dear Max,

I haven’t seen you lately, but I expect you’ve been busy at the hospital. I do hope you and Aunt and Uncle are well and that you’re enjoying your nursing. It sounds very romantic, looking after patients and getting them well.

I have some exciting news! I went for an audition last week to sing and dance in Better Days at the Empire and have got in!!! But rehearsals every day mean I’ll have to give up work. So I wonder if I can ask you for a teensy-weensy favour. Could you lend me some money to tide me over? Maybe £25? I think that would do it. Of course I’d pay you back at the first opportunity. I’m not a star or anything, but I have got quite a good part, though it won’t pay any more than Woolworth’s to begin with, and we don’t get paid until the show opens in six weeks’ time.

I didn’t really know anyone to ask in the family, but if you don’t have the cash, or are unwilling, I quite understand. But if you can help I’d be very grateful.

Much love,

Your cousin Pearl

XX

She might have known. And she did have some money tucked away. It was difficult to save anything from her modest wages after giving her mother ten shillings a week for her board, but she made some extra cash by doing sewing for some of the nurses in the evenings and weekends. Twenty-five pounds though would wipe out most of it. She’d need a buffer to pay for her fare to London and a bit over to manage with until she got paid at the end of her first week. That is, if she got an offer.

No, it was impossible. She might be able to lend her cousin a fiver, but no more. And she wouldn’t trust the post. She’d go and see Pearl tomorrow evening, straight from work.

Maxine took the tram to Bold Street where Pearl lived, still in two minds how much to lend her. Her cousin’s lodgings consisted of two rooms and a shared bathroom above a fish and chip shop. As she approached the building she noticed four lads huddled together on top of a pile of planks on the shop’s windowsill, poring over a newspaper. She hid a smile. They couldn’t have been more than eight or nine, she thought, but they were intently reading the headlines. They didn’t even look up as she brushed past them and entered the shop. The stale smell of fried dripping immediately filled her nostrils.

‘We haven’t seen you for a time, young Maxine,’ Mr Rowe glanced up from his deep-fat frying pan, his face red from the heat and his greying moustache bristling as he beamed at her.

‘I’ve been very busy at the hospital and don’t get a lot of time off.’

‘How’s that husband of yours?’

Maxine sighed. ‘I haven’t heard for the past two weeks so can only hope he’s all right.’ She needed to change the subject quickly. ‘Do you know if Pearl’s in?’

‘Far as I know.’ He deftly removed some sizzling pieces of fish and laid them out in the warming cabinet. ‘She’s already been in for her lunch.’ He nodded. ‘Go on through, love.’

Maxine stepped through the back of the shop and climbed a flight of stairs. She could still hear muffled sounds of the traffic inside the building, but even though Pearl’s rooms were in the centre of a noisy commercial district she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of envy. Pearl lived on her own – answerable to no one. She did exactly what she wanted and blow everyone else. She’d been expelled from school for smoking and her parents had had no control over her whatsoever. Maxine believed her aunt and uncle were secretly relieved when their daughter was off their hands. But Pearl hadn’t until now been able to fulfil her dream of going on the stage. Her parents had done their best to persuade her to learn shorthand and typewriting but being in an office was the last thing Pearl was going to do. Instead she’d accepted a job in the haberdashery department of Woolworth’s, much to their shame.

She and Pearl were different in every way, Maxine mused, but they’d always been friends, against both mothers’ wishes. Her mother was forever warning Maxine that Pearl was a bad influence and not to spend too long in her company.

Guiltily, she realised she hadn’t visited Pearl since her wedding, though the lapse was nothing to do with her mother’s comments. Maxine had had several months of nights at the hospital and it had been difficult to fit in social visits with trying to sleep in the daytime – almost impossible in a small terraced house.

Bits of lino were missing on some of the treads of the second flight of stairs to Pearl’s quarters, and once Maxine caught her heel, ripping it a little further. A baby cried and the smell of soiled babies’ napkins from one of the first-floor flats wafted up, but she was used to worse when she walked through the babies’ ward. She knocked and instantly the door opened. There stood Pearl looking lovely as always in a navy straight skirt that slimmed her eager curves and a bright pink top with scooped neckline and short sleeves. High heels raised her a little nearer Maxine’s height. Her grin nearly split her face in two.

‘Max! What a lovely surprise. I didn’t expect you to come over this quickly. You’re lucky I’m here. Come on in.’

She stood aside while Maxine brushed past her into the one large room with a kitchenette at one end. Pearl had a bedroom and use of a box room off the landing, and shared a bathroom with the family downstairs. Although Pearl kept it clean enough, the room was terribly untidy; so different from the way Maxine’s house-proud mother kept her home. She mustn’t compare. This was homely and friendly, which Maxine didn’t always feel in her own house.

‘Take your jacket off. I’ll make some tea. Or would you like something stronger?’ Her cousin sent her a mischievous smile. ‘A gin and orange?’

‘No, thanks. But tea would be lovely.’

Pearl filled the kettle and put it on to boil, all the while talking to Maxine.

‘Nursing seems to suit you.’ She turned to have a closer look at her cousin. ‘Or is it married life you’ve taken to?’ she asked, a chuckle escaping her full lips. ‘Can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since the wedding when I last saw you.’

‘I could count on two hands how many days Johnny and I have spent together,’ Maxine said, ruefully.

‘Yeah, but what about the nights? That’s the bit I want to hear about.’