The Sunshine of your Smile

by Joan Jonker

Genres: Family Life; Siblings; Friendship; World War II; Sagas

Synopsis

Molly and Nellie save the day once again... in their own entertaining and hilarious way. Joan Jonker brings us another instalment of her hugely popular Molly and Nellie series in The Sunshine of Your Smile, where the two friends get up to more mischief in their beloved Liverpool. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Cathy Sharp. 'Joan Jonker does what she does best, drawing on her own upbringing during the 1930s to colour her characters. She writes about warm, witty women who inhabit a familiar world much loved by her legions of fans' - Liverpool Echo Molly Bennett and Nellie McDonough have been best mates for over twenty years, with never a cross word between them. When times were bad and money scarce, they kept their families together with love and laughter. And they were always there to help anyone in trouble. So when they hear about a mother who hasn't seen her son for years, the two friends know they have a job to do... What readers are saying about The Sunshine of Your Smile : ' I have read this book at least 5 times, and I still laugh and it can draw the tears from my eyes. I think we all wish we had a Molly and a Nellie living next to us' 'Again a fantastic story from Joan, Molly and Nellie never fail to entertain us with their escapades. There is everything we have come to expect from the two best mates, an abundance of tears, from joy to romance to heartache but most of all tears of laughter. All in all a fantastic read'

Release date: February 2, 2012

Publisher: Headline

Print pages: 512

Sample

Nellie McDonough faced her friend across the dining table and, pressing her finger on the raised chenille of the cloth, made a fabric tunnel towards the middle of the table. While her finger was busy, her legs were swinging under her chair. ‘Ay, girl, there’s not much doing these days, is there? Life is very dull.’

‘Dull! Did yer say dull?’ Molly Bennett’s voice went up two notes as she gazed in disbelief at her friend. ‘In the name of God, Nellie, don’t yer think I’ve had more than my share of excitement over the last thirteen months? Our Tommy, me only son, got married three weeks ago, and twelve months before that I had a double wedding on me hands when Jill and Doreen got wed. I would have thought that was enough excitement for anyone, but that wasn’t all, was it? Our Doreen has a four-month-old baby, and didn’t I worry meself to death the whole time she was carrying? Then, to top it all, our Jill tells us at Tommy’s wedding that she’s pregnant, so I can start worrying over her now for the next six months. I’m made up for them, of course, and I love me grandson to bits, the same as I’ll love Jill’s baby when it comes. But yer must admit I’ve had a hectic, money-worrying thirteen or fourteen months. And you above anyone knows how much running around I’ve had to do, so how the hell yer can say life is dull, well, that’s beyond me.’

‘All right, girl, keep yer hair on!’ Nellie’s chins swayed in all directions as she wagged her head from side to side. ‘I don’t know why yer had to bite me head off, I was only passing a comment.’

Molly couldn’t help grinning. ‘Is that why ye’re wagging yer head – to make sure I didn’t bite it off? I know I’ve been a bit short-tempered lately, sunshine, but letting go of three children in a year is pretty hard going. It was bad enough for me and Jack when the girls left home, but it’s ten times worse now Tommy’s gone. Oh, I know I see the girls every day ’cos they only live in the street, and Tommy calls every night as he still walks home from work with his dad. But the house isn’t the same and I get emotional at times.’

Nellie could feel herself getting on her high horse, and her whole eighteen-stone body was bristling with injustice. ‘It’s no wonder I’ve been feeling miserable for the last three weeks, it’s you what’s causing it. Every day I’m having to listen to yer bragging about yer grandson, or moaning ’cos yer miss the kids. I’m not surprised I’ve been feeling down in the dumps, ye’re enough to make anyone want to stick their head in the gas oven. In fact I have thought of it, but I never seem to have a penny handy for the meter.’

‘Nellie, to put yer head in the gas oven, yer have to get down on yer knees, and yer’d never make it, sunshine. I mean, the penny is no problem, I’d lend yer one, but the knees would let yer down.’

‘Yer’d be daft to lend me a penny, girl, ’cos yer wouldn’t get it back. I’d be sitting in the front row of the stalls in heaven, next to Saint Peter, and we’d be laughing our cotton socks off when we looked down and saw yer trying to get the penny off George. Now my feller isn’t what yer’d call tight, but he definitely wouldn’t fork out a penny after the job was done. He might have lent yer one before, but not after. He’s not that daft.’

‘This is not a very pleasant subject, sunshine, so can we talk about something else, if yer don’t mind? Something that won’t give me nightmares, like seeing you laying on the kitchen floor with yer head stuck in the gas oven. It doesn’t bear thinking about, and it’s not a sight I’d like to see.’

‘I wouldn’t show yer up, girl, I’d make meself presentable first. Yer wouldn’t have to worry about calling the police out, ’cos I would have put clean knickers on.’

‘Oh, yeah, I can see it all now,’ Molly said. ‘I call the police and tell them I lent yer a penny so yer could gas yerself. But before yer passed away, yer’d left instructions to say I wasn’t to be embarrassed ’cos yer’d changed yer knickers.’

‘D’yer know what, girl?’ Nellie leaned forward and rested her mountainous bosom on the table so she wouldn’t keep banging it. ‘Yer’ve not half cheered up, yer’ve got a smile on yer face and a twinkle in yer eyes.’

‘I might look better, but I can’t snap out of me sadness just like that.’ Molly snapped a finger and thumb. ‘I miss me kids and that’s all there is to it. We used to have a good laugh around the table eating our meal every night, and now there’s just me and Jack and Ruthie. Thank goodness she won’t be getting married for at least six years.’

‘Don’t bite me head off again, girl, but I’ve got to say what’s in me mind whether yer like it or not.’ Nellie lifted her bosom from the table and sat back on the wooden dining chair. The chair wasn’t very happy about this, and made its complaint known by creaking loudly. ‘Yer were moaning about yer children leaving home, but yer never think about whether I miss our Steve or not. And yer go on about Jill being pregnant, and how yer’ll worry about her. Yer seem to forget it was my son what put her in the family way, she didn’t manage it all on her own. So I have as big a stake in the baby as you have, and I’m entitled to worry as well.’

The emphatic nodding of Nellie’s head had the chair creaking and groaning and her chins trying hard to keep in rhythm. ‘Of course yer have as much right as me, sunshine, and I wouldn’t leave yer out for all the money in the world.’ Molly bit on the inside of her lip to stop herself laughing in Nellie’s face. ‘And while I’m on the subject of money, there’s no way I can afford to buy a new dining-room suite in the foreseeable future, so would yer transfer yer backside to the chair what I bought especially for yer? It’s stronger than these, yer see, and it’s used to your bottom now.’

Nellie scratched her head. ‘We weren’t on the subject of money, girl, it was you what brought it up. And d’yer have to use long words just to make me look ignorant in front of people?’

Molly let her eyes roam the room. ‘Which people, sunshine? There’s only me and thee here. And what word are yer on about?’

‘If I knew it, I wouldn’t be asking, would I? I can’t even say it, but I remember yer won’t be able to buy a dining-room suite in it.’

Molly narrowed her eyes. ‘Sometimes I think yer act daft when all the time yer know far more than yer let on. Everyone understands what “the foreseeable future” means, so if I was going to try and trick yer I’d be more inclined to interject a word like “assiduously”.’

Nellie could feel her tummy shaking, lifting the dining table from the floor, so she stood up quickly and leaned on the table with clenched fists. ‘A tanner says yer don’t know the meaning of that last word what yer just came out with.’

‘Don’t waste yer money, sunshine,’ Molly said. ‘Yer’ll only lose.’

Nellie pursed her lips and, nodding knowingly, folded her arms which disappeared from sight beneath her bosom. ‘Not this time I won’t lose, girl, so the tanner bet is on. Say that word again, then tell me what it means. And don’t forget Corker’s home now, so I’ll be asking him for advice.’

‘Yer can write to the King for advice for all I care, sunshine, but I won’t take a tanner off yer. If yer lose yer can buy me a cake. Is that all right with you?’ When Nellie nodded, Molly felt a pang of guilt and almost owned up to truth: that she’d been going through the dictionary last night expressly to find a word she could use to pull her friend’s leg. ‘The word is assiduously, and it means carefully and regularly.’

It’s a good job Nellie was standing because the chair wouldn’t have stood an earthly under her huge body which was shaking with merriment. There wasn’t an inch of her that wasn’t in motion. ‘Careful and regular! Oh, yer mean like going to the lavvy every day?’ In between hoots of laughter, and bending down to try and get her breath, she said, ‘I’ll have to ask George about that tonight. How can I put it now? Shall I ask if he’s been assiduously to the lavvy, or if he’s been to the lavvy assiduously?’

Molly looked at her mate’s face which was creased into a huge grin. The devilish merriment lurking in those hazel eyes made Molly want to round the table and hug the woman who had filled her life with laughter for the last twenty odd years. The four-foot-ten, eighteen-stone bundle of happiness whom she loved like a sister. But if she told Nellie that now her mate would stop every person they met on their way to the shops, and with head held high and breasts standing to attention would repeat the compliment Molly had paid her. And the shopkeepers wouldn’t be left out, they’d get action as well as words. But Nellie always got a smile of welcome when she entered any shop because the assistants knew her antics would brighten their day.

‘Well, sunshine, it’s nice to sit and have a natter, but I think it’s time for us to get our messages in.’ Molly pushed her chair back. ‘I want to stop at Doreen’s to see if she needs anything, save her going out.’

‘Ah, ay, girl, we’ve only had one cup of tea! Let’s have another.’

‘It won’t be fit to drink, it’ll be stiff.’

‘It’ll be wet and warm, and that’ll suit me fine.’ A glint came into Nellie’s eyes. ‘And I know yer’ve got a couple of custard creams left, so they’d go down a treat with the tea.’

Molly gasped. ‘How d’yer know that?’

Not in the least embarrassed, Nellie grinned. ‘I sneaked a look in yer pantry when yer went down the yard for a quick one. So it’s yer own fault for leaving me.’

‘No, it’s not my fault, Nellie McDonough! I don’t expect me friends to go snooping as soon as I’m out of the room. I wouldn’t have the nerve in someone else’s house.’

‘Ah, yeah, but you’re not like me, are yer, girl? I’m a different breed to you. I mean, yer don’t tell lies, only now and again a little white one, and yer don’t really swear. Me now, I tell whopping big fibs and swear like a trooper.’

‘Yer wouldn’t be bragging about telling lies and swearing, would yer? ’Cos I don’t see anything to brag about, yer should be ashamed of yerself.’

‘I’ll make a deal with yer, girl. If you’ll pour the tea out, while we’re drinking it and eating our custard cream, I’ll tell yer all about how ashamed of meself I am.’ Nellie sensed a weakening and added a little bonus. ‘And I’ll mug us to a cream cake when we get to Hanley’s.’

Molly’s resistance faded as the thought of a fresh cream cake had her mouth watering. And if Nellie didn’t mind drinking tepid tea, who was she to argue? ‘That sounds very appealing, sunshine, and I’m not going to refuse. But remember, I can’t return the favour because I’ve only got Jack’s wages coming in now while you have three.’

‘Holy suffering ducks, girl! Have yer found something else to moan about? Ye’re turning into a right moaning Minnie.’

‘Oh, I have no qualms about letting yer buy a cake for me, sunshine, I don’t feel obligated to return the treat. Not after the thousands of cups of tea yer’ve had in here. And the sugar and milk on top. It’ll take yer a lifetime to pay all that back.’

Nellie didn’t turn a hair. With a look of pure innocence on her face, she moved to where the carver chair stood and carried it to the table. It was a strong chair, with polished arms, and well able to support her ample proportions. When she plonked herself down, there wasn’t a peep out of it. ‘Yer forgot to mention the biscuits I’ve had, girl, so I’d better remind yer in case ye’re making a list of the debts I owe yer.’

‘Yer’ve well paid yer debts, sunshine. Yer paid them with all the fun and happiness yer’ve given me and mine over the years.’ Molly pulled a face as she poured out the lukewarm tea. But as much as she loved her friend, she had no intention of making a fresh pot. There was shopping and work to be done. ‘Yer’ve paid up in full, Nellie, account cleared.’

Nellie jerked her head back, throwing her chins into turmoil. ‘Thank God for that!’ There was more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice. ‘I don’t need to stay awake every night, worrying about when yer going to send the bailiffs in.’

Molly handed her a cup, saying, ‘I can’t see anything keeping you awake at night, sunshine. Yer wouldn’t worry if yer backside was on fire.’

‘Nothing would keep me awake all night, girl, but there’s a feller laying next to me in bed, and he sometimes keeps me awake. He can’t resist me voluptuous body.’

‘Right, that’s it!’ Molly glared across the table. ‘Once we get to talking about your bedroom, then it’s time to call it a day. So get that tea down and let’s be on our way.’

Like a little girl doing as she was told, Nellie lifted the cup to her lips. Loudly enough for Molly to hear, she muttered, ‘I feel sorry for her feller, he picked a real cold fish when he picked her.’

Doreen greeted her mother and Nellie with a smile and a kiss. Motherhood suited her, she looked the picture of health and prettier than ever. ‘I’m glad yer called, Mam, ’cos I’d like yer to get some shopping for me, if yer don’t mind.’

‘That’s what we’ve called for, sunshine.’ Molly crossed the room to where a frail old lady sat in her rocking chair, a smile of welcome on her face. Miss Victoria Clegg was ninety years of age, and although she could no longer get around as she used to, she still had all her faculties. A spinster, she was loved by everyone, especially Molly’s daughter and her husband Phil whom she had taken in and given a home to. And when the baby came along, it seemed to have given the old lady a new lease of life. With no family of her own, she considered God had been watching over her when she was befriended by the Bennetts and McDonoughs. They had made her part of their families, and she thanked the Good Lord for it every night.

‘How are you this fine day, Victoria?’ Molly had a hand on each of the wooden arms of the chair and smiled down into the old lady’s faded blue eyes. ‘I’ve got to say yer look good, so my daughter can’t be such a bad cook.’

‘She’s a marvellous cook, Molly, and a marvellous housewife and mother.’ The old lady looked past Molly to where Nellie was standing. ‘And what has Mrs McDonough been up to so far today?’

‘I haven’t been up to nothing, girl, it’s me mate what’s been playing up. She was in a right miserable mood when I called for her, and all the time I was in her house she did nothing but find fault with me.’

Doreen leaned back against the sideboard and waited to be entertained by the woman she’d always known as Auntie Nellie, and who was like a second mother to all the Bennett children. ‘Oh, aye, and what’s me mam done now?’

‘Well, it’s difficult to know where to start, girl, ’cos according to her, I’ve got more things wrong with me than I’ve got right. But I won’t burden you and Victoria with me woes, except to tell yer that two of her complaints were I swear like a trooper and I’ve got no sympathy for her in her time of sadness. Oh, and I’m a nosy poke into the bargain.’

‘Are yer cut to the quick, Auntie Nellie?’ Doreen asked. ‘Has me mam upset yer?’

‘Oh, yer’ll never know how much, girl, never. She’s me mate, but sometimes she can be a right cruel cow.’

Victoria was used to this sparring; in fact she looked forward to it. She’d never known a day when these two friends hadn’t brought a smile to her face and filled her room with laughter. ‘I don’t think Molly was far wrong when she said yer can swear like a trooper, Nellie. Not that I’ve ever heard a trooper swear, mind, but I have heard you forget yerself sometimes and come out with the odd swear word. But I have to admit I don’t see enough of you to know whether ye’re nosy or not.’

Molly jerked her head at Nellie. ‘Explain to them the reason I said yer were nosy. Go on, tell them and see what they think.’

‘All this because I was truthful with her.’ Nellie’s nodding head set her layers of chins jiggling up and down in harmony. Until she changed tactics and began to shake her head, then they decided it was every chin for himself. ‘I’ll tell her lies in future, it’s easier.’

‘Don’t be shy, sunshine,’ Molly said. ‘Tell them why I said yer were nosy.’

When Nellie let out a deep sigh, it was as if her bosom had been blown up by a bicycle pump. ‘Honest, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill isn’t in it. All I did was look in her pantry to see if she had any biscuits to have with our cup of tea. That’s all I did, yet to hear the way she took off on me, anyone would think I’d killed the cat.’

‘Me mam hasn’t got a cat, Auntie Nellie.’

‘I know that, girl, but I was just supposing.’ Hitching her bosom, Nellie came up with a thought. ‘If yer mam did have a cat, girl, I would have trod on it and killed it ages ago. Yer see, I haven’t seen me feet for years, so I can’t see where I’m putting them.’

‘Nellie, will yer stop prevaricating and get on with it! The day will be gone before we get to the shops.’

‘All right, girl, whatever you say.’ With that, Nellie folded her arms and clamped her lips tightly shut.

Molly looked confused. ‘What are yer doing now?’

‘Yer told me to stop it, so I’ve stopped!’

‘I told yer to stop prevaricating, not to stop talking!’

‘I didn’t know what that word meant, girl, but I do know the meaning of the word stop. Yer see, big words are all very fine, but what use are they if nobody understands the bloody things but yerself? Yer could have a fine conversation with yerself, but it would be very one-sided and there’d be no fun in that.’ Nellie’s head went back and she looked up at the ceiling. ‘It’s no good me asking her to repeat the word so I can tell my feller tonight, ’cos it’s taking me all me time to remember assiduously.’

Oh, dear lord, Molly thought, we’ll be here all day at this rate. It would suit Nellie fine because she never worried about whether the dinner was ready for her family coming in from work. If it wasn’t then it was just too bad and they’d have to wait. ‘Nellie, will yer tell Doreen and Victoria where I was when yer went snooping in my pantry?’

‘Yer’d gone to the lavvy, girl, I thought yer knew that. I mean, yer wouldn’t have let me snoop if yer were there, would yer?’ Then she said in a defiant voice, ‘I don’t think that was being nosy. We’ve been friends long enough to do what we like in each other’s house.’

‘Oh, so I can go in your house, wait until yer go down the yard, then sniff around to see how many biscuits yer’ve got?’

Nellie didn’t answer but dropped her head and gazed down at the floor. After a few seconds the three women could feel the floorboards move beneath their feet, and they were ready when Nellie burst out laughing. The sound ricocheted off the walls, and although Nellie was the only one who knew why she was laughing, it was so infectious the others joined in. Rubbing a chubby hand across her eyes, she gulped, ‘Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear! Molly, girl, I’ll tell yer something to save yer the bother of searching me pantry for biscuits. If yer searched for a month of Sundays yer’d never find any, ’cos there’s never any there, not even a crumb.’

‘Who are yer kidding, sunshine? Yer forget, I’m always with yer at the shops, and when we get biscuits at the corner shop, you get exactly the same as I do. So don’t be pleading poverty because I know different.’

‘Oh, yer see me getting them, girl, I’ll grant yer that. But yer don’t see me eating them, do yer? And cross my heart and hope to die, I’m telling yer the truth. Any biscuits I get are eaten the same day. None over, all gone.’

‘Are yer telling me that you and yer family can polish a pound of biscuits off in one day? That’s greedy, that is.’

‘No, not me family, girl, they haven’t got a sweet tooth like me. George might have one with his cup of tea before he goes to bed, but that’s all. I’m the guilty party, I eat the blinking lot. All by meself, on me tod.’

Molly’s hands went to her hips and her head tilted. ‘Are yer telling us, Nellie McDonough, that you go through a pound of biscuits, on yer own, in one day? I don’t believe yer! No one can be that greedy, especially when they’re so hard to come by.’ Another thought struck her. ‘And yer have the cheek to come to my house and cadge whatever I’ve got! That is downright cheeky, that is.’

‘I can’t help it if I’ve got no willpower, girl! I do try, honest I do, but while I know there’s biscuits in me pantry, I can’t leave them alone.’ Then came Nellie the drama queen. ‘They seem to draw me like a magnet.’ She stretched out her arms and grunted as she drew them slowly back, as though from the effort of pulling a heavy weight towards her. ‘It’s just like that, girl, honest! I try to take me mind off them, but like I say, it’s as if I’m being drawn to them like a magnet. Even at two o’clock in the morning I can’t resist the pull. Many’s the night I’ve crept down the stairs while all the family were asleep, and scoffed the last two ginger snaps. And yer’ll never believe me, but once I know there’s none left, I can creep back up the stairs, climb into bed and go fast asleep.’

Molly didn’t believe her for a second, but had to admit her friend could be very entertaining exaggerating any situation. ‘Oh, and George didn’t feel yer getting out of bed, didn’t hear yer going down the stairs, and climbing back into bed? He must be a very heavy sleeper, your feller. Or deaf.’

‘I have woke him up a few times, but I tell him I’ve been down the yard. And he believes me when he feels me cold feet on his back.’

‘Nellie,’ Victoria said, pressing a hand against the stitch in her side, ‘yer definitely should have got a job on the stage or the films ’cos ye’re far better at acting than most of the big stars. If only you’d been seen by a talent scout they would have snapped yer up. Oh, yes, fate has definitely been unkind to you.’

The little woman rose to her full four foot ten, for this was praise indeed. ‘Thank you, Victoria, you’re the only one of my friends to recognize talent when they see it.’

‘Shush!’ Doreen put a finger to her mouth and strained an ear. ‘There’s Bobby crying, it must be time for his feed.’ She made haste to the stairs, saying, ‘Yer can tell the time by him, he’s every three hours on the dot.’

‘We’ll wait for Doreen to come down and tell us what she wants from the shops, sunshine. And after I’ve had a cuddle from me grandson we’ll be on our way.’

‘Oh, ye gods and little fishes, she’s going all soppy again.’ Nellie tried hard to put a look of disgust on her face. ‘It’s enough to make yer sick.’

‘Wait until Jill and Steve have their baby, then yer’ll be just the same,’ Victoria said. ‘Your first grandchild . . . you and George will be over the moon.’

‘Of course she will! She just likes to play the tough guy, that’s all. It’s these gangster films she sees. One day she’s Edward G. Robinson, and the next James Cagney.’ Molly glanced out of the window. ‘It’s a nice blue sky, a good day for washing.’

‘Is it nice out, Molly?’ Victoria asked. ‘It seems to be, looking out of the window, but sometimes looks are deceptive.’

‘Yeah, it is nice, considering we’re into October.’ Molly smiled down at the old lady, and suddenly, without any warning, it was as if someone had switched on an electric light in her head. She could see Victoria walking down the street with Doreen holding the ninety-year-old firmly by the arm for support. They never walked far, just down to the shops and back, but the old lady liked the fresh air, and stopping to chat to neighbours who made a fuss of her. There had been no walks since the baby arrived, though, and Molly was now cursing herself for being so thoughtless. How could Doreen take Victoria out and push the pram at the same time? It was impossible because the old lady had to be supported. This was something Molly should have seen. She probably would have realized if she hadn’t been so busy, but that wasn’t a good enough excuse.

She closed her eyes briefly. How could she have been so thoughtless that her neighbour whom she loved dearly was now reduced to asking what the weather was like outside? Victoria would never ask to be taken out, she’d consider that to be imposing herself. But she shouldn’t have to ask, and wouldn’t have needed to if Molly had given her a thought. It was time to make up for her lack of care and concern. ‘Would yer like a short walk, Victoria, to get some fresh air? Me and Nellie would be only too glad to take yer, and we’d walk yer nice and slow.’

‘No, that’s all right, sweetheart, yer’ve got enough to worry about without me adding to it. It was kind of yer to ask, though.’

Doreen came down the stairs holding the baby close in her arms. ‘I heard that, Aunt Vicky, and ye’re telling fibs ’cos I know yer’d love to go out for a little walk. So don’t be so ruddy stubborn and go with me mam and Auntie Nellie. I’ll have finished feeding Bobby by the time yer get back.’

Nellie had been pondering while this was going on. Like her mate, she loved the old lady to bits and would do anything for her. And it would be a bit of a bonus as well, ’cos Molly couldn’t blame her when people stopped to chat to Victoria. ‘Don’t take no arguments from her, just tell her to get her coat on.’ She winked at the old lady whose eyes were looking decidedly brighter. ‘We’ll run yer down to the butcher’s and back. That should be no problem to a spring chicken like yerself. In fact, if my corn starts playing me up, yer could give me a piggy-back.’

‘If you hold the baby, Mam, I’ll get her coat,’ Doreen said. ‘And she’ll need a scarf, even though yer say it’s nice out. We can’t have her getting a cold.’

Molly held her grandson, and when she heard him gurgling, and felt his feet and arms waving about, all the love she had for this tiny scrap of humanity welled up within her. ‘Ooh, I love yer that much I could eat yer!’ She bent and kissed his forehead. ‘I’m sure he knows me, Doreen, he’s smiling at me.’

‘Oh, my gawd, she’s off again.’ Nellie sighed and tutted. And because she didn’t know whether to shake or nod her head, her chins were allowed the freedom to do as they pleased. ‘If yer ever hear me getting as soppy as that when my grandchild arrives, tell me to put a sock in it, Victoria.’

Doreen was helping the old lady on with her coat while she grinned at the woman who was like a second mother to her. ‘Yer’ll be singing a different tune then, Auntie Nellie. As soon as the baby is put in yer arms, yer’ll be hooked for life. And I promise yer, yer wouldn’t have it any other way.’ After she’d fastened the buttons on the coat, she looked into her old friend’s lined face and gave a conspiratorial wink. ‘Jill and Steve were only wondering the other night, if they had a baby girl, would it take after you?’

‘Not on your life,’ Molly said. ‘The world is not big enough for two Nellie McDonoughs. And seeing as the baby will be my grandchild as well, can yer ’magine what I’d have to put up with? No, if it resembles Nellie in any way, I’m going to ask our Jill to send it back ’cos I can’t afford to keep two of them going in biscuits.’

‘Have yer had the wireless on this morning, Mam?’ Doreen asked. She waited until Molly shook her head, then said, ‘Sweets have come off rationing from today. So yer can go in any shop and buy as much as yer like.’

Nellie punched the air for joy. ‘Yippee! I’m going to buy meself a slab of Cadbury’s from the corner shop, and eat the whole lot on the way to the butcher’s.’ She glared at Molly, daring her to comment. ‘And I’m not going to share it, so there!’

‘I don’t care if yer make a pig of yerself, sunshine, but don’t ever again come crying to me because yer can’t bend down to fasten yer shoes. Yer’ll never lose that tummy if yer carry on eating biscuits and sweets.’

‘Yer can’t shame me, girl, ’cos when it comes to chocolate there’s no shame in me. If I had to choose between a slab of Cadbury’s or being able to fasten me shoes, then I’d go ruddy barefoot.’ When Molly shrugged her shoulders as if to say, ‘What can you do with her?’ Nellie turned away and muttered, ‘Miserable cow! She’s only jealous ’cos she hasn’t got a voluptuous body like mine what has all the men chasing after me. Even Tucker the coal man told me last week he’d lusted after me for years.’ She turned suddenly to face Molly, her grin spreading from ear to ear. ‘He offered to give me a ride on his horse if I’d meet him down the side entry one night, when it’s dark.’

‘Oh, and was he going to bring a ladder with him?’ Molly asked. ‘Yer’d need one to get on the horse.’

‘Nah! He said he’d give me a leg up.’

Molly was looking down at the baby, and when she burst out laughing she spluttered all over him. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Bobby, but yer can blame yer Auntie Nellie. And I only hope to God she’s learned how to control her tongue b