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Authors: Josephine Cox
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asked quietly, ‘When I’ve got a worry on my mind I find it’s best to tell somebody, so what is it, child? Are you worried about your family, is that it?’
‘No, they always manage to sort themselves out.’ Alice assured her; though she had never really known what a proper, loving family was like, until Frank brought her home to this wonderful place.
Nancy persisted. ‘Out with it,’ she demanded. ‘What’s troubling you? Was it something your father said?’
Ashamed of the position her parents had put her in, Alice explained, ‘You’ve been so kind to me…letting me stay lastnight, and making me that lovely silk underskirt for my wedding dress.’
Nancy laughed. ‘That dress has been hanging in my wardrobe since the day I got married. When I offered to make you an underskirt out of the lining, I knew I would have to take it in by a mile, so it was just as well you stayed over.’
She regarded Alice’s slim figure against her own ample size. ‘Back then, when I was just a young kipper, I was never as tidybuilt as you are,’ she exclaimed. ‘Even after making you a long underskirt, there’s still enough of that material over to make a barrage balloon!’
Alice laughed. ‘That’s not true, I’m sure, but I really appreciate you making me that lovely underskirt.’
‘You’re very welcome, so now why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?’ Nancy asked.
Alice told her, ‘Just now, when Father rang, he had a favour to ask.’
‘From me, or from you?’
‘From you.’
‘Well then, luv, I have a right to know what it is he’s asking, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, but I don’t like to say anything because you’ve already been so good to me.’
She went on, ‘It’s just that…he wondered if I could stay here again tonight, because my sister Pauline’s gone to stay with her friend in Bedford. I don’t want to ask her not to go, because I know it’s a special visit, so her friend can help her choose her bridesmaid shoes. It means though, that I’ll be in the house without my parents.’
Nancy was worried. ‘So your sister Pauline still hasn’t got her shoes? Dearie me! She’s left it a bit late, hasn’t she?’ Nancy thought she had never known such a disorganised wedding, and there were Alice’s parents supposed to be high-flying business people. Either they didn’t care enough about theiryoungest daughter’s wedding, or they had much higher priorities to manage.
Alice explained about the shoes. ‘Pauline and Mother have been arguing for days over who would choose them. In the end Pauline won. She always does, but there’s not much time left, so that’s why I can’t ask her to stay in the house with me tonight, instead of visiting her friend.’
Nancy put Alice’s concern to rest straight away. ‘Look here, child! You are about to become my daughter-in-law, and I couldn’t be more thrilled,’ she announced proudly. ‘My home is your home, and of course you’ll stay here, and that’s an end to it.’
Alice kissed her on the cheek. ‘It’s me that’s thrilled,’ she whispered, ‘’cause I’m about to have another mum…the best in the world!’ Nancy flushed with delight.
Just then Joe arrived. ‘Something smells good,’ he said rubbing his hands together.
‘Get your coat off and wash them mucky hands.’ Nancy could smell the oil from the tractor engine. ‘Your brother’s upstairs, so make sure the pair of you leave the bathroom as you found it!’
While the brothers were away, Nancy and Alice put the finishing touches to the table.
Alice thought she had never seen such an amazing spread. She felt proud of herself for having helped. Moreover, she had loved working in the kitchen with Nancy, because she taught her so much more than her mother had ever done.
The table was laden with a feast. There was a plump joint of best beef waiting to be sliced by Tom, and various dishes of steaming-hot vegetables. There were roast potatoes golden brown and
‘No, they always manage to sort themselves out.’ Alice assured her; though she had never really known what a proper, loving family was like, until Frank brought her home to this wonderful place.
Nancy persisted. ‘Out with it,’ she demanded. ‘What’s troubling you? Was it something your father said?’
Ashamed of the position her parents had put her in, Alice explained, ‘You’ve been so kind to me…letting me stay lastnight, and making me that lovely silk underskirt for my wedding dress.’
Nancy laughed. ‘That dress has been hanging in my wardrobe since the day I got married. When I offered to make you an underskirt out of the lining, I knew I would have to take it in by a mile, so it was just as well you stayed over.’
She regarded Alice’s slim figure against her own ample size. ‘Back then, when I was just a young kipper, I was never as tidybuilt as you are,’ she exclaimed. ‘Even after making you a long underskirt, there’s still enough of that material over to make a barrage balloon!’
Alice laughed. ‘That’s not true, I’m sure, but I really appreciate you making me that lovely underskirt.’
‘You’re very welcome, so now why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?’ Nancy asked.
Alice told her, ‘Just now, when Father rang, he had a favour to ask.’
‘From me, or from you?’
‘From you.’
‘Well then, luv, I have a right to know what it is he’s asking, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, but I don’t like to say anything because you’ve already been so good to me.’
She went on, ‘It’s just that…he wondered if I could stay here again tonight, because my sister Pauline’s gone to stay with her friend in Bedford. I don’t want to ask her not to go, because I know it’s a special visit, so her friend can help her choose her bridesmaid shoes. It means though, that I’ll be in the house without my parents.’
Nancy was worried. ‘So your sister Pauline still hasn’t got her shoes? Dearie me! She’s left it a bit late, hasn’t she?’ Nancy thought she had never known such a disorganised wedding, and there were Alice’s parents supposed to be high-flying business people. Either they didn’t care enough about theiryoungest daughter’s wedding, or they had much higher priorities to manage.
Alice explained about the shoes. ‘Pauline and Mother have been arguing for days over who would choose them. In the end Pauline won. She always does, but there’s not much time left, so that’s why I can’t ask her to stay in the house with me tonight, instead of visiting her friend.’
Nancy put Alice’s concern to rest straight away. ‘Look here, child! You are about to become my daughter-in-law, and I couldn’t be more thrilled,’ she announced proudly. ‘My home is your home, and of course you’ll stay here, and that’s an end to it.’
Alice kissed her on the cheek. ‘It’s me that’s thrilled,’ she whispered, ‘’cause I’m about to have another mum…the best in the world!’ Nancy flushed with delight.
Just then Joe arrived. ‘Something smells good,’ he said rubbing his hands together.
‘Get your coat off and wash them mucky hands.’ Nancy could smell the oil from the tractor engine. ‘Your brother’s upstairs, so make sure the pair of you leave the bathroom as you found it!’
While the brothers were away, Nancy and Alice put the finishing touches to the table.
Alice thought she had never seen such an amazing spread. She felt proud of herself for having helped. Moreover, she had loved working in the kitchen with Nancy, because she taught her so much more than her mother had ever done.
The table was laden with a feast. There was a plump joint of best beef waiting to be sliced by Tom, and various dishes of steaming-hot vegetables. There were roast potatoes golden brown and
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