Read Online Sadie Was A Lady by Joan Jonker - Free Book Online

things to keep yer happy, then start salting a few coppers away every week towards that place of yer own. It’ll take yer a few years ’cos no one will rent a house to a youngster like you, but in those years yer can be saving up to furnish the house. A few coppers every week will soon grow into shillings and then the shillings will turn to pounds. Yer’ve got a good little head on yer shoulders, girl, and if yer set yer mind to it, yer’ll get what yer want.’
    ‘Mary Ann, if you were my mother I wouldn’t be thinking of a place of me own because I’d have everything I wanted at home. I don’t ask much out of life, just a bit of love, understanding and warmth. It’s not asking much, is it?’
    ‘No, it’s not, girl – and if I ever meet yer parents I’ll break their bleedin’ necks for them. But before yer’ve got me bawlin’ me eyes out, and before everything on me stall has been nicked, tell me if yer takin’ the skirt and blouse.’
    ‘Yes, they’re really nice. I’m sorry about the dress ’cos it is beautiful, but I’d never have the opportunity to wear it and I can’t afford it anyway. So how much d’yer want for the skirt and blouse?’
    Mary Ann’s tummy started to shake and her nose twitched with laughter. ‘Have yer still got that bleedin’ shilling?’
    Sadie laughed with her. ‘It’s not the same bleedin’ shilling, but yer’d never know the difference.’
    ‘Give us it then. I won’t charge yer for washing and ironing them.’
    ‘Yer haven’t washed them, have yer?’
    ‘I have, ’cos I knew yer’d be wanting to wear them tonight. Now, will yer sod off and let me get back to earning a living?’
    ‘Can I keep the paper bag, please, to carry me things home in?’
    The stall-holder rolled her eyes. ‘Go on, take it.’
    Sadie folded the skirt and blouse and carefully laid them in the bag. From now on, that bag would have to be her wardrobe. ‘See yer next week, Mary Ann.’
    ‘I hope so, girl, otherwise me takings will be down.’
    Brenda clung to Sadie’s arm as they neared the Gainsborough where Alec and Bobby were waiting for them. ‘I’ll never speak to yer again if yer leave me alone with him.’
    ‘Don’t talk daft. How can I leave yer alone with him in a picture house full of people! Be yer age, Brenda.’
    Alec made straight for Sadie, who was looking very attractive in her new outfit. His eyes were full of admiration as he took her elbow. ‘We thought yer weren’t goin’ to show up.’
    Sadie pulled her arm free. ‘Before we go in, me and Brenda don’t want to be split up. We want to sit next to each other.’
    ‘Suits me, it’s no skin off my nose.’ Alec had visions of sitting in the back row with his arms around Sadie and couldn’t care less what happened to Brenda. But his hopes were dashed when the usherette told him the back rows were full. The lights dimmed for the start of the first house and after she’d torn their tickets in half, she shone her torch to lead them down the aisle. ‘There’s four.’ She lit up the empty seats then hurried back up the aisle.
    Alec took charge. ‘Bobby, you go in first. Then you, Brenda.’
    Sadie saw Brenda’s face as she squeezed past the people in the occupied seats. ‘You get in now, Alec,’ she said in a low voice. ‘You can sit between me and Brenda.’
    ‘But I thought—’
    ‘Never mind what yer thought, just get in.’ In the light from the flickering screen, Sadie saw her friend’s angry look change to one of pleasure. I knew that would please her, she thought, having a handsome lad sitting next to her. But I’m not coming out in a foursome again ’cos there’s no pleasure in it. I should be enjoying myself, not worrying whether Brenda does or not.
    After two short comedy films and the newsreel, the lights went up for the interval. ‘D’yer want an ice cream, Sadie?’ Alec asked.
    ‘No, it’s all right. Yer’ve paid enough out for us.’
    ‘Don’t be daft, have an ice