Within the Lancaster and Morecambe boundaries are a string of former villages: Scotforth, Greaves, Bowerham, Lancaster, Skerton, Ryelands, Scale Hall, Torrisholme, Bare, Poulton, Lower Heysham and Higher Heysham.The list is not a complete one, as It does not include ribbon developments and some new estates.
The total population was under a hundred thousand. Each area had its own distinctive character. The place was large enough for wrong-doers to think that they were safe in their deceptions. They might believe that straying from conventionally good behaviour would go unnoticed. It was very foolish of them to think so. Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham did not offer the anonymity of a London Borough. No, they retained village status and gossip ghettoes.
Nan Watson had a finely attuned ear. She had her personal contacts in many streets. She had lots of time every day and plenty of opportunity to keep herself well-informed about all sorts of goings-on. Like many with time on their hands, being in the know was her chief interest in life.
Vital to her lines of communication was her old neighbour, from Marton Street. She lived just a few doors away from her, on Hareruns.
This elderly lady bore a striking resemblance to Norman Evans, the music-hall comedian with a broad Northern accent. She wore a long black frock, a flowery pinafore and always had her grey hair in curlers. Her false teeth had been hand-ons from a dead relative and were very loose in her mouth. When her tongue wagged, and her jaw went up-and-down faster and faster, it was a miracle that she did not spit the teeth out, along with the copious amount of spittle with which she sprinkled whoever she was talking to.
Michael called her Mrs Eease-and-Oose.
If she was in Nan's, having a cup of tea, and bringing Nan up-to-date with all of her latest tit-bits of news, she would greet the Watson children enthusiastically.
"Eeee! Just look at you. Aren't you getting to be a big lad! Oooo! And look at your Gwyn. Eeee! What a bonny lass isn't she?
Oooo! I'd never have thought it! Eeee! Thou was such a tiny little scrap of a thing. Oooo! Eeee! Let me see!"
She'd rummage in her apron pocket and find her purse. She'd extract a penny for each of the children.
"Eeee! Oooo! I am pleased to have seen you. Tell your Mam I said she's doing a good job with you two."
With that she was off, leaving the children, alone with Nan.
Nan was waiting for Gordon's next leave. From what her neighbour had told her, about Margaret, it was time her son was told what was going on. He needed to straighten his wife out.
Gordon had seven days, at home, in March. He went to see his mother, when the children were at school. He was going to meet them at the school gate, on his way back. Arriving at his mother's, he'd failed to lower the number of his strides compared with the last time. Mission failed! So that was the end of the game! He'd lost again. Acquaintances and strangers would no longer be staring at him as he leaped on his way past them.
His mother was pleased to see him but he was not pleased to hear what she had to tell him. "She's neglecting those kiddies!" she said. "Galivanting about all the time!"
"Don't be silly mother. The children are fine."
"Well that's as maybe. But young Michael's a lot quieter than he used to be. He's too moody. It's not natural. Not at his age. It seems to me he's something on his mind. It's right what I said. Your wife's out and about too much for a married women. Especially one with kids!"
"But mother, she has to work, to make ends meet. If it's anybody's fault it's mine. My Forces' pay isn't enough to put food on the table."
"There's work and work!"
"What do you mean?"
"Why does she have to work in a pub? She's the one who was always going on about being respectable. There's plenty of other jobs going."
"There's no harm in it. It's only part time and during the day."
"Not what I've heard!"
"It is. And it's at Joyce's. Joyce is her old friend. It's a good place to be. Joyce will see she's all right won't she? She has a free lunch too. That helps eke out the rations. She's treated well there."
"Too well!" his mother snorted. "From what I've heard. And as for that Joyce, we all know what she is!"
"I don't want to hear any gossip, mother. Typical Lancaster back-biting, I expect. There are too many women round here with nothing better to do. Always been the same! Gossiping on the Market, on the doorsteps, in-and-out of each other's houses! Pity they haven't better things to do. They love pulling people to pieces."
Nan could see she was getting nowhere with him. So she let the topic go. They chatted for a while longer about Frank, about the war and about old friends. It was nearly time for school to be out.
"I must be going," he said. "I'll be round to see you again, on Sunday, with the children."
"Aye," she replied. "Off you go then! Mind you look after yourself son!"
"Don't worry about me," he responded, "I'm all right. I'm over twenty-one."
Mrs Ease-and-Oose, watching from behind her lace curtains, saw Gordon's departure. She waited until he'd turned the corner, into Edenvale Crescent, and then went to see Nan.
"Eeee, Missus! I bet you gave him a shock," she said.
"He didn't want to listen," replied Nan.
"Ooo!" said her neighbour, "You should have made him listen. Somebody'll have to."
"It may be all rumours."
"Ooo, no! I don't think so. Our Enid was very definite, when she told me. She was there at the wedding. She could see what was going on with her and that young Airman. Just you mark my words. It's all true. Ooo, yes!"
After the children had gone to bed, Gordon decided to quiz his wife. Her response gave him a nasty shock. "Well, what if I have been enjoying myself? I need some fun as well as you! Yes, I have had a few dances with blokes. And I've loads of admirers, when I'm behind the bar.
"So what!" she continued. "What have you been up to? You did plenty when you were at home, never mind now you're away. All your nonsense about having to do your bit for the country! I expect you'll be doing plenty of bits, now you're out of my sight for weeks on end!
"I've a good idea what Active Service will mean to you. Can't get enough, I expect. No wonder you're on the twitch!"
Michael was upstairs and awake in his bed. The door was always left open. He could hear his mother's raised voice but he could not hear much of what his Dad was saying.
Gordon felt aggrieved. What she was implying, had absolutely no truth in it. He hardly ever left his RAF Station, except to come home on leave, whenever he had the chance and a free railway warrant. The aerodrome was miles away from the main road to Lancaster but if he had a day off, and no warrant, he would try for a lift from one of the transport lads as far as the A6. From there, he'd hitch his way home and back, risking being late and being put on a charge.
All he wanted, was to finish his bombing missions, be at home as often as possible with his kids, and feel better in himself. If only the bloody war would end and he could put everything in his life back to normal!
He knew that it was no good, protesting his innocence and telling Margaret he was leading a blameless life. For once, he decided to go on the attack.
"Look you!" he shouted, taking her aback. "I'm sick and fed up being a mere lamb and being strung up as a sheep. You think you're having a hard time. Well so am I. And you are making things a damn sight harder for me.
"When's it going to stop? If it doesn't stop soon, we may as well have a divorce!"
Divorce! The unthinkable word, thought Margaret. What was left of her respectability would be out of the window!
The only thing for it was to play the role of the poor, weak, litttle woman! Use the last resort, the final female defence.
She started to cry.
"You're horrible," she wept. "You've always been horrible to me. You and your unions and politics. You and your clever friends. You and your Halton woman!"
"What about you and your carrying-on at Joyce's? Probably a damn sight worse than anything I've done!"
Just then, Michael appeared in the room. He could not understand why they were quarrelling. He looked at their angry faces, contorted with hate.
"What time is it Mam? he asked. "I can't get to sleep. Can I go into your bed?"
Margaret went quiet, dreaded what Michael might say next. He might remember and tell Gordon about the last time he'd sought comfort in her bed.
It was Gordon who spoke, quickly regaining his composure and remembering, "Never row in front of the children!"
"Hello Sleepyhead," he said to Mchael. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs and read you a story."
Michael nodded his head in agreement. "Yes Dad, please! Will you piggy-back me upstairs?"
Gordon bent down. Michael climbed onto his back and placed his arms around his neck.
"Off we go then, Up the dancers! Say goodnight to your Mam!"
"I don't want to."
"Never mind! Off we go!"
He took Michael into his bedroom and tucked him in. He went over to the bookshelf, the one he'd made for Michael.
"What shall we have then, "King Arthur and His Knights"?
"I'd rather have a Biggles' story."
"Right then, Biggles it will be!"
Gordon sat on the bed, and opened the book, ready to start reading. But Michael spoke to him before he began, "Dad, why do grown-ups like sleeping with each other?"
Gordon thought for a minute then replied, "Because they are married. That's what married couples do."
The answer didn't make any kind of sense to Michael. He didn't say anything else to his Dad. Gordon started the story.
It wasn't long before Michael fell asleep. Gordon kissed his forehead and went back to his wife. Margaret had calmed down and had made up her mind that it was time to try and rebuild bridges.
"You know my job at Joyce's?"
"What about it?" Gordon asked defensively.
"Well, I've been thinking, I'm going to pack it in."
"Oh, why's that?"
"The cleaning's all right, I don't mind that. But I'm not really suited to being behind the bar. I get all confused sometimes when there's a rush on."
"You know what's best. But how will you manage?"
"We could have some lodgers," she suggsted. "Not men on their own! And Mrs Martin and Sheila have both offered to pay me if I help with their cleaning once a week. There's plenty of different work around. I'll only have to look for it. I'd always be there for the children. I don't like relying on friends having to see to them"
"Sounds like a good idea to me. You please yourself. You should know what's best." said Gordon.
What had not been said was best left unspoken. Enough was enough! They'd reached rock-bottom. It was time to decide to give up or make a go of it.
That night, they went to bed together and made love for the first time for ages.
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