One Rainy Day by Joan Jonker Page B

want to settle down yet – I want to enjoy my freedom while I’m young and fancy-free. But I go to Vincent’s at least one night a week, sometimes two. We’re good mates, enjoy a game of cards with a bottle of beer, and have a good laugh.’
    ‘I’d like to see Vincent some time, David. I don’t think I’ve set eyes on him since you left school,’ Eva said. ‘But right now I’m so tired I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open. You two stay down as long as you like. You’ve got youth on your side, but me, I’m dog-tired and I’m off to my bed. Goodnight and God bless.’
    ‘I’m coming up with yer, Mam. I’m tired meself.’ The bottom of Poppy’s back was stiff and sore, and she was hoping a night’s rest would cure it. ‘We’ll have a night in sometime, and talk about all our schoolmates and how many of them we still see. But no secrets, our David. We’ll be asking you about any girlfriends yer’ve got or had. But right now I’m going to follow me mam’s example and go to bed.’
    ‘I’m going to make myself a quick cuppa,’ David said. ‘I’m thirsty.’ He took his mother’s hands, saying, ‘Goodnight and God bless, Mam. And when I go on full pay in a few weeks, I want you to pack in your job. You’ve worked long enough tokeep this house going, and it’s time for you to retire. Not that you’ll be idle, for you’ll still have the housework to do, plus the washing, ironing and shopping. But you can do those at your leisure, and sneak off to a matinee when you feel like it. Or go into town with Margie one afternoon to look round the shops and go to Reece’s for tea and a cake.’
    Eva patted his cheek. ‘We’ll talk about that tomorrow, son. I’m too tired now. I could do with two matchsticks to keep me eyes open. Try not to make a noise when yer come to bed. I’m hoping to drop off to sleep as soon as my head touches the pillow.’
    Poppy linked her arm. ‘Me too, Mam. I’m bushed. Goodnight and God bless, our kid.’
    ‘Goodnight and God bless, little sister.’
    Poppy sat up in bed when her mother called to say breakfast was on the table. She slipped her legs over the edge of the bed and shivered when her feet touched the cold lino as they searched for her slippers. She cursed herself for kicking them off before she got into bed, instead of placing them neatly together so she just had to slip her feet into them. She had a warm dressing gown, thank goodness, and she tied the belt before walking on to the landing. From the bathroom she could hear the sound of running water, and tutted because her brother had once again beaten her to it. The trouble was, she always turned the alarm clock off when it rang, promising herself just another five minutes in the warm bed, and then she’d get up. But on cold mornings it was hard to keep that promise when the bed was warm and the room was cold.
    ‘Good morning, sweetheart.’ Eva carried a plate of toast in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. She put them down infront of Poppy, and smiled. ‘Your brother beat you to it again, did he?’
    Poppy smiled back. ‘It’s my own fault, Mam. I hate getting out of me warm bed. But our David adds insult to injury when he’s singing at the top of his voice while I’m shivering.’
    Eva sat facing her daughter with her two hands round her cup. ‘Men don’t feel the cold like we do, sweetheart. I don’t know why, but they don’t.’
    ‘I don’t mind David going first, really, ’cos he warms the bathroom up with the hot water. So it won’t be freezing by the time I get up there.’
    ‘You need to wrap up warm today, sweetheart,’ Eva warned. ‘I think we’re in for snow. It’s certainly cold enough for it.’
    Before taking a bite out of the piece of toast she was holding, Poppy said, ‘I’ll put a thick jumper on. My raincoat is fine in wet weather because you can wear anything underneath and nobody knows the difference. They’re too busy rushing to get their business done and