Try a Little Tenderness by Joan Jonker Page B

dolled up for yer grandad coming. He won’t know yer, think he’s come to the wrong house.’
    ‘I’m opening mine now.’ Laura’s face was set with impatience. But when the small parcel revealed her first pair of grown-up long rayon stockings, she jumped for joy. ‘Just what I wanted. I’m over the moon, Mam, they’re brilliant! I was frightened I’d have to go to work in me school socks.’
    ‘I hope yer like yer other present as much.’ Mary had her doubts. She’d spent a long time choosing a dress for her eldest daughter, trying to find a style that was neither too young, nor too old. And it was with apprehension she watched her daughter undo the parcel. But when she saw Laura’s face, she knew her fears were groundless.
    The girl was lost for words when she held up the cherry-red dress. She gazed with open mouth at the sweetheartneck, the long sleeves and the full flared skirt. ‘It’s beautiful! It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. I bet Cynthia doesn’t get anything as nice as this.’ She twirled round, holding the dress to her. ‘I’m going to put it on right now.’
    ‘Excuse me, young lady,’ Stan said. ‘Have you lost yer manners? Don’t yer ever thank anyone when they give yer a present?’
    ‘I’m sorry, Mam, I’m just that excited.’ The tone of her voice and the offhand peck on her mother’s cheek made it clear Laura’s heart wasn’t in it. She was doing what she was told to do, but her mind was elsewhere. ‘I’m going upstairs! I can’t wait to see what me dress looks like on.’
    Jenny stepped into her sister’s path, barring her exit. ‘Aren’t yer going to wait and see what me mam and dad got for Christmas?’
    Laura looked surprised by the question. ‘No, I want to go and try me dress on. Anyway, I know what me dad’s got so there’s no point.’
    Laura tried to sidestep her sister but Jenny anticipated the movement and stood her ground. She knew how her mother had struggled to buy those clothes and she thought the least her sister could do was show some gratitude and not be so selfish. ‘Me mam knew what we were getting because she was the one who had to find the money for them. But it didn’t stop her from being interested enough to want to see our faces when we opened the presents. You’re not the only one in the house, yer know, Laura.’
    ‘Oh, you get on my wick, you do.’ Laura tried to push her sister aside. ‘Get out of me way and mind yer own business.’
    Stan was rising from his chair to intervene when Mary gripped his arm and motioned for him to stay out of it. ‘Let her go, Jenny, there’s a good girl. Yer can’t make anyone be interested if they don’t want to be.’
    Laura sneered into her sister’s face before flouncing out of the room, leaving Jenny shaking her head. She always had a vision of families being close on Christmas morning,laughing and joking as they shared the pleasure of presents given and received. But looking back, Laura had always been the first to rip open her presents. They’d been mostly toys when they were younger, and her sister would sit at the table with them and not even throw a glance to see what the others had got. ‘She’s dead mean, Mam.’
    ‘I know, sunshine, but that’s her problem, and her loss. Now, you can go in the kitchen if yer like, and try your dress on.’
    Jenny shook her head as she sat down. ‘No, I want to see what you and me dad have got. I don’t want to miss anything.’
    ‘Then you can give them out, love.’ Stan was realising he had a lot of ground to make up with his youngest daughter. He’d spoilt Laura by always putting her first, and he could see now that he hadn’t done her any favours. If he hadn’t given in to her every whim, she might have grown up to be as good and caring as Jenny. ‘Yer mam can go first, then we can have a laugh if Amy has set a booby trap.’
    ‘I’ll kill her if she has,’ Mary said, taking the parcel. ‘This is one day of the year