bottom of the stairs, she said, ‘What in the name of goodness is taking yer so long? And for the life of me I can’t see what yer all find so amusing. Eliza is in agony, and it’s nothing to laugh about.’
‘I’m all right, sweetheart,’ Eliza told her. ‘In fact I’m enjoying meself. I have to say, though, that it’s a different kettle of fish for Ada. I’m nearly choking the poor woman to death.’
‘Yes, I have noticed me mate is croaking a bit. But it’s nothing for you to worry about, queen.’ Hetty winked before realising they all had their backs to her. ‘There’s a few people will be pleased if she loses her voice for a while.’
‘If yer haven’t come to help, then bugger off, Hetty.’ Ada’s voice was rough. ‘To make yerself useful, yer could take over from Jean, give her a break.’
‘Okay, Jean, yer heard what me boss said. You go and pour four cups of tea out, and we’ll have Eliza on the couch in no time.’
When Jean had made her escape to the safety of the kitchen, Hetty climbed the few stairs to reach the old lady. ‘Now let’s get down to business, and we’ll have no more laughing out of the pair of yer. Not until we’ve got the patient in the living room in one piece. There’s only four stairs now, Ada, so if yer come down another two, then I’ll relieve yer of Eliza. I could lift her down the other two, she’s not heavy. Are yer fit, Ada?’
‘Fit as a fiddle, sunshine.’ Ada wouldn’t complain for the world, but her neck was sore. Eliza was small and thin, but it was still a heavy weight for Ada’s neck to support. It would havebeen easier if she could have carried the old lady, but she needed the use of the banister for safety. ‘Let’s get it over as quickly as possible.’
Hetty’s presence gave Ada more confidence, and she managed to get down the two steps without fear of tripping with her frail neighbour. And from the next to bottom stair, Hetty put her arms round Eliza’s waist and carried her through to the living room, and the couch. ‘There yer are, that wasn’t too bad, was it?’
The old lady was shaking a bit, but that was from shock, not cold. Heaven knows what would have happened if Ada hadn’t remembered the spare key. But she was soon tucked up with a cover over her knees, a cup of tea in her hand, and a plate of toast on her lap. ‘I don’t know how to thank you. You’ve all been marvellous.’
‘No thanks needed, sunshine, we’re getting a nice cup of tea in return.’ Ada felt she hadn’t really been fair on Jean, so she gave her a big smile. ‘It’s all down to Jean, anyway. She was the one who was worried enough to find out why yer weren’t opening the door.’
The laughter was back in Jean’s eyes now Eliza was safe and well. ‘I’ll put the key back in the lavatory, sweetheart, but I hope yer never have the need for it again.’
‘Drink your tea, sunshine, and eat some of the toast,’ Ada said. ‘Then we’ll have a look at yer ankle. If it’s broken, I’m afraid we’ll have to send for the doctor, ’cos none of us would know what to do. If it’s only a sprain, though, a couple of days resting on the couch should do the trick. We’ll all be keeping an eye on yer to make sure yer do as ye’re told, and we’ll take turns making yer cups of tea and bringing meals in to yer.’
Hetty nodded in agreement. ‘We’ll make sure yer don’t starve, queen, yer can depend on that.’
Tears came to the faded blue eyes. ‘I am so lucky to have such kind neighbours. What would I do without you?’
‘Oh, I know what yer’d do if we didn’t keep our eyes on yer,’ Ada said, chuckling. ‘Yer’d have a different fancy man in here every night and get the street a bad name.’
Hetty agreed. ‘None of our husbands would be safe. We’d have to lock them in every night, or tie them to a chair.’
Eliza finished her tea and passed the cup and saucer over. ‘You are all lucky with the men you married. They’re good
‘I’m all right, sweetheart,’ Eliza told her. ‘In fact I’m enjoying meself. I have to say, though, that it’s a different kettle of fish for Ada. I’m nearly choking the poor woman to death.’
‘Yes, I have noticed me mate is croaking a bit. But it’s nothing for you to worry about, queen.’ Hetty winked before realising they all had their backs to her. ‘There’s a few people will be pleased if she loses her voice for a while.’
‘If yer haven’t come to help, then bugger off, Hetty.’ Ada’s voice was rough. ‘To make yerself useful, yer could take over from Jean, give her a break.’
‘Okay, Jean, yer heard what me boss said. You go and pour four cups of tea out, and we’ll have Eliza on the couch in no time.’
When Jean had made her escape to the safety of the kitchen, Hetty climbed the few stairs to reach the old lady. ‘Now let’s get down to business, and we’ll have no more laughing out of the pair of yer. Not until we’ve got the patient in the living room in one piece. There’s only four stairs now, Ada, so if yer come down another two, then I’ll relieve yer of Eliza. I could lift her down the other two, she’s not heavy. Are yer fit, Ada?’
‘Fit as a fiddle, sunshine.’ Ada wouldn’t complain for the world, but her neck was sore. Eliza was small and thin, but it was still a heavy weight for Ada’s neck to support. It would havebeen easier if she could have carried the old lady, but she needed the use of the banister for safety. ‘Let’s get it over as quickly as possible.’
Hetty’s presence gave Ada more confidence, and she managed to get down the two steps without fear of tripping with her frail neighbour. And from the next to bottom stair, Hetty put her arms round Eliza’s waist and carried her through to the living room, and the couch. ‘There yer are, that wasn’t too bad, was it?’
The old lady was shaking a bit, but that was from shock, not cold. Heaven knows what would have happened if Ada hadn’t remembered the spare key. But she was soon tucked up with a cover over her knees, a cup of tea in her hand, and a plate of toast on her lap. ‘I don’t know how to thank you. You’ve all been marvellous.’
‘No thanks needed, sunshine, we’re getting a nice cup of tea in return.’ Ada felt she hadn’t really been fair on Jean, so she gave her a big smile. ‘It’s all down to Jean, anyway. She was the one who was worried enough to find out why yer weren’t opening the door.’
The laughter was back in Jean’s eyes now Eliza was safe and well. ‘I’ll put the key back in the lavatory, sweetheart, but I hope yer never have the need for it again.’
‘Drink your tea, sunshine, and eat some of the toast,’ Ada said. ‘Then we’ll have a look at yer ankle. If it’s broken, I’m afraid we’ll have to send for the doctor, ’cos none of us would know what to do. If it’s only a sprain, though, a couple of days resting on the couch should do the trick. We’ll all be keeping an eye on yer to make sure yer do as ye’re told, and we’ll take turns making yer cups of tea and bringing meals in to yer.’
Hetty nodded in agreement. ‘We’ll make sure yer don’t starve, queen, yer can depend on that.’
Tears came to the faded blue eyes. ‘I am so lucky to have such kind neighbours. What would I do without you?’
‘Oh, I know what yer’d do if we didn’t keep our eyes on yer,’ Ada said, chuckling. ‘Yer’d have a different fancy man in here every night and get the street a bad name.’
Hetty agreed. ‘None of our husbands would be safe. We’d have to lock them in every night, or tie them to a chair.’
Eliza finished her tea and passed the cup and saucer over. ‘You are all lucky with the men you married. They’re good
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