Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection. Josephine Cox

manner, she could see she’d been crying and, knowing how Daisy was sometimes reluctant to talk about what was going on at home, Amy offered all the same. ‘You can tell me what happened if you like?’

      Daisy shrugged. ‘Who says anything happened?’

      ‘I can see for myself. All I’m saying is,’ Amy gently assured her, ‘if you want to talk about it, I’m here for you.’

      On the way to the shops Daisy outlined the cause of the trouble. ‘It’s always the same. He keeps accusing her of having a fella in the house when he’s not around. Oh, I’m not defending her, because she’s a disgrace – one man after another, and no shame to go with it. But she never brings them home … not as far as I know, anyway.’

      ‘Why don’t they split?’ It seemed a natural solution to Amy. These were two people who already seemed to live separate lives, with each carrying on with whomever they fancied. Yet they fought over each other like a pair of crazed animals, with poor Daisy caught in the middle of it all.

      ‘They’ll never split,’ Daisy answered. ‘They love each other – at least that’s what they say.’

      ‘But it doesn’t make sense.’ Amy had never been able to understand it.

      Daisy was quiet for a time, then in a sombre voice she confessed, ‘Sometimes, Amy, I hate them so much it frightens me.’

      Then suddenly, and before Amy could answer, Daisy was running ahead. ‘Come on, slowcoach!’ she cried. ‘Let’s get a move on, or the shops will be shut before we get there.’

      Realising it was Daisy’s way of telling her she didn’t want to talk about her parents any more, Amy went along with her. ‘Race you to the Co-op!’ she called, and the two of them ran down the street as though everything was right with the world.

      They wanted new dresses to wear to a dance that evening. But the Co-op, even in the town centre, didn’t carry much stock, so could not really help.

      ‘We haven’t got such a big dress selection,’ the assistant told them, ‘but we’re looking to move to larger premises soon, and when we do, we’ll have much more room for a clothes department.’

      Leading the way, she ushered them into a small area at the back of the shop. ‘There.’ Pointing to the rack of garments, she said confidently, ‘I’m sure you’ll find something suitable.’

      As the assistant walked away, Daisy sniggered. ‘Bloody Nora! Now there’s a frightening sight, I must say.’

      Amy discreetly glanced at the woman. ‘As long as she helps us to find what we want, she’s all right by me.’

      Though Amy had to admit she hadn’t felt altogether comfortable in the woman’s company. With her straight black skirt, starched white blouse and her dark hair scraped back so tightly it threatened to spring from the roots, the woman really did look quite unfriendly.

      It didn’t take long for the girls to realise they would not find what they wanted here. After fifteen minutes of rummaging through the rack, they had seen and tried all the frocks, and none of them was right.

      ‘Have you found anything suitable?’ The woman was back, arms folded and a grim look on her face, as though she was ready for a fight.

      Amy shook her head. ‘Sorry, but there’s nothing there we fancy.’ It was no use beating about the bush, she thought.

      The woman was not pleased, and it showed. ‘If that’s the case, you might as well leave, because that’s all we have, I’m afraid.’ That said she turned her back on them and began straightening the dresses, all the time muttering and complaining.

      ‘I wouldn’t like to meet her on a dark night,’ Daisy said as they made their way out.

      ‘Happen she wouldn’t care to meet you neither!’ Amy quipped.

      They were in merry mood as they burst into the second-hand shop.

      ‘We’re looking for party dresses,’ Daisy informed the proprietor. ‘We’d like something pretty and cheap, with no stains or holes.’

      ‘Well, now …’ Bald-headed and round as a pumpkin, the man looked like a leprechaun perched on a stool. ‘You’ve come to the right place, ladies.’

      When he showed them through to the back room, they were confronted with three racks of dresses in all sizes, colours and styles. He left them to browse.

      ‘We’re gonna have a good time here, lass!’ Laughing, Daisy wasted no time in sorting out four dresses to try.

      ‘They’ve all been cleaned and pressed,’ the odd little man informed them on his return. ‘So don’t go wiping lipstick and powder on ’em, or I’ll have to charge you for the cleaning!’ With that he loped out and left them to browse further.

      Daisy and Amy had the time of their lives trying on the dresses.

      ‘What do you think to this one?’ When Daisy came out from behind the curtain, Amy almost collapsed in hysterics. Tight across her stomach and loose about her chest, the crimson dress clung to her backside, and when she bent down Amy could see her knickers.

      ‘Put it back, for God’s sake!’ Amy urged. ‘If you go out like that, you’ll get arrested!’

      ‘Does that mean you don’t like it?’ Daisy groaned, feigning disappointment.

      ‘Trust me,’ Amy laughed. ‘Wear that and you’ll have a trail of dogs behind, wherever you go.’

      Daisy giggled naughtily. ‘Men-dogs, or dog-dogs?’ she asked.

      ‘Both!’ Amy answered.

      For a bit of fun, Amy tried on a green dress with a trailing hem that reached halfway across the room, and a feather boa.

      ‘If you keep messing about we’ll never find what we want,’ Daisy chided. ‘Let’s get on with it.’

      ‘Are you ladies all right in there?’ the leprechaun enquired from the front room.

      ‘We’re fine,’ Amy answered. ‘You’ve got so many, it’s difficult to choose.’

      ‘I knew you’d be pleased,’ he replied smugly. ‘Take your time; we don’t shut for another hour.’

      In the end, Amy chose a straight, pale blue dress with stand-up collar and belted waist, which fitted as if it was made for her.

      Daisy too was delighted with her find: a pink floating thing with low neckline, and also with belted waist, it fell to a swingy hem that kicked out as she walked.

      ‘I feel like a film star,’ she told Amy, and Amy was glad to see she had forgotten her troubles, at least for now.

      When the dresses were parcelled and paid for, they thanked the little man and left.

      ‘I’d best get the bus,’ Daisy said. ‘So, what time d’you want to meet at the Grand?’

      Hearing a tone of regret in Daisy’s voice, Amy told her, ‘You don’t have to go home if you don’t want to.’

      Daisy’s smile returned. ‘Really?’

      Judging by the relief in Daisy’s voice, Amy knew she had done the right thing. ‘Yes, really. I’d love you to come home with me. By the time we’ve had a bite to eat, we’ll need to get ready, and then it’ll be time to make our way into town.’

      ‘But what will your mam say?’ Daisy knew what her own mother would say, if she took a friend home unexpectedly. ‘Won’t she be angry?’

      ‘Course not! She’ll say exactly what I’ve said – that it seems silly you spending money on the bus fare to go all the way home, when you’re already here.’

      ‘But I haven’t got any lipstick. And I need to change my shoes and all that …’ She would have gone on,