A Reunion at Mulberry Lane. Rosie Clarke

years ago and I’ve always got on with them well.’

      ‘Time moves on,’ Gordon said but didn’t push his theory. As he’d told Maureen, things were changing and there were all sorts of useful tools coming along. He would see if he could find anything to make Maureen’s work easier. She would never ask or even think of looking for something to help her, but she’d liked the carpet sweeper he’d bought her. It was light and you just pushed it over carpets or floors and it picked up the bits rather than using a broom. It was easy to empty the little pan underneath and she had refused to have one of those Hoover things. She thought they were noisy and could blow dust out and she didn’t want one. So, her considerate husband had found the sweeper instead and she loved it.

      ‘What are you thinking?’ Maureen asked as she looked up from ironing a shirt and saw Gordon looking at her. ‘I always know when you’re planning something…’

      ‘I was just thinking about the shop, Maureen. I’ve been offered several new stock items recently and I’m wondering if we should expand into things for the kitchen and home…’

      ‘What kind of things?’ She stood with iron paused mid-air, awaiting his answer.

      ‘Oh, just bits and pieces,’ he said. ‘We don’t have anyone near us selling kitchen stuff, so we wouldn’t be treading on anyone’s toes.’

      ‘It sounds a good idea,’ Maureen decided and returned to her ironing. ‘What made you think of it?’

      ‘Something I saw in The Grocer magazine,’ Gordon replied. ‘In America, they have these big shops that sell all kinds of things – they call them convenience stores or something like that.’

      Maureen nodded. ‘It would save so much time if you could buy useful things like mixing bowls, kettles and stuff without walking miles to find them,’ she agreed. ‘Yes, go ahead and do it, love. I like it.’

      ‘I thought you might,’ he said. ‘I’m also considering whether we should expand out into part of what used to be Mrs Tandy’s yard. She didn’t ever use the full potential of her premises. Tom could build it out a bit and I could line it with shelves myself…’

      ‘And fill them with stock that won’t perish,’ Maureen said. ‘In the war, I sold handmade toys and it surprised me that people just snapped them up. No one cared they were being sold in a food shop.’

      Gordon nodded his agreement. ‘They were so desperate for something to buy in those days that things went off the shelf immediately. I look forward to seeing our shop filled with all kinds of things.’

      Maureen smiled as she put her iron back in the grate to cool down. ‘I’ve done all I need to do. I’m going to make the cocoa now, love.’

      ‘Good, I’ll be glad of an early night.’ Gordon stood and put his arms about her. ‘Especially if you feel like a bit of a cuddle.’

      Maureen laughed naughtily and kissed him on the lips. ‘You never know your luck if you play your cards right,’ she said and then went to pour the milk into the saucepan and put it on the range to heat. ‘Lock up, Gordon, and I’ll bring the drinks up in a few minutes…’

      6

      Sheila answered the phone when Peggy rang. She thought it was a call from the brewery and her smile lit up her face when she heard her mother-in-law’s voice and was told she wanted a chat about the coming visit.

      ‘Oh, Mum, it’s lovely to talk to you,’ she said excitedly as Peggy told her they would come up the day before Christmas Eve and stay for ten days afterwards. ‘Pip asked you to come but he wasn’t sure you would; he will be so pleased and so am I – we don’t see half enough of you and your grandson often asks why you don’t live nearer so he can visit like other kids do…’

      ‘I know,’ Peggy said, sounding sorrowful. ‘We’re much nearer to Janet and I get to see Maggie more than my grandson, but Janet doesn’t always want us to go down. Part of the reason I moved was to be nearer to her, but it hasn’t worked out that way…’

      ‘Pip often says you shouldn’t have left London. There isn’t a day goes by we don’t have some of your customers asking after you. They all say no one cooks like you do, Peggy, and they swear you were a lifeline in the war – when everyone else was serving rubbish, you still managed to serve up tasty food, even though you couldn’t get more rations than anyone else.’

      ‘I did get a bit extra though, sometimes,’ Peggy said. ‘Friends brought me fresh vegetables from their allotments and Able got me stuff from the American base. He probably shouldn’t have done it, but he did… besides, lots of people bought black-market stuff. I didn’t very often, because it was trouble if you got caught, but what was given to me felt different.’

      ‘Your extras weren’t stolen,’ Sheila remarked. ‘I know my parents bought some whisky under the counter once and lived in fear the inspectors would come around and arrest them, so they never did it again.’

      ‘I did buy a turkey that I was told was reared as a pet one year.’ Peggy laughed at the memory. ‘I’m sure it was nicked from a farm or the farmer decided to hide a few birds from the Government inspectors – but since we were going to eat the evidence, I didn’t worry too much.’

      ‘We all had to do things like that sometimes,’ Sheila replied, giggling. ‘I bought some nylons from a girl who’d got them from American friends. You couldn’t buy stockings here for love nor money.’

      ‘I know,’ Peggy sighed, making Sheila wonder what was on her mind. ‘So how are you all then, love?’

      ‘We’re all pretty good,’ Sheila said. ‘Pip has a new commission to work on, so he has been away for three days discussing it, but he’s back this evening. He will be over the moon to know you’re coming for twelve days at Christmas.’

      ‘Is there anything Christopher particularly wants?’ Peggy asked. ‘I’ve bought him a little surprise so far, but you’ll know what he really wants?’

      ‘Pip has told me to get him a bike and I’m also giving him book tokens, because he loves reading – but I do know he wants a guitar. Pip wouldn’t buy it because he doesn’t believe Chris will keep the lessons up; he thinks he’s too young to learn something like that, but I believe he could because he’s very musical. If he hears a new song on the radio, he whistles the tune straight away. You could buy the guitar for him if you want – but it is expensive and will cost five pounds…’

      ‘Yes, I shall buy it,’ Peggy said instantly. ‘Maggie gets lots of little things from me, but I don’t get to spoil Chris enough. Is there any particular model he likes?’

      ‘Yes – they’ve got one in a shop here and I’ve seen him looking at it, but I don’t know the make…’

      ‘Can you reserve it for me and I’ll send you the money by postal order?’

      ‘Yes, of course,’ Sheila said. ‘I was wondering if I should get it as well as the bike, but if you buy the guitar, I’ll pay for his lessons…’

      ‘That’s settled then,’ Peggy said. ‘I’ve done most of my shopping now and we’re popping down to Janet’s this Sunday. I’m taking her Christmas presents because they’re off to Scotland for two weeks over Christmas.’

      ‘How lovely for them,’ Sheila said. ‘Janet wrote me a letter and said she would call in on us when they stopped overnight in London with gifts for us – she said it will be surprises for the children and book tokens for Pip, as usual…’ She laughed. ‘I’ll be giving them a huge parcel of bits and pieces I’ve bought. I was going to send it, but now I can give it to them while they’re here.’

      ‘Postage is so expensive if you send anything heavy,’ Peggy said. ‘I don’t like giving them tokens, but if we lived in London as you do, that’s what I’d do…’

      ‘Pip