A Family Scandal. Kitty Neale

Kenneth was nowhere to be found. He’d be sleeping off his hangover somewhere safe from Rhona’s rage.

      ‘Was it worth it though?’ Penny wondered. She pulled at her own miniskirt, which she’d got from the market. It looked all right but the material was cheap and scratchy, and too flimsy for the chilly spring weather. Still, she wouldn’t give in and change it, as it was important to have the right look even round her friend’s house on a Saturday morning. ‘You did see the Stones, after all. I’d kill to see them.’

      ‘Mmmmm.’ Rhona prolonged the moment. It had been a fantastic gig, she had to admit. The energy of the band had been electric and she’d been totally mesmerised by Brian Jones. She definitely wouldn’t have minded being at the party with him. Damn that Kenneth for denying her the chance. ‘They did loads of their singles, like “Time is on My Side” and “Not Fade Away”. I danced till my feet were sore. Everyone was singing along, you’ve never seen anything like it.’

      ‘I love those ones.’ Penny was wistful. If only she could get a date who’d take her to concerts like that. It would be worth the bad journey home to be able to say she’d seen the Stones. Everyone was talking about them and she was sure they’d be properly famous for ages. ‘Give me those cigarettes, I’ll have one meself.’ She paused as Rhona’s mother came into the room.

      ‘Morning, Penny.’ Marilyn Foster was a lively woman of nearly fifty, with an uncontrollable frizz of brown hair. ‘Nice to see you. Have you had any breakfast? I was out cleaning earlier so I’m making some toast now, do you want any?’

      ‘No thank you, Mrs Foster,’ said Penny politely, pulling her skirt further down her thighs. She was a bit in awe of Rhona’s straight-talking mother.

      ‘Well, you’re always welcome.’ Marilyn made for the door again. ‘Rhona’s going to be lonely without Mavis nearby so you must feel free to drop in at any time.’

      Rhona pulled a face as her mother went out. ‘She thinks I’m still at school sometimes. I don’t need to have her making my friends for me.’

      ‘Course you don’t,’ said Penny, taking a deep drag. ‘Ah, that’s better. No, but you will miss her though, won’t you? You and Mavis were really close.’

      Rhona nodded. She was guiltily aware that she’d been the one person who wasn’t delighted when the news came that Pete had finally bought the big house and the family would be moving from Harwood Street. Mavis had come round thrilled to bits and Rhona had had a hard job trying to appear enthusiastic. For some reason, though they were polar opposites in temperament, she and Mavis had got on like a house on fire. Maybe it was because they were so different. Rhona’s wild years had started when she was sixteen, when she’d discovered the joys of dating all available gorgeous men, and she had even tried flirting with Tommy before the penny dropped that he was interested in only one woman.

      Mavis hadn’t judged her, unlike all the other women and even girls her own age who’d found out – and it wasn’t as if Rhona made a secret of her enjoyment of sex. Mavis had been baffled, more than anything. Having had such a bad marriage, which she’d entered into when she was just sixteen herself, she couldn’t understand why her friend bothered. Rhona had tried to explain the fascination: the thrill of the chase, the knowledge that your body drove men mad, and the fun that was to be had. But Mavis was unconvinced. Her priorities lay elsewhere, but she enjoyed hearing Rhona tell of her exploits, maybe because she herself wanted nothing more than to stay home to look after her beloved children. Rhona sighed. Even though Mavis hadn’t moved far away, it wouldn’t be the same in future.

      ‘No point in sitting around moping,’ she said now. ‘Right, that’s Kenneth done for. I wouldn’t go out with him again if he came round here begging on his hands and knees. I’d shove him back out the door and sing him “It’s All Over Now”. What are you up to tonight, Penny?’

      Penny shrugged. She didn’t have a date and had no plans, much the same as every Saturday night, though she hated to admit it. ‘Not sure. Why?’

      ‘Let’s cheer ourselves up and go down the Talisman club. We don’t need no men to get us in, we’ve just got our wages so we can pay for ourselves. What do you reckon?’

      Penny’s eyes shone. ‘I’d love to … but me mum—’

      ‘Don’t worry about her. Say you’re staying round here. Mum won’t mind, she just said you’re welcome any time. Then neither of us will be stuck trying to get home alone. I don’t fancy that two nights in a row.’

      ‘OK, right, you’re on.’ Penny pulled a face. ‘What’ll I wear? I got this new skirt but nothing to go with it.’

      ‘Let’s go and sort that out right now.’ Rhona got up and drew the old dressing gown she’d been wearing more tightly around her. ‘I’ll just go and get out of this then we can go down the market and see what they have to offer. Can’t have you showing me up,’ she said, though she wasn’t averse to having a friend slightly less attractive than herself. Rhona had no doubts about why men made a beeline for her, but it often helped to have a willing accomplice who didn’t threaten to steal the best-looking guy in the room. Penny fitted the bill perfectly: pretty but not stunning, friendly but not too confident, curvy but not drop-dead sexy. It wouldn’t hurt to get her dressed up a bit.

      ‘Lovely. I haven’t been down there since I got this skirt.’ Penny stood up. ‘I might look for some new false eyelashes as well. Now that I’ve got the hang of them I feel naked going out without them.’ She giggled. ‘First time I tried them my mum screamed the house down – thought it was a big spider in the basin.’

      ‘Can’t say I blame her,’ said Rhona, ‘but it’s a good idea. Might get some more meself.’

      Mavis was already getting to know her new local market, armed with a list of items needed for the house. It was daft, she told herself as she recalled the familiar ache she always felt when she had said goodnight to Tommy. What she wouldn’t have given to have him stay the night … Pull yourself together, she muttered. It’s not as if he hasn’t made it obvious he’d like to stay, but you don’t let him and you know why perfectly well. So stop feeling sorry for yourself.

      For some reason she’d never really explored this market, even though it was just round the corner from Peckham Rye station. She’d often come down Rye Lane to get to the big shops, and had window-shopped at Jones & Higgins, although she knew that such fine goods would never make their way into her cramped rented house. But now – why not? She might have to get most of her list from the market but perhaps she could treat herself to one or two things from the prestigious store where the more well-off members of the local population bought their homeware.

      Meanwhile she had to buy a tea strainer. When she’d got round to unpacking her own crockery and kitchenware it was nowhere to be found, and she couldn’t keep running downstairs to borrow Lily’s. Grace wanted a new purple pencil case to match her room. She also wanted a purple dress and coat along with a matching scarf for Little Ted, but Mavis had pointed out that the pencil case would be the most useful and she couldn’t have everything. The little girl had sulked for a minute over breakfast but soon cheered up when her mother had tuned the wireless to Radio Caroline. Grace was already a dab hand at singing along with the pop songs, effortlessly learning all the words.

      Mavis stopped to check the price of some cleaning materials, which were bound to come in handy. ‘Do you three for the price of two on those,’ said the stallholder. ‘Genuine Ajax, that is, none of your cheap imitations you’ll get elsewhere. Got a lot of floors? This’ll sort you out. My missus swears by it.’

      Mavis nodded and agreed to take three, reckoning that if she didn’t need them all then Lily surely would. ‘And some dusters, while you’re at it.’

      ‘Throw them in for nothing,’ offered the stallholder, picking up a small packet. ‘Now how about some rubber gloves? Lovely soft hands, you got,’ he added as he took her money and lingered for just a moment too long.

      ‘Thanks,’ said Mavis, moving hastily away. Rubber gloves