the
Queen’s and other London theatres.
There were all sorts of programmes, pamphlets, posters and postcards scattered over the surfaces. A tall glass-fronted cupboard was full of china pieces, and silver and gold from royal
celebrations and distinguished theatrical events. Like the twins, she had a Victor phonograph in one corner, but the horn on Elsie’s was like a big open flower, whilst theirs had a long,
conical brass cone. There were piles of heavy Victor records next to this, and placed on the wall behind the cushion-strewn sofa was a bevelled mirror with decorative fans etched on either side. It
was not just an interesting room, but a cosy one, furnished with memories from Elsie’s past. Her collection of many photographs recorded her life with Joe in the East End. Joe had looked like
their father with a big, drooping moustache. He had been a thespian in his early days, so Elsie said. She loved to talk about their years at the pub and the variety of people they met there.
But now Elsie was rooting around in her big Gladstone bag where she kept her important papers. ‘I’ve managed to get you what you wanted for tonight.’
‘Did your friend with the music shop have our music?’ Vesta asked excitedly.
‘No, I didn’t have time to go up to Bethnal Green. So I popped into the Cubby Hole instead. I knew Bing would be able to help us.’
‘Bing?’ Marie and Vesta said together.
‘Don’t look so surprised. He is a musician, you know.’
‘I wouldn’t have called him that,’ said Vesta.
‘Then you’d be wrong, ducks,’ said Elsie, passing them the sheet music. ‘He’s a very talented young man.’
‘But he only plays in a pub,’ protested Vesta as she sipped her tea. ‘On an old honky-tonk piano.’
‘Don’t look down your nose at him, dear,’ said Elsie warningly, giving Vesta a long stare. ‘A lot of talent is discovered in places like the Cubby Hole. Joe and me saw
many a good singer and dancer begin their career with a knees-up.’
‘Sorry,’ said Vesta, going red. ‘I forgot you and Joe were the landlords.’
Elsie shrugged. ‘It was different in those days, I’ll grant you. Everyone could have a go. They all stood the same chance if they had talent.’
Marie smiled. ‘Bing has got a lovely voice.’
‘Not as good as Teddy’s,’ challenged Vesta quickly. ‘But then Teddy has sung on the stage and at the Duke’s.’
Seeing the colour rise in Marie’s cheeks, Elsie held up her hand and changed the subject. ‘Now, now, you two. Are you all set for tonight?’
‘Yes,’ said Marie excitedly.
‘Behave yourselves and keep your father in line too.’
Marie knew that would be impossible. Once Hector was into his stride, no one could stop him.
‘Watch this Scoresby fellow,’ said Elsie, wagging her finger and making her gold bracelet jangle.
‘Why?’ giggled Vesta.
‘There are rogues out there.’
‘You sound like Mum.’
Elsie’s smile disappeared. ‘Your mother is being very brave letting you do as you want. I’ve tried to reassure her, but you girls must understand she worries about
you.’
‘And now she’s worried about Dad too.’ Vesta rolled her eyes.
‘Now, now, Vesta,’ said Elsie reprovingly. ‘One day when you are mothers yourselves you’ll know what worry is all about.’ She smiled again. ‘Finish up the
last cakes, now. They’re nice and creamy.’
‘I’m afraid I feel too nervous,’ admitted Vesta. ‘Right here in the middle of my stomach.’
Marie had butterflies too and suspected it wasn’t just down to thinking about tonight. A little flutter began inside her as Elsie had talked of Bing. Marie would never admit to it, but she
had missed him. He and Charlie hadn’t appeared after work, nor had Bing called round. If only Bing had more ambition and wanted to better himself. But all he could do was think about settling
down.
And Marie didn’t want that!
As they had missed the bus and walked all the way to the
Queen’s and other London theatres.
There were all sorts of programmes, pamphlets, posters and postcards scattered over the surfaces. A tall glass-fronted cupboard was full of china pieces, and silver and gold from royal
celebrations and distinguished theatrical events. Like the twins, she had a Victor phonograph in one corner, but the horn on Elsie’s was like a big open flower, whilst theirs had a long,
conical brass cone. There were piles of heavy Victor records next to this, and placed on the wall behind the cushion-strewn sofa was a bevelled mirror with decorative fans etched on either side. It
was not just an interesting room, but a cosy one, furnished with memories from Elsie’s past. Her collection of many photographs recorded her life with Joe in the East End. Joe had looked like
their father with a big, drooping moustache. He had been a thespian in his early days, so Elsie said. She loved to talk about their years at the pub and the variety of people they met there.
But now Elsie was rooting around in her big Gladstone bag where she kept her important papers. ‘I’ve managed to get you what you wanted for tonight.’
‘Did your friend with the music shop have our music?’ Vesta asked excitedly.
‘No, I didn’t have time to go up to Bethnal Green. So I popped into the Cubby Hole instead. I knew Bing would be able to help us.’
‘Bing?’ Marie and Vesta said together.
‘Don’t look so surprised. He is a musician, you know.’
‘I wouldn’t have called him that,’ said Vesta.
‘Then you’d be wrong, ducks,’ said Elsie, passing them the sheet music. ‘He’s a very talented young man.’
‘But he only plays in a pub,’ protested Vesta as she sipped her tea. ‘On an old honky-tonk piano.’
‘Don’t look down your nose at him, dear,’ said Elsie warningly, giving Vesta a long stare. ‘A lot of talent is discovered in places like the Cubby Hole. Joe and me saw
many a good singer and dancer begin their career with a knees-up.’
‘Sorry,’ said Vesta, going red. ‘I forgot you and Joe were the landlords.’
Elsie shrugged. ‘It was different in those days, I’ll grant you. Everyone could have a go. They all stood the same chance if they had talent.’
Marie smiled. ‘Bing has got a lovely voice.’
‘Not as good as Teddy’s,’ challenged Vesta quickly. ‘But then Teddy has sung on the stage and at the Duke’s.’
Seeing the colour rise in Marie’s cheeks, Elsie held up her hand and changed the subject. ‘Now, now, you two. Are you all set for tonight?’
‘Yes,’ said Marie excitedly.
‘Behave yourselves and keep your father in line too.’
Marie knew that would be impossible. Once Hector was into his stride, no one could stop him.
‘Watch this Scoresby fellow,’ said Elsie, wagging her finger and making her gold bracelet jangle.
‘Why?’ giggled Vesta.
‘There are rogues out there.’
‘You sound like Mum.’
Elsie’s smile disappeared. ‘Your mother is being very brave letting you do as you want. I’ve tried to reassure her, but you girls must understand she worries about
you.’
‘And now she’s worried about Dad too.’ Vesta rolled her eyes.
‘Now, now, Vesta,’ said Elsie reprovingly. ‘One day when you are mothers yourselves you’ll know what worry is all about.’ She smiled again. ‘Finish up the
last cakes, now. They’re nice and creamy.’
‘I’m afraid I feel too nervous,’ admitted Vesta. ‘Right here in the middle of my stomach.’
Marie had butterflies too and suspected it wasn’t just down to thinking about tonight. A little flutter began inside her as Elsie had talked of Bing. Marie would never admit to it, but she
had missed him. He and Charlie hadn’t appeared after work, nor had Bing called round. If only Bing had more ambition and wanted to better himself. But all he could do was think about settling
down.
And Marie didn’t want that!
As they had missed the bus and walked all the way to the
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