Stay as Sweet as You Are by Joan Jonker Page B

head when she heard a chair on the opposite side of the table being pulled out, and her heart dropped when she found herself looking into her mother’s face. Another five minutes and she’d have been away. Oh, why hadn’t she put a move on and been out of the house by now?
    ‘So ye’re away gallivanting tonight, eh? Off to the pictures with the great Mr Titch. It’s a fine life ye’re having these days.’
    ‘He’s not only taking me, Jack and Greg are coming, too!’ As Lucy picked up her plate, she told herself not to be drawn into an argument. That was what her mother wanted, she could tell by the glint in her eyes. But she couldn’t not stickup for someone who was a friend and always good to her. ‘I think it’s nice of him to take us, so there!’ With that, Lucy marched out to the kitchen and put her plate down. The sooner she was out of the house the better. Her mother wouldn’t be able to pick on her tonight because her dad would be in.
    But Lucy hadn’t reckoned on Ruby’s burning desire to take her spite out on someone. And the only person available was her daughter. So she waited until the girl was putting her coat on in the hall, with her back to her. Then, silently creeping up behind her, she put her hand up Lucy’s dress, and with thumb and forefinger, pinched the flesh at the top of the girl’s leg as hard as she could.
    Tears welled up in Lucy’s eyes. ‘Stop it, ye’re hurting me!’
    ‘That, you little faggot, is the general idea.’ With an evil look in her eyes, Ruby spun the frightened girl around and pressed her face close. ‘And that’s one place yer won’t be showing yer dad, isn’t it?’
    Lucy made a dash for the front door. When it was open, and freedom at hand, she dared to looked back. The pain, the injustice and the sadness in her heart, gave her the courage to cry out, ‘Mothers are supposed to love their children, but you don’t love me, you hate me!’
    ‘Are yer putting yer best dress on, pet?’
    ‘Yeah, we can’t let the side down, can we?’ Although she didn’t feel like smiling, Lucy managed one for her dad. He looked so happy for her she didn’t want to spoil it. How different it would be if he could see the inside of the top of her leg. There was a big ugly bruise there, and the skin had been broken where her mother’s nails had dug in. It hurt like anything when she walked and her two legs rubbed together. And she’d been in pain all day, sitting on a hard bench at school and wishing there was someone she could ask for help without fear of them getting in touch with her dad. ‘I’ll go and get changed now so I’ll be ready in time.’
    ‘It would be nice if yer had a new coat, but it can’t be helped. Tell Mr Titch ye’re getting one next week for yer birthday, and yer’ll be a proper swank then.’
    ‘Now if I told him that, I would be swanking, wouldn’t I? The boys would think I was showing off and they’d skit me.’ Lucy blew him a kiss before leaving the room to go upstairs. She was on the third stair when she heard her dad speak.
    ‘You could take a brush to her old coat while she’s upstairs and try and make it look a bit respectable,’ Bob said. ‘The lads from next door will be well turned out, Irene will make sure of that. I wouldn’t have to ask if yer showed some interest in yer daughter’s appearance.’
    ‘She’s big enough to brush her own flamin’ coat,’ Ruby said. ‘She’ll be wanting a maid next, the way she’s getting spoilt.’
    Lucy jumped down the stairs and went back into the living room. ‘I’ll brush me own coat, Dad.’
    ‘Yer mam will do it, it’ll only take five minutes.’
    ‘Dad, I’d rather do it meself, honest. I don’t want me mam doing it for me.’
    Bob looked puzzled at Lucy’s tone. ‘Are you all right, pet? Yer mam hasn’t been shouting at yer, has she?’
    ‘No, it’s just that I’d rather do it meself. I’ve got plenty of time, so I’ll have a good go at it when I come