Stay as Sweet as You Are Read Online Free PDF Page A

lump that had formed in his throat. What sort of a father was he, not to have seen all this? ‘Lucy, why didn’t yer tell me yer didn’t have a decent pair of shoes? I would have done something if I’d known, but the trouble is, pet, yer never complain. Yer don’t have to put up with using pins in yer knickers or wearing shoes that are only fit for the back of the fire. Yer’ve got to start speaking up for yerself.’
    ‘Me mam said she didn’t have any money.’ Lucy spoke quietly, afraid of saying too much and then being the recipient of her mother’s anger.
    Bob sighed. ‘I give yer mother enough money to manage on, pet, more than most women in the street get.’ He was also careful about what he said. It wouldn’t do to criticise his wife to his daughter. ‘It’s just that she’s not very good with money, she spends it on the wrong things. There are lots of women like that, they’re just not good managers. So in future, you come to me if yer need anything. And don’t be frightened of upsetting yer mam by coming to me, ’cos I’ll have a word with her. I’ll see to yer clothes, and that’ll be one less worry off her mind.’
    ‘Yeah, okay, Dad.’ Lucy took her shoe and slipped it on. ‘Don’t look now, but yer toasted teacake has gone cold.’
    ‘Won’t stop me eating it, pet.’ Bob folded the teacake and took a bite. ‘I noticed the shoe department when we came in. We’ll have a gander and see if me money will stretch to a pair of cheap shoes for yer.’
    He was counting up in his head how much money he had in his pocket as they entered the shoe department. He had to keep enough for his fares to work, the five Woodbines he bought every day and a couple of bob for drinks tonight. Saturday night was the only time he went out with Ruby. They only went to the corner pub because of leaving Lucy on her own and his wife wouldn’t be very happy to forego that pleasure, even for the sake of seeing her daughter in a decent pair of shoes.
    Lucy tugged on his sleeve. ‘Dad, these plimsoles are only elevenpence ha’penny, they’d do for me.’
    ‘They’d be no good if it rained, yer feet would be sopping wet. Let’s look around before we decide.’ The price of girls’ shoes went from half-a-crown up to the seven and six ankle bands that Lucy was gazing at with eyes and mouth wide open. In black shiny patent leather, with the straps fastening at the front with a button, they were the most beautiful shoes she’d ever seen. Bob saw her face and sighed. She was so pretty, she deserved the clothes to match, but they were out of his reach. ‘I’m sorry, pet, me pocket doesn’t run to that.’
    ‘Oh, I wouldn’t want them, Dad, they’re too posh. None of me friends have got them and they’d think I was swanking.’ She started to giggle. ‘Can yer see me playing hopscotch in them? I wouldn’t enjoy meself, I’d be terrified of scratching them.’
    Bob picked up a pair of the half-a-crown lace ups. They looked what they were, a pair of cheap shoes. But they were sturdy and she’d get good wear out of them. ‘Sit on that stool, pet, and I’ll get the assistant to find the right size for yer.’
    ‘Are yer sure yer can afford them, Dad? I can wait a few more weeks, yer know.’
    ‘We’ll get them now, while we’re here.’ Bob had gone well over what he intended spending, and wondered what he could forfeit to make it up. He had to keep his tram fare otherwise he wouldn’t be able to get to work, and he wasn’t going to give up his Woodbines, they were one of the few pleasures he had in life. So they’d have to give the pub a miss, it wouldn’t kill them for one night. And the pleasure on Lucy’s face made it worthwhile.
    Ruby sat with a scowl on her face as Lucy brought her new clothes out of the bags. She showed no enthusiasm, passed no compliments. And her silence angered Bob, who tried to make up for her lack of interest. ‘I can’t wait to see yer in the dress, pet. Nip upstairs