Stay as Sweet as You Are Read Online Free PDF

and put it on for us.’
    Lucy was so excited, even her mother’s attitude couldn’t dampen her spirits. She felt as though a good fairy had waved a magic wand and she suddenly had a beautiful dress, new shoes and even knickers. And she’d been in a café and had tea and toasted teacakes. She had never known a day like this, and she was too ecstatic to wonder if there would ever be another. ‘I’ll go and put them on, Dad, and swank.’
    When Bob heard her taking the stairs two at a time, he quietly closed the door before facing his wife. ‘Would it have killed you to show some pleasure in yer daughter’s new clothes? What sort of a mother are yer?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t know what brought on the change in yer, but ye’re certainly not the woman I married. It’s like living with a complete stranger – someone I don’t even like.’
    ‘Those clothes were bought with my housekeeping money.’ Ruby spat the words out. ‘So don’t expect me to go in a swoon over them.’
    Bob felt like wiping the sneer off her painted face, but he would never lift a hand to a woman. So he got his revenge in words. ‘Not only yer housekeeping, Ruby, but also yerSaturday-night pleasure. I’ve no money left for the pub tonight, so yer can settle yerself in to listen to the wireless. It won’t worry yer, though, will it? Being the good mother yer are, yer’ll be quite happy knowing yer daughter won’t have to pin her knickers up again, nor wear a shoe with a ruddy big hole in the sole.’
    Ruby’s eyes were nearly popping out of her head and her nostrils were wide and white. ‘Not going to the pub! The one night in the week yer take me out, and yer’ve gone and spent all yer money on that little faggot?’
    ‘Not on a little faggot, Ruby, on our daughter. And Saturday may be the only night I take yer out, but it certainly isn’t the only night you go out. In fact, ye’re out more often than ye’re in. So I don’t think yer have anything to complain about.’ He heard footsteps on the landing and spoke quietly, but threateningly. ‘You say one word out of place to that child and by God, yer’ll be sorry. It won’t be five shillings short in yer money, it’ll be ten. So think on before yer put yer foot in it.’
    Lucy had never had anything to show off before, and she was shy as she stood inside the door. ‘How do I look, Dad?’
    ‘Oh pet, yer look as pretty as a picture. The dress looks lovely on yer, fits like it’s been made for yer. Go and stand in front of yer mam and see if she likes it.’
    Lucy gave him a quick glance before crossing to where her mother sat. ‘D’yer like me new dress, Mam?’
    The words were so begrudged, Ruby had to force them out. ‘Yeah, it’s nice.’
    Lucy could sense the antagonism in the voice but wouldn’t let it prey on her mind. No one was going to spoil today for her. So tossing her hair, she turned back to her father. ‘Can I go and show Rhoda? And Mrs Pollard asked me to call and let her see me new dress.’
    That was too much for Ruby. ‘You keep away from that nosy cow next door. All she’s good for is pulling people to pieces. The less she knows about our business, the better.’
    Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise. How could her mam say that about their neighbour? ‘But she’s nice, is Mrs Pollard. Everyone likes her ’cos she’s always happy and friendly. She never shouts at the kids like some women,’ the girl almost stamped her foot at the injustice of her mother’s words, ‘and she’s not a nosy cow, either.’
    Ruby was halfway out of her chair when she caught Bob’s eye. So the slap she thought her daughter deserved would have to wait for another time. But that time would come. In the meanwhile, she contented herself with saying, ‘Don’t yer ever dare answer me back like that.’
    Bob was thoughtful as he looked down at his clasped hands. He didn’t want to set mother and daughter against each other, but Lucy had to learn that when someone