NEW BEGINNINGS

London, 1949.

‘Elsie, girl, you’re so lovely’

 

‘GET OFF, Joe, I’m not ready for that stuff yet’

 

‘So you don’t love me!  There’s plenty who would.  All the nice girls love a sailor!’

 

‘Course I do, Joe, but can’t we wait a bit?  We’re not even engaged, and I’m only just nineteen!’

 

‘One day soon darling, you’ve always been my girl, but why not now while there’s the chance! You would if you really loved me like you say!  Come on girl!’

 

‘No Joe, I’m not ready!’

 

‘You bloody little tease – you know you want it!’

 

‘No, no I’m not ready.  Nooo what are you doing….’

 

 

Two months later

 

‘Up the duff are you Elsie girl? Ha!  Who’s goin to want you now?’

 

‘Ouch Joe that hurt!  Why did you do that?  What have I ever done to deserve that?  And what’s me Mum and Dad going to say?’   No Joe, don’t hurt me again!’

 

‘Be nice to me then and we’ll tell them we’re getting wed.  Can’t see my own flesh and blood in the gutter can I  I take it it is mine?’

 

‘Course it is Joe, you know there’s been no-one except you’.

 

‘Suppose I’ll have to take your word for it!  Now come over here, we can do what we like now you’re already carrying!’

 

‘Oh Joe, thank you….’

 

 

Camberwell, London 1951

 

‘I don’t want another yet Joe, I’m already worn out with this one, she’s such a delicate baby, can’t it wait a couple of years..…’

 

‘SHUT UP cow!  Betty’s alright, but she’s a girl, and I’m a man who’s goin’ somewhere, I’m gonna have a business – I need a son, and you’re goin’ to give me one’.

 

‘Please, can’t we at least wait another year til we’re properly set up?  OH NO        don’t hit me again…alright alright do what you like, just stop shouting all the time, the neighbours will hear…’

 

 

Kennington, London 1958

 

‘Please don’t hurt the boy, Joe, there’s no need for that, he’s done nothing wrong – hit me instead!’

 

‘You’re making him soft Elsie, we don’t want him turning into a cissy, he’s got to learn’.

 

‘But that’s cruel, holding his hand against that boiling pot …no DON’T!’

 

‘Mum help.. No Dad No please….’

 

‘Shut your mouth you pansy, take it like a man.  Now you’ve learned not to touch boiling pans.  Now stop that blubbing.  Ha!  No son of mine carries on like that!  Elsie, you sure he’s mine?’

 

‘Course he is Joe, I never had no-one but you!’

 

‘Well take THAT anyway, tart.  How can I be sure?  You had it with me before we was even engaged, so you’ve already proved what a whore you are!’

 

‘Don’t say that Joe there’s only ever been you, you know that!’

 

 

 

Bromley, Kent, 1980

 

‘Where are you going all tarted up?’

 

‘I’m going to work as usual Joe, just got a clean overall on’

 

‘Suppose you’re hoping to meet some bloke!  Is that lipstick you’re wearing?’

 

‘Don’t be daft Joe I’ve just got to look respectable for work; I had to put makeup on to cover that bruise you gave me last night - besides there’s no blokes work there but you!’

 

‘Well make sure you’re back here to do my lunch!’

 

 

Croydon, Surrey 2006

 

‘Elsie! E-L-S-I-E!  Where are you?  I need my lunch. Shift yourself, I’m starving!  And you can turn the telly over while you’re at it.’

 

‘Coming dear, won’t be a minute, just got to finish this ironing then take my heart pills.’

 

‘Bloody pills! There’s nothing wrong with you a cold bath wouldn’t cure.  Hurry up then, and make sure you get all the creases out, you know how much I hate wrinkled sheets, and it all needs changing before the carers arrive.’

 

’Can’t you wait for them Joe?  My backs killing me where I changed the bed on my own yesterday then you kicked me for being slow.’

 

‘YOU’RE MY WIFE!!  It’s your job to look after me, it’s in the Bible.  Now shut your gob and get on with it’.

 

 

Christmas 2009

 

‘Aw look Joe, here’s a card from the Queen.  Aah, ain’t that nice, sixty years married – how I’ve put up with you all that time I don’t know.  Used to be quite a looker didn’t I?  And look at me now, all out of shape and bent double like a hairpin.  What’s that you’re trying to say?  I’m afraid you’re a bit hard to understand today, and you know how deaf I am from that time you punched me in the ear!  You need changing?   Well ain’t that a shame, I don’t feel like doing it right now – it’s my back where I turned you in the night.  Still, the carers will be here soon, and I want to see that film then watch Bargain Hunt over lunch.  He does make me laugh, that Tim!

 

What’s that?  You can’t move?  Well I can’t help that dear, that’s what happens when people have a stroke.  I expect the carer will call an ambulance when she arrives.’

 

‘Waarrter’!

 

‘’You’ll have to speak up, I can’t hear you.  Now fancy that, after all the shouting you’ve done over the years!  And I’ve often felt like shouting, like I do now.  But I’ll shout quietly, don’t want the neighbours to hear what a bastard you’ve been, beat me, bullied the kids so much they were scared to breathe – no wonder they never come to see you!’

 

‘Heelp me….’

 

‘Sorry dear, can’t understand you.  Oh wait, are you uncomfortable?   Perhaps your pillow needs adjusting……….Oh my, it’s slipped over your face.  I’ll take it off in a minute when I’ve made you a cup of tea.’

 

….

 

‘Sorry I took so long dear, I had a job opening the new milk, my hands are so stiff with all the bruises and sprains.  Anyway, here you are dear……Oh look your pillow’s on your face…I’ll just move it…..there, that’s better – Oh you’re not breathing…

 

‘HELP ME HELP ME someone, I think my husband’s dead!’

 

‘Well Joe, I’ve left the front door open, I expect that nice Mr Jones at number 12 will come round soon to see what’s up if I keep calling. So seems like I’m free now.  It could have been so good I loved you so much at the beginning.  Still do actually.  I gave you my heart, and my body – but you wanted my soul.  Well Joe, looks like it’s all mine again now.  Ironic ain’t it – now I’m the one doing the shouting!

 

 H E L P!!!’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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