Page 55 of The Way We Are Now

‘Well, that’s all right then.’

‘Where’s Mum?’

‘Doing something with mushy peas,’ Les said, not looking up from the kitchen table where he was polishing his shoes. ‘Planning how to make vats of them anyroad. Got a hot date tonight,’ he added, spitting and rubbing at the already shiny leather.

‘When haven’t you?’ I retorted. ‘I do hope you’re good to all these girls who you’re always out with. Don’t mess them around and lead them on. I hope you don’t dump them the minute you have your way with them.’

‘Hey, what about you, hobnobbing off up to North Yorkshire with some posh bloke? I notice you didn’t bring him in when he dropped you off.’

‘He’s got exams this week. He needed to go back to Leeds to revise.’

‘Well, remember your roots, Anna. I’ve never been ashamed to bring anyone back here.’

‘I’m not ashamed,’ I said hotly. ‘Theo met Mum yesterday when he picked me up.’

‘You know what I’m saying.’ Les paused and then gave a strange laugh. ‘Don’t suppose our David’ll be bringing anyone back here either.’

‘If he does, I’m sure Mum and Dad will welcome any partner he has.’

‘He’s not bringing any poofter back here,’ Les said crossly. ‘What’ll folk think? There’s that there AIDS as well now. I’m not going into the lav after some queer’s been in there.’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Les, grow up.’

‘You grow up,’ Les snapped.

‘Well, your shoes might be shiny,’ I said, ‘but I can’t imagine any girl being impressed with those fingernails.’ I reached for Les’s hand as he continued to rub at his shoes.

‘Been over at Brampton all morning,’ he said, attempting to remove some of the black with the point of Mum’s nail file. ‘There’s a field over there which they once used to stockpile coke. We had to do quite a bit of digging with our hands in the soil and the grass to find what bits of coke had been left behind. Me and Kenny Roberts got a bit of a bag each.’

‘But we don’t need to light a fire at the moment,’ I said. ‘Have you not noticed, there’s a heatwave on, even if it is only May?’

‘And it might have escaped your notice, with you off up with your posh bloke an’ all, that if we need hot water in this house, we have to light a fire. I need a bath if I’m going to get anywhere tonight.’

‘Sorry, I forgot that.’

‘Yes, well, just remember that next time.’

‘So, what’s Mum up to, you say?’

‘Part of the Women’s Action Group. They’re trying to raise money for the strike and they’re planning on putting a pie and pea supper on in some pub beer garden. You know, something for the kids. Probably get a bouncy castle and the like. Half the houses on the street have promised to soak and cook the dried peas for her for the bank holiday weekend.’

‘What about Dad?’

‘Oh, he’s helping as well. She’s got everyone at it. Some women in the action group’ve been invited to meet Neil Kinnock an’ all. Over in Leeds.’

‘Right, good.’

‘I hope you’re going to do your bit, Anna. It’ll be me and my mates, and any kids we have, who won’t have jobs down t’mine if Thatcher gets her way.’

‘I know, I know.’

‘But do you know?’ Les insisted. ‘Do you know how much the DHSS is giving to miners’ wives to feed and clothe their kids?’

‘I do,’ I said. ‘Of course I do.’ I knew all about it, working at the NUM office.

‘Six pounds fifty a week, Anna.’

‘No,’ I said, staring. ‘It’s more than that.’