Free The Pearly Queen by Mary Jane Staples

embarrassed at the way it’s playin’ up.’
    â€˜Well, talk to it, then,’ said Aunt Edie, ‘or something sharp will come along and chop it off.’
    Joe bawled with laughter. ‘You’re a card, you are, Edie,’ he said.
    Jimmy, naturally friendly, tried again with Hetty. ‘Are you a pearly?’ he asked.
    â€˜Am I what?’
    â€˜Pearly princess?’
    â€˜Me?’ Hetty looked disgusted. ‘Course I’m not. I’m goin’ on the stage, I am.’
    â€˜As a comic, tellin’ funny jokes?’ said Jimmy.
    â€˜Doin’ what?’ said Hetty
    â€˜Well, I can see you’re a laugh a minute.’
    â€˜You daft or something?’
    It was Jimmy’s turn to give up.
    Joe, trying to win Aunt Edie over as they approached Camberwell Green, said, ‘You can take yer time considerin’ me proposition, yer know, I ain’t goin’ to rush yer.’
    â€˜Well, I can tell you, Joe, I’m not thinkin’ about that kind of commitment,’ said Aunt Edie.
    â€˜Proud and ’andsome, with a mind of yer own, that’s what you are, Edie,’ said Joe. ‘Listen, could yer think about doin’ a turn at a concert we’re givin’ next Saturday week for kids and their parents in St Mark’s church ’all? You can choose yer own songs.’
    â€˜I’m not sure I’ll ’ave time.’
    â€˜You can find time, Edie, you got a big ’eart,’ said Joe. ‘I remember you doin’ a turn at the old joanner at me weddin’ to Chloe. Yer know, it’s still ’ard to believe she’s gorn. I been a widower nigh on two year now.’ He did more reminiscing as he headed his pony towards Camberwell Grove.
    In the back, wooden-faced Hetty said, ‘’Oo d’yer think you’re lookin’ at?’
    â€˜Can’t help meself, can I?’ said Jimmy. ‘You’re sittin’ over there and I’m sittin’ over here. Does it hurt?’
    â€˜I don’t know I like it.’
    â€˜Well, try fallin’ out,’ said Jimmy.
    â€˜What d’yer mean, fallin’ out?’
    â€˜Out of the cart.’
    â€˜What, and ‘it me ’ead on the road?’
    â€˜You could try it,’ said Jimmy, ‘it might not hurt as much as bein’ looked at.’
    â€˜Yer bleedin’ potty,’ said the lovable little lady who was going on the stage.
    â€˜Whoa there,’ said Joe, and the cart came to a halt outside Aunt Edie’s flat in Camberwell Grove.
    â€˜Thanks for the ride, Joe,’ she said, ‘and if you’d let go of me knee again, I’ll get down.’
    â€˜Can’t ’ardly believe it, can yer?’ said Joe. ‘Me mitt’s doin’ it again. I’ll ’ave to take it to the doctor’s.’
    â€˜Get ’im to give it an operation,’ said Aunt Edie, and alighted. Jimmy swung himself down, and lifted the shopping bag out of the cart. He thanked Joe.
    â€˜Pleasure,’ said Joe, grinning, gleaming and sparkling in his pearlies. ‘Keep in touch, Edie, eh?’
    â€˜If I’ve got time,’ said Aunt Edie. Joe blew her a kiss and set off again. Jimmy thought he’d better give Hetty a wave, and did. Hetty stuck her tongue out and departed from his life.
    â€˜Just as well she’s not a pearly princess,’ he said, ‘or I’d lose me faith in them.’
    â€˜Yes, a bit of a brat,’ said Aunt Edie. ‘Spoiled rotten. Well, let’s go up, lovey.’
    Camberwell Grove had quite a superior look. Aunt Edie rented the top floor of one of the terraced houses, and enjoyed the privacy of what was a self-contained flat. Jimmy and his sisters knew it well, for Aunt Edie often invited them to Sunday tea. Jimmy liked the bright look of her living-room. She went in for colourful cushions. He meandered about the room while she packed some things in her bedroom.