Free The Way Ahead by Mary Jane Staples Page A

‘but I’ve straightened them all out. And Sammy too,’ she added as a thinking woman’s afterthought.
    Sammy grinned.
    ‘Have you got problems yourself, Uncle Sammy?’ asked Jonathan with a grin.
    ‘Only Susie,’ said Sammy. ‘Well, that’s it, then, glad you young people are happy about everything.’
    ‘Uncle Sammy,’ said Emma, ‘why are you doing this for me and Jonathan?’
    ‘It’s a family business,’ said Sammy, ‘and what we’re doing for you and Jonathan is good business for all concerned.’
    ‘Well, bless you and the business,’ said Emma.
    ‘It’s still light,’ said Susie, ‘so if you and Jonathan have got time, would you like Sammy to run you up to Ferndene Road to look at the house?’
    ‘Oh, yes,’ said Emma.
    Ferndene Road wasn’t far, being on the opposite side of Denmark Hill to Red Post Hill, but Sammy took the young couple in his car. He pulled up outside the house in question, and Emma and Jonathan took in its aspect. Double-fronted with a central porch and latticed windows, it was built of attractive multicoloured brick. It was typically suburban. The Denmark Hill area, close though it was to Camberwell and Walworth, did have a look more suburban than urban. Emma, well-read, knew a certain kind of knowing people would call the house pseudo-something-or-other, but as far as she was concerned it represented a dream post-war beginning for herself and Jonathan. And their post-war children. It was like other houses in the area that they’d admired, larger than they thought they’d be able to afford, but Uncle Sammy’s offer brought it within reach, even though he hadn’t offered it on a long-term basis. Six years was better business for the firm, and Emma could understand that.
    ‘Just say if you think it’s not what you’d like,’ said Sammy.
    ‘Love it,’ said Emma.
    ‘Family house,’ said Jonathan.
    Lights were on and there was a faint sound of music.
    ‘Seems like the tenants are throwing a party,’ said Sammy, ‘so I can’t ask ’em to let you look around. But you’ve got my word it’s pretty handsome, and you can always decorate to suit your own tastes.’
    ‘We’re happy as things stand,’ said Jonathan, thinking he’d be able to afford nearly two pounds a week out of his wages. He’d been promised a starting salary of eighteen pounds a month because of his pre-war experience with accountants at Camberwell Green. The offer of the job had come from Captain Bradshaw, a peacetime partner in the City firm, and presently an officer on the cadre of the training camp.
    Sammy drove the young couple back to Red Post Hill, where they spent some time with Chinese Lady, Mr Finch and Daniel, a young man with some of Sammy’s electricity. Emma was bubbling over, and Chinese Lady, approving of the arrangement, said it was going to be nice having her and Jonathan living in the family area, and that Sammy had always had his good points, even if he wasn’t always as respectful as he ought to be and spent too much time thinking about money.
    ‘Oh, well, he doesn’t keep it in his old socks any more, Mum,’ said Susie. ‘Most of it’s in the bank.’
    ‘It should be fairly safe there,’ said Mr Finch.
    ‘I’ll have a look at it, if you like, Dad,’ said Daniel. ‘Say at a charge of one per cent.’
    ‘Sammy, that makes me ask if you go and count it sometimes to make sure it’s all there,’ said Chinese Lady.
    ‘In a manner of speaking, once a year at audit time,’ said Sammy.
    ‘Well, I suppose once a year’s enough if you trust the bank,’ said Chinese Lady.
    ‘Just as much as old socks, Ma,’ said Sammy.
    ‘I don’t know what Emma and Jonathan think of you calling me Ma,’ said Chinese Lady. ‘I’ve told you a hundred times it’s common. Still, you’ve been very family-minded about the house for them, so I won’t go on at you. We all hope it’ll make a nice home for you and Emma, Jonathan, which I’m sure you both deserve, and I must