Page 28

BEFORE

June 1976

Sally

Doddington Estate, Battersea Park Road, London

Sally hummed to herself as she plugged the shower hose into the tap in the bath. Then she squealed as the ice-cold water hit her. They’d announced on the six o’clock news this evening that the water ban was over. Traditional British summer weather was to return this week, with the heat wave finally ending after a thirteen-day streak.

She put on her favourite jeans and T-shirt, then took two rollers from her fringe that she’d put in when she’d got back from the salon, flicking the curls off her face until they fell into loose waves.

She grabbed the gift she’d wrapped earlier that week and left the apartment.

The lifts were out of order again. This usually annoyed her, but nothing could dampen her mood today. She heard the sounds of kids laughing and shouting as she crossed the concrete courtyard to get to Elsie’s block. A couple of girls had used chalk to draw out squares and were playing hopscotch. A little boy, no more than three, was peddalling furiously on his tricycle, and another group of boys were kicking a football. Sally wasn’t sure she would ever get used to this high-density development, vast and high, with thousands crammed into the small spaces. The flats reminded Sally of Lego pieces stacked on top of each other.

Her butterflies were back as she knocked on Elsie’s door. She was unsure how Elsie would take her good news about Elite. Sally knew that Elsie would be happy for her – of course, she would – but she’d noticed a change in Elsie since their time together in the orphanage. A hardness had crept into her friend.

‘Door’s open,’ Elsie’s voice called out. Sally walked into the flat, where Elsie sat at her dining-room table, applying lipstick in front of a small vanity mirror.

Elsie’s radio cassette sat on the table and a news reporter read the seven o’clock news.

‘I’m shattered. I think I might fall asleep into my lager tonight.’

‘Me too,’ Sally admitted, her ears pricking up when she heard the words ‘Yorkshire Ripper’.

The newsreader continued: ‘Police investigating the Jack the Ripper-style killings in Yorkshire have issued a warning to women – beware of accepting lifts from strangers. And Assistant Chief Constable Jim Hobson, of Leeds CID , has appealed to prostitutes in the Chapeltown area to report any assaults or threats against them in the past twelve months.’

Elsie reached over and switched the news off.

‘It’s scary, isn’t it?’ Sally said. ‘Those poor women. Bludgeoned to death with a hammer and stabbed with a screwdriver. What kind of monster does that?’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, must you always be so dramatic?’ Elsie snapped. ‘We’re supposed to be going out tonight. All this talk would depress anyone.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Sally said, but she wasn’t sure why she was apologising.

She passed the small gift-wrapped package in Elsie’s direction, hoping it might turn Elsie’s bad mood around.

‘I got you a gift. A little something to say thank you for all the meals and helping me get that job with Cyril.’

The corners of Elsie’s mouth turned up, and half a smile reappeared on her face. ‘You always were an old softie.’

She unwrapped the gift carefully and pulled out two bright purple cushion covers.

‘I know it’s your favourite colour. And I thought they might brighten the place up,’ Sally said.

Elsie’s response was to burst into tears. Sally moved closer to her, sitting on the small sofa beside her.

‘Hey, what’s this all about?’ Sally asked, surprised by Elsie’s reaction.

‘You know, in my twenty-one years, you are the only person who has ever bought me gifts since my mum . . . Well, since she died. Proper got me, this did.’ Elsie touched her heart, grinning through her tears. She reached behind her for the two beige cushions, pulled the grim covers off and replaced them with the new ones.

‘Regal. Fit for a queen,’ Sally said.

‘Some queen I am,’ Elsie replied with a laugh. ‘Put the kettle on. I’m parched.’

Ten minutes later, they were sipping tea and eating fig rolls, laughing at Sally’s tale of killer ladybirds and her impulsive call to Sister Jones.

‘We didn’t know how lucky we was until it was gone,’ Elsie stated.

‘That’s for sure. I feel sorry for the kids in the flats. They’ve nowhere to play here. We were lucky, weren’t we? That big parkland to muck about in, behind the orphanage.’

Elsie nodded towards the front door. ‘Up until I found you, I never spoke to anyone. I tried to chat with a few women on this landing when I moved in, but they seem to have little cliques. There’s a pensioner down the hall. She’s chatty, as long you don’t mind listening to her talking about her dead husband.’

‘They all keep to themselves on my landing too,’ Sally replied. ‘Thought I’d made a friend when I got stuck in a lift with a neighbour, but once we got out, she was off!’

‘Thank goodness we found each other!’ Elsie said. Then she leaned back and looked at Sally a little closer. ‘You look different. Your hair is growing out, and you’ve curled it. It suits you like that.’

Sally swished her hair and smiled. ‘I’ve been trying to do the Farrah flip! I’ve been practising, but it’s not long enough yet. I can do yours for you if you like?’

‘It would look stupid on me,’ Elsie said, frowning, as she examined her long, straight hair.

‘Leave it with me. I’ll have you all Farrah’d out before we leave here today!’ Sally glanced at Elsie shyly. ‘I have some news. I found another job today.’

Sally filled Elsie in on how her chat with Sister Jones had prompted a call into Nicola’s salon. She held her breath while waiting for Elsie to respond.

‘You probably think I’m stupid, working for nothing . . .’ Sally said, doubting herself now as Elsie regarded her quizzically.

‘There’s one thing you’ll never be, Sally Fox, and that’s stupid. I told you before you’re a shining bright white light. I’m well chuffed for you.’

‘Really?’ Sally asked, feeling warmth rise into her cheeks.

‘Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? And I’ll be expecting free haircuts for life now.’

Sally laughed out loud. ‘I think I can manage that.’

‘You should ask in the library if they have any books on hairdressing,’ Elsie suggested.

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ Sally exclaimed. The Battersea Park Library sat on the outskirts of the Doddington Estate and it had become a lifesaver for Sally, who was a regular visitor there, borrowing books, or spending an hour at their record library, headphones on, listening to music.

‘You’ll be dead on your feet, though,’ Elsie said, frowning.

‘I know. I’ll not do much other than sleep and work for a while. But it will be worth it. I know it.’

‘Well, we better make the most of tonight. The Grove won’t know what’s hit it when we walk through the door.’ She picked up a hairbrush and handed it to Sally. ‘Go on, work your magic on my barnet.’

An hour later, they stood at the bar, waiting to order their drinks. Sally felt giddy thinking about the possibilities that lay ahead for her.

Three men were playing darts, and when they glanced over at the girls one of them winked at Sally, making her cheeks flame.

‘About time you broke a few hearts,’ Elsie said, nudging Sally’s side.

‘When would I have time for that?’ Sally replied with a laugh. ‘What about you? Have you found any hunks that you might marry?’

Elsie laughed. ‘Chance would be a fine thing. Sure, who’d have me?’

‘I would,’ a deep voice said from behind them.

They turned round in surprise. Standing behind them, tall, lean, with shaggy long hair that reached his black biker-jacket-clad shoulders was a face from their past. Even though it had been over four years since he’d left Sunshine House Orphanage, he’d not changed a bit.

‘’Allo, Elsie love. Long time no see,’ Reggie said with a goofy grin.

‘Hello, Reggie,’ Elsie replied, beaming back at her old boyfriend.