Sadie Was A Lady Read Free

terrible.’
    ‘You mean your father has gambled all his wages?’ Harry was shaking his head. ‘It’s a mugs’ game, bettin’ on the horses.’
    ‘I was going to say me dad is a mug, but then I’m a bigger mug than he is! Fancy working all week and not having sixpence to go to the pictures.’
    Harry had long ago decided that Sadie didn’t belong to the Wilson family. She was the prettiest girl in the neighbourhood, but her clothes were always shabby and she didn’t make the most of her looks. Any other parents would have been proud of her natural beauty and helped her make the best of it, because when she smiled, it was as though the sun had suddenly begun to shine. And she was beginning to curve in all the right places. Another year or so and she’d be a stunner.
    ‘I’ll give you sixpence, Sadie.’
    ‘Oh no, Harry, I couldn’t take yer money off yer. I’ll be all right, don’t worry about me.’
    ‘Sell me something for sixpence then, and you won’t be in my debt.’
    Sadie’s smile was weak. ‘I’ve got nothing to sell, Harry.’
    ‘You could sell me a kiss. I think it would be well worth the money.’
    ‘A tanner for a kiss? I’m not Jean Harlow, yer know!’
    ‘I still think it would be worth it, and it’s my tanner.’
    Sadie’s mind was working overtime. Harry looked as though he meant it and it would be no heartache to kiss him ’cos he was nice and clean and he had no pimples like some of the lads in work. And his offer meant she wouldn’t have to let Brenda down. ‘Are yer sure?’
    Harry nodded. ‘Very sure.’
    ‘Now?’
    ‘I don’t think this is the right place, do you?’ Harry grinned so she wouldn’t take offence at his words. ‘After all, a sixpenny kiss is a smacker, not just a peck. What time will yer be coming home from the pictures?’
    ‘We go to first house ’cos Brenda’s mam won’t let her stay out late. I’ll be getting off the tram about half-past eight.’
    ‘I’ll be waiting at the tram stop for yer – is that okay?’ When she nodded, Harry smiled. ‘I’ll find a nice shop doorway.’ He put his hand in his trouser pocket and Sadie could hear coins jingling before he pulled out a sixpenny piece. ‘Enjoy the picture, Sadie.’
    Sadie gazed at the small silver coin nestling in her palm then turned those vivid blue eyes on him. ‘Are you sure about this, Harry? It doesn’t seem right to me. Your mam would go mad if she knew.’
    ‘Unless you tell her, she will never know. Not that I care – I wouldn’t care who knows. You’re a very pretty girl, Sadie, and if I want to kiss you it’s got nothing to do with anyone.’
    ‘It’ll be me first kiss.’ Sadie lowered her head. ‘I won’t be very good at it.’
    ‘I’m not exactly Rudolph Valentino meself.’ Harry began to chuckle. ‘All you have to do is pucker your lips an’ I’ll pucker mine.’
    When Sadie stepped off the tram and saw Harry emerge from the shadow of a shop doorway, she was a bundle of nerves. She’d never be able to kiss like Moira Shearer had in the picture tonight, with her eyes all gooey and a soppy smile on her face. Still, she’d made a bargain and she’d keep to it. ‘Have yer been waiting long?’
    ‘Only five minutes,’ Harry lied. It must have been at least half an hour, if not more. ‘Did yer enjoy the picture?’
    ‘Yeah, it was all right but I’d rather have a comedy. It’s me mate that likes romances … she cried all the way through it.’ Sadie felt conspicuous standing by the tram stop and she looked around. ‘Can we go somewhere else? I feel daft standin’ here.’
    ‘There’s plenty of shop doorways, Sadie, but it’s so light everyone would see us.’ Harry cupped her elbow. ‘It’s only five minutes’ walk to the park. Shall we go there?’
    ‘If yer like, but I don’t want to be too late getting home. Not that anyone would worry. Me mam and dad are probably knockin’ the ale back in the pub.’ Sadie had to skip to keep up with