The District Nurses of Victory Walk

‘I just took a funny turn. I said to my wife, you go and see yer sister like you was going to before I had my bit of trouble. Ain’t no need for you to stay home and look after me. Then I thought as I might as well go to work cos I was feeling so much better – but I had a funny turn. Me neighbour come in and help me and then sent for you.’ He fell back against the cushion as if worn out.

Alice took his pulse and temperature, and assessed his breathing, then leant back. ‘What did the doctor say after you had your accident?’ she asked.

‘Oh, doctors.’ The man, who was probably in his fifties, gave a snort of contempt. ‘Nobody would ever get anything done if they was to listen to doctors. Stay in bed, take it easy, all that rubbish. I don’t pay no attention to them.’

Alice noticed the neighbour moving towards the door, mouthing, ‘I’ll be next door if you need me’, clearly eager to get back to her own business. Alice was glad – that meant there would be no one to witness the telling off she felt obliged to give her patient.

‘Now, Mr Leagrave,’ she began, quietly but firmly, aware that here was a man of definite opinions. The problem was, if he kept to them, he’d be putting himself in danger. Gently but insistently, she explained this to him. ‘The doctor didn’t advise you to rest because he couldn’t think of anything else,’ she finished. ‘He said it because it was what you need to do. And now, look what happens when you go against that. So you had better promise me you’ll rest like he told you.’

Ernest Leagrave looked too worn out to argue, but nodded. ‘Yes, Nurse. I see that now.’

‘Good.’ Alice sat back. ‘Rest really is the best medicine. Then you’ll be able to return to work sure as eggs is eggs.’

‘That’s what I want, Nurse. I hate sitting around on my arse doing nothing,’ Ernest confessed. ‘I never was one for doing nothing. Just ask anyone who knows me.’ He nodded to a shape behind him, and Alice realised someone else had come into the room, so quietly she hadn’t heard them. ‘Here’s my colleague from the GPO, he’ll tell you. Isn’t that right, Joe?’

‘Oh, I don’t doubt it,’ said Alice comfortingly, and then did a double take when she saw who the newcomer was, recognising Joe Banham, the man who’d treated her curtly when she’d met him at Victoria Park with Edith. She swallowed hard. ‘Good afternoon, Mr Banham. I didn’t realise you’d come in.’ She stood. ‘I was just leaving.’

‘I’ve been here for a few minutes, you seemed engrossed in your work and I didn’t want to interrupt.’

Alice was flummoxed knowing that Joe had been quietly watching her while she treated his friend. There was a smile in his eyes that she didn’t remember from their last meeting.

‘What about payment, Nurse? I want things done proper,’ Ernest insisted.

Alice waved his suggestion aside. ‘No, no, Mr Leagrave. You pay into the scheme and, besides, I haven’t done anything except talk.’

‘Made me feel a good deal better though, Miss,’ he said stoutly. ‘You’re a tonic to behold, you are. You and that friend of yours, you tell her thanks again from me.’

‘I will, thank you,’ Alice said, picking up her bag and making for the door, avoiding eye contact with Ernest’s visitor.

‘I’ll see you out, Miss Lake,’ said Joe Banham. ‘Give me one moment, Ernie, and I’ll be back.’ He slipped out behind Alice as she went through the front door and into the narrow ribbon of a garden.

‘Really, there’s no need,’ she said. ‘You go and see your friend. Just don’t tire him out or let him do too much – that’s what’s brought him to this state to begin with.’ She spoke with more asperity than she’d intended, but somehow this man got under her skin. Especially as there wasn’t much room in this tiny garden.

‘I know,’ Joe said, and there was no disapproval in his voice this time. ‘I heard what you said to him just now. I wanted to thank you for being so straightforward – Ernie’s a good bloke but stubborn as they come.’ He paused, then gave a half-laugh. ‘I think I owe you an apology, Miss Lake.’

‘Really, Mr Banham?’ She raised an eyebrow, turning to face him full on.

He nodded. ‘Here am I doing the very thing I blamed my sister for, talking about a friend behind their back. So I’m sorry. I can see how good you are with patients now. I got the wrong idea before. Just being over-protective, that’s all. Kathleen’s been unlucky.’

Alice didn’t know what to say for a moment, it was so unexpected – first to bump into the man again and then to hear this. ‘Well, thank you,’ she managed, trying to put aside the quiet fury she had felt at the time. ‘I’m only doing what is best for the patients – I’d never do anything else. It’s not gossip if you’re telling me something that will help them.’

‘No, I understand now.’ He straightened. ‘Anyway, I hear my brother is taking your friend to the pictures this evening.’

‘So I believe,’ said Alice, not wanting to get drawn in. She still wasn’t sure if she could trust him.

‘Jamaica Inn, possibly,’ Joe went on.

‘Possibly.’ Alice couldn’t see what business it was of his. ‘Personally I think I’d prefer the book.’

‘Yes, you can’t beat a good book,’ Joe agreed, his eyes lighting up.

Despite herself, Alice responded. ‘Exactly.’

‘Tell you what,’ he said. ‘I’m a member of the Billet Library in Upper Clapton. Shall I see if they’ve got it? That’s if you haven’t read it?’

Alice was taken aback both by the turn of the conversation and the offer, but couldn’t see how to say no and not sound rude. What harm could it do to accept? Perhaps she had been wrong about the man. He’d admitted it, so she should be able to acknowledge it as well. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘That would be kind. I haven’t read it yet.’

‘You should join the library if you like books,’ he went on, warming to his theme. ‘It’s a subscription one but it gets all the latest titles. If you’re interested, that is. It’s not far, you could cycle there.’ He looked dubiously at the boneshaker.

‘I might,’ said Alice, not wanting to commit to anything. ‘If I have time.’

‘Oh, of course.’ Joe seemed to take that as a dismissal. ‘Well, I’d better be getting back to Ernie. See if he needs anything. Goodbye, Miss Lake.’

Alice began to push her bike, aware of a strange feeling as she squeezed past him in the narrow space. ‘Thanks again.’ She looked at him as he turned to go. He had very deep brown eyes. She remembered the anger he had provoked, how intense it had seemed, and still wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. ‘Goodbye, Mr Banham.’

‘Alice! Alice! Are you awake?’

Edith crept into her friend’s room, guided by the light of the streetlamp outside.

‘What? What’s happened?’ Alice woke up in confusion. ‘Edie, is that you? Is something wrong? Whatever time is it?’

‘Yes, it’s me. Nothing’s wrong, don’t worry,’ hissed Edith, skirting around the question of what time it was. ‘I just got back. Sorry, did I wake you? I thought you might still be up reading or something.’

‘No, but it doesn’t matter.’ Alice rolled over and sat up, rubbing her eyes. ‘How did it go?’

Edith sat down on the bed in front of her friend. There was enough light for Alice to see how animated she was. ‘It was lovely. It was the best evening I’ve had for ages. Much better than dancing at the Paramount. He’s really nice, Alice, really nice.’

‘Good,’ said Alice, who was used to Edith’s conquests. Even so, it was unlike her to be so enthusiastic quite so soon. ‘So what did you do?’

‘He met me at the bus stop and we went to the cinema. He bought me an ice cream. He was a proper gent while the film was on, didn’t try anything on or nothing.’

‘What was the film like?’

‘Oh, it was scary, a girl gets trapped in a remote inn full of smugglers—’

‘Don’t tell me the whole plot, I might read the book soon,’ Alice interrupted.

‘All right, keep your hair on. You did ask. Anyway it was a great yarn, you’d like it. It was romantic, too, but I shan’t tell you why or it’ll spoil it. He did hold my hand a bit at the end.’

‘The film must have finished ages ago,’ Alice said. ‘What happened then?’

‘We went for fish and chips. He bought them, he’s very generous. Then we went to the pub to meet some of his friends.’

‘Edie, have you been drinking?’ Alice was wide awake now. ‘With someone you hardly know?’

Edith shifted a little. ‘Don’t worry, I only had lemonade. I’m not daft. He introduced me to his friends and they all seemed to like me. He’s a boxer, you know.’

‘A boxer?’