Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

‘And I’m Roy.’ The sharp little man stepped forward, addressing himself to Daisy. ‘Let me guess … you’ve got to be a Joanne … or mebbe Ruth, am I right?’

She giggled. ‘I’m Daisy. Pretty as a flower.’

Feeling uncomfortable about the way the young man was eyeing Daisy, Amy intervened. ‘Lovely meeting you both, but we’ve a tram to catch.’

Daisy, though, was already infatuated. ‘Oh, Amy, we’ve time to find a chippie first,’ she protested. ‘Don’t forget we left the flicks early, so we’ve got some extra time.’

Amy, horrified at the idea of yet more food, was about to disagree, but the young man called Roy pounced on the idea at once. ‘I know where there’s a good chippie!’ Grabbing Daisy by the arm, he suggested, ‘We could have fish and chips, then find a quiet place to talk … if that’s what you’d like?’

Before Amy could say anything, Daisy had agreed and the four of them were on their way, in the direction of the docks, being led by Daisy and her chatty companion.

‘They seem to have hit it off together, don’t they?’ Bringing up the rear, Jack walked at a more sedate pace with Amy. ‘I wish I was more like him. He makes friends so easily, while I’ve always found it difficult.’

Amy smiled at that. ‘Daisy’s the same,’ she said, adding cautiously, ‘Is he all right though, your friend?’

‘How d’you mean?’ Jack gave her a curious glance.

‘He won’t take advantage of her, will he?’

‘In what way?’

‘Daisy is going through a bad time at the minute, and I wouldn’t like to see her hurt.’ There was no point beating about the bush. ‘It’s just that, well, your friend seems a bit of a flirt … too full of himself for my liking.’

Jack smiled knowingly. ‘You’re right. He can be a bit of a flirt, but it’s just his manner. He doesn’t mean anything by it.’

They walked on, the night closing in around them, and Amy growing slightly alarmed at the way in which Roy was all over Daisy. When they turned down a darkened side street, her fears grew.

‘Daisy, where do you think you’re going?’

Laughing, Daisy called back, ‘To the chippie, o’ course … where d’you think?’

‘There’s no chippie down here.’ Amy knew the streets of Blackburn like the back of her hand. ‘We’d best turn back … we don’t want to miss the last tram.’

‘Oh, stop your worrying!’ came the reply. ‘We’re going the long way round, that’s all.’

As they walked on, Amy and her companion chatted about this and that, and she began to think he was a nice enough bloke; though she kept a wary eye on Daisy, who by now was loudly laughing and shrieking.

The tall fellow chuckled. ‘Your friend seems to be enjoying herself.’

For just that split second, Amy took her eyes off Daisy. When she looked up again, they were gone. ‘Where are they?’ Beginning to panic, she quickened her steps, with the young man striding out beside her. ‘Don’t worry!’ he told her. ‘They can’t be far.’

Amy wasn’t convinced. Something told her that Daisy was out of her depth. Her fears were confirmed when she heard Daisy calling her name. ‘That’s Daisy! Maybe she’s in trouble.’ Beginning to panic, she looked this way and that, trying hard to pinpoint where the shouts were coming from, in the maze of alleys. ‘DAISY! WHERE ARE YOU?’

She set off at a run, in the direction of Daisy’s voice, with the young man coming up behind her. Fear gripped her heart. She didn’t trust him either.

When Amy came running into the alley she saw Daisy struggling against Roy. He had her pinned against the wall and his mouth was clamped to hers, while one hand groped inside her coat. Daisy was struggling against him, moaning and trying to push him away.

Amy misunderstood. Thinking Daisy was in real trouble, she kicked out and caught Daisy’s attacker a nasty blow on the shin. He went down with a look of agony on his face. Amy was briefly aware of Daisy’s astonished expression, but then the other man, Jack, darted forward and grabbed Amy’s arm.

‘Leave him. It’s OK,’ he said, but his hand on her arm only served to panic her.

Twisting away from him, she grabbed a half-brick that was lying in the alley. She aimed for his head but the brick bounced off his shoulder and fell at his feet, delivering no more than a bruise.

Meanwhile, Daisy had caught her breath and was buttoning her blouse. While Roy moaned at her feet, Jack looked shocked.

‘Now just a minute …’ he began.

‘It’s OK,’ Daisy promised Amy. ‘No harm done.’ She giggled. ‘It were a bit heavy for a first kiss, though.’ Her hair was dishevelled and her lipstick smudged, but her eyes were mischievously twinkling in the light of a nearby streetlamp.

‘But … I thought …’ When realisation dawned Amy was embarrassed. Oh, no, this was awful. She began her way back down the alley. ‘I think we’d best be off home,’ she said lamely.

‘I think we had,’ chuckled Daisy, winking at Roy.

‘But you said –’ he began.

‘Never mind what I said,’ replied Daisy. ‘Perhaps you’d better learn some manners, rushing a girl like that.’ She patted her hair in place, straightened her coat and trotted back up the alley behind Amy.

‘Time to cool off!’ Daisy quipped as she went.

Softly laughing, she grabbed Amy’s hand and they were soon running back towards the main road, their heels pounding the cold pavement, and the sound of their laughter echoing through the night air.

The street was relatively quiet, with the exception of a big black saloon motor car which passed them, slowing briefly before accelerating away, as they turned towards the tram stop and raced to meet the oncoming lights. He couldn’t be certain but Luke wondered if they were the young women from Tooley’s Cafe.

In the lamplight, Amy took a good look at her friend. ‘My God, Daisy … look at the state of you!’ Amy was horrified. ‘We’ll have to try and tidy you up. They’ll never let you on the tram like that.’ With her dishevelled hair and rumpled clothes, Daisy looked like a refugee from hell. ‘The tram’s coming now – quick!’ She took Daisy by the shoulders. ‘Let’s see if we can make you presentable.’

‘Been in a fight, ’ave yer?’ The conductor gawped with open mouth as they boarded the tram.

‘You could say that,’ Amy replied, stifling her laughter.

‘Sit yourself down then, and don’t start anything.’ Convinced they’d been drinking, the conductor warned, ‘These are decent, God-fearing passengers, so mind you behave! I want no trouble on my tram!’

During the journey they relived the night’s events. ‘By! You went for him like a blinking Jack Russell,’ Daisy said. ‘That’ll teach him to get fresh with me without a by your leave. The look on his face …’ When she laughed loudly, the conductor, who had been eyeing the red-faced pair suspiciously, came to give her a warning. ‘Start trouble and I’ll put you off!’

‘I’m not “starting trouble”!’ Daisy protested, and would have said more, were it not for the dig in the ribs she got from Amy, who was herself beginning to giggle; which then set Daisy off.

Somehow managing to remain fairly composed until disembarking at their stop, the two of them were helpless with laughter. ‘You’re a bad ’un, you are!’ Amy spluttered.

‘I’ve had the best night o’ my life.’ Swinging her arms round Amy, Daisy marched her forward at a galloping pace.

‘Get off!’ Amy shrugged her away. ‘You’ll have us both arse over tip!’

Daisy was astounded. ‘Language, my girl.’ She feigned indignation. ‘I’ll thank you to mind your tongue when you’re in my company.’ To which they both started laughing again.

Some short distance away, a strolling constable gave them a knowing wink. ‘Evening, girls.’

‘Evening, officer,’ Amy replied.

‘You two look like you’ve had a good night.’