Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

When he showed them through to the back room, they were confronted with three racks of dresses in all sizes, colours and styles. He left them to browse.

‘We’re gonna have a good time here, lass!’ Laughing, Daisy wasted no time in sorting out four dresses to try.

‘They’ve all been cleaned and pressed,’ the odd little man informed them on his return. ‘So don’t go wiping lipstick and powder on ’em, or I’ll have to charge you for the cleaning!’ With that he loped out and left them to browse further.

Daisy and Amy had the time of their lives trying on the dresses.

‘What do you think to this one?’ When Daisy came out from behind the curtain, Amy almost collapsed in hysterics. Tight across her stomach and loose about her chest, the crimson dress clung to her backside, and when she bent down Amy could see her knickers.

‘Put it back, for God’s sake!’ Amy urged. ‘If you go out like that, you’ll get arrested!’

‘Does that mean you don’t like it?’ Daisy groaned, feigning disappointment.

‘Trust me,’ Amy laughed. ‘Wear that and you’ll have a trail of dogs behind, wherever you go.’

Daisy giggled naughtily. ‘Men-dogs, or dog-dogs?’ she asked.

‘Both!’ Amy answered.

For a bit of fun, Amy tried on a green dress with a trailing hem that reached halfway across the room, and a feather boa.

‘If you keep messing about we’ll never find what we want,’ Daisy chided. ‘Let’s get on with it.’

‘Are you ladies all right in there?’ the leprechaun enquired from the front room.

‘We’re fine,’ Amy answered. ‘You’ve got so many, it’s difficult to choose.’

‘I knew you’d be pleased,’ he replied smugly. ‘Take your time; we don’t shut for another hour.’

In the end, Amy chose a straight, pale blue dress with stand-up collar and belted waist, which fitted as if it was made for her.

Daisy too was delighted with her find: a pink floating thing with low neckline, and also with belted waist, it fell to a swingy hem that kicked out as she walked.

‘I feel like a film star,’ she told Amy, and Amy was glad to see she had forgotten her troubles, at least for now.

When the dresses were parcelled and paid for, they thanked the little man and left.

‘I’d best get the bus,’ Daisy said. ‘So, what time d’you want to meet at the Grand?’

Hearing a tone of regret in Daisy’s voice, Amy told her, ‘You don’t have to go home if you don’t want to.’

Daisy’s smile returned. ‘Really?’

Judging by the relief in Daisy’s voice, Amy knew she had done the right thing. ‘Yes, really. I’d love you to come home with me. By the time we’ve had a bite to eat, we’ll need to get ready, and then it’ll be time to make our way into town.’

‘But what will your mam say?’ Daisy knew what her own mother would say, if she took a friend home unexpectedly. ‘Won’t she be angry?’

‘Course not! She’ll say exactly what I’ve said – that it seems silly you spending money on the bus fare to go all the way home, when you’re already here.’

‘But I haven’t got any lipstick. And I need to change my shoes and all that …’ She would have gone on, but Amy stopped her.

‘You take the same size shoes as me, so borrow a pair of mine. And I’m sure you’ll find the right colour lipstick, because you’ve borrowed it often enough when we’ve been out. Oh, come on, Daisy, I promise you’ll look beautiful …’ She chuckled. ‘Well, passable, anyway.’

She got a playful dig in the ribs for that cheeky remark, but Daisy was grateful that she wouldn’t be going home just yet. ‘By the time I get home tonight, they’ll have calmed down,’ she said, and if Amy needed any convincing that she had done the right thing, that remark did it.

Linking arms they walked home together, with Amy wishing she could change things for Daisy; and Daisy thanking her lucky stars, for having found the best friend in the whole wide world.

Amy was right. Marie and Dave welcomed Daisy with open arms. They had their tea: thick meat butties of home-made bread, and a delicious apple pie with ice-cream to follow.

‘I’ll be so full I’ll not be able to dance,’ Daisy groaned, tucking in happily none the less.

Afterwards the girls went up to Amy’s room.

‘Oh, Amy, I do like your room.’ Daisy had seen it before, and never failed to admire it. Pretty as a picture, with its rose chintz curtains and a cream-coloured rug, the room was furnished with just a wardrobe, bed and dressing table. Being at the back of the house it was not the lightest of rooms, but the light painted walls and the lovingly chosen seascape paintings created a sense of space and light that belied the smallness.

‘One of these days we’ll decorate your room,’ Amy promised, ‘if your parents will let me through the door, that is.’ Last time Daisy had taken her home, there had been a terrible row and ever since then, Amy had been reluctant to visit.

‘Thanks all the same, but you needn’t bother,’ Daisy replied. ‘As soon as I can afford a place of my own, I intend leaving that house for good.’ And from the tone of her voice, Amy knew she meant it.

‘Right then!’ Taking Daisy by the arm, Amy propelled her towards the dressing table. ‘You don’t want your room decorated, so we’ll have to see what we can do with your face instead.’

‘I don’t want to be looking like a clown,’ Daisy declared fearfully.

‘Now, would I do that?’ Amy’s mischievous little grin got Daisy worried.

‘I mean it, Amy! If you make me look ridiculous, I won’t set foot outside this room.’

Ignoring her protests, Amy found enough make-up to suit Daisy.

A few minutes and a lot of grumbling later, she looked especially pretty. Her lips were lightly painted in the softest pink so as not to clash with the vibrant colour of her hair; a thin coating of powder on her skin and just the merest touch of mascara against her lashes and she was finished.

‘Now then, what do you think?’ Amy asked. ‘Have I made you look like a clown, or have I made you pretty as a picture?’

Daisy was delighted with the result of Amy’s handiwork. ‘It’s lovely,’ she said, ‘but what can we do about this?’ Pointing to the marks on her neck, she reminded Amy, ‘The dress has a low neckline, so folks are bound to see the bruises.’

Amy had not realised the extent of Daisy’s injuries until now. ‘Oh God, Daisy. That looks nasty.’ She lowered her voice, although no one would hear. ‘Did your father do that?’ she gasped. It beggared belief that a man could do that to his daughter.

Daisy nodded. ‘He had me pinned to the wall with the crook of his arm.’ Under her breath she uttered the word, ‘Bastard!’

Amy knew about Mr Robertson’s temper but hadn’t realised he was so vicious. She squeezed Daisy’s arm in silent but helpless sympathy. Then: ‘Don’t you worry, sunshine.’ She had an idea. ‘Stay there a minute.’

Going to the wardrobe, she took out a box and from that she withdrew a pretty necklace. It had been a present from her father, something to help cheer her after Don left. Thick-banded with dangling pink stones, it was perfect for what she had in mind. ‘This will not only go with your frock, it’ll hide the blemishes as well,’ she pointed out.

Draping it round Daisy’s neck she fastened it at the back. One look in the mirror told her that it had done the trick. ‘There you are. Now stop your moaning!’

Daisy gave a sigh of relief. ‘You’re a clever little bugger, aren’t you?’

Amy chuckled. ‘I do my best. Now, come out of my seat and go and get your frock on. It’s time for me to get myself ready.’