Coming Home to the Four Streets by Nadine Dorries (best books to read for success .txt) 📕

there, what would she say? Was her shame on earth not enough? Must she take it with her? The pawnbroker placed the money in a brown envelope with the items listed on the front and ripped a corresponding page out of his book. Peggy took it and slipped it into her coat pocket.

‘Aren’t you going to check how much is in there, that I haven’t short-changed you?’ he asked but Peggy didn’t answer him; she could do no more. Turning, she headed for the door and, lifting the brake on the pram, set off towards the four streets and the chip shop.

*

Mary sat in the chair, with the cape around her shoulders and Cindy undid the ribbons on the bottom of her pigtails and let her hair fall onto her shoulders.

‘You’ve got lovely hair, Mary,’ Cindy said, looking at the girl in the mirror. Mary had never been into Cindy’s, or any hairdresser’s, in her life. Deirdre had always cut her hair in the kitchen, along with the boys’. ‘Does your mam know you’re here?’ Mary shook her head. ‘I thought as much. Was it all Alice’s idea?’

Mary managed a half smile. ‘It was. She said I had to be more like you and the best way for that to happen was for you to give me a modern haircut.’

Cindy grinned. ‘Well, she’s not wrong there, I know all about haircuts. Have you seen this one?’ Cindy picked up a magazine and began to rifle through until she came to the page she was looking for. Mary gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. ‘I know,’ said Cindy, looking proud of herself. ‘It takes someone bold to have that cut, but look at her cheekbones – they’re the same as yours. You’re a chrysalis, Mary, and with the right haircut, a butterfly will appear.’

Mary’s eyes were wide. It wasn’t just the things Cindy said, it was the way she said them. Cindy was totally confident in her own skin and Mary realised that Alice was right: Mary did want to be like Cindy.

‘Don’t you dare go and knock on his mam’s door,’ Alice had told her when she’d unburdened all her woes, that Jimmy was out of prison and had made no attempt to see her. ‘I did exactly that; I knocked on Jerry’s door and it’s the wrong thing to do. Oh, I know I’m happy now and you are too young to know or remember, but we’ve been to hell and back along the way and I took people with me. Do not be me, Mary. Be more like Cindy. You go to Cindy and get her to make you look so fantastic that when you walk down the street with your head high, everyone looks at you. And if you do see Jimmy O’Prey, you look the other way and ignore him, do you hear me?’

Mary had looked as though she was about to burst into tears. Her mouth was full of custard slice and her eyes were huge. ‘I can’t,’ she’d said, through flakes of puff pastry, ‘I love him.’

Alice had instantly felt guilty. ‘Mary, I know you won’t believe a word I say, but believe me, love has to work both ways; if it doesn’t, it will only bring you years of heartache. Look, if you really want him to notice you, let’s make you unmissable. I suggest you start with a visit to Cindy and then we’ll get to your wardrobe. I was your size once and, honestly, I have some lovely clothes I brought back from America which just don’t fit me any more and never will again. We’ll see if there’s anything there, shall we? It’s good stuff too and will fit you a treat, but first, the hair! Let the transformation of Mary begin. Jimmy O’Prey, eat your heart out.’

Alice had held her cup in a mock toast and, despite her tear-stained cheeks, Mary had laughed as she picked up her cup and toasted Alice back. For the first time in her life she’d felt as though someone had not only noticed who she was, but could see her dreams and knew who it was Mary really wanted to be.

*

As she made her way back home, with the pawnbroker’s money safely in her purse, Peggy stopped and watched at the dock wall until the woman and the man she’d seen earlier emerged from the doorway, the deed obviously done. The man, who was well dressed and wearing a gaberdine mac, went away down the street while the woman walked over to another man who was leaning against a lamppost on the opposite side. She handed him what looked like money. He counted it and gave her some back and the woman walked away to the next lamppost swinging her handbag back and forth provocatively.

Peggy watched, mesmerised, then a voice behind her asked, ‘Fancy a go? Short of a few bob? I saw you coming out of the pawnbroker’s. That pram looks lighter than when you went in.’

Peggy almost jumped out of her skin. It was the pimp; he’d crossed the road while she stared at the woman. ‘What? No! I mean…’

He looked her up and down. He had customers who liked their ladies on the larger side and while she was bedraggled-looking, he would bet she scrubbed up decent. She was what? Maybe forty? ‘Look, my name’s Fred – you don’t need a second name. That there is Stella and she’ll show you what to do. You go home, love, have a wash and do something with your hair, then get yourself back here and it’ll be five quid in your pocket for each punter. It’s busy and I’ve got a couple of girls off so I could use you.’

Five pounds, Peggy thought, maybe she would get enough to pay the rent arrears off in one night. But the children were hungry, they needed chips, so she would see to them first.

‘Oh, and put a pair of heels