Sister's Trio Squad

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"Then you'd better come into the office, miss . . . 'O'Maxwell,' she repeated shortly as she followed him down the corridor and into a small room. The furnish ings were shabby and the carpet threadbare and the

whole room reeked of stale cigar smoke. There were some framed photos on the walls and old posters which she scrutinized quickly. There weren't many names she recognized.

'I've never heard of Halls long?" 'No.' you before been working the

'Didn't think so. What kind of an act do you do?" 'I told you, I sing.'

'No novelty numbers?' 'What?'

Novelties - specialities?'

He was looking her up and down again in that way that made her skin crawl. He made her feel as though she were a brood mare at the Tipperary Horse Fair. 'Do you mean do I stand on my head and juggle half a dozen oranges and sing at the same time?' she sarcastically.

'Something like that.'

'I sing "Society" songs for people who appreciate decent music!'

'Well, we don't get a lot of that sort in here, luv. The customers want entertainment, amusement. They don't want to think they're in church! This is a Music Hall not Covent Garden b****y Opera!' 'And how do you know I can't entertain until you've

heard me?' 'I don't, but I know I'm wasting my time by just looking at you. Straight off the boat, never trodden the boards in your life I'll bet. If I had a pound for every girl that's come badgering me for a job, I'd be a b****y millionaire!'

He stepped towards her and laid a hand on her arm. 'Look, luv, I know what I'm talking about. The days of Marie Lloyd are gone more's the pity - so the compe tition is harder and you're an outsider. Most of the acts started out when they were just kids, their whole families have been in the business for donkey's years! Get yourself a novelty act, something different, then maybe someone will give you a start." She flung off his arm. There was something repugnant

about him. 'I'll thank you to keep your hands to yourself and your advice, too!' She laughed derisively. 'Sure, what would a third-rate, jumped up little weasel like you know about anything refined." He walked to the door and opened it. 'Show her out, Harry, she's just another b****y prima donna!'

he called. Nancy stormed past him. 'I'll find my own way out and I'll have you know that I wouldn't be caught dead appearing in this. . . this flea-pit.'

His laughter followed her down the corridor and she slammed the door behind her so hard that it shook the frame. Oh, the sheer cheek and arrogance of the man. Who did he think he was? Some common little, rat-faced manager of a third-rate Music Hall!

It wasn't until she found herself back on the street in front of the theatre that she realized that she had failed in her first attempt to even get an audition. That realization shocked her into immobility. She had been so sure of herself, so determined, and now she had ruined everything. 'Damn!' she muttered. 'Damn him!' But she knew that it had been partly her own fault that she had missed her chance. My temper! My damned temper! she thought furiously.

She'd had it all planned how she would go home and

triumphantly announce that she had been engaged to

appear at the Rotunda Theatre How she would have savoured the expression on Maura's face, and now As she walked across towards the tram stop it began to rain and she felt utterly dejected and miserable. It was bad enough that she had to go back and tell her sisters! A piece of paper blown by the wind had become entangled around her feet and irritably she bent down to pull it away. The words suddenly caught her attention as she smoothed it out.

THE HIPPODROME THEATRE TALENT NIGHT. FRIDAY NIGHT COME ALONG AND SEE THE STARS OF TOMORROW!

A Talent Night! She'd heard of them, most theatres had them. They had them in Dublin. They were popular for it was a chance for all hopeful artists to appear before live audience and often to go on to greater things. And they were a free evening's entertainment for the concerned. She folded the paper and shoved it into her bag and began to smile as a tram appeared through the drizzle. The smile had reached her eyes and they began to sparkle. This time there wouldn't be any insulting little upstarts like Joe Maxwelly and this time she just 'knew' she would win and then a

The clanking of the tram and the ''Urry up there, girl, if yer gettin' on!' from the conductor interrupted her daydream and she jumped lightly on to the platform with a new spring in her step.

By the time she reached Lancaster Street her thoughts were in a whirl and despite the rain she walked jauntily down the street. Heedless of the havoc the dampness was causing to her hat and the dirty splashes down the front of her coat.

It was Lisa who opened the door to her and at the sight of her sister's face and the sound of raised voices within, her smile died. 'What's the matter now?'

"They haven't paid the rent. The landlord's been round and I haven't got a job

"That makes two of us then!' she muttered grimly as she followed Lisa into the kitchen. At their appearance the shouting stopped. Nancy quickly took in Margaret's pursed lips and dangerously narrowed

eyes.

Maura's pale puce complexion and flacid mouth and

Uncle Bart's sly, cunning expression. 'I hear the land

lord's been?'

Maura, with the back-up of Bart, hadn't been doing too badly. She'd been holding her own against Margaret but with Nancy's appearance she knew any advantage she had had was gone. By the Saints! She'd never met anyone with such a temper and the tongue of a viper that this one had! She changed her tactics. 'Is it my fault he always sends his Tallyman when we're out? Is it my fault that I have to dip into the rent every now and then for food?' she complained.

'Every now and then! Your hand's never out of that biscuit tin! How much do you owe?' 'A month's rent.' It was Margaret who answered her.

'And what's more, he's managed to spend half of this week's "Panel" money on the way home!' 'I owed some people some money,' Bart muttered.

'Oh, that's just fine that is. You owe money to nearly everyone from here to Walton Vale and back. We can't go into a shop without facing demands for money that you owe.' After her abortive attempt to be accepted into her chosen profession, Nancy let fly with a vengeance. She pointed a stabbing finger at Uncle Bart who shrank further into the depths of his chair. 'First thing in the morning you can get out and take your bad back down to the Labour Exchange and find a job. And if you don't, then I'm going straight down to the Police Station at the end of the road to tell them all about you."

'Ah, you wouldn't be doing anything like that to your own Uncle, Nancy, would you? Sure, we didn't mean to get into this mess, did we Bart? Nancy, you wouldn't see your poor Uncle in jail and your poor aunt thrown into the street, would you?' Maura was snivelling.

'Yes, I would!' she yelled. 'Nancy, that's enough! I've paid Mr Vannin part of the back rent and I've got a job in the office at Dunlop's, I start tomorrow. But she's right about you, Uncle Bart,

there's not a thing wrong with your back!" 'Oh, he'll try, Margaret, that he will! He'll try, won't you Bart?' Maura whined. He nodded. If we all pull together we'll all get along together just fine. Will I be makin' us all a pot of tea?'

'Yes, please Aunt and I'll take the biscuit tin and we'll sort out the finances such as they are. Uncle Bart! Margaret held out her hand in front of her Uncle. Without looking at her he rummaged in his pocket and produced a handful of coins. Maura handed over the old biscuit tin and Margaret took it, along with the coins. 'Is that all? We've put everything we had in, so must you.'

'I haven't a penny to me name now!' he said peevishly, then as she turned away he shot her a quick, venomous glance and uttered, sotto voce, 'I'll make you sorry you ever came here, you see if I don't. I'll get even!'