Seeing the line of cabs waiting, she ushered Maddy toward the queue. “There’s nowhere else like Blackpool in the whole wide world,” she sighed happily. “Whenever you’re feeling low, all you have to do is take a ride in a horse-carriage and clip-clop along the front to the Pleasure Beach, or climb onto a tram and let yourself be taken back in time…” Then, realizing she had gone all sentimental, she swiftly changed her tone. “Honestly, Maddy, it really is so amazing! And oh, how I’ve missed it while I’ve been away.”
“If you love it so much, why did you ever leave?” Maddy asked. She had seen the look on Ellen’s face, and heard the love in her voice as she talked of her beloved Blackpool, and it made her curious.
Ellen explained, “Like many another starry-eyed girl, I left it because I wanted to see the world and make a career in show business. Sometimes though, the world is right there on your doorstep, and you don’t even realize.”
Maddy leaned forward. “You had a special boyfriend here, didn’t you?”
Ellen looked at her in surprise. “How did you know?”
“Because I saw the expression on your face just now.” Maddy did not want to pry, but had to ask all the same. “What happened to him?”
Ellen gave a wry little laugh. “Oh, he went off with the boss’s daughter. You see, he was always ambitious, and her father owned half the rides on the Pleasure Beach. Naturally, he saw himself as the future owner. So, you see, she had more to offer than me.”
“Do you miss him?”
“Not likely!” But that was a white lie, spoken in defense. The real truth was, even now, Ellen still cherished the memories the two of them had shared together.
A few moments later, it was their turn to get inside a taxi and, at Ellen’s request, the driver took them along the promenade. “It’s too early in the year for the lights to be switched on,” he told them, “but even when they’re not lit, they make a splendid sight. The normal period for them to be switched on is the end of August until the first week in November. Will you ladies still be here then?”
“We might be,” Ellen answered cautiously.
Maddy was thrilled to see every street lamp along the four or five miles, beautifully decorated with shapes of Disney characters, each and every one peppered with colored bulbs. “How wonderful!” she kept saying. “How amazing!”
“Hah! I can tell you’re a newcomer to Blackpool, young lady!” Born and bred in this fun town, the driver was proud to call it home. “But I promise you this, if you’ve never seen Blackpool Illuminations all lit up at night, you’ve never seen anything! There’s nowhere else like it in the whole wide world.”
When, a few minutes later, they turned away from the seafront and into Ackerman Street, the driver asked for the door number. “It’s number eight – the fourth house after the ice cream parlor.” While Ellen directed him, Maddy dug into her purse for the fare.
“And don’t forget to go on the Big Dipper,” the driver said as he waited for them to disembark. “It’s one hell of a ride, and I should know, because I’ve been on it more times than I’ve had hot dinners.” He gave a gruff laugh. “Not willingly, I might add. The thing is, I’ve got four kids; they’re all mad for the funfair, and they won’t go on without me.”
“I’ve been on it just the once,” Ellen admitted, “and that was more than enough, thank you very much!”
“Yes? Well, I’ve told my missus, she can go on with the kids next time. I mean, it’s not safe for a man with a dicky heart!”
“Oh dear!” Maddy said sincerely. “So you’ve got a dicky heart, have you?”
“Not yet. But if I have to go on that thing once more, I’m sure I will have!” With a cheeky grin and a wink, he was away full throttle, accelerating onto the Promenade so fast, there erupted a volley of car horns. “AND THE SAME TO YOU… BLOODY LUNATICS!” he bawled. Though he was plainly in the wrong, their driver gave as good as he got, adding a shake of the fist for good measure.
“There goes a character,” Ellen chuckled.
“Not much of a driver though, is he?” Maddy giggled. “I’m glad he got us here safely, before deciding to take on the world.”
Pausing outside her grandfather’s house, Ellen asked of Maddy, “Well, what d’you think?”
Maddy observed the house. Small and smart, it was part of a terrace of similar houses, though it was the only one with a blue door and windowsills. The cream-colored net curtains were pretty, the lionhead doorknocker was handsome, and in general the house looked much loved and well cared for. It’s a fine house, Maddy thought, and said so aloud.
“Grandad has a thing about bold colors,” Ellen explained. “When Grandma was alive, he would never have dared to paint the door blue. But nowadays he does pretty much as he likes.”
“Ellen!” A woman spilled out of next door. “Ellen? Is that really you?” Small and squat with a red face and a wide, toothless mouth, she was just like one of the characters on a bawdy seaside postcard.
Calling as she went, she hobbled down her path and up to Ellen, flung her arms round the girl’s neck and kissed her with the exuberance of a dog finding its master. “I were looking out the window and I saw you, and I thought, No, it can’t be. Oh, lass! You’ve been gone for so long, I couldn’t be sure it were you, d’you see? But then you turned and I knew straight off, and there you were… walking up the street as though you’d never been away!”
She was so excited, Maddy feared she might have a fit. “Oh, Ellen lass, it’s so good to see you back home… and will yer be staying this time, d’you think?”
Feeling like she’d been in a rugby tackle, Ellen tactfully released herself from the woman’s hold. “I’m not sure,” she replied. “I hope so.”
“And who’s this?” Swinging round to scrutinize Maddy, she gave her a wide cavernous grin. “Well, you’re a pretty thing and no mistake!” Her eyes cottoned onto Maddy’s little bump. “When’s it due? Oh, and don’t tell me you’re not expecting, because I’ve had six of my own, more’s the pity, and I can tell just by looking. There’s summat in a woman’s face that gives it away, a kinda glow, if yer know what I mean.”
She gave a heavy sigh. “Sadly, my lot ’ave all flown the nest. Since the last one took off, I’ve not seen hide nor hair of any o’ the buggers!” Visibly bristling, she snorted, “All I can say is good shuts to ’em. If they think I’ve outlived my usefulness, they can think again. I’ll tell you what though – the buggers’ll need me afore I need them, yer can count on that!”
Overwhelmed by this lively little person, Maddy sensed that she did not mean one word of what she’d just said.
“This is Maddy,” Ellen intervened. “And Maddy, this is Mrs. Winterhouse from next door.”
“It’s Nora!” the woman chided. “We don’t stand on ceremony in these parts. So, don’t you forget,” she addressed Maddy, “the name is Nora.”
Maddy held out her hand in polite greeting, but was astonished when the litle woman threw herself into a rough embrace. “You’re very welcome, pet,” she said, eventually letting her go. “Have yer been to Blackpool afore?”
Maddy shook her head. “No, but I hope I might get to know it.”
“Oh, but yer will,” the little woman assured her. “The noise and bustle in summer and the quiet in winter – then the sea air and the sound of gulls overhead… Like a poor man’s paradise, it is. I would never want to be anywhere else, I can tell yer that.”
She might have gone on for longer, but Ellen had seen how pale and tired Maddy looked. “It’s really lovely to see you, Nora, but we’d best go now. We’ve traveled a long way, and I can’t wait to see my grandad. But we’ll drop by tomorrow, if you like. We can talk then, eh?”
“All right, if you say so. Honestly, you young ’uns are all the same – allus in a rush, no time for anything. Seems yer can’t wait to be somewhere’s else. Well, go on then.” She gave Ellen another bear hug. “Oh, and tell your grandad hello. Let him know, he mustn’t be a stranger.” She hobbled back inside her own house.