All the warnings she’d been given about sailors flooded Maisie’s young mind as a scream forced its way from her lips

The Serial: The Green Years, Day Five Sandra Savage

Chrissie shouted above the noise: “I think we’re about to be tipped off,” as two lads made their way on to the dance floor and headed in their direction. “Mind if we cut in?” said the blonde Adonis to Maisie, deftly separating her from Chrissie. Maisie watched as her pal was whisked into the centre of the floor and expertly ‘birrled’ away.

“Looks like you already have,” Maisie said coyly, eyeing up the newcomer. He was a cracker, she thought to herself, not like the lads who worked at Keiller’s and definitely not like Kenny Wilson.

This one wasn’t a teddy boy, had a proper haircut and those blue eyes! Maisie felt her knees weaken. The music stopped, signalling the end of the set and Maisie went to leave the floor, but the arm of ‘blue eyes’ still held her firmly around the waist as he guided her off to the side of the dance floor and the seats around the wall.

His eyes never left Maisie’s face. “You’ve got to be the loveliest girl here,” he said in a posh accent.

Maisie gasped. “Are you English?” Adonis smiled. “Bristol,” he said, “on strike and far from home.”

Maisie had never met anyone from that far away before and felt like she was discovering a new world.

Blushed

“England,” she breathed. “I’ve never met an Englishman before.” “Well, you’re meeting one now,” came the confident reply, “and by the way, my name’s Jack, able seaman Jack Carter that is, Merchant Navy and crewman on the SS Stalwart.”

Maisie was entranced. “I’m Maisie,” she said shyly, I work in Keiller’s and so does my friend.” “Keiller’s?” Jack looked puzzled.

Maisie blushed: “It’s a sweetie factory,” she added, increasingly conscious of her Scottish accent. “Do you know what sweeties are?” she asked, immediately regretting her daftness.

Jack Carter grinned. “I think I get the picture,” he said, “and you’re the sweetest sweetie I’ve met in a long time.”

The music began to slow and the lights dimmed as Fats Domino singing On Blueberry Hill filled the air. Jack took Maisie’s hand. “Care to?”

Maisie felt herself being led on to the floor, then two strong arms enfolded her, pressing her against him, as the music and heat took over. All else was forgotten, as Jack kissed her neck and whispered “sweet nothings” in her ear.

As the song ended, Jack’s voice like golden syrup asked if she was hot. Maisie nodded. “A bit,” she said, hoarsely, “I could murder a coke.”

“Never mind a coke,” Jack said, guiding her again off the dance floor, but this time towards a fire exit, which had been opened to let in some air. “Let’s go outside,” he urged, “and cool off a bit.”

Before she knew what had happened, Maisie found herself outside in the darkness of the night, the only sound being the creak of the ships anchored nearby and the crunch of gravel beneath her feet.

Maisie felt herself shiver. “It’s too cold out here,” she heard herself say. “Let’s go back in?” But Jack Carter had been at sea a long time, and wasn’t in the mood for ‘going back in’.

“I’ll keep you warm,” he whispered, “just relax and let go.” Maisie felt his mouth on hers, hot and urgent and panic began to rise in her gut.

Iron grip

She tried to push him away, but his iron grip stopped any escape. “C’mon sweetie,” he said, his voice turning from golden syrup to hot burnt sugar, “just feel this.”

He grasped Maisie’s wrist and forced her hand downwards. “This is all for you.”

All the warnings about sailors and what they were looking for flooded Maisie’s young mind as a scream forced its way from her lips.

A rough hand covered her mouth. “Shut up,” the sailor said, “you’ll get me arrested.”

Maisie was pushed away as the Adonis melted into the darkness. She felt tears of hurt and fear burn down her young face. She could still hear the ships creak and the waves softly lap against the harbour wall, music and laughter from the dance hall drifted into her ears, the stars shone in the night sky and stillness was everywhere.

But for Maisie Green, life would never be the same again. She had learned, the hard way, that not everyone was as they seemed to be, especially not men and definitely not sailors.

On wobbly legs she slipped back into the dance hall, wondering for the first time since her encounter with Jack Carter, where Chrissie was and if she too had been tricked.

But Chrissie was safe, jiving with Jack Carter’s mate and having a whale of a time. She signalled her presence when the music stopped and the ‘last dance’ was announced.

“See you later,” Maisie mouthed, glad that at least one of them had enjoyed the night, “on the bus.”

Maisie got her coat and climbed aboard the night bus, one of a number of buses laid on by the Corporation to take late revellers home to the housing schemes.

She still felt shaken by her experience outside the dance hall and lit a cigarette, drawing heavily on the tobacco to calm her down.

She heard Chrissie giggling before she saw her. Her best friend in the whole world was closely followed by a tousle-haired, sweating young man, who seemed to be unable to stop grinning.

“Maisie,” Chrissie cried, “where did you disappear to?” she asked with a knowing smile, plonking herself down in the seat in front of Maisie, with her escort parking himself alongside her.

Naive

Maisie sat grim-faced and tight lipped. “What’s the matter?” asked Chrissie, nudging the man to also turn round to face Maisie.

The smile faded from the young man’s face. “Has Jack Carter been up to no good again?” he asked.

Maisie felt tears beginning to reform in her eyes. “Again?” she managed to ask.

Chrissie looked puzzled. “Up to what, Tommy?” she asked. “I know he’s a mate of mine,” Tommy said, “but I’m afraid he’s no respecter of women.”

Maisie felt sick. How could she have been so naive and trusting? How could she have been so stupid as not to see what Jack Carter was really after?

Chrissie pushed past Tommy and took her place beside Maisie. “Oh, Maisie,” she whispered, taking her hand. “Whatever it is, it’ll be all right. Tommy’ll make sure we both get home safely,” she said, “won’t you Tommy?”

He nodded, “and when I get back to the ship, I’ll make sure he knows what a b*****d he is.”

Even the word shocked Maisie. From feeling very grown up on becoming runner-up in the Miss Keiller’s beauty contest, she now felt like a lost five year old with a lot to learn.

More tomorrow.