Try a Little Tenderness Read Online Free

eh?’ Amy curled her fist and rested her chin on it. ‘We haven’t got none of them living in our street, have we, girl?’
    ‘How about the woman in number seven, sunshine? It looks like bright red lipstick from a distance, but yer never know.’
    ‘I’ll weigh the shin beef while you two crucify the poor woman in number seven.’ Wilf was reaching into the shop window for a tray of meat when Mary stayed his hand.
    ‘Oh no, you don’t! First in, first served, that’s how it should be. I’d like a round neck of lamb, please, the leanest yer’ve got. And will yer chop it into four for us?’
    Two more customers came into the shop then, and the friends were soon served and on their way to the greengrocer’s. When Mary shopped on her own, she was around the shops in no time. After giving her order in and passing a few pleasant remarks, she was on her way. But shopping with Amy was a different experience altogether.
    ‘Don’t be trying to palm me off with a rotten cabbage, Billy Nelson, ’cos I haven’t just come over, yer know.’
    ‘What are yer on about, Amy?’ Billy scratched his head. He was short and stocky, with a mop of black curly hair and a cheeky grin. ‘I’ll have yer know that that cabbage was in a field yesterday; it’s as fresh as you are.’
    ‘Pull the other one, Billy, it’s got bells on. And when the bells start ringing everybody will think it’s Sunday and get themselves ready for Mass.’
    ‘Five o’clock this morning I was at the market getting me fruit and veg, Amy. Even the bleedin’ birds were still asleep. I’m telling yer, that cabbage is as fresh as yer’ll get.’
    Mary thought it time to intervene, otherwise they’d be here all day. ‘What’s wrong with the ruddy cabbage? It looks all right to me.’
    ‘I dunno, girl, I can’t put me finger on it but I just don’t like the look of it. It might be the shape of the bleedin’ thing, or the colour.’
    Billy slapped an open palm on his forehead. ‘Ah, yer wanted a pink one, did yer, Amy? Or did yer fancy one in pale blue?’
    Amy squared her shoulders and pretended to take the huff. ‘Ay, Billy Nelson, you get sarky with me and I’ll clock yer one. Buying a cabbage is just like buying a hat, yer either like it or yer don’t like it. And I’m telling yer now, I don’t like that bleedin’ cabbage.’
    Holding the offending cabbage in the crook of his arm, Billy bent down and took another one out of the wooden box. ‘How about this one, yer moaning so-and-so? Is it the right colour and shape for yer? Or would yer like one with a slim waist and a big bust?’
    ‘Nah, we can’t have two big busts in the house, we wouldn’t be able to pass each other in our small kitchen. That one will do me fine, I’ve taken a liking to it.’ Amy picked a well-worn purse from her basket, asking, ‘Did yer say it was a penny, Billy?’
    Billy looked forward to Amy’s visit, you could always get a laugh out of her. And she didn’t get upset if the laugh was at her own expense. Not like some moaning Minnies who came in the shop. ‘There’s a bloody big sign on the box, Amy, and it says the cabbages are tuppence.’
    ‘Daylight robbery, that’s what it is,’ Amy said, passing a threepenny bit over. ‘Ye’re like that Ben Turpin feller who used to waylay people on the highway and rob them.’
    Billy threw the coin in the big pocket of his apron andfished out a penny. ‘Here’s yer change, Amy. And it was Dick Turpin, not Ben.’
    ‘What was Dick Turpin?’
    ‘The highwayman.’
    ‘Oh, it was Dick, was it? Was he Ben’s brother?’
    ‘No, Amy, Ben Turpin is a film star.’
    ‘Well, I never!’ Amy turned wide eyes on Mary. ‘D’yer know what, girl? I’ve had more education in the last half hour than I had in me nine years at school.’
    ‘I’m afraid yer’ve had yer last lesson for today, sunshine, ’cos it’s time to get home and put the dinner on.’ Mary took tight hold of her friend’s arm and pulled her