Through the Paces

Chapter One: Open Secret

A fifteen, nearly sixteen year old Audrey Potter found herself on an errand of many for her mother Nancy. She was picking out apples from the local grocer for the apple pie her mother has insisted on making as the 'famous' Reid couple were coming over for tea. It was nothing but the best for Malcolm and Joyce, in reality; Audrey knew her parents only clung onto them as they were only couple within a ten mile raidius with some capital under their belt. Malcolm owned a shop nearby you see, he sold food and drink in the nearby market and did a good job. Audrey turned around as she heard the familiar call of her name...

"Geoffrey. Not here...My father doesn't like boys calling my name on the street" Audrey responded as she watched him walk over.

"How can your father ever expect you to get married if boys don't speak to you?" Geoff asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"You're the wrong kind of boy"

"Oh. Well excuse me...Your family is just as common as mine. Being friends with the Reids won't change that"

"Well I know that and you know that but father doesn't think that. The Reids are coming over again actually. Mother wants apple pie so I'm buying the apples" Audrey explained with her arms crossed.

The boy was Geoff Masters. He was the same age as her, grew up with her and went to the same school. He followed her into the grocers as she began to buy the apples, giving the elderly grocer a polite smile and thank you as she passed him over the corret change. He watched as Geoff silently followed her back out and began walking with her down the street.

"Go then. I'm nearly home" Audrey scolded as she stopped walking on, noticing he was getting too close to the family home for comfort.

"My parents are staying with an elderly aunt tomorrow. Come on over, why don't you? They won't mind"

"What sort of girl do you take me for?"

"The sort of girl who enjoys my company. I'm not expecting anything, Audrey. It's just we have been courting for a short while now and you haven't even seen my house. We shouldn't have to be forced to court in the street like a couple of beggars"

"Beggars have more respect than you"

"I don't expect anything. I'm willing to marry you when we get older, all our friends know that. So what's the harm?"

"Don't tell anyone I visited you"

"Never"

Audrey gave him a nod in response. He had a ghost of a smile as he walked away and back down the street. She walked home with an uneasy step in her stride as she reached her front door. Which was in a street like any other street in Manchester, she opened the door. Her mother still cleaning away, barely giving her daughter a glance as Audrey walked in with the apples and placed them on the kitchen top near the sink.

"Are they fresh, Audrey?" Nancy asked while scrubbing the floor near the dining room table.

"Yes, mother. As fresh as apples can be"

"Puff out the pillows for me. There can be no stone left unturned, not when we have guests"

"Are Mr and Mrs Reid expecting pudding then?"

"Yes. And it's Mrs Malcolm Reid to you"

"That's archaic"

"Your manners are archaic. You have to remember Audrey, they are a respectful family. Even Mary Shelley credited herself as Mrs Percy Shelley on her papers"

"Mrs Malcolm Reid isn't Mrs Percy Shelley" Audrey responded casually as she picked up the pillows and began to puff them up as promised.

Nancy giving a tut in response to this as got up from the floor. Going straight over to the apples but not before giving her hands a thorough wash and dry. They seemed good enough for later.

...

The table had already been set by the time Robert Potter arrived back home. He passed his coat, hat and shoes over to Audrey. She would always put them away for him. He sat down on the couch, briefly looking over at his wife. He just leaned back with his feet on the table. He seemed to be reflecting over something but his wife and daughter dare not ask. He has a bad temper and doesn't like to be asked things, he will tell them what he wishes to.

"Go get ready, Audrey. The Reids won't be far after me, Malcolm is already finishing up his shop" Robert declared.

Audrey just giving a "Yes, father" before making her way upstairs. Nancy gathered it was her cue to do the same as she followed her daughter upstairs. Robert looked towards the dining table, getting up to inspect it. He then walked into the kitchen to do the same. Washing his hands while he was there, he worked as a local plumber. He soon went upstairs himself, entering the master bedroom. Nancy was brushing her hair and doing her make-up.

"What's on for tea?" Robert asked as he finally spoke; sitting on the bed.

"Steak pie and peas"

"Oh. Something decent for once then...You cook better for Malcolm than you do for me"

"Stop making everything sound so wicked. We enjoy welcoming guests and dinner parties as much as everybody else. I'm bound to cook better for Mr and Mrs Malcolm Reid than my own family"

"Has Audrey been helpful?"

"Yes. She's been helping me prepare for tonight however she has been giving me a bit of cheek still"

"Just belt her. It always works for me"

"No. I'm not going to belt her, she's getting too old for that sort of thing anyway. Haven't you noticed?"

"As long as she's under my roof, she runs the risk"

"I've made apple pie for afters" Nancy quickly spoke, changing the subject.

Robert just shrugged before going to the wardrobe. Undressing himself and putting on a smart suit instead. Nancy putting on her best frock as she always did when they had guests. They wouldn't be long now, not at all.

...

"How pretty you look. You will make a man very happy some day, Audrey" Malcolm spoke on his arrival into the house, Audrey giving a polite but nervous smile in return.

"I wouldn't bet on that" Robert responded which wiped the already forced smile from her face.

Malcolm and Joyce greeted Robert and Nancy together. Joyce following Nancy into the kitchen. The two women giving each other a smile of relief as they could finally relax away from their husbands. Joyce was a well-dressed woman of leisure, she was a housewife without children and so had plenty of time to herself. She did dream of having them and she did for a brief few weeks before her son sadly died from cot death.

"Audrey is a pretty lass these days, Nancy. How is her schooling? Has she got any plans?" Joyce asked as she leaned back with her hands on the kitchen top.

"Well, she's hoping to get out when she can, she'll be straight down the factory like the other girls"

"Doesn't she have ambition?"

"If she does, I wouldn't know. We don't really talk about things like that, how are you doing these days then?"

"Coping as well as I can. I began making sweaters for the local schools, it helps pass the time when Malcolm is away on business or in his shop. He's really looking to expand"

"Really?"

"Yes but he feels Manchester is lacking the opportunities. He wants to go better, he dreams of going to America or Canada. Hasn't quite made his mind up yet of which one"

"Oh. I wouldn't like that, move away from everything I know? No thank you" Nancy replied with a small smile.

The sounds of loud laughs from the men followed. The two women looked at one another before beginning to do the dishes. Joyce didn't mind helping due to being so lonely at home, she was happy to help. Joyce called "Audrey!" which made the girl walk from the living room, she was standing around and not knowing what to do with herself as always.

"Hello Audrey, we were talking about you. You haven't got long left in school now, have you?" Joyce asked while all three of them began to dish out the dinner to each plate.

"No Mrs Malcolm Reid. I got a few weeks left, I may go the factory to work afterwards. That's what my friends are doing" Audrey explained, keeping her at arms length.

"No ambition?"

"Just marriage and children" Audrey responded without thinking.

Joyce giving a sad smile as she didn't quite have the second part herself. Nancy looked at her like she was stupid. Passing her over the done plate as she just told her coldy to set the table. Audrey looking down as she brought the two plates into the dining room. Her father and Malcolm still standing in the living room, the smell made them walk into the dining room however.

"Lovely housekeeping skills, Audrey. Go and add the gravy, good girl" Malcolm spoke up with a grin.

The girl giving the floor a glare but she intended it to be for him. She retreated into the kitchen, asking for the gravy. Her mother passed it to her without another word as she was unreasonably angry. Joyce could sense the tension and felt to blame as she gave Nancy a quick pat on the shoulder.

"Don't be harsh on her. She didn't say those things to upset me" Joyce reminded her.

"She's so thoughtless" Nancy insisted.

"Oh, you know as well as I do that she meant no harm. Give the girl a break, Nancy" Joyce tried to say.

Nancy just giving a forced nod and smile as she picked up two plates. Joyce picking up the last remaining plate. Soon everybody was around the table, grace was very briefly said before normal chitchat resumed. Malcolm being his loud brash self as always.

"What would you say, Robert? Canada or the United States? I can't decide where I want to go" Malcolm announced.

"I haven't really thought about it. So neither"

"Oh you got no ambition, Robert. That's your issue...Well I'm thinking Canada because it's similar to us but different. Even seeing the ocean will be breathtaking, I'm keen on going. It's just a matter of when"

"Good luck to you, Malcolm"

"Thank you very much" Malcolm replied back while tucking into his pie.

Audrey listening in and shaking her head to herself. He always spoke about moving but nobody took him seriously. He began to even try and mimic the accent and the attitude of his desired new home. It drove Audrey around the bend secretly as she wasn't that fond of Malcolm at this time. She was thinking how spending tomorrow at Geoff's won't be so bad after all, anything to get away from the place she calls home.

...

TBC