-INGLES- FOUTAWA A 3 Waiting and other modern stories edited by Roland Hindmarsh IDOMA INGLES III 2010 PAG. 1 A 11 WAITING "STAN BARSTOW" (7 COPIAS) Cambridge University Press Cambridge London New York New Rochelle Melbourne SydneyAcknowledgements ‘This simplified version of ‘Waiting’ by Stan Barstow, edited by Ronald Barnes, originally published in 1975, is reprinted by permission of Stan Barstow and John Farquharson Ltd. This simplified version of ‘Interesting Things’, edited by Michael Swan, originally published in 1977, is reprinted by permission of Kingsley Amis and A. D. Peters & Co Ltd. This simplified version of ‘A Way of Life’, edited by Alan Duff, originally pub- ished in 1977, is reprinted by permission of Dan Jacobson and Weidenfeld & Nicolson. This simplified version of ‘The Garden Party’ by Katherine Mansfield, edited by Margaret Charles, was originally published in 1975. This simplified version of ‘Public Opinion’ by Frank O’Connor, ‘published in'1976, Peters & Co Ltd. This simplified version of ‘Going into Exile’ by, Liam O'Flaherty, edited by Michael Rey- nolds, originally published in 1977, is reprinted by permission of the author and “A.D: Peters & Co Lid. This. simplified version of ‘Parson’s Pleasure’, edited by Rosemary Border, originally published in 1977, is reprinted by permission of Roald Dahl and Murray Pollinger, Michael Joseph Ltd and Penguin Books Ltd who published Kiss Kiss. -This, simplified version of ‘Manhood’, edited by Michael\(Donley,- originally published in 1977, is reprinted by permission of John Wain and Gurtis Brown Ltd, Stan Barstow Waiting ~The story takes place in Cressley, a typical industrial town in the Midlands, invented by the author. Lack of money forces a young working-class couple to live with the ‘husband's father, so the husband's loyalty is divided between bis wife's desire for her oun house and his lonely old father. ‘Stan Barstow worked in industrial engineering until 1962, awhen he gave up his job to become a full-time writer. His fast novel, A Kind of Loving, was an immediate success and he has since written several others including Ask Me Tomorrow, Joby and A Raging Calm. Old Thompson was seventy-four the winter his wife died. She yas sixty-nine. They would have celebrated their golden'wedding* the following summer and they were a quiet and fond couple. It was bronchitis that finished her, helped by a week of November fog and Cressley’s industrial dirt and smoke. In ten days she was dead. His wife's death nearly finished Thompson too. He was a changed man. Always active, carrying his years easily, and with red good health in his face, he now, seemed to age overnight. He seemed to dry up and bend like a tree whose roots Iack water. His hands were suddenly uncertain and awkward, when they had held - 1Stan Barstoiw _ things surely before. The world about him seemed to Jose interest for him. He became silent and withdrawn.* He sat for long hhours(n)his tall wooden-backed arm- chair by the fire, and what he thought about in silence no one knew. Bob, the Thompson’s younger son, and his wife Annie were living in the house in Dover Street when Mrs Thompson died. The Thompsons had had four children. The elder son was lost at sea during the war; a daughter marned and went to Australia, and a second daughter, Maud, fifteen years older than. Bob, lived with her family in another part of the town, Bob and Annie had not known each other long before they became eager to get married: Bob because he wanted Annie and she (though she was fond of Bob in siher own way) because she could. at last see a life away from her coarse family. When Mrs Thompson suggested that they marry and live with them in Dover Street until they could get.a house of their own, Annie hesitated. Her ideal of marriage had been to gain a husband and an orderly, well-furnished home at the same time. But she soon saw the advantages in this arrangement. She would, first of all, escape from her present life into a house which was quiet and efficiently managed, even if it were not hers; and she would be able to go on working so that she and Bob could save up even.more quickly for their own house. She would also get Bob; a good enough husband for any working- class girl; he was kind and pliable,* ready to be bent her way whenever it was necessary for her intentions — Gime Bob became used to the silent figure in the house; but Annie, who since her mother-in-law’s* death had left her job and was at home all day, began 2 Waiting ‘t'firid the old man’s constant presence a source. of wing annoyance. sree snakes me mad, Bob,’ she said one night when . they were alone: Just sitting there all day while I have to clean-round him. And-he hardly says a word from # ‘the moment he gets up.in the morning until he goes to ‘bed? 4 val, ‘suppose he has a right to do as he likes,’ Bob said mildly. ‘It’s his house, not ours. We're the lodgers, not him? 7 But to Ansiie, now looking after the house as if it were her own, it was beginning to seem the opposite. : ce On Wednesday afternoons Annie took the bus into Cressley to shop in the market, For an hour or two sbe << used to, walk between the stalls,* looking at everything, “buying: here “anid “there;* and ‘watching closely-for the bargains that were sometimes to be had. And thén, with all her purchases made, she left the market for the streets of the town to spend another hour in her fav- ourite pastime:* looking in furniture-shop windows. ‘There were furniture shops of all kinds in Cressley: those where you had to strain your neck to see the prices on the tickets, and there were others where the fur- niture was almost covered with notices offering prices which were too attractive to be true. One Wednesday she found a new shop full of the moat Selightal ings, with a notice inviting anyone to walk in and look round without necessarily buying anything, Annie hesitated for a moment before stepping into the shop. Almost at once she stopped entranced before a three-piece suite.* There was a card which said: ‘This fine three-piece suite is yours for only ten 3 2Stan Barstow shillings a week,’ and very small at the bottom, ‘Cash price ninety four pounds.” ‘Ten shillings a week . .. She could almost pay that out of the money she had for the house each week and never miss it! ‘A voice at her shoulder made her jump. ‘Can I help you, Madam?’ She looked round at the assistant who had come softly to her side. _ ‘Ob, well, no,’ she said, confused. ‘I was just look- mn icul ‘ere you particularly interested in furniture? asked the young man. ‘he lounge “Well, no... All of it, really.” ‘Isee. You're thinking of furnishing your home?” ‘Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I am, I’m just looking round, you know, and— ‘ +-Welcan supply everything you need.’ The assistant took her by the-elbow. ‘If you come up to the show- room* you'll see what I mean...” “Well, I...? Annie began, a little frightened at the thought of getting involved; but she was already being led to the rear of the shop and up a few wide steps. In the entrance to the showroom she stopped and stared. There before her, filling every corner of the huge room, was furniture of all shapes, sizes and uses: lounge furniture, dining-room furniture, furniture for bedroom snd Hitchen, and even television and radio a ‘ou know we can furnish a c i eee complete home for only a ‘Halfan hour later Annie was on the bus, going home, with pictures of beautiful rooms in her excited mind. All that, and for just a few pounds a week. There was absolutely no reason why they coulda’t have their home 4 fs Waiting =F tomorrow. No reason except they hadn’t gota house. So.¢ Bob, when are we going to have a house of our own? “We've been waiting for three years now and we still * haven't got one.” “Oh, I.don’t know,’ Bob said lightly. “There isn’t ‘auch point in trying.to get another place with things as * they are. Besides, who would look after my dad?’* &°,.,,Your sister Maud could help.’ "eyes, yes, I- know,’ Bob muttéred.* ‘I’m sure she'd help if she had to. Maud’s a good person really, you know. But anyway, it’s not necessary yet. Where would we go if we did move? We couldn't get a house to rent three years ago, and we still can’t?” ‘What about buying one then?” Annie said. “We'd better wait till we've enough money for a good exe three hundred spounds‘in’ the. bank,’ - Annie said, ‘What did we save it for?” . ‘You could spend all that on furniture. That wouldn’t be enough.’ ‘They were walking home from the cinema after seeing a film about an American house with gn_open— Swolevel living-room where there was lots of space and ~ ~everything looked modern and well made. Annie knew the limitations of her life and did not want the im- possible; but she was becoming greedy to take what was there waiting for her. “There's always hire -purchase.* I was talking to a fellow in a shop today and he told me you could furnish a house for just a few pounds a week.’ Bob laughed. ‘You spoke to one of those types, did you? They'll say anything. No, we can do without ~ debts like that. Someday you'll have all.you want.’ 5Stan Barstow ‘Someday...’ Annie muttered. ‘Staying at home after working all that time has made me want a place of my own? : ‘Well, I mean this place is practically your own, isn’t it? You do nearly everything you like in it, don’t you? And it'll really be yours one of these days. After all, my dad can’t last— He stopped. ‘Annie glanced quickly at him. ‘You mean he can’t last for ever.’ ‘Shut up, Bob muttered. ‘We shouldn’t talk like that, ‘There was a light on in the house and they found Bob’s father sitting in his chair by the fire, ‘Still here?’ Annie said. ‘I thought you'd have been in bed a long time ago.’ \ The old man lifted his face to them, though his eyes seemed hardly to see them. ‘I was just going.” He pulled himself up and went out without another word. ‘They continued as they were for some time. And then summer came, and with the warmer days old Thompson. moved from his chair and began in the afternoons to walk down the hill to the park where he could sit on a bench in the sun. - It was a great relief for Annie to be without him for a while each day, and she found new enjoyment in her life as a housewife, the life she had always wanted since she was a little girl in a rough, overcrowded home. She did the work with great spirit, cleaning and polishing until the house was always faultlessly clean, But still there was something lacking. It wasn’t like caring for her own possessions, because she was sur~ rounded by furniture that was heavy and dark and old- 6 Waiting fashioned and which never gave her a true reward for “all her efforts. “This old furniture gives me the willies,* she com- plained to Bob. ‘It’s like living in a museum. All those Cracks and corners only attract dust. I don’t know how ‘your mother accepted it for all those years.” ‘She was used to it. It’s the furniture they bought when they were married. It was all the fashion at that time.” ‘Well, it’s certainly out of fashion now,’ Annie said. “Yes, well, we'll have some good stuff when we get a place of our own,’ “Look, Bob,’ she said, ‘Why don’t we get some new furniture now? Think how nice this place could look with a new carpet and a three-piece suite, and— ‘Justa minute,’ Bob said "What about my dad ? This js his house, you know, and he aight like it’ as it is” "You can ask him, I don’t think he’d mind. You know how he is these days.” ‘But what could we do with his stuff?” ‘Oh, we could sell it. Somebody on the market would buy it’ “We can’t just sell the old fellow's home while he’s here,’ Bob said, He sounded shocked at the thought. ‘Dammit,* what would he do when we left?” “There wouldn’t be any need for us to leave if we had some good furniture,’ Annie said. Bob saw her smooth round face with the determined expression which always frightened him a little. He was still surprised she had ever married him and was anxious to please her in any way he could. “I suppose - I mean, if my dad doesn’t mind - I 7Stan Barstow suppose we could ‘put it into store.* Then if he ever needed it, it would be there.’ In the end: they sold the furniture, the old man making no objection. They gave him the money, a sad__ small number of pound notes which he looked at in silence for some time before closing his hand round them and putting them away. ‘They redecorated* the living-room, using a light ™ modern paper which seemed to make the room higger, and hung new curtains. Then when the furniture came ~ the carpet, the dining-suite and the three-piece ~ the change was complete and_amazing. Annie wanted to dance. with joy. Here was’something worth looking after, that rewarded dusting and polishing, something that was her own. The-only thing out of place was the old’ man’s tall-backed “chair, which was empty more often now in the long warm afternoons when he was sitting on a bench in the park. For a time she was at peace. And then she could not help speaking to Bob about an unfairness that had annoyed her before, but which seemed more unjust nowthat the house had her own stamp on it. She suggested they ask Bob’s sister to take the old’man. ‘We've had him for nearly a year now,’ she reminded Bob. ‘I don’t see why your Maud shouldn’t have him for a while. She’s got as much room as we have.’ ‘But this is his home,’ Bob said. ‘He won’t want to go. ‘What's the difference between one place and an- other? Annie said. ‘He hardly knows where he is anyway.’ ‘I don’t know,’ Bob said. ‘There’s something not— ‘Look, just promise you'll see her and mention it.’ Weiting “Well .. . I don’t suppose there’s any harm in asking her.’ © "He came into the house a few nights later to find ‘Annie and the old man sitting opposite each other, his < Ecfather with his hands resting on the stick between his * Jegs as usual, but sitting on the edge of one of the new + armchairs. Bob looked round. «Where's your chair, Dad?” : "The old man’s voice was stronger than he’d heard it for a long time now. ‘Ask her,” he said. | ; "Annie’s face was as red as fire. ‘I... -I let it go this afternoon,’ she said. ‘I sold it to'a man at the door for five shillings. Your dad won’t take the money.’ "You did what?” Bob couldn’t believe her. ; ‘Annie was obviously regretting her impulse,* but it * was too late now. . “It was out of place here . . . an wouldn’t want it” ‘Bob was so surprised that he spoke with of the old man sitting there. {It’s not the only thing our Maud doesn’t want.” No ane spoke for several moments, and in the silence a tremble went through old Thompson’s body. He got to his feet, standing crect as he faced the two of them. *You’ve been to Maud’s, haven’t you? Trying to get tid of me.’ His voice, high and thin, cracked with his {] know what it is. You want me to die, Well, I want it too. There’s nothing left for me since my Mary went. I’m waiting, just biding my time* till the good Lord decides to take me to her again.” His stick rose and fell with a loud crack. ‘And you'll just have to bide your time and wait for me.’ ‘He turned his red face and angry eyes from them and 9 I knew your Maud out thinking anger. Til tell you -Stan Barstow went through the door. They heard his slow fe« nt thro . slow feet on the stairs. Neither of them spoke. In a moment they looked at each other and then they looked away. Glossary page 1 golden wedding: a marriage that has lasted fifty years page 2 withdravon : apart from the rest of the world pliable : easily influenced mother-in-law : her busband’s mother page 3 ; aa a ee of table on which goods are displayed in the market" “ ‘ aia pastine: a pleasant way of ‘spending the time tivee-pece-suite: owo corafortable chairs and a long seat for two or three people page 4 ‘showroom: big room where goods are displayed Page 5 dad: father muttered: complained quietly deposit: a first payment hire purchase: a system of buying in weekly or monthly ~ payments page 7 ‘ives me the willis: makes me nervous ‘Dammit: Damn it. An exclamation of annoyance page 8 ‘ut it into store: put the furniture into a store-bouse for ie to a store-house fe 10 Waiting “nivorated: painted the room and put new paper‘on the walls * "page 9 Le Es Bihte: a sudden action without thinking» B 2 biding my times waiting” ~~ Questions 1. In what ways did old Thompson change after his < wife's death? ot +g Why did Annie agree to live with Bob's father and mothe 3 What did Annie do in thé market on Wednesday | - afternoons? Ys ks . yoo gisWhyrdid the three-piece’ suite attraét her so much? What change was there in old Thompson’s habits when summer came? 6 Why wasn’t Annie satisfied with ‘old Thompson’s furniture? 7 What arguments did ‘Annie use to persuade Bob to buy new furniture? ~ & Why was the change in the house so complete and amazing? : 9° What were Annie's reasons for wanting Maud to take the old man? 10 Why did the old man finally speak his thoughts? Topics for discussion ‘Annie's attitude to old Thompson. Old Thompson's secret thoughts. ‘The difficulties Bob had living with both his wife and his father. 4. Problems of old age. b "