27. Jack's Story

Gordon and Margaret had established a close bond with the Matthews. Seeing each other regularly became an established routine. They visited each other's home once a fortnight, taking it in turns who should play host.

The Matthews' large detached house was rented. It had a beautiful garden, close to the Park. As the months went by, the men confided more and more in each other and the women became very close. The men liked to discuss the peculiarities of their wives and the women those of their husbands.

One afternoon, just before Christmas, when the men were upstairs in Jack's study, and the four children were playing in the room set aside as a playroom, Sheila said to Margaret, "You know why Jack doesn't like me to have people here when he's not around?"

"I had wondered,"replied Margaret.
" Well, he's very choosey about who we get to know. He's always frightened that I'll involve him with people he doesn't want to mix with."
" But he's not snooty!"
" Oh no, it's not that. It's just that his conversations are always on such a high level that he finds it hard to keep small talk going. He's easily embarrassed. A bit shy really. He likes to pick and choose."

Margaret thought to herself, "I've got him wrong. He is snooty!" Out loud she said, "I have noticed that he likes to have Gordon to himself so that he can rattle on about world affairs and politics all the time."
" That's it! He doesn't mean any harm. He'd hate to cause offence. But I used to worry I might have offended you by not having you in here. Remember that day when it poured down? I felt really ashamed not asking you to come inside out of the weather."

Margaret thought to herself that there was no way that Gordon would be able to issue any commands like that to her. "Is he a bit bossy with you then, Sheila?"

"You could say that!"Sheila replied emphatically. "The trouble is, he's a schoolteacher and at times it seems like he's running another classroom with all his rules here at home. From what he's told me, he was brought up very strictly. His mother died giving birth to him and his father didn't have a lot to do with him because he married again and farmed Jack out to live with his two unmarried sisters. Of course, he spent a lot of time at boarding school and that made him independent and able to stand up for himself, up to a point. But he still had to live by strict rules when he was with the fussy aunts and when he was at school. I suppose it was good for him. But I wish he'd break the habit with me."

Sheila's accent was very different from Jack's. She was from the North-East. She'd mentioned a mining village childhood, much like the Welsh one Margaret had had..

"How did you two meet?"
" Jack had hoped to go to Cambridge when he left school but didn't manage it. So he came to Durham. When I married we'd moved to Durham City from our village. I was living there with my husband when Jack lodged at our house during his second and third years. You may not believe it, but he was going to be a clergyman..."

Margaret was more than interested in what she was being told, but just then, little Rosa, Sheila's little infant, came in crying.

"Michael hurt me,"she sobbed.
" What did he do love?"asked Margaret, standing up and preparing to go and sort her son out.
" Oh sit down Margaret,"said Sheila. "Here, Rosa take these sweeties and give them to Rob to share out."Rosa stopped crying, took the sweets and went back to the other children.

"A clergyman! Who Jack? What made him change his mind?"
Sheila laughed, "I think it was partly me. I was his scarlet woman."
" Don't be daft,"smiled Margaret.
" I'm not. Shall I tell you a secret?"
" Go on then!"
" Promise you'll keep it to yourself?"

Margaret nodded and Sheila went on, "We're not really married. Rob's not his. Jack's a bit younger than me. I'd been married two years when my husband and I decided to let rooms as college lodgings. He was at The College of The Venerable Bede. Anyway, he was with us for two years and it was during the second year that I fell for Rosa. She is Jack's."

Margaret was amazed. "So then he switched to teaching?"

"That's right. It wasn't just me. He'd been having doubts about his religion before we met.. There was another student at the same college and he stayed with Jack at our house. This friend was a bright lad from a mining family near Chester-le-Street. And very left-wing. He could go home easily by bus from Durham at weekends and he used to take Jack with him. I think Jack was very impressed by Alan's dad. Alan was his college friend. They were a very political family and Jack got involved with them.
"Well, t hey convinced him that the Church of England was really only the Tory Party at prayer. Stuff like that. Jack's impulsive. And unsure of himself, you know! Anyway, he changed courses. He seems to have the answer to everything but he hasn't. That's only his manner."

"So you left your husband for him?"
" Yes I did. I'm glad I did. There's nothing boring about Jack. When he has one of his impulses there's no stopping him."Sheila giggled, "And I was one of his impulses! We're not married because Jack says marriage is only licensed prostitution, nothing special about it. If you love each other that's all what matters."

Margaret looked at Sheila through new eyes. She was a quiet little mouse of a woman, clothes a bit on the dowdy side. Pleasant enough but hardly the scarlet woman out of the Red Letter, her weekly magazine, which was filled with romantic stories and no-good women.

Margaret wondered if Jack had told Sheila about his latest impulse. Did she she know about his intention to go off to Spain and fight for the Republicans?

Sheila looked at the clock on the mantelpiece and said, "Hey- up! Look at the time! I'd better be getting the tea ready!"
" I'll help you,"Margaret said.

The two of them went through into the large kitchen. Sheila switched on the electric light and lit the gas stove. She filled the kettle and put it on to boil.

Margaret was very impressed by the kitchen and everything in it. "One day,"she thought, "I'm going to have some of this."

"Don't think me rude Sheila, but you have a lovely house and garden here and I love your furniture. This kitchen is marvellous. I've managed to get a few things on the 'Never Never'. Is that what you do? Or are the furnishings included with the rent?"
" No love! Keep this to yourself too, but Jack has tons of money. When his dad died, his conscience must have pricked him because he left Jack a fortune. That's why we're pretty comfortable."

More than comfortable! thought Margaret.Every room had thick carpets. No Williamson's linoleum for them! She knew that Sheila liked a bargain off the market but the curtains in every room were really good quality, and professionally made, she could see that.

As she set the table, the polished oak table, she couldn't help noticing the expensive table-cloth and all of the fine cutlery. It was all stuff out of the high-income bracket.

When she went back into the kitchen, Sheila said, "I hope I haven't given you the wrong impression about Jack. As you know, we only rent this place, unfurnished, and he says the kids and I must have all the home comforts. Apart from that, he sticks to his principles and he gives his income away to things like the civil war in Spain and other charities."
"You mean the money he gives away is the interest on the money his dad left him?"
"That's right love."
"Mmm,"Margaret thought, "Capitalism has some good uses for him then!"

Upstairs, the two men were trying to put the world to rights, as usual. Gordon couldn't help thinking how fortunate Jack was to have such a lovely room all for himself. It was spacious and had been a big bedroom. Now, the walls were lined with bookshelves all packed with books. The titles indicated that Jack's main interests were politics, literature and art. There was a big desk on which Jack had spread a number of documents and pamphlets. He was used to corresponding with lots of people, including a few heavyweights like Bernard Shaw. On his desk was a postcard which he had received from Shaw only that morning,

The room had a lovely view over the garden and farmland. It was a real haven of peace. Outside, nearly all of the trees had lost their leaves but a huge holly tree was filled with bright red berries, a herald of Christmas. It was peaceful outside but the conversation inside was about war. Jack was becoming increasingly obsessed with The Spanish Civil War.

"I know you don't see it quite like me but they need people like us desperately if they're going to beat Franco. Churchill has refused assistance but he has a nephew there. There's all sorts going to assist from all different countries.The Fascists have Italy and Germany not only aiding him with arms but bombing for him as well."

Gordon was not convinced. "I've read that it's Communists against Fascists. I've no time for either. Churchill might have a nephew there but he won't give aid because he won't help any side the Communists are backing,"he replied.

"It's not about Communism winning! It's about democracy surviving! It depends what you've been reading. There's a propaganda war going on as well! Have you read any of these new Penguin Books? They're called paperbacks and they're only sixpence each."

"No!"

"Well see what you think. Try these two for a start."Jack handed two titles over to Gordon. One was Searchlight On Spain and the other was What Hitler Really Thinks.

"They'll tell you some of the truth about what the Fascists are up to."

"I dare say, but I've no time for Stalin. He's definitely helping there to suit his own ends! One bloke I have been reading is George Orwell! He should know. He's been there and seen what's happening with his own eyes. You should read some of his stuff. He thinks he's a real swine, one of the worst dictators ever!"

Jack pointed to one of his bookshelves. Orwell's name was prominent amongst the titles. Gordon felt he'd been put in his place.

"He's not the only Communist in the world."Jack responded.

"Maybe not, but he's a blooming powerful and influential one! What about what we've heard about the Communists fighting against the POUM and the Anarchists, the ones who are all supposed to be on the same side."

"Could be rumours,"defended Jack, playing Devil's Advocate.

"Not according to Orwell! And Fenner's been there! He's helped rescue some ILP members who were under threat, not from Franco, but from Stalin's lot."

"We don't know half of it. You can't trust what you read in the newspapers. And that Lord Reith tells them what to say on the BBC. How can we know the truth of it, sitting here on our backsides in Lancaster?"

Jack drew a deep breath and then confided in Gordon, "I'll know the truth of what's going on there soon. I've decided to go. Straight after Christmas!"

Gordon gasped, "You must be joking! I didn't think you were serious last time you said that you might go. It's crazy! It's too dangerous! Our Government's against volunteers going anymore."

"They're just toadying up to Hitler! Frightened of upsetting him or his friends!"
" Churchill's no creep but even he's against anyone going there!"
" Come on, argue logically! You said a minute ago, he's against anything involving Communism."

Jack tried to end the discussion with,"You should know me now Gordy. When I say something, I usually mean it."

But Gordon carried it on.

"But how will you get there? Who are you going with? What about Sheila and the kids? How will they manage? Which lot are you going to join?"

Jack grinned, "All taken care of! There are still some I.L.P. lads sticking it out there. I'm off on my own to find them. I'll go as far as the French border, make contact with the Republicans there and head for Barcelona. I've put enough aside for Sheila to get by on until I come back."

"If you come back!"
"I'll be back!"

"You still don't know for sure who you'll be fighting with."
"If the worst comes to the worst, it might have to be with the Communists. Seeing as they've seen the other ill-disciplined Anarchists and Militia off."
"Oh come on Jack, not them! They've probably murdered loads of good blokes. You can't join with them. You'll just be a mindless robot. They'll shoot you if you say a word against anything they want to do."
"All in a good cause, comrade. There are times when orders have to be obeyed. Fascism has to be stopped or it'll be our turn next."
"Well, I'm waiting until it is. I thought our little group were all supposed to be free thinkers. What does Sheila think about you going?"
"I haven't told her yet."
"What about the new job at Skerton School? What about the Corporation House on Ryelands?"
"All on hold old man! Pick up the pieces when I come back."
"More likely you'll be sent back in pieces."

"Don't worry about me! I know how to look after myself." Jack sighed, looked out the window briefly, then smiled at his friend. "Let's change the subject!" he suggested. "I've been meaning to tell you something. Don't forget to buy some of these new paperbacks. There's this chap Lane whose doing the publishing. He says he's fed up with intellectuals saying the general public has low intelligence. He's going to publish loads of intelligent books cheaply to prove them wrong. Spread the word! Buy them!"

Just then Sheila called up to them, "Come on you two, tea's ready!"

Jack placed a finger over his mouth. "Don't forget, not a word to Sheila. I'm going to tell her tonight, after the kids have gone to bed."

"You're mad Jack, simply mad!"were Gordon's last words, before they went down to the meal and chit-chat with the rest of their families.

"Michael had more sweets than us didn't he, Gwyn?" Rosa declared, pulling a face at Michael.
"I don't know,"said Gwyn.
"Tell-tale tit!"said Rob.
"I didn't,"said Michael.
"Yes you did!"insisted Rosa.
"No, I didn't!"responded Michael angrily.
"How do you know?" said Rob to his sister. "You don't know how to count yet. You're stupid!"

Rosa's lip trembled. She was on the verge of crying.

"Enough from the lot of you!" said Jack, in his best classroom manner. "There's no need to start a war over nothing."

They all shut up and ate their tea. It was the last time they'd be together for six months.

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Web Links
• Background to the Spanish Civil War
• The International Brigades Memorial Trust
• More about early Penguin books:
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~mcgoni/penguins