Stories
Dreams do come true
"Albert" come on or else we will miss the bus", Ivy didn’t fancy waiting another half an hour for the next it was Tuesday market day, a very busy day in Stockport. Apart from walking around the stalls, Albert enjoyed looking in the estate agents windows looking at the prices of houses Ivy was more interested in charity shops. Albert had always promised Ivy that one day when he had enough brass he would buy her a little dream home, the one she had always wanted from being a young girl. After a walk round looking at most of the stalls, they called in their favourite café for a cup of tea and a toasted tea cake. Albert always the gentlemen would pull a chair out for Ivy and make sure she was comfortable before he sat down, then with a grin and a twinkle in his eye, he said in a voice loud enough for the other customers to hear ,"what did you say your name was do you come here often." This always made Ivy blush and giggle, here was her Albert, still making her laugh after fifty years of marriage.
The twinkle in Albert’s eye and the cheeky grin on his face made Ivy think back fifty five years to when they first met at a local dance hall. Him a dashing young man in army uniform holding his hand out to a young and shy Ivy to dance. By the end of the evening she agreed to write to him, he was stationed in Nicosia, Cyprus. Through their letters and meetings a love blossomed, they became engaged and married three years later, Ivy’s love for Albert is just as strong now, as it was all them years ago.
"Would you like a black pudding for tea" she said as she finished her cup of tea, "oh yes" said Albert, "and will you buy a ham shank love, and make me one of your special thick pea soups for tomorrow. When they had done their shopping they strolled down the high street, Albert was looking in the estate agents window, "Ivy just look at the price of this house", but Ivy was looking in the next window,
"Albert! Albert! Look at this one my little dream home. Ivy couldn’t believe her eyes, when Albert saw it he said "well I never" a detached two up and two down in need of tender love and care. "Oh Albert" Ivy said "could we put an offer in for it? "Slow down now love" he said, lets go inside and make a few enquiries. The assistant was very helpful, you are very lucky it has just been reduced again. Now it was in Albert’s budget, he would have a bit of money left over for the repairs and some new pieces of furniture. Ivy’s heart was beating like mad, she was so excited, after all these years she was now going to have the one thing she had dreamed of. Ted a friend of Albert’s offered to do the repairs, split the second bedroom, and install a bathroom. Ivy’s brother Eric, offered to do the electrics. " Oh Albert do you think we are doing the right thing, do you think it’s a bit late in life for doing this" Albert would reassure her with a kiss and a cuddle, "well my love we have bought it now, it is what you have always wanted". The weeks passed by rather quickly. Ivy kept herself busy sewing curtains and cushion covers, while Ted and Eric worked every bit of free time they had. Only one more coat of paint to apply to the front door, and all the work will be done. Ivy couldn’t wait she was so excited. Ted called round to take them in his car to see it. Albert took Ivy to one side put his arms around her kissed her on the cheek and said "here you are my darling your very own dolls house".
by Marie Staniforth