Walking My Baby Back Home Trivia Quiz

Answer: Baker

Dot Baker has been widowed for ten years as the story begins, and although times have been hard and money tight, she has done her best to provide a loving home for her beloved children Katie and Colin.

Answer: The Corner Shop

Molly from the local shop has always liked Katie, and knows how Dot has struggled for money over the years since she was widowed.
She offers Katie a job and pays her seven and six a week, which is a good wage for a school leaver.
Katie is thrilled to work in the shop and loves her job.

Answer: To the chip shop to buy supper

The family decide to treat themselves to supper from the chip shop for once. Colin is on his way back when he dashes into the road and John runs him down on his push bike.
Colin is more concerned about the parcel of chips than he is about himself!

Answer: She was embarrassed because Colin had no pyjamas

Dorothy is embarrassed because her family is poor and she thinks John is a "Gentleman."
She doesn't want him to know that Colin has no pyjamas to put on because she can't afford to buy him any.

Answer: She told him she is pregnant

Mary has the misfortune to be married to the biggest rotter in any of Joan's books.
When she tells him she is expecting his baby he goes mad and says that he "won't have a brat in his house."
Poor Mary is terrified he will beat her until she loses the baby, and Dot secretly agrees with Mary that he might well do so, as he is a wicked man.

Answer: Sticks of "New Brighton" rock

Colin spends the last pennies of his pocket money on a stick of rock each for his Mam and sister.
He has never been on the ferry, or to the seaside before, as his Dad died when he was very young so the family could never afford days out.

Answer: A hand knitted jumper

Katie is thrilled to have her own money and be able to buy presents for her Mam and brother for the very first time.
She buys Dot a pale green jumper with a lacy pattern, and Colin gets the "Beano" annual.

Answer: In Maggie's house

Mary goes into labour early after Tom beats her up, and when the midwife arrives she is appalled at the bruising on Mary's body. The doctor comes and wants Mary to go to the hospital but she is too afraid and begs to be allowed to stay at home.
Her home is in a dreadful state beause Tom never gives her enough money, so Maggie, who lives next door arranges to have Mary brought to her house, so she can stay with her and her husband Paddy after the birth and be looked after properly.
Baby Trudie is named after Gertrude, the midwife who delivers her.

Answer: A deformed leg

Trudie is born with one leg much shorter than the other. Mary's friends make light of the situation as Mary has already suffered enough, but the doctor says that Trudie will definitely walk with a limp as she gets older.

Answer: Mary hits him with the poker and he falls and bangs his head

Tom contracts syphilis from a prostitute. He tries to force himself on Mary and when she resists he threatens to kill baby Trudie.
Mary panics and hits him with the poker, and he falls and hits his head on the hearth.
Dot hits him too and says "they can't hang both of us" but all is well as the doctor knows Tom of old and is sympathetic to Mary's plight. He signs a death certificate to say that Tom's balance could have been disturbed by the syphilis and it was accidental death.
Tom's death lets Mary get a job and make a proper home for Trudie without them having to live in fear of being beaten and abused each day.