Front Line Nurse

by Rosie James

  The first one they came to was the greengrocer’s, which had the name ‘Foster’s’ in big letters above the door. Already displayed outside were ranks of vegetables, all neatly set out. Potatoes and carrots and parsnips and onions, and opposite, at the other side of the entrance, were baskets of tomatoes and apples, pomegranates and oranges. Ruby looked up at Angelina.

  ‘Anybody could steal all this,’ she whispered, ‘because no one is looking after it, are they?’

  Just then, the owner appeared at the door. He was a middle-aged man, dressed in a long white apron down to his knees, and with a jaunty white hat on his head. He smiled at the girls.

  ‘Good morning, young ladies! Is there anything I can get you today?’

  Both girls returned his smile. ‘Oh, no thank you,’ Angelina said, ‘but I am sure we will be buying our vegetables from you very soon.’ She hesitated, then said, ‘You see, we have only just moved in – down the road in the big house at the end – and we have enough of everything for now. But thank you very much.’

  The man grinned down at them. ‘Well, welcome to the area, and I am sure you are going to be two of my best customers.’ Then he picked out two rosy apples and two oranges and put them into a brown paper bag. ‘Have these with my compliments,’ he said as he turned to go back inside. ‘I hope to see you again very soon.’

  ‘Oh, thank you, Mr Foster,’ Angelina said, ‘that is so kind of you!’

  Ruby, clutching the bag of fruit, looked at Angelina as the two walked towards the next shop. ‘I thought we had to pay for everything,’ she said.

  ‘Of course we do, Ruby – usually – but not if it’s a present.’

  The next shop was the butcher’s, outside of which were carcasses of lambs and pigs hanging on huge hooks. Ruby shuddered. ‘I don’t like the look of this,’ she said. ‘Those poor animals, Angelina.’

  Angelina shoved Ruby ahead of her. ‘Well, don’t look, Ruby. Now here’s the newsagent’s – and there are sure to be sweets! Come on, we haven’t spent anything yet, so we can afford to buy some toffees. We both like those, don’t we?’

  Walking on slowly, they passed the hardware shop and the grocer’s, and finally they came to the baker’s. The smell of freshly cooked bread was enough to make them stop and enter. Even though they had enough food in their cupboard to be going on with, they both decided they could afford to buy a currant bun each, to eat now. At last they retraced their steps and began making their way back home.

  ‘I think I am going to really like living here, don’t you, Ruby?’ Angelina said, licking sugar from her fingers. ‘Everyone is so kind and seems to like talking to us.’

  Ruby nodded as she finished the last of her bun. ‘And look over there, Angelina – I can see swings and see-saws. That must be a park over there, like the one we used to go to when we were at the Garfield.’

  Angelina stared across. ‘Yes, of course it’s a park – and there are sure to be seats where we can sit when the weather gets warmer.’

  There was silence for a few moments after that, with Angelina being acutely aware that, suddenly, her recent high spirits had dropped like a stone. And she knew it was because of that certain memory, two years earlier, which had refused to leave her, even though it was childish and silly.

  It had been a lovely Saturday afternoon over Easter, and they had all gone to the park in the care of Miss Jones. Unusually, Miss Kingston had accompanied them as well. Everyone was especially happy because, after all, they had a week’s holiday from school, and each child had received a big Easter egg, with smaller ones inside, some of which they’d taken with them to eat in the park.

  Angelina and Ruby had been swinging contentedly together, side by side, to and fro, when in the near distance but away from the play area, Angelina had suddenly spotted two figures she’d recognised only too well. On one of the long benches beneath a huge sycamore tree, Alexander had been sitting there with Honora Mason. Beautiful Honora, his girlfriend. He’d had his arm around her shoulders and was looking down at her, and she was gazing up at him and smiling. Every now and then she would laugh her tinkling little laugh and she’d seemed so happy, so sure of herself and of what her future held.

  Angelina’s mouth had suddenly gone completely dry as she’d witnessed the scene. For her, the afternoon had been completely ruined. She’d known she was being silly, because everyone knew that those two had always been meant for each other, and that one day they were sure to get married. But as long as Angelina didn’t actually see them together, she could put that thought from her mind, could pretend that it wasn’t true, after all. But that day, she couldn’t deny the sight of her own eyes, and it was no good. She had never had any real chance of being anything more to the man of her dreams than one of his father’s orphans whom he’d taken it into his head to be especially kind to. And had she been making that up, all this time, thinking she was someone special? Because he’d talked to other children as well, had seemed to take a real interest in what they were doing. Why had she allowed herself to fantasise that one day he would put that silver slipper on her foot and take her away to his palace and that they would live happily ever after?

  She’d stopped swinging and Ruby had stopped too. ‘Are you going to eat one of your chocolates now, Angelina?’ Ruby had said.

  ‘No,’ Angelina had replied. ‘I just don’t feel like one, Ruby.’

  ‘Have you got a tummy ache?’ Ruby had asked as she’d started carefully removing the silver paper from one of the little eggs in her pocket.

  ‘Not a tummy ache,’ Angelina had replied, ‘but I want to go home, now. I hope it’s nearly time.’

  As they’d all trooped back, Angelina had heard Miss Kingston talking to Miss Jones about Honora Mason and about what a lovely girl she was. And wasn’t it charming to see two young people so much in love?

  Now, as they were strolling back home, Angelina tried to shake off her pointless memories. She glanced down at Ruby. ‘Isn’t Miss Kingston clever to have found us somewhere like this to live, Ruby? I know it’s a very long street and the grey houses look exactly the same – all those windows like beady eyes staring down at us are a little bit threatening! But it already begins to feel like home. It really does. Do you feel like that, too, Ruby?’

  ‘’Course I do,’ Ruby said, tucking her hand into Angelina’s arm. ‘As long as we’re both here together, anywhere will always feel like home.’

  Angelina didn’t say any more, thinking that one day soon, Ruby would have to get used to being a bit more by herself. Because a day didn’t pass without Angelina envisaging herself dressed in a nurse’s uniform …

  But before that, next week, she must start working at the hotel, and the idea didn’t appeal. It seemed such a waste of time when she could be starting on her proper career. But as Miss Kingston had advised, Angelina must be patient. She was still very young – perhaps too young – for St Thomas’s to take her.

  Angelina narrowed her eyes at her own thoughts. Just you wait, St Thomas’s. However hard you try, you won’t keep Angelina Green away. Not for long.

  Chapter 6

  It was Friday a few weeks later, and at six o’clock the salon was about to close for the day. Angelina was waiting outside to walk back home with Ruby. Angelina’s hours at the hotel varied, and this week, she had finished early each day.

  Presently, Ruby emerged. She ran over to Angelina, and they started walking back home.

  ‘I was given three tips today, Angelina’ Ruby exclaimed. ‘Three! At this rate we are going to be rich!’

  ‘Well, people don’t give tips unless they are pleased with you,’ Angelina said, ‘so you must be doing everything right – as I always knew you would.’

  ‘But I don’t think I’ll be allowed to do any shampooing and setting,’ Ruby said. ‘I mean, I knew I would be expected to sweep up and do chores, but now I speak to clients all the time – and they seem to like talking to me. Often, when I take them their tea, it’s hard to get away! I don’t want Mrs
Walker to think I’m wasting time because she is so kind to me. She’s even said she would teach me to do perms if I liked, but I don’t think I will ever be as clever as she is. Imagine cutting hair with those sharp scissors! Whatever would I do if I took too much off! I couldn’t put it back on again, could I!’

  Angelina laughed. ‘That could certainly be difficult,’ she said, ‘but you are doing brilliantly, Ruby, you really are. The best thing is, you are happy there, aren’t you? You do look forward to going to work every day, don’t you?’

  Ruby didn’t hesitate. ‘I never thought I could be as happy as this – being away from the Garfield, I mean. Especially when Mrs Walker’s husband sometimes pops in to bring fresh doughnuts for us to have in our tea break!’

  Angelina looked at Ruby fondly, thinking how different it could have been if things had gone badly at the salon. Ruby’s early life had left her with so many physical and emotional bruises she couldn’t have taken much more.

  ‘And have you had a good day too?’ Ruby enquired.

  Angelina made a face. ‘As good as it will ever get, I think,’ she said. ‘It’s not difficult work, of course, it’s just boring! I’m not learning anything I didn’t know before, and the woman in charge downstairs doesn’t seem to like me one bit. She follows me around, checking up on whatever I’m doing, and it puts me on edge.’ Angelina sighed. ‘It’s a good job that hotel work was only ever going to be a stop-gap until I become a nurse – unless the hospital doesn’t think I’m good enough after all,’ she added.

  It was Ruby’s turn to do the encouraging. ‘Of course they won’t think that, Angelina,’ she said. ‘They’ll see straightaway that you are going to be a wonderful nurse! Look how you took care of me when I had all my funny attacks, and then when you were called to the sick room when some of us were all poorly at the same time! Everyone wanted you, Angelina, you know they did.’

  As they arrived home, Angelina said, ‘While I was waiting for you, I popped into the grocer’s and bought some lovely ham – I watched while Miss Dawson sliced it off the bone, and even though I only asked for two slices she added an extra one because she said it had broken off and was too small and untidy to sell to another customer so we might just as well have it.’

  Ruby smiled. ‘Miss Dawson’s ever so nice, isn’t she Angelina? When I pass the shops on my way to work she’s often arranging things in the window and she always looks up and waves to me.’

  Angelina nodded. ‘Yes, she is very friendly – and so is Mr Foster. We knew that from our very first day, didn’t we? I bought two tomatoes from him for us to have with our ham and he just wanted to chat and ask how we were getting on. Are you hungry, Ruby? We could have some mashed potatoes with our ham if you like.’

  ‘I am not actually that hungry,’ Ruby admitted, ‘because Mr Walker turned up with doughnuts for us again. But I could manage just a few potatoes.’

  ‘Okay, but don’t forget we haven’t got very long because we’re looking after Nesta for Mr & Mrs Carter tonight.’

  Alfred and Dora Carter were the young couple living on the first floor with their nine-month-old daughter, and as soon as Angelina and Ruby had met them they all knew they were going to get on. Which was just as well as they were sharing many of the amenities of the house. Mr Carter worked long hours at the docks and Mrs Carter took in ironing, but sometimes on a Friday evening the couple would go out for a drink together, leaving Nesta in the care of the girls. It was a happy arrangement and Angelina and Ruby loved having the baby to themselves, especially as Mrs Carter always left them to do the bath time ritual.

  ‘I’ve been looking forward to it all day,’ Ruby said, as they finished their tea. ‘I was telling Mrs Walker about the lovely family that lives upstairs, and she said they’d always wished they’d had a daughter as well as a son.’

  ‘Oh, I’d forgotten you’d said they had a son,’ Angelina said. ‘Does he ever come into the salon?’

  ‘Well, I’ve never seen him,’ Ruby replied. ‘He’s away at college apparently.’

  With their meal finished and the dishes cleared away, the girls went up to the first floor and tapped on the Carters’ door. Straightaway Mrs Carter appeared – looking really pretty, Angelina thought. She was wearing a blue cotton dress and had done her long hair up on top and her lips were painted a bright pink. She looked like a young girl and was obviously excited to go out on the town with her husband. She opened the door wide for the girls to come in.

  ‘Ah, there you are,’ she said. ‘Nesta has had her tea, and as usual she has her last bottle before you settle her down. But it’s bath time first and everything’s ready for you.’

  Angelina and Ruby followed Mrs Carter into the small sitting room where the baby was sitting on the floor playing with her toys. Seeing the girls, she immediately crawled over, gurgling excitedly.

  ‘See how she loves seeing you!’ Dora Carter said.

  ‘And we love Nesta!’ Angelina exclaimed, scooping the baby into her arms and holding her high up in the air. ‘We are going to get wet in a minute, Nesta, aren’t we, and we are going to have fun!’

  Just then, Mr Carter emerged from the bedroom. A spare man with thinning hair, he was tidily dressed in black trousers and grey open neck striped shirt. He grinned at the girls.

  ‘Oh good,’ he said jovially. ‘Thank you for allowing us to escape for a couple of hours!’

  ‘We love looking after Nesta!’ the girls chorused as they followed the couple to the door, and Angelina said, ‘Don’t worry if you’re back late. We don’t mind, do we, Ruby?’

  ‘Of course not!’ Ruby said, and Mrs Carter turned to smile at them.

  ‘It’s so lovely that we can go out knowing that our baby is in such safe hands,’ she said. ‘We really don’t know what we’d do without you.’ She paused. ‘I mean, we had no idea who’d be coming to live downstairs, and when you two turned up it was as if we’d handpicked you ourselves!’

  *

  It was three weeks later that Angelina finally plucked up the courage to put her plan into action. At four-thirty, after she’d finished her shift for the day, she hurried back home to prepare herself for what lay ahead.

  She washed, brushed out her hair – tying it firmly back from her face – then slipped into her straight black skirt, which she always wore with her cream, long-sleeved blouse. She didn’t have many clothes to choose from and considered that this rather formal outfit might be suitable for coming face to face with the almoner at the hospital.

  On arriving, she made her way to the entrance and was greeted straightaway by the uniformed commissionaire.

  ‘What can I do for you, young lady?’ he enquired, and Angelina smiled up at him, hoping he didn’t notice her flushed cheeks. Her heart had been racing ever since she’d got off the bus.

  ‘I would like to see the almoner, please sir,’ she said, ‘because I wish to become a nurse.’ She swallowed nervously. ‘I want to come here to the training school.’

  The man stared down at her, not smiling.

  ‘The almoner is a very busy lady, but I will see if she is available,’ he said. ‘What name shall I say?’

  ‘Miss Angelina Green,’ Angelina said, following him into his small office. As he picked up a telephone to make the call, she hugged herself with anticipation.

  At least she had got this far! She was inside this amazing building, the very smell of which was already exciting her nostrils, the sounds and echoes and busy feet hurrying along corridors making her want to jump up and join in. This was where she wanted to be! She knew it was, and she knew she could be a good nurse if they would take her on.

  But it was another half an hour before the telephone rang, after which the commissionaire rose from his desk and beckoned Angelina to follow him along an endless corridor to a room at the end.

  ‘The almoner will see you now,’ he said.

  As Angelina entered the room, the almoner – a tall, middle-aged lady with short grey hair – stood up and greeted her kind
ly.

  ‘Come in, Miss Green,’ she said, ‘and take a seat. My name is Miss Day, and I understand that you wish to enroll in our nurses’ training school.’

  ‘Oh, yes please,’ Angelina said quickly. ‘I have set my heart on it, because I know I could be a good nurse if I was properly trained.’

  ‘Do you indeed?’ the almoner said. ‘Well then, let me have a few details. How old are you?’

  This was the question Angelina had been dreading and she cleared her throat. ‘I am fifteen … I think,’ she said.

  The almoner looked up, her eyebrows raised. ‘You think you are fifteen? Don’t you know? Do you have your birth certificate with you?’

  Angelina paused, then said ‘I don’t have a birth certificate,’ she said slowly. ‘I have never had one because … because I am an orphan, you see, and no one is actually sure of my age, or anything about me, not really.’ Angelina crossed her fingers against the little white lie; if they knew she was still only fourteen she’d have no chance.

  The almoner’s eyes softened. There were so many – too many – displaced children in this city, in the world. ‘So where were you brought up, Miss Green?’ she said.

  ‘At the Garfield. I am a Garfield orphan,’ Angelina said simply. ‘I have lived there all my life, and Miss Kingston, the superintendent, will tell you how good and reliable I was in the medical room where I was often asked to help the nurse in charge.’

  The almoner nodded slowly, thinking that yes, this girl could be about fifteen, and she appeared confident and certain about what she wanted to do. But as well as that there was an honesty, a simple earnestness, which appealed.

  ‘Tell me, Miss Green,’ the almoner said, ‘if you were to witness someone taken ill in the street, and you were asked to help, what would be your first reaction?’

  ‘I would reassure the patient and tell him to stay calm and still because help was at hand,’ Angelina said at once. ‘Then I would make sure his airways were not blocked, and that there was no significant blood loss.’