by Cathy Sharp
‘Sorry, miss,’ Susan said, hanging her head. ‘It’s me temper – I just can’t seem to stop meself …’
‘Well, perhaps we should investigate that …’ Ruby said and sent the girl in to get her tea.
She was thoughtful as she went up to her office. Punishing girls didn’t always work and perhaps there was an underlying cause for Susan’s anger. Ruby seemed to recall that Sister Beatrice had spoken of a psychiatrist who had helped their children several times – perhaps if she spoke to her about the problem he might have a look at Susan and see what was wrong.
After all, the last thing Ruby wanted was another of her girls to try harming herself. Yes, she would speak to Sister Beatrice that evening before she went home. Susan needed help not punishment, although she would have to stand by the punishment she’d already given …
‘Everyone got everything they should have?’ Beatrice asked of the three girls she was accompanying to their new home on the outskirts of Harlow. She looked at their faces as they stood in the hallway of St Saviour’s for perhaps the last time. ‘You’ll be issued with new uniforms when you get there so you only need your personal stuff.’
‘Yes, Sister,’ the two sisters said in chorus, looking excited at the thought of moving to the country. Jean Grant was silent, her eyes large and dark with anxiety.
‘Are you all right, Jean?’ Beatrice asked, feeling a prickle of anxiety. She knew from experience that moving a child who didn’t want to go would result in unhappiness and in some cases a runaway. ‘We talked about this and you said you would like to go … you haven’t changed your mind?’
‘No, Sister. I – I’m just nervous …’ Jean glanced at the two sisters who were obviously not in the least afraid of going to the new home. ‘But I do want to go to the country. I like trees and animals …’
Beatrice nodded. Sometimes, she wished that she would be there to oversee the transition of the children, because she knew that some of them felt bereft when they left the grimy streets they’d known all their lives, but she was needed here in London, even though she sometimes felt that age was catching up with her. There were times when she longed for a garden now – a garden of her own where she could grow flowers and fresh vegetables, and sometimes just sit and rest, but she didn’t want to give up her work completely. No, she hoped she would be able to help care for these damaged children for the rest of her life.
Taking them outside to the bus stop, she discovered that Jean Grant had gravitated to her side and, as they waited for their transport, her hand crept into Beatrice’s own. Feeling the child’s hand tremble a little, Beatrice held it tightly until the bus came and she was forced to let go to usher them all into their seats. However, she made sure that Jean sat by the window and she sat next to her, shielding her from whatever made her nervous of the world. Perhaps she would ask Mark Adderbury to have a word with her, see if he could discover what made her so timid.
Opening her paper, Beatrice read an article about Oliver Hardy, who had died earlier that month, and his partner Stan Laurel. She noticed a small column about something called a ‘drunkometer’ that measured the amount of alcohol in the blood and which might be used to test drivers who had taken too much strong drink – and what a good thing that would be, she thought, finding that her thoughts strayed back to the young girl by the window.
Jean was one of the brightest girls in her class at school, and her teacher had written to Beatrice asking if she could be supported to attend a better school, one where she would stand a greater chance of gaining a university place one day.
It was something that had not occurred before at St Saviour’s. Jean’s family had been ordinary enough, her father a Docker and her mother a factory worker. Jean’s mother had died when she was ten and her father had started to drink and neglect his daughter, but his drinking had led to his rapid decline and he’d died of a liver complaint, leaving his only child alone in the world. She had no relatives and was near to starving when the police found her hiding on the Docks and brought her in.
She’d been with them for over a year, because Beatrice had known she would need enough time before she could be moved, but after that letter it seemed her duty was clear. Beatrice had asked Jean what she would like to do, explaining that her teacher thought she could do better at a different school and might gain a university place if she worked hard. Jean had seemed to welcome the change, but now she was plainly nervous.
‘Is anything troubling you, Jean?’ Beatrice asked when they were settled on the train. The sisters had gone off to the toilets and they were briefly alone. ‘Tell me what is making you anxious?’
Jean hesitated, then, ‘I was bullied when I started school as a St Saviour’s girl,’ she said. ‘Tom stopped them and it was all right … I thought he was coming with us …’
‘Ah, I see.’ Beatrice understood her fear. Bullying at school was not pleasant and it was always good to have a friend who could stop it. Ruby had come to see her about one of her girls who had taken to hitting other children, but she hadn’t been specific so Beatrice wasn’t sure if Jean was involved. ‘Tom may be coming down later, but I thought he needed a little extra time with us – but what makes you think you may be bullied at your new school?’
‘I don’t know …’
Jean shook her head and looked down at her feet as Becky and Susie returned to their seats. Had she known Tom had been protecting Jean, Beatrice would definitely have brought him, and regretted taking Rose’s advice to leave him behind, although it was a new start and perhaps Jean was just nervous and would be perfectly happy once she’d settled to her new life.
The only thing she could do was to ask Angela to warn Mrs Mellors to keep an eye out for bullying …
‘I’m so glad you came down yourself,’ Angela said as she welcomed Beatrice to her home. ‘I’ve wanted to show you all the improvements we’ve made and to let you see some of the children’s work. We’re having a special tea at Halfpenny House today and I know the kids are looking forward to taking you round …’
‘I should’ve come sooner,’ Beatrice admitted. ‘What a lovely garden you have, Angela. The countryside does have its benefits I see …’
‘Yes, I love my garden and I enjoy working in it, at least in the summer.’ Angela laughed. ‘Mark refuses to have anything to do with it, other than to sit in and have a quiet drink on summer evenings, and we have a young man to do the heavy work, but I like weeding and planting.’
‘Didn’t I see one of our old boys with a wheelbarrow down at the bottom, in amongst the fruit bushes?’
‘Yes, that’s Joe Blake, do you remember him? He was one of the first to come here from St Saviour’s. He started off with helping with the lawns and flowerbeds at Halfpenny House, and just carried on finding work in people’s gardens after he left Halfpenny House. He rents a room at the local pub and I think he does quite well. For a lad who had known only the East End of London, he’s taken to gardening like a duck to the proverbial water. We paid for him to have a short course at a horticultural college and he’s repaid us a hundred times with his devotion to our garden. He told me just this morning that the council have offered him a contract to help look after their parks and green spaces. Joe says that even if he takes it, he won’t let his regulars down, so he’ll be working all hours …’
‘I always like to hear of our children doing well. Oh, you might like to know that Mary Ellen has passed her recent exams and will be starting her first job as a teacher soon, just two days a week to begin with, I understand. And Billy Baggins is getting on marvellously. I think he’s almost running that clothing factory now. Mary Ellen told me she still has more exams to take but is allowed to take classes as a teaching assistant in needlework and art, and other subjects will follow once she has the rest of her qualifications.’
‘I knew she was doing well,’ Angela said, leading the way into a pleasant conservatory that was shaded against the fierce heat of the sun. ‘Do come and have some tea. The twins are with f
riends so I’ve been baking cakes all afternoon. You’ll see them later, but they’ve gone to a birthday party. We bought a set of Dinky cars for them to take as a gift. I understand there will be a magician at the party so be prepared to be shown magic tricks all evening …’
Beatrice smiled. ‘You seemed to have settled well here, Angela?’
‘Yes, I have everything I could want,’ Angela said, ‘but I do still miss being at St Saviour’s. Oh, by the way, I’ve been fundraising down here and I’ve been told you will be getting some extra money for taking the children out …’
‘Extra money is always welcome. I’m afraid the children do not get as many trips out as they did when you were with us, Angela. Hannah and Kelly and their husbands organised a day at Southend for them recently, and Wendy went along with Nancy. Sandra, Rose and I held the fort, though most of the kids went on the trip. Hannah has now left us and we have a pleasant woman named Mavis on our team of carers. I believe she will fit in with us, but I’m not sure how long she will stay. We do not seem to have as many girls eager to work for us as we once had, though we have an excellent girl in the kitchens. Her name is Jinny and Nancy likes her a lot, but in general it is more difficult to find girls willing to do menial jobs.’
‘I suppose it is a sign of the times,’ Angela said thoughtfully. ‘Things have changed a great deal since the war, Sister. There is far more choice for girls looking for work now and so fewer of them want the cleaning and caring jobs.’
‘I suppose it is only natural, and I think there are more glamorous jobs today, in fashion and beauty – and even factory work pays more than we do I expect, though what could be more rewarding than helping to protect vulnerable children I cannot say.’
Angela nodded her agreement. ‘I did tell you that we’ve managed to get another cottage in Norfolk so that we can take our kids on holidays in the summer terms? We have two now and let them out for spring and autumn to cover the maintenance, but we fill them each summer with our children; they look forward to it – but of course it is an added expense, which is why I’ve been organising fetes, bring-and-buy sales and a big dance …’
‘You were always good at that,’ Beatrice said, sitting on a chair with elbows and a hard back. She was afraid that if she sank into those soft armchairs of Angela’s she would never get out again – and she didn’t want to look as if she suffered joint pain. Despite all her years of service, and the reassurance from Angela and Mark Adderbury that she would always be needed, she still feared that one day she would be told she was no longer wanted as warden of St Saviour’s.
‘Oh, I enjoyed doing it, and I still do,’ Angela said. ‘It isn’t the same as working with you, of course, but I’m very happy.’
‘I wanted to have a word with you about the children I brought down today …’ Beatrice ate a small piece of lemon drizzle cake. ‘This is delicious, Angela. I may have made a small mistake …’ She told Angela of her conversation with Jean on the train and her fear that the child might have been bullied at school. ‘Perhaps Mark would keep an eye on her – and Mrs Mellors could look out for signs of bullying?’
‘Mark will certainly do that, but unfortunately, Mrs Mellors is leaving us in a few months. She has decided to go and live with her sister in the South of France. We shall be sorry to lose her, because she has been reliable – not as good with the children as you, Sister Beatrice, but I don’t suppose we could ever tempt you to come here?’ Angela spoke in a light-hearted way, but Beatrice hesitated and Angela’s gaze was suddenly alert. ‘Or would you?’
‘I’m not sure it would be possible,’ Beatrice said thoughtfully. ‘Halfpenny House is larger than St Saviour’s ever was – and of course, I do not see how I could leave the children there while they need me …’
‘I’m not sure how long that will be …’ Angela took a deep breath, then, ‘You will recall that I telephoned you to let you know that plans to close St Saviour’s were being considered – and to build on an extra wing here if need be. I’m afraid the signs are not good, because the council wants to take it over for the Children’s Department. Mark was against it at the start, but the terms are favourable and it would make us so much more secure here. I told you what I had in mind then … have you considered it at all?’
‘You suggested that I might take over as the Superintendent here and you would be my assistant, much as you were at St Saviour’s …’ Beatrice nodded. ‘I remember the conversation very well, Angela … and of course I have given it a great deal of thought …’ She gave Angela a very direct look. ‘Is it confirmed then?’
‘Not confirmed but Mark says he thinks it will be at the next Board meeting …’
‘And when shall I be required to leave St Saviour’s?’ Beatrice’s voice was firm though her hand trembled a little on the arm of her chair.
‘The takeover would not happen until after Christmas – a new beginning for the new year …’
‘Ah, I see … may I take it that you expect it to happen?’
‘I intended to come up and speak to you about it when a decision had been made finally, but we are waiting for several reports. I was asked to investigate the finances of the various options; I’ve been trying to work out which is best for all of us. Personally, I don’t want them to give up St Saviour’s altogether and I’ve made my feelings plain, but I’m only one voice. As you know, I’ve always agreed with you that we’re needed in London to take the kids in off the streets, but the feeling is that the need is less acute there than it used to be …’
‘I’m not sure I agree with that,’ Beatrice said thoughtfully. ‘Yes, conditions have improved since after the war. We’ve got new housing for some, but not all, and the free health treatment has made things much better for many families – but you would be surprised at how much need there still is. Quite a few of the children brought in recently have actually run away from their homes, because of family problems. Also, some of the older damp houses still exist and the tenants don’t want to move out to the new flats; they want to stay where their friends and families are, and we occasionally get outbreaks of typhoid and other nasty infections. Not in the devastating way we did years ago, but there are still fatalities and broken homes, and children still need shelter and loving care and always will.’ What Beatrice didn’t add was that it was a matter of education, of people learning better hygiene and health practices, which was ongoing but slow.
‘Yes, that is my point exactly,’ Angela smiled her agreement. ‘It’s why I’ve put the case that St Saviour’s must stay open in some form for the time being – but it might be under the direction of the Children’s Department, not ours.’
‘This, I am certain, would completely change the way things are done. Miss Sampson would most certainly turn off my staff, install her own and run things in … shall we say, a less hands-on way. It may be the modern way but it is not mine …’
‘Unfortunately, I believe you are right …’ Angela hesitated, then, ‘It is for that reason that I would like you to come to us here, Sister Beatrice. I want to bring all the children we have at St Saviour’s at the changeover down here – and I want you here at the helm, to help us improve our standards … and Mark agrees with me.’
‘I thought you’d ironed out the few problems you had at the start?’
‘We have most of them, but there are always new ones. Mrs Mellors is a decent woman but she isn’t you, nowhere near as efficient and intuitive – and I know we can do so much better if you will consent to join us.’
‘What do you feel is lacking?’
‘Your compassion and good sense,’ Angela said promptly. ‘At first I thought you too strict but I soon learned that you temper your rules with kindness and love and I grew to appreciate your qualities …’
‘Thank you, I am glad to have your good opinion,’ Beatrice said and smiled oddly, because their relationship had been stormy for some time. ‘If the takeover goes ahead and I should decide to accept the position – what happens to my staff?’
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‘We need good staff here and it’s possible that those that wished could find a job with us, though of course some would undoubtedly prefer to remain in London.’
‘Yes, I see …’ Beatrice was thoughtful, the back of her neck tingling. Most of her staff were East End born and would consider a move to the country too much of a wrench. ‘I’m not sure if she would come but Nancy has been with us a long time … and Wendy … However, I doubt the carers would consider it. They all have their own lives in town.’
‘Well, if Nancy and Wendy wanted to apply when the time comes …’ Angela stared at her eagerly. ‘Is there a chance that you might consider making the move?’
Beatrice hesitated, tempted to confess that at times she longed for a peaceful garden to spend time in at the end of her day’s work – to tell this woman she’d learned to trust that perhaps only a few more years remained to her and she might need a more peaceful environment if the pain in her limbs grew worse. And yet still she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
‘May I give you my answer when the decision is finally made about the future of St Saviour’s?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Angela said. ‘I’ll show you the room I’ve prepared for you and then we’ll go over to Halfpenny House and meet the children as they come back from school …’
Beatrice had visited Halfpenny House when it was very new and thought it rather soulless, but now the edges seemed to have softened, or perhaps she was seeing it with less hostile eyes. However, she noticed that the children’s dorms now had cork boards on the walls so that they could pin up their treasures, and one of the rooms had been turned into an art department, and it was here that the children had taken her first. It had a relaxed atmosphere, with paint jars, brushes, piles of thick paper, also pots of clay in various stages. The kiln was outside in a small shed out of harm’s way and they could only use it under supervision of Miss Savage, who was a qualified potter and art mistress as well as being a housemistress at Halfpenny House. She’d taken the place of a retired headmaster who had been dismissed for punishing the boys too harshly.