She watched Tommy pick at the last of his pie and lick his lips; the boy had very little in life, and he appreciated every crumb. Now was the time to help him with something else.
‘Tommy, a lady came by with some of her son’s outgrown clothes and asked if I knew a lad they might fit. Do you think your mum would be offended if I gave them to you? They look your size and you’ve grown so fast these past few weeks, I’m sure she’d be grateful but, not having met her, I can’t be certain.’
She didn’t tell him she’d been holding back on items each time they were brought in and put them to one side, waiting for his next visit.
‘Don’t think she’d care eiver way. Me auntie’ll be pleased, always moaning I cost a lot. I’m off. Me uncle wants ’is money and I ain’t to dawdle.’
‘Your uncle? I thought he’d returned to his unit?’ Ruby questioned Tommy and watched the boy’s face flush a dark shade of red.
‘I meant me auntie. It’s all the same, ain’t it?’
Tommy’s response was hostile and defensive. Ruby chose not to say anything.
‘Mind how you go, Tommy. See you again soon. Hope the clothes fit.’
The last sentence was said with feeling. Tommy’s clothes were not fit for purpose and she longed to see him in fresh ones.
Tommy’s voice rang out about an hour later and disturbed the peace Ruby enjoyed inside her office.
‘Get off me! Oi.’
Beatty’s voice now joined in with Tommy’s. ‘What is going on here? Leave the boy be, let him go! I’m closing up – go, shoo.’
‘Ouch!’
Ruby tried to ignore the clumping sound, and returned to her books.
‘I ain’t a sack o’ coal.’ Tommy’s voice lifted several decibels higher.
‘Kindly leave, both of you. I’m shutting shop. Out!’ Beatty shouted, and Ruby could no longer ignore the chaos beneath her room.
With a sigh, she laid down her pen and went to investigate. When she stepped into the shop all heads turned to face her. Beatty, Tommy – who sat on his backside on the floor – and John. Her heart skipped a beat, as always whenever she saw him. She prayed the warmth rushing throughout her body didn’t force forward a blush. She turned her attention back to Tommy and Beatty.
‘What on earth is going on? I’m working, and the noise from here isn’t good for business. Beatty, I’ll deal with Tommy. You head home. I’ll see you later,’ she said, then turned to John. ‘Hello again.’
John stood over Tommy. ‘Hello, Ruby.’
‘I’m happy to stay,’ Beatty said, her head moving from one to the other.
‘Hello again, Beatty,’ John said, and Ruby watched him as he charmed Beatty with one of his heart-winning smiles.
‘I’ll leave you to it. See you later, Ruby,’ Beatty said and waved to them before leaving the shop. Ruby waited until she heard the door click shut before she turned and looked down at Tommy.
‘Tommy, what are you doing on my floor?’ she asked and flicked her fingers upwards as instruction for him to stand. She then turned her attention to John. ‘I assume you are the cause of him shouting out in pain?’
Tommy jumped to his feet and spoke before the man had an opportunity to say a word. ‘’e clipped me ear. I didn’t steal a fing. I didn’t!’ he said and ran to Ruby’s side. To her surprise, he grabbed her hand.
‘I saw you. A quick dip of your hand and the woman’s basket was lighter by four sausages.’ John wagged his finger at Tommy as he spoke.
‘It was me auntie. She told me to run to ’ome to me uncle wiv ’em,’ Tommy protested.
Ruby moved her head to John and raised an eyebrow, waiting for his response.
‘So why did you drop them when I shouted?’ John said and slapped a package onto the counter, in which Ruby assumed were the sausages.
Turning back to Tommy, Ruby tilted her head in question. He looked to the floor then lifted his head and stood back upright, with his chest puffed out. ‘’Cos you give me a scare, that’s why. I’m only a kid. Pick on someone your own size, mate.’
Ruby tried not to laugh at his attempt to scare a member of the armed forces.
John turned to Ruby. ‘I’m not sure of what is going on here, but Tommy could do with a fresh set of clothes, and a better lie to tell next time he’s bringing home supper, or he’ll find himself in deep trouble with the law. As for being your son, you could have told me. I’m surprised, I will admit. I’ll walk away, Ruby. Take care and thank you for befriending me when I needed it most.’ John’s voice was clipped and far from friendly.
Before Ruby could put John right about her relationship to Tommy, he was gone. She stood open-mouthed in amazement and stared after him in disbelief.
‘What might I ask just happened there, Tommy Jenkins? And don’t even think of lying. And why on earth did he think you were my son?’
‘I didn’t nick a fing. I ain’t no tealeaf.’
‘I see. So gaining four sausages for nothing from a woman’s basket without her noticing is legal trading nowadays, eh?’
Puffing out his chest again, Tommy glared at her. ‘You weren’t there.’
‘But your auntie was. I take it she didn’t see John chase after you and try to get her precious goods off you. The ones you were innocently taking home for Uncle. I’m not stupid, Tommy. Answer me.’
‘I told ’im I lived ’ere. ’e was ’urting me arm and me auntie’s ’ouse is a long way away. I said you wus me mum.’
Ruby threw up her arms in resignation. ‘I give up. Take yourself home and stay out of trouble,’ she said and walked to the door.
‘What about the sausages?’ Tommy asked.
‘They will be cooked, sliced and shared out in the community room tomorrow. And you need to stay away from trouble.’
Tommy’s hand reached out for the packet. ‘But I –’
Ruby tutted. ‘No but about it, just get yourself home. I need to lock up and head home myself. Try going to school, Tommy Jenkins, and wear some of the clothes I gave you.’
Nudging him out of the door, she looked about for a sign that John was still around, but there was no one in the street. She went over what he’d said and felt a flush of anger rise. Just the thought of her looking old enough to have a child Tommy’s age made her wonder what he thought of her. A loose woman, maybe?
CHAPTER 19
26th September 1941
Trying to avoid getting her toes crushed in the crowd, Ruby stood on tiptoe.
‘Can you see him?’ Beatty said, nudging Ruby in the ribs.
‘Hold on, and stop nudging me – it hurts,’ Ruby said and stretched her neck forward.
‘He’s walking past now. Quick, eyes centre and you’ll see him. Wave your flag.’
Beatty did as Ruby said, and Ruby dodged the stick of the Union Jack flag her friend waved with great enthusiasm.
‘I see him! Yoo-hoo, Mr Churchill!’ Beatty called and Ruby burst out laughing.
‘He can’t hear you, Beatt!’
‘Oh, he can! Mr Prime Minister, over here. Oh, look, he’s waving at me.’
True enough, looking splendid in his top hat and puffing on a cigar, Winston Churchill waved Beatty’s way.
Ruby groaned. ‘We’ll not hear the end of this, Fred,’ she said and turned to her friend on her left, grateful his enthusiasm for flag-flying didn’t reach the level of Beatty’s.
After witnessing the historic visit outside a factory producing aeroplane parts, a noise cut through the applause of the crowd and Ruby froze. She grabbed hold of Fred’s wrist and twisted her head skyward.
‘Planes. Fred, planes. Quick, let’s get out of here. Beatty, hurry.’ Ruby, frantic with fear, tugged at Beatty’s sleeve.
Fred stroked her arm and Beatty rammed her flag into her handbag, grabbing hold of Ruby, who was now shaking with panic.
‘It’s a flyover. A display. Oh, darling girl, it’s fine. It’s all fine. You stay, Fred. I’ll get her home. Look at her, she’s petrified, and no wonder.’
Beatty held onto Ruby and guided her to the end of the street, where it was empty of people.
Ruby stopped walking. ‘I … I … I …’ she sobbed into Beatty’s shoulder.
Beatty patted her back and made soothing noises. ‘It was unexpected. I know. Hush now. They’ve gone. They didn’t think, I’m sure they didn’t think. There, there.’
Able to let go and catch her breath once more, Ruby took a step backwards. As she did so, a figure across the road captured her attention. John lifted his camera and a smidgeon of annoyance reared inside Ruby. Once again, he’d taken a photograph of her at a vulnerable time.
‘I’m sorry, Beatty. The noise of the plane took me by surprise, and now you’ve missed waving goodbye to Mr Churchill. Go back to Fred. I’ll head to the shop and open up.’
‘If you’re sure you feel better. Calmer? Promise?’
Ruby embraced Beatty. ‘I’m fine. Go. Don’t hurry back; enjoy the day with Fred.’
Ruby waited until Beatty was no longer in view and crossed the road. She looked in the direction John had walked, but could see no sign of him. Knowing what he did for the war effort, and seeing him take another photograph after his sweeping statements a few weeks before, made her feel a little like a specimen in a jar – something to be ogled at whenever on display – and he’d encroached upon her moment of grief without asking more than once. Another glance across the flattened land showed he’d moved on elsewhere and she moved back onto the cleared streets towards her shop.
Her heart sank when she saw Tommy sitting on the doorstep.
‘Did you see ’im?’ Tommy called, shading his eyes from a shaft of sunlight straining through the cloud.
‘Who?’
‘The guvna, the big man. Winnie,’ Tommy said.
‘Our Prime Minister. Yes, I saw him.’
Tommy leapt to his feet and his toothless smile appeared as he cocked his head to one side, placed his hands on his hips, and proceeded to mimic Ruby.
‘Our Prime Minist – er. Yesss, I sawwer Him,’ he said.
Ruby pushed past him and unlocked the door. ‘My morning hasn’t started well, Tommy. My mood is not at its best, so I suggest you run off and take the mickey from some other poor soul who’s had the pleasure of your company since you graced Coventry. Now, get out of my way! Goodbye.’
She shoved open the door, closed it before he could step inside and put the Closed sign on show. Ruby was in no mood to deal with Tommy, or purchase a trinket of his aunt’s. Someone else would have to suffer his cheek from now on. It was time he found another friend to annoy – one of his own age. Besides, today would have been her brother’s tenth birthday, and the last person she wanted to share the day with was a boy with a toothy grin and a cheeky manner whose blood didn’t run through her veins.
She tried not to see him press his face against the glass, nor cave in when he pulled both bottom eyelids down with his forefingers and push his nostrils upwards with his little ones.
She hastily scribbled a note for the door: In Honour of the Prime Minister’s visit, we are CLOSED for the day. The moment she taped the notice to the door, Tommy’s face peered up at it and she watched as he picked through the letters, deciphering the words she’d written.
His fist hammered on the door. ‘Oi, Rubes. You feelin’ ill? I spelled the word Closed. You never close this place.’ His voice filtered through the letterbox and Ruby gulped down verbal instructions for him to leave her alone. The more she played to his need for attention, the more he would seek it out.
She sat in the meeting room against the wall, her legs drawn up to her chin. For all the cheerful days she’d enjoyed since 15th November 1940, this one overpowered them. She’d tried so hard to wave a flag and cheer on the Prime Minister, but sometimes she held the inner belief that politicians had let them down – let Coventry blaze for the good of the rest of the country. Other days, they were her heroes. Today a little boy, mourned by his sister, might have run free on Radford Common, or begged for a twist of aniseed. Today his personality was at the forefront of her mind. Today James lived.
‘Stop, James. Leave your sisters alone.’ Her mother’s voice rang out around the yard, and Ruby pictured the scene – one in which she’d once played centre star and heroine.
‘Mummy, they were teasing me as much!’ his lisping voice protested.
‘Just look at the state of all of you. Potatoes are for picking, and then mashing. Not the other way around. Behave, and please don’t ruin the crop. Lucy, put that book down and help your sister. Ruby, keep him under control.’
To Ruby, that was one of the greatest challenges in her life. No one could control James, but he could be loved and she’d done so from the moment he was born; bribery helped with keeping him out of trouble. He’d once climbed over the churchwarden’s wall and scrumped plums from a tree and Ruby caught him selling them on the corner of the street as cheap excess of their father’s stock. She’d made him take the money to the church and put every coin into the paupers’ box. She’d never told her parents, and James never let them down again. Any time she asked him to do something, he did so without grumbling.
James, her beloved James. He’d have loved her shop, and the contents. Lucy, dear Lucy; her duty today would have been to recite a poem or sing a song at teatime. Each birthday celebration, Lucy had enjoyed sharing a snippet of literary interest for them to discuss before bedtime. A simple life, but a contented one. Now, for them, no longer a life, and Ruby had to find contentment without them. She placed her hands over her ears and hummed out a tuneless song to block out Tommy’s persistent door-banging.
CHAPTER 20
‘Oi, Rubes, I’m really worryin’ now. Gonna get Fred.’
Tommy’s determination to get her attention by kicking at the base of the front door now distracted Ruby from her stroll down memory lane. She could not afford a new door.
In one way Tommy saved her from gnawing pain, but in another he’d fragmented her thoughts and shattered them forever. Thoughts never returned in the same format; they often bled out a little of the true facts and ignored important things when the mind could no longer retain a memory.
‘You’ll never forget me, but he needs you, Ruby. Help him. Only you can.’ James’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
‘James …’ she whispered into the silence of the room.
Nothing.
‘Rubes.’ Tommy’s voice turned to a whine – a noise she could no longer ignore. Present day life overrode a past she clung onto, and a whining child never failed to disturb the peace. Especially one using her family’s pet name for her.
‘Stop your hammering, Tommy Jenkins,’ Ruby called out. She stood up and went to the door. The moment she turned the key in the door she froze. Tommy’s uncle stood beside him. His painted moustache and black greased slicked-back hair were more prominent than she recalled. His eyes held false smiles. His nicotine-stained teeth parted in a fake grin. She’d witnessed them before, but today they were more prominent. There was an air of arrogance oozing from him, and it irked Ruby when he pushed his foot into the doorway to prevent her from closing the door.
‘Ruby … We meet again. Tommy here was quite worried about you. A good job I was passing. I noticed your sign. A businesswoman needs to be ahead of the game. The crowd of onlookers will pass by here shortly, and they’ll be in a buoyant mood. Open this door wide, make it inviting.’
Ruby stared at him, then down to his foot, his highly polished shoe still wedging the door.
‘You’ll scuff your shoe, Mr Earl,’ she said. He was too familiar, and for the first time she’d been alone she wished Fred or Beatty were with her. ‘I’m not opening. If you are worried about payment for your friend’s rent, please don’t be. I am able to pay, even if I close for one half day.’
To her annoyance, Tommy scampered under his uncle’s arm and into the shop.
‘Rascal,’ his uncle said, and Ruby turned to see what the boy was up to, but in that split second regret
ted it. She felt the gentle push of Earl moving inside the shop. He went to close the door but she picked up the wooden block Fred had made into a doorstop and rushed forward.
‘Don’t close it … You were right. The people – they’ll be coming past soon.’ She pushed the door wedge into place.
‘Feel free to browse,’ she said and sat behind the counter. ‘I take it you’re on leave again.’
Earl frowned at her in question.
She pointed to his pinstriped suit. ‘No uniform.’
He said nothing, just stared and wiped a pinkie across his top lip with practised precision. Ruby waited for a reply, but none came so she turned her attention to Tommy.
He stood near a selection of books for children.
‘You can choose one and sit with it until your uncle leaves, Tommy.’
Earl moved into the meeting room. ‘Attractive to the eye,’ he said and Ruby felt the hairs along her arms rise to attention. The man literally made her skin crawl. He picked up an old newspaper and flicked it open. With slow deliberate movements, he pulled out a chair and sat at a table. ‘I hear you serve tea and coffee here now. I’ve taken to drinking coffee. Never used to, was always a tea man, but tastes change. Make me a cup, there’s a girl,’ he said in a superior tone.
‘But I –’ Ruby stuttered. She was cross with herself for allowing him to assume control of the situation. He ignored her and lifted the paper in front of his face. She doubted he was reading anything; it was an act of dismissal.
With a huff loud enough to get through to him that he’d offended her, Ruby stomped into the kitchen and filled the kettle. She waited for the pop sound as the gas licked at the match and surged forward with a flame. She took the time to calm her nerves. Earl had quite literally made himself at home, and he was an unwelcome guest. Through the gap in the door she saw Tommy turn the pages of the book. She wondered about his reading ability. The child never attended school – or so it appeared, with his regular visits to the shop.
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