Let it Shine

by Let it Shine (retail) (epub)

  Mick took a noisy intake of breath. ‘See what I mean! Sorry, Betsy, but you’re your own worst enemy. Look, just go and find that docket, and if the boss should ask to see you at some time in the future, for God’s sake mind how you talk to him. Show him the respect he demands, or I can’t answer for the consequences.’

  As the girl strode off, he shook his head and blew out a long, gusty sigh. ‘I’ve tried my best,’ he groaned. ‘If she chooses to pay no heed, there’s little else I can do.’ Returning to Ellie, he escorted her up to the office.

  ‘I saw you just now,’ Ellie remarked. ‘Is Betsy in some kind of trouble?’ If she was, it wouldn’t be the first time.

  ‘Just a misunderstanding.’ Mick had no wish to cloud Ellie’s big moment. ‘Some docket or other went missing. It’ll turn up, I’m sure.’

  Ellie wasn’t convinced. ‘The drivers don’t like her, do they?’

  Mick forced a smile. ‘I don’t think you should worry too much about Betsy,’ he said. ‘She can take care of herself, if needs be.’ Wishing Ellie had not seen him reprimanding her sister, Mick lapsed into silence.

  The boss was waiting. ‘Come in, young lady.’ Ushering her to a chair before the desk, the little man asked Mick to close the door. When that was done, he lost no time in coming straight to the point. ‘I’ve been watching you for some days now,’ he told Ellie, ‘and I am very impressed with the way you knuckle down to your work.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’ Ellie went a deep shade of pink. ‘I do enjoy working here.’

  ‘That much is evident, my dear.’ As was his manner when thinking things through, George Brindle began his pacing again, up and down, back and forth.

  Suddenly he stopped right in front of her, his face beaming as he told her in a rush, ‘I’ve a mind to put you in Quality Control, and raise your wages by one and sixpence a week. Do you think you could handle all that at once?’

  Ellie was so shocked, she leaped to her feet. ‘Oh, Mr Brindle, sir. Oh yes, thank you!’ Quality Control. She could hardly believe it. ‘That’s just wonderful.’

  ‘Good, then it’s settled.’ Taking hold of her hand he shook it vigorously. ‘Start Monday morning.’ Grabbing his coat, he put it smartly on as always, before addressing Mick, who was smiling at Ellie, and she at him. ‘See to it, Mick, will you?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ With the greatest of pleasure, he thought.

  ‘And by the way, the landlord will be coming this afternoon for his money.’ Pointing to the desk, Mr Brindle advised, ‘The envelope is in there – top left-hand drawer. And mind you get a receipt, young man. Last time, the canny devil went off without signing it so this time I’ve put the receipt book in with the envelope. I can tell you, it’s the dickens of a job getting a receipt once they’ve made off with the money in their pocket.’

  ‘Don’t worry, sir. I’ll make sure he signs it.’ Mick was acutely aware that Ellie was waiting beside him. ‘I’d best get on.’

  ‘Make sure you leave the place safe and sound, as usual,’ the boss nagged.

  ‘I will.’

  ‘Right you are then, I’ll be off. I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.’ Having said his piece, he was out and away before Mick could reply.

  Now, all of his attention was given to Ellie. ‘After you, madam,’ he grinned, showing her the door.

  Ellie laughed. ‘Don’t be daft,’ she said shyly. Just to be near him was wonderful.

  In serious mood now, he took hold of her hand. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ he murmured, and she was so stirred by the tenderness in his eyes that she had to look away.

  Seeing he had embarrassed her, he led her to the door. ‘Right, young lady. We’d best get started.’

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘You’ll see.’

  The first thing he meant to do was introduce Ellie to the workers in the ‘elite’ Quality Control department. Mick felt slightly apprehensive on her behalf. Nice and pleasant though they were, they didn’t usually take kindly to a new presence in their midst.

  As it turned out, he need not have worried. ‘You’ll fit in ’ere a treat,’ Jenny Brighton told Ellie. ‘We’ve seen the way you work, and you’re more than welcome alongside us.’ And everyone without exception told her the very same.

  As they made their way back to the polishing belt, Betsy came rushing up, docket in hand. ‘It must have fallen out of the bundle,’ she explained. ‘Miss Turnbull found it at the back of the drawer.’

  Mick was not impressed. ‘And?’

  Looking puzzled, she answered hesitantly, ‘And – well, here it is.’ Holding out the docket she looked at him, wondering if he’d gone right out of his mind.

  Mick realised he would have to spell it out. ‘And now I assume you’re on your way to see Fred, right?’

  Betsy took a minute to realise what he was getting at. When the light finally dawned, her surly manner returned. ‘Do I have to?’

  ‘What do you think?’ One raised eyebrow from Mick was enough to send her in search of the angry driver.

  Putting two and two together, Ellie realised Betsy had got herself into some kind of trouble. ‘She doesn’t mean any harm,’ she assured Mick. ‘She just takes a bit longer to settle down, that’s all.’ All the same, it was a worry to Ellie. Somehow or other, as usual, Betsy seemed hell-bent on destroying whatever opportunity came her way.

  * * *

  Feeling sorry for himself, Peter Williams made his way to the hospital. It was two o’clock and the shifts were just changing. ‘Go straight through, Mr Williams,’ the nurse told him.

  Thankful that he had not engaged her in conversation, she took off her cap and pinnie and hung them on her allotted peg. There they would hang until Monday morning, and all her duties alongside.

  ‘I’m off now,’ she told her incoming colleague. Then she went out the door like any ordinary soul. First stop was the butcher’s to get herself a juicy lamb chop, then home to a meal cooked by herself and enjoyed by herself. With no demanding man to tire her, and no offspring to tug at her skirts, she considered herself a fortunate woman.

  Peter, however, was in no such buoyant mood. His mother had recently been moved to another, smaller ward, where she would not be disturbed by those around her.

  The nurse passed him at the door to the ward. ‘Your mother had a bad night last night,’ she imparted. ‘The doctor’s been called to her twice this morning.’ She spoke in a hushed voice, so Ada would not hear her.

  ‘What did he have to say?’

  The nurse smiled gently. ‘A few weeks,’ she told him compassionately. ‘That’s all I can tell you.’

  ‘Is the doctor still here?’

  The nurse shook her head. ‘He’s gone off-duty now. But Dr Marshall comes on duty within the hour.’ With that she hurried away.

  For a long time, Peter stood at the door, his gaze stretched to where his mother lay, long and still, her beautiful silver hair spilling over the pillow, and only her face peeping above those stark white sheets. Peter had often wished her gone, but now, after the events of the past few days, and seeing how frail and pathetic his mother had become, his feelings were in chaos.

  He loved her, then he hated her. He needed her company, yet despised it. He wanted her dead, yet he had become used to visiting this awful place, until he had begun to wonder what he would do when she was gone and there was no more need.

  Then there was that red-headed trollop, Ruth! There were times when he could easily have strangled her with his own two hands, yet he was lonely without her and he wanted her back, to have and to hold; to play like children and roll about the carpet, then to make love with that special fire only she had ever kindled in him. But she was somewhere he couldn’t find her, and last night, like the many long nights since she had been gone, had been filled with loneliness, an unbearable torture inside him.

  On hesitant footsteps, like a wicked boy who needed reassuring, he went to his mother’s bedside. Here he sat quite still, his curious gaze on her sle
eping face and his mind quickening with all manner of disturbing thoughts. Now was his chance. All he had to do was take the pillow and hold it ever so gently over her nose and mouth; just long enough to stop her breathing. Then she would be gone and he would have it all.

  When the urge became a tide of fury inside him, he reached out with both hands. The softness of the pillow was like velvet beneath his touch. Gripping it tightly in his fists, he closed his eyes, trying to imagine how it would be. Just one swift moment and it would all be over.

  As impetuously as he had gripped the pillow, he released it, his hands falling on the bed cover. If she was gone, he would have no one, and that was too sad for him to contemplate. Bending his head he began to sob.

  When he looked up, it was to see Ada’s eyes turned towards him. To his astonishment, they were moistened with tears, and so kind… so loving as they gazed on his tormented face.

  Because she was unable to speak, he spoke to her, and he could hardly recognise his own voice. ‘Mother?’

  The eyes smiled on him. Then they closed, rested, then opened again.

  Like the coward he was, he began to pour out his troubles onto the dying woman. He wanted sympathy. He needed her to know how utterly wretched his life was. ‘She’s gone, Mother,’ he whined pitifully. ‘She’s gone, and she’s nowhere to be found. I’ve searched high and low and it’s no good. I’m so lonely, Mother. Oh, you can’t know how lonely I am.’

  While he cried on her shoulder, Ada never once took her eyes off him.

  He told her how Ruth was the only woman he had ever truly wanted. ‘She’s like me, you see,’ he claimed. ‘Outside, she’s hard and ruthless, but inside, she’s lonely. Nobody wants people like us, you see. Me and Ruth, we’re labelled bad – wicked people. But no one understands. We’re special, you see. Different.’

  Devastated, Ada looked away.

  ‘No! Look at me, Mother!’ The tears and self-pity gave way to rage. Standing over her now, he stared into her face. ‘MOTHER! LOOK AT ME.’

  When she refused to open her eyes, he took hold of her hand, squeezing it until the blood drained away. She opened her eyes, but this time they weren’t filled with warmth and forgiveness. This time they were hard and pained. Like those people he had mentioned before, she could not understand this man who was her own flesh and blood. Her only son.

  He smiled, and was like someone she had never known. ‘You hate me, don’t you?’ he hissed. ‘I can see it in your eyes. You’re like all the others, only worse, because you brought me into this cruel world. You made me what I am. Well, if you have hatred for me, then you can’t even begin to know the hatred I feel for you. Don’t forget – I put you in here, and I could finish you off right now if I wanted to. But I won’t! You can rot away little by little instead. It’s what you deserve.’

  Unable to look at him any longer, she closed her eyes and this time she would not be made to open them again – not even when he held her nose between his fingers as he did now, making her gasp for air.

  Confused by her courage, he snatched his hand away. ‘All right then, bitch! Have it your way. I’m going now… things to do, money to collect.’ He smiled. ‘Your money, Mother dear. Only now, it’s mine. I’ve worked for it. It belongs to me. And so does Ruth. Oh, I’ll find her – make no mistake about that. I’ll find her, even if I have to turn this bastard town upside down.’

  Unaware of what had gone on, the nurse returned. One look at Ada’s grey face and she was concerned. ‘I think you should let your mother get some rest now, Mr Williams,’ she suggested. ‘I’ve had a word with the doctor and he’ll see you in an hour, if you can wait that long?’

  Peter didn’t answer. Instead he bent to kiss his mother on the cheek. ‘I’ll be back,’ he whispered. ‘We’ll talk again.’

  As he went out the door, Ada’s eyes followed him, and this time, the nurse could see the fear there. ‘It’s all right,’ she coaxed, misunderstanding. ‘Your son will be back soon, I’m sure. Don’t worry.’ In her innocence, she didn’t realise she had said the very thing Ada did not want to hear.

  Half an hour later, Ada had another visitor – her old friend Jonas Carter the solicitor. ‘How has she been?’ he asked.

  The nurse told him, ‘I’m afraid she’s worsening with every day that passes.’

  Saddened by the news, he left Ada sleeping. ‘Poor old dear,’ he murmured. ‘It must be a terrible thing, not being able to communicate.’ He advised the nurse he would not call again. ‘I’m sure she would want me to remember her the way she was.’

  ‘I think she must have been very beautiful,’ the nurse commented.

  ‘Oh, she was,’ he smiled. ‘Fiery too. A real force to reckon with.’ He took one last, long look at her. ‘Such a pity,’ he said huskily, and could not bear to be with her one moment longer.

  * * *

  It was fifteen minutes to home-time.

  From the upper office, Mick watched as Ellie tidied her bench. First, she gathered all her belongings – lunch box, small hessian bag, brown earthenware mug and teaspoon, together with the half-emptied packet of tea, and paper-screw of sugar. When everything was packed neatly away into her bag, she went to the sink at the far end of the office and, wetting a dish-cloth, brought it back to wipe the bench clean from one end to the other. That done, she returned to the sink, where she washed out the cloth and draped it over the tap as it had been before.

  By the time the siren went, like the other workers she was ready for off.

  ‘See you Monday, Ellie lass,’ they called. ‘Mind you fetch enough biscuits to go round. Fond of a biscuit with our tea, we are.’

  Joining the queue to clock out for the day, she kept a wary eye out for Betsy who, as yet, was nowhere to be seen.

  She had clocked her card and was about to mount the stairs to the back office to seek out her sister when Mick caught up with her. ‘Betsy’s gone,’ he said. ‘I thought you knew?’

  Ellie was astonished. ‘Gone where?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. All I know is, she clocked out five minutes ago.’ Concerned that Ellie shouldn’t worry, he told her to wait there and he’d see if he could catch up with her. And he went off at a run towards the main doors.

  A few minutes later he was back. ‘I’m sorry, love. There’s no sign of her.’

  Ellie was puzzled. ‘Where can she have got to? Why didn’t she tell me she was leaving early?’

  Just then, Miss Turnbull went by and overheard. ‘Your sister told me she had a dental appointment.’ A look of suspicion came over her tiny features. ‘She wasn’t lying, I hope?’

  ‘Oh, no!’ Yet again, Ellie was called on to cover for her twin. ‘Come to think of it, she did tell me. Yes, I’m sure she did.’

  ‘Hmh!’ Giving her a curious glance, Miss Turnbull bade them both goodnight.

  ‘Did Betsy tell you?’ Mick asked. ‘Really?’

  Ellie shook her head. ‘But then she doesn’t tell me everything.’

  Mick had a suggestion. ‘It’s getting dark outside. I don’t like the idea of you walking to the tram-stop all on your own. Why don’t you come back to the office while I finish up, then we can walk to it together.’

  He couldn’t know how his suggestion had set Ellie’s heart pounding. ‘I’d like that,’ she replied, and was amazed at how calm her voice sounded, when inside she was all atremble.

  When the last worker had left the premises, one person remained – a tall, well-dressed figure standing by the main doors. He seemed to be looking up, examining something above his head.

  Mick thought he recognised the man, but couldn’t be sure. ‘Stay here a minute,’ he told Ellie. ‘I’ll go and see who he is.’

  Ellie watched as he went to the main doors and spoke with the gent. A moment later the two of them came halfway down the factory. ‘It’s Mr Williams, the landlord,’ Mick explained. ‘He’s come to collect his rent.’ Asking Ellie to wait on, he told her, ‘It’s all ready. I’ll not be a minute. Don’t you go away now.’


  While Mick was gone, Ellie put on her coat, ready for the cold night outside.

  For a moment, Peter Williams continued to examine the roof and walls. He could see signs of recent leaking, and in places the plaster had blown. But he took scant notice. He did not intend spending good money on this place. Oh no!

  He had a mind to sell it, lock stock and barrel, once his mother had gone.

  Seeing Ellie looking at him, he walked over to her. ‘Work here, do you?’ he asked abruptly. If that young foreman was bringing his bit of stuff under this roof for a spot of hanky panky, he would have something to say about it. Mind you, he thought, this was a pretty young thing. He wouldn’t mind a bit of hanky panky with her himself. ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Ellie,’ she answered politely, though for some reason she had taken an instant dislike to him. ‘And yes, I do work here.’

  ‘Hmh!’ He looked her boldly up and down, before glancing to where Mick was closing the office door. ‘That your boyfriend, is it? I saw you and him talking just now.’

  Beneath his meaningful smile, Ellie blushed bright red. ‘No, he’s not my boyfriend.’ Though she would have liked that more than anything else in the world.

  Mesmerised by her dark blue eyes, he smiled in a way that put Ellie on her guard. ‘Not your boyfriend, eh? Then all I can say is, more fool him.’

  Just then Mick returned. ‘There you are, Mr Williams.’ He handed Peter the envelope. ‘You’ll find it’s all there – in cash, as requested.’

  Peter opened the envelope and, taking out the notes, counted them laboriously. ‘Good!’ Returning it all to the envelope, he signed the receipt book, turned on his heel and departed, without a backward glance, or a goodnight to either of them.

  ‘Ignorant pig!’ Mick muttered under his breath. ‘I’ve never liked that bloke from day one.’ He studied Ellie’s face. ‘What was he saying to you?’

  ‘He was flirting with me.’ She grinned. ‘He asked if you were my boyfriend.’

  ‘Oh, did he now?’ Mick took both her hands in his. ‘And what did you say to that, eh?’