Two Strangers

by Beryl Matthews

  Forcing herself to stand up, Vicki went over to the small fireplace and knelt down in front of it. She had resisted lighting a fire because she hadn’t wanted to draw attention to her hiding place, but if she was going to see the spring, then she had to take the chance.

  There was plenty of paper and wood in the room and it didn’t take her long to have a fire ready to light. She had been lucky today when a passenger running to catch the train dropped a match box. Vicki had pounced on it. There were only six matches still in the box, but if she was careful they might last her a while. With shaking hands, she struck a match and held it to the paper. Luckily, everything in the room was dry, and the wood soon caught. She watched anxiously, hoping there wouldn’t be too much smoke pouring out of the chimney. She carefully fed small pieces of wood on to the fire and there was soon a good blaze going. She began to thaw out. The relief was overwhelming and, in her fragile state, she began to cry in great gulping sobs. When her dad had thrown her out and she had found this warehouse, she had been confident that it would only be a temporary place to stay, but she was still here. Where had her hopes and dreams of making a good life for herself gone?

  More composed after a while, she wiped her face dry and munched the bun she had managed to buy today. As she gazed at the comforting flames, her mind began to clear. There had to be a way out of this desperate mess, but everywhere she went they turned her away, saying they only wanted boys …

  Boys … boys … The word kept running through her head as she finished the last crumbs of her meagre meal. Then she nodded to herself. If that was the only way to get a job, then she would have to pass herself off as a boy. It shouldn’t be too hard. If she cut her hair and changed her clothes, it should be possible. Getting hold of trousers, jacket and a shirt wasn’t going to be easy, though, but she would find a way. The railway station would be her best bet. Even though she hated begging like that, it had to be done. If she was lucky, she would get enough money for what she needed. There was a stall at the market selling cast-off clothes, and they were cheap.

  The tears had drained her, but now that she was warm, had a small amount of food inside her and a purpose for tomorrow, she felt better. She banked up the fire for the night and settled down to sleep.

  The next day the bitter wind had dropped, and there was only a light covering of snow on the ground. When the sun came out, Vicki lifted her face to the brightness. It was too early in the year for there to be any warmth in it, but it was welcome, just the same. She was terribly weak and had to walk slowly, but she did feel a bit stronger after a night resting by the fire, which was a relief because she had to get some money, even if it took all day.

  The station was already busy when she settled by the door. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself to beg from everyone who came on to the platform, pleading desperately. There was a small tea room close by, and she could smell the food cooking. It was agony, and the tears she was shedding were genuine. She had to succeed today, or it would be the end for her. Soon she wouldn’t even be able to stand.

  A smartly dressed man stopped and studied her, shaking his head. ‘How long is it since you’ve had a decent meal?’

  ‘I … I had a bun yesterday, sir,’ she said.

  ‘I said a meal!’ His tone was sharp.

  ‘Not for a long time, sir.’

  ‘No, it doesn’t look like it. Come with me.’

  He ushered her inside the cafe, made her sit at a table and then went to the counter. Vicki swiped the tears from her face. She cried too easily these days, but she didn’t seem to have enough strength to stop the flow. It disgusted her because she had never indulged in self-pity. But she had never been in such a dreadful state before. She quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand and watched the man walking back to the table. He had a slight limp and was leaning on a silver-topped cane for support.

  ‘What is your name?’ he asked as he sat down, leaning the cane against the table.

  ‘Vicki, sir.’ She noticed the cane had a dog’s head on it.

  He sighed again. ‘And where is your family, Vicki?’

  ‘They live in Poplar, sir.’

  ‘And why aren’t you with them?’

  ‘My dad threw me out when I wouldn’t go and work for a nasty man. Girls weren’t safe around him, and I wouldn’t do that.’ She didn’t even consider lying.

  ‘So you ended up begging.’

  Vicki nodded, the tears trickling down her face again.

  He handed her a pristine handkerchief, sighing deeply once more. ‘Can’t you find work in a decent household, or even a shop? You speak well and sound educated.’

  That remark surprised her. She hadn’t realized that the hours she had spent on the lessons in Bill’s book had actually improved her speech. She wiped her face and managed a rare smile. ‘Thank you, sir. I’ve been trying to get work, but I’m such a mess now they won’t even give me a chance.’

  ‘How long have you been fending for yourself?’

  ‘Nearly a year. I don’t like begging, but I’m desperate now, sir.’ She held out the handkerchief to him, but he refused to take it back.

  ‘Ah, here is your food. I want to see you eat every scrap.’

  When Vicki saw two slices of toast piled high with scrambled egg, she nearly burst into tears again. She managed to fight the feeling off. This man had kindly brought her in here so she mustn’t embarrass him.

  He never said a word as she worked her way through the food and two cups of steaming tea.

  ‘Would you like another helping?’ he asked when she had finished.

  ‘Oh, no, sir. I’m full right up. That was very generous of you, and I’m grateful.’

  He gestured to the man at the counter who immediately came and put a large brown paper bag on the table and then went back to work.

  ‘There’s enough food in there to see you through the day, and this is to buy yourself some decent clothes.’

  Vicki stared at the money on the table, mesmerized. Ten shillings! ‘No, no, sir. The food I’ll take because I’m starving, but that’s all.’ Her eyes showed suspicion when she looked at him. This wasn’t right.

  ‘I mean you no harm, young lady. I do not want anything from you. My only reason for doing this is to try to help you.’ He stood up. ‘Take the money, and give me the satisfaction of believing that I might have saved a life this day.’

  ‘You have, sir.’

  He gave a slight nod of his head he walked out, and Vicki watched him get on the train just about to leave the station. When it had steamed away, Vicki turned to the man who had served them. ‘Do you know his name?’

  ‘Never seen him before.’ He studied her, a deep frown on his face. ‘He was angry to see such a young girl obviously starving to death. I gathered from the little he said that he had served in the war – an officer, by the look of him – and had seen enough suffering. If you have a family somewhere, then you had better go back to them before it’s too late.’

  Vicki stood up, steadying herself on the table, and shook her head. ‘My dad threw me out and told me never to come back. He doesn’t change his mind when it’s made up, so I’ve got to survive on my own.’

  ‘Well, you’re not doing a very good job of it. Look at you! You can hardly stand.’

  ‘I know I’ve got to do something to get out of this mess, but do you realize how difficult it is to get work? Even men who have returned from the war can’t find work, so what chance do you think a mere girl has? Will you give me a job? I don’t care what it is.’

  He shook his head.

  ‘No, I didn’t think so. Well—’ Vicki gathered up the bag of food and the money – ‘thank you for caring.’

  The sun was still shining when Vicki walked back to the platform, so she sat on a seat, trying to gather enough strength to tackle the long walk back to the market. She now had enough food for two days if she was careful, and money to buy the clothes she needed. Then she would go back to the warehouse, cut her hair short and
scrub herself until she was spotless. A bar of soap had better go on her shopping list.

  She lifted her face to the sun, forcing herself to think clearly. Having a full stomach after such a long time had made her sleepy, and she began to drift off …

  The noise of another train arriving woke her suddenly, and she sat up straight. She couldn’t sit here all day. There were things to do. She stood up and walked out of the station. Should she spend some of her precious money on a bus? Her decision was soon made and she began walking, knowing she had to be careful with every penny she had been given.

  That evening Vicki lit a fire again, needing the comforting blaze for warmth and to dry her underclothes. As she watched the flames leap into life, she marvelled, not for the first time, that she had managed to keep this hiding place to herself all these months. It was a stroke of good luck she didn’t take for granted. She could always hear others in the building, but no one had ever bothered her.

  She held her hands out to the blaze, trying to stop them shaking. She was exhausted, but the clothes had been bought, her hair chopped off short with the old scissors she had brought with her, and she was clean. Tomorrow she would clamber out of this room as a boy. She had to get a job – any kind of a job!

  Pulling her knees up, she bowed her head towards them. She had been given a lifeline today, and it mustn’t be wasted. She owed that to the kind gentleman, and to Bill – two strangers who had reached out to help her. She couldn’t let them down – and she mustn’t let herself down!

  Four

  The day was overcast but thankfully not too cold, because the clothes Vicki had bought, though neat and tidy, were not very warm. They had been the cheapest she could find, because she had to keep as much as possible for food. There was no telling how long it would take to find a job, and it was important that she regain her strength. Being so weak was frightening.

  There had been enough food from yesterday for her to have a cheese sandwich for breakfast, and it was helping. She wasn’t quite so shaky and in danger of falling down.

  When Vicki reached the High Street, she leant against a wall, taking deep breaths to steady herself. Her head was spinning after the walk, and she must look bright and lively if anyone was going to take her on. Also, she was so nervous that her heart was thumping. She had done her best to look like a boy, but had she succeeded well enough to fool others?

  Tucking the remains of her hair under the cap she had bought, she straightened up, fixed a bright smile on her face and began to study each shop, looking for any sign that they needed help. She would soon find out if her disguise was going to pass scrutiny.

  It quite quickly became evident that no one was advertising for help, so the only thing to do was go in and ask. After she had tried a hardware shop, a gentlemen’s outfitter and a butcher, all without success, she found a low wall and sat down to rest. They had all turned her down, but they had appeared to accept her as a boy without question. That made her more confident, but she was now so tired her hands were shaking again. She couldn’t continue like this. There had been a small cafe down a side street a little way back, and it was time to use some of her remaining money. What she needed now was food and a chance to rest. A nice strong mug of tea would also prepare her to continue her search. She was absolutely determined to do all she could today, even if she collapsed with the effort.

  The cafe was small but cheap, and as it was around the middle of the day there were quite a few people already in there. Vicki found a vacant table in the corner.

  ‘What can I get you, lad?’ a rather scruffy man asked as soon as she sat down.

  ‘The cheapest meal you’ve got, and a mug of strong tea, please.’ She smiled. He had called her ‘lad’ without hesitation.

  ‘That’ll be a small piece of fish and chips. All right?’

  ‘Fine. Thank you.’

  In the comforting warmth and with the enticing smell of food, Vicki closed her eyes, the chatter of other customers slipping into the distance. A hand on her shoulder made her jump.

  ‘Here, drink your tea, lad.’

  ‘Oh, thanks.’ She nodded as he put the mug and a plate of food in front of her. ‘It’s nice and warm in here, and I nearly fell asleep.’

  ‘Tired, are you?’

  ‘I’m looking for work and have been walking all morning,’ she offered as a reason for her exhaustion. She smiled. ‘The fish and chips look lovely.’

  ‘I’ve given you a few extra chips, and if you need more tea just give me a nod. No extra charge.’

  ‘Thanks a lot.’

  By the time she had finished her meal and downed two mugs of steaming tea, Vicki dragged herself out of the seat and went to the counter to pay. While waiting for change from the two shillings she had handed over, the scruffy man came over.

  ‘Did you say you were looking for work, kid?’

  ‘Yes.’ She looked at him eagerly. ‘Do you know someone who might hire me? I don’t care what I do.’

  ‘Well—’ he rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin, making a rasping sound – ‘there’s a barber two doors down from here. You could try them. I’m sure I heard Bob say he could use a willing lad in the shop.’

  ‘Oh, did you? I’ll go there now.’ Vicki pocketed her change and hurried out, desperate not to miss any opportunity of work. The glimmer of hope gave her a much needed burst of energy.

  There wasn’t a notice in the window, but it was a nice shop, and quite busy. That was a good sign. Straightening her cap, she walked in.

  The middle-aged man cutting a customer’s hair looked up. ‘Can I help you, young man?’

  Vicki politely whipped off her cap. ‘I’m looking for work, sir, and the man from the cafe said you might need someone. I’m a hard worker and will do anything, sir.’

  ‘Hmm.’ He looked her up and down, and then called, ‘Flo!’

  A homely, but smartly dressed woman came from the back of the shop and smiled at Vicki.

  ‘This lad is looking for work. Have a word with him, Flo, and see if he will suit us. And while you’re at it, for goodness’ sake cut his hair. It looks as if it’s been chopped off with a blunt knife!’

  She smiled broadly. ‘Had a go at it yourself, did you?’

  Vicki nodded, not knowing what to say.

  ‘Well, we’ll soon put that right. What’s your name, son?’

  ‘Er … Jim … Jim Keats, madam.’ This was something Vicki hadn’t given any thought to, and she said the first name that came into her head. She had said her real surname, though. It was too complicated to change that as well.

  ‘All right, Jim Keats, come with me and we’ll have a talk.’

  The back room was warm and comfortable. There was a fire burning in the grate, two armchairs, a small black leaded stove and a table and four chairs. The curtains were dark red with small roses embossed in the material, and a door opened on to a neat yard with a flower bed in the middle. Vicki thought it must look lovely in the summer, and her orderly mind noticed how clean and tidy everything was. Oh, she liked this place!

  ‘Sit down, Jim, and tell me about yourself.’

  Vicki clasped her hands tightly. She was lying about being a boy, but she refused to do more than that. Anything she told this nice woman would have to be the truth, as far as possible, of course. ‘I’m fifteen, and willing to do any kind of work, madam.’

  ‘You can call me Mrs Howard, Jim. And where do you live?’

  ‘My mum and dad live in Poplar, but I’ve been on my own for nearly a year. My dad threw me out.’

  ‘And why did he do that?’ she asked, frowning.

  ‘I didn’t do anything bad,’ Vicki hastily added. ‘He mistreats my mum, and I stood up to him. He didn’t like it and told me to get out and never come back.’ Vicki drew in a silent breath, hoping she hadn’t ruined her chances. She had done her best to smarten herself up, but it was still obvious to anyone that she had been living rough.

  Flo looked angry. ‘And where have you been stayin
g?’

  ‘I found a safe place in an old warehouse.’

  Flo surged to her feet and swept into the shop to talk to her husband. Vicki felt the tears gathering. Any hope of getting this job had just disappeared. They wouldn’t take on a vagrant – and that is what she was. Why hadn’t she come up with a believable lie? She was a fool!

  When Bob came back with his wife, Vicki stood up, ready to leave quickly before disgracing herself by bursting into tears. Her weakness disgusted her, but if she was going to survive for much longer, she desperately needed a job.

  The barber stood in front of her, blocking the doorway, so she would have to stay and listen while he told her she had wasted his time.

  Flo had opened another door, and her husband waved a pair of scissors in that direction. ‘There’s a bed in there, and an outhouse just outside. I will expect you to keep your room and yourself clean. You will eat with us. I will give you half a crown a week for pocket money, and you can keep any tips you receive from customers. I shall expect you to be polite and cheerful to anyone who comes into the shop, and be prepared to work hard.’

  Vicki stared at him, unable to believe what he was saying. ‘Do … do you mean I can have the job and live here?’

  ‘Those are my terms, young man. Do you still want to work for us?’