by Dee Williams
‘Don’t talk like that,’ interrupted Ruby. ‘Why are you saying such things? Is that man hitting you or something?’
Beth laughed softly. ‘No, course not. He’s very kind to me and Danny. It’s just that everything is going so well for me and I always worry that you have to pay for your good fortune.’
‘You mustn’t think like that.’
‘Come on, let’s go downstairs.’
Ruby had noted that Beth’s bed was very ruffled. It had been slept in.
‘Look, I’d best be off,’ said Ruby when they reached the bottom of the stairs. ‘You won’t tell me mum or dad I’ve been here, will you?’
‘No, course not. Where do they think you’ve gone?’ Ruby looked down; she could feel her cheeks getting red. ‘Out with a boy.’
Beth laughed. ‘I hope it goes well for you.’ She took Ruby through the bar. At the door, she said, ‘Ruby, I’d like you and me to be really good friends.’
Ruby smiled. ‘Well, we can.’
‘Come up here again and we’ll see about going out to the market or somewhere.’
‘I’d like that.’
‘I’d better be going. Sometimes if they get busy I have to help out.’ She kissed Ruby’s cheek again and went back inside.
Ruby stood for a moment or two on the step. She tenderly touched her cheek. Beth was so nice, and she seemed such a happy person: she infected others with that happiness. Ruby thought that quality far outweighed the niggles of doubt she had harboured about their lodger, and resolved to put them behind her. But why did Beth have these morbid fears? Was it to do with her past?
Ruby went to walk away from the pub when a hand on her arm stopped her.
‘Thought it was you. What you doing here?’
‘Mr Cox!’
‘You’re a bit young to be in the pub.’
‘I had to give Beth a message.’
‘That husband of hers will be in for a shock when he finds out she’s moved in with old Thompson.’
‘She’s his housekeeper.’
He took her arm and moved her along the road. ‘That’s what she tells you. But I know different.’
Ruby wanted to get away from this man but he was holding her arm very tightly. ‘Please, Mr Cox. I must go. I must hurry home.’
‘That’s all right. We can walk home together.’
Ruby looked about her. She was frightened of this man. ‘Please let me go.’
‘Stop being such a silly girl. I only want to be friends with you.’
‘I don’t want to be friends with you.’
‘Why not? I’m very good to your family.’
‘You’re going to put the rent up and me mum’s worried sick.’
‘Is that all that’s upsetting you?’
‘Where will we go if you throw us out?’
‘I’m sure we can sort this little problem out.’
The sound of someone running behind them made him quickly let go of Ruby’s arm.
‘Ruby! Ruby, I forgot to—Hello, Mr Cox,’ Beth came up to them and put her arm round Ruby’s shoulder. ‘I forgot to give you something. Could you come back for a minute?’
Ruby was puzzled. What was Beth going to give her? ‘Yes, of course.’
They turned and walked along the road together.
‘Goodnight, Mr Cox,’ shouted Beth over her shoulder.
When they thought he was well out of earshot, Ruby stopped. ‘What are you going to give me?’
‘Nothing. It was the only thing I could think of to get you away from him.’
‘I’m so glad you did. But how did you know he came after me?’
‘I saw him make a beeline for the door when you left. I guessed what he was up to. I’ve told you before, you’ve got to be very careful of that man.’
‘I try to keep out of his way as much as I can, but it’s a bit awkward sometimes.’
‘I know.’ Beth looked up the road. ‘I think he’s gone home. Now remember what I told you.’ She laughed. ‘This is the second time I’ve saved your honour, Ruby Jenkins.’
Ruby laughed too. ‘I know. Thanks, Beth.’
‘That’s all right. And I’ll see what I can do for your dad.’
Ruby walked away. She was so deep in thought as she pushed open the front door and stepped into the passage, that she jumped when the kitchen door flew open.
‘And where have you been, young lady?’
Ruby had never seen her mother look so angry.
Confused, she stammered, ‘What is it? What’s the matter?’
‘You’ve been to the pub.’
‘What?’ screamed Ruby. ‘Who told you?’
Mr Cox stepped out from behind her mother. ‘I told your mother all about how you have been flaunting yourself in front of the men.’
‘What?’ she said again. Ruby couldn’t believe what this man was saying. ‘I wasn’t. It wasn’t like that.’
‘But you was in the pub?’ said her mother.
‘Yes. But . . .’ She wanted this wicked old man to go away. She didn’t want him to hear why she had been there.
‘So what was you doing there?’
‘I went to see Beth.’
Mary Jenkins gave a sigh of relief. ‘Why didn’t you tell me that’s where you were going?’
‘I didn’t think you’d like me going to the pub. But we was in the back room and Beth’s bedroom.’ She glared at Mr Cox. ‘I wasn’t in the bar, honestly, Mum.’
‘I saw you.’
Ruby wanted to kill this man who was trying to make trouble between her and her mother.
‘I believe you, Ruby. Now if you don’t mind, Mr Cox, I’ve got to get to bed. I have to get up very early in the morning.’
Mr Cox looked angry. ‘So you take her word against mine. Well, you listen to me: you’ll remember my words when she brings a bundle of trouble home. Goodnight.’ He slammed the door as he walked out of the kitchen.
Ruby began to cry. ‘I’m so sorry, Mum. I wasn’t doing anything bad.’
Her mother put her arm round her shoulder. ‘I know. Do you want to tell me why you went to see Beth?’
‘I just wanted someone to talk to. We’re going to go to the market together one Saturday. Is that all right?’
‘Of course. Now off to bed with you.’
‘I hope all this racket didn’t wake Dad.’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Goodnight, Mum.’
Mary Jenkins smiled. ‘Goodnight, love.’
Ruby smiled back but she couldn’t stop fretting about Mr Cox. Why did people have to be so mean?
‘Ruby?’
‘You should be asleep, Tom.’
‘I heard you shouting. What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing.’
‘I heard Mr Cox. Is something wrong?’ he repeated.
‘Nothing for you to worry about.’
She lay down next to Tom. But despite her brave words, she knew once again Mr Cox had given her plenty to worry about.
Chapter 13
Ruby stood looking at the mess someone had made of her pile of finished work. ‘Who did that?’ she screamed.
Florrie looked up. ‘What’s upset our little gel then?’
‘I’ve just been out for a pee and someone’s gone and chucked me finished ironing about.’
‘Now who would do a fing like that? It must’a fell on the floor and someone picked it up. I must say they wasn’t very careful, was they?’
Ruby looked along the line at the others, but they had their heads down, working away.
‘Still,’ said Florrie, ‘the way you work, yer’ll soon make up yer money.’
As Ruby sorted out her work she knew why they were jealous. She was a lot younger than they were, but she could keep up, and even at the beginning when her work was being heavily scrutinised by Mrs Watson, she’d been able to earn nearly as much as they did - after all she had had many years of practice. But it still didn’t get her over that ten-shilling barrier.
She sat down and got on w
ith her work. She kept her head down, to hide the fact that her eyes were smarting with unshed tears. She wasn’t going to let them see.
It was dark by the time Ruby left the building; she had hung about waiting for the others to leave. If only Ernie were around to talk to her, but she knew if he had passed by today he was long gone and she couldn’t blame him for not hanging around, not in this weather. Ruby stood close to the corner of the building; she didn’t want to bump into Florrie.
‘You’re late,’ said a voice behind her.
Ruby turned and under the gaslight recognised Frank Stone. ‘I got a bit behind the others.’ She started to move on.
‘That’s all right. We don’t mind you working hard as long as you ain’t hanging about waiting for some bloke. We don’t like that. Been working for us long?’ He had fallen in step beside her.
‘A little while.’ She felt terribly alone. Elsie had told her to beware of Frank, he had a reputation as a ladies’ man, and she knew some of the workers had been out with him. She didn’t want any scandal.
‘You’re quite a pretty little thing, and a frightened one by the look of it. I don’t bite.’
Ruby gave a nervous laugh. ‘I hope not.’
‘I’ll have to find out more about you. I like the thought that you stay behind to work. I expect I’ll see you around. Bye.’ He walked away, disappearing as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving Ruby more alone than ever.
Things in the Jenkins household were getting very hard. Ruby blamed herself for Mr Cox putting the rent up, but the miners’ strike had added to their problems as coal was in very short supply and getting more expensive. Ruby’s birthday had come and long gone. She hadn’t reminded the family of the date, she didn’t want them to feel bad about not being able to get her something. Beth had come up with a few ideas for Thomas Jenkins, but none of them had been practical.
‘How’s your mum managing to get coal?’ asked Beth as she and Ruby were taking a stroll round the market. Ruby was looking for anything that had been thrown away behind the barrows, even the old newspapers after she had read them were useful when cut into squares for the lav.
‘Not good. She sends Tom out looking for any bits that might have fallen off the cart, but there’s always someone walking behind with a dust pan and brush sweeping up any that’s been dropped. And he said he’s seen fights break out round the coal carts. The biggest trouble is trying to get the washing dry to pay the extra for coal and rent.’
‘I feel really bad about that,’ said Beth.
‘Why should you? It’s not your fault that old man put our rent up.’
‘I feel I’m a bit to blame.’
‘Well, you mustn’t. No news about anything for Dad then?’
‘No, but I’m trying to persuade Mr Thompson to get someone to wash the glasses. Do you think you could get your dad to come to the pub? I’d make sure he got home safe.’
‘I don’t know. Would he have to be out late at night?’
‘No. They could be left till the morning.’
‘I could ask Mum. Thanks, Beth.’
‘Don’t thank me till it’s settled.’
‘It’s a bit cold, I think we’d better make our way back, and I’ve got to deliver Mrs Bell’s washing.’
‘I hate those buildings. Let me treat you to a couple of apples then your mum can make one of her lovely pies.’
‘You don’t have to.’
‘I’m not taking no for an answer.’ She was rummaging in her purse. ‘Tuppence, you say?’ She handed the man the money. ‘There, take them home. I’m sure your mother will work wonders with those.’ She gave the apples to Ruby.
‘Thanks, Beth.’
Christmas was almost on them and at last they had managed to get Thomas Jenkins to go to the pub and wash glasses.
‘I hope that man’s not doing this out of charity,’ said Mary Jenkins when Beth first approached her about it.
‘No. It’s near Christmas and we’re getting very busy and we’re too tired at night to stand washing glasses.’
‘Well, just as long as you’re sure.’
‘If you like I’ll come along in the morning and take him back with me. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s all right.’
‘This is very kind of you, Beth.’
For Ruby, on Saturday, the time seemed to go on for ever. She was desperate to get home and find out how her dad had got on with his first morning at the pub. Oh, please let it have gone well! If it worked she’d be eternally grateful to Beth. Now she didn’t see so much of Elsie it was nice to wander round the market with Beth, pushing the pram and exchanging chatter; it was almost like having a sister.
All morning Florrie had been her usual crude self. She was telling them all about the bloke she’d met in the pub the night before. She said they were banging away behind some houses when one of his kids came up and said, ‘Dad, yer dinner’s ready.’
Everybody screamed with laughter.
‘So what did he say to that?’ asked one of her friends.
‘He told ’em he’d be in when he’d finished his afters.’ Again everybody thought that was hilarious, but Ruby didn’t. She felt sorry for the wife who probably had loads of kids to feed.
‘Did he pay yer?’
‘Course. Yer don’t think I stand there with me frock round me neck and me drawers round me ankles fer nothing, do yer? It’s too bloody cold.’
‘How much d’yer get?’
‘Enough.’
Ruby tried to ignore the filthy chatter and concentrate on her work.
As soon as she’d finished, she hurried home. ‘Well?’ she burst out on opening the kitchen door. ‘How did you get on, Dad?’
‘Not bad.’ He looked different; he was sitting up and smiling. ‘Didn’t break any. He’s a nice bloke, that Mr Thompson. Always liked him.’
Ruby thought her heart would burst. Her father was at last, after all these years, going out to work.
‘Beth came and collected him and brought him home,’ said Mary Jenkins, standing next to him with a proud smile on her face.
‘And he gave me a bottle of beer to have with me dinner.’
‘Don’t let old Cox see that,’ said Ruby. ‘He’ll want half.’
‘I’m taking his tea up to him. I don’t want him down here putting a damper on things.’
All evening her father sat and told them what he’d done. ‘That baby’s a dear little chap.’
Ruby couldn’t believe it. This was the first time in years they had heard him hold a conversation. He sounded so happy. ‘Are you going tomorrow, Dad?’ she asked.
‘Yes, love. But only on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings and it’ll only be till Christmas.’
Ruby smiled. ‘It’s a start, Dad. I can take you up on Sundays.’
‘Thanks.’
For the first time in months, when Ruby went to bed, she knew she would sleep soundly. Even though this job was only temporary, it could be the start of her father living again and, who knew, he might be able to start providing for his family. Then her mother wouldn’t have to take in washing, and she wouldn’t be permanently exhausted.
Ruby’s thoughts went onto Ernie. What sort of a Christmas would he have?
It was Christmas Eve morning; Mary Jenkins had been up since five finishing off the last of the ironing. She hadn’t got any washing today. Thomas was at the pub, like Ruby, working, and Tom was out delivering washing. Mary prayed her customers would have enough money to pay her so she could do some shopping. She was now standing at the kitchen table wrapping up a pair of socks she had knitted for Tom from a jumper she’d unpicked. Ruby had bought two jumpers from a jumble sale, they were only a few pence, they weren’t fit enough to wear but the wool had come in useful. Ruby had gloves and Tom had socks; she had even knitted her husband a nice scarf he could wear to work. She smiled to herself. What a lovely phrase that was, her husband at work. She knew it wouldn’t last as Mr Thompson had told him it was only up till Christmas, but that di
dn’t matter. It was a start. She held up the socks. She hoped they would like their presents, but she really couldn’t see Tom wearing them outside the house. When she’d told Milly what she had done, Milly had given her some greaseproof paper to wrap them in. It would have been better if the wool had been a more neutral shade, but they wouldn’t mind everything in bright red, at least they would be warm.
The banging from above made her jump. She raised her eyes to the ceiling. What was he doing? The banging started again; this time it was louder and more intense. Was he ill? Mary Jenkins realised she hadn’t heard her landlord moving about. He hadn’t looked that good when she took his breakfast up to him. The banging started again and she left her parcel-wrapping and went upstairs.
She gently knocked on his door. He didn’t yell at her to come in as he always did. She slowly pushed the door open and to her surprise found him lying on the floor.
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
He groaned. ‘I feel ill.’
‘Do you want me to get you a doctor?’
‘No. Just help me get into bed.’
With a struggle Mary Jenkins helped him to his feet and into his bedroom. She knew every part of this sparsely furnished room, as every week she had to clean it and change his sheets.
He fell onto the bed. Mary could see he was very pale and the sweat was glistening on his brow.
‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘Water.’
‘I really think you should have a doctor.’
‘I said no, woman. Just get me a drink.’
Mary rushed to his tiny scullery and filled a glass. She noted that the glass had the pub’s name on it. ‘Is there anything else?’
He closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘I’ll bang on the floor if I want anything.’
As Mary slowly made her way down the stairs it was with mixed feelings. Part of her wanted to sing and dance: if he didn’t get up tomorrow they could be on their own at Christmas. That was a lovely thought. But she also knew he could have her up and down those stairs day and night. What if he died? What would happen to them? Could they be thrown out of their home? As far as she knew he didn’t have any relations, but in those sort of cases, there was always someone who could come out of the woodwork. Mary also knew that even if he were ill she couldn’t let Ruby go up to him. For a while she had been worried about his attentions towards her daughter. Ruby had grown into a lovely young woman and Mary knew he watched her every move. She would kill him if he ever touched her.