A Rare Ruby

by Dee Williams

  Elsie giggled. ‘Go on with you. You’ll be having Ruby think there was something going on between us.’

  He put his arm round Ruby’s waist. Ruby thought she would die. This was the first time he had ever done anything so romantic in front of someone.

  ‘She knows me better than that.’

  ‘I’ll tell you what,’ said Elsie. ‘Why don’t you come to me wedding? We’re gonner have a bit of a do after the church at my house. You’ll be more than welcome, and I’m sure Ruby will be pleased to see you. What do you say?’

  ‘I’d really like that. When is it?’

  ‘New Year’s Eve. Ruby knows where it is.’

  ‘That’ll be really nice. Thanks, Elsie. Ruby, I’ll come to your house and pick you up, if that’s all right with you?’

  ‘No. I’ll meet you at the church.’

  ‘It’s St Mary’s, and it’s at two o’clock,’ said Elsie. ‘I’ll be looking out for you both. I must go, got lots to do.’ She kissed Ruby’s cheek. ‘Don’t take any notice of that silly cow Florrie. She’s only jealous. Bye.’ She hurried away leaving Ruby and Ernie alone.

  ‘Can we walk along together?’ asked Ernie.

  ‘Course.’

  ‘That was real nice of Elsie inviting me to her wedding. She’s a bit of all right.’

  ‘Yes, she is.’

  ‘What was all that about with Florrie?’

  ‘She was trying to take this frock away from me.’ Ruby showed him the paper bag.

  ‘Is it nice?’

  ‘I think so. It’s one of Elsie’s sister’s, she’s letting me wear it for the wedding.’

  ‘I bet you’ll look a little smasher.’

  In many ways Ruby was pleased it was getting dark so that he couldn’t see her blushing.

  ‘D’you know, I reckon 1922 could see a new beginning for all of us.’

  ‘Why? What makes you say that?’

  ‘Dunno. I just feel it. Me mum had a letter from me dad’s brother, he’s coming down to see her. Dad’s family lived up north somewhere, in Scotland. They didn’t approve of me mum and when Dad got killed they didn’t have any more to do with her.’ He laughed. ‘I dunno whether to be angry or pleased about it, but Mum thinks it’ll be all right.’

  ‘Have you ever seen him?’

  ‘No, but me mum has. He came to her and dad’s wedding, be all accounts.’

  ‘Did he say why he was coming to see your mum?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘When does your Daisy start work?’

  ‘She’s going after Christmas. Mum’s a bit upset about it, but Daisy reckons it’ll be all right. It’s a big house over the back of the park and they’ve got other servants; she’ll start in the kitchen. I shall go sometimes and keep me eye on her. If any of the blokes try anything, I’ll kill ’em.’

  ‘It must be lovely to have a big brother to look after you.’

  Ernie stopped. ‘Ruby, has anyone ever tried to hurt you?’

  ‘No, course not.’

  ‘You would tell me if they did?’

  ‘Would you be my knight in shining armour?’

  ‘Dunno about that, but I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.’

  Ruby felt her inside do somersaults. He must love her to say that. ‘Thanks,’ she said weakly.

  They reached the point where they parted company.

  ‘If I don’t see you before I’ll see you at the church. Bye - and Happy Christmas!’

  ‘Bye.’ Ruby stood and watched him walk away. They were going to meet at the church. She gave a sigh. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it could have been their wedding. Perhaps one day it might happen.

  Ernie was whistling when he left Ruby. They were going out on a proper date. Everybody would see them together. He wasn’t so sure about going to a church but if it meant seeing Ruby and being with her, then he would do anything. If only he could get a decent job. He would love it if one day he could ask her to be his wife. He stopped whistling and took a deep breath. That sort of thing didn’t happen to the likes of them; it only happened in books.

  It was almost eight o’clock when Ruby got home on Friday as she’d been wandering through the market. Tomorrow would be Christmas Eve. Everybody was hoping Mrs Watson would let them finish a bit earlier than their usual time. Some of the women had a great deal to do, but Ruby didn’t have a lot of money for shopping or presents. She had managed to get Tom a book and her father a packet of cigarettes. She desperately wanted to buy Danny something. She remembered the Christmas when Beth was living with them, how thrilled she’d been with the teething ring Ruby had bought him. He was still the loveliest, happiest little chap. Now he was running about, Beth told her how worried she was every time she went behind the bar and had to strap him in his pram, he certainly wasn’t happy about that. Ruby picked up a fluffy teddy bear. It was old and almost bald. ‘How much?’ she asked the stallholder.

  ‘Tanner.’

  ‘Sixpence!’ Ruby put it back. Everything was well out of her price range. To Ruby the most important thing they had to spend their money on was the rent. The idea of them being homeless wasn’t even to be contemplated. She would be glad when Christmas was all over; at least she had the wedding to look forward to.

  She began to walk home, and then suddenly on a mad impulse she rushed back and picked up the teddy bear. ‘I’ll give you thrupence.’

  ‘Make it fourpence and it’s yours.’

  As Ruby walked home with the teddy in her bag, her step was light.

  ‘I didn’t think you’d still be home,’ Ruby said to her father as she took off her hat and coat.

  ‘I’m just off and I’ll be late. Don’t worry about getting me anything to eat, George said I can have a sandwich with him and his missus.’

  Ruby had never seen George’s wife; she always stayed upstairs with her mother. ‘Is his wife nice?’

  ‘Yes, and she’s a handsome woman. I can see why he don’t like letting her loose with the rough toerags we get in at the weekends.’

  ‘Where’s Tom?’

  ‘Dunno. He went out after bringing in that load of veg. It looks real good. He musta been lucky.’

  Ruby sat at the table. ‘I’m worried about him. Since Mum died and he only has a few errands to do for Milly, I wonder what he gets up to all day. I thought he should go to school but he absolutely refused. I was hoping he would go next year. He should have some schooling and discipline.’

  ‘You mustn’t worry about him. He seems to be doing very well with this wood lark.’

  ‘He does seem to have a few bob to put in the kitty.’

  ‘So what you worried about then? What with the extra hours I’m putting in, it’ll all help.’

  ‘I know it will, but yours is only till after Christmas.’

  ‘There’s the New Year.’

  ‘I know. But after that, what?’

  ‘We’ll worry about that when it comes, but I’ll still have me two nights a week. By the way, I met the bloke who got me the job today, he comes in lunchtime.’

  ‘What, Elsie’s father?’

  ‘He’s a nice bloke. He was telling me all about this wedding next week. I think it’s gonner be a right old do, so you should enjoy yourself.’

  ‘I know I am.’ She would have liked to add: More so now that Ernie will be there. ‘And I’ve got Elsie’s sister’s frock to wear as well. Look, I’ve nearly finished altering it.’ She held up the dress.

  ‘It will look lovely. You’ll look like a princess.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘I wish your mother was here to see it.’

  ‘So do I.’ Ruby put the frock on the back of the chair, running her hand over the material. ‘It was so good of Elsie’s sister.’

  ‘Now I really must go.’ He put on his trilby at a jaunty angle. He smiled and, kissing Ruby’s cheek, said, ‘Mustn’t be late for work.’

  ‘Bye, Dad.’ She watched him leave the room, walking upright like he used to years ago. Ruby closed her eyes. ‘
Mum,’ she whispered, ‘I wish you could see the difference in Dad. But why wasn’t he like this when you were here?’

  Chapter 22

  Ruby must have dozed off as she woke with a start when the kitchen door was pushed back with a bang. She looked at the clock; it was nine o’clock. ‘What time do you call this?’ she asked Tom.

  ‘Sorry, but everything at the market is so exciting! I didn’t know how late it was. Where’s Dad?’

  ‘Gone to work. What you been up to?’

  ‘Nothing. Why?’

  ‘You look very flushed.’

  ‘Been running.’

  ‘Who from?’

  ‘Nobody.’ Tom wasn’t going to tell her it was from a couple of men from the market. Ginger had nearly got caught and they had had to leg it quick. ‘What’s for tea?’

  ‘It’s too late for that.’

  ‘What? I’m starving.’

  ‘Then you should have come home earlier. I can do you a bit of toast.’

  ‘That all?’

  ‘It’s that or nothing.’

  ‘We always have toast.’

  ‘That’s cos it’s easy and cheap, and uses up the stale bread. When I feel a bit rich you can have jam on it, if not, it’s dripping.’

  ‘All right.’ Tom looked at his sister; she looked sad and tired. He wanted to tell her about the lovely cream bun he’d had this afternoon. He would love to give her a big box of chocolates for Christmas, but he’d settled on a very small box that held just five chocolates: that way he wouldn’t arouse too much suspicion. He felt very guilty that he couldn’t share his wealth with her. He had been busy trying to work out how he could tell her where this chicken, which Freddie reckoned they would all get tomorrow, came from.

  ‘You finished sewing this?’ he asked, picking up the frock that was hanging over the back of the chair.

  Ruby smiled. ‘Yes. I hope it’ll look all right.’ She stood up and held it against her. ‘What d’you think? It’s very pretty, ain’t it?’

  ‘Yes. Yes it is,’ said Tom.

  ‘I love these pretty bows and flouncy bottom.’ Ruby twirled round. ‘I hope it ain’t too short. Don’t want to show off.’

  Tom looked at his sister. He had enough money to buy her a new frock. All her life, like him, she had had to wear second-hand clothes and cut-downs. Should he go and buy a nice frock for her? She was so excited about this wedding; he wanted her to look like a queen. Who could he ask to help him? Beth came to mind, but he knew she wouldn’t approve, since she was bound to guess where the money had come from. Although he felt guilty he couldn’t help but feel good when he had money to spend.

  ‘It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow. Are we gonner put the decorations up?’ asked Tom.

  ‘I don’t know. They’re a bit squashed. And it don’t seem right somehow.’

  ‘Mum would have wanted us to.’

  ‘I’ll wait and ask Dad when he gets home.’

  ‘I think I might be able to get us a chicken for dinner.’

  Ruby laughed. ‘And where d’you reckon you’ll get one of those from?’

  ‘The market.’

  ‘The market? In case you didn’t know, young man, they cost money.’

  ‘I know that. I ain’t daft. But my mate reckons they almost give ’em away at the end. Especially those that have got a leg missing, or look a bit battered.’

  Ruby laughed. ‘So who’s this clever mate of yours then?’

  ‘Just a mate.’

  ‘I hope he ain’t leading you into any trouble?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You wouldn’t do anything wrong . . . would you?’

  Tom looked away. ‘Course not.’

  ‘You know what happened with the coal?’

  Tom couldn’t look at his sister. ‘I’m just going out to the lav.’

  ‘Tom. You all right?’

  ‘Yes, why?’

  ‘Nothing. I’ll try and make it a nice Christmas for you.’

  He smiled and left the room.

  Outside he kicked the wall. ‘If only I could tell her I could give her the best Christmas she’d ever had. She could have anything she wanted,’ he mumbled as he dragged a box into the lav. In the dark he stood on it and felt for the blue sugar bag that held his money. He had another five shillings to add to it. He ran his fingers along the ledge. Panic overtook him. Where was it? Desperately he moved the box further along. It was there yesterday. Had it moved? Ruby never cleaned up there. Who could have taken it? Tears filled his eyes. He climbed down and sat on the box. What could he do? He climbed up again. Perhaps he’d missed it. ‘I must do it very slowly,’ he said to himself as carefully he felt every inch of the ledge.

  Thomas Jenkins was finding the build-up to Christmas very busy. The pub was full and people were shouting their orders. At times he worried that all of his demons might return and he wouldn’t be able to cope, but he knew he had to for his children’s sake. Since working he had managed to keep them at bay, but he knew they were never far away.

  George was up one end of the bar serving drinks as fast as he could. This pub didn’t have a snug where old ladies could sit on their own; if any came in they had to share the bar with all the others. The thought of trouble like the first night he’d started work was never far from Thomas’s mind, but fortunately only a few times since then had they had any bother. Usually it was all over by the time he was ready to go home. He was pleased with himself at being able to hold down this job. At first he had felt so insecure, but he had Beth to thank for getting him started. Working at the Royal Albert had been a big step for him.

  Thomas’s face lit up when he caught sight of Mrs Bell and her lady friend walking in. Mrs Bell certainly was a handsome woman.

  He smiled at her and the woman she was with; he hoped she hadn’t told her friend what had happened on last Saturday afternoon. George had asked him to work the lunchtime shift and Thomas’d been pleased to see Mrs Bell walk in. After he’d finished work he’d offered to walk her home. He remembered what Ruby had told them about her lovely flat but was still taken aback by the beautiful things she had.

  ‘Sit down, Thomas,’ she said, smiling.

  He sat on the velvet-covered sofa.

  ‘There’s an ashtray there if you fancy a smoke. I’ll just get us a drink.’

  He had watched the way she moved when she left the room. He knew she would have long slim legs under that hobble skirt. He did wonder why she lived in these terrible buildings, but she must have a reason.

  She came back and sat next to him. ‘Here’s your drink. You’re a very handsome man, Thomas Jenkins.’

  ‘You have a lovely place here,’ he said, sheepishly looking around. ‘I can remember our Ruby telling us about it. She said it was like a palace, and she’s right.’

  ‘Why thank you. I do rather a lot of entertaining.’

  ‘Thomas! For Christ’s sake, wake up.’ One of the customers was waving a glass under his nose. ‘Twice I’ve asked you for a pint.’

  ‘Sorry, Bill. I was carried away.’

  ‘You will be if I don’t get me beer.’

  Tom was trembling. Tears were stinging his eyes. He had run his fingers along the rough concrete ledge a dozen times till they were sore, but his money had gone. Who could have taken it? Mr Cox was the only name that came into his head. ‘I’ll kill him. I will.’ But how could he accuse him of pinching his money when it wasn’t really his? ‘But I need it more than him,’ said Tom to himself. He suddenly felt sick as he began to realise how those poor women must have felt when they found their purses missing. Did any of ’em get a beating from their old men? But the moment of insight didn’t last long. Tom was soon thinking about the money, again. He couldn’t give it back. He had to get it off Cox. Tom knew he was up the pub as he had seen him go out earlier. He would have to wait till tomorrow to ask him. But what if he wouldn’t give it back? And what if it wasn’t him? If it had been his dad or Ruby, they would have been full of it; no, it had to be old man Cox.
Anger filled him. He must have seen me bring the box in here, he thought.

  The banging on the door frightened him. ‘Tom? Tom, are you all right?’ Ruby was outside the door.

  ‘Yes. I’ll be out in a minute.’

  ‘You’ll freeze to death out here. So hurry up.’

  ‘All right.’ He heard Ruby running back indoors and shutting the washhouse door. He took his box outside and threw it in the corner of the yard.

  Towards the end of the evening Thomas’s heart sank when he saw Mrs Bell and her friend walk out with two strapping blokes, who, with their docker’s hooks in their wide belts, looked very frightening. The women were laughing and giggling like a couple of schoolgirls.

  She hadn’t even bothered to say goodnight.

  He began collecting the glasses.

  ‘Cheer up, Thomas,’ said George.

  ‘I’m a bit tired, that’s all.’

  ‘It has been a bit of a night. Still, next week you’ll be with your family round a cosy fire.’ George began wiping down the tables.

  ‘Won’t be much of a Christmas this year, not without Mary.’

  ‘Yer, it’ll be hard for you. Chuck me another cloth, this one’s soaked.’

  As he washed the glasses, Thomas’s thoughts drifted back once more to that Saturday afternoon. After Mrs Bell had given him his drink she had asked him if he was comfortable. He had just nodded.

  ‘Thomas. If you feel the need for a woman, I will always be of service, that’s my job.’

  He laughed. ‘I couldn’t afford you.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose you could, but sometimes I can be, shall we say, very accommodating.’

  It was then he suddenly realised he didn’t want to rush things. He stood up. ‘I think you are a very handsome woman, and I could get very fond of you.’

  That was when she had laughed at him and made him feel a fool. ‘Oh, come off it. I ain’t the type you take home to your family, now am I?’