A Rare Ruby

by Dee Williams

  Ruby looked across at Florrie and Molly. They had been laughing and singing all morning. They were full of what they were going to do tonight and over Christmas.

  ‘Why don’t yer come ter the pub with us?’ shouted Florrie. ‘It might help ter put a smile on that miserable face of yours.’

  ‘I can’t. I’ve got to get home,’ said Ruby.

  ‘Why’s that, yer gonner see yer lover boy? I’ve heard he only likes older women. I bet he’s giving Mrs W. a present.’

  ‘I wonder what it’ll be, Florrie,’ shouted her friend.

  ‘I’ve gotter good idea,’ she said, laughing. ‘She must like ’em young and with a bit of go in ’em. She’ll certainly get that with that Ernie Wallis, won’t she, Rube?’

  Ruby ignored her.

  ‘Thought the miserable cow would have let us go a bit early today seeing as how it’s Christmas Eve,’ said Molly, standing up and moving towards Ruby.

  The door opened and Mrs Watson walked in. Molly quickly pretended to straighten her frock and sat down again.

  ‘You’ll be pleased to know that the management is going to let you go at two today, instead of making you work till four. I think that’s very generous of them, don’t you?’

  Ruby heard Florrie comment very low that she thought a Christmas box wouldn’t come amiss; fortunately Mrs Watson didn’t hear that.

  Soon after Mrs Watson had left the room the hooter went for them to leave.

  ‘Right, I’m off,’ said Florrie, gathering up her belongings. ‘See yer ternight in the Beak,’ she yelled to Molly.

  Ruby let them rush out. As she left she decided to go to the market. She gave a little smile. She had to admit that the thought of Tom getting a legless chicken had worried her a bit. He had been acting very secretively lately and she couldn’t be sure that he hadn’t got himself in with a wrong lot. There were plenty of kids running about who didn’t go to school or work, and they could be a problem; she hoped Tom wasn’t mixed up with any like that. He was definitely going to school after Christmas; they would find the penny a week from somewhere.

  She loved the market at Christmas. There was always an air of excitement and lots of colour and decorations. The stallholders always seemed cheerful despite the cold wind that had come up. She hoped it didn’t rain, or it could turn to snow it was so cold. Her boots always wore out quicker in the wet, and her chilblains would come back again. Since she’d been in the ironing room she hadn’t had them nearly so badly.

  She had a few pence to spend and wandered from stall to stall gazing at all the many delights that were on display. She stopped at the fruit and veg stall. I hope Tom managed to get some decent veg, she said to herself. On impulse she bought two oranges that were wrapped in silver paper. They looked so very pretty. One could go inside Tom’s Christmas stocking. The other one she would give to her father. What wouldn’t she give to be able to buy things she wanted? Even though her father was bringing in a few extra shillings at the moment, the rent was the most important thing, and she always had to make sure it was put to one side. It was a dark cloudy day and with the fog that was always hanging in the air, it never really seemed to get light. After an hour or two she decided it was time to go home. I hope Tom’s kept that fire in, I’m frozen, she thought.

  Thomas Jenkins hurried home. He had to be back at the pub later on, but George had told him not to come in till just after seven, which gave him just a short while to get Ruby and Tom a present. George had been very good; he had given him two shillings extra. What could he get them? He felt like a kid again, it was years since he’d been able to buy something. It was before the war; he and Mary would go out on Christmas Eve to buy the children’s presents. That was a lifetime ago. He missed Mary so much. With his hands thrust into his pockets, he could feel the small packet Mrs Bell had given him. He hadn’t opened it. Should he? Did he want Ruby to see it? He could tell her a customer had given it to him, which was the truth, but what if it were something very personal? He stood on the street corner and tore away the paper. He opened the small box and was taken aback. It was a pair of mother-of-pearl cufflinks. He stood looking at them. Why should that woman give him something as expensive looking as this? What were they worth? He looked up the road. He could see the three brass balls of the pawnshop. He grinned. This could be the best Christmas present she could have given him. He put them into his pocket and went along to the shop.

  ‘Tom, Tom,’ shouted Ruby, lighting the mantle in the passage. ‘I hope you’ve kept that fire in, I’m frozen.’

  She walked into the dark kitchen. ‘Where the hell have you got to?’ She threw her handbag and the oranges on the table and lit the gaslight. ‘Oh no, the fire’s nearly out.’ Without taking off her hat and coat she fell to her knees and, holding up a sheet of paper in front of the fire, gently blew on the dying embers trying to bring a bit of life back into them.

  The kitchen door opened.

  ‘Hello, Dad.’

  ‘What you doing, love?’

  ‘Trying to get a bit of life into this. You wait till I see Tom. I told him to keep an eye on the fire.’

  ‘Where is he?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’ve just got in meself.’

  ‘I’ve had a good day.’

  Ruby smiled up at her father. ‘That’s good.’

  ‘Is that kettle hot?’

  ‘No, we’ll have to wait a bit. What time have you got to go back to work?’

  ‘Just after seven.’

  Ruby looked up at the clock. ‘You’ll just about have time for a cuppa and a sandwich.’

  ‘That’s all right. It’ll suit me fine. I wonder where Tom is?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I’ll give him a piece of me mind when he does walk himself in here.’

  ‘What’s this?’ Thomas picked up the paper bag.

  ‘Leave that. Don’t touch that.’

  He laughed.

  ‘I’ll take ’em in the bedroom,’ said Ruby, jumping up and scooping the oranges off the table.

  ‘I’ve got a surprise as well.’

  ‘You have?’

  ‘Yes. But you ain’t seeing it till the morning. So no peeping tonight when I’m at work.’

  ‘I wouldn’t do that. It’ll spoil the fun.’

  The loud knocking on the door startled them.

  ‘Who can that be?’ asked her father.

  ‘Don’t know.’ Ruby knew that Tom would use the key on the ledge at the side of the door.

  ‘I’ll go,’ said Thomas.

  As her father left the kitchen Ruby found herself feeling happier than she had done for a very long while. She was pleased he’d made an effort to get them something for Christmas. Perhaps now was the moment things were going to get better for them.

  The kitchen door opened and Ruby was taken aback to see Mr Thompson standing behind her father. He was holding Danny.

  ‘What is it? What’s wrong with Beth?’ asked Ruby.

  ‘I don’t know. She came down here with Tom to sort out something, and she didn’t come back.’

  ‘What time was that?’ asked Thomas.

  ‘I dunno, after closing time. Must have been about half two - three.’

  ‘It’s nearly five now. Where could she be?’ asked Ruby.

  ‘Don’t know. Look, is it all right if I leave the boy here? I’ve got to open up.’

  ‘Course,’ said Ruby, taking Danny from him.

  ‘You don’t think anything’s happened, do you?’

  ‘Course not.’

  ‘Would young Tom know where she could be?’

  ‘Tom ain’t in yet. I think he’s hanging round the market trying to get a cheap chicken,’ said Ruby. She laughed. ‘He’s hoping to get one without legs.’

  ‘D’you think she might be with him?’ asked Mr Thompson. He was clearly concerned.

  ‘Could be. Don’t worry, as soon as they come back I’ll send her home.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I’ll see you out,’ said Thomas.


  ‘I bet you want your tea, young man,’ said Ruby to Danny. ‘Now, I wonder where that naughty mummy of yours has got to?’

  ‘He’s a nice bloke, that Mr Thompson,’ said Thomas, coming back into the kitchen. ‘I’ll always be grateful to him for getting me back to work.’

  ‘Beth thinks the world of him.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Dad, keep your eye on Danny while I pop out to the lav. I’ve been dying to go for ages.’

  ‘Course. Come here, little feller.’

  ‘I bet it’s freezing out there, I wish we had a lav indoors,’ called Ruby as she went into the washhouse then on through into the yard.

  Chapter 24

  It was pitch black when Ruby went outside. Although she knew this yard well, it still took a moment or two for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. She groped her way towards the lavatory. Her foot touched something soft and she almost tripped over. She stood stock still. Fear lanced through her. What was it? It felt like a bundle of old clothes. Slowly she bent down and ran her hands over the mound, then jerked quickly back upright. It was a body.

  ‘Dad! Dad!’ she screamed as she rushed into the house.

  ‘My God, girl, whatever’s the matter with you? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost. And shut that washhouse door, you’re letting all the cold air in.’

  Ruby was trembling from head to foot; she was also aware that she had wet herself. She looked over her shoulder, almost expecting someone to be following her. Her voice was high. ‘Dad, I think I just fell over a body.’

  ‘What?’

  Ruby was nearly hysterical. ‘Come and look!’

  ‘Don’t talk so daft. It was probably some old rags somebody’s given to Tom.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’ She pulled on his arm. ‘Please, Dad, please, come and look.’

  ‘All right. All right. Anything for a quiet life. You’d better put a coat on, you’re shivering.’

  ‘Dad, we ain’t got time!’

  ‘Ruby, just calm down. I’ll put little ’en on the floor.’ He stood Danny against the chair. ‘Won’t be long, son.’

  In the flickering gaslight from the washhouse, Ruby stood and watched her father go into the yard. He stopped.

  ‘Oh my God,’ he yelled. ‘Quick, Ruby, give me a hand.’

  ‘Who is it, Dad?’

  ‘I think it’s Beth.’

  ‘Beth?’ screamed Ruby.

  ‘Give me a hand to lift her. Go round to her feet.’

  Ruby rushed round and fell over. ‘Oh, Dad,’ she cried out. As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she saw another bundle on the ground. ‘Tom? Tom. Dad, it’s Tom as well.’ Tears began to pour down her face.

  Thomas let Beth slip from his grasp and, falling to his knees, let out a blood-curdling scream and cradled Tom’s head to his chest.

  For a few moments Ruby froze, unable to take in the scene. Then she bent down and gently touched Beth’s face; it was very cold and damp. ‘Dad. We’ve got to get them inside.’

  Her father was still sitting on the cold hard ground rocking Tom back and forth and wailing.

  ‘Dad.’ She touched his arm and he recoiled.

  ‘Leave me be.’

  ‘Dad. We’ve got to get them in the warm. They’ll freeze to death out here.’

  ‘We mustn’t let the Germans get ’em.’

  ‘The Germans won’t get them. We must get them inside.’

  A little voice interrupted them. ‘Mummy. Mummy.’ Danny was standing in the doorway.

  ‘Danny,’ shouted Ruby.

  He began to cry.

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you.’ She was beside herself. She didn’t know where to turn. What could she do? She had to get help. Very slowly flakes of snow drifted down. Out of the blue, she said, ‘Looks like we’re going to have a white Christmas.’

  ‘On your own tonight?’ one of the regulars asked Mr Thompson as he opened the pub door.

  ‘For the moment. Pint of the usual?’

  The customer nodded. ‘Beth out the back?’

  Mr Thompson began pulling the pint. ‘No. She went out this afternoon and ain’t come back yet. Must have been held up at the market. You know what these women are like when they start shopping.’

  ‘Don’t tell me. The wife went to buy a hat the other week. I thought she’d run orf, but no such luck, she come back and I was half a bleeding crown lighter.’

  ‘I hope Beth won’t be too long. Don’t know what I’ll do when I start getting busy.’

  ‘She got the little ’en with her?’

  ‘No. He’s up at the Jenkinses. He’ll be screaming blue murder for his tea, and so will I before long.’

  The customer laughed. ‘Don’t worry. If we know our Beth, she’ll be back soon and she may have a lovely present for you.’

  ‘I hope so. I’ve got something good for her.’

  ‘Have you now. What is it?’

  Mr Thompson touched the side of his nose. ‘Not telling you. But I daresay you’ll know soon enough.’

  ‘That sounds interesting.’

  ‘It is. Very.’ He grinned and moved along the bar to serve another customer.

  ‘Thomas is late coming in,’ said George’s wife as she poured a drink for herself and her mother.

  George looked at the clock. ‘Something must have cropped up. He’ll be here soon. He won’t let me down, not tonight of all nights.’

  ‘I hope not. Can’t say I fancy coming down here on Christmas Eve. Hey, you don’t reckon he’s gone off with that Rita Bell, do you?’

  George laughed. It was deep a throaty sound. ‘I shouldn’t think so for one minute. Anyway, what makes you say that?’

  ‘I’ve seen the way she looks at him.’

  ‘That’s the way she looks at all her potential customers. But for one thing, he couldn’t afford her and for another, he thinks too much of his kids to start playing around with the likes of her. You go on up, love.’

  She put the drinks on a tray and left him.

  But George was worried. This wasn’t like Thomas. He was always early and willing. George had been pleased with him; he was a good worker. He knew Thomas always found time to have a word with Rita, and she seemed to like him, but he couldn’t see him going off with her. Still, you never knew. That sort of woman could have a very funny effect on a man.

  Ruby was crying with cold, fear, anxiety and anger as she pulled and pushed Beth into the washhouse. She was angry with her father who was still cuddling Tom and not making any move to help her. When Ruby got Beth into the light she gasped at the state of her. Beth’s eyes were closed and her face a deathly white; her blonde hair was stuck to her head with blood. Danny looked down at his mother.

  ‘Mummy.’ He squatted beside her and shook her, trying to wake her.

  Ruby left him and went out to her father. ‘Dad, you’ve got to help me get Tom inside.’ She began to pull her father away from her brother, but he hung on to him. Ruby didn’t know what to do. She started shouting, ‘Dad. Let go. Tom’s cold.’

  Tom started moaning and her father at last released him.

  ‘Tom,’ yelled Ruby, falling to her knees. ‘Oh Tom. You’re alive.’

  He groaned.

  ‘Dad, give me a hand.’

  Between them they managed to get him in the house. Tom had blood all over his hair and clothes too, but at least he was drifting in and out of consciousness.

  Ruby settled Tom in front of the fire. Danny thought this was a game and tried to crawl over him. Thomas sat on the floor with his son and held him close. He didn’t speak.

  The washhouse was as far as Ruby had been able to drag Beth. She gently tapped Beth’s pale cheek. ‘Wake up. Please, Beth. Wake up.’ There was no response.

  ‘Dad. I’ve got to get help. They need a doctor. Look after Danny while I go over to Milly’s.’

  There was no reply.

  Ruby wanted to scream at him. This was the last thing she needed. How could he just sit the
re? ‘Dad.’ She began shaking him. ‘For God’s sake help me.’ But he just held Tom. ‘I’ve got to get help,’ she cried as she ran out of the kitchen.

  ‘All right. All right. I’m coming.’ Ruby could hear Milly’s voice as she came down the stairs. ‘We’re shut, so what’s your bloody game. Give us . . .’ She stopped when she saw Ruby standing on the doorstep. ‘Ruby? What is it?’

  Ruby, with tears streaming down her face, gasped, ‘It’s Beth and Tom. I don’t know. They’re ill, something’s happened, they’ve been hit. I don’t know.’

  ‘Come in.’

  Ruby shook her head. ‘I can’t. I’ve got to go back.’

  ‘You’re not making a lot of sense. I’d better come with you. Mum,’ she called out. ‘I’m just going over with Ruby.’

  ‘Well, don’t be too long,’ came the voice from upstairs. ‘Remember you’re in the bath first tonight.’

  Ruby ran across the road and into the kitchen. Everything was just as she had left it.

  ‘My God,’ said Milly, who was right behind her. ‘What’s happened to Tom?’

  ‘We don’t know. We’ve got Beth out here.’ Ruby pushed Milly into the washhouse.

  For a second or two Milly stood in the doorway. ‘Who did this?’

  ‘We don’t know,’ Ruby repeated.

  Milly fell to her knees. ‘Is she dead?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘Feel her pulse. It’s in her neck.’

  ‘I can’t find it.’

  ‘Here, let me.’ Milly pushed Ruby roughly to one side. ‘I can’t find it. We’ve got to get a doctor. I’ll run over to me dad, he’ll go and fetch him.’

  ‘Milly, don’t leave me.’ Ruby clung to her. ‘Please don’t leave me.’

  ‘I must get help.’ She unwound Ruby’s arm. ‘I’ll only be a minute. Come on, Mr Jenkins, try to help Ruby.’

  Danny was now looking bewildered and began to cry. Ruby swept him up in her arms. ‘It’s all right.’ She kissed his head. ‘I’m here. I’ll look after you.’