A Rare Ruby

by Dee Williams

  She struggled to sit on the bench. What could she do? She couldn’t catch him, and she also knew she was no match for the Andersons. She had to go to the pub. Her father and Mr Thompson would be very angry but what else could she do?

  Slowly she limped her way to the pub. Tears ran down her face. What would they do to Danny? Would they hurt him? Ruby remembered the things she’d heard about Alfie Anderson. How he put his foot out to trip Tom up and laughed at him sprawled out on the ground. How he kicked people’s gates in when he was angry. Was he hoping to take him home? Would he hurt Danny if he cried? Would he lock him away so she would never see him again?

  ‘Hello, love, what brings you here this morning?’ Her father was rolling a beer barrel across the yard. ‘Where’s the lad?’

  At that Ruby burst into tears again.

  ‘What is it? What’s wrong? Is he ill?’

  She shook her head. ‘No. Alfie Anderson’s taken him away.’

  For a moment or two her father was silent as the horror of what she had said sunk in.

  ‘He’s taken him? Where?’

  ‘To see his mum.’

  ‘Don’t worry. He’ll bring him back.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘Why? What makes you say that?’

  ‘I don’t know, it’s this feeling I’ve got.’

  ‘I’m sure he’ll be all right. Come on.’ Thomas went into the pub with Ruby following on behind.

  Len Thompson listened carefully to Ruby, then he casually said, ‘Leave it to me. If he ain’t brought him back be teatime, I’ll arrange for someone to go round there.’

  ‘Do you know where he lives?’ asked Ruby.

  He nodded. ‘I made it me business right from when we first found out who they were, just in case something like this happened. Now go home and don’t worry, he’ll be all right. They won’t hurt him.’

  ‘How can you be sure?’

  Len Thompson put his arm round Ruby’s shoulders. ‘Oh, I’m sure.’

  Slowly Ruby made her way back home. She had suddenly realised just how much this little boy meant to her. These past months she had looked out for him and cared for him, but she hadn’t realised she would come to love him as much as she did. That was it: she would write to Ernie and tell him that if his uncle could pay her fare she would bring Danny to Scotland. She had to get away from the Andersons even if it meant leaving her dad and Tom. Her dad could manage now. Len Thompson would see that they were both well looked after. It was about time she thought about herself and Beth’s child. She loved that little boy so much that the thought of anyone else looking after him - well, she just wouldn’t let that happen.

  Chapter 36

  As Ruby approached her front door she looked across at the dairy. Should she knock and tell Milly what had happened? What good would that do? And hopefully Alfie would bring Danny back before long.

  Tom looked up when she pushed open the kitchen door.

  ‘Ruby. I’m sorry I didn’t let you see me work, but . . .’

  ‘That’s all right.’

  Tom put his pencil down. ‘Where’s Danny?’ he asked, expecting the little lad to be trotting behind Ruby as usual.

  Ruby looked away.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing really. It’s just that I’m a bit, I don’t know, concerned, I suppose.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘Alfie Anderson has taken Danny to see his mum.’

  ‘And you didn’t go with him?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Will he be all right? Will he bring him back?’

  ‘Course he will. Now I must get on with the dinner. Dad will be back after closing time.’

  ‘Dad’ll be ever so wild when he finds out what you’ve done.’

  ‘He knows. I popped in the pub and told him and Mr Thompson.’

  ‘What did they say?’

  ‘Just that we mustn’t worry. He’ll probably bring him back be teatime. Now come on, let me lay the table.’

  ‘Ruby, would you be upset if they kept him and didn’t bring him back?’

  ‘That’s a daft thing to say. Course I’d be upset, silly.’ She was trying very hard not to let Tom see how much this was worrying her.

  The dinner was ready and Ruby opened the kitchen door quickly when she heard her father close the front door.

  ‘Has he come back?’ asked her father.

  Ruby shook her head.

  ‘What we gonner do if he don’t?’ asked Tom.

  ‘Don’t worry, he’ll bring him back. Len will see to that. Look, if he turns up while I’m at work this evening, you’d better come and tell us.’

  ‘Course I will,’ said Ruby, but, without knowing why, she still had her doubts.

  Dinner was a very quiet affair. They missed Danny shouting and making them laugh with his funny antics.

  ‘I hope they’ve put him down for his afternoon nap,’ said Ruby. ‘And changed his bum. I don’t want him getting nappy rash.’

  ‘I expect they have,’ said her father.

  All afternoon they waited for the knock on the door, but it didn’t come.

  After her father had gone back to work Ruby sat and watched the clock. Would they change his nappy and cream his bottom? He had a very sensitive skin. Would they give him the right food and not fill him up with sweets and stuff? What if he got upset in strange surroundings, would they comfort him and make a fuss of him?

  ‘Ruby,’ said Tom, almost startling her, ‘you know my writing?’

  ‘Was it something I shouldn’t see?’

  ‘Well, yes. But it was something Miss Tinsley wanted me to do. She thinks I’ll pass my exam and that I’m bright enough to go to the high school.’

  Ruby sat up. ‘That’s wonderful. You must be very clever.’

  ‘I am trying. Miss Tinsley was very surprised I knew so much. I told her it was you who taught me - she said you must be very clever.’

  Ruby laughed. ‘No, I’m not.’

  ‘If I pass I’d like to go to high school but I don’t think I’ll be able to. She said it’ll cost quite a bit of money.’

  Ruby went over and hugged her brother. ‘We’ll all make sure that you do. I would have loved to have stayed at school, but it wasn’t to be, but now Dad’s working and I . . .’ She stopped. ‘We’ll find the money somehow.’

  After a while Tom said he was going to bed. He was pleased Ruby had gone upstairs, he didn’t want to sleep in Mr Cox’s bed. Ruby said she was going to buy him a proper bed soon. After Mr Cox died Ruby had gone through his things and given a lot of his stuff to the rag and bone man, but kept the sheets and blankets, which she had taken to work to be washed. It was nice for her not to worry any more. His thoughts went to Danny and he hoped he would be back soon. It was funny without him running about getting in to everything. Tom, as ever, was thinking of all that had happened since Beth died. He had never told Ruby about the nightmares he had because he remembered how upset she’d got over their dad’s nightmares. Flashes of Mr Cox would have him waking up sweating. Then there was the one where Beth took his hand and told him not to worry. Just as she was about to kiss the top of his head he would wake up. Nor had he told Ruby he had seen Freddie Porter after Christmas and that Freddie had threatened him if he didn’t stay in his gang. When Tom bravely told him he was involved with the police, Freddie quickly changed his mind and told him to keep away from them. It was when Ruby said he should go to school that he’d decided to work hard and show everybody he was clever. He was lucky his teacher Miss Tinsley liked him and helped him after school. She had said he should go far, and that’s what he intended to do. He would get a certificate and then he’d be able to get a good job. He would show his dad and sister he wasn’t really a thief; besides, he wanted to do it for Beth. The writing he had been hiding from Ruby was a book he was using to write down everything that had happened since Beth came to live with them. He had to do this; it was something he wanted to give Danny when he was older. He should know wha
t a lovely person his mum had been. ‘I hope they bring Danny back soon,’ he mumbled as he fell into a deep sleep.

  When Thomas returned home at eleven o’clock that night Mr Thompson was with him.

  ‘He ain’t turned up then?’ asked Len Thompson.

  ‘No. I’m so sorry. I’m ever so frightened. What if they’ve taken him away?’

  ‘Don’t worry, love, we’re going round there now.’ Her father put his arm round her shoulders.

  ‘What, at this time of night?’

  ‘Can’t let it go on,’ said Len.

  ‘I’ll come with you.’ Ruby stood up and went to get her coat from the nail behind the kitchen door.

  ‘No,’ said Len. ‘It’s best you stay here, just in case he does bring him back a different way to the streets we take.’

  ‘All right.’ Deep down Ruby knew that Alfie wouldn’t bring him back tonight. He was going to make them suffer.

  Ruby was dozing in the chair when the front door banged shut. She jumped up expecting to see the pram being pushed into the passage. But it was only her father and Len Thompson. They both looked full of rage.

  ‘What’s happened?’ she asked.

  ‘The old dear’s only gone and taken him to her sister’s.’

  ‘What? Where does she live?’

  ‘Down Brighton way.’ Len Thompson was balling his fist and pacing the floor.

  ‘She can’t do that,’ said Ruby.

  ‘She can and she has,’ said her father.

  ‘Where’s she got the money for the train fare? They’re hard up. Will she bring him back?’

  ‘The young kid said tomorrow. But if she don’t I’ll have the police round there so fast she’ll wonder what’s hit her.’

  ‘This is all my fault,’ said Ruby sadly.

  ‘No, love. It was on the cards that it would happen one day.’

  ‘I love him so much, I don’t want anything to happen to him.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Ruby, nothing will happen to him. Your dad will be here. Now you go to work tomorrow as usual, the old dear should be back before I open up in the evening.’

  ‘What if she’s not?’

  ‘Then, as I said, I’ll have the police on to her for kidnapping.’

  ‘Can you do that as she’s his grandmother?’

  ‘They’ve got to prove that.’

  ‘Come on, love, you go to bed,’ said her father.

  ‘I don’t feel like it.’

  ‘I’ll be going,’ said Len. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll see you out,’ said Thomas.

  Ruby sat waiting for her father to return. What could she do? She wanted to take Danny away. Should she write to Ernie again and ask him more about Scotland? Could she persuade her father to go with her? And could they find the fare? But what about Tom? His schooling had to be considered. She mustn’t take this chance away from him: he deserved all the support they could give him.

  The next day, after a restless night Ruby went to work with a heavy heart.

  ‘Good morning, Ruby,’ said Mrs Watson cheerfully. ‘Anything the matter? You don’t look very well.’

  ‘I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.’

  ‘Why was that?’

  Since Beth’s death Mrs Watson had been very kind, she had taken Ruby under her wing and Ruby felt she could tell her almost everything. Mrs Watson knew about the letter Ernie had written and at the time had been upset that she wouldn’t be seeing him again.

  Ruby told her most of what had happened.

  ‘I’m sure you’ve nothing to worry about. His grandmother will bring him back, I’m sure.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Now come on, I’ve got some very expensive shirts for you to iron and they mean a little more money for you.’

  Ruby smiled at her. ‘Thank you.’ So many things in her life had begun to go right, but also so many things could so easily go wrong.

  That evening she hurried home hoping to see the pram in the passage, but it wasn’t to be.

  ‘He’s not back then?’ she asked Tom who was poring over some books.

  ‘No. Dad and Mr Thompson have gone round there again.’

  Ruby sat down. What could she do?

  ‘Ruby, they will bring him back, won’t they?’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Dad said would you get something for our tea.’

  ‘Yes. I’ll go now.’

  As Ruby crossed the road her thoughts were still on Danny.

  She stood to one side as Milly finished serving Mrs Mann.

  When Mrs Mann turned she gave Ruby a nod. ‘Everything all right then, young lady?’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’

  ‘I saw your father pushing the boy the other day. I must say he’s a credit to you. Always nicely turned out. I don’t know how you do it. His mother would be very proud of him.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Ruby.

  ‘Must be off, can’t stand about all day chatting. Bye for now.’

  ‘Bye,’ said Ruby and Milly together.

  ‘So, young Ruby, what can I get you?’ asked Milly.

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Are you all right?’

  Ruby shook her head. ‘Alfie Anderson’s taken Danny.’

  ‘What?’ It was more of an explosion than a statement.

  ‘I was in the park yesterday—’

  ‘He took him yesterday?’ interrupted Milly.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And he ain’t brought him back?’

  ‘No. His mum took him to Brighton.’

  ‘Brighton? What’s down there?’

  ‘Her sister.’

  ‘Bloody hell. How did she get all the way down there?’

  Ruby shrugged.

  ‘What’s Mr Thompson doing about it?’

  ‘He’s gonner get the police on to her.’

  ‘Can he do that?’

  ‘He says they can’t prove Beth was an Anderson.’

  ‘I’ll tell you what, you never have a dull moment in your house, do you?’

  ‘No. And a lot we could do without. I need to get something for tea.’

  ‘What d’you fancy?’

  ‘Don’t know. Don’t really feel like eating.’

  ‘Don’t suppose you do. Don’t worry, it’ll be all right.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Now, what’s for tea?’

  ‘I’ll have a bit of bacon, we can have that with an egg.’

  Milly went to the bacon slicer and began turning the handle. ‘You know what keeps going through me mind?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘What will you do if they put him in an orphanage?’

  ‘Oh Milly. Don’t say things like that.’

  ‘Well, I suppose it could happen.’

  ‘No. I wouldn’t let it.’

  ‘You love that little lad, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes I do. I can’t think of life without him now.’

  ‘Well, d’you know what I reckon? You ought to think about getting married and then he could be yours.’

  Ruby gave a silly laugh. ‘And who would have me?’

  ‘What about the boss’s son? He must be worth a bob or two. If you play your cards right I reckon you could have him down the aisle before he knew what hit him.’

  ‘He’s me boss. I don’t think of him like that.’

  ‘You told me you like him.’

  Ruby had told Milly about the two times she had been out with Ben Stone. ‘I know, that’s cos he took me out, but not enough to marry him.’

  ‘Well, I reckon it could work out just fine.’ Milly slapped the bacon onto the greaseproof paper and put it on the scales. ‘Tuppence, that all right?’

  ‘Yes thanks.’ Ruby picked up the bacon. ‘I’ll let you know what happens.’

  ‘You’d better.’

  As Ruby crossed the road, what Milly had said was going over and over in her mind. She gave a little smile and said to herself: I can just see brother Frank accepting
me as part of the family. No, it was Ernie who held her heart strings, even if she could never have him.

  Chapter 37

  Ruby knew she wouldn’t be able to eat anything till she knew Danny was safe. As soon as she’d given Tom his tea she hurried to the Royal Albert. She had to find out what was happening.

  It was getting late and the pub was almost empty when she walked in. She could see her father busy wiping the shelves down behind the bar.

  ‘Hello, Dad.’

  ‘Hello, love.’

  ‘Where’s Mr Thompson?’ she asked, looking round.

  ‘He’s gone to get the boy.’

  ‘She’s brought him back then?’

  ‘We don’t know. If she ain’t he’s going to get the police. Don’t forget he knows a lot of the right people.’

  Ruby was at a loss for words. ‘I’ve given Tom his tea.’

  ‘That’s good.’

  ‘Dad, I’m really worried. I hope they’re looking after him.’

  ‘I think he’ll be all right. They know they’ll have to face Len if not.’

  Ruby knew this was a useless conversation, but she didn’t want to leave till she was sure Danny was well. ‘Can I do anything?’

  ‘Nothing to do. Monday nights is always slow.’

  ‘Has he been gone long?’

  ‘He went at opening time.’

  Ruby was filled with alarm. ‘That was hours ago. You don’t think anything’s happened to him?’

  Her father smiled. ‘I think Len is big enough to look after himself, don’t you?’

  She nodded. ‘I know, but there’s a lot of them and I don’t think they’ve much time for the law.’

  ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be all right. He should be back soon.’

  ‘He must have loved Beth a lot to worry about her son like this.’

  ‘He did, and Danny is the son he’s always wanted.’

  She sat at the bar and watched her father. All of their lives had been turned upside down over these past three years. Who would have thought that her father would be working? And who would have thought he would be willing to look after someone else’s son? And what about Mr Thompson? He was helping them too. Most men would have walked away from these problems, but he was different.