by Joan Jonker
‘Yer weren’t the only winner,’ Joan reminded her, thinking this swanking could get out of hand if it wasn’t nipped in the bud. ‘Sally Hunter won as well.’
‘I was going to tell me mam that if yer’d given me the chance.’ Ginny watched her mother examining the black woollen gloves. ‘They’re nice, aren’t they, Mam? Just what I need for this cold weather.’
Before Beth could answer, Flo had decided that the news wasn’t worth freezing to death for, especially as she had a fire roaring up the chimney. And anyway, her feller wouldn’t be interested in a pair of woollen gloves. He was only ever interested if someone won on the gee-gees. ‘I’d better get in and see to the dinner. But yer’ve done well, queen, and I hope yer luck holds out for the interview tomorrow. Ta-ra for now.’
‘Ta-ra, sunshine, I’m getting in out of the cold meself,’ Beth said, rubbing her arms. ‘Come in and tell Hannah yer news, Ginny, she’ll be made up for yer. And she’s got some news of her own, which she’s been waiting to tell yer.’
‘Ooh, what is it, Mrs Porter?’ Joan asked, afraid she was going to miss something. ‘Go on, tell us.’
‘It wouldn’t be right for me to be giving Mrs Bailey’s news out, sunshine, she might not like it. So wait until tomorrow and Ginny will tell yer.’
Her daughter was eager to hear what Mrs Bailey’s news was, and to pass on her own. So she patted her friend’s arm, saying, ‘I’m going in. But don’t forget I won’t be calling for yer in the morning ’cos I’ve to be at the Labour Exchange for eight-thirty. But I’m to go into school after the interview, so I’ll tell yer everything then. Are yer going to wish me luck?’
‘Yeah, of course I am. I hope yer amaze them with yer brilliance.’
Hannah was waiting with her arms outstretched when Ginny entered the room. ‘Come and give us a kiss, yer clever girl. I told yer yer’d win, didn’t I?’
Ginny gave her a hug. ‘See the posh gloves I won? There’ll be no flies on me tomorrow, they’ll all be bluebottles.’ She hung her coat up and then sat next to Hannah on the couch. ‘Me mam said yer had some news to tell me?’
‘Yes, some wonderful news. I had a letter from Claire to say her and the children will be coming on Wednesday, and they’ll be staying in Liverpool for good.’
‘That was quick, wasn’t it? Yer weren’t expecting an answer for another few days.’
‘She got my letter by the morning post, wrote a letter back and had it in the pillar box in time for the dinnertime collection. She says she can’t wait to get back up here, and the children are really looking forward to coming back to the place they call home. They’re only renting the house so there’s no problem there, and what furniture they’ve got she’s going to sell. Yer see, it would cost a lot of money to have it sent from Birmingham to here, so she’s going to sell the lot. Except personal things, like photographs and ornaments, she intends to bring them with her.’
‘I can tell by yer face that ye’re really happy now, and I’m pleased for yer. It’s been a good day for both of us, hasn’t it?’
Beth could feel tears stinging the backs of her eyes as she watched. Her daughter so young, yet so understanding and caring, had found a place in her heart for this woman who was old enough to be her grandmother. A strong bond had grown between them over the last few days, and it was that bond which had helped Hannah through the darkest patch in her life.
‘So, Mrs Bailey, we’ve both been lucky today, eh?’ Ginny pressed her face close. ‘Let’s hope my luck stays with me tomorrow.’
‘It will, sweetheart, I know it will.’
‘Well, I intend to give it everything I’ve got. I’m going to wash me hair now and put it in pipe cleaners, then I’m going to polish me shoes until I can see me face in them. And I’m going to try and get around me mam to lend me her handbag so I can keep the envelope with me report in clean. I don’t think I’d stand much chance if I walked in with me old school satchel. Mind you, if I did, they might give me the job because they feel sorry for me.’
‘I’ve got a small black handbag in the wardrobe, sunshine, yer can borrow that,’ Beth said. ‘I never use it ’cos it doesn’t hold very much, but it’s really smart.’
Ginny’s blue eyes lit up in her pretty face. ‘Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Am I going to look glamorous or am I going to look glamorous? Watch out, Mr Woolworth, ’cos here comes Miss Virginia Porter.’
Chapter Seven
Ginny had arranged to meet her classmates outside the Labour Exchange at half-past eight, but because she was afraid of being late she’d set out very early. There was no one else standing outside the building and she regretted not spending an extra ten minutes in front of the fire. But she really wouldn’t have enjoyed those ten minutes because her heart was racing and her tummy felt as though there were hundreds of butterflies flapping their wings inside it.
She glanced up and down the road, hoping for a sight of the other three girls, and sighed when there was no sign. If they didn’t come soon, they stood no chance of getting into town in time for the interview. But she wasn’t going to be late because of them, so if they weren’t here in five minutes, she’d go into the Labour Exchange building on her own. The new woollen gloves, of which she was very proud, were keeping her hands nice and warm, but her feet were beginning to feel the cold with standing still. It was a real wintry morning, damp and foggy, and the people who passed were well wrapped up against the cold. Many of them had huge mufflers wrapped around their neck and covering most of their face, leaving only noses and eyes exposed. Their breath hung suspended in the cold air for seconds after they’d moved on.
‘Hi-ya, Ginny.’ Marie Whittaker’s voice startled Ginny, who was looking in the opposite direction. ‘Haven’t the other two turned up yet?’
She gave a sigh of relief before saying, ‘I was beginning to think none of yer were going to turn up.’ Then she grinned. ‘Yer nose is so red yer could warm yer hands on it.’
‘I can’t feel it so it must be numb.’ Marie was a pretty girl with naturally curly mousy hair and a winning smile that showed off a set of perfect white teeth. ‘In fact I don’t feel anything! I don’t know if it’s with the cold or fright.’
‘I’m nervous myself so ye’re not on yer own,’ Ginny admitted. ‘But me mam said everyone is afraid when they go after their first job. And she also told me there was no point in worrying ’cos it wouldn’t alter things. The worst that can happen is that we don’t get the job, and even if that does happen, at least we’ll have gained a little experience and won’t be so frightened next time.’ She glanced nervously up and down the road before shaking her head.
‘They should be well here by now. And what happens if they’ve no intention of turning up, and we’re stood here like a pair of lemons wasting our time? In fact, because of them, we could miss the chance of getting a job. A good job, at that! One I’d give me eye teeth for.’
‘Miss Bond won’t be happy with them if they don’t turn up,’ Marie said. ‘In fact they’ll be in serious trouble.’
‘Yer don’t think that’ll worry them, do yer? There’s only another week at school so they’re not going to lose any sleep over Miss Bond.’ Ginny did two quick turns of her head then took Marie’s arm. ‘They mightn’t care about getting themselves a decent job, but you and I do! So let’s go in and get the cards we need for the interview. If we leave it any longer we might just miss out.’
Marie nodded. ‘Okay, let’s go! But I’m surprised their mothers didn’t make sure they set off early enough. Mine did. She had me out of bed by seven and made me get stripped off and washed in the kitchen sink before she’d give me any breakfast.’
‘Like my mam, she’s probably looking forward to yer bringing a wage in. I know we won’t be earning much, but even a few bob will make a difference to my mam. She won’t have to rob Peter every week to pay Paul.’
Marie leaned closer and whispered, ‘I wonder if that’s the same Peter and Paul that my mam has dealings with?’ They were in
the entrance hall of the building now, with double doors facing them. ‘Ooh, I wonder where we’re supposed to go?’
‘All the people I’ve seen coming in have gone through those doors, so as they’re the only ones, I imagine that’s where we need to go.’ As Ginny pushed open the doors and strode through them confidently it was her mother’s parting words ringing in her ears that bolstered that confidence and put an extra spring in her step. ‘We’d better ask at this counter.’
There were two clerks sitting behind the counter, one busy talking to a man and making notes, the other riffling through a pile of papers in front of him. ‘Excuse me,’ Ginny said, ‘we’ve been told by our headmistress to come here to collect cards we need to go for an interview at Woolworth’s. Can yer tell us what we have to do?’
The young clerk nodded. ‘I can help you. Is it the Woolworth store in Church Street?’
‘Yes.’ And feeling proud of having got this far, Ginny couldn’t help adding, ‘Me and me friend are dead excited.’
The clerk grinned. ‘There’s only two jobs going, and dozens of girls will be after them. But the two that are taken on will be lucky ’cos it’s a good firm to work for.’ He bent down to reach under the counter and was lost to view for a few seconds. When he reappeared, he had two white cards in his hand. ‘These are no good without your school references. Do you have them with you?’
With more than a little pride, Ginny tapped the neat patent leather clutch handbag which had been a present from her father to her mother about five years ago. But because it wasn’t serviceable, only fit for if you were getting dolled up, it had never been used. ‘Mine’s in here, being kept nice and clean.’ She looked enquiringly at her classmate. ‘Have yer got yours, Marie?’ When the girl nodded, Ginny smiled. ‘All present and accounted for.’
Two white cards were passed across the counter. ‘You can fill them in here, and when you’ve completed them, I’ll check to make sure the questions have been answered correctly.’
Ginny looked past the clerk to the large round clock on the wall behind him. ‘It’s turned half-eight, we’re going to have to hurry. It wouldn’t look good if we turned up late for an interview.’
The clerk pulled one of the cards back. ‘I’ll fill it in then. I want your full name and address, and your date of birth.’ He was writing quickly. ‘School and name of headmistress?’ In a matter of minutes, both cards had been completed and the young man was wishing them luck.
‘Thank you.’ Ginny took care putting the card in her bag. That was to be kept as clean as the letter. ‘Yer’ve been very kind.’
‘Just be pleasant, but not forward, and keep those smiles on your faces. Then you won’t go far wrong. Those are the main things an employer will be looking for when taking on someone who will be working with the public.’ The clerk looked at the queue building up behind the girls and could see heads being shaken impatiently. ‘Good luck.’
Once they were out of the building, Ginny took to her heels. ‘Come on, Marie, let’s make a run for it.’ They reached the bottom of the street and turned the corner into a busy main road where they would catch a tram. And who should they see sauntering along as though they had all the time in the world but their two classmates, Alice and Doreen?
‘Hey, where d’yer think ye’re off to?’ Alice asked. ‘We were supposed to be sticking together, and here’s you two sneaking off.’
‘We’re not sneaking off,’ Ginny said, a look of disgust on her face when she noted the other girls’ uncombed hair and unpolished shoes. No effort had been made to smarten themselves up for what should be an important event in their lives. ‘Why should we sneak away from you? To hear you talk, anyone would think we’re frightened of yer.’
Alice brazened it out. ‘Well, yer can just come back to the Exchange with us or we’ll tell Miss Bond on yer.’
‘I don’t care who yer tell, I’m not coming back with yer. If you can’t be bothered getting out of bed on time, that’s your worry, not mine. I’m going after a job, and I’m not turning up late because of you two lazy beggars.’
‘Me neither,’ Marie told them, taking some of Ginny’s courage on board. ‘We’re getting the first tram that comes along whether yer like it or not.’
Alice, the bolder of the two girls and a noted bully, pushed her face close to Ginny’s. ‘If we get into trouble through you, yer snotty-nosed cow, yer’ll be sorry. I’ll get yer in the playground and by the time I’ve finished belting yer, yer’ll be running home to yer mammy, crying like the baby yer are.’
While Marie backed away a little, Ginny tutted and shook her head. ‘Oh, dear, oh, dear! Aren’t you feeling brave this morning! Well, yer don’t frighten me with yer threats. In fact, it wouldn’t worry me if yer brought yer mam and dad to me.’ She caught sight of a tram trundling towards them and pulled on Marie’s arm. ‘Come on, here’s our tram. Let’s leave these two to figure out what excuse they can make to Miss Bond for being too late for the interviews.’
About the same time as her daughter was hopping aboard the tram, Beth was seeing her son off to school. ‘Yer could do with a new coat, sunshine, that one’s on its last legs. It’s practically threadbare. But it’ll have to do yer for a while longer, I’m afraid, ’cos I couldn’t afford one now, not with Christmas only days away. But it’ll be my priority after the holidays, I promise. Keep that muffler tight around yer neck and stick yer hands in yer pockets. If yer run quick enough, yer could be in school before the cold gets to yer.’
‘I’m all right, Mam, don’t be worrying.’ Joey at thirteen considered himself almost grown up. ‘Anyway, I don’t feel the cold.’
‘I know yer don’t, sunshine, ye’re tough like yer dad.’
Her son’s chest expanded about six inches. His father was his hero, and Joey wanted to be just like him when he was a man. He already had the raven hair and deep brown eyes, all he needed now was to grow about eighteen inches, upward and outward. ‘Yeah, I’m going to be just like me dad.’ He gave her a beaming smile. ‘I’ll see yer later, Mam.’
Beth waited until he reached the corner of the street, and gave a final wave before shutting the door. ‘He’s a little love, that son of mine,’ she told Hannah, ‘never moans or asks for anything he knows we can’t afford.’
‘Yer have two wonderful children, sweetheart, yer have every right to be proud of them.’ The older woman made her way towards the kitchen. ‘I’ll wash the dishes while you do whatever else is to be done.’
‘No, we’ll do them between us. I’ll wash and you can dry.’ Beth turned up the gas under the kettle. ‘The water won’t be long.’
They’d finished the dishes and Beth was putting them away in the cupboards when she turned to Hannah. ‘Ye’re very quiet, sunshine, yer’ve never said a word since we started the dishes. Are yer feeling all right?’
‘Yes, I’m fine.’ Hannah forced a smile to her face, but not before Beth had heard her let out a low sigh.
‘Come to think of it, yer’ve been quiet since yer got out of bed. Not that ye’re ever very noisy or talking all the time.’ Beth wiped her hands on the towel hanging on a nail behind the kitchen door. ‘Come and let’s sit by the fire, it’s freezing in this kitchen. There’s a dirty big gap under the door and I’m fed up asking Andy to put a strip of wood across the bottom. He keeps putting it off, but there’s no point in me having a big fire in the living room when there’s a ruddy draught coming through that could blow yer off yer feet.’
Hannah took her usual speck in the corner of the couch. Although she was doing her best to look as though she hadn’t a care in the world, it didn’t quite come off. Beth, who had been in her company for nearly four days now, and keeping a close eye on her, could tell there was something on the old lady’s mind. ‘Come on, sunshine, out with it. And don’t tell me there’s nothing bothering yer ’cos it’s sticking out a mile. My ma’s got a saying about a trouble shared is a trouble halved, and she’s right. So tell us what’s niggling yer and I’ll see if I ca
n help in any way.’
‘It’s nothing really, and yer couldn’t help anyway.’
‘How d’yer know I couldn’t? If yer don’t ask, yer’ll never know, will yer? So get it off yer chest and yer’ll feel better.’
‘Well, it’s like this, sweetheart – I’m worried about the sleeping arrangements when Claire and the children come. Apart from my double bed, there’s only the single one that our John used to sleep in. If the children were the same sex it wouldn’t matter, they could snuggle up together and make do for a while. But Bobby’s sixteen and Amelia’s fifteen, so there’s no way they can share a room, never mind a bed.’
‘Well, the room will be sorted out at the weekend when the men put the partition up, but I don’t know how ye’re going to manage for sleeping arrangements. Claire can kip in with you, but yer could do with another single bed.’
‘I know that, but I can’t afford to buy one. I want them to feel welcome when they arrive, instead of me saying there’s nowhere for them all to sleep. That would sound as though I don’t really want them to stay with me. It’s been going around in me head for a day or two now, giving me a splitting headache.’
‘I can’t help yer out with money, sunshine, ’cos it’s going to take me all me time to manage over Christmas as it is. And I know for certain Dot, Flo and Lizzie are in the same boat. Even though Lizzie’s two eldest lads are working, they only earn buttons and she’s got the two girls to keep. We get our Christmas Tontine money next week, but mine’s all spoken for, otherwise I’d try and help yer.’
‘Isn’t there a woman in one of the streets who lends money out? I heard about her once but I don’t know her name or where she lives. Apparently she lends money to people who are stuck, and they pay her back a few bob a week.’
‘Ye’re talking about Ma Maloney, sunshine, and yer’d do well to keep away from her. She might be sweet as anything to yer face, but you miss a week’s payment and she’ll be round to your house and make a holy show of yer. I’ve heard she pulled a woman out of her house by her hair ’cos she didn’t have the money to pay her. If yer get in her clutches, yer’ll never get out. Anyone will tell yer that Ma Maloney doesn’t have a heart, she’s got a swinging brick in its place.’