A Change of Fortune

by Beryl Matthews

  Glad put a cup of tea in her hand. ‘We told you to come to us if you was in trouble, didn’t we?’

  ‘I know but it’s such an imposition.’

  Fred grinned. ‘Still using those long words, are you? Drink your tea now.’

  Her hands were shaking so much it was difficult to bring the cup to her lips, but she managed it without spilling too much. After a couple of mouthfuls she began to feel calmer. Fred and Glad were just as she remembered them. They wouldn’t turn her out.

  ‘I was going to try to sleep at Marble Arch Station,’ she told them.

  Fred tutted. ‘You couldn’t do that. It’s much too dangerous for a young girl.’

  ‘Let’s introduce you to everyone.’ Glad smiled. ‘This is our daughter, Ivy, and her husband, Ron. Their two kids, Alice and baby Bert. And this is Fred’s brother, Stan.’

  ‘I’m pleased to meet you all.’ She pulled a hanky out of her pocket, blew her nose and gave a watery smile.

  ‘Now,’ Fred said, sitting opposite her, ‘you tell us what this is all about.’

  For the next half an hour she explained what had happened since she’d met them and they’d taken her to the pawnbroker’s, and about the Stannards dismissing her because they thought she was a thief.

  ‘But I’m not,’ she declared stoutly. ‘Those things are mine, honest.’

  Glad patted her hand. ‘We know that, my dear.’

  Of course they would, Jenny thought, but it was wonderful to know that someone believed she wasn’t lying. They’d seen the items she’d sold to the pawnbroker. ‘I had to leave at once because I was afraid they would find out who I really was.’

  ‘Is that man you told us about still after you?’ Fred asked.

  ‘Yes, and he’s offering a large reward to anyone who can tell him where I am.’ She stood up suddenly, the cup she was still holding rattling in the saucer. That kind of money was probably more than this family had ever seen in their lives. Her situation was hopeless. Why had she ever thought she could get away? But perhaps she could do something good before she condemned herself to a wretched life.

  ‘Sit down, Jen.’ Fred relieved her of the cup.

  After sinking into the chair again, she gazed at Fred and Glad, feeling bewildered and very lost. ‘I don’t know how I can survive without a job. I can’t go back to the agency, because Mrs Dearing would never find me another place, and I don’t stand a chance without references. There’s only one thing I can do and that is go home.’ She felt like moaning at the thought but managed to keep her anguish inside her. ‘But that awful man isn’t going to get me unless he pays! If I tell you who I am, then you can claim the reward of a hundred pounds.’

  Fred was immediately on his feet, an outraged expression on his face. ‘We’ll do no such thing! As far as we’re concerned, you’re a young girl by the name of Jenny who is in trouble. That’s all we need to know.’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t mean to insult you.’ She gazed at each person in the room, wide-eyed with horror that her good intentions had caused such a reaction. Every one had the same disgusted look on their face.

  Glad sat beside her and reached for her hand. ‘We wouldn’t turn you in, not even for the princely sum of one hundred quid.’

  ‘We might not have much,’ Stan said, ‘but we do have our pride. Fred told us about meeting you and how brave they thought you was.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Fred told her. ‘We don’t care who you are. We took a right liking to you when we showed you how to deal with the pawnbroker. Now you’ve come to us for help and we’ll give it willingly.’

  ‘You must be fair worn out,’ Glad said with a smile. ‘You can bunk down with our granddaughter Alice tonight. There’s room for you two little ’uns in that bed, and in the morning we’ll decide what to do, eh? Does you want something to eat?’

  Jenny shook her head, tears very close to the surface again, but tears of relief this time. ‘No, thank you, I’m not hungry, just very tired.’

  ‘One thing’s for sure, my girl.’ Fred gave her a stern look. ‘You’re not going back to become that man’s wife if you don’t want to. Is that understood?’

  She nodded again, beyond words now for the kindness they were showing to her. Then she stood on legs feeling like pieces of wet rag, and let Ivy lead her up the narrow stairs to where her daughter slept. The room was small and dark with room only for the bed and a cot in the corner, but it looked like heaven to Jenny.

  ‘You have a nice rest now and you’ll feel better in the morning.’ Ivy handed her the case she’d brought up with her. ‘Have you got everything you need?’

  ‘Oh, yes, thank you.’ Jenny trembled. ‘I thought I was going to have to sleep outside tonight.’

  ‘You did the right thing by coming to us. My mum and dad haven’t stopped talking about you and wondering how you was getting on. They’re right glad to see you and pleased as punch that you came to them for help.’ Then she left and went back downstairs.

  I’ll never forget this, Jenny vowed as she got in the small bed. One day I’ll repay them for their kindness.

  10

  Exhaustion swamped Jenny as soon as she put her head on the pillow, and the next thing she knew it was morning, with five-year-old Alice sleeping peacefully beside her. She marvelled at the attitude of these people. Alice hadn’t seemed at all perturbed about sharing her bed. The cot was already empty, and she could hear the baby crying downstairs. If he had cried in the night, she hadn’t heard him, but she’d been exhausted and doubted if anything could have woken her up.

  ‘Ah, you’re awake.’ Glad bustled into the room. ‘Up Alice, or you’ll be late for school.’

  The little girl tumbled out of bed and ran from the room with a bright smile on her face, then Glad studied Jenny carefully. ‘You look better this morning. In bad need of a good night’s kip, you was.’

  Jenny sat up. ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Half past seven. Now why don’t you get up, have a bite to eat and we’ll talk over what’s to be done.’

  Jenny swung her legs out of bed. ‘Where’s the bathroom?’

  ‘We ain’t got one of those, Jen. There’s a privy and outhouse by the kitchen. I’ll boil you up a drop of water so you can have a wash.’ Then she bustled out again.

  Before going downstairs, Jenny glanced in the other two rooms on this floor. Each contained a double bed and no room for anything else. She wondered where Fred’s brother, Stan, slept. There certainly wasn’t room up here, so he must sleep downstairs in the front room. The house was very small, she noticed, as she made her way down the steep stairs; you could have fitted the whole of the top floor into the bedroom she’d had at home. And even the attic room she’d shared with Edna had been bigger than these. She was going to miss Edna; they had become good friends. Jenny decided that once she’d sorted things out, she would let Edna know she was all right. It would be wrong to let her worry.

  The kitchen consisted of a large white sink with one tap, an ancient gas stove, a small black leaded fire and a well-scrubbed wooden table.

  Glad looked up from slicing a loaf of bread. ‘There’s a kettle of hot water on the fire, and I’ve put soap and a towel outside for you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Jenny picked up the heavy black cast-iron kettle and went out to the wash-house. The rough brickwork had been given a coat of whitewash, as had the outside toilet. Conditions were primitive in Jenny’s eyes, but it was spotlessly clean. She shivered as she stripped down for a wash. Being late September, there was an early-morning nip in the air. It must be freezing out here in the winter, she thought, as she got back into her clothes as quickly as possible.

  Picking up the kettle, she went back to the kitchen, a heavy weight of sadness pressing on her. Her quiet moan was laced with fear. What was to become of her?

  Her shoulders drooped as she put the kettle back on the draining board. She couldn’t stay here. Glad and Fred obviously had enough trouble caring for their own family. They didn’t have room for s
omeone who was nothing to do with them.

  ‘Come and sit down,’ Glad said, placing an arm around her. ‘Fred and Stan will be back for their breakfast soon, and then we’ll sort something out for you.’

  Jenny didn’t know what could be done.

  Fred and Stan walked in just then, quickly followed by Ivy. They all sat round the table, and Glad put a thick slice of bread in front of each of them. It was spread with a thin scraping of butter, but it tasted good to Jenny. She was very hungry, and the tea was hot and strong.

  ‘Get some good stuff this morning?’ Glad asked the men.

  ‘Not bad, but prices is getting steep,’ Fred told her. ‘And we’ve just heard that Talbots Engineering has laid off fifty workers. Things is getting tough.’

  ‘I know, and I reckon it’s going to get worse.’ Glad’s usual cheery expression slipped for a moment, then brightened again. ‘At least you and Stan can’t get laid off because you work for yourselves.’

  ‘What about Ron?’ Stan asked Ivy. ‘Is he still all right at his factory?’

  ‘So far, but there’s talk about cutting the hours because of falling orders. He’s a good carpenter but sales of furniture have dropped off. And that means a cut in pay. I don’t know how we’re ever going to be able to afford a place of our own, Mum.’

  ‘Don’t you worry about that.’ Glad dismissed her daughter’s worries. ‘We’re a bit cramped, but we’ll manage.’

  Fred gave Jenny a wry smile. ‘When you told us that your dad had lost everything in the stock market crash, I never thought something that had happened in New York would touch us. I was wrong, though. That disaster is starting to be felt everywhere.’

  Jenny was puzzled. It was understandable that as her father had been a member of the New York Stock Exchange, he had lost his money when it collapsed. But how could something like that touch the lives of ordinary people? The Templeton School had been a lovely place, but Jenny was beginning to see how little it taught them about the outside world.

  ‘I hope it doesn’t get too bad,’ she said.

  ‘Nah, ’course it won’t,’ Stan laughed. ‘As long as we can keep the barrow going, we’ll be okay.’

  ‘Barrow?’ Jenny looked at Fred for an explanation.

  ‘We’re costers, luv,’ he told her, and then laughed at her bewildered expression. ‘Costermongers. We goes along to Covent Garden Market early in the morning, buy up fruit and veg, and sell it from a barrow at the market in The Cut.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’

  ‘Now,’ Glad said, ‘let’s see if we can sort you out, Jen. You got any ideas, Fred?’

  He shook his head. ‘Bugger if I know.’

  ‘I can’t stay here,’ Jenny said quickly. ‘I’m so grateful you took me in last night, but there isn’t room. I’d be a burden to you, and that would make me very unhappy. You must let me pay for my bed and breakfast.’

  Glad patted her hand reassuringly. ‘We don’t want your money, Jen. You’re a nice kid and we want to help.’

  ‘What about Ma Adams?’ Ivy interrupted. ‘Since her old man died she’s alone in that house and needs some help.’

  ‘Of course!’ Glad beamed at her daughter. ‘Ma Adams would love to take her in for a bit of help with the cleaning, shopping and cooking. But Jen will need a job as well.’

  ‘I might be able to get her something with my lot.’ Ivy cast a doubtful glance at Jenny. ‘Do you mind charring? It’s hard graft, but we’re free after about ten in the morning.’

  Jenny knew that a charwoman cleaned and scrubbed, and she’d been doing that kind of work as under housemaid. ‘I don’t mind what I do! I’d be very grateful if you could fix it for me.’

  Ivy stood up. ‘I’m just off to my second job, so I’ll see what I can do for you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Jenny began to feel more hopeful. If this Ma Adams gave her a room in her house, and Ivy could get her a job, then she’d be all right. And she wouldn’t mind staying with these kind people.

  Having finished their bread and tea, the men also got ready to leave.

  ‘We’ll be home at the usual time.’ Fred kissed his wife on the cheek. ‘Take Jen to see Ma Adams.’

  ‘I’ll do that this morning. Do well today.’

  ‘We’ll ’oller until we’re hoarse,’ Stan told them with a grin.

  When they’d gone, Jenny gathered up the dishes and began to wash up.

  ‘Thanks,’ Glad said. ‘I’ll just go and get the nipper dressed, and then we’ll pop along to Ma Adams; she’s only next door.’

  The front door was open, so Glad, carrying baby Bert, walked straight in. Jenny followed. The room was identical to Fred and Glad’s, except it was badly in need of a good clean. An elderly woman sitting in a battered but comfortable-looking armchair smiled when she saw them.

  ‘Hello, Glad. My, but that kid’s growing fast. Here, let me have him while you make us a nice cuppa.’

  The baby was handed over, and Ma Adams studied Jenny thoughtfully. Her faded blue eyes alive with intelligence. ‘And who’s this, then?’

  ‘This is Jenny. She’s in a spot of bother and needs help.’

  ‘Ah. Got yourself pregnant, have you?’

  ‘No, I haven’t, Mrs Adams!’ Jenny was indignant. ‘I’ve lost my job and had nowhere to go.’

  The skin crinkled around the alert gaze as Ma grinned. ‘Don’t get on your high horse, ducky. I was just asking. Stop hovering in the doorway and come and sit where I can see you properly. And the name’s Ma.’

  As ordered, Jenny sat opposite her just as Glad came back with the tea.

  ‘Bit posh, ain’t she?’ Ma said, putting the baby over her shoulder and patting his back, giving a satisfied grunt when he burped loudly. ‘Where’d you find her?’

  ‘On her way to the pawnbroker’s.’ Glad took Bert away from her and propped him in an armchair so he could see what was going on.

  ‘I needed some money in a hurry,’ Jenny supplied helpfully.

  ‘Folks don’t go to those buggers for any other reason.’ Ma cackled with mirth and slapped her knee in delight. ‘I’d love to have been a fly on the wall then. Who did you go to?’

  ‘Erm …’ Jenny hesitated, ‘he was called Uncle.’

  That produced another rumble of laughter. ‘Did you get what you wanted?’

  ‘He finally paid up, with Fred and Glad’s help.’

  The blue eyes were fairly sparkling now as she turned to Glad. ‘I’ll bet the crafty old devil thought he was on to a good thing as soon as she opened her mouth. She sounds like one of those posh talkers on the wireless.’

  Once away from the pretence of hiding her identity while at the Stannards’, Jenny had quickly reverted to her natural way of speaking.

  Glad was laughing as well. ‘We enjoyed squeezing a bit extra out of him, but Jen was no pushover.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose she was. Now, why have you brought her to me?’

  The explanation took no more than five minutes, and at the end Ma nodded.

  ‘Running away, are you?’

  Jenny nodded.

  ‘Good for you. Nice to see a girl with a bit of gumption.’

  The praise given with such obvious approval made Jenny square her shoulders, the defeated feeling of earlier completely vanishing.

  ‘I like her,’ Ma said to Glad. ‘We can do each other a bit of good.’

  Then Ma set out her terms to Jenny. ‘I can’t pay you nothing, but you can have the back bedroom, and in exchange for that I’ll expect some help with the house, shopping and cooking. I’m not completely helpless, but I can’t stand for long and the shops is impossible for me now. However, my body might be feeble but I’ve still got all my marbles,’ she announced with a flash of pride.

  What did that mean? Jenny frowned.

  ‘That means I ain’t daft yet,’ Ma said, guessing her thoughts.

  Jenny’s grin spread. That the elderly woman was still in control of her mental faculties was obvious. ‘Thank you for giving me a room,
and I think we shall get along just fine.’

  ‘You go and get your things, then you can get me a bit of shopping.’

  As they left the house, Jenny heard Ma say quietly, ‘Thanks, Glad.’

  Jenny moved in her few possessions immediately. The back bedroom was tiny, with room for only a bed and a small cupboard, but it seemed like heaven to her. She had been so frightened that she would end up homeless and sleeping anywhere she could find. She knew that some young girls ended up as prostitutes in an effort to get enough money to live on, but nothing on this earth would make her do that. She would rather starve.

  After settling in her room, she went to the kitchen and looked through the larder. As there was little food in the house, her first task was to get the shopping. Armed with Ma’s list and half a crown, Jenny walked up to the small parade of shops at the top of the street. She watched in fascination as the grocer cut off the required amount of butter from a large slab and patted it into shape with a pair of wooden paddles. She put in another one and sixpence to add to the meagre basket of goods. One lesson she had learnt over the last few months was to be careful with money, so she spent wisely and was quite pleased with her efforts.

  She returned to the house and was just putting the purchases on the kitchen table so she could decide how to make the best of them when Ma came in, walking with difficulty and leaning heavily on a cane.

  ‘You never got all that for two and six,’ Ma said suspiciously. ‘You been spending your own money?’

  There was little point denying it with those sharp eyes pricing every item on the table. ‘I bought a few extras. After all, you’ve been kind enough to give me a room and I can’t let you pay for my food as well.’

  ‘Humph! Well, if you can’t get a job you can stop that.’ Ma pulled the wrapping aside on one packet. ‘I see you got the butcher’s best bangers. We’ll have them for our dinner.’