A Change of Fortune

by Beryl Matthews

  After much haggling, she managed to get four shillings out of him. It was a scandalous amount for such an exquisite and expensive dress, but it was no use to her now. She pocketed the money and headed for the shops. This would feed her and Ma for a few days, if she shopped carefully.

  21

  After her visit to the pawnbroker’s yesterday, Jenny decided that she was going to make the councillors listen to her this time. But as soon as she walked into the Town Hall, it was obvious that it was hopeless. The place was already packed with people arguing or just standing around looking dejected. The noise was deafening as everyone tried to talk at the same time. Children were hanging on to their mothers and screaming, frightened by the raised voices.

  Knowing that she didn’t stand a chance of seeing anyone in authority today, she was about to turn around and leave when she recognized a woman coming out of a room with a determined expression on her face.

  Jenny pushed towards her. ‘Mrs Stannard.’

  ‘Oh, hello, my dear.’ She caught hold of Jenny’s arm. ‘Let’s get out of here. It’s bedlam.’

  After a struggle they finally managed to make their way out of the building.

  ‘Phew! That’s better.’ Louise grimaced. ‘I’ve spent the last hour shouting at the chairman of the council, and trying to impress him with the name of every influential person on our committee.’

  ‘You’re going ahead with the centre?’

  ‘Of course.’ Her expression changed from exasperation to triumph. ‘We’ve finally got the go-ahead to use the hall Matt was shown.’

  ‘Oh, that’s wonderful!’ Jenny’s hopes soared. ‘When will it be open?’

  ‘We intend to have it running within a week, but it needs a lot of work done on it first. It’s in a terrible state.’

  At the mention of work, Jenny said, ‘You’ll need to employ some men, then?’

  ‘About three.’ Mrs Stannard looked sad. ‘It will only be for a couple of weeks, but there won’t be a shortage of applicants, will there?’

  Jenny shook her head. ‘No, they’ll be queuing up once word gets out. Would you give two from Forest Road first chance? There’s young Jimmy – his father died recently. Then there’s Ron – he’s an excellent carpenter.’

  ‘You send them along to the hall at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.’

  ‘Thank you very much.’ Jenny’s eyes shone.

  Her former employer smiled gently. ‘You didn’t believe I would bother with this, did you, Jenny?’

  ‘To be honest I thought I was wasting my time appealing to you, but I’ll try anything to help my friends. I did think you’d forgotten about it, though.’

  ‘My son Matt wouldn’t let me forget,’ she laughed.

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘You don’t know my boys, Jenny, but they’re eager to help in any way they can. They are all fine men.’ She looked so proud as she talked about her sons. ‘They care. We all care. Even my husband, though you may find that hard to believe after the way he treated you. He still frets about it.’

  ‘He shouldn’t do that.’ Jenny didn’t feel animosity towards any of them now. ‘It’s all worked out for the best.’

  ‘Has it, Jenny?’ Louise said softly.

  ‘Oh, yes, I’m happy where I am.’ And she knew that was the truth. The life she was now living had important things her former existence had lacked: friendship, love and a genuine caring for each other. They were all priceless qualities.

  Louise glanced at the clock over the Town Hall door. ‘My goodness, look at the time. I must hurry, Jenny. There’s a great deal to do and not a moment to lose.’ Before rushing off, she kissed Jenny’s cheek. ‘You take care of yourself, my dear.’

  Jenny watched her hurry up the road, her stride purposeful. She couldn’t believe that show of affection. Louise Stannard had just kissed her former under housemaid! Completely oblivious to the rain now coming down in a torrent, she laughed out loud as she began to run home with the good news for Jimmy and Ron. What a strange world this was.

  Breathless, Jenny tumbled into Fred and Glad’s front room. ‘Oh, good, you’re both here,’ she gasped, seeing Ron and Jimmy there.

  ‘Stop and catch your breath before you try to talk,’ Glad said, grinning. ‘Whatever are you so excited about?’

  ‘I’ve just seen Mrs Stannard at the Town Hall. She’s going to open the centre in about a week. She said that if Ron and Jimmy go along to the old community hall at about two o’clock tomorrow, there might be a job for them.’ When Jenny saw their faces light up with hope, she added quickly, ‘It will only be for a couple of weeks, though.’

  ‘That don’t matter!’ Ron laughed and kissed her cheek. ‘You’re soaking wet!’

  Jimmy was hopping around in excitement. ‘Let’s get there early, Ron. When word gets around, there’ll be dozens fighting for the jobs. Let’s be first in the queue.’

  ‘Ask for Mrs Stannard. Tell her you’re from Forest Road and I’ve sent you.’ Jenny was as excited as they were with this bit of good luck.

  Jimmy kissed her shyly on the cheek and shot out of the door, red-faced.

  ‘My goodness, everyone’s kissing me today.’

  ‘Ah, what it is to be young and beautiful,’ Glad teased. ‘Thanks for putting them up for the job. They’ll be right grateful for anything. Fancy a cup of tea?’

  ‘No, thanks, Glad, I must go and get Ma’s dinner.’ With a cheery wave, Jenny went next door, to find Ma fidgeting anxiously when she arrived.

  ‘You’ve been a long time! And what the blazes have you been up to? Where’s your ’at?’

  Jenny recoiled at the sharpness in Ma’s tone, but she answered gently. ‘I’ve been to the council offices. I told you that was where I was going. My hat must have come off as I ran home and I didn’t notice.’ She edged towards the kitchen. She had expected Ma to laugh at the mess she was in, not react like this.

  ‘You stay where you are, my girl. I ain’t finished with you yet!’

  Jenny sighed. ‘Ma, I’m wet through and gasping for a cup of tea.’

  The elderly woman ignored her plea. ‘You should have waited until it stopped raining. You’ll catch your death of cold, Bessie.’

  Nearly at the kitchen door, Jenny stopped and spun round so fast she nearly toppled over. Bessie? Ma’s eyes were brimming with tears, and her mouth trembling.

  ‘You could ’ave caught pneumonia,’ Ma cried. ‘And I couldn’t have stood that. You mustn’t leave me, Bessie.’

  Jenny rushed over and knelt beside Ma, taking her trembling hands in hers. ‘I’m only wet. Don’t upset yourself, Ma. I’m never going to leave you.’

  Ma closed her eyes for a moment and Jenny stayed where she was, terribly alarmed that she had called her Bessie – the name of the little daughter she had lost so long ago.

  When Ma opened her eyes again, the tears had gone and she smiled. ‘I know you won’t leave me. You’re a good girl, Jen.’

  Relief flooded through Jenny. It had obviously been a momentary lapse. She stood up. ‘Would you like a cup of tea first, and I’ll clean myself up after?’

  Ma nodded, and gave her usual infectious laugh. ‘You’d better get in the tin bath with all your clothes on. You’ve got a hole in your stocking and mud all over your legs.’

  Jenny joined in the laughter and went to make the tea. That had been a fright, but Ma seemed all right now.

  ‘Ma,’ Ivy said, rushing in. ‘Have you heard? Jen might have got Ron and Jimmy a job at the centre!’

  The kitchen was only a few steps from the front room, and Jenny could hear them talking quite clearly. Ivy sounded excited. The tea was nearly made when Glad came in as well, so she put two more cups on the tray and a plate of biscuits. Ma always loved a biscuit with her tea.

  ‘Ah, that’s grand, Ivy. Jen’s in the kitchen and she’s in a right state,’ Ma said. ‘All wet, and lost her ’at.’

  Glad walked in and took the tray from her. ‘I’ll see to this. You go and get out of those wet
things.’

  ‘I’ll do it when we’ve had tea.’

  ‘You’ll do it now.’ Glad gave a look that said don’t argue with me. ‘Go on, strip off, dry yourself properly and put your other dress on. It won’t take a moment and the tea will stay hot.’

  Knowing it was useless to argue, Jenny dashed upstairs for her frock and nipped down again to the outhouse. There she peeled off the wet clothes and towelled herself dry until her skin was pink and glowing, put the dry clothes on and returned to the front room. All this had been done quickly and she was now badly in need of a cup of tea.

  ‘Ah, that looks better.’ Ma looked her up and down, then smiled. ‘We’ve saved you a bicky.’

  ‘Tell us what Mrs Stannard said about the centre.’ Ivy was clearly eager to know about the jobs.

  Jenny told them what had happened at the council offices and about her meeting with Mrs Stannard. When she finished, Ma scowled.

  ‘Didn’t bother to wait for it to stop raining before running home with the news. Lost her ’at, she has.’ This was something that was still bothering Ma.

  ‘Never mind,’ Glad laughed. ‘We’ll find her another one. Now, Jen, where are your clothes?’

  ‘In the outhouse. I’ll see to them later. They’ll soon dry in front of the fire.’

  ‘Got a hole in her stocking as well.’ Ma hadn’t finished with the subject.

  ‘I’ll darn it for her, Ma.’ Ivy was studying the elderly woman, a deep frown on her face. ‘You know how neat my darning is.’

  Ma nodded. That’s right, you look after my girl.’ Then she inexplicably fell asleep.

  Glad, Ivy and Jenny went into the kitchen and closed the door so they could talk without waking Ma.

  ‘She ain’t right,’ Glad said.

  ‘I know. She called me Bessie.’ Jenny chewed her lips in worry. ‘Do you think she’s getting … erm … confused?’

  ‘Looks like it.’ Glad glanced back at the room where Ma was sleeping. ‘She thinks of you as her daughter and she’s having trouble keeping you separate from little Bessie.’

  ‘You call if you need us,’ Ivy told her.

  ‘And if she calls you Bessie again, don’t tell her no different.’ Glad patted Jenny’s arm. ‘It’ll make her happy to believe she’s still got her daughter. But keep an eye on her.’

  ‘Oh, I shall.’ Jenny had been out nearly every day trying to find work, but she would stay close to Ma until she knew she was all right. This muddled thinking was so unlike her, and very worrying.

  When Glad and Ivy had left, Jenny went back to the front room and stood gazing at Ma, sleeping peacefully. ‘Don’t you worry, Ma.’ She spoke softly. ‘I won’t leave you, and if you want to call me Bessie, then you go ahead. I’m honoured to be your daughter.’

  Later that evening, when Ma was in bed, Jenny used every kettle and saucepan to boil water. With her clothes steaming nicely in front of the fire, it was time to clean herself up properly. Hoisting the old tin bath from its hook in the outhouse, she dragged it into the kitchen and managed to fill it enough to have a decent soak in warm water. She settled in with a sigh of bliss.

  Leaning back, she closed her eyes, letting her mind drift, thinking of nothing in particular. Only when she realized that the water was nearly cold did she spur herself to wash her body and her hair. She then used one kettle of warm water to rinse away the soap, stepped out of the bath and dried herself.

  It was a laborious task emptying the tin bath, but she’d done it a few times and had got the hang of it now. Once most of the water had been bailed out, she dragged it into the yard and tipped it up to remove the rest. By the time the bath was back on its hook, Jenny was tired – but clean.

  Hoping she hadn’t woken Ma, she crept upstairs and listened at her door, pushing it open just a little. The gentle snoring told her that Ma was fast asleep, so she went to her own room, leaving her door slightly open as well. Tonight she wanted to make sure Ma was all right. She had obviously been upset, and for a while had become confused.

  Once in bed, Jenny gazed up at the ceiling, eyes wide open, deep in thought. She was weary, but doubted if she’d get much sleep – her mind was in a whirl. She felt so helpless being out of work and not being able to contribute to the everyday expenses. She could only guess at the anguish mothers must be feeling as they struggled to feed the children. That thought brought her mind back to the centre. Thank God something was going to be done!

  22

  A good night’s sleep had obviously restored Ma, and, apart from a couple of times when she seemed to lose the thread of what she was saying, everything appeared fine. Jenny was relieved and sang to herself as she wiped the dishes and put them away. She had given Ma her favourite sausages for dinner and every scrap had been eaten.

  She was just about to put the kettle on the stove to make their tea when she heard Ma’s voice, raised and angry. Jenny dashed into the front room and saw Ma standing up and waving her stick at two people. Concerned about Ma, Jenny took little notice of them until she had hold of the elderly woman and steadied her. Then she looked up to see who was causing the commotion.

  The breath caught in her throat when she saw her Aunt Gertrude and Greaves with looks of distaste on their faces. Jenny’s first reaction was fury that these people should dare to turn up their noses at Ma’s front room. The furniture might be shabby and well worn, but the place was spotlessly clean.

  ‘There you are!’ Aunt Gertrude stepped forward as if to take hold of Jenny, but Ma fended her off with her stick.

  ‘You keep your hands off my girl, you evil old hag!’ Ma brandished the stick menacingly, leaving no one in any doubt that she would love to give the glowering woman in front of her a good whack. ‘I’ve heard all about you. You’re a right nasty pair, and that’s for sure!’

  Gertrude Osborne stepped back. ‘Get your things, Eugenie, you are coming with us.’

  ‘No, I’m not!’ Jenny coaxed Ma back to her chair, but held her hand all the time. She wasn’t going to let them upset Ma like this.

  ‘How did you find me?’

  ‘You were seen outside the Town Hall yesterday by someone who knows you. They followed you to be sure of where you lived, and then they came to me,’ Greaves said with some satisfaction.

  Jenny could guess who that was and gave a snort of disgust. ‘That must have been Gerry, mother’s old footman. Still after the reward, is he?’

  ‘Of course.’ Greaves had a smug look on his face. ‘One hundred pounds is a temptation to any young man. I’m surprised it’s taken this long.’

  ‘Well, you’ve wasted your time coming here, because I’m not leaving. And I’ve certainly no intention of coming to live with you!’ The expression on her face must have shown her distaste, for she saw him clench his fists in anger. It wouldn’t take much to make him lash out, she realized. This was the confrontation she had dreaded – and yet, now it had happened, she wasn’t frightened of them. The only emotion she felt was loathing.

  ‘Has her mother asked her to return home and live with her?’ Ma spoke to the aunt again, calmly this time.

  ‘Of course not! She’s far too content with her new life to be bothered with a wilful daughter.’ Mrs Osborne glared at Ma. ‘Though I can’t see what business it is of yours.’

  Ma ignored that last remark and winked at Jenny. ‘If her mother don’t want her, then unless you’ve got something written on paper to say you can take her away, you can get out of my house. But we’ll let Jen say what she wants to do, shall we?’

  ‘I’m staying here. If my mother wants to talk to me, then I’ll listen, but you’re only my aunt and can’t force me to do anything against my will.’

  Albert Greaves went red in the face with anger. ‘Be quiet, and do as you are told!’

  As he grabbed at Jenny, Ma rapped three times on the floor with her stick. Glad and Ivy immediately appeared.

  ‘You having a spot of bother, Ma?’ Glad asked.

  ‘Me and Jen want this pair chucked
out, please, Glad.’

  ‘I’ll go and get the men, shall I, Mum?’ Ivy suggested.

  ‘No, don’t bother.’ Glad eyed the two interlopers. ‘I’m sure we can manage them between us.’

  ‘Eugenie’s not staying in this hovel.’ Greaves was now shouting loud enough to alert some of the neighbours, and the pavement outside was becoming quite crowded.

  Jenny almost laughed out loud. Her aunt and Greaves didn’t stand a chance. If they didn’t leave soon, they would be marched away. She rounded on Greaves. ‘Stop calling me by that ridiculous name. I’m called Jenny, and I’m not coming with you – ever!’

  Ma hauled herself out of her chair again, glaring at Gertrude Osborne. ‘You’ve heard her. Get out, and take that blob of lard with you.’

  ‘You haven’t heard the last of this,’ her aunt called, as they left.

  There was silence in the small room for a few moments, then Glad chuckled. ‘The neighbours are following them to make sure they leave the street.’

  Jenny gave Ma a cheeky glance. ‘I didn’t know you knew anything about the law.’

  The familiar cackle was a welcome sound. ‘I don’t, but I figured those two don’t know much about it either.’

  Jenny laughed in delight and immense relief. That’s the last I shall see of them. They won’t risk coming here again.’

  Glad pursed her lips and frowned. ‘Don’t be too sure, Jen. Those two must be desperate to get you back.’

  ‘But why?’ Jenny knew they had been pursuing her for the last two years, but they couldn’t force her back now. She was certain Glad was mistaken. It was probably their pride that had kept them searching. There wasn’t any other reason. ‘There isn’t anything they can do, Glad, I’m eighteen, and I hope, wiser. They can’t touch me now.’

  Glad didn’t look too convinced, but she had to agree. ‘I suppose you’re right. Still, I should keep an eye out for them.’