‘Dear old Woolies. Make sure you write to me as much as possible and tell me everything that happens at work. Keep an eye on young Ginger so he doesn’t get the sack for slacking.’
‘I will, I promise.’
‘There’s something else I need to ask you,’ Alan added as he helped Sarah over the pebbles, away from the beach and pretty harbour, and towards a narrow passageway between fishermen’s cottages that led towards the High Street. ‘Do you think we could move into Mum’s house? She’s all alone apart from her friends at Woolies, and once I’m in the RAF, I don’t like to think of her alone when the air raids start. I’ve decorated the whole house for her, and the cellar’s as safe as Ruby’s Anderson shelter if things get bad.’
Sarah liked her mother-in-law a lot, but to move from Nan’s would be a big wrench. Then again, it was only a street away, and Nan had more people close to hand, as well as Dad visiting most weeks for his work. She didn’t like to think that Alan would be miles from home worrying about his mother.
‘Of course I will. I’m sorry I never thought of it myself. Why don’t we buy some of those funny postcards and let her know to expect us? We can move in properly before you leave for training.’
Alan kissed her cheek. ‘You are an absolute darling. I can go away knowing that everyone is happy and taken care of. Why don’t I treat us to afternoon tea and we can write the cards and get them in the post this afternoon? There’s a tea room just over the road. We may even get toasted teacakes if we’re lucky.’
‘Here you are, loves. A pot of tea for two, toasted teacake for one and a slice of Victoria sandwich for the other. I’d leave the pot to brew for a few minutes if you like it stronger, and I’ll bring you out a jug of water to top it up.’
‘Thank you. It looks lovely,’ said Sarah, gazing at the enormous slice of cake sandwiched with strawberry jam. ‘It looks delicious. I’m not sure I can eat it all.’
‘I’m sure you’ll do your best, and what you can’t eat I bet your young man can finish off.’
‘Husband,’ Alan said as he bit into his teacake. ‘We’re on our honeymoon.’
‘Well, bless my soul. With all the awful news we’ve had lately, you nigh on made my day. When was the wedding?’
Sarah blushed. ‘Sunday just gone.’
The waitress sat down. ‘That’s a day to remember and no mistake. So where do you hail from?’
‘Erith,’ they both said at the same time.
‘I know it well. I come from Woolwich. Moved down here and took on the cafe after my husband’s brother retired. It’s a good life, but I miss the area I grew up in. I go back as often as I can to visit the family and go shopping. You can’t beat the shops up that way, but then you’d know that, as Erith has a fair few.’
‘We do have some good shops, as well as the river. In fact, we both work at Woolworths. That’s where we met,’ Sarah said proudly.
‘You don’t say? I worked at the Woolwich branch myself for a while before I married. If we ever moved back home, I’d be on their doorstep like a shot asking for a job.’ The lady, who had told them she was called Mavis, looked wistful.
‘Surely it’s safer down here than nearer to London?’ Sarah asked.
‘I dunno, love. Look up the estuary. See those large things that look like flying elephants? They’re barrage balloons. Supposed to stop enemy planes getting to London. My old fella says if they can’t get up to the Smoke, then they’re more likely to bomb us. Well, that did it for me. We had the grandchildren evacuated last week, the pair of ’em packed off who knows where – somewhere in Wales is all we know – and now my daughter, Sandra, won’t leave her bed she’s that upset. I told her she’s bound to hear where they are living before too long and they’re probably having a whale of a time.’
‘She must be upset. I know I would be too,’ Sarah sympathized. She’d seen a crocodile of young children heading for Erith Station only last week wearing labels tied to their coats and carrying small bags for their clothes and a gas mask over their shoulders. The children seemed excited, but she recalled well the drawn faces of the parents and that some of the mothers were reduced to tears.
The woman wiped her eyes with her pinafore and stood to her feet. ‘I’ll get you that hot water. Enjoy your tea.’
‘It seems wrong somehow.’
‘What, writing a few postcards?’ Alan asked.
‘No, us being so happy and all. This is a seaside town – why would little children be in danger here?’
‘I’m no expert,’ Alan said, wiping melted butter from his chin, ‘but I’d think the whole Kent coast would be tempting to the enemy. Think of all the boats heading in and out of London, let alone the fishing boats. Hit this area and it could affect our navy as well as supplies of fish and all that.’ He didn’t add that they could also be invaded from the Channel if the Germans reached the coastline of France.
Sarah shook her head. ‘So would the RAF protect the seaside towns as well as the cities?’
‘I dare say they would, but until I’ve done my training, I won’t know what’s expected of me.’ Alan saw Sarah’s face drop. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. ‘I did promise you that I wouldn’t do anything dangerous, so stop looking so sad and pour me a cup of tea. I’ve got a feeling that if we don’t polish off every crumb, we’re going to be in trouble with our new friend.’
Sarah grinned and poured milk into their cups before picking up the teapot. All the same she felt the now familiar shiver run through her as if someone was walking over her grave.
Later that night, as they snuggled up in the large double bed, Alan whispered into Sarah’s ear, ‘I’ve had an idea.’
Sarah giggled as his breath tickled her neck. ‘What would that be?’
‘Let’s make ourselves a promise that we will come here next year to celebrate our first anniversary, shall we? We can sunbathe on the beach and go to Mavis’s tea room for one of her roast dinners she told us about.’
Sarah shoved Alan playfully. ‘Alan Gilbert, I think you’re more interested in coming back to Whitstable for a roast dinner than to celebrate our marriage.’
Alan laughed and pulled his wife close. ‘I think we both know that isn’t true.’ As his lips met hers in the room, which was lit only by moonlight, he fervently hoped that a year from now the war would be over and they would both be safe.
16
‘This is for me? It’s so pretty. Thank you.’ Freda admired the dainty bracelet made of shells that Sarah had just given her and put it on her wrist.
‘It’s just a little something from Whitstable to say thank you for looking out for Nan while I was away.’
‘It was more like her looking after us. I swear I’ve doubled in size with all the food she’s stuffed into us,’ Maisie added as she admired her brooch, made from similar shells to Freda’s bracelet. ‘We took her to the Odeon to see Goodbye, Mr Chips.’
‘It was lovely. I did cry at the end,’ Freda sighed.
‘I thought they were closing the cinemas for the duration?’ Sarah said.
‘The Odeon was only closed a few days, and when it opened, we thought we’d better nip round there quick before the government changed its mind and closed the cinemas for good.’
‘That would be unbearable,’ Freda said indignantly. ‘I couldn’t go without my weekly visit to the pictures. How does Alan feel now he only has a couple of days left at work before he joins the RAF?’
‘He hasn’t said much. As for me, I’m dreading the day he leaves Erith.’
‘Chin up. He’ll be home on leave before you know it. Fancy another cup of tea?’ Maisie said, getting to her feet. ‘We’ve got time before the end of our tea break. We came up late.’
Sarah checked the clock on the wall. ‘I’d best not. I have to see Betty in five minutes.’
‘Miss Billington,’ Maisie called over her shoulder as she headed to the counter. ‘No familiarity, please. We are at work now.’
Freda and Sarah laughed
together as Sarah leant close to her friend. ‘It’s good to be back to normal after the wedding and everything. Tell me, how is Maisie coping now that her Joe’s off in the army?’
‘You know what Maisie’s like – always the life and soul of the party, but it’s a game she’s playing. For all their arguing, Joe and Maisie are devoted to each other and she’s missing him so much, but me and your nan have kept her busy. Maisie might think she’s been looking after Ruby, but the truth is, it’s been the other way round. Ruby kept asking her to help out in the garden, and then she hinted she’d never seen Goodbye, Mr Chips when she’d been to Dartford to see it with Vera from up the road only a couple of days before. We had a good time, though.’
Sarah checked the clock on the wall of the staff canteen again. ‘Look, I have to dash, but I’ve had a thought. It means talking to Nan, and it also affects you, as you may want to move back into number thirteen. You know there’s always a place for you there. I just wondered if we could talk Maisie into moving into my old bedroom. She’d be happier living with Nan than with her mother-in-law. Now that me and Alan are living with Maureen until we get our own place, there’s plenty of room at Nan’s. What do you think?’
Freda nodded her head. ‘It sounds like a good idea to me. I’m not planning to move out of my digs just yet. Perhaps we could talk about it more on Sunday? There’ll be time while we’re in Margate. That’s if you don’t mind? It’ll be your last day with Alan before he heads off for his training camp.’
‘I think Alan will be able to spare me for a few minutes. He’ll probably have his own views on it as well. I’m looking forward to the trip. I heard it may be the last time the paddle steamer does pleasure trips, as it’s going to be used for more important work while this war is going on. Such a pity, as it is fun to travel on the Thames down to the seaside.’
Freda grinned. ‘I can’t wait. I’ve wanted to go to the seaside ever since I saw the poster on the platform at Charing Cross Station when I travelled down here. It’ll be such fun. Even if we are at war,’ Freda added quickly.
‘Thank you for coming to see me, Sarah. There are a few things I need to go over with you.’
Sarah sat in front of her boss in the small office. Paperwork was heaped upon the desk and Betty looked harassed. The last time she’d seen her was as family and friends waved her and Alan off on their honeymoon. They’d spent their first night in the Wheatley Arms Hotel in the town before setting off for Whitstable after breakfast. Thanks to her dad, it had been a wonderful honeymoon that she would never forget. Betty had still been wearing her bridesmaid dress as she waved from the pavement, her pretty headdress slightly askew after hours of singing. It seemed strange now to see her in a formal suit sitting across from her desk. Sarah wondered if she should call her Betty or Miss Billington.
‘Sarah, I’m so relieved to see you back at work. As you can see, I’m snowed under here. Half the male staff have either joined up or given us notice of when they leave our employ. Some of the female staff have left to work at the Vickers factory as well. I understand the pay is very good.’ Betty didn’t look happy as she checked a list in front of her. ‘It does leave us with rather a staffing problem.’
‘If it’s any help, I don’t plan to give up my job. Alan leaves for his RAF training on Monday and I’d like to work as many hours as possible so I don’t have time to think about what is happening to him.’
Betty smiled. She knew that Sarah would be worried about her husband while he was away but would still work hard when called to do so. Sarah Caselton, or Sarah Gilbert, as she was now, would not shirk her duties. ‘I’m pleased to know we shan’t lose you just yet. In fact, I have a change of job for you. That’s if you are interested?’
Sarah frowned. She liked working on the stationery counter. She wouldn’t be so keen to be moved to some of the other areas of Woolies. Especially not the vegetable counter, or indeed haberdashery and knitting wool. Nan and Freda had both patiently taught her how to fashion items out of wool, but it was still a struggle, and she was still surprised when a sock or balaclava appeared after hours of sweating over those knitting needles. To be faced with wool and needles every day at work would only remind her that she just didn’t have the skill required to be a proficient knitter.
‘I’ll help if you think I’m suitable, but I’m not sure I’d be much good on some of the counters.’
Betty could see that Sarah was concerned. ‘There’s no need to look so worried, Sarah. I’m thinking more of a promotion than moving you to another counter.’
‘Promotion? I know we had a conversation about me one day possibly making supervisor, but I didn’t think it would be so quick.’
‘We live in changing times. With our menfolk off to war, it leaves us women to keep things on an even keel ready for their return.’
Sarah nodded. She could see the sense in her boss’s words. ‘What would my duties include?’
‘To begin with, you will assume the job title of supervisor, and there will be a pay rise alongside your increase for reaching twenty-one years of age, but I’d like you to work with me rather than on the shop floor.’ She waved her hands above the pile of ledgers and papers on her desk. ‘Not only do I have extra duties working alongside Mr Benfield, but there’s all this paperwork. New staff require training, and then there are the duties of fire watch and making sure all our staff know what to do if there’s an air raid.’ She ran her hands through her hair and sighed. ‘I’m drowning under all this work.’
‘Well, you have me to help you now. Where shall we start?’
Betty checked her wristwatch. ‘I have to be in a meeting with Mr Benfield in half an hour. We have visitors coming down from head office. There are three young ladies starting this morning and I have to finish a report. Would you take the new staff? They need to collect their uniforms and have the beginner’s talk. I usually do that in here, as you know. Perhaps if you took the girls to the staffroom, there should be time before the next tea break to go through the ropes and give them a tour of the shop floor.’ She rummaged on her desk and pulled out a file and a clipboard. ‘Here are their details and the sections where I’d like them to work. Use your judgement as to where you feel each girl should be placed. Their uniforms are on the top of the cupboard by the door.’
Sarah took the paperwork and tucked the overalls under her arm. Before she left the office, she turned to Betty, who was already busy writing in a ledger. ‘Betty, thank you for trusting me with this job. I promise I’ll do my best to make you proud of me.’
Betty smiled. ‘I know you’ll make a good supervisor, Sarah. That’s why I offered you the job. I think we will make a good team.’
‘I think so too,’ Sarah grinned as she headed outside to where three young girls were waiting to start their new jobs.
‘Follow me,’ she beckoned, leading them towards the staffroom, where the delicious aroma of lamb stew was coming from the kitchen area. She waved to Maureen, who was busy mixing flour and beef suet to make dumplings. ‘Take your coats off and find yourselves a seat, ladies. Would you like a cup of tea?’
The three girls accepted shyly, not making eye contact with the self-assured woman they saw in front of them.
‘Bless ’em, they look terrified,’ Maureen said as she poured strong tea into the four cups on the counter. ‘A new intake, I suppose?’
Sarah, who was piling slices of seed cake onto a plate, licked her fingers and nodded. ‘Yes, I’m about to show them the ropes before they start down on the shop floor. It’s part of my new job,’ she added quietly, not sure how her mother-in-law would view Sarah’s promotion. She needn’t have worried.
Maureen wiped her floury hands on her apron, rushed round to the other side of the counter and hugged Sarah until she was fit to burst. ‘I’m that proud of you, my love. Alan will be too. I take it he doesn’t know yet?’
‘No. Miss Billington has only just told me about it. It’s not a management job or anything. It’s just that she needs h
elp while we are short-staffed.’
‘Don’t you put yourself down, my girl. It’s as good as being management. You’re in the office. Look at Alan. He might be a trainee manager, but he’s never out of that warehouse coat, and nine times out of ten he’s got a broom in his hand.’
‘He’s got prospects, though,’ Sarah added quickly in defence of her hard-working husband, ‘and Woolworths have told him that his job will be here for him when he returns after the war.’ She chewed her lip thoughtfully. ‘I wonder how long that’ll be.’
‘Well, it can’t be soon enough for me. If I could get my hands on that Mr Hitler, I’d wring his bloody neck for making all this trouble. Whatever does his mother think of him, causing all this war nonsense? If he was mine, I’d box his ears for him.’
Sarah smiled. Maureen sounded just like Nan when she got talking about the war. They might only be a week in, but it was all anyone spoke about. She knew her mother-in-law was worried, even though she put on a brave face.
‘Alan will do his best, Maureen, and I’m sure he will be back to visit us both as soon as he can. He won’t be away training forever, and with a bit of luck he will be based down our end of the country.’
‘But he won’t be at home in the mornings to bring in the coal and eat the breakfast I put on the table, will he?’
Sarah could see Maureen was getting upset. ‘No, he won’t, and we will both miss him, but I’m living with you now and we must both show him we can cope on our own until he comes home. We don’t want him worrying about us, now do we? Mind you, he’ll moan something rotten if you don’t have that stew cooked when he comes up here for his dinner break later on. Him and everyone else at Woolies.’
‘Oh my,’ Maureen said, straightening her apron and rushing back round the counter. ‘I’d best get on. Now, can you tell that Miss Billington that if there are any spare staff to be had, I’d like some help here? More people seem to be eating at work at the moment and I’m fair pushed at times to get all my jobs done.’
The Woolworths Girls Page 17