The Woolworths Girls

by Elaine Everest

  They’d been informed upon arrival that there would be no news until George had been to the operating theatre, but he was very poorly.

  ‘I don’t understand what happened,’ Ruby said sadly. ‘George is such a good driver.’

  ‘I was told little more than his car swerved to avoid something in the road and he crashed into an army lorry driving in the opposite direction. It is through the care of the soldiers that he even made it to hospital.’

  Ruby nodded thoughtfully. After hearing the news and seeing her granddaughter faint, she had started to organize things so they could get to the hospital as soon as possible. It was decided that Maureen and Freda should stay with Sarah and one of them would run for the doctor if she remained in a distressed state. Ruby was of a mind that a strong cup of tea and a cuddle with her baby would be all that was needed to calm the girl.

  Maisie and Betty made it clear they would accompany Ruby to the hospital, which was a twenty-minute walk on the other side of Erith.

  A nurse dressed from head to foot in a white gown, her hair pulled back behind a starched cap, appeared from the door marked, ‘No entry’. ‘Mrs Irene Caselton?’

  ‘I’m George’s mother, Mrs Ruby Caselton. His wife is in Devon. How is my son?’

  ‘The surgeon will be out to speak to you shortly. I’ve organized some tea. You’ve been here for a while now.’

  ‘That’s very good of you, love. Can you tell me anything at all about George’s injuries?’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t, but the surgeon will not be long.’

  Ruby nodded and watched as the nurse disappeared through the swing doors.

  ‘They do a marvellous job,’ Betty said.

  Maisie wrinkled her nose. ‘It’s not something I could do. Think of all that blood.’

  Betty raised her eyebrows at Maisie, but Ruby didn’t acknowledge the words. ‘It’s certainly a calling.’

  ‘They’re nothing short of angels. Every single one of them.’

  They’d just finished their tea when the surgeon appeared. He introduced himself to Ruby and pulled a chair forward to sit in front of the women. All three watched the man’s face for clues of what he was about to say.

  Ruby cut straight to the chase. ‘How is my son, Doctor?’

  ‘He’s a very lucky man, Mrs Caselton. If there hadn’t been an army first-aider on that lorry, your son would have been in the morgue by now.’

  Ruby flinched. He didn’t mince his words. ‘Does that mean he’s going to be all right, Doctor?’

  ‘It’s still touch and go. I’ve done my best to save his leg, but we won’t know for a few days yet if I’ve been successful. We’ve stitched up a few gashes, and he will have a scar on his forehead, but all in all he has been very lucky. They have just taken him back to the ward, so if you would like to visit him for a few minutes to see him, that will be in order. He is still sedated, so don’t expect him to respond.’

  ‘He’s a fighter, Doctor. I know he’ll do his utmost to get well again. He may not hear me, but I want to tell him that his granddaughter was born today. He’d be chuffed to know that.’

  The doctor patted Ruby’s hand and returned to his duties.

  ‘So you see, your dad is very poorly, Sarah. We need to let your mother know and bring her to Erith as soon as possible.’ Betty sat watching Sarah as she explained what had happened at the cottage hospital the night before. Sarah had declared herself recovered from her faint and wanted to be out of bed and visiting her dad. However, both Ruby and Maureen had put their foot down and she was to remain in bed until they said otherwise.

  ‘We could telephone the golf club and ask them to tell Mum, but it may be rather a shock to hear news like that. I’m not sure what we should do, Betty.’

  ‘I think I have the answer, but I wanted to speak to you first.’

  Sarah nodded her head and listened quietly as Betty explained her plan.

  ‘As you know, my car’s locked away in a garage due to petrol rationing. However, I do have a little petrol stored away for emergencies.’

  Sarah raised her eyebrows at her boss. She’d never known her do anything even slightly wrong before.

  Betty smiled. ‘As I said, it was for emergencies. I contacted your father’s employers this morning from my office, as they would need to know about his accident. They were most sympathetic and immediately offered to help. I explained that Irene is in Devon and, at the moment, oblivious to George’s predicament. I indicated that I would be prepared to drive to Devon and break the news to Irene.’ She raised her hand to silence Sarah as the young woman opened her mouth to protest. ‘I said that petrol for the journey was a problem and at once they promised to assist me in any way they could. It was all I could do not to cry at their generosity.’

  ‘Betty, I can’t let you do this. It is not your responsibility. We have no way of knowing how Mum will take the news.’

  ‘I’m aware of that, Sarah, but there is no other option. It would not be right to give your mother such devastating news over the telephone even if we could contact her. You are not fit to make a long journey at the moment, and your grandmother needs to be at George’s bedside at this time. Maureen and Maisie are at Woolworths, and I am promoting Maisie up to supervisor to help cover for the few days I’ll be away. I’m sure she is up to the task, don’t you?’

  ‘It could be the making of her,’ Sarah agreed.

  ‘Freda is needed here, as she has essential war work to do. So that just leaves me, and though I say it myself, I do get on rather well with your mother. We struck up quite a rapport at your wedding.’

  ‘Only because she knows you are not exactly working class, and also because you wouldn’t do the hokey-cokey in the middle of the street with the rest of us.’

  Betty smiled at the memory. ‘To be honest, I was dying to join in, but I had no idea what to put in and what to pull out and I didn’t wish to make a fool of myself.’

  Sarah burst out laughing. ‘Oh, Betty, you are a treasure. Whatever would we do without you?’

  ‘You said yourself I was part of your family, so I intend to pull my weight and share your family responsibilities. Whatever are you doing? You shouldn’t even consider getting out of bed.’

  Sarah held on to Betty’s arm. ‘I’m just a little wobbly. I can’t stay in bed all day. I have things to do.’

  ‘Nothing that can’t wait. You get yourself back into bed this minute.’

  ‘No, Betty. I need to see my dad.’

  ‘It can wait a day or two, Sarah.’

  ‘No, you don’t understand. He’s very ill. I need to see him and show him he has a granddaughter. If I wait, it may be too late. I’d never forgive myself.’

  Betty thought for a moment. ‘Right. If you promise to rest for a couple of hours, I will collect my car from the garage and then I’ll drive you to see George this afternoon, but it will only be for half an hour. Then I’m going straight to collect Irene.’

  Sarah hugged Betty and allowed her to help her back into bed. ‘Thank you, Betty. You don’t know how much this means to me.’

  Betty pulled the covers up over Sarah’s shoulders and tucked her in. ‘Believe me, I do.’

  Sarah closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, content that she would soon see her dad and introduce him to his granddaughter.

  ‘Now, your dad is still groggy from his operation, so be patient if he seems confused.’ The nurse drew a seat up close to the bed and left Sarah alone with George. Apart from a bandage round his head and a cradle keeping the bed covers from touching his damaged leg, George looked his normal self.

  Sarah rocked the baby in her arms, soothing her softly as she started to cry. ‘Ssh, there’s no need to cry. This is your granddad. He’s been waiting a long time to meet you.’

  George’s eyelids fluttered before opening. ‘Sarah, is that you?’

  Sarah reached over and took her dad’s hand. ‘Yes, it’s me, Dad. I have a little visitor for you.’ She pulled back the white knitted
shawl that had been lovingly made by Freda and held the baby close so George could touch her. ‘Georgina, meet your granddad George.’

  A smile crossed George’s face. ‘Well, well. When did you make an appearance, young lady?’

  ‘Yesterday, during an air raid. It was quite frightening. None of us will ever forget what happened.’

  George stroked his granddaughter’s face. ‘She is beautiful and looks just like you did as a baby, apart from her hair. Yours was very dark.’

  ‘I think she has her dad’s hair colouring, but it could change, from what Maureen told me.’

  ‘Does Alan know?’

  A shadow crossed Sarah’s face. ‘No. I posted a letter as we drove here to give him the good news. I have no idea if he will receive it.’ She didn’t add that she’d also written to the authorities, as she was worried about the lack of communication from her husband.

  George squeezed her hand. ‘I know he would be in touch if he could, love. He’s doing a dangerous job. We should be proud of him.’

  ‘I’m immensely proud of Alan, Dad.’ But I don’t think he cares for me anymore, she thought to herself.

  They sat in silence for a while as George watched his granddaughter and a smile crept across his face. ‘Your mum is going to spoil this little one.’

  ‘Oh crikey. I forgot to tell you. Betty is going to drive down to Devon to give Mum the news about your accident. Then she is going to bring her back to Nan’s. Freda and Maisie are going to stay at Maureen’s for a while so we can all be together at number thirteen.’

  ‘You have good friends, Sarah. Your mum has taken to Betty. I hope she isn’t too upset when she hears the news.’

  ‘Mum’s made of stern stuff, Dad. She won’t buckle.’

  George started to doze off. ‘You are both strong women, Sarah . . .’

  Sarah sat quietly watching him sleep. Dad thought she was strong? Then she would have to be. She would cope with Alan or without him. She could do this.

  ‘So this is my granddaughter.’ Irene peered into the cot where Georgina slept.

  In the few days since the baby had been born, the women of number thirteen had become her devoted slaves. Sarah felt she could have walked out of the front door and never returned and little Georgina would still have thrived. But would her mum feel the same as the rest of her family and friends?

  Irene had just walked into the house after breaking the long journey back from Devon to see George at the hospital. Betty had managed to telephone Woolworths and update Maisie on how Irene had taken the news. From the way Maisie relayed the message, Irene had gone straight to pack her bag after enquiring if George’s car had survived the accident. Ruby had not been impressed with this, but Sarah knew it was her mum’s way of coping.

  Scooping the baby into her arms and holding her close, Irene started to sob. ‘She’s adorable. To think she may lose her granddad is just too much to bear. Whatever will we do?’

  Sarah’s emotion jumped from happiness at seeing Irene’s reaction upon meeting her granddaughter to shock at her words. ‘Mum, Dad will be fine. It may take time for him to get over this, but he will be out of hospital and home with you before too long.’

  Irene handed the baby back to Sarah and wiped her eyes with a dainty handkerchief she pulled from her sleeve. ‘He took a turn for the worse early this morning. The ward sister told us that he will have to go back into the operating theatre today. He may lose his leg.’

  Sarah couldn’t believe what she was being told. Granted, the surgeon had said the next few days would be critical, but to hear this awful news . . .

  Ruby took control of the situation. Her heart was breaking for her only son, but she knew that weeping and wailing would not solve anything. ‘I’ve made up the bed in the front bedroom for you, Irene, and here is a front-door key so you can come and go as you please. I think we should show you the Anderson shelter and what we do when there’s a raid; then perhaps we can all have a bite to eat before you head back to the hospital. Betty, will you stay to eat with us?’

  Betty wanted nothing more than to fall into her bed, as the journey to and from Devon had taken its toll. However, she had to go into Woolworths and see that everything was as it should be before she even thought about her bed. ‘That would be delightful, Mrs Caselton. Thank you.’

  ‘That reminds me,’ Ruby said as she reached for a large parcel that was on the sideboard. ‘Maisie left this for you, Irene. We all have one and they are most comfortable.’

  Irene frowned as she unpicked the string and opened the brown paper wrapping and pulled out a dark green woollen siren suit. ‘Oh my! Is this what I think it is? Josephine Hopkins at the golf club has been boasting about her siren suit and I must admit to being a little green with envy.’ She held the outfit up against herself. ‘I shall go and put it on right now. Anything that’s good enough for Mr Churchill is good enough for me.’ Irene picked up her suitcase and headed upstairs.

  Ruby turned to Betty and Sarah with a grin on her face. ‘Are you sure that’s my daughter-in-law and not an imposter?’

  After a filling meal of corned beef hash with vegetables from the garden, Betty set off for Woolworths, dropping Irene at the hospital on the way. She was given strict instruction to telephone Betty if George should get any worse. Betty had promised Ruby that she would get a message to them if anything should happen.

  Ruby picked up her knitting. ‘It’s a treat to put my feet up for a few hours, I must say. I’ve been itching to make this pink matinee jacket ever since young madam there made her appearance. I just hope we don’t have an air raid tonight. I don’t think I can face that shelter after the other day.’

  Sarah yawned. ‘We can always sit in the cupboard under the stairs. It’s as safe as anywhere. I’m going to read my book until Georgina wakes for her next feed.’

  ‘If you can keep your eyes open. It was good of your mum to bring us the box of food. That tin of salmon will go down a treat with the salad stuff from the garden.’

  ‘Once I’m on my feet properly, I can walk Georgina down to the allotment and do a few hours.’

  ‘You’ll do no such thing. You take it easy for a few months, my girl. Besides, you’ll be wanting to see your dad in hospital and pop into Woolies to help Betty. You can’t burn your candle at both ends or you’ll be heading for trouble.’

  Sarah sighed. ‘I suppose you’re right, but I don’t like not helping out.’

  ‘Not helping out? Why, we’d be lost without you, love. Give it a couple of weeks and things around here will be a little more organized. Your dad will be on the mend and you will have your strength back to do a few hours with Betty while I take care of the little ’un.’

  ‘Do you think Dad will be on the mend?’

  ‘Let’s just hope so, eh? Besides, we haven’t been sent a message to say otherwise. Betty will have someone banging on our door minutes after she hears anything.’

  At that moment there was a loud knock on the door.

  Sarah’s face turned white. ‘Oh no.’

  Ruby pulled herself to her feet. ‘Don’t you worry none – it’s probably Vera knocking to see if I want to go to the whist drive. Any excuse to check what’s going on,’ she chuckled.

  Sarah held her breath as Ruby opened the front door and invited someone in. Surely it wasn’t Vera, as she’d have heard her chatter. It must be someone from Woolworths with a message from the hospital.

  Sarah’s world stood still as the front-room door opened. It wasn’t a Woolworths staff member. It wasn’t Vera wanting to know what the Caselton family were up to. Instead, two uniformed members of the Royal Air Force stepped into the room.

  Sarah’s heart thudded loudly in her breast as the men refused the offer of a seat.

  The older officer cleared his throat. ‘Mrs Alan Gilbert?’

  ‘That’s my married name. Is it Alan . . . ?’

  ‘Yes. I have some bad news, Mrs Gilbert. Your husband is missing, presumed killed.’

  The tall
, distinguished man continued to speak, but Sarah could only hear the blood pumping through her head and her stomach started to churn. Placing her hand over her mouth, she dashed from the room.

  Not having made it to the outside lavatory, Ruby found her granddaughter bent double outside the back door. Ruby rubbed her back until the convulsing stopped and led her inside to a seat, where she carefully wiped her face with a damp flannel and encouraged her to drink a cup of cold water. Wrapping her arms around the girl, she rocked her gently, making soothing noises until the tears subsided. ‘There, there, my love,’ she whispered.

  When Sarah had composed herself, they returned to the front room, where they found the officers sitting on the sofa with the younger one holding Georgina in his arms. He smiled shyly. ‘Your daughter was crying. I hope you don’t mind that I picked her up? I have a son. He’s six months old now.’

  ‘She looks like your husband, Mrs Gilbert.’

  ‘You knew Alan?’ Sarah thought it felt strange to speak in the past tense. ‘Please, I need to know what happened.’

  ‘I’m going to put the kettle on. I don’t know about you, but I think we could do with a cup of tea and a spoonful of sugar to help with the shock. Are you all right holding our Georgina?’

  The officer nodded. He seemed quite at home with the baby in his arms.

  Sarah stared at the older officer. ‘Please?’

  ‘His plane was shot down over the French side of the Channel. There was a sighting of a parachute but nothing more.’

  Sarah thought hard before speaking. ‘Was this during the Dunkirk evacuation we heard about on the wireless?’

  The two officers looked at each other before the younger one spoke. ‘No, it was a little earlier, but we can’t really say much more.’