A Rare Ruby (10 page)

‘Mum met her at a friend of me dad’s. It was in the war. They got talking and she said she worked in a munitions factory and didn’t have time to do her own washing, so Mum volunteered, and she’s been doing it ever since.’

‘Does your mum know what she does for a living?’

‘I would think so. This is it.’ They stopped outside a door that looked as scruffy as all the rest. Ruby banged on the knocker.

The door was opened very quickly.

Mrs Bell had make-up on and she looked lovely. She gave Ruby a wide smile. ‘I thought you’d be round today. Come in.’

Ruby and Elsie stepped into the hall. This was the first time Ruby had been asked inside.

‘How is your brother?’

‘He’s all right.’

‘I was a bit worried about him. That girl who was with him wasn’t much help. Your brother said you was at work now. Come through here,’ she said over her shoulder, and held to one side a beautiful beaded curtain. Ruby had never seen anything so lovely before. She wanted to touch it, to feel the beads trickle through her fingers.

When they got inside the room, both Elsie and Ruby looked at each other. Ruby managed to suppress the gasp that came to her throat. It was the most elegant room she had ever seen. It was like stepping into wonderland. Pretty glass shades covered the gaslights either side of the mantelpiece, which was draped with a fine lace cloth. Pretty china ornaments of ladies in lovely floaty frocks were on top. There wasn’t a lot of furniture, just a small table that held a couple of bottles and glasses on a tray, and a sofa, covered in a rich wine-coloured velvet. Another small table stood next to it and on it was a table lighter and matching ashtray.

‘Sit down. I’ll just get me washing and your mum’s money.’ Mrs Bell left the room.

Elsie and Ruby sat down together. Ruby was dying to say something, but couldn’t.

On her return, Mrs Bell said, ‘I didn’t get a chance to pay your brother. Give him this extra tuppence. Poor little bugger, he looked scared stiff.’

‘He was petrified. That Alfie Anderson and his gang can be very frightening.’

‘Yes, I know. Some of my friends have come across them before now. But don’t worry. I know some very influential people and I think your - and my - problem could be over. Now, I would ask you to stop for a cuppa, but I’m expecting company.’

‘That’s all right,’ said Ruby, jumping to her feet. ‘We mustn’t stay.’

Outside Ruby hung on to Elsie’s arm. ‘What a place! I ain’t ever been inside before. I would have loved to see her bedroom.’

‘So would I. But I wonder why she lives in such a dump?’

‘Could be that the rent’s cheap.’

‘Or free from a satisfied customer.’

Ruby giggled. ‘She must be good at it.’

‘I bet her so-called influential people are a couple of heavies,’ said Elsie. ‘And I wouldn’t like to meet them on a dark night.’

‘I think I met one once. He was a big man.’

On the stairs they had to step to one side as a well-dressed man, who had his head down, almost bumped into them.

‘Sorry,’ he said, hurrying on.

Ruby and Elsie stopped. They watched him go up the stairs, then they both laughed.

‘I reckon he’s this afternoon’s customer,’ said Elsie.

‘Well, he’s certainly a lot better dressed than some I’ve seen in there.’

‘Your Mrs Bell is certainly a mystery woman.’

‘She ain’t mine.’

‘Let’s get a move on, it looks like rain again. It could even turn to snow, it’s so cold.’

‘Don’t say that. These boots are just about hanging together and me chilblains are getting bad again.’

‘Remember that Miss Cotton told you to get some waterproofs.’

‘I know. I’m getting some next week. I was hoping I wouldn’t be in the washroom all this time.’

‘Perhaps Mrs Watson might offer you something else now she’s seen that you intend to stay there.’

‘I hope so. I’m fed up with being wet all day.’

‘I can’t understand how those women can be in there all day and every day,’ said Elsie.

‘Some of them have been there for years. I think that’s all they know.’

‘They ain’t ambitious like you, then?’

‘I might be ambitious, but it ain’t getting me nowhere.’

‘It will, you mark my words. It will.’

Ruby laughed at those words. Elsie’s confidence was inspiring. Her good mood lasted all the way home. She was full of Mrs Bell’s flat when she got to Hill Street.

‘You should see her furniture, and the beaded curtain. I’d like to have something like that,’ said Ruby wistfully.

‘Don’t think you’d like to do what she does to get it,’ said Beth.

‘I didn’t think you knew her,’ said Ruby.

‘I don’t,’ said Beth quickly. ‘But I’ve some idea how she earns her living.’

‘Anyway, it’s none of our business what she does,’ said Mary Jenkins. ‘As long as she pays for her washing, that’s all I’m interested in.’

 

Gradually the winter gave way to spring. With the light nights coming Ruby was hoping that sometime she would bump into Ernie again. She would love to go out with him. They couldn’t afford to go anywhere but it would be nice to walk and talk with him, hand in hand as she had seen other couples do. She kept these thoughts to herself. She didn’t want anyone to know her feelings for him.

Ruby was thrilled when Elsie suggested that one Saturday they should go to the picture house that showed the new silent films.

‘Can you afford it?’ asked Elsie.

Ruby nodded. ‘I’ve been saving my bit of pocket money.’ She didn’t add that it was because if she did see Ernie she was hoping she might persuade him to go to a café with her.

At the picture house Ruby was so excited. Sitting in the dark watching moving pictures! She had never seen anything like this in her life before. She laughed and clapped at Charlie Chaplin’s antics.

‘We must go again,’ she said to Elsie as they walked home. ‘It was the best night of me life.’

Ruby couldn’t wait to tell them at home; she was full of it. ‘You should see that Charlie Chaplin - he’s so funny and everything goes wrong for him.’

‘The pictures really move?’ asked Tom, his eyes full of wonderment.

‘Yes, and a lady sits at the piano thumping away at the fast bits and very slowly at the sad bits. I’ll have to take you one of these days.’

‘Cor, would you? I’d really like that.’

‘We used to see those before we was sent abroad,’ said her father, joining in with the conversation. ‘They were wonderful. When I feel like going out again I’ll have to take you, my love.’ He smiled at his wife.

‘That would be very nice,’ said Mary Jenkins.

Ruby was overjoyed that her father was talking about going out again. And to everyone’s amusement Ruby showed them how Charlie Chaplin walked.

‘You’ll have to show Beth when she comes in,’ said her mother.

‘Where is she?’

‘She had to go and do a job for Mr Thompson.’

‘Where’s Danny?’

‘She took him with her.’

 

The following Wednesday Ruby and Elsie met up outside Stone’s and began walking home.

Elsie tucked her arm through Ruby’s. ‘Ruby, I’ve got something to tell you.’

Ruby stiffened. She knew by the tone of her friend’s voice it was going to be something she didn’t want to hear.

‘I shall be starting at the tea factory next week.’

Ruby stopped dead in her tracks. ‘What? You’re going to leave the laundry?’

‘I didn’t like to tell you before.’

‘Does Mrs Watson know?’

‘Yes.’

‘What am I going to do without you?’

‘You’ll be all right.’

‘No I won’t.’

‘You’ll find someone else to go out with.’

‘Not in the washroom, they’re all old.’

‘I reckon you’ll be moved soon. Mrs Watson knows a good reliable worker when she sees one.’

‘D’you think so?’ That idea brought a little cheer to Ruby.

‘We can go to the picture house again, and the market on a Saturday.’

‘It won’t be the same. You’ll probably find a new friend at work.’

‘No I won’t. Come on, you old grouch. Cheer up.’

‘Do they want anybody else at the tea factory?’

‘I can find out. But jobs don’t come up there very often, as you well know. I’ve been waiting a long while for this so don’t make it hard for me.’

‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ll miss you.’

Ruby felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her world. The laughter, going to the market and picture house had been lovely. Elsie was all she had ever wanted in a friend.

At last spring was well on its way and as Ruby walked home from work the sky was a picture. Even partly obscured by the row of terraced houses, it was a blaze of colour with streaks of scarlet to gold, but Ruby wasn’t looking at its beauty. Nothing could cheer her up. The thought of Elsie leaving had really upset her. She knew Elsie would soon find a new friend to go out with and she would be alone.

‘All right, Dad?’ Ruby asked when she walked into the kitchen.

He gave her a beaming smile. ‘Yes, love. How’s work?’

‘Not bad.’ There was something different about her father. He didn’t have his blanket round his shoulders and he was sitting up. Was he getting better?

‘Ruby, can you come with me tonight? I’ve got to collect some washing and I don’t want to go on me own.’

Ruby ruffled the top of her brother’s head. ‘All right, just let me have me tea first. Where’s Mum?’

‘I’m out here.’ Mary Jenkins walked into the kitchen.

Some evenings Ruby went out with Tom. It was nice just to be with him, catching up on all that had happened through the day. ‘Beth feeding Danny?’ she asked her mother.

‘No, she’s popped back to the pub. Seems that Mr Thompson wants her to do a bit of serving tonight,’ said her mother.

‘She got Danny with her?’ asked Ruby.

‘No, he’s in the bedroom. She’s left a bottle for me to give him later on.’

‘What?’

‘I don’t mind. He’s a good enough little lad.’

Ruby looked at her mother: she seemed weary. ‘Are you all right?’

Mary smiled. ‘A bit tired, that’s all. That ironing seemed to take it out of me today. Must be to do with the weather.’

Ruby was concerned. ‘Beth shouldn’t have left Danny with you. You’ve got enough to do without looking after him while she’s out working. I hope she’s not going to make a habit of it.’ Although Beth’s cleaning was hard work, she always seemed very cheerful about it. She didn’t have to stand on a cold concrete floor with water swirling round her feet all day.

‘It might only be for tonight. I think the young man he’s got there is away sick.’

When Ruby finished her tea she put on her hat and coat and went out with Tom. As she pushed the heavy pram she couldn’t stop thinking about Beth. It seemed she could do no wrong in her mother’s eyes.

‘You ain’t listened to a word I’ve said,’ said her brother.

‘Sorry, Tom. I was miles away. What was you saying?’

‘I met that Ernie Wallis and he said he wanted to see you.’ Ruby stopped. ‘What?’

‘Ernie Wallis said he wanted to see you.’

‘When did he say that?’

‘Yesterday. That’s why I wanted you to come out with me, so I could tell you without Mum knowing.’

‘Was Beth with you?’

‘No.’

‘What else did he say?’

‘Just that he got you the job at the laundry and he reckons you should take him out.’

‘Bloody cheek. He didn’t get me the job, I got that meself.’ Ruby smiled to herself. He had been thinking of her. He wanted her to take him out.

‘I’m only telling you what he said.’

‘I know. Did he say anything else?’

‘No.’

‘If you see that Ernie Wallis again, tell him I got the job meself.’ Ruby bumped the pram down the kerb.

‘All right.’

‘We’ll have to get a bit of dripping on that wheel. Don’t the squeak get on your nerves?’

‘No, but it gets on Beth’s. She said she was going to get her boss to put a drop of oil on it.’

Ruby now knew Beth would be working at the pub for many weeks to come as they’d heard that the break in Mrs Moss’s arm had developed complications and was taking a long while to heal.

Ruby looked about her. She was sure this was near to where Ernie lived. Would she bump into him? She wanted to hang about, but knew that wasn’t possible. Perhaps she would ask some of the girls in the laundry if anyone had seen him, but she had to be careful, she didn’t want to upset Mrs Watson. Although the washroom wasn’t the best job in the laundry, it was better than no work at all.

 

It was late and dark when Ruby suddenly woke. She sat up. She could hear shouting.

‘What I do is me own business.’

Tom sat up.

‘What’s that racket?’

‘It’s Beth. But I don’t know who she’s shouting at, I can’t make out the voice. Go back to sleep.’ Ruby began to pull her coat on. ‘I hope she ain’t brought nobody back here.’

‘Ruby, where’re you going?’

‘To tell her to shut up. I don’t want Danny disturbed when he hears her voice - it might take a while to get him settled again.’ Ruby was also thinking about her father; he hated people shouting.

Ruby stepped into the passage. The gaslight was popping; she would have to get a new mantle for it.

‘Beth,’ she hissed, ‘keep your voice down.’ Mr Cox peered round the banister. ‘Mr Cox, what’re you doing?’

Mr Cox had great difficulty getting to his feet. When he managed it, he swayed about. ‘This cousin of yours, that’s if she
is
your cousin, is a trollop.’ His face was very red and he held on to the banisters for support.

Beth laughed.

Mary Jenkins came out of her bedroom pulling her shawl round her shoulders. ‘What’s all this noise?’