A Rare Ruby (18 page)

The weather had turned bitterly cold and as Ruby hurried back and forth to work she hoped it wouldn’t snow. Every evening on her way home she longed to go into the kitchen and see the cosy fire and not have it hidden behind draped washing. If only her mother would let a bit of warmth come into the room. The weekend over the New Year her father had been washing glasses, but now he was almost back to his old ways. He hadn’t been out and spent his time just sitting in the chair. The damp air had started his cough again, and the rasping sound worried Ruby. She hadn’t seen anything of Ernie for weeks. She guessed he’d been at the laundry as some of the girls had seen him. It would have been nice if she’d had a Christmas card from him, or something, but like her, he wouldn’t waste money on things like that.

It was Monday morning and as the girls settled down to a day’s work Molly, who sat along from Ruby, yelled, ‘’Ere, you’ll never guess who I saw on Sat’day night! That Ernie Wallis, and guess what? He was with that Mrs Watson!’

‘What?’ screamed Florrie. ‘You seen him out with old Mrs Watson? Where was that?’

‘They was going to that music hall. I was there with me feller. We was up in the gods and they was waiting to go in. I didn’t see what seats they had, they didn’t come up with us, but they was all dressed up. She had a smashing fur coat on.’

That statement surprised Ruby. How could Ernie be all dressed up?

‘All fur coat and no drawers I bet. Did she see you?’ asked Florrie, obviously very interested in this.

‘Na, as I said we went up in the gods. Bloody good show it was.’

‘You’ll have to ask her if she enjoyed it,’ said Florrie.

‘Yer, could do,’ said Molly.

Ruby just listened. Ernie must be very well in if he was going out with Mrs Watson. Why had she taken him? He certainly couldn’t afford to take her; besides, she was old enough to be his mother.

Everybody was eagerly waiting for Mrs Watson to come and collect their work.

‘Did you enjoy the show on Sat’day?’ asked Molly.

She looked up in surprise from the items she was counting. ‘Yes, thank you. How d’you know where I was?’

‘I saw yer. You was with that Ernie Wallis.’

‘Yes, I was. He’s a nice lad.’

They waited for some more information, but it didn’t come.

As soon as she left the room Florrie called out, ‘The old cow. Why didn’t she tell us why she was with him?’

‘Might be cos you didn’t ask her,’ said another woman further up the table.

Ruby was also intrigued. She gave a little grin; she knew that when she saw Ernie he would tell her. But why hadn’t he made an effort to see her? He knew what hours she worked. She missed their walks and talks. She would love to see him again.

It was a week after Ruby had heard about the incident with Ernie and Mrs Watson. As she left the laundry on Saturday, she was surprised to see Ernie coming towards her.

‘Hello there, Ruby. All right?’

‘Yes, thanks.’ She tried not to look too happy at seeing him. She glanced round, knowing the women from the finishing room were watching her.

He fell in step beside her. ‘Just took a bit of washing into Mrs Watson. I knew this was the time you finished, so I thought I’d wait for you, seeing as I ain’t seen you for quite a while. You going home?’

‘Yes.’

‘I can walk a bit of the way with you. That’s if you don’t mind?’

‘No.’ She didn’t want them to see her making conversation.

‘Bye, Ernie,’ shouted Molly.

‘Bye,’ he replied.

‘Ta ta, Ruby,’ said Florrie. ‘See yer boyfriend’s waiting fer yer. Yer wonner watch him, remember he only likes older women. So is there a chance fer me then, Ernie love?’

Ruby wanted the ground to open and swallow her.

‘Come on,’ he said hurrying along. ‘Let’s get away from this lot.’

When they were well away he slowed down. ‘What was all that about back there?’

‘Molly saw you at the music hall with Mrs Watson.’

He threw his head back and laughed.

‘Well. Was it you?’

‘Yes.’

‘How could you go out with a woman who’s old enough to be your mother?’

He laughed again.

Ruby was beginning to get angry. ‘I don’t think it’s funny.’

‘I’m sorry. I guessed that one way or another you’d get to hear about it.’

‘Would you have told me?’

‘Yes. You wouldn’t have turned down a free night out at the music hall, would you?’

‘No. Suppose not.’

‘Well then.’

‘She paid for you?’

‘Yes, and she lent me a couple of bob to get a suit from the pawnbroker’s. I had to take it back the next day.’

‘Molly said you was all dressed up.’

‘I was, and I tell you it felt great to look like a toff. Mind you, it stunk of mothballs. I was surprised she didn’t make me sit on me own.’

She giggled. ‘But why you? Ain’t she got a husband?’

‘No, he was killed in the war.’

‘I didn’t know that.’

‘She don’t talk about it. It seems she got these tickets but was let down be some bloke, she didn’t say who, so she asked me along as her escort.’

‘Ain’t she got no kids?’

‘She never said.’

‘So that’s a bit of luck then.’

‘Yer. Who knows, I reckon I could make a living doing this escort thing.’ He grinned at her and with both hands smoothed his dark straight hair down. ‘Well, what d’yer think? Will I do?’

Ruby nodded and laughed again to hide her feelings. She wanted to hold him and kiss him. If only he felt the same way about her.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘Them back there. They’re dying to find out what you was doing with her.’

‘I bet they are. Here, you wonner tell them I’m her long-lost son, that’ll get them going.’

Ruby looked stunned. ‘I couldn’t say a thing like that. What if it got back to Mrs Watson? I’d lose me job.’

‘Yer, you could be right. Just tell them I couldn’t tell you, as it’s a secret.’

‘You are daft. What was the music hall like?’

‘Girls dancing, blokes eating fire and juggling, and some woman singing, and there was an old man telling jokes and singing very naughty songs. You wait till I get enough money. I’ll take you there. Ruby, it’s magic. I only wish me mum and sisters could see it. Young Eve would love it.’

‘It sounds lovely.’

He wanted to take her out, to somewhere special: Ruby almost hugged herself with delight. She looked at him wistfully. It was a shame that they had to live like this when there was so much out there to see.

‘When the weather starts to get a bit warmer I hope we can see each other again and have our little talks and walks.’

‘Don’t see why not. That’s of course if you ain’t off out with your older woman.’

He laughed. ‘One of these days, Ruby Jenkins, I will take you to the music hall, you wait and see.’

‘I’d like that.’ Ruby was thrilled beyond words. ‘I’ve been to the picture house.’

‘Have you? Lucky you.’

‘It was smashing. Me and Elsie went. We saw that Charlie Chaplin. Then I took Tom, but that was when Beth was living with us. Things were a bit easier then.’

‘I’ve never met this Beth.’

They stopped when they reached the road Ernie went down.

‘I’d better go.’

‘How’s your little sister?’

‘Much better, thanks.’ He moved away. ‘Can we go for a walk soon?’

‘Yes. I’d like that.’

‘When?’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘Why not? I’ll meet you in the park. They should be starting to play on the bandstand soon.’

‘That’d be great.’

‘OK, see you tomorrow.’

‘All right.’ She stood and watched him go. She did like him. He was nice: fun and funny yet dependable. If only their lives could be like those in the storybooks. She would love to get married and live happily ever after. But life round Rotherhithe wasn’t like that.

 

On Monday Ruby was dreading going to work; she knew she would be pounced on to answer questions about Ernie and Mrs Watson.

‘So,’ said Florrie as soon as she walked in, ‘what did lover boy tell yer about him and old Watson then?’

‘He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t ask.’

‘I don’t believe that for one minute. Does he reckon he’ll get a good job if he pussy foots round her?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I reckon yer not telling us everything.’

‘Well then, ask him yourself.’

‘D’yer know, I might do that.’

Ruby smiled to herself. Wouldn’t Florrie have loved to have seen them walking in the park? And wouldn’t Elsie love to hear all this latest gossip about Ernie going out with Mrs Watson? She saw even less of Elsie now as she had a boyfriend. The way she sat and drooled over him the last time Ruby saw her had made Ruby laugh. Finding Charlie had been another bonus for Elsie when she started work at the tea factory. Life was pretty good all round for her old friend. Perhaps Ernie’s reappearance meant things would soon get better for Ruby?

 

It was two weeks later, Thursday 14 April. That date was going to be one Ruby would never forget.

Mrs Watson walked into the ironing room and straight up to Ruby and whispered, ‘Follow me.’

‘But what about me work?’

‘Leave that.’

Ruby looked round at Florrie and began piling her work up neatly. Although there hadn’t been a repeat of the problem she’d had before, now she was always on her guard and waited till her work had been collected before she left the room.

‘I said leave that.’

She wanted to tell Mrs Watson that it would be a mess when she got back - that’s if she was coming back. She could feel herself getting hot as she stood up. What had she done wrong?

‘What you been up to then, young Ruby?’ shouted Florrie as they made their way towards the door. ‘Is it your boyfriend? He been saying naughty things about what you and him get up to?’

Mrs Watson turned and looked at Florrie. ‘I’ve no doubt that you’ll find out soon enough.’

Ruby’s knees shook as she was led up to the office. She had only been in there once before, that was when she first came here to work.

When Mrs Watson pushed open the door, Ruby couldn’t believe her eyes. Tom was standing there.

She rushed over to him. ‘Tom? Tom! What’re you doing here?’ She looked at Mrs Watson with a bewildered look in her eyes. ‘What’s happened?’

He threw his arms round Ruby’s neck and cried, ‘It’s Mum.’

‘Mum?’ repeated Ruby. ‘What’s happened to her?’

‘She’s dead, Ruby. She’s dead.’

Ruby felt numb and her jelly-like knees buckled. Words wouldn’t come.

‘I’m very sorry, Ruby,’ said Mrs Watson.

‘What we gonner do?’ asked Tom.

‘I don’t know,’ said Ruby, finding her voice. ‘How’s Dad?’

‘Crying.’

‘How did it happen?’

‘I don’t know. Milly said I should come and get you.’

She turned to Mrs Watson. ‘I’ve gotter go home.’

‘Of course.’

‘I don’t know when I can get back.’

‘Don’t worry about that at the moment.’

‘Will I lose me job?’

For the first time Mrs Watson smiled at her. ‘Don’t worry about that.’

Ruby collected her hat and coat from the cloakroom and left the laundry with her brother. They were running as fast as they could. There were so many questions she wanted to ask Tom, but she could see he wasn’t in any fit state to answer her.

She threw open the front door and ran down the passage. Her father was sitting in his chair crying. She fell to her knees beside him. ‘Dad, what happened?’

He looked at her and grabbed her hand. ‘What am I gonner do, Ruby?’

‘Hello, Ruby.’ Milly stood in the washhouse doorway.

‘Milly, please tell me what’s happened.’

‘I’m so sorry, love. It’s your mum. It was her heart.’

‘But when? How?’

‘It must have been this morning.’

‘She was all right when I left.’ Ruby stood up. ‘She looked a bit tired, that’s all. But she’s looked tired for a long while, and every time I asked if she was all right she always said yes.’ Slowly tears trickled down Ruby’s cheeks.

Milly came up to her and held her. ‘Tom came back from delivering and found her sitting at the table.’

‘I thought it was funny, she was just sitting there,’ said her father. ‘I asked for a cup of tea, but she didn’t answer me. I didn’t know, Ruby. I didn’t know.’

‘Course you didn’t, Dad.’

‘It was Tom who realised something was wrong,’ said Milly. ‘And he had the good sense to come over for me.’

‘What happened then?’

‘I got a doctor and he said she was worn out, her heart couldn’t take any more.’

Ruby looked towards the door. ‘Is she in the bedroom?’

Milly nodded.

‘I want to see her.’

‘Course you do. I’ll get Mrs Riddle to lay her out for you if you like.’

Ruby nodded. ‘What happens then?’

‘You’ll have to arrange the funeral.’

‘I never said goodbye properly.’ She put her head in her hands and wept.

Milly gently touched her shoulder. ‘I’m sorry. Look, if you need anything just send Tom over. I’ll come back a bit later on.’ She closed the kitchen door quietly behind her.

Ruby went into the darkened bedroom and sat on the bed next to her mother. She took her hand and kissed it, letting the tears trickle down her cheeks as she sat there. ‘Mum, why have you left us?’ Suddenly all kinds of emotion swept through Ruby. Love. Sadness. Regret at what hadn’t been said, and anger. Anger that her mother had left her.

Ruby could feel someone standing in the doorway. She turned and gave her brother a watery smile.

‘Ruby, what we gonner do?’

‘I don’t know.’ Ruby gently patted the bed. ‘Come and sit down.’