A Rare Ruby (19 page)

He hesitated. ‘Will it be all right?’

She took his hand. ‘Course. Come on, Mum won’t hurt you.’

Very gently he lowered himself down on the bed. He was terrified he would disturb her.

‘We must do what we can for Dad. That’s what she’d want us to do.’

‘Why did she have to die?’

‘We all have to die sometime.’

‘I know. But I didn’t want it to be Mum. I loved her, you know?’

‘Course I do. We all loved her.’

A knock on the bedroom door startled them.

The door was pushed open slowly. ‘It’s all right, Ruby. It’s only me. I won’t stop. I’ve just brought Mrs Riddle over.’

‘Thanks, Milly.’

Tom jumped off the bed.

Mrs Riddle, a short stout woman, came quietly into the bedroom. ‘I’ve very sorry, Ruby. Milly said you’d like me to lay your mum out.’

Ruby brushed the tears from her cheeks with her hand and nodded.

Mrs Riddle took off her coat but left her black felt hat on. Despite everything Ruby couldn’t take her eyes off the enormous pearl hatpin that was stuffed into it. Mrs Riddle rolled up her sleeves. ‘I’ll need some hot water and a cloth.’ She looked down at Mary Jenkins. ‘She was a lovely woman. It’s a bloody shame.’ She turned to Ruby. ‘Is this what you’d like her to be buried in, love?’

‘She ain’t got much else. Can you take her overall off?’

‘Course, love.’ She patted Ruby’s hand. ‘Now, go and get me the water and I can start to make your mum look pretty. Mind you, it ain’t gonner be a hard job.’ She put her head on one side as she looked at Mary Jenkins. ‘A really lovely lass, and don’t she look peaceful?’

‘What’s she gonner do to Mum?’ asked Tom when they were outside the bedroom.

‘She’s gonner comb her hair and make her look nice.’

‘But why? She looks nice now.’

Ruby put her arm round Tom’s slight shoulders and gently moved him along the narrow passage. ‘I know she does.’

‘Ruby, can I have a cup of tea? I ain’t had one all day,’ said her father as she walked back into the kitchen. He ran his hand under his running nose.

Ruby turned on her father. ‘What?’ Her anger was now directed at her father. ‘Have you been sitting there all this time?’

‘Don’t shout at me, Ruby. It ain’t my fault.’

She was angry. Although she could see how upset he was she couldn’t stop herself. She needed someone to vent her feelings on.

‘I’ll see to the tea,’ said Tom.

‘Thanks, son,’ he sniffed.

Tom went into the washhouse to fill the kettle.

‘So, have you just been sitting there all this time?’ asked Ruby.

‘I didn’t know what else to do.’

‘You could have done something. You could have put a bit more coal on the fire for a start. How you gonner have a cup of tea if we can’t boil the water? And Mrs Riddle wants hot water to lay Mum out.’

‘Ruby, don’t shout at me. It ain’t my fault.’

‘No. It’s the bloody Germans. Well, the war’s been over for years now and it’s about time you got off your arse and did something useful.’

Tom stood in the doorway with the big black kettle in his hand. ‘Ruby,’ he shouted. ‘Don’t blame Dad. It ain’t his fault, and don’t swear, Mum wouldn’t like it.’

Ruby didn’t know what to do. Everything was closing in on her. She didn’t want to hurt her father. She stood in the middle of the room moaning. Then she fell to her knees and hugged herself. ‘I want my mum,’ she said over and over again, her voice heart-rending.

Tom looked at his sister, bewildered. ‘Ruby. Ruby. What can I do?’

She looked up at him. ‘I don’t know,’ she whispered.

The kitchen door opened. ‘Come on now, Ruby,’ said Mrs Riddle, bending down and cuddling Ruby to her ample bosom. ‘All this shouting ain’t gonner help your mum, or your dad come to that. Remember he’s in shock too.’

Ruby slowly scrambled to her feet.

‘You go in your bedroom and have a good cry. Tom, you see to the tea, and Thomas, put some coal on the fire.’

Everybody knew Mrs Riddle; she was one of those kindly women who was a tower of strength at times like these. She laid people out and brought others into the world. It was rumoured that if a baby was born with some sort of deformity she would leave it and see to the mother. It was also suspected that she helped those that didn’t need another mouth to feed. She was a forceful woman, and to Ruby’s surprise her father got up and did as he was told.

Ruby went into her room, lay on her back and looked up at the patterns that had been formed on the bedroom ceiling through years of neglect. She couldn’t cry any more. She knew she had to think about the future without her mother. What was going to happen to them? How would they manage? Her wages wouldn’t cover the rent and food. And what about Mr Cox? He would still want his washing, cleaning and cooking done. How would she manage to do everything if she didn’t finish work till seven? She would have to find Tom a job, but what about her father? Ruby felt guilty about shouting at him, but now he
had
to contribute. He’d been happy enough at the pub washing glasses. She would ask Beth if she could talk Mr Thompson into letting him work there again.

A gentle tapping on the door brought her to her feet.

‘Ruby, I’ve finished.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Riddle. What do I do now?’

‘I’ll go along and see Mr Cooper. He’ll come and talk to you about what sort of funeral you want.’

Ruby took a sharp intake of breath. ‘We ain’t got any money for a funeral.’

‘I’m afraid it’ll have to be done. It don’t have to be a fancy affair with horses and the like, but Mr Cooper’s a fair man and I’m sure he’ll sort something out for you. And, Ruby, have a bit of patience with your dad. He’s a very sad man.’

‘I know and I’m very sorry I shouted at him.’

‘I understand. You were in shock and needed to take your anger out on someone.’

Ruby gave her a slight smile. ‘Thank you. What do we owe you, Mrs Riddle?’

‘See me when you’re back on your feet.’

‘But I don’t know when that’ll be.’

She touched Ruby’s arm. ‘Don’t worry, love. I can see better times for you.’

When she moved away from the doorway Ruby followed her to the front door. ‘Thank you.’

‘That’s all right, love. And as I said, things will get better for you, I can see it.’

It was only an hour or so later that Beth arrived at number thirteen.

She threw her arms round Ruby when the door was opened. Tears were streaming down her face. ‘I’ve just heard. How did it happen?’

‘Seems her heart just wore out. Come in the kitchen.’

In the passage, Beth hesitated outside the bedroom door, then asked over her shoulder before going into the kitchen. ‘How’s your dad taking it?’

‘He’s in shock. He’s just sitting in his chair.’

‘Hello there, Mr Jenkins,’ said Beth, opening the kitchen door. She went over to him and kissed his cheek.

‘Hello, Beth. Have you got the little feller with you?’

‘No.’ She patted his hand. ‘I’m so sorry.’

He looked at her and tears began slowly to trickle down his face. ‘What am I gonner do without her? She’s always been there for me. I let her down.’

‘I should finish this ironing,’ said Ruby, sitting at the table and pushing a pile of clean washing to one side. ‘But I don’t think I can, not with Mum in the bedroom.’

‘Don’t worry about that. Bundle it up and I’ll do it tonight.’

‘I can’t let you.’

‘Course you can. Besides, you’ll want the money. Tom can deliver it tomorrow. Does up there know?’ She raised her eyes to the ceiling.

‘I don’t know. He ain’t been down for his dinner. He must have heard all what’s been going on.’

‘Ruby, how you gonner manage?’

‘I don’t know.’ She began to cry. ‘I didn’t even have two pennies for Mrs Riddle to put on me mum’s eyes.’

‘What did Mrs Riddle want two pennies for?’ asked Tom.

His question was ignored.

‘Have you got them now?’ asked Beth.

Ruby nodded. ‘Mrs Riddle lent them to me.’

‘Can I go and see her?’ asked Beth.

‘Yes.’

In the darkened room Beth gazed down on Mary Jenkins. ‘She looks very peaceful.’

‘Yes, she does,’ sniffed Ruby. ‘Beth, I’m dreading Mr Cooper coming and telling us how much it’ll cost to bury Mum. We ain’t got nothing left to sell.’ Ruby sat on the bed and looked down at her mother.

Beth didn’t have an answer, so she pulled Ruby to her chest and let her cry.

It was much later that afternoon when Mr Cooper arrived. He was a short dapper man with a thin black moustache and kind eyes. He sat at the table and went through the proceedings with them. When he’d finished there was silence.

Ruby looked at her father, but he clearly wasn’t going to say anything.

‘Mr Cooper, we ain’t got any money,’ said Ruby.

‘You’re not the first, young lady. Don’t worry, we can sort something out. You don’t have to buy a plot and you don’t have to have a big affair. And a loan can be paid off a little at a time.’

Ruby couldn’t see any way that a loan could be paid at all. ‘I don’t earn a lot, Mr Cooper.’

‘Now don’t you worry, just leave it all to me. I’ll let you know when it’ll be.’ He took a little black book from his jacket pocket along with a pencil. He licked the point. ‘Would next Monday be fine for you?’

Ruby nodded.

‘I’ll call in tomorrow and let you know the time.’ He rose and picked his hat up off the table. ‘Goodbye, Mr Jenkins.’ He held out his hand and Thomas Jenkins stood up too.

‘This is all my fault, you know.’

‘These things happen.’ Mr Cooper smiled at him. ‘Unfortunately a lot of women have a very hard life.’

‘But I should have been out working. I should have been looking after her.’

‘Excuse me, but I must go.’ Mr Cooper, his eyes full of sympathy, left the kitchen with Ruby following behind.

He stopped at the open door and touched his trilby. ‘Try not to worry too much, young lady. These things have a way of working themselves out. Bye.’

Ruby stood in the doorway and watched him go. How will they work themselves out? What will happen to us now? she thought.

That evening they simply sat in the kitchen. Hardly a word had passed her father’s or her lips. She had just sent Tom out to collect the ironing from Beth when a tap on the kitchen door startled her. She jumped up and was surprised to see Mr Cox standing there. He didn’t normally knock. He always barged in.

‘I was sorry to hear about Mrs Jenkins.’

This was the first time she had seen him all day. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry I ain’t got any dinner for you.’

‘That’s all right. I understand. Young Beth up the pub gave me a bit of dinner.’

‘That was very kind of her.’

‘Don’t worry about me for the moment, we can sort something out. Just thought I’d pop in to give you my condolences.’

‘Thanks,’ said Thomas Jenkins.

When Cox had left, Thomas looked at his daughter. She had every right to be angry with him. The strain was already telling on her. She was far too young to have to carry this burden alone. If only his pain and fear would leave him. His nightmares had got better over the years, but would they return now Mary wasn’t at his side to comfort him? He had to do something. For the first time since he had returned from the Front he forced himself to think about other people. If only Mary had been firm with him. She had been a good wife but too soft with him. Well, now she had gone, and he knew that it was his duty to try to help Ruby. But how?

 

All weekend people came and paid their last respects to Mary Jenkins. Ruby was surprised how many knew her mother and the kind words they had for her. It was mostly people she had done washing for. Sometimes Ruby would find a few pence left in the bedroom after they had gone.

On Monday morning Ruby woke with a terrible feeling of foreboding. She had been sleeping in the kitchen in the hard armchair. She had made her father sleep in with Tom, as she couldn’t let him stay in the bedroom with her mother lying peacefully in her cheap coffin at the foot of the bed. There weren’t any brass handles or nameplate on the lid that was standing to one side.

Every part of her body ached. She was dreading today.

Mr Cooper had arranged for a small handcart to carry her mother to the cemetery and a priest was going to bless her at the graveside. Mr Cooper said he wouldn’t charge them very much. There were no flowers.

Ruby looked out of the window. It was a grey day, which matched her grey mood. It was seven o’clock. Mr Cooper was coming at eleven. Ruby quickly dressed and, after seeing to the fire, went into her mother.

‘I don’t want you to go. I wish you could stay here for ever.’ Ruby kissed her mother’s cold forehead and left the house.

She quickly made her way to the market. She had to buy some flowers. She knew her mother would be cross at the waste of money, but it was something Ruby just had to do.

When she returned home her father was making toast. ‘Where’ve you been?’

The atmosphere was very hostile between them. Although Ruby knew she should be civil to her father she had to blame someone for her mother’s untimely death, so she’d turned her anger on her father.

‘I had to go out.’

‘Where?’

‘To get some flowers.’

‘But I didn’t think we was going to get flowers.’

‘I had to.’

He smiled. ‘I’m glad you did. Ruby, please don’t hate me.’

‘I don’t hate you, Dad.’

‘I’m gonner change. I promise you.’

‘It’s a bit late for Mum, ain’t it?’

‘Don’t you think I feel bad about that?’

She shrugged.

The banging on the front door sent her hurrying along the passage.

‘Milly, come in.’