A Rare Ruby (20 page)

‘Hello, Mr Jenkins. Ruby, Mr Jenkins, is it all right if I come along this morning?’

‘Of course,’ said Ruby.

‘I thought a lot of Mrs Jenkins, she was a lovely lady. And this is for you.’ She held out one of the blue paper bags that she used for sugar and dried goods. ‘It’s from the neighbours. We thought the money would be better than flowers. I collected two pounds; put it towards the funeral expenses.’

Ruby gasped. ‘Two pounds! But . . . how? Most people round here ain’t got two ha’pennies to rub together.’

‘You’re a very much liked family, and, well, people want to help. Some come from the pub as well.’

Ruby held Milly close. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ Ruby guessed that quite a bit of the money had also come from Milly’s parents.

‘Milly, can you thank everybody for us?’ Thomas Jenkins was on his feet holding her hand.

‘Course, Mr Jenkins, but if you like you can put a little note in the shop window.’

‘That’s a good idea. I’ll do that.’

Milly moved towards the door. ‘I’ll be over at eleven.’

 

Ruby looked down at the coffin being gently lowered into the grave. Her mother was in that box. She wanted to stop them; she didn’t want them to throw dirt all over her. It wasn’t right. She had placed the small bunch of flowers next to her mother before Mr Cooper had come to put the lid on. She wanted her mother to hold them, to let her know she would be part of her for ever. Everything was becoming a blur as tears streamed down her face. This was the unhappiest day of Ruby’s life.

Little Danny was gurgling. Ruby glanced over at Beth who was trying to keep her son happy and distract him. He was such a lovely little boy. Her mother would never see him grow up. Her mother would never see Tom grow up. Ruby looked at her brother. His ashen face told of all his pent-up feelings. He had been so quiet since last Thursday that she had almost neglected him. She should hold him and tell him how much they all loved him, how much his mother had loved him. Mary would never see either of them get married and have children. This was a wicked world.

 

When they got into Hill Street Milly left the sad party and went into the shop. Beth walked along to the house with them, but she said she wasn’t coming in. In many ways Ruby was pleased; she didn’t really want anybody there; she didn’t want to have to make small talk. This was their grief. She didn’t want to share it.

Outside the house Beth rummaged around in the bottom of Danny’s pram. ‘Ruby, Mr Thompson sent this along.’ She handed Ruby a small bottle of whisky.

‘I can’t take this.’

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Look, give your dad a drop, and then put the rest away for when things get bad. It might help him sleep.’

‘You’ve been very good to us.’

‘I shall never forget that you took me in.’

‘We wanted your money.’

‘I know. In some ways I feel I should move back to help you out, but I don’t want to leave Mr Thompson, or my lovely room.’

‘I can understand that. You’ve very lucky.’

‘I know. I’d better go, I always help with the lunchtime trade. It gives Mr Thompson time to bottle up for the evening. That way he gets a bit of rest and I can give him dinner before he starts in the evening.’ She smiled. ‘Please, I know it’s going to be hard for you and you have a lot on your young shoulders. But look after your dad.’

‘I will.’

Beth tucked a blanket round her son’s legs. ‘Why is it the good always go first? I know a few I’d like to see the back of. I worry at times that my Danny might be left alone if anything ever happened to me.’

‘Don’t say things like that.’

‘I’m afraid these things do happen.’

‘But not to you. You’ll live a very long and happy life now you’re with Mr Thompson.’

‘I hope so, Ruby. I really do. But that don’t stop me worrying.’

Ruby gave a weak smile. ‘I’ll look after Danny. There, does that make you feel any better?’

‘Thanks.’ Beth kissed Ruby’s cheek. ‘Bye and thank you.’

Ruby stood for a while watching her push the pram along the road. Then she turned and went inside. Life would have to go on just the same for her and the family. Tomorrow she would have to go back to work. But how would she be able to clean Mr Cox’s place and feed him? His washing shouldn’t be too much of a problem as she could do that with theirs. She would have to break her mother’s rule about not washing on Sunday. That would be the only day she could fit everything in. It was a bleak prospect.

The following morning Ruby walked to work with a heavy heart. She had made herself and Tom a black armband to wear. It was a sad reminder of what had happened since she last came through these gates just a few days ago, but did she want to wear it to work? Did she want the likes of Florrie and her friends gloating?

‘All right then, Ruby?’ shouted Molly, catching sight of her. ‘You coming back to work with us?’

‘Yes.’

Molly caught up with Ruby. ‘Thought you’d got the sack. You’re gonner be a couple of days short in yer wage packet this week, taking - what? - three days orf. You’d better have a good excuse when old Watson comes round.’

‘Mrs Watson knows why I was away.’

‘Does she now? You’d better tell Florrie, she’s dying ter know.’

Ruby walked on. Florrie was the last person she wanted to talk to. In the cloakroom she took off her coat and carefully put the left sleeve out of sight.

Florrie came up behind her as they entered the building and, with her bony finger, prodded Ruby in her back. ‘I hope you know, Miss Snotty Nose, that we had to do your work what you left. And a bloody state it was in as well.’

‘Was that before or after you messed it up?’

‘You saucy cow. Who d’you think you’re talking to?’

Ruby ignored her and sat in her seat.

Mrs Watson followed them into the ironing room. ‘It’s starched collars this morning.’

A groan went up.

‘We can’t earn our money on those,’ shouted Florrie.

‘I can’t help that. The irons are all out of order in the collar room.’ Her voice softened. ‘Everything all right, Ruby?’

‘Yes, thank you.’

As soon as she left the room Florrie was on her feet and standing behind Ruby. ‘What you after then?’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Why’s she being nice to you and letting you stay on after taking time off? You and your boyfriend up to something?’

‘If you’re talking about Ernie Wallis, he ain’t me boyfriend. We was at school together.’

‘Don’t give me that. First we find out he’s been taking you out.’ She pointed towards the door. ‘Then the next thing we see is him waiting for you outside and the both of you talking and walking orf together, then you’re orf for days. And on top of that, you have the bleeding cheek to walk yer arse back in here as if nothing’s ’appened. You got something on her? That why you took three days orf and didn’t get a rollicking?’

‘Leave me alone.’

The bony finger prodded her again. ‘I won’t leave you alone. I wonner find out what you’ve got on her.’

‘Nothing.’ Ruby wasn’t going to tell them about her mother. Unshed tears stung her eyes. She knew she wouldn’t get any sympathy. She very much doubted that they would even believe her.

Wicker baskets were pushed into the room filled with the stiff starched collars. Everybody hated ironing collars, they were horrible. Ruby had been in that room for a few days so she knew what it was like. They curled up and as soon as you piled a few up they slipped and fell to the floor.

‘Ruby, looks like even you ain’t gonner earn your money today,’ shouted Molly.

But Ruby was desperate to earn as much as she could. She was now the breadwinner. At least thanks to the neighbours’ generosity she had almost paid for her mother’s sad and paltry funeral. She would always be more than grateful to everybody who had made it possible. This morning before coming to work she had lit the fire and had given Tom money to get some coal and bread. At least the fire under the boiler didn’t have to be lit every day now, but how would they manage without her mother’s money? And the rent still had to be paid.

As soon as it was time to leave she hurried home. What could they have to eat?

She pushed the front door open and the smell of something wonderful wafted along the narrow passage and filled her nostrils. Who had been cooking?

‘Dad?’ she called out on opening the kitchen door. The table had a piece of oilcloth on it. Ruby hadn’t ever seen that before, they normally used newspaper and a sheet was taken off the bed at Christmas. ‘Where’s that come from?’

‘Hello, love. All right?’

She nodded.

‘Beth came along and brought a veg pie. It’s finishing off in the oven. Smells good, don’t it? Oh, and she brought along this piece of oilcloth, she said she’s bought a new bit for Mr Thompson.’

Ruby looked at the faded brown material. The roses had almost been scrubbed away. ‘That’s very nice of her.’

‘Pie smells good, don’t it?’ said Tom, who was sitting at the table, his knife and fork at the ready.

‘Take your hat and coat off, love, then sit yourself down. I’ve made a cuppa. I expect you’re ready for one.’

Ruby did as she was told. She knew her mouth had dropped open. Her father was waiting on her. This had never happened before. ‘What’s been going on?’ she asked.

‘After you left, I took a gentle stroll over to Milly to ask her what I should get to eat tonight. It had to be something simple and cheap, something that I could manage. She suggested egg and a bit of streaky. I thought, I reckon, with young Tom here helping, we could manage that.’

Tom just grinned at his sister.

‘I want to do my bit, love.’

Ruby couldn’t believe that her father had been out to get the shopping.

‘I was just coming back across the road when I caught sight of young Beth. She’s a nice girl. She came running up and was pleased to see I was out. Well, when I told her what I’d bought, she said, “Put that away for tomorrow, I’ll bring along a pie I’ve just made you.”

‘D’you know, she even made one for old misery guts upstairs,’ said Tom.

At first, Ruby was speechless. She knew her mother would be cross at this. ‘That’s very kind of her, but what about Mum? She wouldn’t like us accepting charity.’ As soon as the words had left her mouth, she regretted it. The look on her father’s face filled her with remorse. ‘I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to upset you. It was very kind of her.’

‘No, you’re right. Your mother wouldn’t like it. Will you pour out the tea while I get the pie out of the oven?’

Ruby stood up and reached over for the teapot. ‘I’ll go up and see her later on to thank her.’

‘Yes, and you can take the pie dish back.’

The pie tasted as delicious as it smelt, but Ruby knew she had put a damper on the meal.

 

Ruby was pleased to see that there weren’t many men in the Royal Albert. She looked around for Mr Cox; she didn’t want him following her home again. Perhaps he’d nodded off after that wonderful pie. Beth wasn’t in the bar so Ruby went over to Mr Thompson.

He gave her a warm smile. ‘Hello there. I was very sorry to hear about your mother.’

‘Thank you, and thank you for the money. Is Beth around?’

‘Yes, she’s in the back room, come through this way.’ He held up the flap of the bar and Ruby went through.

‘Beth?’ she called softly. She didn’t want to shout out in case Danny was asleep.

The door opened and Beth appeared, looking surprised. She asked, ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I’ve brought your pie dish back.’

‘You didn’t have to come out tonight. I could have collected it in the morning. Was it all right?’

‘It was lovely. Thank you very much. Beth, I think I’ve upset Dad.’

‘How?’

‘Well, I wasn’t thinking. I want us to stand on our own two feet. I want Dad to try to be a bit more responsible.’

‘Yes, I can understand that.’

‘Well, I told him Mum wouldn’t like us accepting charity.’

Beth suddenly looked very angry. ‘Is that what you think it was, charity?’

‘No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—’

‘I didn’t make you a pie out of charity. Your mother and father, and young Tom, have always been good to me and I thought I’d like to give a little kindness back.’

‘Beth, what can I say?’

‘This time I’ll put it down to grief. But I’m telling you, Ruby, if you carry on behaving like this when people want to help, you might find they turn their backs on you.’

Ruby let her tears fall. She turned and went to walk away, but Beth stopped her.

‘Come here.’ Beth held out her arms.

Ruby nestled into them. She needed a shoulder to cry on. ‘Am I forgiven?’

‘I would think so.’

‘I’m so unhappy,’ sniffed Ruby.

‘Of course you are.’

After a while Ruby dried her eyes. ‘I’ve got to find Tom and me dad a job. They can’t stay home all the time. I don’t earn enough to feed them and pay the rent.’

‘I’ll ask around, but it ain’t easy.’

‘I know.’ Ruby blew her nose on a piece of old pillowcase she’d cut up and had carefully sewn round the edges.

‘Now, Ruby, remember: don’t get upset if people want to help.’

Ruby gave Beth a slight smile. ‘I won’t, and thank you for making me see sense.’

Beth kissed her cheek. ‘Now go on home.’

As Ruby walked through the bar she was pleased to see Mr Cox still hadn’t arrived at the pub. He was the last person she wanted to see. He’d be down soon enough with his dirty washing and for the rent money.

 

On Saturday Ruby was very pleased to see Ernie leaning against the wall outside the laundry.

‘Mrs Watson told me.’ He nodded towards her black armband.