The Orphan Thief

by Glynis Peters

She watched Helen rub her eyes and pull her cardigan around her body. She stood with her arms folded. Shaking her head and returning to her task, Helen spoke soft and low.

  ‘I have to go, Ruby. It’s not that I don’t care about you, but my sister needs my help too. Either way, I’ll feel I’ve let one of you down, but you are thriving, and she isn’t.’ Helen sniffed, and Ruby knew she was crying.

  Walking over to Helen, Ruby knelt down beside her and placed her hand in Helen’s trembling one. Helen leaned back on her heels, released her hand from Ruby’s grasp and touched her face – a tender, motherly touch.

  ‘Live your own life, Ruby. I’ll give Fred and Beatty all the information they need to help you with your finances. It’s not hard, and the solicitor will help transfer guardianship. I have to go, I’m sorry.’

  Rising to her feet, Ruby looked down at Helen and a pang of guilt flurried around her. Helen had to go, and Ruby had no right to try and stop her.

  ‘I understand, I do. I’m not selfish, but I envy your sister. We can write and, who knows, I might get to visit Yorkshire one day.’

  Helen also stood up and patted down her skirt.

  ‘Who knows? You keep doing what you’re doing, Ruby. You’ve clawed your way back and I couldn’t be prouder. Give me a hug to take with me.’

  Holding Helen, Ruby knew it would be the last time they would have such close contact. With a heavy heart, she kissed Helen’s cheek and walked away. Words were not needed. She refused to say goodbye; it was a word which was all too familiar in her life and wounded her every time she said it. She’d heard someone say her soul must be battered and bruised by now. Ruby had never thought of having a soul before the loss of so many in her life, but assumed the constant ache she carried with her was a damaged one. A place where she carried all her sorrow. If only she could empty it and move forward. Her life appeared to take one step in a positive direction, and then two steps back. How were you supposed to deal with such things when the very people surrounding you were dealing with their own demons and issues? And each time someone set you up for seeing light at the end of a very long tunnel they disappeared. Beatty and Fred, her beloved friends, were all she had left, and Ruby was determined to ensure their lives were happy, comfortable and peaceful and they had no reason to leave – until death took them, of course. The inevitable. Ruby shooed the thought from her mind.

  In the meantime, Ruby Shadwell, you have a business to run.

  Ruby thought of all her plans and projects, scribbled on a pad lying in a drawer in her office, and strode with a sense of purpose towards the shop. She bit into her top lip as she walked. Tears were not allowed to dampen her cheeks.

  When she pushed open the front door she was pleasantly surprised to see the shop filled with people, and Ruby had to push her way to the counter to be greeted by a flustered, red-faced Beatty.

  ‘Thank goodness you’ve arrived; it’s mayhem,’ Beatty called out over the noise.

  ‘What’s going on? Where have they come from?’ Ruby asked, taking a set of bed linen from a woman and folding it into the basket she held out.

  ‘I’ve no flipping idea, but keep them coming is what I say. I can’t serve tea, though, so I hope you don’t mind but I’ve asked Violet to help out.’ Ruby peered into the community room; it was filled with women sewing or knitting, and Beatty’s friend Violet bustled back and forth with refreshments. Shadwell’s was filled to the rafters.

  Ruby turned back to her customer. ‘That’s a shilling, please.’ She smiled as the woman stared at her, wide-eyed.

  ‘I heard you sold at a good price to help us back on our feet. Can’t believe someone so young runs this place.’

  Beatty leaned across to address the woman. ‘She’s got brains and beauty this one. Beautiful inside and out. Wants only to help others. Saved my life, I can tell you.’

  Before Ruby could protest in embarrassment, Beatty returned to her own customer. Two queues had now formed and, as the morning went on, one became sales and the other for Ruby to buy items from a varied group of customers. Some asked to exchange watches or trinkets for more practical items, and knitted woollen socks were a favourite item exchanged. The women bought them to send to sons, brothers and husbands fighting abroad who complained of boots rubbing blisters. Ruby refused to take advantage of those desperate to send comfort to loved ones, and gave cash along with a free pair of socks. Their request had given her an idea.

  During a lull, she wandered in to speak with the ladies enjoying their chatter and tea.

  ‘Ladies, could I have a word, please?’ she called out over the chatter. ‘This morning has highlighted a need, and I think we can help. If you can knit, then socks for soldiers appear to be in great demand. I’ve a room filled with knitted things with holes, and Beatty often unravels one and knits Fred or me a new jumper or vest. How about I bring them into this room and you get knitting socks? I’ll sell them for a small price, and we’ll donate the money to a fundraiser of your choice.’

  The women began calling out the places where they felt the money would be best sent.

  ‘The Red Cross need funds.’

  ‘They’ve got an agricultural one for seeds. They send them to the POW camps. My boy told me when he was last home.’

  ‘The St John’s thingy joined with the Red Cross. My aunt held a dance to raise money for them. I think young Ruby here is onto a good idea. I’m all for it, girl.’

  The buzz of excited agreement went around the room, and Ruby gathered a few ladies together to help her bring down the fifteen boxes of unwearable items.

  It was agreed to close the doors for an hour whilst they organised themselves, and Ruby and Beatty took advantage of the time to slip home and collect four more boxes stored in Beatty’s room. As they walked back to the shop, they bumped into Tommy. He still wore his new clothing, and the bruises on his face still showed purple and black against his pale skin.

  ‘All right, Rubes, Auntie B?’ he said and shared a wide toothless grin.

  ‘We’re fine, Tommy. How are you? We were worried silly last night,’ Ruby said and knelt to his level.

  ‘Auntie B. It’s got a nice ring to it, lad. I like it. Is this sore? Is it a new one?’ Beatty reached down and stroked a red gash under Tommy’s eye.

  ‘It’s me own fault. Earl’s always tellin’ me that. I ain’t nibble enough.’

  ‘Nibble? Ah, nimble. Nimble for what, running from a beating?’ Ruby asked.

  Beatty shot her a warning glance. Ruby gave an apologetic expression. They’d discussed not pushing Tommy for too many answers about his circumstances for fear of driving him away. Both had agreed to keep a watchful eye over him and, in their own small way, keep him safe from the neglect he’d previously suffered.

  ‘I’ll walk you home later and have a word with your mummy,’ Ruby said.

  ‘She’s at work. Ain’t no use tryin’ to talk to ’er.’ Tommy shoved his hands into his shorts pockets. With a sheepish smile he pulled out two small stones.

  ‘’Ere, I got these for ya both. Found ’em and look, they sparkle.’

  His grubby hands held out two small pieces of granite stone. Ruby reached out and selected one. She held it up to the light and saw the small specks of silver against black shine back at her. She handed Beatty hers.

  ‘What pretty stones, Tommy. They do sparkle, thank you.’

  ‘Yes, thank you, Tommy. I bet your mummy liked hers,’ Beatty said. Ruby went to frown at her, but changed her mind. Beatty had a way of asking questions without making them sound like an interrogation – an art neither she nor Fred had perfected.

  ‘I ain’t –’ Tommy stopped talking and looked to the floor.

  ‘I ain’t what?’ Beatty asked, repeating his words in his accent.

  ‘Ha, you sound like me,’ Tommy shouted out and ran ahead of them.

  ‘Notice how he’s changed the subject again?’ Beatty whispered to Ruby. ‘He did it with the stones, when I mentioned his mum. I don’t think he’s got one
– a mother.’

  ‘I’ve often wondered. There’s no way my mum would have let James run around in the state we found Tommy. Even grubby, James was never grimy – or starved. He’s starving, always. Busy as she was, my mum fed us.’ Ruby picked up her boxes. ‘Let’s get him to the shop, feed him and let the forces knitting group fuss over him.’

  ‘Forces Knitting Group. I like it,’ Beatty said and also picked up her load.

  ‘Oi, you two slow coaches, comin’?’ Tommy’s voice called out to them as they crossed into Hertford Street.

  Both women increased their speed, and Tommy jumped his way over bricks and rubble until they reached the shop. Everything about the last ten minutes felt right to Ruby. A gentle amble with a friend and a happy child skipping ahead. A scene she’d like to enjoy several years down the line.

  CHAPTER 25

  Entering the community room, Ruby was taken aback by the hive of activity and enthusiasm of the local women. They’d expanded in number whilst Ruby was out. Their ages spanned from toddlers, school children, girls her age, pregnant women, middle-aged grandmothers and women aged into years earning them the respect of being the city’s matriarchs of many a family.

  Young children sat at the feet of adults, hands held high, little fingers spread apart, supporting yarn unravelled at speed by the enthusiastic participants of the fundraising event. Ruby’s heart swelled with pride. Not for herself, but for them. These people had endured massacre, and survived in a spirit of unity. They’d climbed back onto the tide of life and rode with the challenges of whatever came their way. Nothing could, or would, break them.

  Tommy sat amongst them; he looked so happy and comfortable. Only his accent was out of place. His bright personality bounced from one woman to another as he handed them whatever they asked for, and Ruby sensed his longing to make this a normal event. He bent over backwards to please, just to receive a small amount of praise or a thank you.

  ‘Tommy, if you aren’t too busy, could I have a word. I’ve something for you.’ Ruby held up the wrapped package containing the wooden plane from John.

  Tommy leapt to his feet as the group around him gave shouts of encouragement.

  ‘Cor, Tommy, a present. Is it your birthday?’ one little boy asked.

  ‘Nah. What is it, Rubes?’ Tommy took the present from her.

  ‘You won’t know until you open it, will you?’ she teased.

  Tommy’s playmate jumped up and stood beside him. It touched Ruby to see Tommy with a friend his own age, sharing an exciting moment.

  ‘Open it, quickly. What is it?’

  Wasting no time, Tommy ripped open the paper and gasped with delight. ‘Is this mine? All mine?’ His words came tumbling out on a breathless whoosh as he swung his arm in play.

  ‘John, the Canadian soldier, said he was sorry he missed you last night. It is a get well gift, and a sort of farewell gift. He’s had to go away, so we probably won’t see him again, but he promised to write to us. When I have an address for him, you can write and say thank you.’

  ‘You’ll ’ave to ’elp me, Rubes.’

  ‘I will. Of course I will.’ But Ruby spoke to fresh air, as Tommy raced around the main shop floor pretending to be a fighter pilot, and three other boys his age joined in the chase. She’d never seen him so free and easy, so happy. He leapt and giggled his way around with new friends. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she knew Earl would arrive and suck the joy from the child, but whilst he was in her company Ruby set her mind to help him back into childhood, make him less fearful of the world around him. She’d speak with Earl and get his permission for him to stay at her home with one of his friends once in a while. One boy stood out as an ideal companion. His mother hadn’t survived from her injuries after the bombing; his father had left him in the care of his grandmother and returned to fight. His manners and cheerful personality matched Tommy’s and as Ruby watched them play she was determined for the friendship to blossom even further.

  ‘He seems happy enough. Bless his little heart, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so much,’ Beatty said as she stood beside Ruby watching the boys.

  ‘Yes, until Earl turns up. Talking of him, Tommy’s been here long enough.’ Ruby disliked the thought of breaking up his imaginary play, but it dawned on her he’d been in their company for several hours. ‘It won’t be long before Earl will come hunting for him, and I don’t want a repeat of yesterday. We’d best send him home,’ she said, and turned her attention back to the boy. ‘Tommy, I think it might be time for you to head home. Your mum will worry about you if you’re out for so long, and Earl will be sent to collect you.’ Ruby gave him an encouraging smile.

  She still had no idea whether his mother existed, but felt the need for the constant mention of her presence in case Tommy let slip more information about her. Tommy turned to look at her and his arm dropped to his side. He let the plane fall to the floor and for a fleeting second Ruby saw an expression of anger cross his face. He poked his tongue out at his playmate, turned away from Ruby and walked to the door. Whilst the boys played, Ruby had locked it against the public, not wanting their fun to be disturbed. He pulled at the handle, but it remained in place and Ruby earned another angry glare. She felt for the keys in her pocket, hesitated about letting Tommy out, and finally chose not to unlock it until she’d spoken with him in private.

  ‘Tommy, don’t get mad. I need to speak with you. Come upstairs to my office. Bring your plane; I’ll keep it safe for you. If you don’t want to take it home, you can leave it here with me, if you think it will be safer,’ she said. Something told her he’d lose his new toy if he took it with him.

  With another tug at the door, Tommy gave in to the realisation it wouldn’t open until he’d done as asked, and with reluctance walked to Ruby’s side. He handed her his toy, looked up at her and she pointed to the stairs. She followed him as he climbed each one and, as she did, she composed what she was going to say.

  Once in her office, she stood by the door and pulled a chair beside the one she usually sat on and kneeled down and placed her hands on Tommy’s thin shoulders.

  ‘Sit down and don’t look so scared. You’ve done nothing wrong.’

  Tommy scrambled onto the seat and looked so small against the large cushions. She wanted to scoop him up and hide him away from the horrors of the world, to make his life as happy as the few minutes he’d just spent downstairs.

  ‘Tommy –’ Ruby spoke in a soft voice as she clicked the door shut ‘– I’ve asked you many times about your mummy, but your uncle never tells me about her, and you seem to ignore me. I have a problem, and only you can help. I need honest answers. Understand?’

  Tommy chewed on a nail, and nodded. Ruby sat on her chair and chose her words carefully.

  ‘The other day you were scared, beaten and exhausted. When I took you home, Beatty and I cared for you and it worried us about how you got into that state. You’d not been at school –’

  ‘There ain’t none,’ Tommy retorted.

  ‘True enough,’ Ruby said, not allowing him the opportunity to change the subject, ‘but there are a few days when you can have lessons. If your mummy needs help to find out when they are, I can ask the other mothers for her. Would you like me to do that?’ Ruby pulled her chair in front of him and sat down.

  ‘No point,’ Tommy said and returned his fingers to his mouth.

  ‘Why’s that, Tommy? Won’t your uncle let you go?’

  Tommy kept chewing at his fingers.

  ‘Where is he today? Left, and gone to fight the war?’

  Ruby knew she’d used sarcasm in her words, but Tommy wouldn’t understand the tone, simply the question.

  ‘Nah. ’e’s gone ta do business back ’ome – London.’

  ‘Ah, so it’s just you and Mummy at home then? Do you want me to walk you back? I was going to ask about you and your new friend downstairs –’

  ‘Douglas.’

  ‘Douglas, I see. Well, I was going to ask your
mummy if you would like to spend a day or so at ours, and maybe Douglas too. A little holiday, and a break for mummy, as she must be tired looking after you and working all day.’

  Tommy slid off the seat and walked to the door, and Ruby rose from her seat, blocking his way out.

  ‘Ain’t gonna ’appen. You gonna let me out?’ he shouted and kicked at the door.

  With a sigh, Ruby knew she’d got as far as she could with him, and opened the door and followed Tommy downstairs.

  Douglas ran to him, but Tommy pushed a grubby hand his way.

  ‘See ya, Dougie.’

  Unlocking the front door, she watched the two friends part, and Douglas’s disappointed face summed up her feelings too. Ruby ruffled Tommy’s hair as he brushed past her and stepped outside, resisting the urge to pull him back to safety.

  ‘Come and play with your plane any time,’ she said.

  ‘Give it to Douglas,’ Tommy shouted over his shoulder as he ran down the street.

  Ruby relayed what had happened to Beatty on their way home, and both came up with different ways of tracking down his mother. They chatted about it over their evening meal, but Fred didn’t share their enthusiasm.

  ‘There’s a reason the boy hasn’t brought his mother to meet you. And why that Earl is cagey about where she is all the time.’ Fred filled his pipe with tobacco, and Ruby went to reply, but he held up his pipe to silence her.

  ‘Ruby, I know you want to help, but I think it’s safer if you leave it alone. Don’t stir up trouble for yourselves. You’ve seen what the man’s like; not only that, he might make life more miserable for the kiddie. For what it’s worth, my opinion is Earl’s controlling both of them, and it doesn’t pay to fight a bully if another is involved.’

  ‘You’re as worried as we are, Fred, I can tell, but we must do something,’ Ruby said.

  ‘I am; the poor lad has a life we don’t understand, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to meddle in his affairs – Earl’s, I mean.’ Fred puffed on his pipe.

  Frustrated by his seeming reluctance to help Tommy, Ruby snapped out a response.