Riches to Rags

by Beryl Matthews

  Matthew and Luke were doubled over with laughter.

  ‘Don’t just stand there,’ Jenny scolded, ‘let’s go and help the poor man.’ She waded in until she reached the beleaguered Father Christmas. ‘Get over in the corner by the presents,’ she yelled above the din, ‘I’ll try to get this rabble into some kind of order.’

  ‘Thanks, Jen.’

  As he fought his way through the mass of children, Jenny watched in disbelief. She hadn’t known who was going to be Father Christmas, but the voice was familiar. He wouldn’t do this, surely? But if it was him, then she now understood Matthew and Luke’s hilarity.

  The two brothers joined in the task of trying to bring order, and they eventually managed to get the children sitting in front of the figure in red with an enormous white beard. Each child received a present: pink wrapping for the girls and blue for the boys. Father Christmas hammed it up with far too many ho, ho, ho’s, but the kids loved it.

  Jenny shook her head in amazement. ‘Is that really John?’

  Luke howled with glee as one scruffy little boy with the seat hanging out of his pants clambered on to John’s lap and refused to move.

  Matthew mopped his eyes and nodded, speechless with laughter. Everyone else – Mrs Stannard and her committee, Fred, Glad, Ivy, Ron and Stan – was in the same state. Mr Stannard had turned up as well. Jimmy and Agnes were pitching in and seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the others.

  Jenny was glad she had bought extra presents, as they had far more children than anticipated. They were all from unemployed or very poor families. No one had been turned away.

  The cries of joy from the little ones as they tore open their parcels brought tears to Jenny’s eyes. This was probably the only present they would get.

  ‘Just wait until they see all that food,’ Luke gurgled. ‘My God, there will be jelly everywhere.’

  ‘We’ve got plenty of helpers.’ Matthew slipped his arm around Jenny’s shoulder and smiled down at her. ‘Have you told Fred and his family about the houses yet?’

  ‘No. Now that our offer has been accepted, I’m going to talk to them after dinner tomorrow.’ She was bursting to tell them but had waited until it had all been settled. They’d had to go up to £280. That had been accepted, and the deposit paid. Luke would deal with the paperwork in the New Year.

  ‘Children!’ Louise Stannard clapped her hands. ‘I want you all to make an orderly queue. Tea is waiting for you in the hall.’

  That was asking the impossible, and there was a stampede for the food. Toys were clutched firmly in one hand, with the other used to demolish the sandwiches, cakes, jellies and biscuits.

  All the helpers were fully occupied, and at one point Jenny dragged a small boy off the floor as he tried to suck up some jelly that had fallen. She spooned some more in his dish and was rewarded with a brilliant smile, minus two front teeth.

  By the time the parents collected their children, each was stuffed full of food and was hugging the precious toy and a bag containing an apple, orange and a few sweets. In the eerie quiet after they had gone, the exhausted helpers gulped strong cups of tea. No one spoke, but every so often someone chuckled as they remembered the party. It had been a joyous time.

  Christmas Day was special. Jenny had made sure that each family in the street with the man unemployed had a proper meal. Gifts of a chicken, pudding and vegetables were made by Fred and said to come from an anonymous friend. Everyone had assumed the food came from the centre, and it had been accepted with much gratitude.

  Jenny’s house was crowded with Fred, Glad and their family. The place rang with laughter as the children opened their presents, and as a special treat Jenny had bought a turkey. There had been a moment of panic when she had thought it might not fit in the small oven, but it had – just. The gorgeous smell of good food cooking made their mouths water.

  There were murmurs of approval as they tucked in, savouring each mouthful of the wonderful feast. Jenny waited until they were all sprawled out, replete after the huge meal, before telling them her news.

  She began cautiously. These were proud independent people and she didn’t want to offend them. ‘Have you managed to find anywhere to live yet, Ivy?’

  ‘Afraid not. We’ve been trying to find something close to Mum and Dad, but the rents is too steep.’

  ‘Why don’t you, Ron and the children move in here with me?’

  Ivy’s mouth dropped open and she sat up straight. ‘Would you mind? How much rent? Oh, but you’d have to ask the landlord first.’

  Jenny grinned. ‘I am the landlord, and the rent is nothing.’

  Pandemonium broke out as everyone began to ask questions at the same time.

  ‘You’ve bought this house, Jen?’ Fred was astonished.

  She nodded. ‘And your house as well. From the 15th of January your rent will also be nothing.’

  ‘Jen!’ Glad exploded. ‘That’s too generous; you must take rent from us.’

  ‘Why?’ Jenny went and knelt on the floor in front of Fred and Glad. ‘That night you took me in I vowed that if ever the time came when I could repay you, then I would. That time has come. Please let me do this for you.’

  There was silence as they digested this staggering turn of events.

  It was broken by Stan. ‘Good Lord. Does that mean I’ll be able to sleep in a bed instead of on the settee?’

  Glad squeezed Fred’s hand and gave a slight nod of her head. Ivy was mopping up her tears.

  ‘Do you agree?’ Jenny prompted.

  The entire family nodded, too overcome to speak.

  ‘Good.’ Jenny rose to her feet and opened the sideboard. It was full of bottles of whisky and beer. ‘Let’s drink to our good fortune, shall we?’

  Ron and Stan poured the drinks and handed the glasses round, not forgetting the children, who had a glass of lemonade each. They were too interested in their toys to take much notice of the grown-ups.

  Fred raised his glass. ‘I always said you was special, Jen. The day we met that frightened child on her way to a pawnbroker’s was the luckiest day of our lives. I think 1932 will be an easier year for all of us – and all because of you.’

  And you deserve it, Jenny thought. It is only a small payment for your kindness to me.

  35

  ‘Can I ask Jenny to our New Year dinner?’ Matt said, as he watched his mother working on the seating plan.

  ‘Of course, Matt. That would be lovely.’

  ‘And can I ask Emma Holdsworth?’ John asked.

  ‘Indeed you can, John.’ His father nodded approval. ‘Charming girl. So that’s who you’ve been seeing on the quiet.’

  Louise gazed at each of her sons in turn, and then settled on Luke. ‘And have you found a girlfriend you would like to bring?’

  ‘Not me,’ he laughed.

  ‘Ah, well.’ She looked down at her pad, a smile hovering on her lips. ‘That will leave you free to deal with Gloria Tremain.’

  There was a collective groan from the brothers.

  ‘Do you think Jenny will come if Gloria’s here?’ Louise looked doubtful. ‘She knows her, doesn’t she?’

  ‘It won’t bother her,’ Matt said confidently. ‘She was only frightened of meeting her when she was hiding her identity. That doesn’t matter now.’

  ‘I’m so pleased everything has worked out well for her at last.’ Their father poured himself a brandy. ‘Fine girl – great courage and good sense.’

  Matt relaxed, satisfied. It was clear he had his parents’ approval; now all he had to do was convince Jen that he was the man for her.

  ‘I don’t know, Ivy.’ Jenny pulled a face. She was wearing the same red dress. Things had been so hectic since Christmas Day, with Ivy and her family moving in, that she hadn’t thought to buy a better dress for the Stannards’ New Year celebration.

  ‘You look smashing, Jen. That’s a real pretty frock and Matt likes it.’

  ‘Yes, he does.’ Jenny told herself to stop fussing; she lo
oked perfectly respectable. She still wasn’t used to having money again, but it wouldn’t take too long, she thought wryly. She was already beginning to cast a critical eye over the quality of her clothes, and that was something she hadn’t done for a long time. It was only because of Matt, though. She wouldn’t want to let him down in company.

  Ivy scooped up little Bert as he tottered up to Jenny. ‘No sticky fingers on Auntie Jen’s frock,’ she scolded gently. ‘She’s going to a posh do, as a guest this time instead of a servant.’

  ‘What a turn around.’ Jenny couldn’t stop smiling. ‘I must write and tell Edna all about it. She’ll curl up with laughing.’

  ‘Will it seem strange to you?’ Ivy asked.

  ‘Probably, but as long as I don’t start clearing away the dishes, I should be all right.’

  They were both giggling at the thought when Matthew arrived.

  ‘You look lovely, Jen.’ He walked in smiling. ‘That colour suits you so well.’

  Ivy winked at Jenny as they left.

  ‘Eugenie,’ Gloria Tremain exclaimed when they arrived at the house. ‘Where have you been hiding?’

  Jenny had never liked Gloria at school, as she had a sharp tongue and thought herself better than anyone else. Smiling sweetly, she said, ‘Somewhere I couldn’t be found.’

  Gloria’s gaze swept over her in derision. ‘Your dress is … unusual.’

  ‘I think Jen looks beautiful,’ Matt said stoutly.

  That produced a trill of amused laughter as Gloria touched his arm. ‘Oh, Matthew, you are funny. You said that as if you meant it. Still, I expect you find it such fun to bring a market girl to the party. Don’t you, darling?’

  He shook her hand free and turned his back on the taunting girl. ‘Ignore her, Jen. Come and meet John’s girlfriend, Emma; you’ll like her.’

  She did like Emma and was pleased to see John standing proudly beside her. He was the most serious of the brothers, but she had been privileged to see the softer side of him when he’d acted as Father Christmas. He was a man you could rely on, and the pretty blonde girl beside him seemed just the person to give him the loving support he needed.

  When they went in to dinner, Green gave Jenny a sly wink, causing an amused rumble of laughter to come from Matt.

  ‘You must go down and see them later,’ Matt whispered in her ear when they were seated.

  ‘Oh, I shall. Do you think Gloria would like to wish the servants a happy New Year?’ she asked, and they both dissolved into laughter at the thought of the snooty girl talking to the hired help.

  The meal was wonderful and she enjoyed each dish, admiring the smooth way the meal was presented, knowing the frantic activity there would be downstairs. The conversation was lively and she joined in quite naturally, easily slipping back to the social training she had received at the Templeton School. Gloria Tremain kept giving her withering looks from the other end of the table, but Jenny was enjoying herself far too much to let that bother her.

  After dinner they gathered in the large drawing room to welcome in the New Year. On the stroke of twelve Jenny received a kiss from each of the Stannards, even Matt’s father. It was done with such genuine warmth that she knew they liked and accepted her. Once she had said to Edna that there was no way back to the life she had known, but thanks to her father’s love and concern for her future, the last two years had been only a slight pause. It had been a finishing school of life, and the best education she could have received.

  At just past twelve she and Matt went downstairs, and they spent a lively half hour with the staff before he took her home.

  A party was in full swing at Glad and Fred’s when they arrived, so they were dragged in; it was three in the morning before Jenny crawled into bed, tired but so happy. Matt had given her a long, lingering kiss tonight, and her heart was still skipping.

  ‘Happy New Year, Matt.’ Jake slapped him on the back and then handed him a cheque.

  ‘What’s this?’ he asked, puzzled.

  ‘That’s the money you lent me plus interest.’

  He gazed at his boss in astonishment. ‘Can you afford to do this now?’

  ‘I certainly can.’ Jake grinned in delight. ‘Once again the business is doing nicely, and it’s all thanks to you and Luke. You were both prepared to risk your money to keep us going, and your confidence has turned things around very quickly.’

  ‘This is wonderful news!’ Matt had realized they were doing well, but not this well. ‘Thanks, Jake. If you ever need help in the future, you come straight to me.’

  ‘I will, lad, and I’m grateful for your brilliant idea about selling second-hand cars. Without that, I would have gone bankrupt for sure.’

  ‘I couldn’t have let that happen,’ Matt said with a shake of his head. ‘I would never have been able to finish my apprenticeship.’

  Jake threw his head back and laughed. ‘Well, you’d better get back to work because you’ve still got a way to go yet.’

  ‘Yes, boss.’ Matt grinned, tucked the cheque into his top pocket and went back to the workshop, a spanner already in his eager hands. He knew just what he was going to do with the money: buy a house for himself and Jen, because he intended to marry her before the year was out.

  The daily need for Jenny to earn enough money for the rent and food had gone, and it was a liberating thought. Bet’s husband had hobbled back to work, so she could now choose what she wanted to do, and decided that it would be good to help out at the centre for a while. The local people had come to rely on it, and word had spread, bringing others who were walking as far as five miles to get a hot meal. Poor devils! And there seemed no end to the depression.

  Louise Stannard was already in the kitchen when Jenny arrived. She smiled. ‘You’re up early.’

  ‘Habit, I’m afraid. I wondered if there was anything I could do to help here.’

  ‘That would be most welcome. There’s a sack of potatoes for peeling.’

  Jenny removed her coat and set to work. ‘Ron and Jimmy told me that some men and women are walking miles to get here.’

  ‘They are, and what worries us is that they might have young children who can’t walk this far. I’ve seen some of them eat a couple of mouthfuls and then slip the rest of the meal into a bag to take away with them. We make sure their plates are filled again.’

  ‘Why don’t we make pies that they can take home and heat up for the children?’ Jenny stopped peeling the potatoes and frowned. ‘The trouble is, we could be besieged and wouldn’t know if the food was going where it was most needed.’

  ‘The committee have already considered something like that, but it would be undignified for people to have to show proof of their need.’

  ‘Where is the dignity in starvation, Mrs Stannard?’

  At that stark question, Louise sat down and bowed her head. ‘Ah, you would know all about that, wouldn’t you, my dear?’ Then she looked up, a determined glint in her eyes. ‘Let’s try it! The only question they need to answer is how far they have walked to get here.’

  ‘Is there enough money for such a scheme?’ Jenny wanted to know.

  ‘We’ll find the money!’

  ‘I’d be happy to make a donation.’

  ‘No, that won’t be necessary.’ Louise gave a small laugh. ‘Many of our acquaintances have deep pockets, and I’m sure the committee can prise some more out of them.’

  Ron, Ivy and Jimmy arrived then, followed immediately by two more of the committee. The idea was discussed and agreed on. Everyone went to work to provide the extra food.

  By the end of the day Jenny was delighted with the way things had gone. The gratitude in people’s eyes was reward enough.

  36

  Spring! Jenny walked along the dingy narrow street of terraced houses. Everything looked grey – bricks, road, pavements and even the sky – yet she was smiling with happiness. There wasn’t a splash of green anywhere, but she could picture the oak-lined drive leading to the Templeton School, the young leaves on the
trees bursting out of sticky buds and shimmering in a light breeze. She took a deep breath and could almost smell the carpet of bluebells clustered underneath outstretched branches, and yellow primroses dotted here and there in the bright green grass.

  She sighed. It had been a beautiful sight and something she had looked forward to each year – the eagerness of new growth. Perhaps she would make time today to wander through one of London’s parks and enjoy the exhilaration of life bursting forth. Glancing up, she saw a small patch of blue sky. Yes, that’s what she would do.

  Jenny hummed a tune as she practically danced up Forest Road. Since Christmas she had gone out with Matt at least twice a week, and had Sunday lunch with his family now and again. And last night he had told her that he loved her! She loved him too and was bursting with happiness.

  ‘So this is where you’ve been hiding yourself. What a disgusting place!’

  Jenny stopped in mid stride and looked into the scornful eyes of Gloria Tremain. What on earth was she doing here?

  ‘No wonder Matthew laughs about the hovel you live in. He’s told me so much about it, I thought I’d better see for myself. What a laugh we had about the evening he took you to the Monseigneur and you went into raptures about that singer, Al Bowlly.’

  Jenny was stunned. What was Matt doing talking to Gloria about her? He couldn’t stand the girl.

  ‘You poor fool,’ Gloria sneered. ‘Couldn’t you see he was only amusing himself with you? He’s going to marry me – and soon.’ She pulled her coat open. ‘See, I’m pregnant and Matthew is the father.’

  Jenny stared at the slight bulge in Gloria’s stomach and felt all the air leave her lungs. She tried to breathe, only managing to take in small gulps of air. The hated girl’s harsh laugh cut through her confusion, and she stood straight, head up. ‘You’re lying!’

  ‘Do you really think Matthew would be satisfied with you? He’s a passionate man and needs a real woman.’

  Jenny couldn’t ever remember hurting like this. The pain was almost making her cry out. But she wouldn’t give Gloria that satisfaction!