New York Storm

by Rachel Wesson

  The milk train was on time, so he was able to load his wagon and head back to start his round. Whitey traveled back with him, all moaning forgotten as the two of them stared in wonder at the storm.

  “Some storm. I tell you, lad, I am desperate to be home already. The horse don’t like this weather and she is a good judge.”

  “Well, we haven’t got a choice, have we? If we don’t get to our round, our customers will have to go to work without a nice cup of tea. Can’t do that to them,” Jimmy insisted.

  “You and your tea. I prefer a drop of this stuff to keep me warm.” Whitey took a small flask from his pocket. He offered it to Jimmy who declined. The older man drank a mouthful before closing it and putting it back in his coat.

  “Nothing better to keep a body warm on a day like today.”

  Jimmy didn’t disagree, but if his Nancy caught alcohol on his breath, she’d be in a bad mood for weeks. She was always after him to take the pledge. But although he wasn’t a big drinker, the thought of never being allowed another alcoholic drink didn’t appeal.

  Chapter 15

  Jamie Headford heard his da leaving for his milk round before turning over and going back to sleep. It seemed he hadn’t been asleep longer than five minutes when his ma called him to get up. Five o’clock had come all too soon. He liked his job and knew he was lucky to have it but getting out of bed on a cold morning was a task he’d sooner put off. His ma wouldn’t let him turn back to sleep. She knew him too well.

  He pulled on extra socks and an extra vest as it was so cold. Dressing quickly, he was soon out the door chewing on a sandwich his ma had made for him, along with a cup of tea for breakfast. Sidestepping the mess outside the Stevens’ apartment, he walked farther down the corridor. He knocked on their neighbor’s door but there was no answer. He knocked harder. “Come on, Barry, we’ll be late.”

  Barry came out wearing similar clothes to Jamie’s, except he looked as if he’d slept in them.

  “Days like this were meant for sleeping,” Barry said.

  “Old man Carver would love to hear you saying that. Move will you. We’ll be late meeting Mitch.” The three of them always met up and walked to work together in the mornings.

  Mitch was dancing a jig on the sidewalk outside his home in a bid to stay warm. “I thought you two had decided not to go to work.”

  “And hand our jobs to someone else? Not likely. We got to be on time too. You know Carver is a stickler for punctuality,” Jamie reminded them.

  His two friends nodded in agreement. They walked—or more precisely slid—as fast as they could.

  “I don’t think we should be out in this. It’s not safe,” Barry moaned.

  “Course it’s safe, Barry, we’ll be grand. Aren’t we strong young men? Think of how your muscles will look afterwards. You won’t be able to keep the girls away from you,” Jamie teased.

  Barry’s cheeks turned red, but he didn’t protest. He wasn’t the only one saying a prayer of thanks when they finally arrived safely at the factory gate.

  Roughly half of the employees working at the factory turned up, a couple of them late like themselves but, to their surprise, Carter didn’t say a word. He seemed more concerned about the fact the telegraph lines were down.

  “I can’t get any word on our shipments. I don’t know what’s arriving today, boys. We know what is expected but whether it’ll get through is anyone’s guess.” Carter’s upset was clear from his tone. Their boss liked everything to be working the way it should be. There was no time in his schedule for delays caused by weather or other calamities.

  “I heard there were railroad cars all backed up one behind the other,” Barry said, causing Jamie and Mitch to groan. Carter was bad enough without Barry adding to the list of things he could moan about.

  “Yes, Barry, I heard that too. Still, we will see. Nothing like New Yorkers to get things done. Now, I am sure you have plenty of work to keep you going,” Carter said before heading back to his office, leaving the boys staring after him. Their boss had sounded almost cheerful.

  Anyway, they didn’t have time to be thinking about him for long. There was always plenty to do and soon the boys forgot about the weather outside.

  Chapter 16

  Sadie was up and out of the house before Stan got up. She knew it would make him even angrier but she wasn’t ready to be beaten. Hopefully the longer it was before she saw him the more time he would have to get over her taking his blanket. The fact that da had stood up for her would only anger him more.

  She pulled her shawl closer around her body, glad she had worn her coat underneath it. The snow was falling hard but it was the wind that made walking more difficult. She caught up with a couple of the other women making their way to the factory.

  “Ain’t seen anything like this before. Do you think Father Devine was right and God is angry?” one lady said.

  “Who knows what’s caused it? Only hope the heaters in the factory don’t break down. The boilers too. I need a decent cup of tea inside me. That will warm us all up,” another said.

  Sadie listened to the women chatting. She had no idea why the blizzard was blowing as strong as it was. She just wanted to be inside the sewing room away from the wind and snow and Stan.

  Mrs. Reynolds, their supervisor, didn’t like male visitors on her side of the factory. Stan wouldn’t be brave enough to visit her there.

  Staring ahead, Sadie could see the faint outline of the factory through the snow. She was almost there, almost free.

  “There you are, you thieving varmint. Showing off like that in front of da. Well he ain’t here to help you now.”

  With a heavy heart she recognized Stan’s voice behind her. He had somehow caught up with her.

  “Why didn’t you wake me? You didn’t even make my lunch. What you got?” He grabbed her pail away from her so violently her sandwiches fell to the ground.

  “That’s not true, I left your sandwiches on the table. I made you the same as mine,” she said.

  “But you didn’t give me an apple did ya?”

  She had but she didn’t bother to say that. He wanted her apple. If he took it maybe he would leave her alone. He stepped closer as if to belt her but someone they both knew, Mrs. Leahy, walked past.

  “Morning Stan, Sadie, horrible weather. Why aren’t you both inside the factory rather than standing out here chatting?”

  Relieved, Sadie bent and grabbed her sandwiches back from the ground before she hurried to walk with the woman into the factory. “Thanks Mrs. Leahy, you saved my bacon out there.”

  “No worries child. Horrible day when families turn against one another. He should be protecting you not laying into you.”

  Too true, thought Sadie but she didn’t say anything. If Stan heard her bad mouthing him in the factory she would only get another hiding. She put away her coat and shawl, fished her sandwiches from her pocket and went to her desk. At least under Mrs. Reynolds scrutiny she was safe. For now.

  Chapter 17

  By the time Jimmy Headford got back to where he could start his round, he was hours behind schedule. The snow was relentless. He shivered as he went from house to house delivering the milk. The snowdrifts covered some of the bottles so he had a job finding them. Others had frozen tight so he had to use a small knife to chip away the ice, delaying him further. Despite his gloves, his fingers were frozen and the tips of his ears hurt like blazes.

  He rubbed Hercules down a few times as the ice froze to her coat. “Come on, Hercules. Let’s try to keep moving.”

  The horse pulled toward the direction of the stables, but Jimmy kept going up and down the cobbled streets delivering to as many houses as he could. He could no longer feel his ears, a blessing and a curse. He liked being out of pain but he knew that was a dangerous sign.

  Maybe Hercules was right. The horse was straining to go in the direction of the stables. He knew the route just as well as Jimmy did and usually never acted up but this morning he was insistent on going home.
Jimmy tried a few last deliveries. He hated letting his customers down. They depended on him.

  “Is that you, Jimmy Headford? Look at the state of you, man. Come inside and get a warm up.”

  Jimmy didn’t have a choice as the burly man pushed him inside his door.

  “You look like a snowman, you frozen devil. Will you get this inside you?”

  Simon Garrett, a retired blacksmith, shoved a mug full of hot tea into Jimmy’s hands. The warmth was lovely at first, but then the pains in his fingers started. He could have cried only grown men didn’t behave like that. He sucked in his breath and gritted his teeth as the feeling returned to his fingers.

  “You need to get yourself out of this weather and home soon, lad. Otherwise, your lovely wife will be holding your wake,” Simon said.

  “I haven’t completed half me round yet. People need me.”

  “People will survive without their pint of milk. You’re shivering so much you can barely put a sentence together. You’re welcome to stay here but I imagine you need to get your horse to shelter. Poor beast looks miserable too.”

  Jimmy drank the cup of tea and thanked the man.

  “If you ever need anything, Simon, you just come find me. I appreciate your kindness,” Jimmy said quietly.

  The man nodded and Jimmy was out in the cold once more. It was even icier than before.

  “Come on, Hercules, let’s go home.”

  The horse nudged him in the shoulder as if to say “about time” and they headed back toward home. Along the way, they passed people heading out to work. Jimmy knew his law-abiding neighbors would drag themselves to their place of employment no matter what. There were way too many people out of work ready to take their place. They couldn’t risk losing a day’s pay, never mind their position.

  His thoughts turned as always to his family. Jamie, his 20-year-old son, would be out here somewhere making his way to his job at the factory. He said a prayer to keep his young lad safe. He was a good boy, a hard worker, and very generous to his parents. He knew Jamie had his eye on a young lady, Lizzie Carpenter. She was a nice lass, came from a good family. Hard working and Catholic as well. They would make a good match but he hoped they would wait to settle down. He didn’t want his lad burdened with a wife and a baby year in, year out. Not yet. He needed to see a bit of the world first, even if it was only to take a trip to Buffalo or Albany.

  Finally, they arrived at the stables. Despite shaking with cold, he saw to Hercules. The faithful animal was almost a part of his treasured family. He dried him down and then covered him with two blankets. He got a basket of oats too. The horse deserved it after his efforts today.

  Only when he was satisfied Hercules would be all right did he make his own way home. He climbed back up the stairs to his rooms, pushing the door open as quietly as possible. Nancy was sitting at the table, her face white with worry.

  “Oh, thank God you’re home. I was worried sick. Get out of those clothes. You are soaked through. Oh, Jimmy, your fingers. Look at the state of them.”

  “I’ll be grand in a while, love, don’t fuss,” he said, his teeth chattering.

  She stoked up the fire putting several pieces of coal on it to give out more heat. Then she helped him undress and get into dry clothes before dragging a chair over to the fire and making him sit. She put a blanket around him too.

  “I’m going to get you some water for your hands. You need to soak them. They’ll hurt but it will do them the world of good.”

  “Where are the boys?” Jimmy asked his wife.

  “Jamie went to work hours ago and Paul is still with Michael. Don’t worry, Michael will make sure he stays indoors.” Nancy couldn’t hide her concern from her husband.

  “They’re both sensible boys, they’ll be fine. This storm is bound to lessen up at some point. You’ll see.” He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt. In all his years in New York, he had never seen anything like he’d seen that morning.

  Nancy gave him a cup of tea, which he sipped gratefully. To his surprise it was laced with whiskey. He looked at her incredulously.

  “Marcia gave it to me earlier. She said it was the best thing for a frozen man to drink.”

  Jimmy’s eyes welled up and embarrassed he looked into the fire. He had married the best woman in the world, no doubt about that.

  Chapter 18

  The noise of the machines dulled to a low roar. “Have you seen that storm, girls? It’s worse than this morning,” Lizzie said to her friends just as the boss walked past.

  “Stop whining, Lizzie Carpenter. Anything to get out of doing some work,” Mrs. Reynolds said.

  Lizzie didn’t respond. It was pointless. Their supervisor was a cranky old devil at the best of times. But she was the boss and Lizzie couldn’t afford to lose this job regardless of how much she hated it. Not when half of New York seemed to be out of work. She was lucky, and her ma never let her forget it.

  Her ma worked as a cleaner. It was her who’d gotten Lizzie the job in the garment factory. In addition to Tommy, her ma had also helped get jobs for some cousins and neighbors from their block. It was a real family affair.

  “Got anything with you for lunch?” Sadie O’Riordan asked her.

  Lizzie eyed her friend. She looked as if she hadn’t slept all weekend, the black shadows under her eyes even more pronounced than usual.

  “Yes, some bread and drippings. What about you?”

  “Same. Had an apple, too, but Stan pinched it.” Sadie screwed up her face at the thought of her big brother. Lizzie didn’t like him either, not that she would say that to Sadie. Blood was thicker than water after all. Stan O’Riordan was a liar, a bully, and a cheat. He was always getting Sadie into trouble at home. He constantly stole her things too. Sadie’s ma let her keep twenty cents a week from her wages but all too often Stan stole the precious coins.

  “Why don’t you give me some of your wages on Friday? That way your Stan won’t get his hands on them. Tommy would kill him if he touched me.” Tommy would knock his block off if he heard Stan had put a finger on Lizzie—being very protective of his little sister.

  “Thank you Lizzie, but Stan would kill me. He knows how much I get paid. I could give you my bonus if I get one,” Sadie said. “Stan may not hear about us getting extra money.”

  “Even if he does hear, he won’t touch me. So that’s settled.”

  The girls sat for lunch with some hot tea and their sandwiches. “Did you hear the priest yesterday? He called Catherine Donovan’s name out from the altar,” Lizzie asked.

  “Why? What did she do?” Sadie hadn’t gone to early Mass on Sunday, so had to go to the later one in the next parish. Father Donnelly wouldn’t be pleased but then he was as cranky as old man Carter.

  “She’s living in sin with a Protestant,” Lizzie whispered as if afraid of being overheard.

  “She’d never. Her ma will kill her,” Sadie said.

  Mrs. Donovan was known through the district for her hot temper. Not only did she shout but she also threw things, whatever was nearest. Many a time, Catherine had shown them bruises from being hit by a shoe. One time her ma had thrown a pot but it missed and had flown out the window just missing a stranger who had the misfortune to walk past.

  “Her ma’s eyes were all red and she was clinging to her husband’s arm. Father Donnelly said some special prayers for them,” Lizzie said.

  “I bet he did. He probably blames them,” Sadie said, her tone illustrating exactly what she thought of the priest. “But imagine, she’s going to go straight to hell.”

  “I don’t believe that, do you? The bible says God forgives all sin. Why would he care if Catherine’s husband wasn’t Catholic?” Lizzie asked.

  “Lizzie Carpenter, if Father Donnelly hears you talking like that, he’ll call your name out too,” Sadie whispered as if the priest could hear her from his church ten miles away.

  “He’s not likely to hear me, though, is he? You’re not going to tell him are ye?” Lizzie ask
ed.

  Sadie shook her head. “You’re me friend. Me only real friend. I wouldn’t do that to ye.”

  Lizzie smiled as she took another bite from her sandwich, imagining it was filled with ham and tomato. Not that she had ever tasted a filling like that. It was what the office girls sometimes bought when they went out to the store to get their lunch. It smelled wonderful. She couldn’t afford it though, not after giving up her wages to their ma. Even if she could keep her money, she wouldn’t be wasting it on shop-bought lunches. She aimed to have her own dressmaking business one day. She was a good little sewer and had an eye for cutting. So her ma said, anyway. And Mrs. Carpenter wasn’t known for giving out praise. “Pride cometh before a fall” was one of her favorite expressions.

  Her da hadn’t been like that. He’d believed you could do anything in America. It was the land where dreams came true. Didn’t work out too well for him though and now he never spoke of the future. She shook her head, it wasn’t time to be thinking like that. Instead she stared at the storm, it was getting worse, no doubt about it. She hoped Mrs. Reynolds would let them go off early.

  Sadie elbowed her, gesturing to some lads walking their way. Lizzie recognized Jamie Headford immediately. Her cheeks grew warmer as he came nearer.

  “Lizzie, I’m off now. Our governor told us to go early. Can you give us a kiss for luck?”

  Lizzie smiled at Jamie. He was always playing the fool to make people laugh but he was a hard worker so the boss kept him on. More than once she had seen Carter turn his head to hide a smile at Jamie’s antics.