Christmas at Woolworths

by Elaine Everest

  ‘Stranger things have happened, my love. Now, before I forget, will you pop round and check things are all right here while I’m away visiting your Aunt Pat? I know Freda can take care of the house, but she’s so busy these days and I’d hate Gwyneth to have a problem while we aren’t around to help. I’ve shown her where everything is in case we have an air raid.’

  ‘Of course I will. She’s going to look after Georgie one evening while I go out with Alan. Now he knows when he is off on duty again we want to make the most of things and have a few hours together. She did offer to have her while I went to work, but I don’t want to impose too much.’

  ‘She’s a good one, but I wish I knew why young Myfi doesn’t talk. Don’t think I’m being nosy, but can you ask her? I was going to have a chat myself, but it may come easier from someone who isn’t her landlady.’

  ‘If the opportunity arises, I’ll do my best. Now, let’s get this tea handed out before it gets cold.’

  ‘Blimey, you took yer time making that. I’m parched. I thought you’d gone to pick the tea leaves,’ Maisie chuckled.

  ‘Not so much of your lip, madam,’ Sarah grinned. ‘Just because you’re a lady of leisure now don’t expect me to wait on you hand and foot.’

  ‘No need. That’s what I’ve got an ’usband for,’ Maisie retorted, looking up adoringly at David, who was perched on the arm of her chair. ‘That reminds me. Betty, are you still needing sales staff?’

  ‘I am but surely you aren’t thinking of returning? You only left yesterday,’ Betty replied with a worried look on her face.

  ‘I’m not but Gwyneth is looking for a job.’

  The Welsh woman looked up from where she’d been deep in conversation with Mike and his father, Bob. ‘Why, that would be wonderful, but only if you think I’ll be up to it. I have done some shop work but not in a Woolworths store.’

  ‘Why don’t you come in and see me on Monday morning and we can have a chat?’

  ‘I’d like that, thank you, Miss Billington,’ Gwyneth said with a shy smile.

  ‘I thought you wasn’t coming,’ Ginger said as he threw his cigarette stub to the ground and stamped on it with one booted foot. ‘The film’s about to start and I’m getting wet waiting here for you.’

  ‘Some of us have work to do,’ Freda retorted as they joined the queue at the doors of the Erith Odeon. ‘How have you spent your day?’ Ginger was good company, but Freda couldn’t get the thought of the handsome American serviceman out of her mind. Ginger had changed in many ways since joining the Royal West Kent Regiment – not just in appearance, having filled out considerably, but his merry disposition had all but disappeared. She forgave his moodiness, as no doubt he’d experienced hostile situations while serving his country. However, she felt bad for not telling Ginger the truth – that she’d not been late because of work, but instead had hung on at home waiting for her motorbike to be dropped off in case Hank delivered it and she had a chance to talk to him. Instead it had been two of his comrades. Ruby had been enchanted by the men and accepted their gift of a box of groceries. Freda, after thanking the men profusely, had taken the bike to the fire station, where it was to be stored, before dashing off to meet Ginger.

  He was silent for a moment, contemplating Freda’s question. ‘This and that,’ he said with a shrug.

  Standing next to him as he paid for the two tickets, she could tell he’d been to the pub as apart from the smell of his damp uniform and cigarettes, she could smell beer. Freda had been looking forward to seeing the film and felt quite excited as they filed into the darkened cinema and were directed to their seats by the beam from the usherette’s torch. The latest Pathé News had just started and Freda was keen to know if there was any update from where she believed her brother Lenny’s ship would be. She sat on the edge of her seat clutching her handbag and holding her breath with her eyes glued to the large screen. Please God, keep Lenny safe, she silently prayed.

  Ginger nudged her arm and offered her a cigarette. She waved him away, her eyes still firmly fixed to the screen and her thoughts hundreds of miles away with her much-loved brother.

  He gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘A barrel of laughs you’re gonna be.’

  Freda placed her bag on the floor by her feet and leant back in her chair as the titles appeared on the screen for the ‘B’ film. It was a Clive Danvers spy story and she was a fan of the actor who appeared as the handsome secret agent. The film had barely started before she felt Ginger’s arm reach along the back of her seat and touch her shoulder. She did her best to ignore him and watch the film, wriggling a little to dislodge his hand, but his grip tightened as he pulled her closer to him. Freda froze. What should she do? Not only was she uncomfortable with the arm of her seat digging into her side but she wondered what was going on in Ginger’s mind as he started to grope her leg, raising her skirt, at the same time pulling her head towards his and doing his utmost to kiss her. The grip on her shoulder was such that she couldn’t pull away. ‘Stop it,’ she hissed and slapped his hand, turning her face to the left to avoid the overbearing smell of cigarettes and beer.

  Ginger pulled her closer still. Freda gasped in pain as his hand moved to her right breast and squeezed it tight. What the hell was he up to? She yelped in pain and distress as she heard the fabric of her blouse tear.

  ‘Young man,’ a voice from the seat behind said loudly and Ginger jumped, releasing Freda from his hold. He swore and turned round.

  ‘What’s up with you, Grandad?’ he retorted, glaring at the elderly man.

  ‘I don’t think the young lady wishes you to treat her so disrespectfully,’ he said pointedly.

  ‘Mind yer own business. I paid for her ticket so what we do is up to me,’ Ginger hissed back.

  Finding herself free of Ginger’s grip, Freda grabbed her handbag, along with the gas-mask bag she’d tied to the handle, and ran from the cinema, tears blinding her eyes. The dim light in the foyer startled her as she headed towards the main exit where a staff member was standing by the door allowing latecomers in. He nodded to Freda. ‘The film not to your liking, miss?’

  Freda sobbed, ‘No,’ and ran from the cinema, not noticing the man’s concerned face. Not wishing to head home and worry Ruby or go to Sarah’s house with Alan bound to be at home, she decided to walk the short distance to Maisie’s as she knew David was away on duty. She would die of embarrassment if she had to explain to a man why she was so upset. With her head down to hide her tears she rushed across the road, dodging a drayman’s horse and cart and a couple of women on bicycles who called out to her to be careful.

  ‘Oi, Freda, wait up!’

  Freda stopped dead in her tracks as Alan caught her up. ‘Where are you off to in such a rush? I’ve just been to the chip shop as Maureen heard they had some rock salmon in,’ he said. ‘There’s enough here for four so why not come home with me and join us?’

  Freda took a deep breath to calm herself and turned to face her best friend’s husband.

  The smile dropped from Alan’s face. ‘Aw, kid, what’s happened to you?’ He noticed how she was trying to hold her blouse together to hide the tear.

  Try as she might, Freda couldn’t hold back her tears and with a gut-wrenching sob she blurted out, ‘Ginger.’

  10

  Sarah handed Freda a cup of tea and sat down beside her. The girl was still shaking, even with the blanket that Maureen had wrapped round her shoulders when Alan had brought her into the house. ‘Here, sip this. I’ve added three spoons of sugar.’

  ‘Sarah, you can’t go giving me your sugar allowance. I’ll bring you some round tomorrow to replace this.’

  ‘Oh no you won’t. It’ll be a sad day when I can’t help a friend when she needs something sweet. It’s supposed to be good for shock. Alan has gone upstairs to put Georgie to bed and Maureen said she’d work to do in the kitchen so we can be alone to talk about what happened.’

  ‘But what about your supper? It’ll get cold. I’ll drink this and be off out th
e way. I don’t want to spoil your evening. You haven’t got long before Alan goes back on duty to goodness knows where. You should be with him, not taking care of me. I’ll be off home as soon as I’ve drunk my tea. And you wasted your sugar ration on me . . .’

  ‘Stop right there. Freda, you are my best friend. In fact, you’re the sister I never had. Alan did right to bring you to our home. We all want to help you.’

  Freda felt her eyes start to water and quickly took a mouthful of tea while she blinked the tears away. ‘Thank you, I’m being daft. I’d like to tell you all what happened so please ask Maureen and Alan to come and listen.’

  Sarah called out to her mother-in-law, Maureen, and then ran upstairs to speak to her husband. Once everyone was seated Freda explained what had occurred in the Odeon cinema.

  Maureen, who’d started to weep as Freda told what happened, hugged Freda. ‘What a brute. Thank goodness the man seated behind you spotted what was happening. I dread to think what would have happened if Ginger had followed you from the cinema and you’d not bumped into Alan like you did. Thank goodness I fancied chips for my supper.’ She looked towards her son, Alan. ‘It could have been so much worse if you’d been alone.’

  ‘He used to be such a sweet lad,’ Sarah said. ‘I wonder what’s happened to him?’

  ‘It’s this damned war,’ Maureen said passionately. ‘It’s turned the world upside down.’

  ‘You can’t blame the war for this, Mum. Some men just . . . well, let me say that some men are not so good deep down inside. Ginger’s not been the same since he signed up. I thought he wasn’t himself last time I met him when he was on leave. Far too cocky for his own good and he’s started to like the drink too much. He wasn’t very happy at the dance the other night either.’

  Freda nodded. ‘If it hadn’t been for you and George, I’d have not danced all evening. I only agreed to go to the pictures with him as he was so grumpy. I wish I hadn’t now.’

  ‘Sorry, kid, I should have kept an eye on you and this wouldn’t have happened,’ Alan apologized.

  Freda gave him a shaky smile. ‘Don’t blame yourself, Alan. Perhaps I’m not meant to meet a decent bloke like Sarah and Maisie have. I’ll end up on the shelf like Betty and live out my years working for Woolworths.’

  Sarah roared with laughter. ‘I do hope that was a joke, Freda? You’re still not twenty-one and Maisie and me could both tell you tales about failed romances. Believe me, one day you will meet the right man and be blissfully happy. You may even meet him at Woolworths,’ she added with a smile.

  ‘And even our Miss Billington seems to have a spring in her step since Douglas came on the scene,’ Maureen added, ‘so I’d not write her off just yet.’ She’d have liked to add that Ruby was also smitten with a certain retired policeman, but she wasn’t sure anyone else had noticed. ‘How about we all wipe away our tears and have a bite to eat? I put the fish and chips in the oven to keep warm and I’ve buttered some bread.’

  ‘You get started. There’s something I’ve got to do,’ Alan said as he pulled on his jacket and headed towards the door. ‘I won’t be long.’

  ‘Alan . . . don’t . . .’ Sarah called out, but it was too late as the front door banged shut behind him. ‘I hope he isn’t going to do anything stupid,’ she said.

  Maureen served up the meal and placed Alan’s portion back in the oven with another plate on top so the chips didn’t dry out too much. Despite their worries they started to eat, although each of them kept looking towards the clock on the mantelpiece as time ticked by. ‘The chips will be past saving before too long,’ Maureen observed.

  They’d all but finished when they heard a key in the door. Sarah was on her feet in seconds and hurrying to the door. ‘He’s all right,’ she called out as they both came into the room.

  ‘Sit yourself down and eat, we can hear what you’ve been up to afterwards. I take it you found Ginger?’

  Alan grinned at his mum. ‘I thought you said I was to eat first?’

  ‘I’d like to know if that’s all right?’ Freda said. She was worried that Alan would be hurt if he went to find Ginger. Although short in stature, Ginger’s sturdy build could have done serious damage to Alan’s slimmer body.

  Maureen fetched Alan’s supper and placed it on the table in front of him. ‘You can eat and talk just this once,’ she indicated to her son. ‘Usually I’d not allow bad manners at my table,’ she said to Freda, ‘but this time I think we all want to know what happened.’

  Alan cut into the crispy batter and chewed a mouthful of food before speaking. ‘I thought he might still be at the cinema. He’s so cocky he could have stayed to watch the film. However, just as I got there Sergeant Jackson and another policeman came out of the Odeon. They had Ginger between them and carted him off. I asked what was going on and was told Ginger had started a fight when an usherette asked him to leave. There’d been a complaint made about him after you rushed off.’

  Freda sighed. ‘Did he hurt anyone?’

  ‘I don’t know much more than that, but I do feel you should go to Erith police station and tell them your side of what happened.’

  Sarah squeezed Freda’s hand. ‘He’s right, love, its best you speak to them.’

  Freda looked horrified. ‘What if they think I was the cause of this? They may think I let men touch me like that and that Ginger and me have . . . Oh no, I couldn’t go to the police station. I’d rather die first.’

  ‘There’s no need to get upset, Freda. I have a better solution. Alan and Sarah can walk you home when you’re ready and if you see a light on at Mike Jackson’s house, you can knock and ask to speak to him. If not, it can be done in the morning. He’s a decent bloke and will advise you on what’s best. I suggest Sarah lends you a blouse so you look respectable and don’t worry Ruby. It’s up to you if you tell her what happened, but don’t do it while that nosy so-and-so Vera is about.’

  ‘That does make sense,’ Freda said. ‘I can’t really go home wearing this blanket.’

  ‘I’d rather have punched him on the nose,’ Alan muttered before spearing a chip with his fork.

  Ruby picked up a broom and swept a pile of used bedding across the hall and into the yard behind the building. Returning to the task of sorting donated clothing, she spotted Vera arrive in her smart WVS uniform. ‘Watch out, this pile of bedding is hopping with fleas. I’ve started a pile for burning out in the yard. You’d best use a broom rather than get too close or you’ll be scratching for weeks to come.’

  Vera just gave a sniff and walked past Ruby without a word, heading towards the table where Irene was sitting overseeing that day’s work for members of the WVS. She’d taken to her work like a duck to water, but today she would encounter Vera for the first time.

  ‘Oh, Mrs Munro,’ Irene said as she pointedly checked the clock on the wall of the church hall. ‘Thank you for joining us. I had planned for you to join the canteen van today but unfortunately it has just left. Instead would you help Mrs Caselton sort out the bags of donated items?’

  Vera was confused. ‘Mrs Caselton? Do you mean Ruby or yourself?’

  Irene sighed. The voluntary job hadn’t been what she’d expected. Her supervisory skills had not been accepted as joyfully as she’d anticipated and it was only with much persuasion that had she managed to wangle a desk job for a few days. Come next week she could be sorting flea-infested clothing with her mother-in-law.

  Vera sniffed. ‘I thought with new members joining the WVS those of us who had been long-serving members would have been promoted?’ She looked pointedly at Irene and the empty chair beside her.

  ‘Mrs Munro, there is only so much administration to be done. At some time we will all have to head to the coalface and do our best for King and country.’

  Vera wasn’t exactly sure what Irene was talking about. ‘I’ve never been near a coalface in my life and I’m not about to start now. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll get sorting the clothes that have just come in. You can let someone els
e work with the coal . . . unless of course there’s a free scuttle of the stuff going begging?’

  Irene sighed and wished she were back in Devon amongst the women she called her equals. ‘Thank you, Mrs Munro. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to get through before my shift comes to an end.’ Taking a discreet look at her watch, she was pleased to see there were just a few minutes left before she could retrieve her coat and escape.

  Vera wandered over to where Ruby was throwing some old clothing onto a pile on the floor. ‘Are they for the rag-rug group?’ she asked, bending down to pick up the pile of tattered rags. The group had grown since Maisie had volunteered to show the women of Erith how to create colourful rugs for their homes. They’d also made rugs for families who’d lost their homes in the bombings.

  ‘Don’t touch them,’ Ruby bellowed a little too loudly as other WVS volunteers turned to see what the shouting was about.

  ‘There’s no need to speak to me like that,’ Vera snarled back. ‘You’ve changed, Ruby Caselton, and it ain’t for the good. Why, you’ve even set your sights on the man I plan to marry . . .’ she blurted out before stopping dead in her tracks as she realized what she’d said.

  Ruby roared with laughter. ‘You daft bugger, Bob’s never shown any interest in you. Why, it’s all in your mind. Pull yourself together, woman.’

  In her heart Vera knew that Ruby was right, but she’d dreamt so often of having a husband who was devoted to her and who she could care for and Bob Jackson fitted the bill, not that she was going to admit that to Ruby. ‘Please yourself, but there wasn’t any need to holler your head off.’

  ‘Well, if you want to be hopping with fleas, why should I care?’ Ruby said, turning away so Vera didn’t see her laugh.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘That pile of old clothes you picked up. It’s running alive with ’em. I was sweeping them out the door to put on a bonfire.’

  Vera shrieked and started flapping her arms about, jumping from foot to foot. ‘I’ll be infested and this is my smart uniform. What shall I do?’ she moaned.