Christmas at Woolworths

by Elaine Everest

  ‘Now she doesn’t believe me,’ Maureen said in exasperation. ‘It was exactly the same when were younger. Always correcting me and then pinching my boyfriend.’

  Irene stomped down the stairs and faced Maureen. Before she could open her mouth to retaliate Ruby stepped in. ‘Come on, ladies. We’re all a little tired and hungry. Someone will come along and rescue us soon.’

  Irene looked shamefaced. ‘You’re right. I apologize for my behaviour.’ She held out her hand to Maureen, who shook it without saying a word.

  ‘Now, let’s put our thinking caps on. Who is likely to know we are stuck down here?’ Ruby asked.

  ‘George will wonder why I’m not home,’ Irene suggested.

  ‘Would he know you were at my house, though?’ Maureen asked.

  ‘He would check at my house but it could be hours before he realizes something is amiss,’ Ruby added. ‘Sarah will be home before then and find us.’

  Maureen sighed. ‘She’s on the night shift with Bob at the ARP station, so we will have to wait a long time to be rescued.’

  ‘We’d best break out the buttons and have another game of gin rummy. A shame we didn’t think to bring food down with us. There was a time when we were prepared for everything but of late, with not so many air raids, we’ve become lazy.’

  ‘Hang on a minute,’ Maureen said with a sudden grin. She went to the shelf where she’d put the flasks of tea and lifted down a tin. ‘We have bread pudding. All is not lost.’

  ‘We also have this,’ Irene grinned, pulling a bottle out from a corner close to where she’d been sitting. ‘Do you have any sherry glasses?’

  12

  Maisie threw down her sewing. ‘I’m bloody bored. I’ve done nothing but sew all day long and ’aven’t poked me nose out of doors apart from our dash ter the air-raid shelter. If I don’t go out, I swear I’ll go mad and chuck this sewing machine out of the window!’

  David Carlisle put down his newspaper and smiled adoringly at Maisie. Since hearing she was carrying their child, he’d made sure his pretty wife put her feet up as much as possible and not worried about a thing. ‘It’s for the best, darling,’ he smiled. ‘We don’t want a reoccurrence of what happened last year, do we?’

  Maisie looked sad. ‘Yer don’t need to remind me we lost a baby. A day doesn’t go past when I don’t wonder if it was my fault. Yer told me to give up work and I didn’t and look what ’appened.’

  David crossed the room and knelt before her, taking both her hands in his and tenderly kissing her fingers. ‘Don’t ever blame yourself, my love. The doctor told us these things happen, but this time we will do all in our power to have a healthy baby.’

  ‘I know yer right but I’m still bored,’ she sighed, stroking his cheek.

  ‘I know. Why don’t we walk down the road to the Prince of Wales and have a swift half?’

  Maisie wrinkled her nose. ‘I never thought I’d hear meself say this but I’d rather not. The smoky bar makes me stomach churn. I’d rather go and see Freda and Ruby and also find out what ’appened to Gwyneth at her interview with Betty.’

  ‘Then a walk it is. I’ll get your coat and we can be off. I may just leave you there and pop to the pub. You can chat all you want then without a man to put you off.’

  Maisie laughed and threw a cushion at him. ‘I love yer, David Carlisle, and I still can’t believe a posh bloke like you is married ter someone like me.’

  ‘I’m the fortunate one, Maisie, and don’t you ever forget it. As for posh . . . well, none of us can choose where we come from. I’m just glad we met through my cousin Joe.’

  Maisie’s ready smile dropped from her face as she thought of her late husband, Joe. ‘He was a good bloke was Joe. This bloody war! Life just ain’t fair.’

  David helped her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. ‘I think Joe would approve of us being together, don’t you? We’ve both got our memories and Joe will always be remembered in our home.’

  Maisie forced the tears not to fall. ‘Yer right, we’re the lucky ones. Come on, let’s get a move on or you’ll never get that drink.’

  ‘I was thinking,’ David said as he locked the door behind them. ‘Why don’t you go away for a few days? I have a colleague who owns a guesthouse down near Margate. I’ll have a word and see if he has a room. It’ll do you good to get some sea air.’

  Maisie wrinkled her nose. ‘What, on me own?’

  ‘You know I’m away for a couple of weeks otherwise I’d jump at the chance of taking my wife on a trip. Why not ask one of the girls to accompany you?’

  ‘I could ask Betty. She was saying the other day that she’d not had a break for a while.’

  ‘That’s a good idea. I’ll sort out the details tomorrow.’

  The couple walked arm in arm down Avenue Road past the Prince of Wales pub and the Royal Arsenal Co-op before heading down Manor Road into Alexandra Road, where Ruby had lived since the first years of her marriage to her late husband, Eddie. Getting close to number thirteen, they spotted Sergeant Jackson leaving his home and crossing the road towards them.

  ‘Hello, Mike, not on duty tonight?’ David asked.

  ‘No, it’s one of my rare nights off. I’m just returning Ruby’s pudding bowl in case she needs it. The woman’s a marvel. She can make a steam pudding out of nothing,’ he said by way of making an excuse when in truth he was hoping for a quiet word with Gwyneth. He’d thought perhaps she would go with him for a drink to celebrate passing her interview for a job at Woolworths. However, now there were visitors to number thirteen he was unsure of what to say to the woman to whom he’d taken such a shine. Pull yourself together, man, he silently told himself. You’re a grown man, not some lovesick youngster. She probably doesn’t even know you exist.

  ‘I do miss her grub now I don’t live here,’ Maisie said. ‘I’m always grateful when Ruby invites us round fer a meal. We’d starve to death otherwise.’ She hooted with laughter.

  ‘We don’t do so badly, my love,’ David said, opening the gate and ushering his wife in front to walk up the short path and knock on the door.

  ‘Only because your mother sends us the occasional hamper and you’ve shown me what ter do,’ Maisie sighed. ‘Goodness knows how this little blighter’s gonna survive,’ she added, gently holding her stomach.

  Gwyneth opened the door. ‘Oh, I thought you were Ruby. But then again she’d have had her key,’ she added, her Welsh accent making it hard for the trio to understand.

  ‘Is something wrong, Gwyneth?’ Mike Jackson asked. ‘You look concerned.’

  They followed Gwyneth into the front room as she explained. ‘We expected Ruby home hours ago, didn’t we, sweetie?’ she said to young Myfi, who was sitting in an armchair playing with her doll. The child looked up and nodded shyly. They’d become used to the girl’s lack of speech by now. ‘She went to her WVS meeting and should have been home for her tea but we had the air-raid warning and . . . and I’ve been worrying something rotten that she’s been hurt and is lying injured somewhere.’

  Mike frowned. ‘Yes, there was an air-raid warning but no bombs fell. The planes were heading up to the capital. Ruby should be safe, wherever she is,’ he assured Gwyneth.

  Maisie sat down next to Myfi, a worried look on her face. ‘She’s never gone anywhere without telling someone what she’s up to. I’ve got a feeling in me waters that things aren’t right.’ She looked at her husband and Mike. ‘Can’t you do something?’

  ‘Perhaps she’s at Vera’s house?’ Mike suggested.

  ‘No, she wouldn’t be there. They’ve had a bit of a falling-out and the last I heard Vera wasn’t talking to Ruby. I’ve no idea why,’ Maisie said.

  ‘It may be worth checking,’ Mike added, turning to leave the room.

  Gwyneth reached out and took his arm to stop him leaving. For a moment she looked into his eyes before coming back to her senses. ‘No, I looked out the front before going into the shelter and I could see Vera hurrying up the road to her hou
se. She was alone.’

  Mike coughed to cover his confusion. He could gaze at Gwyneth all day long. ‘Then where can she be?’

  ‘Perhaps she went to Woolworths?’ David said.

  ‘They’ve been closed a while now,’ Maisie said, chewing her lip as she worried about the older woman. ‘But Betty may still be there. You know what she’s like after an air-raid warning. She’ll be catching up on her work after being stuck down in the cellar fer so long.’

  ‘I’ll go now,’ David said. ‘Do you want to come with me, Mike?’

  As much as Mike Jackson wanted to stay with Gwyneth, he agreed and the two men headed off to Woolworths to see if there was news of their friend.

  ‘There’s no one here,’ Mike said as he peered through the glass doors into the darkened store.

  ‘Betty may be up in her office,’ David said, knocking insistently on the doors. They both listened but could hear nothing from inside the large store. ‘I’ll try the staff door,’ he said, heading to the side of the building and again knocking hard on the door before calling out the manager’s name several times.

  Again they stood and listened. This time they could hear footsteps approaching and a key turning in the lock. The door opened and Douglas Billington looked out. ‘Hello, Mike, David,’ he nodded. ‘Is there a problem?’

  ‘We’re looking for Ruby Caselton. She hasn’t arrived home and we’re somewhat concerned,’ David said. ‘We wondered if she’d stopped off here to see Betty.’

  Douglas thought for a moment. ‘I’ve not been here long. I’m collecting Betty to take her to meet my daughters. She’s just finishing up some work before we leave. I’ve not seen Mrs Caselton but Betty may know something.’

  ‘What do I know?’ Betty asked as she walked down the corridor towards the men.

  The men said hello to the store manager. ‘Ruby hasn’t been home since midday and it’s unlike her not to tell anyone where she has gone, and her WVS duties finished hours ago,’ Mike explained.

  Betty frowned. ‘It’s certainly uncharacteristic of Ruby. I wonder if Maureen Gilbert has seen her. She did say she had some of her delicious bread pudding for the family. Do you think she’s been round to Ruby’s?’

  ‘Gwyneth didn’t mention seeing Maureen. Perhaps we should check at Maureen’s place?’ Mike said.

  ‘It’s worth a try, but Ruby is hardly likely to be chatting with Maureen when she was due home hours ago,’ Betty pointed out.

  ‘There’s also the public shelter,’ Douglas added. ‘There may be an ARP warden who can say if she was there. I believe they keep lists?’

  ‘That’s a splendid idea, Douglas,’ Betty said with a beaming smile. ‘I feel we should help look for Ruby. I’d never forgive myself if she’d come to harm and we’d done nothing to find her.’

  ‘We need a plan,’ Mike said. ‘There’s no point in us all going to the same place to search. I could check at the police station to see if they have news and also telephone Erith Cottage Hospital for anyone who’s been taken in since this afternoon. Let’s hope Ruby isn’t amongst them.’

  David nodded. ‘I’ll go to the public air-raid shelter and see if she was there.’

  ‘I could use my office telephone to contact Irene Caselton. Fortunately the house she and George rent has one installed. Perhaps Ruby may have decided to visit.’ However, as the words left her lips, she knew it was highly unlikely.

  ‘You never know, our paths might have crossed and she is now safely at home,’ Mike said. He looked at his wristwatch. ‘Let’s meet back at number thirteen in twenty minutes. Hopefully one of us will have good news.’

  Betty and Douglas watched the two men set off on their quests, both walking in different directions. ‘Come on, Douglas. Let’s see if we can get hold of Irene. I must say I’m rather worried. Ruby Caselton is not one to go off on her own without telling someone.’

  ‘I suggest, my dear, that we also let Clemmie and Dorothy know that we may be late. Your friends are important to you and I’d not wish to whisk you away when you are worried about them. I’m confident my girls will understand.’

  ‘Douglas, you may whisk me away anytime you wish,’ Betty said shyly as she turned the key in the door.

  For once the much-admired Woolworths manager was not on view to the public as Douglas pulled her close and kissed the woman he had come to love. ‘I hope I didn’t startle you, Betty?’ he said, still holding her close.

  ‘I have to confess my heart is beating a little faster than usual,’ she replied, ‘but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been hoping for this to happen and knowing you were taking me to meet your daughters, I did wonder if your intentions were honourable,’ she added with a smile.

  ‘I’ve never taken another woman home to meet my daughters,’ he said seriously. ‘In fact, I’ve never entertained the thought of being close to another woman since my wife died. That was until I met you.’

  Betty sighed with delight. ‘I hoped beyond hope that you felt as I did, but with me being an older woman and you having had a loving marriage with two young daughters I felt it was just a foolish notion.’

  ‘My love, if you are foolish then so am I. I can think of nothing better than spending the rest of my life with you by my side.’

  Betty stepped away from Douglas in shock. ‘Please, Douglas, you are assuming so much after one kiss. Why, you have your girls and I have my work. Can we take things a little slower and get to know each other?’

  ‘Forgive me, my love. I do apologize for being so forward. I will agree to whatever you suggest as long as you don’t send me away?’

  ‘Oh, Douglas, I’d never do such a thing, but something does worry me.’

  Douglas frowned. ‘What would that be?’

  ‘It’s Clemmie and Dorothy. Perhaps we should not tell them we are close at the moment? Let them get to know me first and I to know them. Am I asking too much of you?’

  ‘Betty, you could ask me to fly to the moon and back and I’d agree.’

  ‘Then let’s leave it there and get on with helping with the search for dear Ruby, shall we?’

  ‘I do understand,’ Douglas replied, leading her towards the stairs and her office. ‘My daughters must always be my first concern. I owe that to their mother.’

  ‘Bob! I’m glad I caught you,’ David said as he spotted Mike’s father outside the entrance to the public air-raid shelter.

  ‘Hello, David, nothing wrong I hope? We’ve just been having a bit of a tidy-up. It can get terribly stuffy down there with so many bodies close together for a few hours. ‘Sarah,’ he called down the steps, ‘we have a visitor.’

  ‘There’s a problem,’ David tried to explain, as Sarah appeared at the entrance to the shelter, her face streaked with smoke.

  ‘A problem? It’s not Maisie, is it? Please tell me she’s all right,’ she asked as a look of panic crossed her face.

  ‘No . . . she’s well. Sarah, it’s your nan. We can’t find her anywhere and we’re worried she may be hurt. We’re out looking for her and I thought you might have seen her, Bob. Did she come to this shelter when the siren went off?’

  Bob took off his ARP helmet and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. ‘Now you’ve got me worried, lad. I’ve not seen her since she dropped over a bit of food for us earlier today. I’ll come and help you look for her. It won’t take a minute to lock up here.’

  ‘I think I know where Nan may be,’ Sarah said with hope in her voice as she looked at the faces of the two men. ‘She was at Maureen’s when I left to come here. Mum was with her as well. They were going to have a cup of tea before going home. I would think they were still there when the air-raid siren went off.’

  ‘It must have been an hour since the all-clear. Wouldn’t she have set off for home since then? I’d have thought Mum would have done as well?’

  ‘Betty is going to use her telephone to contact your mum. We thought perhaps Ruby might have gone home with her.’ David knew it sounded ridiculous as the words left h
is mouth.

  ‘I doubt it,’ Sarah said. Perhaps they just got to nattering and haven’t noticed the time passing. Maureen’s cellar is very cosy so they’d be all right down there. Come on, let’s go and find them. At least we know they’re safe as there weren’t any bombs dropped.’

  As the trio hurried towards Crayford Road they spotted Betty and Douglas up ahead.

  ‘I have to report that George answered the telephone and he is as perplexed as we are, as it seems Irene is not at home either. We were on our way to Alexandra Road to report our findings. George is on his way over to number thirteen on his bicycle to help with the search,’ Betty said, her face flushed not just with hurrying from Woolworths but with her inner joy that she feared would bubble over at any moment.

  ‘Sarah believes we will find them at Maureen’s house,’ David explained.

  ‘That’s good. I suggest Douglas and I head to Ruby’s house and let Gwyneth and Maisie know what’s happening. We can wait for George and Mike and let them know where you are.’

  ‘There’s no need to wait for me,’ a voice said from behind them as Mike appeared on a borrowed bicycle and pulled up beside the group of concerned friends, who updated him on what they’d discovered.

  ‘Then let’s get cracking and track down our prey,’ he grinned as he dismounted from the bike and walked alongside his dad the short distance to Maureen’s home. It was as they turned the corner by the Prince of Wales that the small group stopped and gasped. Glancing up at where the chimney stack of Maureen’s house had been, all they could see was a gaping hole in the roof slates.

  ‘But there weren’t any bombs dropped,’ Sarah cried out as she ran across the narrow road, wondering if the female members of her family were still alive. And her daughter . . . Pulling a key from the pocket of her ARP overall, she inserted it into the lock but the door wouldn’t budge. There was something leaning against it.

  She sank to her knees and sobbed in frustration and fear as David and Mike helped her to one side, before putting their shoulders to the door and forcing it open. What faced the friends was the complete destruction of Maureen’s front room. Bricks, rubble and broken black slates. The dust in the air made them cough as they fought their way across the room to the kitchen, where a still tearful Sarah pointed out the entrance to the cellar hidden behind a pile of bricks.