Christmas at Woolworths

by Elaine Everest

  ‘That’s not my doing, Mrs C. Bob and Mike had a quiet word with the landlord and he promised to make Maureen a priority. Work should start soon on rebuilding the roof and chimney stack. My thinking is that Mike knows the chap in a professional capacity, if you get my meaning.’ He winked. ‘He wouldn’t want any bother now, would he?’

  Ruby roared with laughter. ‘I’ve heard it all now. Thank goodness for the strong arm of the law. I’ve always thought he was a bit on the slimy side.’

  ‘Sit yourself down, Ruby, and I’ll make that cup of tea, then I’ll leave you to pack your suitcase. Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to help you to the station?’

  ‘I could get used to all this spoiling,’ Ruby said as she sat down in her favourite armchair. ‘I’ve done my packing and Mike is coming with us to Erith station, so there are enough hands to carry our cases, thank you very much. You must be at a loose end with your Maisie at the seaside with Betty?’

  ‘There’s no denying it. Do I look like a lost soul?’ the handsome RAF officer said with a grin.

  ‘It’s like half of you is missing. We never see one of you without the other. P’raps you should have gone away with your wife. Not that I’m saying I don’t like your company,’ she added quickly.

  ‘Too much work on, I’m afraid. In fact, I should get back home and make a telephone call to HQ in case I’m needed. You never know what’s kicking off somewhere or other.’

  ‘It’s a shame we don’t have a telephone but it seems a bit posh for the likes of us, although George said he could arrange it. I’m always surprised how you men can arrange things,’ she said thoughtfully before adding with a grin, ‘What it must be like to be man.’

  ‘None of us can cook a decent meal like you, Ruby.’

  ‘It’s good to know I have my uses,’ she smiled.

  A loud banging on the door woke Ruby with a start. She’d put on her best coat and hat and sat down for a few minutes. She looked at the clock. She’d slept for an hour and was not only late getting over the road to meet Bob but had missed listening to the news. It was that heavy dinner, she thought as she gave herself a shake and picked up her case.

  ‘I thought you’d left without me,’ Bob joked as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. ‘My, but you look smart,’ he said, giving Ruby an admiring look.

  ‘You don’t scrub up so bad yourself, Bob Jackson,’ she smiled. She did like to see a man in a smart suit and Bob was certainly looking the ticket.

  ‘When you two have stopped admiring each other I think we’d best make our move. The train won’t wait for the pair of you,’ Mike said, picking up Ruby’s suitcase. Bob offered Ruby his arm and they headed up the road towards the station on the other side of the small town.

  Ruby pulled down the window above the train door and called to Mike, ‘Don’t forget to go over to mine for your dinners. Gwyneth knows to expect you. She’s cooking for everyone while I’m gone, so an extra mouth is no odds.’

  Bob joined Ruby. ‘You need to pick the cabbage and carrots on the allotment and check the salad stuff. I don’t want it going to waste, do you hear?’

  Mike laughed as he waved back. ‘I heard you both the first time you told me. Now, stick your heads back in and get settled before the train sets off.’

  On cue the engine let out a long toot, and the carriages shook as the steam engine pulled out of Erith station and headed towards London, where they would change to a different line that would take them towards the South West of England and to Ruby’s daughter and grandchildren in Cornwall.

  The trip up to London was uneventful as the train stopped at stations Ruby recognized. She pointed out to Bob the large gypsy encampment at Belvedere and he told her of his time on the force and where he worked at different stations. Reaching the two stations that served the dockyard and the arsenal at Woolwich, they watched as women left the train chattering excitedly.

  ‘They’ll be munitions workers,’ Ruby observed. ‘It’s not a job I’d fancy even if it did speed up the end of this war. You hear such things about what happens in those places.’

  ‘These “things” wouldn’t come from Vera by any chance?’ Bob asked, trying not to laugh.

  Ruby thought for a moment. ‘Now you come to mention it, I do believe they do,’ she said, joining in with his laughter. ‘You know, she means well, Bob, and she is really fond of you.’

  ‘A little too fond if you ask me,’ Bob said, trying hard not to show how embarrassed he was by Vera’s approaches. ‘I’ve had trouble trying the fight her off at times. I’m not sure if it’s my marrows she’s after or something else.’

  Ruby’s roar of laughter caused fellow passengers to turn and look before returning to their newspapers or gazing out of the smoke-smeared windows. ‘It’s not your marrows, love, she’s after all of you. Or to be blunt, she wants you living under her roof.’

  ‘What?’ Bob said, feeling none too comfortable discussing such things with Ruby. ‘Rest assured I’ve done nothing to encourage her. I thought she knew that we . . . I mean I . . . what I mean is, we . . . Oh God,’ he groaned, running his hand over his face, not really knowing what to say.

  Ruby stopped laughing as she became aware of how embarrassed Bob was by Vera’s attention. ‘There’s no need to be upset, Bob. At this moment in time any man would do. I won’t say she’s not jealous of our friendship, but what’s more to the point is she doesn’t want to take in any strangers. She’ll be in trouble with the authorities before too long as she refused to have Gwyneth and young Myfi living with her. She knows it and that’s why she’s set her cap at you. For Vera, marriage would be more convenient than putting up strangers.’

  ‘Oh my,’ was all Bob could say as he mopped his brow with a clean white handkerchief.

  ‘Now, don’t you go worrying. I’ll keep her out of your way. She’ll soon find someone, or something, else to fixate on and then you’ll be all but forgotten. Now, it looks as though we’re about to pull into Charing Cross station and we need to retrieve our suitcases from the guard’s van.’

  Bob took their coats from the rack above the seats and helped Ruby on with hers. ‘You know, Ruby, there is a solution to stop Vera with all these daft ideas.’

  Ruby had a good idea what Bob was alluding to, but now was not the time or the place. ‘What, you mean have her locked up for lunacy?’

  ‘No. Me and you could get married,’ he sighed as she stepped down from the train and thanked a young gent who’d helped her onto the platform.

  ‘Ask me another time, Bob. One of these days I might just say yes if you catch me in a weak moment. Now, how do we get to our next train?’

  Bob grinned from ear to ear as he collected their cases then led Ruby through the busy station and out to the main road, where he hailed a taxi cab to take them across London to catch their train to the South West.

  ‘This is a bit grim,’ Ruby said as they climbed into the carriage. ‘I’ll be blown if I can see my hand in front of my face. We could end up in Scotland at this rate.’

  ‘You’ll be safe with me. There’s no need to fret,’ Bob said as he helped her to her seat. The blackout blinds had been pulled down, blocking out any view of the world outside of the train, with the only lighting coming from light bulbs in the ceiling of the train that had been painted blue, giving a strange glow to where they were seated. ‘It’s best if we travel by night as then we will arrive nice and early and Pat can collect us as planned before she starts her work on the farm.’

  ‘That makes sense but I hope we don’t have any air raids as I won’t know where I’d be heading,’ she said, reaching for her bag and delving inside.

  ‘I think that’s the idea. We don’t want the enemy knowing where they’re going either. Now, what are you doing, Ruby?’

  ‘I’m looking for . . . ah! Here they are.’ She rummaged in her shopping bag before pulling out a package wrapped in brown paper. ‘I made a few sandwiches from the beef that David’s mum sent up. Seemed a shame not to have a bite
to eat during the journey. I’ve added a bit of that chutney I made last year, so mind it doesn’t drip on your suit jacket. We’ll never see it in this light.’

  Bob pulled a large clean white handkerchief from his pocket and tucked it in the collar of his shirt, causing Ruby to nod approvingly. ‘Tell me if I have chutney smeared round my face,’ he said before biting into the sandwich.

  Ruby leant back contentedly in the firmly upholstered train seat, thinking she hadn’t been so relaxed in a while now. Bob was good company. ‘Did you listen to the news before we set off?’

  Bob chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth. ‘No, I was packing my case and forgot to turn on the wireless in time. Was you listening out for anything in particular?’

  ‘Not really, I just like to know how the war’s going. George has gone on at me about these Baedeker Raids. There was one in Exeter and he’s worried we will get caught up in it if there’s another. I never thought to ask him what happens if there’s a raid while we’re on the train. I wish I hadn’t dropped off like I did. I can’t help feeling I’ve missed something important,’ she said. ‘But I’m sure it can wait. There’ll be a radio we can listen to when we get to where Pat lives.’

  George continued to eat his sandwich. Ruby never failed to provide for her family and friends, and he was glad of the bite to eat as he’d forgotten about a meal before he left home. Staying longer at the ARP hut provided for the area in Erith that he covered, he’d written a few notes for Sarah and her colleagues just in case they forgot anything he’d taught them. He had faith in the young woman and knew that she would take her duties responsibly and could be relied upon in any situation. He smiled to himself in the darkness as he thought how she’d headed off in a raid and ended up helping those three children caught in a fire. It still shocked him how any parent could leave youngsters like that to spend time in a pub and not even head home when the air-raid alarm went off. He was glad Mike had sought them out and had more than a few stern words with the husband. With people like Sarah and Mike playing their part, he felt confident that Hitler would never defeat them. If things got sticky and he came marching up Erith High Street, he wouldn’t know what hit him faced with the fortitude of the locals in Bob’s hometown.

  The train trundled on into the night as Ruby dozed leaning against Bob’s shoulder. Carefully checking his watch, he could see that there was another three hours before they’d need to change onto a local branch line that would take them closer to the farm that lay deep in the Lizard Peninsula. Bob had enjoyed going to the library and finding information about an area of the country he’d never been to. Perhaps there would be time for him to visit some of the quaint fishing coves and look out to sea from the most southerly point in England? The farm wasn’t far from the Helford River, a setting for the novel Frenchman’s Creek. As soon as he realized the area where Ruby’s Pat now lived had been used in a Daphne Du Maurier novel, he’d borrowed a copy and read it with interest. However, there was too much romance for Bob’s liking, preferring as he did her earlier book called Jamaica Inn. Now, that was a very good yarn, he thought, as Ruby stirred and mumbled something before dropping off to sleep again. He patted her arm and let her sleep on. It felt right to have Ruby close, even though they were not alone, the carriage being full of other passengers. It seemed his idea to travel during the night was a popular one.

  June 1942

  Freda stood by the reception office of Margate Hospital waiting for the young nurse who had helped her upon her arrival. She was so worried about Maisie, who hadn’t stopped crying since seeing Freda by the side of her bed. But her fears were also for Betty, who seemed to have vanished since being wheeled from the ward. Was she injured or perhaps she hadn’t survived an operation? Freda did hope they would be able to tell her something even though she was not related to either Maisie or Betty. Hospital rules could be so strict and she felt so alone.

  ‘Hello, did you manage to speak with your friends?’ the nurse said as she pushed her way through the double doors leading from the hospital wards.

  ‘I did, thank you, but I have a problem and wondered if you could help me?’

  The young nurse thought for a moment or two before speaking. ‘Look, it’s quite late, but as the earlier flap seems to be over I’m sure I can spare you some time. Come through to the office, where we won’t be interrupted.’

  Freda settled herself in the chair that the nurse offered. She stifled a yawn. It had been a very long and tiring day since she’d set off for Canterbury on her motorbike. Having carried out her duties for the Fire Service and gone in search of her friends, Betty and Maisie, she was now feeling the effects of her first long journey on the bike and her worries about the two women.

  ‘Now, how can I help you?’

  ‘I’m worried about Maisie. Do you think she will lose her baby? Also, Betty Billington. I was told she was on the same ward as Maisie but I couldn’t find her. Is she seriously injured? Please, tell me. I know I’m not strictly related to them, but they are closer to me than my own family and if anything was to happen . . .’ Freda’s voice broke as her fears came tumbling out.

  ‘Please don’t upset yourself,’ the nurse said, reaching out to take Freda’s hand. ‘I know I shouldn’t officially tell you, but I can’t see how it would hurt. Mrs Carlisle’s pregnancy is still progressing as it should. We are going to suggest that once she is home she has complete bed rest for a few days, but the baby is sure to be born fit and healthy.’

  ‘Oh, thank God,’ Freda said. ‘I don’t think she could cope if she lost another child. What about Betty?’

  The nurse got to her feet and checked a folder that lay on a nearby desk. She frowned and turned the page over. ‘If you will excuse me for a little while, I need to visit the ward and check the latest details. If you would like to make yourself a hot drink, the kettle hasn’t long boiled and there’s cocoa on the side table.’ She pointed to the table, where Freda could see cups and spoons as well as a slightly battered tin of cocoa. After leaving the office she could be heard walking briskly away, the starched apron of her uniform cracking as she moved.

  Freda half-heartedly made a hot drink for herself and the kindly nurse. She didn’t really want a drink, but was aware she’d not eaten since being given a sandwich at the emergency canteen earlier in the afternoon. The last thing she wanted was to feel faint whilst on her journey home to Erith and to come a cropper. She’d got away with damaging her bike once but might not be as lucky a second time. If only she had one of her friends with her right now, she wouldn’t feel so alone. Looking up at the large round clock on the wall, she became aware of how late it was. Ruby and Bob would be well on their way to Cornwall by now but perhaps Mike Jackson or David Carlisle could be contacted? They would be sure to know what to do. Even Douglas Billington would be able to help her, but then she hadn’t seen him recently and, thinking about it, Betty had appeared rather sad in recent days. She closed her eyes and prayed like she’d never done before that not only would Betty be well but that she would find love with the man who shared her surname. She was still deep in thought as the nurse returned with an older colleague by her side. Freda could see by the colour of the uniform that she had a higher rank. A nursing sister perhaps?

  ‘I understand you’ve been enquiring about Miss Billington?’

  ‘Yes, sister,’ she said in a wobbly voice. The woman looked stern and she suddenly felt very young and aware of her unkempt appearance. ‘I’m worried about both my friends. I’m Freda Smith. Betty . . . I mean, Miss Billington is also my boss at Erith Woolworths and Maisie . . . well, we used to lodge together . . . and I was her bridesmaid,’ Freda explained, trying hard to make sure the nurse was aware how close she was to both Maisie and Betty.

  The woman smiled and suddenly didn’t look quite so formidable. ‘It is understandable and I’d feel just as you do in similar circumstances. Usually we would only give information to relatives, but you’ve accounted for yourself very well, Miss Smith, so I will a
llow my staff to inform you of the health of both your friends. I’ll leave this in your capable hands,’ she added, turning to leave the room.

  ‘Thank you, Matron,’ the younger nurse said, appearing more than a little shy.

  Freda gulped, not believing she’d called the woman sister when she was a matron in charge of the whole hospital. She looked at the nurse, who held a buff folder in her hand. ‘I feel a bit of a fool,’ she mumbled.

  ‘There’s no need. I had no idea who was who when I first joined the nursing profession. Matron is a sweetheart really, unless we’ve done something wrong then she turns into a tyrant. She helped me to find out about your friend Betty Billington.’

  ‘Thank goodness for that,’ Freda said with a big smile on her face after she was told how Betty had been moved to another ward simply to sleep off her ordeal after being checked over by a doctor. Apart from a few cuts and bruises she was as fit as a fiddle.

  ‘She will be released as soon as the paperwork is complete and we have a doctor’s signature. Mind you, I’m not sure riding pillion on your motorbike is a good way for her to get home.’

  Freda’s face fell. She hadn’t given a thought to how her friends would get back to Erith. ‘Perhaps I could borrow your telephone and have Maisie’s husband collect them both?’ she suggested. ‘But it would be hours before David was here and that’s if he still has the use of the RAF transport. My goodness, what a pickle.’

  The nurse picked up the telephone. ‘We’ve still not been connected since the earlier air raids. Just as the Fire Service use motorbike messengers, we’ve been relying on the army to keep us connected with the outside world with their dispatch riders. May I ask a question?’

  ‘Please do and if you have any idea how I can get two badly shaken women to the other side of Kent, I’d very much like to know,’ she added with a worried look on her face.