Christmas at Woolworths

by Elaine Everest

  ‘You know Maureen’s under the impression she can move in this weekend, don’t you? You did a good job chasing up that landlord of hers, so now she thinks she’s all but home and dry. You’d best put your thinking caps on if you don’t want to spoil her surprise. Why not ask David to give you a hand. He’s in the kitchen chatting to our Sarah. She’s excited about something or other.’

  Bob watched Ruby return to the house and blew on his hands before rubbing them together. ‘Gentlemen, we have a problem. I suggest we tell Maureen there has been a burst pipe and she can’t move in until Christmas Eve. It means upsetting her, as she will have to live with Vera for another week. Brrr, we are going to freeze to death if we don’t go inside soon. There’s a limit to how long we can say we are out here having a cigarette.’

  George agreed. ‘I must head home or Irene will worry. By the way, Bob, I had a letter from our Pat. She’s none too pleased that I’d spoken to that farmer, Jago, with my concerns and she’s going to write to Mum. It seems he’s told Pat that her family should come first and told her to come home to Erith.’

  ‘I’ll keep my head down when the postman delivers. Thanks for mentioning it, George. Perhaps we should warn Ruby?’

  ‘No. She agrees that Pat should be home with her husband and those boys should have gainful employment, so let’s just leave things be until our Pat’s letter arrives. Now, I’ll be leaving you to talk to Maureen. I suggest the burst pipe is in the kitchen. That way we’ll all have the same story.’

  Mike followed the two men into the house. He’d not added much to the conversation as he’d been thinking of how he could invite Gwyneth out for the afternoon the following day. It was her half-day and he too had the day off. If he offered to work the rest of the day at Maureen’s, then he wouldn’t feel guilty about taking a few hours off. However, he was nervous as Gwyneth had made it clear she was not interested in any other men as she took her wedding vows seriously, even though her husband, Idris, was a bully and a wife beater. Which reminded him that he had a call to make to Maidstone prison. He’d do it from the police station later this evening when he went on duty.

  Mike walked into the kitchen to find Gwyneth and Sarah chatting with David. ‘You look happy. Have you heard from Alan?’ he asked.

  ‘No, not since he said it was unlikely he’d be home for Christmas,’ she replied, her smile slipping slightly. ‘It’s Freda’s birthday tomorrow and David has helped me to arrange a surprise for her.’ She waved three tickets in the air. ‘We have tickets to see The Dancing Years at the Adelphi Theatre in London tomorrow afternoon. It’s perfect as it’s our half-day at work and he managed to get three tickets so Gwyneth can come too. She’s never seen a London show.’

  Gwyneth’s eyes shone. ‘And I will be able to see Ivor Novello. That has been a dream of mine for so long,’ she sighed.

  Mike agreed it would be a wonderful present for Freda but inside he was screaming. Would he never get to spend time alone with the woman he held so dear? He would have to do something or Gwyneth would slip through his hands and never be part of his life.

  ‘Wake up, sleepy head, we have a busy day ahead,’ Sarah said as she pulled back the curtains, letting the winter sun into the bedroom that the friends shared. With Alan away the girls had decided that they would again share a room along with Georgie, allowing Gwyneth a room with her daughter.

  ‘It’s a bit early, isn’t it?’ Freda yawned.

  ‘Not when it’s your birthday and you have presents to open before we head off to work,’ Sarah replied, lifting Georgina onto the bed, whereupon she climbed onto her favourite auntie and covered her face in sticky kisses.

  ‘Urgh! Get off, Georgie. Whatever have you been eating?’

  ‘Tose,’ the little girl giggled.

  ‘Nan made her toast and used some of the jam she made. There’s more on Georgie’s face than went into her mouth.’

  ‘What a waste of sugar,’ Freda said, reaching for her dressing gown and putting her feet into her slippers, thinking how they’d all given up their sugar allowance so that jam could be made for future treats. ‘Any snow?’

  ‘No sign and I doubt we’ll have any this Christmas. Nan reckons it’ll be so foggy Father Christmas may lose his way,’ Sarah said, forgetting that her daughter was listening which resulted in the little girl starting to cry. ‘I’m so sorry, my love. Mummy was only joking. Didn’t he tell you he would be visiting you with presents when we went to see him in Woolwich?’

  The child’s tears stopped as she thought about what her mother had just said. ‘Pwesents?’ she beamed.

  ‘That child of yours seems to have learnt to say the right words. Toast and presents sound perfect. What else is there to say?’ Freda laughed.

  ‘And yours are waiting downstairs along with toast and jam so get your skates on, birthday girl,’ Sarah said, kissing her friend on the cheek and retrieving her daughter, who had started to snuggle down to sleep on Freda’s pillow.

  ‘Happy birthday,’ everyone declared as Freda arrived downstairs. Myfi stepped forward and shyly handed Freda a home-made card.

  ‘She made it herself,’ Gwyneth explained proudly. ‘This is from the both of us,’ she said, handing over a parcel. ‘It’s not much but it is made with love and a big thank you for becoming a good friend.’

  Freda smiled her thanks and carefully opened the brown-paper parcel. The paper would be stored away by Ruby and reused at some time, as would the string. ‘My goodness, this is beautiful,’ Freda said as she held up a navy-blue cardigan with delicate flowers embroidered down each side of the button band. ‘Whenever did you find time to make this without me seeing you?’

  Gwyneth laughed, delighted that Freda liked her present. ‘Remember all those times we had different lunch hours and tea breaks? I’d asked Betty if she would change the rota so that I could knit at work and you wouldn’t notice.’

  ‘Talking of Betty, here is her gift. She sends her apologies that she isn’t here to celebrate your special birthday,’ Sarah added, handing Freda a small box and a card.

  Freda’s hands shook as she opened the exquisite box to reveal a small gold locket on a chain. ‘Oh, isn’t this wonderful?’ she said through tears that had started to form in her eyes.

  Ruby came through from the kitchen carrying a tray, which she placed on the table. ‘Have some breakfast,’ she said, ‘before the toast gets cold,’ and then wrapped her arms around the young woman and gave her a big kiss. ‘Happy twenty-first birthday, my love. This is from me,’ she said, reaching over to the table and retrieving another small box.

  Freda frowned as she picked at the string and carefully uncovered a small ring box. ‘What . . . ?’ she asked as a small silver band with a single red stone shone from inside the velvet box.

  ‘You’re like one of my family and on a special day family should have special presents. My Eddie gave this to me when we first started courting. It’s not a proper ruby but the sentiment was there all the same. I want you to have the ring as I know you’ll treasure it always.’

  The threatening tears did arrive at that point and it took a little while for Freda to compose herself after checking that Sarah did not mind that her nan had passed something to her that should have stayed within the family.

  ‘The women will all get something when the time comes for me to leave this earth. But this is for you and it’s given with our blessings.’

  Freda tucked into her breakfast while she opened her cards and whooped in delight, as there was one from her brother Lenny. ‘He says he has leave and should be with us by Christmas Day and is bringing a friend.’ Her face dropped as she added, ‘But where can he stay?’

  ‘Bob has a room going begging. I reckon they will be welcome there and everyone will be here for their Christmas dinner. The more the merrier.’

  There was a present from Maisie and David that had been left the night before. The women all gasped at the pretty powder compact and laughed at Maisie’s note that Freda should wash her fac
e before using the powder as her cheeks were often smeared with grease after riding her bike.

  ‘I’d better get myself dressed for work,’ Freda said as she rose from the table. ‘With Betty off we need to be there on time or the customers will complain.’

  ‘You’ve not opened this,’ Sarah said, holding out a flat package.

  ‘I’m such a lucky person to have good friends like you all,’ she said as she opened the gift. ‘Oh my, this is so pretty,’ she added as she folded back the feather-light tissue to disclose a pretty scarf. ‘Look at the colours!’

  ‘It’s hand-painted silk. Why not try it on?’

  Freda chuckled as she unfolded the scarf. ‘It will brighten up my dressing gown. Whatever is this . . . ?’ she said with a start as three pieces of card fell to the ground and were retrieved by Myfi, who held them out to Freda. ‘Tickets for the theatre . . . and for this afternoon? What a wonderful day!’

  ‘We thought you’d like that,’ Sarah smiled. ‘The three of us need to get off work pretty smartish so we don’t miss the train to London. Happy birthday, Freda.’

  21

  Maisie heaved herself out of bed and forced her swollen feet into the practical slippers that her mother-in-law had given her. The dressing gown she pulled around her shoulders had been David’s from when he still lived at home with his parents. Even that no longer reached around her swollen stomach. Her back ached, she couldn’t be bothered to make up her face every day, and her hair felt greasy and unattractive. As much as she wanted this baby, she hated what pregnancy had done to her and wished more than anything that Sarah would arrive on her promised visit.

  Taking herself downstairs, leaning heavily on the ornate handrail, she headed for the breakfast room, following the tantalizing aroma of bacon.

  ‘There you are, Maisie dear. We thought you were having a lie-in this morning before your appointment with Doctor Joseph. I’ve just this minute asked Smith to prepare a tray for you in your room,’ her mother-in-law said with a warm smile.

  ‘I’d rather be up on me feet,’ Maisie said, going to the sideboard, where cooked food was being kept warm under silver covers. Lifting a lid, she grimaced as she spotted devilled kidneys and tried not to heave. ‘The baby’s been on the move most of the night. I swear it’s gonna be a tap dancer.’ She found bacon and scrambled eggs and filled her plate, adding a sausage and two slices of toasted white bread.

  ‘Still eating for two, I see,’ her father-in-law observed with a smile. ‘He’s going to come out fighting fit.’

  ‘I ’ope so,’ Maisie grinned. She liked her in-laws immensely but still felt like a fish out of water. She just didn’t fit into their country life. ‘Has the post come yet?’ she asked, hoping that there was something from her friends. If Sarah didn’t hurry up, she’d not be here in time for the birth. David had permission from the Air Force department where he worked to head to his parents’ home the moment he heard his wife was in labour. She just hoped there wasn’t an invasion or something that would stop him being there to greet his first child.

  Mrs Carlisle reached over to a silver tray that lay on the dining table. ‘Here you are, Maisie. Two for you today.’

  Maisie accepted the envelopes, immediately recognizing both Freda and Sarah’s handwriting. She tore open Freda’s first, wanting to know if she liked the present that she’d chosen for her friend’s birthday. David had taken her out to Chippenham for lunch on his last visit and they’d chosen the gift together. Even then she’d begged David to take her home to Erith but he’d refused, pointing out that she only had a matter of two weeks before their child was born and then, after the required lying-in time, which David’s mother had said should be at least one month, they could consider taking Maisie home to Erith. For Maisie it was far too long and she despaired of ever seeing the town and the people she loved again. At least Sarah’s letter would confirm she was on her way to see her friend.

  She frowned as she read Freda’s letter. The young woman enthused about her present, which pleased Maisie, but in the next sentence she told of going to London with Sarah and Gwyneth to see a musical show in the West End. Maisie could feel the tears flowing down her cheeks. Not only had she wanted to see Ivor Novello in the musical, but it also seemed that Gwyneth had taken her place in the trio of friends.

  ‘Why, Maisie, my dear, whatever is wrong? Has there been bad news?’ her mother-in-law asked, coming round the table to comfort her daughter-in-law.

  ‘No, not really, I’m just being a daft bugger and missing everyone,’ she said, trying to compose herself.

  ‘Why not read your other letter and then take a rest? Your appointment with Doctor Joseph isn’t for two hours.’

  I’m sick of resting, Maisie wanted to scream, but instead she smiled wanly at the older woman. ‘I’m all right, honest. It’s just knowing I’m missing out on me mates having fun,’ she said, trying to dismiss the thought that she was no longer part of the group who worked at Woolworths and spent their lives together. Picking up Sarah’s letter, she prayed that it was good news. She scanned the single page and gasped. Her friend couldn’t visit as Betty was taking time off from her job and Sarah had to work extra hours.

  ‘Is everything all right, dear?’

  Maisie nodded and tried to stay calm. She had never known Betty to take time off work and to do so in the days leading up to Christmas was unthinkable. No, it must be that her friends had moved on and she was no longer important to them. Well, she wasn’t going to take this lying down. If they wouldn’t come to see her, she might as well go home and find out what was happening. She tucked into her breakfast as there was no knowing when she’d eat again and the one thing she needed to concentrate on was the child she was carrying. Going without food would not be good for her baby. They’d didn’t say an expectant mother was eating for two for nothing. ‘If you will excuse me, I’ll go and get ready fer me appointment. Don’t expect me back for lunch, as I want to do some shopping. It’ll probably be the last time I’m able to do so.’ She kissed her mother and father-inlaw and headed up to her room to carry out the plan that was formulating in her head.

  ‘I’m still walking on air,’ Freda said as she joined Sarah and Gwyneth in the staffroom for lunch. ‘Who’d have thought I would see Ivor Novello and in the flesh? It’s a dream come true.’

  ‘The costumes and music were wonderful. It’s a rare treat for me even to go to London, let alone to see a show,’ Gwyneth sighed. ‘It was like stepping into a palace, the building being so grand. I can’t thank you enough for including me in the trip. I know that if Maisie had been here it would have been her ticket.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ Sarah said as she tucked into the Woolton pie in front of her. ‘If Maisie had been able to join us, I’d have purchased four tickets. Now, eat your pie up before it gets cold. We are due back on the shop floor in ten minutes. I’ve never known it so busy. Betty will be back tomorrow and I don’t want her saying we can’t run Woolies in her absence.’

  ‘There’s no fear of that,’ Freda grinned. ‘You are a strict boss. I wouldn’t mind betting they make you a manager one day.’

  Sarah shook her head. ‘No, once this war is over my Alan will be the only one working in Woolworths. I want to be at home looking after his children and taking care of our home. That’s been our plan all along.’

  ‘You’d give up all this to stay at home?’ Freda asked with a puzzled expression on her face.

  ‘It’s what Alan wants. Who am I to argue?’ Sarah said, getting to her feet to show the discussion was at an end. ‘Now, are you off to the fire station, Freda?’

  ‘Yes, I’m on duty this afternoon. I’ll see you back home for tea, but if I’m going to be late I’ll drive round and let Ruby know.’

  ‘Take care, won’t you? This fog is getting thicker,’ Sarah said with a worried look on her face.

  ‘Unless there’s an emergency I’ll be in the station, but if I go out on the motorbike, I promise I’ll take care.’

  ‘I
’ll stick the kettle on while you put the decorating tools in the shed and clean yourselves up,’ George said to Bob and Mike as he let them into his mum’s house in Alexandra Road. ‘I’m glad to see the back of that job, I can tell you. I hope Maureen likes what we’ve done. Shall we give her the key this evening before I head off home? That’s if I can see to cycle back to Crayford.’

  ‘That’s a grand idea,’ Bob said. ‘The poor woman is at her wits’ end living with that Vera Munro. I’ve offered to let her have our back bedroom, but she wouldn’t dream of putting us out.’

  ‘Bob, is that you?’ Ruby called from the front room, where she had her feet up listening to the wireless.

  ‘I thought you was at the WVS this afternoon, love?’ he said, putting his head around the door. ‘I won’t come in as I’ve still got my overalls on.’

  ‘We shut up shop early as the fog was getting worse. Some of the ladies were worried about getting home. I’ll come out and join you. I want a word with my George.’

  George raised his eyebrows. ‘Mum doesn’t sound happy. I’ll get the tea made,’ he said, disappearing into the kitchen.

  The three men had just finished cleaning themselves up when Ruby appeared. ‘I’ve received a letter from our Pat. She’s none too happy. She’s coming home with the kiddies. I understand you’ve had a hand in this, George?’

  Even at his age George knew when his mum was annoyed with him. ‘I had a chat with Bob after what happened while you were down in Cornwall, and we thought it was best for them all to be at home rather than in danger. I have arranged for the boys to have apprenticeships at Vickers,’ he added as an afterthought, trying to please Ruby.

  Beside him Bob groaned. Ruby knew nothing of his escapade in the middle of the night.

  ‘It looks as though you have some explaining to do,’ Ruby said grimly to Bob.