Christmas is for Children

by Rosie Clarke

  ‘Open it and look inside.’ Granny’s eyes were bright. It’s about fairies. Years ago, when I was about your age, this book was given to me. I thought you might like to have it…’

  Ruthie opened the book and stared at the lovely pictures. She could read some of the words but not others, though the pictures told everything themselves.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ she said shyly, ‘but you’re always giving us things. My mum said not to take charity and my dad might not like me to take it. Unless I earn it…’

  ‘Well, you can look at it with me,’ Granny Millie said, ‘and perhaps we’ll think of a way for you to earn it.’

  Ruthie climbed on to the bed beside her and Granny put an arm about her shoulders, turning the pages so that the jewel-like colours dazzled her eyes. She thought that she had never seen anything as lovely in her life and stroked the pictures with her fingertips.

  ‘Did your granny give this to you?’ Ruthie asked, looking at the pages reverently.

  ‘No, my mother’s employer gave it to her. It wasn’t new when I had it, but the child it belonged to had grown up – so it came to me and now I want you to have it. We’ll have to ask your dad first…’

  It was then that they heard the cry from below and a moment later Ben came to the stairs and called for Ruthie.

  ‘You’d better see what your brother wants,’ Granny Millie said. ‘The book will be here next time you come.’

  Ruthie nodded, smiled and went out, running down the stairs. When she got to the kitchen, she stopped and stared in unease. Granda had fallen on the floor and his eyes were shut. Ben was on his knees beside him.

  ‘What happened to him?’ she asked in a hushed voice.

  ‘He was talking about what we were goin’ ter do tomorrow,’ Ben said, ‘and then he groaned, clutched at his chest and fell to the floor.’ He rose to his feet. ‘I have to get help. I’m goin’ to Miss Flo ’cos I don’t know if Dad is home yet. Ruthie, you’ve got to stay here in case Granda wakes up. Make him lie still and put that rug off the couch over him. I’ll be back as quick as I can…’

  Ruthie watched as her brother shot out of the kitchen door. She did as he’d told her and put the rug round Granda. He gave a little moan but didn’t stir and she felt frightened. Supposing he died… Ruthie didn’t know what happened, but she knew people did die because her mum had, and she didn’t know what to do. She wanted to run upstairs to Granny and tell her, but Ben had told her to sit there and so she did, her heart beating fast and tears running down her cheeks.

  Granda mustn’t die, because they would take Granny away to the old people’s home and then she wouldn’t see her every day – and she wouldn’t be able to look at the pretty book… Ruthie knew she loved both the old lady upstairs and the man lying on the ground, and she closed her eyes, praying as hard as she knew how.

  *

  Ben was out of breath by the time he reached Miss Flo’s shop. He rushed inside and saw that there was only one customer, though both Miss Flo and Miss Honour were there. Flo immediately lifted the counter flap and came out to him.

  ‘What’s wrong, Ben?’

  ‘It’s Granda,’ he gasped. ‘He sort of moaned and fell on the floor. I think he’s alive, but I left Ruthie with him and ran all the way here.’

  ‘I’ll come at once,’ Flo said and looked at her sister. ‘I may be a while, so if you need to see to Dad, put the closed sign on the door…’ She rushed into the kitchen, grabbed her coat and returned to Ben. ‘We’ll go back there first,’ she told him. ‘I’ll see how he is and then I’ll phone for the doctor. He may need to be taken into hospital…’

  ‘What about Granny Millie?’ Ben asked when he could get his breath back.

  ‘We’ll talk about that when we get there,’ Flo said. ‘I think it would help if you could fetch your dad – if he’s at home. If not I’ll phone Mr Hansen at the mission…’

  Ben was half running to keep up with her. When they reached the Waters’ terraced house, he apprehensively followed her into the kitchen. Ruthie jumped up and ran to him, looking scared.

  Flo knelt beside the elderly man and felt for a pulse. ‘He’s still alive,’ she said as Bert gave a little moan and his eyelids flickered. ‘Ben, please go home and see if your father is there and ask him to come. Ruthie, just sit here quietly for a minute while I make a phone call. Mr Waters needs a doctor…’

  ‘Hello…’ a voice said from the kitchen door. Flo looked and saw the plump, pleasant-faced woman who stood there. ‘I’m Effie from next door. Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘Oh, Effie, I’m so glad you’re here,’ Flo said relieved. ‘I’m going to call a doctor for Mr Waters, but perhaps you could stay here with Ruthie until I get back?’

  ‘Of course, what about Millie – does she know?’

  Flo looked at Ruthie, who shook her head and looked miserable.

  ‘Right, I’ll tell her when you get back,’ Effie said. ‘I’ll make sure she’s all right, but she mustn’t get upset… Bert is so proud. I’ve been beggin’ him to let me help more, but would he?’ She shook her head.

  ‘I shan’t be long,’ Flo said. ‘Just wait with Ruthie until I get back…’

  Ben had gone running to see if his father was home. If the doctor said Bert had to go to the hospital they would need an ambulance, but if he thought it better for him to stay at home, Robbie could help her get their patient upstairs into his own bed.

  Flo had her purse in her coat pocket. She put some pennies in the box and made a telephone call to the doctor from the kiosk on the corner of the street. she was told he was in surgery but would come out as soon as he could. Her second call was to the mission and Nurse Mary answered. When she heard Flo’s story, Nurse Mary said she would come immediately. Thanking her and feeling reassured, Flo returned to the kitchen and discovered that Bert was stirring. His eyes were more or less open, but he was clearly confused.

  ‘He spoke Millie’s name,’ Effie said. ‘Now you’re ’ere, I’ll pop upstairs and tell Millie. She would never forgive me if anythin’ happens and she didn’t know…’

  Flo was bending over Bert and stroking his cheek. He opened his eyes and looked at her in confusion.

  ‘What happened?’ he asked his voice a little slurred but his words clear.

  ‘You had a little do,’ Flo said, ‘and you passed out. The doctor is comin’ and we’re goin’ to see what he says – whether you need to go to the hospital…’

  Bert struggled into a sitting position. ‘I’m not leavin’ Millie on her own,’ he said firmly. ‘I’ll be all right when I get my breath back…’

  ‘Is this the first time it has happened, Bert?’

  He looked at her in silence for a moment. ‘I’ve had a couple of breathless moments when I felt a bit shaky, but I haven’t blacked out before. It starts with a pain in me chest… I thought it was indigestion.’

  ‘I think it might be something a little more serious,’ Flo said gently. ‘Do you think you can get to a chair if I help you?’

  ‘Of course I can,’ Bert said stoutly, but when he tried, he flopped back against her. ‘I need to rest a bit and then I’ll be all right…’

  The kitchen door opened and Ben entered, followed by his father. Robbie took one look at Bert and crossed the room. Effortlessly, he bent and picked him straight up, lifting him under the arms and hoisting him, to take his weight evenly against his shoulder, and then deposited him in the comfortable old armchair Bert favoured.

  ‘Had a bit of a do then, Bert,’ he said and smiled. ‘Makes you feel rotten for a while I reckon. Ben told me the doctor is on the way and once he’s been I’ll get you upstairs and into bed.’

  ‘You won’t let them send me to the infirmary, Robbie lad?’ Bert said apprehensively.

  ‘Nobody wants you to go there,’ Robbie said. ‘No need for it when you’ve got friends, is there?’

  ‘We’ll be the judge of that,’ Nurse Mary had entered the kitchen unnoticed. She walked forward, a figure of aut
hority in her uniform and stood over Bert. ‘I’ll check your heart and your pulse, Mr Waters, and then we’ll see what the doctor thinks…’

  Bert gave Robbie a look of appeal; he winked at him behind the nurse’s back and Bert acquiesced without further protest as she checked his pulse and used her stethoscope. She made a reproving noise in her throat as she stood back and looked at him.

  ‘It looks as if you’ve been lucky, Mr Waters – but you’ve been overdoing things and next time you might not get away with it. I don’t think doctor will send you to hospital, but he’s probably going to give you some pills to take – and if he does, you must take them. This was a warning and it’s a good thing you had friends to help you…you’ll be needing a bit of help now with Millie still laid up.’

  Bert looked at her. ‘Millie’s not well enough to get up yet…’

  ‘I think we can sort things,’ Nurse Mary offered. ‘I’ll put you on my list for two visits a day. I’ll come in the morning and help Millie to wash – and you too if you need me. And I’ll come at night to see everything is all right – but you’ll need help from others.’

  ‘I’ll pop round in my lunch hour,’ Flo said at once.

  ‘I can come in a few times a day,’ Effie said, coming back into the kitchen. ‘Millie is all right, Bert, so don’t worry – she wanted to come down, but I persuaded her not to. I’ve told you I’ll get her meals and take them up to her – yours too, if you need to stay in bed.’

  ‘Bert is going to be all right,’ Nurse Mary said. ‘But he won’t if he continues to charge up and down those steep stairs a dozen times a day. I’ll make sure he has regular visits…’

  Bert protested he didn’t need to be looked after and the doctor arrived in the middle of a babble of voices all assuring Bert that he needed help and they all wanted to give it.

  A hushed silence descended, because Doctor’s word was law and next to God, and they went through to the parlour while he talked to Nurse Mary and examined his patient. When Flo and Effie were allowed back in, Doctor Miles told them that he agreed with his nurse. Bert had been lucky. He needed bed rest for a few days and then he would be better, but he had to slow down, because next time it might be fatal.

  ‘I can hear a murmur on your heart, sir, and I’ll be arranging for you to visit the hospital for a few tests after Christmas – No, we shan’t make you stay in, Bert. Goodness knows, we never have enough beds. In the meantime, I’m going to start you on some pills I think may help.’

  ‘Are they expensive?’ Bert asked suspiciously.

  ‘You’ve always paid into my panel,’ Doctor Miles said. ‘Which means you get the first month’s supply free – and after that we’ll see…?’ He smiled kindly at his patient and left.

  ‘I’m goin’ ter carry you upstairs now and help you into bed,’ Robbie told him. ‘Are you using the same room as Millie?’

  ‘No, I’m in the spare room while she’s ill. I didn’t want to disturb her, because I’m sometimes up in the night a few times.’

  ‘I’m like that when I can’t sleep,’ Robbie said. ‘Put your arms about my neck and I’ll lift you…’

  Bert managed a chuckle, his good humour restored now that he knew he didn’t have to go into hospital. ‘Where did you learn to lift like a fireman?’

  ‘I’ve done all sorts when I was younger,’ Robbie told him. ‘But I learned this in the army. It’s the best way to lift another man – saves the strain on yer back…’

  Robbie carried Bert up the stairs, joking and encouraging him as he helped him undress and into bed.

  ‘I’ll be all right now, lad,’ he said. ‘You’d best get those kids of yours home.’

  ‘They will be round first thing in the mornin’,’ Robbie told him. ‘I’ll be here too and I’ll be comin’ every day until we’ve got yer on yer feet again.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Bert’s eyes were watery. ‘I don’t know what we’d do without you and your youngsters, Robbie. We look forward to their visits every day…’

  ‘I’m proud of them both,’ Robbie said. ‘I just want to deserve them. I haven’t always given them the life they should have since their mother died…’

  ‘Poor lass! You’re not the only one who’s had to watch their kids go hungry on occasion,’ Bert said. ‘A lot of folk round here are in the same fix…’

  ‘Yes, I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier,’ Robbie said. ‘I’ve been lucky enough to earn a few pounds… enough for Christmas.’

  ‘You deserve some luck,’ Bert said and grabbed his hand as he turned away. ‘Thank you fer everythin’…’

  ‘You’re welcome, Bert. I’ll pop my head in next door and let Millie know you’re all right…’

  Bert nodded and lay back against the pillows, his eyes closing. ‘You do that, son, you do that…’

  Robbie tapped Millie’s door and looked round it as she invited him to enter. ‘I’ve settled Bert for the night,’ he said. ‘The doc says he needs a few days in bed – and that means we’ll all be about, lookin’ after the pair of yer.’

  ‘Oh, Mr Graham, I’m so grateful. I wanted to come down, but Effie threatened me with everything under the sun if I did. She says Nurse Mary is going to stay here tonight just in case she’s needed…’ Millie flicked away a tear. ‘People are so kind, but I hate to be a trouble…’

  ‘That’s the last thing you are,’ Robbie said. ‘Miss Flo is goin’ to pop in as much as she can and we’ll make sure someone is visitin’ all through the day until you’re able to cope again.’

  ‘I am feeling a little better…’

  ‘That doesn’t mean you can get up and look after Bert,’ Robbie said. ‘Besides, you won’t need to. We’ll organise somethin’ between us…’ He smiled at her. ‘Bert is right next door and I think he’s sleepin’. Before you know it, he’ll be up and about again…’

  ‘He’s been worryin’ over me, up and down those stairs far more than necessary. I was thinkin’ – maybe we could get my bed downstairs and then if I’m not well enough to get up he wouldn’t have to do so much.’

  ‘I think that is a good idea,’ Robbie said. ‘I’ll get a fire goin’ in there in the mornin’ to warm it up and then I’ll move the furniture and I can get a mate of mine to help me bring your bed down. It would be easier for you to get up for a cup of tea and much nicer when Bert is on his feet again.’

  ‘Thank you…’ Millie sighed her relief, her soft face looking younger as the worry sloughed off her. ‘I should’ve asked before. Those stairs were too much for me a long time back, but I knew we couldn’t move the bed and there was no one to ask… you know we lost both our boys in the war…’

  ‘I know,’ Robbie said. ‘I was too young to be there right at the start, but I saw some of the worst of it and I know how bad it was. I feel lucky that I survived when so many didn’t, Mrs Waters – and anytime you need help, you just send for me. I’ll be round as soon as I can…’

  ‘You’re very kind. We think of your children as if they were our grandchildren,’ Millie said. ‘You don’t mind if I give Ruthie little things, do you? I’ve no one else to pass my bits and pieces on to – and Bert would like to do the same for your boy…’

  ‘Think of them as your grandchildren,’ Robbie said. ‘My wife’s parents have gone. I never knew my father and my mother passed away when I was a kid. I ended up with my grandparents until they died – and I’d like some family for my children…’

  ‘That’s grand.’ Millie nodded. ‘You get my bed moved, Robbie. It will be half the battle to gettin’ us on our feet again…’

  Robbie nodded, smiled and left her to settle back in bed. He went down the stairs, feeling thoughtful. Madge had always hated charity, but life was all about give and take. So many people were lonely, especially folk like Millie and Bert who had lost their sons to the Great War. It didn’t take much to give folk a helping hand and it gave him some of his pride back to think he could be of use to others.

  Nurse Mary was settling down with a cup of
tea in the kitchen. Effie and Flo had gone and he felt disappointed as he’d hoped to speak to Flo again.

  ‘You’d best get these two home,’ Nurse Mary said, nodding at Ben and Ruthie. ‘That girl is half asleep. I’ll stay here tonight in case Bert has a relapse, though I don’t think it likely. Effie is coming in to get their breakfast in the morning, and Flo is goin’ to shop and bring food in the lunch hour. I’ll line up a couple more helpers – but the children can visit and keep Millie’s spirits up…’

  ‘I’m goin’ to bring her bed downstairs,’ Robbie said. ‘A mate of mine will help. We’ll see about putting Bert’s bed in the parlour too – his is just a single. They might be better together and neither of them needs those stairs.’

  ‘A bungalow or a ground-floor flat would be better for them – if the council could arrange it…’

  ‘I think using the parlour as a bedroom is as far as either of them would be prepared to go,’ Robbie said. ‘Move them away from what they know and their friends and I think that would be the finish of them…’

  Nurse Mary stared at him hard and then nodded. ‘I dare say you’re right, Mr Graham.’

  ‘I thought you were goin’ ter call me Robbie?’

  ‘Yes, so I was…’ She gave a short laugh. ‘I was so wrong about you, wasn’t I? I think they are very lucky to have you, Robbie.’

  ‘Maybe it works both ways,’ Robbie said. ‘They’ve been good to my two.’ He ruffled Ben’s hair. ‘Time to go home… you can stop looking so worried, son. Your granda is goin’ ter be all right…’

  18

  ‘How is Mr Waters?’ Honour asked when Flo walked into the kitchen that Saturday night. ‘I’ve given Dad his tea. He asked where you were, but when I told him, he just grunted and said it was what he would expect you to do. I thought he would be annoyed, but he gave me thirty bob and told me to buy a Christmas present for myself.’

  ‘I’ll go up and see him,’ Flo said. A few weeks earlier Honour’s announcement would have surprised her, but her father had been changing gradually for a while. He was less spiteful, more accommodating when she helped him. She thought he was trying to make up for the way he’d behaved in the past. ‘I’ve had a cup of tea and I’ll grab a sandwich when I come down – we need to make some more sugar mice and truffles this evening.’