The Girl from Old Nichol

by Betty Annand

  “Don’t judge her too harshly on that. One week after Christmas she will put us all to shame with her celebrating.”

  “Why would she celebrate Christmas then?”

  “Not Christmas, dear, Hogmanay, or what we call, New Year’s. Most Scots celebrate this holiday, and the party often lasts for two days or more. During those two days, you never saw such hospitality! They exchange gifts as well. Speaking of gifts, I have a little one for you, but you shan’t have it until Christmas day.”

  “But I haven’t anything for you.”

  “I do not expect anything. Your friendship is all I need, and, Gladys, if that old witch gives you Christmas Day off, I want you to join me for Christmas dinner. I shall buy a big, lovely goose and even make a plum pudding. How does that sound?”

  The lump in Gladys throat prevented her from answering, so she just smiled and nodded her head.

  Although the night was cold and there was frost on the ground, Gladys walked home warmed by the spirit of Christmas—a new experience for her. Children in the slums had no way of discerning Christmas Day from any other except for the odd times when some benevolent church group would show up with some apples and nuts, most likely resulting from an overabundant harvest.

  Before Gladys left Millie, she took a little of her savings from the purse Millie was keeping for her, hoping to buy something nice for her friend on Christmas Eve, but Laura Watt was so annoyed over having to give the girls a day off that she insisted they all work overtime to make up for the holiday. By the time Gladys finished her chores, the stores were closed.

  She couldn’t bear the thought of going to her friend’s on Christmas day empty-handed, so decided to spend the day in her room and maybe go for a walk in the afternoon. It was past ten when she finally finished with her chores. Feeling very tired and sorry for herself, she made her way to the attic. She had just walked past an open door of one of the guest rooms when a hand reached out and grabbed her by the arm. She managed to break loose and was about to call for help when she recognized her assailant. It was a young sailor who had been staying at the inn for four days.

  “Please don’t call, miss, I won’t harm you. I just wanted to show you something,” he pleaded.

  He had always been very polite and thankful whenever she brought him an extra scuttle of coal during the coldest days. He had told her that he was shipping out on Christmas Day, and planned to ask his girlfriend to marry him as soon as he returned, so she found it hard to believe that he would harm her. Still shaking, she said, “My goodness, you scared the daylights out of me! What is it you want to show me?”

  He nodded his head toward the inside of his room, and answered, “It’s in here, miss.”

  Remembering Millie’s warning, she decided to remain in the hallway. “You shall have to bring it out here. I am not allowed in any of the guests’ rooms at night.”

  After a quick glance up and down the hall to make sure no one was about, he looked toward the bed, and quietly called, “Here, boy, come.” A light-brown and white spotted terrier obediently jumped off the bed and came to the sailor. The dog’s face was all brown except for around one eye where he wore a patch of white that looked so much like a monocle it added a look of aristocracy to his appearance.

  His short tail was wagging so vigorously that Gladys thought it may fly off at any minute. He was making little, excited, whiny noises that, although not loud enough to wake any of the other guests, were loud enough to worry Gladys.

  “Oh, he is lovely!” she cried before shooing them both into the room and going with them, closing the door behind her. “You mustn’t let Mrs Watt find him. She would never allow an animal in any of the rooms.”

  “I know, miss, but you see, I had no choice. I got him for that girl I told you about, so she wouldn’t be lonely while I’m gone.” Then his voice broke as he added, “She gave me the boot, miss. Said she wasn’t about to wait for anyone, and especially not a sailor. Pardon me, miss, but that made me so bloody angry that I refused to give her the dog. I guess that was pretty dumb of me because now I’m shipping out in the morning, and I haven’t time to find anyone to give him to. I hate to leave the poor thing on the street to fend for itself.”

  “Oh, no, you mustn’t!” Gladys cried as she bent down to pat the dog. It licked her hand, then surprised her and licked her face. Instead of being annoyed, Gladys was delighted.

  “I don’t suppose you could take him, miss? Or maybe you know of someone who could give him a good home?”

  “I could never keep him here. The Watts wouldn’t allow that, and besides he would have to spend all day alone in the attic.” She sat down on the bed without taking her hand away from the dog’s head. She had never seen a dog like it. It even smelled nice. “Oh, I would just love to keep you. We’d have such fun together,” she said. The dog’s tail wagged in agreement. “But I’m sorry, it’s just not possible.”

  She was almost in tears when suddenly she had a brilliant idea. Her eyes lit up; she held the dog’s head in both hands, and said, “What a perfect present you would make for my best friend, Millie! You would have the best home you could ever wish for. Millie is such a kind person, and I shall be able to visit you every week.”

  The sailor grinned, and said, “I hope this Millie person is as nice as you, miss. He’s already taken to you.”

  “Has he got a name?”

  “He certainly has. It’s Taffy, and you knows, miss, he’s no cur. He comes right from Lord Huntley’s kennels. He’s been done and had his tail docked an’ ears cropped as well.”

  Gladys had no idea what the sailor was talking about, and her confused expression must have given him the wrong idea because he gave a mischievous wink, nudged her with his shoulder, and said, “I mean the pup, miss, not his lordship.” When she didn’t laugh, his face turned crimson. Afraid that he had been too brazen, he tried to look as serious as he could as he added, “Of course he’d be worth a mite more if he was all white, miss.”

  “But why? I love his colour! I am sure he is much handsomer than any old plain white dog.”

  “You think that, and so do I. You see, miss, it’s the white terriers they like the best for hunting. I suppose it’s because they can tell them from the foxes. When this one came out spotted, they gave him to a friend of mine who works for his lordship. He’s had him about a year now, but he has two others so when I asked if I could have Taffy, he was only too happy to give him to me.”

  “I have a leash here for him too, so you can take him out for nice walks, and if you come to a field, you can let him loose to have a good run. He’ll come directly back when he’s called; you’ll see. My friend said he was a good ratter as well, so your friend won’t be bothered with those bug—err, I mean, pests any more. Now you had best wait here, and I’ll hide him under my coat, and take him outside so he can do his business. You’ll not have any puddles to wipe up in the morning; he’s well trained, he is. Oh, and I’ve some bread and roast beef that I saved from my dinner, so you can feed him that if he’s hungry.”

  Taffy spent the night curled up beside Gladys on her bed. She hadn’t been so warm since she moved into the attic. When she woke in the morning, she kissed him on the nose and said, “Merry Christmas, Taffy, I love you so much. Someday I will be rich enough to have a dog of my own, and I’ll find one just like you. Now we’d better get up and see how we are going to get you to Millie’s without being seen.”

  That would have been a difficult task without the aid of Hilda, Becky, and Lily, who were kind enough to delay their departures in order to keep watch as Gladys and Taffy escaped out the back door of the inn and ran quickly down the alley until they were out of sight.

  Once they were safely away, they slowed down to enjoy the walk. At first Taffy wanted to keep running, but Gladys held him back, and it didn’t take long before he was walking along quietly, looking up at her now and again for approval. “That
sailor was right; you certainly are a well-trained little doggie,” she said. As though Taffy understood, he held his head a little higher, and walked with a more dignified gait.

  As she was walking, Gladys thought about how kind Becky and Lily were to stay and help them escape without being seen—especially since she hadn’t gone out of her way to be friendly. She could tell by the way they avoided eye contact whenever they met her that they thought she came from a higher station in life than they did.

  Maybe it was because of her proper diction, but whatever the reason, she found it quite pleasing. Although it was done with a hint of condescension, she vowed to be much friendlier towards them in the future. Gladys had taken her first step up the social class ladder, and although the step was minuscule, it kindled a resolve to climb higher.

  __________

  Just before arriving at Millie’s, she took the red satin ribbon she had in her hair and tied it to Taffy’s collar. “There, now you look lovely. Millie is just going to love you!” When she knocked at Millie’s back door, she picked the dog up and held him in her arms.

  Millie wasn’t expecting anyone except Gladys, so she called out, “The door is not locked, Gladys. Come on in, dear.”

  When no one entered, Millie went to the door and started to open it, but was almost knocked down as Gladys pushed it open and thrust Taffy into her arms, saying, “Merry Christmas, Millie.”

  Millie let out a scream, threw her arms in the air, and dropped poor Taffy. Luckily, he landed on his feet. “What is that?” she cried.

  “It’s a dog, silly! It’s your Christmas present. Isn’t he beautiful? His name is Taffy, and he is such a good little dog.” Millie’s mouth hung open, and she remained staring at the dog as though she had been struck dumb. Gladys put a hand on Millie’s arm, and asked, “Millie, what’s wrong? You do like dogs, don’t you?”

  Millie shook her head to clear it, then swiped Gladys hand away. “You foolish, silly girl! What on earth have you gone and done?”

  Gladys’s face fell, “Don’t you like him, Millie?”

  “It matters not whether I like him or not. I cannot have a dog here any more than you can have one at the inn. You know I do not own the premises, and if my landlord were to find out I have a dog, he would not hesitate to evict me.”

  “But, Millie, if I hadn’t saved him, he would have ended up on the street starving. The sailor who owned him was shipping out today, and he was just going to leave Taffy on the dock.”

  “What do you think I shall have to do with him then?”

  “Oh, Millie, you wouldn’t just leave him, would you?” Her bottom lip started to quiver.

  “Don’t you dare cry,” Millie said crossly, as she stamped her foot. “It is I who should be crying. You should have thought of all that before you took the dog. Now you expect me to do something that may cause me to be thrown out on the street. Oh, damn you, Gladys!” Gladys had never heard her friend use profanity before, and she backed away, fearful that Millie might even strike her. “I shall have no choice but to get rid of him. Can you not see that?” the dressmaker added as she dropped down onto a chair, and put her hands over her face.

  Taffy seemed to sense her sadness. He sat down at her feet, looked up at her, and whined. Millie broke out in tears.

  “Please don’t cry, Millie. I am so sorry. You are right, I am a stupid dolt. I shall take him back right now, and keep him in my room until Hilda comes back in the morning.”

  Millie wiped her eyes on her pinny, “What good will that do? She can’t keep a dog there either.”

  Gladys’s voice was nothing more than a nervous whisper as she pleaded, “Could you keep him just for two days, Millie? Just until I find someone to take him. Maybe Hilda could give him to Pete, the coal man. He’s such a friendly dog, and he’s a very special one too. He comes from Lord Huntley’s kennels.”

  “I guess I have no choice. I just hope to heavens the landlord doesn’t come around in the meantime.” She stood up, giving Taffy an unconscious pat on his head, and went toward the oven. “Now help me get our Christmas dinner on the table before it is ruined.”

  __________

  In spite of their argument, Millie and Gladys had an enjoyable Christmas day. Before they sat down to dinner, Millie sent Gladys up to the flat above hers with two plates of dinner for Ed and Myrna Harper, an elderly couple. Although the Harpers weren’t much older than Millie, she always referred to them as “the old folks upstairs.” Through the years, Myrna Harper’s eyesight had failed so drastically that she was now considered blind. Ed managed to care for her even though he was severely crippled himself with rheumatism and had to use two canes to get around.

  Millie would have changed apartments with them if it wasn’t for her shop. When Gladys asked if they had any family, Millie explained that they only had one son, Jeffrey, who had done very well for himself when he married a wealthy lady. She went on to say that although he didn’t invite his parents to his wedding, they still thought the world of him. “I only met him once,” Millie said, “and although I was all set to give him a piece of my mind, I found him most likeable.

  “Although he is small of stature, he is well built, and I would even say he is quite handsome. Unfortunately, he is a meek fellow, and that makes me think he would be easy to take advantage of. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that his wife is the culprit and not poor Jeffrey. I may be mistaken, but I think because they are disabled, she considers his parents not presentable enough to associate with her kind. I only hope that if they have children, she will be kind enough to allow him to bring them to visit Myrna. I don’t think she could bear it if he didn’t.”

  “But how do they manage without someone to take care of them?”

  “Oh, Jeffrey does that. He pays a lady to come every week for two hours to cook and clean for them, and he comes himself at least once a week for a good long visit.

  When they finished their dinner, Gladys and Millie took Taffy for a little walk, and although Millie didn’t say anything, Gladys could tell that she was impressed with the dog’s behaviour. After they returned, Millie gave Gladys the gift she had promised her. It was the fancy dress she had put aside for her on the first day they had met. Pinned to the bodice was a pretty silver brooch with blue painted violets on it. Except for the cameo Sally had given her, they were the only gifts she had ever received.

  With tears of gratitude, she said, “Oh, Millie, I don’t know what to say. I never ever thought I would own a dress as beautiful as this one, and I think this is the most beautiful brooch in the whole world! I shall treasure it forever and ever.” Then she remembered promising the same thing to Sally, and she cried even harder.

  Just before she left to return to the inn, Taffy jumped up and curled up on Millie’s bed. Gladys started to scold him, but Mille stopped her, saying, “Oh leave him alone. He is in a strange house and is probably feeling very lonely. I shall make up a pallet for him on the floor tomorrow.” Gladys smiled. She didn’t think Taffy was one bit lonely, and she doubted there would be a pallet made the next day.

  Chapter Eight

  Millie proved to be right, as the Hogmanay celebrations continued for two days at the inn. Both the Watts’ personalities changed so completely that they seemed like strangers. Gladys was surprised at the many superstitions they and their guests insisted on following. All debts had to be settled before midnight. The first visitor to arrive after the clock struck twelve must be a dark-haired male bearing a lump of coal, some shortbread, a little salt, a black bun, and whisky. Then once he had been made welcome, the other visitors were met with a warm hug, a kiss, and often a gift. But what Gladys enjoyed the most was the boisterous and wholehearted way that everyone sang Robert Burns’s song, “For Auld Lang Syne.” Laura even encouraged her and the other girls to join in.

  An added amount of cleaning and preparations during the week before Hogmanay meant more wor
k for the help, and Gladys didn’t have a chance to visit Millie until nine days after Christmas. Because she was so busy, she had forgotten to ask Hilda if Pete would take Taffy, the dog. She knew Millie’s landlord might have paid her a visit, and she could already be evicted. If so, Gladys was sure the seamstress would never forgive her.

  Her fears were augmented when she finally had an evening off and found the dressmaker’s house in darkness. When Millie failed to answer her knock, Gladys felt sick with guilt. She was about to climb the stairs to inquire if Ed or Myrna knew where the seamstress had gone when she heard a familiar bark. She turned, looked down the alley, and called out, “Here, Taffy! Here, boy.”

  Taffy came running up and danced around her on his hind legs. She reached down and picked him up. “Oh Taffy, you are still here! Millie, is that you?”

  “Of course it’s me.” Millie answered as she came up the alley huffing and puffing like a steam engine. “Who else would it be with our Taffy?”

  “Oh, Millie, you weren’t evicted! The landlord didn’t throw you out on the street.”

  “I have not seen him, but if he does come, I know what I shall tell him,” Millie answered as she unlocked her door, went in, and lit the lamp. Gladys followed and waited patiently for her to stoke the fire and put the kettle on to boil. It seemed as though Millie was deliberately moving in slow motion, and finally Gladys could stand it no longer.

  “For heaven’s sake, Millie, tell me what you are going to tell him, or I shall have a fit!”

  “Have as many fits as you like; I shall not tell you anything until I have a cup of tea in my hand.”

  Gladys took the hint and quickly took off her cloak, brewed the tea, and poured them each a cup. “Now, will you please tell me what you intend to say if the landlord discovers you have a dog?”

  “Well, I shall just tell him that Taffy deserves to have a home with me because he kills all the rats—he does you know—and I know of no one who would agree to pay rent for a rat-infested flat. If he does not appreciate that, he can go right ahead and evict me. Taffy and I shall find another home, don’t you worry.” She called the dog to her and gave him a big hug and a biscuit.