by Pam Weaver
Bob stood behind Edith with a knowing smirk on his face. Ruby avoided his eye.
‘Here,’ said Edith, ‘let me help you.’
Ruby struggled to her feet. Her ankle was still painful, but all she wanted to do was get out of the shop and away from Bob. With Edith’s help, she hobbled outside and onto the street. They had only gone a few steps when she heard the bell on the shop door go again.
‘Oh, Mrs Searle,’ Bob called. Ruby froze. ‘Don’t forget your other stocking.’
She turned back. He was holding it up, for all the world to see.
Snatching it, she said tartly, ‘Thank you, Mr Knight. You’ve been most helpful.’
‘Always glad to be of service, Mrs Searle,’ he added lecherously. ‘Any time you need me, I’ll be here.’ Ruby felt her face colour.
‘Come on, Roob,’ said Edith, ‘let’s get you home.’ And, leaning on her friend’s arm, Ruby hobbled away.
CHAPTER 17
The Townswomen’s Guild fair was held in the church hall that belonged to St Columba’s Church in Heene Road. The church itself was in St Michael’s Road, just around the corner. A few minutes before Elsie and Doris Walters arrived, Bea and Effie stepped out of the front door to meet them.
Effie took in her breath noisily and tugged at Bea’s arm. ‘Look, dear. That bunting has fallen down.’
Bea frowned. How strange – it had been perfectly in place when she’d walked through the door on her arrival, but somehow or other the string had been pulled away from the drawing pin at one end, and about three feet of bunting hung on the ground. Bea examined the pin. It had been trodden flat.
‘I’ll have to get another one, and a chair to stand on,’ she said.
‘Hurry up, dear,’ Effie hissed. ‘They’re here.’
It was all a bit of a rush, but Bea soon had the bunting back in place, then she climbed off the chair and hurried back inside with it.
Carol Crockerton and May waited by the entrance with two bouquets for the guests. Effie shivered. Taking her bouquet from May, she said to her, ‘Pop into the hall and fetch my jacket, will you, dear? It’s on the chair by the stage.’
Although she was an obedient child, May went inside reluctantly.
There was no doubt about it, the entrance to the church hall looked wonderful. Thanks to the committee’s unstinting behind-the-scenes work, the whole place had been transformed. Effie smiled with smug satisfaction. This would definitely put her in the public eye.
A small crowd waited outside and inside the lychgate and cheered as Elsie and Doris Walters climbed out of the car. The women weren’t glamorous. In fact they looked rather homely and middle-aged, and a bit like somebody’s mother and favourite aunt. Since 1930 they had carved out a very successful career in variety, as two cockney pals called Gert and Daisy. Their humour wasn’t the rib-tickling sort, but was drawn from real life, and the characters they’d created were easily identifiable.
As they stood and waved to the crowd, Doris was wearing a pink floral blouse with a brooch at the neck, while Elsie wore a plain pale-blue blouse with a loose tie and a string of pearls. They were in identical dark suits.
With Bea somewhere in the building replacing the chair, Effie went out alone to meet them, an expression of smug self-satisfaction written all over her face. The rest of the Townswomen’s Guild committee waited just inside the door and, as Bea returned, the young Mrs Raymond winked at her. Everything was going exactly as they had expected. The only blot on the landscape was in the street outside, where men from the water board were digging up the pavement. When she’d seen them, Effie had been furious.
‘Why on earth dig up the road today, of all days?’ she’d fumed. ‘It’s Saturday. We’ve got a very important craft fair and sale in here . . . for Gifford House.’
‘Can’t ’elp that, Missus,’ said the foreman. ‘When there’s a leak in the pipe, it’s gotta be fixed.’
After some more hand-waving, smiles and posing for the photographer from the local paper, when their guests came into the building, little Carol Crockerton and Sylvia, the granddaughter of Effie’s latest prodigy, stepped forward to present Elsie and Doris with a bouquet each. Bea and the other members of the committee had expected to be introduced, but Effie sailed past with her nose in the air. ‘Do come this way, Miss Walters and Miss Walters . . .’
Bea thought it was rather unfortunate that Effie’s flame-coloured suit clashed wildly with Doris’s pink floral blouse as the three of them strode inside. She scoured the crowds for Ruby, but she didn’t seem to be there.
May appeared from the direction of the main hall and was distraught to find that the bouquets had already been presented and that Sylvia had taken her place. Bea couldn’t believe what had happened. Rex, who had followed Elsie and Doris Walters through the door, was livid. ‘Mrs Rhodes did what? Where is she?’
As she drew May into her arms, Bea laid a restraining hand on his arm and shook her head. Together they comforted the child, speaking softly to her and drying her eyes. When May was calm again, she went off with her friends and Bea took her husband to one side.
‘I hope you’re not thinking of letting that woman get away with this, are you, Bea?’ Rex demanded loudly. ‘Because I won’t hear of it.’
‘No, I’m not,’ said Bea in a much quieter tone, ‘but there is a time and place. I don’t want to create a scene.’
‘That bloody woman needs taking down a peg or two,’ Rex spat. ‘Look at the way she’s treated you? Taking all the credit for your hard work – and now this!’
‘I promise I won’t let her get away with it,’ said Bea.
‘I’m coming with you when you do it.’
‘No,’ said Bea. Rex gave her a startled look. ‘I know you mean well, darling, but I need to do this myself.’
‘You’re far too soft,’ he said, his eyes still blazing with rage.
‘Calm down,’ she soothed. ‘Yes, you’re perfectly right. I don’t have to put up with the bullying any more. And I have turned a blind eye – but not when it comes to my child.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘Rex, I need to do this myself.’
For a second he was thrown. ‘Well, just see to it that you do,’ he said grumpily.
‘Oh, I will,’ she replied.
The Misses Walters were very appreciative of the warm welcome they’d been given and spent several minutes walking around and admiring the exhibits, which were in some cases quite spectacular. There were first, second and third places in each category, and one star prize, which was called ‘Best in Show’.
During their deliberations before the event, Effie had suggested putting herself forward as judge, but Bea had arranged for Mrs Dawson from the Hastings guild to send some judges who were completely impartial. These women were also very skilled needlewomen and crafts-women in their own right, so Bea was confident they would know what to look for. She also hoped they might find something good enough to be passed on to the countrywide exhibition later in the year. The TWG had very exacting standards, because they believed in being the best.
Bea had managed to get second prize in the best-dressed doll category and, considering the exceptionally high standard of the winner, she was more than pleased with her own efforts. She had wanted to show her eldest daughter, but Ruby still hadn’t put in an appearance. Elsie and Doris Walters were generous with their praise. After a short speech, once they had finished looking around, Doris Walters cut the blue ribbon across the doorway and declared the craft fair open. The public poured in. May and Rex were thrilled with Bea’s effort and congratulated her warmly.
‘I should have brought the Box Brownie,’ Rex lamented. ‘It’s wonderful, darling.’
Effie invited Doris and Elsie onto the stage, where the members had put a table and some chairs. Bea was still struggling to control the anger she felt over what had happened to May. How could Effie be such a bitch? At one time how nice she had been! One thing was for sure: Bea was very impressed with the way May had handled the situation. She
had cried, which was perfectly natural, but from that moment on she had behaved with dignity, even when other members of the committee had commiserated with her misfortune. However, Bea wouldn’t forget it. She had lived with a bully for long enough when Nelson was alive. Being with Rex had given her confidence and she wasn’t about to get into that position again.
‘I have arranged for you to have some tea and cakes,’ Effie gushed as their honoured guests reached the steps by the stage.
Elsie said that she wished to use the facilities, and Effie turned, about to show her the way.
‘No – no need for you to come,’ said Elsie, clearly annoyed by Effie’s smothering attitude. ‘Just point me in the right direction. I’ll find it.’
So Effie let her go. She was confident everything would be all right; after all, she had insisted that the toilet be thoroughly scrubbed, with such illustrious guests on their way. Once she was satisfied that Miss Horton had made the Ladies clean enough, Effie had produced a carefully written notice: ‘No one – absolutely no one – is to use this toilet.’
‘Put this on the toilet seat,’ Effie had told her. ‘And put all the cleaning stuff in the other toilet and shut the door.’
‘What about everyone else?’ Miss Horton had cried.
‘They can use the outside toilets,’ said Effie, with a sweep of her hand. ‘I don’t want anybody else to sit on that seat.’
Elsie Walters seemed to take ages in the toilet and, when Bea was dispatched to see if she was all right, she could hear the sound of a bucket being moved about behind the door. When she emerged from the Ladies, Elsie looked a little flustered.
‘Is everything all right, Miss Walters?’ Bea asked.
‘Quite, thank you,’ said Elsie, in a tone a little less cordial than before.
As she walked in front of Bea on the way up to the top table, Bea couldn’t help noticing an ugly ladder in the back of her stockings.
‘Excuse me.’
Bea turned round to find Lena smiling at her. ‘I just came to tell you that Ruby is sorry, but she can’t be here. She’s had a little accident and hurt her ankle, so she’s resting at home.’
Rex had joined them. ‘Hurt her ankle? How?’
Lena explained what had happened. ‘She’s resting with her foot up,’ she went on. ‘It’s very swollen, because she had to walk all the way home from the printer’s.’
‘I’ll pop round and see her,’ said Rex.
‘She said to tell you not to worry,’ replied Lena. ‘She wants you to enjoy the show.’
‘Thank you,’ said Rex, ‘for giving us the message.’
‘I know she’s very disappointed not to be here,’ Lena went on. ‘The German girls and I have offered to look after the guest house, but fortunately there are no more guests until the end of next week.’
Rex squeezed Lena’s elbow and nodded. ‘Tell her we’ll come round as soon as the fair is over.’
Effie was holding a plate of bread and butter in her hand as Elsie arrived back onstage. ‘Would you like a cup of tea, Miss Walters?’ she gushed.
‘Ooh, lovely,’ said Elsie.
Handing her the cup, Effie smiled broadly. ‘I thought you might like to have your tea now.’
Mrs Wilmot showed them to their seats.
As Bea arrived a few minutes later, Effie hissed, ‘Where on earth have you been?’
‘I think you may owe Miss Walters an apology,’ Bea whispered urgently. ‘She didn’t use the toilet that was supposed to be for our guests.’ She handed Effie the notice, which she had found on the closed lid of the pan.
‘Why on earth didn’t you take it down?’ Effie snapped. ‘Oh, really. Do I have to do everything around here?’
‘I was busy with the bunting, if you remember,’ said Bea.
Effie tutted irritably.
‘It seems,’ Bea went on, ‘that our guest had to clamber over the mop and bucket in the other toilet, and she’s laddered her stockings.’
Despite the hiccup over the Ladies’ loo, the visit was a resounding success. Before they enjoyed their tea, and with an audience gathered below the stage, the two sisters had become their characters, Gert and Daisy, and given the people in the hall an impromptu performance.
‘Did you see that lovely needlework they’ve got over there? I had a go at making a tray cloth once. It wasn’t very good. The window cleaner thought it was his duster.’
‘Well, you get ten out of ten for trying, Gert.’
‘Oh yes, my Wally says I’m very trying.’
Everyone laughed heartily.
‘Did I tell you: the other day, Bert and I had this terrible quarrel.’
‘Oh dear, what happened?’
‘He said to me, “You know, I was a fool when I married you.” So I said, “Yes, I know, but I was so in love with you, I didn’t notice.”’
The audience loved it.
After their performance, Doris sat down in Effie’s seat, but they all enjoyed the high tea that the committee members had laid on. It went well, although Effie was a bit perturbed, because she couldn’t find the plate of bread and butter. She’d had it in her hand a moment ago. Perhaps, she reflected, as Elsie and Doris tucked into the scones and cream, they didn’t really need it.
Bea took the opportunity to seek out Rex and May again. ‘I can’t wait to get over to Ruby’s.’
‘Darling, you heard what Lena said,’ said Rex. ‘She’s resting. She’s a sensible girl. It’s the right thing to do.’
‘I’m going to be ages here,’ Bea lamented. ‘We’ve got to clear up the place before we leave.’
‘May and I will go home in a few minutes,’ said Rex. ‘You come when you’re finished. Don’t worry.’
With the tea over, Elsie and Doris stood to leave. Effie led the way through the crowds. Bea was behind them.
‘Um, Effie . . .’ Bea said anxiously. She had come up beside Effie and put her hand to the side of her mouth, to speak confidentially.
Effie batted her away. ‘Not now, dear.’ This was her finest hour, and no one was going to spoil it for her. She smiled with satisfaction as she heard some in the crowd making little gasps as she led the way. At the door, Effie thanked Elsie and Doris, who waved to the cheering crowds.
‘We are so grateful to you for coming,’ Effie said.
‘Oh no,’ said Elsie, ‘we should thank you. You have done a magnificent job today. I wish you and all your members every success.’
Effie nodded in a gracious way, but as the two women walked towards their car, her mouth gaped and she stared in horror. She was forced to put her hand to her mouth to suppress a cry of despair.
‘I tried to tell you,’ said Bea, coming up beside her. ‘You must have put the plate on your own chair, and then Doris changed seats after the performance.’
The back of Doris’s lovely suit was covered in small triangles of bread and butter, which peeled away from her bottom as she walked.
Effie prayed that she wouldn’t notice, but as Doris Walters got into the car, she smoothed down the back of her skirt – and Effie knew she was undone. To give her her due, Doris Walters said nothing, but as the car moved off, she turned to look at Effie, her face red with fury.
When Effie turned to remonstrate with Bea and the other members of the committee, she found herself alone on the doorstep.
CHAPTER 18
It was nearly six before Bea had an opportunity to speak out – Rex and May having decided to wait outside until Bea had ‘had a word’. Only the members of the committee remained in the hall. Everyone was working with brooms, dustpans and brushes as they put the finishing touches to the big tidy-up. The only person not doing anything was Effie, but, as their chairman, she was bursting with pride.
‘This has been the most wonderful occasion, even if I do say so myself,’ she said, sweeping her hand around the empty room. ‘Mrs Quinn, how much did we make on the day?’
‘One hundred and twenty pounds,’ said Bea.
‘One hundred and t
wenty pounds,’ Effie echoed, saying the words slowly and with emphasis. She raised her head and closed her eyes, as if waiting for a round of applause. When none was forthcoming, she opened her eyes and glared. ‘I think that merits a little clap of appreciation, don’t you?’
No one moved.
‘I should like to talk about the mix-up with the bouquet,’ said Bea. She had made up her mind to remain perfectly calm as she challenged Effie. She had seen others try to stand up to her, but they’d ended up in tears; and somehow, even if the point had been proven, it always seemed as if Effie had won.
‘A regrettable incident,’ said Effie dismissively. ‘It was a good job my friend’s granddaughter was on hand, to step into the breach.’
‘Personally,’ said Miss Taylor, ‘I think you planned it that way.’
‘Rubbish!’ said Effie.
‘I do, too,’ said Bea, beginning to feel the heat rising inside her. ‘In fact I think it was a downright despicable thing to do to a child.’
‘Here, here,’ said Mrs Raymond.
‘Now look here,’ Effie began indignantly.
‘No, Mrs Rhodes,’ said Bea, ‘you look here.’ Her heartbeat quickened and she heard the other ladies around her take in a collective breath. ‘This organization is worthy of better behaviour than we’ve witnessed today,’ Bea went on. ‘It’s not for people like you to lord it over all of us, like some sort of Lady Muck.’
‘How dare you!’ Effie spluttered.
But Bea hadn’t finished yet. ‘We are women of the twentieth century and, as such, we are worthy of respect and equal opportunity,’ she continued. She was willing her voice to stay strong and not waver. ‘You not only disappointed my daughter, but you let the side down and embarrassed all of us, in front of two highly respected women of the theatre.’
There was a deafening silence. Effie looked around and glared, but luckily for Bea, the other women held her gaze.
‘Women of the theatre,’ Effie scoffed. Her face was scarlet with rage. ‘I hardly think so, dear. They are only variety actresses . . .’
‘There you go again,’ said Bea. ‘What gives you the right to look down your nose at anybody?’
