A Promise Between Friends

by Carol Rivers

  Ruby looked down on Larry’s bald pate surrounded by a thatch of black wiry hair. He gazed at her through his thick, horn-rimmed lenses. He was barely her height but dressed immaculately in his hand-tailored suits. He looked up to Stuart who was Latin in looks and taller by a foot. They made an odd, but happy couple and Ruby felt deep affection for her boss who had shown her such kindness when she’d started the job just after Pete’s death.

  ‘Ruby, you and Debbie and your young men are invited to a party,’ Larry told them. ‘This coming Saturday at eight. Chez Larry and Stuart.’ He batted his short eyelashes. ‘No excuses – you’re coming.’

  ‘What’s the party for?’ Debbie asked, obviously feeling left out.

  ‘We’ve moved!’ Stuart informed her before Larry could reply. ‘And, darlings, our new pad is delicious!’

  ‘But you had a nice flat in Hackney,’ Debbie protested.

  ‘Hackney is old news, pet. Soho is the place to be.’

  ‘Soho!’ Ruby and Debbie exclaimed together.

  Larry crinkled his eyes. ‘Aren’t we the lucky ones? Now, all you have to do is turn up looking spectacular as always.’

  ‘Can’t wait, Larry,’ Debbie responded eagerly. ‘My Rog will find it wherever it is.’

  ‘We’re just off Dean Street. What about you, Ruby? How will you get to us?’ Larry asked.

  ‘We’ll call for Ruby,’ Debbie cut in, eager to seal the arrangement. ‘Poplar is on our way.’

  ’I’m sorry, but I’m going out with Kath, my roommate, that evening,’ she said apologetically. ‘I can’t let her down.’

  ‘Then bring the lovely Kath too, my darling,’ Larry insisted. ‘The more the merrier. I should be most upset if you weren’t to be there,’ Larry told her. ‘We have a delicious buffet. And plenty of these arty types for you to meet. Soho is so bohemian.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Debbie said with a frown.

  ‘Quite out of the ordinary,’ Stuart explained. ‘You’ll adore it.’

  ‘So, all settled.’ Larry patted his ample stomach under his Jermyn Street shirt. ‘Now, girls, it’s down to business. What fortune have we taken today?’ He drew Ruby to the till.

  She listened as her boss counted the takings while describing the food, entertainment and booze he intended to provide for his party guests.

  But she wasn’t listening. She had only been to Soho once before and that was with Pete. She couldn’t wait to go again.

  Chapter Five

  Ruby watched squeamishly as Kath served the fried food from the greasy blackened pan. Kath tried her best, but healthy food wasn’t Kath’s scene. Not that Ruby refused anything served up to her. She was always hungry and had the appetite of a horse.

  Kath slid out the wooden stool next to Ruby and sat down. There was no room to spare at the folding picnic table, even though Ruby had tried to make the eating space look bigger by partitioning it off from the rest of the room with a curtain.

  ‘Sorry it’s fried again.’ Kath pushed back her long black straight hair. ‘At least it’s hot.’

  ‘Does it have a name?’ Ruby enquired.

  ‘Three guesses,’ Kath offered. ‘But you’ll probably get it in one.’

  ‘Spam à la carte?’ Ruby suggested. ‘Makes a change from sardines on toast.’

  Kath prodded the greasy lumps with a fork. ‘I can’t bear the sight of me own cooking.’

  ‘It’s better than what we was given in Devon,’ Ruby said as she began to force the fritter down her throat. ‘Remember the whale meat? I was put off fish for life. The vicar’s wife soaked the meat overnight and steamed it the next day. The stink was in my hair and clothes and even followed me to school.’

  ‘We didn’t have whale meat on the farm,’ Kath remembered. ‘But the veg and spuds drove us bonkers. We was out in the fields from dawn till dusk. My back ached and my hands were always bleeding. It was the final straw when we were made to peel and eat the bloody things.’ She sighed, staring into the distance. ‘Not that food was any better when we came back to the Smoke. Mum and Dad lived up the pub, so me and Bernie got a job at the pie and mash shop, remember? The gaffer let us have the leftovers before the pig-bins arrived.’

  Ruby nodded sadly. Poor Kath was still thin as a rake. Food didn’t know how to operate in her body. Her stomach had shrunk to such a degree she couldn’t eat a decent meal if she saw one. She also hated her height as it made her feel conspicuous.

  ‘What have we got for afters?’ Ruby asked.

  ‘Same as always. Tinned fruit and evaporated milk. Or there’s some bread and cheese I bought on Saturday. Though the cheese is a bit ripe. Even Bernie didn’t fancy it.’

  Ruby glanced at her friend. ‘I thought you were going to eat at the pub in Hoxton.’

  ‘I didn’t want to go without you. So Bernie went without me. He called in on the way back, though, so I wasn’t alone. Talking of Saturday, how was your mum?’

  ‘Same as always.’

  ‘Is she still a bit doolally?’

  Ruby nodded. ‘Some things never change.’ She couldn’t meet Kath’s enquiring gaze. It was too late to confess the truth, that she’d lied to Kath about going home in order to go to the Manor. Her guilt was mounting up.

  ‘It’s really good of you to stick by her, considering,’ Kath said softly.

  ‘Oh, I don’t go round very often.’

  ‘Well, some girls just wouldn’t bother at all with her being the way she is.’

  Ruby hung her head, idly drawing a pattern with her finger on the sticky plastic tablecloth. ‘Kath, would you like to go to a party? I want to make up for missing your birthday.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that. And anyway, you know I don’t like parties.’

  ‘My bosses are having a house-warming,’ Ruby explained. She had decided she wasn’t going to ask Kath but now she felt it would help to ease her conscience. Although she’d have to warn Debbie not to say anything about the Manor.

  ‘Where is it?’ Kath asked suspiciously.

  ‘Larry and Stuart have moved to Soho.’

  ‘But why would they invite me?’ Kath queried. ‘I don’t know them.’

  ‘They know you’re my best mate,’ Ruby urged. ‘I’m always on about you at work.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Really.’ Considering that only a minute ago she had shelved the idea of mentioning a party at all, this was a complete turnaround. Ruby was beginning to wonder if lies were addictive if you told enough of them.

  Kath shrank back. ‘But I won’t know anyone.’

  Ruby shrugged. ‘Nor will I. It’s a chance for us to make new friends.’

  ‘I’m not very good at mixing. You know that.’

  ‘I’ll be with you. We’ll have a good laugh.’

  Kath pulled the tips of her hair as she always did when she was worried. ‘I don’t know, Ruby. You’d be better off going without me.’

  ‘Listen, you’ll love Larry and Stuart. They can’t wait to meet you.’

  Kath smiled hesitantly. ‘Well, all right, then. If you think—’

  ‘I do,’ Ruby decided. ‘We both need to get out more. Pete always used to tell me to give new experiences a go. This is the perfect opportunity.’

  Kath smiled wistfully. ‘Pete was very wise.’

  Ruby nodded. ‘Yes, he was.’ She looked at Kath. ‘I’m glad we were all best mates and have the same memories.’

  Kath’s gaze was far away. ‘Yes, though some I wish I could ditch. I still have nightmares about Dad.’

  Ruby’s heart squeezed in sympathy. Even though Kath had missed the East End while they lived in Devon and evacuation was the only peace she’d ever known, her dad had made up for lost time when she’d come home. A violent drunk, he’d made Kath and Bernie’s lives hell. ‘He can’t hurt you now, Kath. He’s dead and gone. He’ll never touch you again.’

  ‘I know that, but at the back of me mind, he’s there.’

  Ruby touched her friend’s arm. ‘All the more rea
son for you to see new people and go to new places. We can’t live at Fortuno’s forever.’

  ‘What about transport? I don’t want to be hanging round Soho, trying to catch a bus in the early hours.’

  ‘No, neither do I.’

  ‘I could ask my brother for a lift. But you’d better be nice to him and turn on the charm.’

  Ruby grinned. That wouldn’t be difficult at all.

  Making her way home from work on Saturday, Ruby paused to window shop. Normally she would bus up West, to Harrods and Selfridges, dreaming of buying their fashions. Often she’d visit the HMV shop to listen to the records that were at the top of the hit parade. But mostly she’d seek out the smaller shops around the interchange with Regent Street.

  Today she was saving her money even though she was hungry and the smell of pies, muffins and bagels from the street traders’ stalls was tempting. But when she came to Patterson’s, the small boutique where she had bought her new dress, she paused. She had been very lucky to see exactly what she wanted on the model.

  ‘Lovely shoes, those,’ a small voice said beside her. Ruby realized she had stopped by Patterson’s after all. A young girl was standing close by, a baby in her arms.

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Ruby, ‘they’re very nice.’

  ‘Make yer mouth water, don’t they?’

  Ruby stared at the footwear arranged attractively with a black handbag and floaty grey chiffon scarf. ‘Yes, I like the peep-toes.’

  The girl nodded her agreement. She was dressed in an unbelted brown mac that was far too thin, Ruby decided, for an autumn day. Suddenly the drooling infant’s dirty face crumpled into an alarming scream.

  ‘You gonna buy ’em?’ the girl enquired as she rocked the baby.

  ‘No, I’m afraid not.’

  ‘You got kids?’

  ‘I’m not married.’

  ‘Well, I tell you this for nothing,’ the girl shouted above the screams of the child, ‘I’d give my right arm to be single again. My old man is as tight as a drum. Yet he’s down the pub every night, boozing. Don’t reckon I’ll ever wear a nice bit of kit like those again.’

  Ruby stared at the girl’s once-pretty face. She was about the same age as herself. It was then Ruby noticed her large belly and the thick, ugly stockings that sagged around her swollen ankles.

  ‘When is the baby due?’ Ruby asked.

  ‘Just before Christmas,’ the girl replied. ‘This will be me third.’

  ‘Christmas must be difficult for you,’ Ruby commiserated as the baby refused to be silenced.

  ‘Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids. But your life ain’t never your own after you have a family. Mustn’t grumble, I suppose. There’s people don’t have roofs over their heads. At least my old man has put one over ours. Even if I have to climb four flights of stairs to get to it.’

  The baby’s screaming grew unbearable. ‘Better be off. Time for another feed,’ the girl said. ‘If I was you I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them shoes. Go on, spoil yerself.’

  Ruby watched the girl walk off, shopping bag in one hand, infant in the other. The heels of her dirty boots were worn down and Ruby could hear the scuffing of the many Blakeys hammered into their soles.

  She turned back to Patterson’s window and shuddered. What had the girl said that had upset her so much? Your life ain’t never your own after you have a family. And the fact that the young mother could never see herself wearing a smart pair of shoes again.

  Ruby’s eyes fixed on the shoes. They were very smart. And the notice said they were her size. They would go perfectly with her dress. She had worked hard all week. There was no harm in looking.

  Ruby opened the shop door and went in.

  ‘How much were those shoes?’ Kath demanded the moment Ruby unwrapped the brown paper parcel.

  ‘Not much.’ Seeing the disappointment on Kath’s face, Ruby began to regret her impulse purchase.

  ‘Oh, Ruby, you can’t be trusted where shops are concerned.’

  Ruby flopped down in the chair. ‘I know. I shouldn’t have.’

  ‘Oh well, we’ll just have to forget the taxi.’

  ‘I really am sorry.’ Ruby gazed at the shoes. ‘I’ll take them back on Monday.’

  Just then there was a knock at the door.

  ‘Who can that be?’ Kath whispered, her face ashen. ‘Do you think it’s the landlord?’

  Ruby looked into Kath’s frightened eyes. ‘But Bernie’s been paying the rent.’

  ‘He might have forgotten.’

  ‘That’s all we need.’

  Another knock came. Kath got up. ‘What are we going to do?’

  ‘Open the door, I suppose.’

  ‘I saw him once when he came with his men to the bloke upstairs. They went inside and knocked the old boy about.’

  There was silence until they heard a friendly voice calling.

  ‘Bernie?’ Kath and Ruby ran to the door together.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded as he strode in.

  ‘Why did you pound on the door like that?’ Ruby asked angrily.

  ‘Because it’s bloody cold out there. And you both moan if I let meself in.’

  ‘You scared your sister half to death.’

  Bernie touched Kath’s shoulder. ‘Sorry.’

  Kath took out her hanky and blew her nose. ‘We didn’t know if you’d paid the rent.’

  ‘Of course I have. Though that’s more than I can say for you two. I’m not a bleeding charity, you know.’

  ‘We ran a bit short, that’s all,’ Ruby said, hoping Bernie wouldn’t spot the shoes.

  ‘I bunged you three quid a couple of weeks ago.’

  Kath stared down at her lap. ‘We’re not good with money. It just seems to disappear.’

  ‘You’re supposed to be females, do the shopping and all that,’ Bernie complained. Nevertheless he took out his wallet and peeled off several notes. ‘For God’s sake, feed yourselves. Fill up that cupboard and when I come here again, I expect to see something in it. Or else I’ll be asking for my money back. Understand?’

  Kath and Ruby nodded.

  ‘There is one thing more,’ Kath said as she smiled at her brother. ‘You don’t fancy giving us a lift up West tonight?’

  Bernie looked at them, shaking his head in disbelief.

  But Ruby only smiled. She knew they could wind him round their little fingers.

  Ruby sat in the back of Bernie’s car, gazing out at the streets of the West End. She felt very excited. People were silhouetted by the lights and brilliantly lit billboards overhead portraying images of famous film stars like Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster, James Mason and Tony Curtis. Queues snaked out from the busy theatres: Drury Lane and the Opera House, the Duke of York, the Apollo, the Lyric and the Strand.

  A woman walked out of one of the grand hotels on the arm of a tall, handsome man. She was wearing a deep red cocktail dress, high heels and a silver fox-fur stole. Her escort looked like Marlon Brando, who Ruby had worshipped ever since seeing A Streetcar Named Desire.

  When they arrived in the narrow streets of Soho Bernie parked the car. He steered them past the working girls and noisy nightlife of the clubs and bars towards the address Larry had given them.

  Ruby looked for the street where Pete had once brought her one Sunday afternoon. A tall, terraced house beside a bookshop and opposite a small green park. ‘This is my boss’s bolt hole,’ he’d explained. ‘He’s not here now. So I’ll show you round.’ The house had many rooms set over three floors. Pete had served her tea: real scones from Lyons with thick red jam. There was a light, airy kitchen, a modern lounge and, up the winding stairs, several bedrooms, one with a four-poster bed. She’d never seen a bed like it before.

  Now, as Bernie led the way, Ruby looked around expectantly. But the bustling streets all looked the same in the dark. Nowhere could she see that park or little bookshop.

  Bernie stopped outside a rather grimy door. ‘Well, you two, I’ll pick you up later. And be good.’


  ‘Thanks for the ride, Bernie.’ Kath kissed his cheek.

  Ruby did the same, smiling. Everything had worked out all right in the end. She couldn’t wait to join the party!

  Chapter Six

  ‘What’s this we’re drinking?’ Ruby enquired several hours later, as Larry tilted the chrome cocktail mixer over Ruby’s glass.

  ‘Gin and sin,’ Larry told them with a sly wink.

  They were squeezed into the small kitchen where bottles of wine and spirits were lined up by the buffet. Most of the snacks had gone, but the alcohol seemed to be endless. As empty bottles disappeared, full ones took their places.

  ‘What’s a gin and sin?’ Kath asked, taking a big gulp.

  ‘Just what it says, my lovely.’

  Kath laughed. ‘It’s delicious.’

  ‘And so are you, dear girl.’

  ‘Larry, we don’t want a hangover,’ Ruby admonished. She had lost count of the orange- and lime-flavoured cocktails they’d drunk.

  ‘Stick to the one poison and you’ll be fine.’ Larry flipped the lid of a silver cigarette box. ‘Do try one, Kath.’

  ‘Are they poison too?’ Kath giggled.

  ‘Not at all,’ Larry assured her. ‘Try one and you’ll see.’

  Ruby watched as Kath took one of the cigarettes. After Larry helped her to light up, she inhaled, closing her eyes as she did so. ‘They’re amazing!’

  Larry chuckled. ‘I’m here to please.’

  ‘I could get used to these very quickly.’

  ‘Feel free.’ Larry gave her a wink. ‘Experimenting is such fun, don’t you think? Anyway, do enjoy. I’ll be back in a jiffy.’

  ‘What did he mean by experimenting?’ Kath whispered to Ruby when he’d gone.

  ‘I think you’re about to find out.’

  They both burst into laughter again. Ruby sighed with pleasure. This was turning out to be a very good night.

  ‘I’m Penny,’ a very tall girl said later that evening. ‘I’m a dancer at the Windmill.’

  ‘I’m Kath,’ Kath said shyly. ‘And I work in a factory.’

  ‘I’m Ruby. I work for Larry at the poodle parlour.’