by June Tate
Harry was drying glasses when Flo and Daisy walked in. The man turned briefly, looked at the two women and said, ‘Good evening, ladies,’ and turned away. Suddenly he stopped and turned again. ‘Blimey, Daisy! Is that you?’
‘What do you think, Harry?’ she asked nervously.
‘I think I wish I was twenty years younger, that’s what I think, girl. You’ll bloody well knock ’em dead tonight. Go on, give us a twirl.’
Daisy obliged happily. She felt she had taken on a new persona which made it interesting. She would pretend to be someone else, after all she looked so different. It wouldn’t be Daisy Gilbert working here it would be … Gloria, yes that was the name, after all didn’t she look and feel glorious? She told Harry and Flo of her decision.
‘After all, no one who knows me as Daisy could possibly recognize me in this get-up; I even feel different.’
‘I think it’s a splendid idea,’ said Flo. ‘Gloria it is.’
The door to the club was unlocked and opened for business. Daisy kept busy washing and wiping glasses, trying to stop her hands from shaking, waiting for the first customers to arrive and when the door opened and three men walked in, Harry came over to her.
‘Right, girl, off you go, give them a smile and serve them.’ Seeing her look of trepidation he said, ‘Come on, Gloria, you can do it!’
Yes, she thought, Gloria can and she walked to the end of the bar, smiled at the men and said, ‘Good evening, gentlemen, what can I get for you?’
They all looked at her with surprise and pleasure.
‘Well, things are looking up,’ said one. ‘I won’t have to look at Harry all night. Three scotch and sodas please, young lady. What’s your name?’
‘Gloria,’ she said and went to the optics and put a measure of scotch in each of three glasses.
Harry sidled up to her. ‘Take the soda siphon to them and let them help themselves,’ he advised knowing that she would be unaware of the force the soda could be if the handle was pressed down too hard. He didn’t want her to be embarrassed serving her first customers.
Daisy watched the men serve themselves and realized why she had been thus instructed. Looking over at Harry, she mouthed the word, thanks. He just winked at her, knowing in future she would be prepared.
The club started to fill up. It was then Daisy saw the girls starting to circulate among the men sitting at the tables and watched as they persuaded them to buy more drinks – how they got friendly with some, sitting close to them, fondling their faces, flirting with them until one by one, they walked up the stairs together and how a short time later, they came down and moved on to another punter. She thought of her mother’s words. There was no doubt about it, this was a knocking shop! However the men, although they flirted outrageously with her when ordering their drinks, treated her with respect and tipped her as she served them. She smiled and thanked them and moved on to the next customer. She gazed at the glass jar at the back of the counter that Harry had given her, and watched it slowly begin to fill.
An hour before closing time, the door opened and a big man entered alone. Harry quickly moved her away, saying, ‘I’ll look after him myself.’ She noticed that not one of the girls approached him during the time he sat drinking. She was curious and watched him as she served and once or twice caught him looking back at her. She quickly turned away. There was something menacing about him that when she saw him glancing in her direction, she became nervous. Yet he hadn’t spoken to her.
‘Who is that man?’ she asked Harry when they stood next to each other pouring drinks from the optics.
‘You make sure you keep out of his way, love. He’s a bad ’un.’
When the bar eventually closed, Daisy questioned him again about the stranger. ‘Who is he?’
‘That’s Bert Croucher. He’s the local butcher and has a very nasty temper.’
‘None of the girls went up to him, I noticed,’ she remarked, curiosity getting the better of her.
‘They’re too bloody scared of him. He roughed up one of the local brasses in Canal Walk one night and he was lucky to get away without a prison sentence. It’s said he paid her not to report him.’
‘Yet Flo lets him use the club. That surprises me.’
‘Ah well, Flo doesn’t scare easily and he spends money. She told him straight, “You can drink in my club and that’s all. No women. Any trouble I’ll call the police.” Besides, she spends a lot of money in his shop and he wouldn’t want to lose her custom. He doesn’t come in every night, mainly at weekends.’
Before going home, Daisy changed back into her own clothes and removed her make-up, twisted her hair back into a bun and walked back to the bar to say goodnight to Harry.
‘Here, don’t forget your tips, girl. You earned them. The customers like you, you should do well.’
‘Thanks, Harry, I enjoyed myself. It was certainly different. See you tomorrow night.’
As she walked home, she smiled to herself. She wouldn’t tell her mother too much, she would only worry. She certainly wouldn’t mention Bert Croucher. He scared her and she didn’t need her mother to know that.
Vera was sitting, waiting, by the dying embers of the range when Daisy let herself in. Her mother took some warm milk from the top of the range and made her daughter some cocoa.
‘How did it go?’ she asked with a worried frown.
Kicking off her shoes and rubbing her sore feet, Daisy said, ‘It was fine. The club was quite busy but what with Harry having shown me everything and written out the prices, I was fine. I suppose in time I’ll know them by heart.’
‘You’re going to stay then?’
Daisy grinned broadly and took a bag of money out of her pocket and poured the contents on to the table. ‘These are my tips for tonight, Mum, and I’ve two more nights to go. Of course I’m staying.’ She counted out the coins on the table. ‘Blimey! There’s three pounds here. We’ll soon be able to book a couple of weeks at the convalescent home for Dad.’
Tears welled in Vera’s eyes. ‘Oh, Daisy love, that would be wonderful!’ Then she hesitated. ‘You are quite safe working there aren’t you?’
‘Safe as houses,’ she replied. But she didn’t mention the butcher.
The following morning in the workshop, as she picked up a garment to be embroidered, Daisy felt weary. It was just as well that she was only going to work three nights a week she thought. With such intricate work, she needed her sleep to be able to see what she was doing. But if it meant her father would get a break and care, it would all be worth it.
‘You’re quiet this morning,’ remarked her friend Agnes.
‘I didn’t sleep well last night,’ was the excuse that she gave.
She said the same thing to Jack who was waiting outside when she finished for the day, when he told her she looked tired.
‘I was going to suggest we go to the cinema,’ he said.
‘Not tonight, love,’ she told him. ‘I’m going home to get my head down; I’ve got a bit of a headache. I’ve had to do a lot of close work today.’ Daisy hoped it sounded convincing as she had to hurry home, get something to eat and set off for the club. She’d been told to wear comfortable shoes as Friday and Saturday nights were usually busy. ‘But you go,’ she suggested.
‘How about tomorrow then?’ he persisted.
‘Sorry, Jack, I’ve got a dress to finish for one of my clients, but we can go for a walk if you like on Sunday?’
‘But we always go out on a Saturday!’
Oh dear, thought Daisy. She would be working every Saturday in future. How was she going to get round this without telling him what she was doing? ‘I am sorry, but I have a lot of private work on at the moment, all rushed jobs, but I’ll be free on Sundays.’
He didn’t look very pleased. ‘Some bloody courtship this is turning out,’ he complained.
‘I’m really sorry, Jack, but I’m trying to make enough money to send Dad off to a nursing home for a short stay. He’s been so poorly lately and i
t will do him good and give Mum a much-needed break.’
This he accepted, and with a smile he said, ‘You’re a good girl to your family. If only I was out of my apprenticeship I could help you.’
She tucked her arm through his. ‘Oh that’s really kind of you, but one day you will be and then we can start and plan our future.’
He kissed her goodnight outside her door. ‘I’ll call for you after lunch on Sunday then.’
As she let herself into the house, Daisy wondered just how long she could get away with this subterfuge. But nothing was going to stop her getting the money together that she needed and without this job it would be an impossibility.
Three
Flo wasn’t at the club when Daisy arrived, but she’d asked one of the girls to help her change, do her hair and to show her how to apply the mascara.
Daisy was a little shy when Stella approached her and told her of Flo’s instructions.
‘Come on, love,’ said Stella, ‘you’ll soon be able to do this for yourself. You’re a really pretty girl,’ and she giggled. ‘If you had a mind to come my side of the bar you could make a packet!’
Daisy blushed at the thought. ‘I couldn’t!’
Stella grinned at her. ‘I was only joking, love. It ain’t so bad you know. It’s usually all over in a few minutes. The punters are too horny to wait. Most of them don’t really get their money’s worth; they barely have time to take their trousers down before it’s all over.’
Daisy’s curiosity got the better of her. ‘Do you enjoy it?’
‘Sometimes. If you get a feller who’s a good lover and can take his time. Yeah, sometimes I’ve been known to actually come, instead of pretending.’ Seeing the look of puzzlement on Daisy’s face Stella said, ‘Oh bless my soul, you’re a virgin. How lovely, I don’t get to meet many of those. You don’t know what I’m talking about do you?’
Daisy, more than a little embarrassed, shook her head.
‘Well darlin’ when you get married, if you’re lucky enough to find a man who knows his way around a woman’s body, you’ll know what I mean and believe me when it happens – it’s bloody marvellous!’ She finished dressing Daisy’s hair. ‘There you are, now I’ll show you how to use your mascara.’
Daisy walked downstairs to the bar to start her second night as Gloria, the new barmaid, wondering what the evening would bring and how much she would make in tips.
One of the ships had docked that afternoon, carrying injured soldiers back from the front. Many had been involved in the battles in Flanders – in particular at Ypres. It had been a harrowing ordeal for the crew and several of the officers had come to the club to drink away the misery they had encountered.
At first they discussed among themselves the appalling injuries they’d had to deal with. A few had been involved in the ship’s hospital where the ship’s surgeon had operated on some, whilst others were tended by nurses who travelled with the men, but helped by some of the ship’s crew members with the lifting and moving of the many patients.
‘Poor sods,’ said one man. ‘Some will never work again, if they survive at all, and I don’t suppose the government will take care of them.’
‘All right,’ said another, ‘let’s drink to them. I need to get the smell of blood and the taste of ether out of my mouth and I need to feel the soft skin of an enthusiastic woman!’ And the party began.
The girls were kept busy and as Stella walked towards the stairs with one of the men she looked over at Daisy and winked. Daisy wondered if the man would be a satisfactory lover or not and when Stella returned, she looked over at the girl with more than a little curiosity as they had been gone for some time. Stella glanced over and with a broad grin, unobtrusively gave Daisy the thumbs-up sign and patted her chest above her heart. It seemed as if the girl had been lucky and Daisy couldn’t help but wonder just what it would be like to be bedded by a man.
One of the young officers came over to order some drinks. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked.
‘Gloria,’ said Daisy, without hesitation.
‘Well, Gloria, how would you like to come out to lunch with me tomorrow?’
She looked at him in surprise. She had noticed that he was one of the few who had not taken a girl upstairs and wondered why. He was tall and good looking and to her mind a good catch, but when the girls had approached him, he’d laughed and chatted with them, but that had been all.
‘I’m sorry but I’m not free,’ she said.
‘And why’s that?’
‘I work during the day. I’m only here three nights a week and anyway, I’m spoken for, I have a young man.’
He paid for the drinks and said, ‘Well I think he’s a lucky devil! If ever you change your mind, you just tell me.’
As he walked away, Harry sidled up to her. ‘They’ll be queuing up for a date with you, before long.’
‘Don’t be so daft!’ she exclaimed.
‘What’s daft about that? You’re a good-looking girl. Not every man who comes in here is looking for a good lay.’
She flushed at his blatant description. ‘Really!’ she said.
Harry burst out laughing. ‘You are such an innocent to be working in a place like this and believe me that has a certain charm about it,’ and he walked away to serve a customer.
Towards the end of the evening, Flo walked into the club and was soon enjoying the company of the ship’s officers. Daisy watched with interest as Flo fussed about her customers and entertained them. She was obviously a practised hostess and the drinks flowed even more. When closing time came, Daisy was very surprised to see Flo leave the premises with one of the officers.
Stella came over to say goodnight. ‘You are causing more than a little interest with the men,’ she told Daisy.
‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘One or two of the punters even asked me if you were free to spend time with them!’
Daisy’s eyes widened. ‘To go upstairs with them do you mean?’
Laughing, Stella said, ‘That’s exactly what I mean. A man would pay good money to take your cherry, darlin’. You should think about it, you could make a bloody bundle this side of the bar. Well, I’m off. Ta ra.’
As she walked home, Daisy couldn’t help but ponder over Stella’s remarks. She wondered just how much money the girls made. Not that she would even consider joining them, as she was earning enough for her needs.
Flo Cummings stretched languidly, turned back the covers of her bed and slipped her legs over the side. Looking at the clock she saw that it was noon. She got to her feet and rubbing her eyes walked over to the window and opened the curtains, blinking at the sudden light. What a bloody night that had been! As she sat brushing her hair she relived her night of passion with the first officer. What a man he was! He navigated her body as if he were docking his vessel into a very tight space. He manoeuvred her like an expert until she begged him to take her. He chuckled as he smothered her with kisses, then drove himself into her depths. As she thought about it now, she ached and lusted after him. But the bed was empty.
Flo didn’t take many men to her bed these days; after all she had a lover. She’d been having an affair with Jim Grant, the manager of the White Swan, for a few years now. She didn’t feel disloyal to her lover if she slept with another man; after all, Jim still shared a bed with his wife. Gone were the teenage years when Flo had sold her body rather than starve. Now she had money and she was particular, but last night there was something in the eyes of the young officer that drew her to him. It certainly had been worth it and she hoped he would come into the club again. Sooner rather than later, but now she must dress and get on with her day.
She walked to Three Field Lane to the bed and breakfast, to collect the takings from the previous night. The girls were up and about, cleaning the place after the influx of seamen. It had been a full house and therefore profitable.
Flo walked around the bedrooms to check for cleanliness which was essential she felt for a good busines
s. Walking into one bedroom she saw one of the girls standing beside a workman who was repairing a bed. Flo called the girl outside.
‘What the bloody hell is going on?’ she enquired.
‘Sorry, Flo, but I had a bleedin’ big fireman in last night and he got a bit excited.’
‘Did he jump on the bed?’
‘No, he jumped on me … but I was on the bed.’ She lifted her dress to show Flo her bruises. ‘After, he was right sorry and gave me a big tip.’ She giggled. ‘That wasn’t the only big thing about him. It gave me the fright of my life!’
‘For goodness’ sake, can’t you control your men?’ Flo remonstrated and she stalked off down the stairs.
At the Solent Club, Harry was cleaning and restocking the bar. ‘Good night last night, Flo. My goodness, those men can drink! Mind you, the toilets were a bit of a mess this morning, I can tell you.’
With a grimace, she said, ‘Just make sure they’re cleaned thoroughly. I want them spotless for tonight. I’ve got a private birthday party booked in the back room and the caterers will be here later. Set a table against the wall. They’ll be here around five thirty so open up and let them in.’ And with a final glance, she left the building.
It was Saturday morning and Daisy was working away, embroidering a bodice of an evening dress, pleased that it was a half day only in the workroom as she was so tired. With a bit of luck she’d be able to get her head down for a couple of hours this afternoon in readiness for a busy night at the club. Tomorrow she’d promised to spend the afternoon with Jack, who was getting very niggled at not being able to see her as often as he would like, and she kept telling him when he met her from work that she was busy doing extra work for her father. This was true of course, but Jack believed she meant she was sewing and Daisy, not wanting to let him know the truth, didn’t say anything.
