by June Tate
‘I’m sure the captain is well able to take care of himself.’
‘He is a good soldier, but he’s headstrong. I just hope he doesn’t do anything stupid, that’s all. And how are you, Daisy?’
Daisy found Mrs Portman easy to talk to and told her all about her father.
‘I am sorry,’ said Grace, ‘but once he’s settled in the home, he’ll feel better and then he’ll be a happier man.’
‘I do hope so,’ said Daisy.
Grace looked at Daisy and thought how brave she was under these circumstances. She assumed that the girl was the main wage earner in the family and the responsibility on her shoulders must be huge. How fortunate she was to live the life of privilege that she did, but that brought its own responsibilities, especially with her husband in France. It fell upon her shoulders to see to the estate and keep things running smoothly. Everyone had their problems it seemed.
When Daisy arrived home after her working day, she sat by the fire with her father, knowing he would be moving out in the morning. Her heart was heavy as she looked at the emaciated figure before her and she remembered the fit man who used to lift her over his shoulders when she was a child. To see him now was hard to take. She tried to assure him that the move would be beneficial.
‘You’ll be well taken care of, Dad. If you need medication the nurses will see you get it. The place is so very well equipped to cope with patients with your illness.’ She took his hand. ‘It will also stop Mum worrying about you.’
‘Your mother is a good woman, Daisy love. I know she worries and for that reason, I’m willing to go. I know I’m living on borrowed time and this will make it easier on her. I’m so grateful to the doctor for fixing me up with a bed.’
Daisy was relieved that her father had accepted the lie they had told him. Had he known how and where Daisy was working, to pay for his stay, he would have been distraught!
The family sat down together to eat their supper, knowing it would be some time before they did so again. Daisy planned to pay for his care as long as she was able.
‘I’ve made your favourite, Fred,’ said Vera. ‘Steak and kidney pudding with a nice creamy rice pudding to follow.’ She smiled warmly as she gazed at him. ‘You eat that, my lad, it’ll grow hairs on your chest!’
‘As long as it doesn’t put lead in my pencil,’ he laughed, ‘only I don’t think I’m up to that.’
‘Fred Gilbert, what a thing to say, you cheeky devil.’ But as she watched him pick at his food and leave more than he ate, she hoped that once in the nursing home, his appetite would increase. At least that would give him some strength to fight back.
Daisy was pleased that her father could find something to laugh about because she knew that deep down he wanted to stay with his family. She admired his bravery. It took a strong man to accept that his days were numbered and she wondered how they would cope when he was no longer with them. The doctor had been frank with her and her mother as Fred’s illness grew worse and they had been grateful for his honesty.
‘Not that this knowledge will soften the blow when the time comes,’ he had said, ‘but at least there will be no surprises.’
The following morning, Daisy kissed her father goodbye. She’d arranged for an ambulance to collect him and her mother would go with him and see him settled.
‘I’ll come and see you this evening,’ she said, trying to smile.
‘No, love, leave it until tomorrow. By then I’ll be able to tell you what it’s like. Your Mum will be with me today. I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care of your mother,’ he added. ‘She’ll be a bit lost without me.’
Daisy walked down the road with tear-filled eyes. She loved her father deeply and it broke her heart to see his weakened state. She could do no more for him, but she would work hard to give him the care he needed and deserved for as long as she was able.
The next few days flew by it seemed to Daisy. Her father had settled well and she was working at home in the evenings on garments for her private clients and tonight she was back working at the Solent Club again.
Flo had laid out a black silk blouse for her to wear with a long black skirt. Stella was once again there to help her get ready for the evening rush.
The transformation complete, Daisy walked down the stairs as Gloria, her new persona. ‘Hello, Harry.’ She smiled as she greeted the barman.
‘Hello, love. My, you look good enough to eat,’ he chuckled as he looked at her. ‘The girls will start to be jealous of you, you look better than they do.’
‘Behave yourself!’ she chided. ‘I’m not dressed like them at all,’ which was true. The ladies of the club wore clothes that were tight-fitting and low-cut to show off their décolletage, tantalizing the clients.
‘That’s what makes you so attractive. A man likes to guess what’s beneath the clothes. It’s more of a mystery.’
‘Harry! You are outrageous.’
‘No, love, I’m a man and I understand how a man thinks.’
As the evening wore on, Daisy began to believe he spoke the truth as the men she served looked at her with admiration and some … with unadulterated lust. In fact one or two had propositioned her.
‘Gloria,’ pleaded one, ‘I can’t take my eyes off you. I’ll pay double if you let me take you upstairs.’
‘Now, sir,’ she said politely, ‘you know I’m here to serve drinks and that’s all. Now you behave or I’ll be cross with you.’
‘I love a woman with spirit,’ he said. ‘They are so much fun in bed.’
‘I really wouldn’t know,’ she said tartly.
‘Oh my God, are you a virgin? How marvellous! Name your price.’
Her curiosity was roused. ‘How much would you be prepared to pay?’ she asked.
‘Twenty pounds!’
Daisy was amazed. That was a fortune. With a smile she said, ‘Your money is safe. I’m not for sale at any price,’ and she walked away to serve another customer.
Later on during the evening, Bert Croucher and his mate, Ken Woods, came in the bar together. After Harry served them they sat at a table, deep in conversation.
‘If you come to the warehouse early tomorrow morning,’ said Woods, ‘I’ll have three sides of beef for you and two lambs. They are fresh, killed yesterday.’
‘Any trouble attached to them?’ asked Croucher.
‘No, they are part of a large consignment and I can assure you the paperwork won’t show the missing items. I’ve covered that,’ Woods said with a sly grin. ‘Usual price, so we should both make a bit on the side.’ He sat back in his chair and looked around. ‘I really fancy that Gloria,’ he said. ‘I’d like to see what’s under those clothes.’
‘You’ve got no chance!’ snapped Croucher who also lusted after her.
‘We’ll see about that,’ said Woods and, rising to his feet, he walked over to the bar. ‘Two large scotches and ginger ale,’ he told Gloria, ‘and of course one for yourself.’
‘No thank you, sir, it’s too early in the evening for me,’ and she turned away to fulfil his order.
When she returned he smiled and said, ‘I would very much like to take you out to dinner one evening, you know, somewhere special. I’ll treat you well I can promise you.’
Daisy felt her legs start to tremble as the man peered at her with a steely gaze. ‘Thank you but I’m spoken for and my young man wouldn’t like it if I went out with anybody else.’
‘I can well understand that,’ he said, ‘but he doesn’t have to know does he?’
‘I’m not in the habit of lying, sir, and anyway I wouldn’t go even if I wasn’t courting.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I’m not good enough, is that what you’re saying?’ There was a menacing tone to his voice and Daisy knew she would have to step carefully.
‘Not at all, but I don’t have any spare time, I’m far too busy,’ and she walked away to attend to another customer.
Woods walked back to the table where his mate was laughing quietly.
; ‘She blew you out, didn’t she? Well, Kenny boy, you must face the fact you ain’t the answer to every girl’s prayer.’
The other man was fuming inside but just grunted in reply.
When, at the end of her shift, Daisy told Harry about Ken Woods’ invitation, he looked perturbed. ‘Don’t you go near that bloke, he’s bad news. He’s a very dodgy character and is known to have a nasty vicious streak. I’ll keep my eye open and if he comes in I’ll try to be free to serve him in future.’
‘Thanks, Harry,’ she said, but the man had scared her. She thought to be on the wrong side of him would be dangerous and she prayed that in future he would leave her alone.
During the following week, when Daisy visited her father, she walked down the corridor towards his room, breathing in the faint smell of ether and disinfectant, and she was pleased to see a slight improvement in him. He didn’t look so drawn and he was a better colour.
‘They do look after you well here, love. The food is good, but not as good as your mother’s of course. And would you believe it, see these French doors; well they open them to let the fresh air in.’
Daisy looked perturbed. ‘Don’t you feel the cold?’
‘No, love. They give me a hot water bottle and wrap me up in a blanket. It’s really nice, I like it and of course I can watch the birds in the garden. You’d be surprised how quickly the day passes and of course your Mum comes and sits with me in the afternoons.’
She was delighted that her beloved father seemed so happy; it took a load off her mind and the fact that Vera was now free of the loads of washing she’d once had to do made it all worthwhile. Daisy was tired of course, working during the day and doing her private work in the evenings, then the club three nights at the week’s end, but looking at the smiling face of her father, she knew it was worth every working hour and her aching back.
On occasion, during the week, Jack would call on Daisy and sit with her as she worked. He said he didn’t mind but seeing her on Sundays only wasn’t enough. Daisy was pleased with his company, although when she had very close work to do and needed to concentrate, his cheerful chatter was distracting. But she couldn’t complain as he was so good-natured about it all.
But on the following Sunday when they were out walking together and Daisy passed not one but two of the customers from the Solent Club and they greeted her as Gloria, Jack demanded an explanation.
‘What the bloody hell is going on, Daisy? There was that man the other week who called you Gloria and now today two more men. Three people can’t mistake you for someone else!’
She knew she had no choice but to tell him the truth. They sat on a park bench as she tried to explain.
‘The Solent Club! You’re working in that knocking shop! I don’t believe it.’
‘Flo Cummings offered me the job so I could afford to pay for Dad to be looked after. The extra money I make there pays for the fees.’
He was appalled. ‘And what else do you do for the money? Do you earn it on your back?’
She slapped his face hard. ‘How dare you! Don’t you know me at all?’
He glared at her, his face flushed with anger. ‘It seems that I don’t. My Daisy would never contemplate walking into such a place, let alone working there. No, I don’t know you.’
She desperately tried to make him understand her need for the money.
‘What do you think your father would say if he knew how his bed is being paid for? He would be ashamed.’
‘What’s there to be ashamed of? I’m only working behind the bar serving drinks and don’t you ever think of telling him, Jack Weston! I would never be able to forgive you if you did.’
‘And who does he think got him his bed?’
‘I told him it was the doctor and he believes me.’
The anger blazed in his eyes as he looked at her. ‘More lies! How can I believe anything you say to me now?’
Daisy glared at him. ‘I’ve told you the truth; it’s up to you to believe it or not.’ She stood up. ‘I think you’d better take me home.’
They walked in silence to her door. Daisy turned to kiss him goodbye, but Jack stood back. ‘What you’ve told me today has shaken me to the core, Daisy. I’ll have to try and get my head round it.’ And he walked away.
Daisy watched him for a while but he didn’t look back and eventually she put the key in the door and went inside too weary and upset to think.
Six
On Friday evening the bar was busy as usual when four young men came in together. They were celebrating the birthday of one and as a special present, the lads had brought him here to be with a woman. There was a lot of joshing going on between them, much of it to cover their embarrassment. It was obvious from their raucous behaviour they had never visited such a place before.
Stella strolled over to them, ignoring the lewd remarks as she approached. Then she spoke. ‘Good evening, now may I suggest that if you wish to behave like schoolboys, you leave now and wait for school to start in the morning?’
‘Ooh,’ sneered one, ‘listen to that!’
‘However,’ continued Stella, ‘if you are here for pleasure and enjoyment and wish to stay, I would strongly advise you to act like men.’
Three of them looked sheepish as her remarks hit home but the fourth gave Stella an arrogant stare. ‘And who might you be to tell us how to behave?’
‘That’s none of your business but believe me when I say I’ll have you thrown out unless you change your manner.’ As the mouthy lad went to argue, Stella looked at his feet. ‘What size shoes do you wear?’ she asked.
Thrown by this the lad answered, ‘Six, why?’
Stella grinned and crooked her little finger. ‘It never fails, small dick, big mouth!’
The others roared with laughter at their friend’s discomfort as she walked away. The birthday boy spoke up. ‘This is my treat so you lot, shut up! Especially you, Stan,’ he said to the loudmouth. He looked around the bar, his gaze resting on an olive-skinned girl sitting there. ‘That’s the one I want,’ and he walked over to her and after a short conversation, she led him to the stairs. He turned to his mates and, grinning broadly, he gave a thumbs-up sign.
The others declined the services of any other girls and Stan went up to the counter and ordered another round of drinks. Daisy felt him staring at her and when he’d paid, he stared even harder.
‘Don’t I know you?’ he asked.
‘I don’t think so. Your face isn’t familiar.’
He walked away shaking his head and as he sat drinking with his friends he watched Daisy with a puzzled expression until the birthday boy came back down the stairs, smiling all over his face.
‘Thank you, lads, that was the best birthday present I’ve ever had!’
The others crowded around. ‘What was it like? What did she do to you? What did you do to her?’ All were filled with vicarious curiosity.
The young man chuckled. ‘Oh, no, I’m saying nothing. You want to know what happens behind closed doors, you pay to find out!’
There were groans of disappointment all round, but none of them had the courage to find out for themselves. They eventually finished their drinks and left the club.
Stella wandered over to the bar and ordered a gin and tonic.
‘You handled that lot well,’ Daisy remarked as she served Stella.
‘We girls are not here to be sneered at by them or anyone,’ she declared. ‘We are here to do business just like any shopkeeper with goods to sell, but that doesn’t mean we have to be denigrated by the likes of them, or anyone for that matter.’
‘Denigrated! That’s a big word,’ teased Daisy.
‘I had a good teacher,’ said Stella. ‘It’s only circumstances that have brought me here. This is a means to an end and when I’ve saved enough money, I’m off.’
As she walked away, Daisy wondered what was Stella’s story? She looked at each girl in turn. They were all different one from another and she supposed behind each and every one,
they had a story to tell. She’d never thought about that before. After all, she was here to earn enough money for her dad otherwise she would never have considered working in a place like this. Then she thought of the young man who thought he knew her, but as she wracked her brains, she couldn’t recall ever having seen him before.
The following morning in the workroom, the mystery was solved when Jessie shared her latest piece of gossip.
‘Hey! What do you think, girls? My brother and his friends went to the Solent Club last night.’
There was a gasp from the others. ‘Whatever was he doing there?’ one asked.
‘One of his mates had a birthday and they took him there to pay for a woman!’
Daisy’s heart sank. Jessie’s brother sometimes came to meet her after work and that, she realized, was the young man in the club last night. No wonder he stared at her. Dressed differently and with her hair down and make-up on, he wouldn’t have recognized her immediately … but how long would it be before he put two and two together? She would have to watch out for him and keep out of his way. She doubted that he would visit the club again, so with a bit of luck, she wouldn’t be found out. But it was a worry.
Sunday arrived and no Jack! Daisy was upset that she’d not heard from him after she’d had to confess about her evening job. She had hoped he would have realized the importance of having to earn the extra money for her father’s welfare and though she was sure he was sympathetic to her needs, he obviously couldn’t accept her methods. Surely he knew her well enough to know she wasn’t selling her body? She decided to use the extra time on her private work in hand, so she pulled out her workbox and settled down.
An hour later there was a knock on the front door and putting down her work, she went to answer it. There standing before her was, Jack.
‘Hello, Daisy, can I come in?’
She stepped back. ‘Of course.’ She followed him into the living room. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ she asked.
