Movie Shoes

by Noel Streatfeild

  John was busy, too. It was he who managed to get them all passage on the Mauretania-a very difficult thing to do at short notice. The next thing was passports. All the passports were out of date, and the children had never been abroad, so they neither had passports of their own nor were down on their parents’ passports. There were forms to fill in, and photographs to be taken, and hours to be spent in the passport office and, later, hours in the American Embassy waiting for visas, but John managed it all without bothering everybody else more than could be helped. He was like a very good sheepdog getting his sheep along at a nice speed in the right direction, with only an occasional little sharp bark. Oddly enough, though he looked terribly tired, hurrying about seemed to do him good; he was sleeping better than He had been since the accident. Best of all, when the tickets and the visaed passports were in the house, he labeled his portable typewriter and packed several packages of typing paper.

  The children had their own affairs to put in order. The most difficult affair was, of course, Chewing-gum. Jane stuck to what she had said. If Chewing-gum was not going, neither would she go. She made awful threats. They would have to carry her to the boat, and she would scream all across the Atlantic. It was Dr. Smith who found the way out. He stopped by on his round of visits on the Monday morning after the great Wednesday to ask if there was any news from Aunt Cora. He did not need to come far inside the house to see there was, for Bee and Peaseblossom were packing in the hall. The children were at school, and John was at the passport office; but Bee and Peaseblossom were glad to sit down for a minute and tell him all about it.

  “The only trouble,” Bee said, “is Jane. She says she won’t go without Chewing-gum.”

  Peaseblossom broke in. “Don’t think we are paying any attention to her. She will, of course, do exactly as she’s told and be punished if she behaves badly.”

  Bee went on. “But we don’t want anything to upset John, for he really does seem a little better. The other two are being splendidly helpful, and it’s particularly good of Rachel, as she had just been engaged to dance in a musical show.”

  Dr. Smith thought for a minute; then he made a clicking noise with his tongue and held up a finger.

  “Let me have a talk with Jane. You’ve all got to have certificates that you were recently vaccinated and that it took all right, before you can land in the United States. Lucky for you that I vaccinated you all this spring. You write a note asking me for certificates and get Jane to bring it around about four thirty and wait for an answer.”

  Jane and Chewing-gum turned up at teatime at Dr. Smith’s house and were shown into his consulting room. He read the note just as if he had not known what was in it. Then he rang the bell.

  “Your mother wants certificates to say I vaccinated you all. They will take time to write, so I suggest you and I and Chewing-gum have some tea before I get to work on them.”

  It was a good tea. Jane was surprised at the sort of tea Dr. Smith ate all by himself: sandwiches, buns, and even some ginger cookies. He talked about Chewing-gum’s food, health, and coat until tea came, and it was only when Jane was eating a bun and Chewing-gum a sandwich that he mentioned America.

  “Exciting business this, you all going off to California.”

  Jane laid down her bun.

  “The rest of the family may be going, but I’m not. I’ll chain myself to the furniture, and if they cut the chains I won’t walk; they’ll have to drag me, and I’ll scream all the way. I’m not leaving Chewing-gum.”

  Dr. Smith did not show any, particular interest. He sipped his tea before he answered. “I see. Then it’s no good my saying what I was going to.”

  “Not if it was to try and talk me around, it isn’t.”

  “Not exactly,” the doctor said. “It was to ask you to lend Chewing-gum to me. There are some shocking car thieves about. I was thinking of getting a dog, but if I could have an old friend like Chewing-gum whom I could trust to stay with me, it would be a great help.”

  Inside her, though she tried not to believe it, Jane knew she would not be allowed to stay behind, that she would be taken to America even if she did what she threatened and used chains and screamed. If she had to allow somebody else to look after Chewing-gum, Dr. Smith was the ideal person. At a doctor’s Chewing-gum’s health would be properly attended to, and he would have the right things to eat. However, she could not give way all at once. She had made such a scene for so long that it felt quite odd to think of stopping making a scene.

  “Would you stand in a line for horsemeat?” Jane asked the doctor.

  “Shouldn’t have to. Patient of mine sells the stuff. He’ll send around all I want.”

  “He’s used to walking, not driving all day in a car.”

  “Always manage one good walk myself every day; shall enjoy Chewing-gum’s company.”

  “He’s never been a watchdog; he’s not a biting sort of dog. I don’t know how good he’d be at catching a thief.”

  Dr. Smith gave Chewing-gum some tea in a bowl. “Soon learn. I’ll put a bone in the car with him. Any dog will bite anyone who comes near him when he’s got a bone.”

  Jane thought that clever. “That’s a very good idea. I’d be glad if he did learn to be a fierce watchdog. I’d be glad if he learned to do anything really well, because I hope to be a dog trainer when I grow up, and to judge by Chewing-gum, I’ve got a lot to learn.” She lowered her voice. “As a matter of fact, he can carry a newspaper, but he’s still inclined to eat it.”

  Dr. Smith nodded in the professional way he did when he visited anybody who was ill and someone explained to him what sort of being ill it was.

  “Ah! Must see if I can help the old fellow about that. Very good of you, Jane, if you trust him to me.”

  Either because Dr. Smith was so nice ‘or because talking about leaving Chewing-gum was the beginning of leaving him, Jane began to cry. She had been stubborn and angry since Wednesday, but she had not cried; now, when the tears started, they seemed to have been holding back an absolute river of tears. Dr. Smith was perfect. He sat her on his knee and let her cry and cry, and only when she had reached the hiccup and shudder stage did he talk. He told her about the dog he’d had when he was a boy and how terrible it had been when he first went to a boarding school. How he had thought his dog would starve and die without him. How surprised he had been when he came home for the holidays and his father brought his dog to the station to meet him. The dog nearly had hysterics, he was so pleased to see him; but when that was over, he was surprised to find the dog looked splendid, and when he had remarked on this to his father, his father had said,” ‘Course. Never make the mistake of thinking you ‘re the only animal lover in the world, and never be such a fool as to get so tied up with an animal that you can’t move without it. You’ll be a nuisance to yourself and everybody else.” Dr. Smith said he had found that was a very sensible thing to have said, and he thought Jane would, too. This going away for six months would be a useful way of getting used to leaving Chewing-gum if she had to and to trusting him to someone else.

  Jane reached home as the family was finishing tea. She marched in and gave Bee the envelope of certificates. Then she stuck her chin in the air and said in a proud, don’t-you-dare-look-surprised tone of voice, “It may interest you to know I’ve decided to lend Chewing-gum to Dr. Smith while I’m in America. He needs a watchdog for his car.”

  Bee had written on the evening of the great Wednesday to Madame Fidolia, to the head of Jane and Tim’s school, and to Mr. Brown. The letter to Jane and Tim’s school was just a notification that the children would be leaving England; the letters to Madame Fidolia and Mr. Brown said the same thing but were grateful and apologetic as well.

  Rachel, knowing Madame Fidolia had been written to, did not tell her news to the other girls. She was quite sure Caroline would dance in the show in her place, but just in case somebody else was put in, it seemed better to say nothing. It would be too cruel to let poor Caroline hope again; she had not yet
got over the first audition. It was so awful as Caroline told Rachel, to have been nearly chosen and then to end up as just an understudy. Rachel found it hard not to tell everybody her news. People kept coming up and congratulating her, and every time that happened she had a lump in her throat. She was glad when she got a message saying Madame wanted to see her before she went home.

  Madame Fidolia was sitting in an armchair with Bee’s letter in her hand. To anyone who did not know her she was an odd-looking old lady. Her hair was dragged into a bun at the nape of her neck; she was wearing a dress so old-fashioned in shape, it might have come out of a museum. Around her shoulders was a shawl kept in place by a large cameo brooch. Lying on the table beside her was a tall cane, which she always used when she walked. On her feet were pink ballet shoes. To Rachel there was nothing queer about her at all. Madame was not a person you could be fond of exactly-she was too grand for that-but Rachel respected and admired her and was a little afraid of her. Madame no longer danced, but she had been a very great dancer, and her arrival to watch a class sent a shiver down Rachel’s spine. Madame could be patient, but she was very critical. Rachel dreaded hearing Madame’s stick tap on the floor, and her voice with its faintly foreign accent say, “Precision, Rachel. Precision.” That afternoon Madame waited for Rachel to curtsy and say, “Madame.” Then she gave her a lovely smile.

  “Come in, my child. This is disappointing news for you and for me.”

  That was so like Madame. She would understand at once. Lots of people would think it simply marvelous luck to be going to California for the winter, but not Madame. She would know just how awful it was to have your first stage engagement snatched away from you. Madame’s understanding so well was a strain on Rachel’s self-control. She felt tears smarting in her eyes and had to swallow before she could say, “Yes, Madame.”

  Madame did not seem to notice that Rachel was upset. “But we must be sensible about it. A winter in the sunshine will be very good for your health. Nor are your chances much affected. I, of course, telephoned Mr. Glinken the moment I got your mother’s letter and explained about you. He asked which you were, and when I described you, he said, ‘Oh, it would be that one, but you tell her from me to work hard while she’s away and not to let Hollywood discover her,” and I may have something for her when she comes back.’”

  Rachel could hardly believe she had really heard what Madame had said. Mr. Glinken remembered her! Mr. Glinken thought he might have something for her when she got back!

  She felt so gay, it was quite difficult to keep from giving a pleased skip. She clasped her hands and said on a gasping breath, “Oh, Madame!”

  Madame nodded. “Nice, isn’t it? We’ll keep him up to that when you get home. In the meantime, your disappointment is great news for your friend, Caroline, and whoever I put to take Caroline’s place as understudy, so you can look upon this California trip not as a misfortune but as the great adventure which it really is. Now, about your dancing lessons... “

  Rachel dropped from happiness to despair.

  “I shan’t be able to have any. Aunt Cora, whom we’re staying with, can’t be expected to do more than keep us; she couldn’t be expected to pay for classes.”

  Madame nodded again. “I quite understand that. Indeed, your mother says as much in this letter. She says that to save trouble and expense, Miss Bean, who is traveling with you, will be teaching you your schoolwork; she asks for a report on your work and a list of the books that will be needed. Fortunately I can arrange about dancing lessons. Let me have your California address, and I will ask my old pupil Posy Fossil to look after you.”

  Posy Fossil was a legend in school. There had never been dancer to touch her. Everybody knew that Posy was dancing in the movies and that she had a sister who was a movie star. To Rachel, being told that she was to meet Posy was like being told she was to meet Cinderella.

  “Posy Fossil!”

  “Yes, I don’t know what she can arrange as she is out of pictures now and working hard. Manoff’s forming his company again, and she is his star ballerina; but do not worry my child, Posy will look after you. Now run along and send Caroline to me.”

  Rachel curtsied, murmured “Madame, and left the room. Outside the door she stood still for a moment to get things straight. Thoughts poured in on her, making her so happy and excited she felt as if she might burst with being pleased. She rushed around the school, looking for Caroline. When she found her, she flung her arms around her.

  “Oh, I’m so happy, and so are you going to be minute. Go to Madame; she wants to see you. But the second she’s finished with you rush back here. I’ve got such marvelous things to tell you!”

  Tim did not have a piano lesson with Mr. Brown until Friday. Because he was so excited about going to America, he had not practiced for two days. He knew Mr. Brown would understand, so he told him at once. Mr. Brown did understand; he said if anything like that had happened to him, he wouldn’t have practiced either.

  “Has this aunt you’re staying with got a piano?”

  Tim thought that a stupid question. “A piano! Every house has a piano.”

  “On the contrary, very few houses have pianos. Doesn’t matter a bit that you’re missing your lessons for a couple of terms, and Jeremy Caulder says it suits him better to start you at Easter, as he’ll be in London quite a lot then; but you must practice. What are you going to do about that if your aunt hasn’t a piano?

  Tim could not believe he had an aunt so dead to decency that she could live without a piano, but even if she was as peculiar as all that, everybody in America couldn’t be queer. Somewhere there must be a piano. He sat down on the piano stool, and with one hand, made a brushing movement in the air, as if to brush Mr. Brown’s foolish fears away.

  Don’t worry. I’ll find a piano.”

  Mr. Brown laughed. “All right, Tim, I’ll leave it to you. I feel sure if there’s a piano anywhere, you will find it, but mind you do. If you come back without having practiced, I shall take you to a pond and drown you.”

  5

  They Are Off

  Light had just begun to sneak through the curtains when Rachel opened her eyes. For a moment she was suspended halfway between being asleep and being awake. Then, with a jump, she sat up. This was going-away day. She got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, and looked out. She let out a pleased “Oh!” for it was a glorious morning. The sun was shining, making the already autumn-turned leaves on the two trees that could be seen from the window a glittering gold; the sky was a clear pale blue, a flawless poem of a morning, just the day to start to cross the Atlantic.

  “What’s it like?” came from Jane.

  Jane was sitting up in her bed looking pale, tousled, and cross. A hump under the eiderdown was Chewing-gum. As a rule he was not allowed on beds, but the night before, Jane had said, “Chewing-gum’s sleeping with me tonight,” and nobody, not even Peaseblossom, had argued. In a house bulging with excitement Jane was the one sad person. She was so miserable that she had not been bad or rude for days. This was so noticeable, it had made Tim say, “I do miss Jane’s being cross. I’ve nobody to fight with.” Rachel, turning as Jane spoke, felt a little of the gladness of the morning slipping out of the door. Poor Jane! Of course, nobody liked leaving Chewing-gum, but only Jane minded so terribly that she could not be thrilled about going away. Rachel tried to cheer her up.

  “It’s a lovely day. No wind at all. I don’t think any of us will be seasick.”

  Jane was not in the mood to like hearing good news. “Some people don’t need waves; they’re just seasick.”

  Peaseblossom came in just in time to hear this.

  “Who’s talking about seasickness? Your father’s heard the seven o’clock weather forecast, and it’s splendid. Not a mention of a gale. Up you get, travelers. Fold your sheets and pillowcases and put them in the laundry basket in the kitchen. No rush and scramble; everything in order and everything in time; that’s our way.”

  It was a funny mo
rning, unlike any other. The boiler had been allowed to go out, so there was only cold water to wash in. It felt so queer packing each thing away as it was finished with: brushes, combs, washing things, pajamas. Nothing was left about to show anybody had slept in the house.

  There was an unusually good breakfast, for there was no need to be careful of the rations; there would be no rationing on the Mauretania or in America. The tragedy was that when for once they were asked to finish their butter rations and to eat bacon and eggs, nobody was hungry, and although there was heaps of time, they felt they must hurry. Bee thought this quite natural and unimportant.

  “Don’t worry, darlings. When Mrs. Bones comes to tidy after us, she’ll be very pleased to find we’ve left all this for her. I told her to take everything there was.”

  How queer that was to think of! Mrs. Bones, who came to help now and again and was a friend of theirs; coming into an empty house. Mrs. Bones, who would never touch a thing which did not belong to her, packing up their rations and carrying them home with her.

  Their minds were taken off Mrs. Bones by the sound of a car stopping outside. Everybody tried not to look at Jane, but they all knew whose car it was. The front doorbell rang.

  It was all over in a couple of minutes. Dr. Smith said he was in a terrible hurry. He picked up Chewing-gum’s basket, which Jane had packed with his biscuits and a bottle of his medicine his brush and comb, his special soap, his spare collar and lead, his water bowl, his rubber bone, his half-eaten teddy bear, and his rug. Jane knelt by Chewing-gum and clipped on his lead. She gave the lead to Dr. Smith, who very tactfully did not speak to her but to Chewing-gum. “Come on, old man. You wouldn’t believe what a bone I’ve got waiting for you in the car.”