The Woolworths Girls (25 page)

Sarah glanced at Maisie. They had both laboured for many weeks under the watchful eye of Freda as they knitted warm pullovers for Alan and Joe. More than once Freda had stepped in and helped when Sarah had dropped a row of stitches or Maisie had forgotten which part of the pattern she should have been following and threw her work out of the back door in annoyance. ‘I’m wrapping a few little gifts to put under the tree for whenever Alan comes home. He told me he might be back at Christmas for a few days before he is assigned to a squadron. It all depends on what’s happening, though. You’ve made a good selection, Betty. I’ll most certainly make some purchases from Woolworths.’

Maisie had gone quiet. Sarah could see her chin starting to wobble. There’d been no news from Joe in months, apart from a postcard with a few brief words. ‘I’m sure you’ll hear from Joe soon. In no time he’ll be back and you will forget he’s been away,’ Sarah told her chum.

Maisie tried to smile. ‘I hope so, but from all the gossip I’m hearing, he’ll be in France somewhere by now, and look at how many were killed over there in the last war.’ She swept the pile of dust and leaves she’d removed from the entrance of the store into the gutter and stretched her back. ‘It must be time for a tea break, and I’m chilled to the bone standing out here.’

Sarah went to follow Maisie back inside, but Betty took hold of her arm. ‘I sense problems with Maisie and her husband. Am I right?’

‘Not a problem between them, but Maisie is missing him so much and her mother-in-law blames Maisie for her son joining up.’

Betty frowned. ‘That is ludicrous. Joe would have been conscripted by now even if he hadn’t decided to join the army when he did. Is there anything we can do to help?’

‘I don’t think so, Betty. She brightened up when she moved into number thirteen, but with Christmas approaching and all the magazines she reads telling women to soldier on alone and suggesting ideas for presents for the men at the front, she just seems to be so sad.’

‘Oh dear, and there’s me asking her about the window displays. Trust me to put my foot right in it. There must be something we can do to cheer her up. How about a trip up to London to see a pantomime? Perhaps we could go as a group and ask Maisie to organize it? That would take her mind off things, wouldn’t it?’

‘I’m sure it would, Betty. It’s a splendid idea. I reckon Maureen and Nan would love to join us. A proper family group.’

Betty smiled at her assistant. ‘You have no idea how it warms my heart to be thought of as part of your family, Sarah.’

Sarah linked arms with her boss. ‘I’m the one who should be thankful. You’ve been so good to me and Alan since I joined Woolworths. Goodness, I’ve cried on your shoulder so many times it’s a wonder you haven’t turned rusty.’

‘I’m sure that one day it’ll be my turn to cry on your shoulder and it’s good to know you’ll be there. Now, let’s catch up with Maisie and thaw out with that cup of tea she mentioned. We need to be bright and chirpy for the old soldiers’ party this evening.’

‘
. . . down at the Old Bull and Bush, la, la, la, la, la . . .
’

Maureen grabbed Sarah by the arm as her daughter- in-law entered the staffroom. The sing-song had already started and Maureen, true to form, was leading the old soldiers in the first number. They swayed together side by side, singing loudly until the song finished with a rousing cheer. ‘Where have you been, love?’

Sarah yawned. It had been a long day. ‘The man I was allocated couldn’t make his mind up between a pair of socks or a calendar for his son. Twice we got as far as the door and he changed his mind. I wouldn’t have worried, but I’d already wrapped the gifts. After the third time, I raced him up the stairs as quick as possible before he changed his mind again.’

‘Rather you than me,’ Maureen chuckled. ‘I might moan about the long hours in the kitchen to prepare for the party, but I’d rather do that than shop for a grumpy old man.’

‘He wasn’t too grumpy, but not as much fun as shopping for Alfie last year.’ Sarah looked around the crowded room as staff members and guests tucked into sandwiches and cake. Mr Benfield was filling glasses with beer from a barrel balanced on the edge of the counter where Maureen usually dispensed her tasty meals. Every one of them had a smile on their face. ‘I can almost imagine he is here with us.’

Sarah still thought fondly of the old man who told her to follow her heart. Was it only a year ago that she’d met Alan and fallen in love? It felt like a lifetime. So much had happened. So many new friends, and hopefully so much to look forward to in the future. A cold chill crept through her body and she shivered.

‘What’s up, love? Chilly? Have a drop of this – it’ll warm you up.’ Maureen held out a glass containing a nip of whisky.

‘No, I’m fine. It’s just something walking over my grave.’

Maureen looked at her daughter-in-law. The girl’s face had turned ghostly white. ‘Don’t you mean
someone
walked over your grave?’

Tears formed in Sarah’s eyes. ‘I do hope not.’

‘Sit yourself down, love. Your breakfast is ready.’ Ruby placed a plate of eggs, bacon and fried bread in front of her granddaughter.

‘Crikey, Nan. There’s enough to feed an army on this plate.’ She picked up her knife and fork, unsure of what to eat first.

‘You’ve got a busy day ahead of yourself. The world and his wife’ll be wanting to shop in Woolies today. I’ve even got to pop in there myself to pick up a few last-minute bits and bobs. Thank goodness Christmas Eve is a Sunday. It makes the Christmas holiday a bit longer this year for you girls.’

‘I can get them for you, Nan. Write me a list and I’ll do it in my break.’

‘Oh no, you’ll be run off your feet. Besides, it’ll be good to stretch my legs and walk into town. I won’t be leaving the house again this side of Boxing Day with so many to cook for.’

‘You know we’ll all help you, Nan. It was good of you to let me stay over Christmas. I know it’s a squeeze with Maisie living here now and Mum and Dad due this afternoon.’

‘Now, don’t you say another word, my girl. It’ll be a cold day in hell when I can’t have my own granddaughter under my roof at Christmas time. I’m not having you sleeping alone at Maureen’s while she’s away. Now, tuck in and eat up all that bacon. There’ll not be any to be found once it’s rationed in January. Have some more butter on your bread before that’s scarce as well.’

Sarah smiled to herself. It was lovely to be back at number thirteen with Nan. Even though Maureen made her feel at home, it wasn’t the same without Alan there. Tonight Freda would be staying over, so the three girls would be sleeping top to tail in the two single beds and drawing straws for who would have a bed to themselves. Freda had suggested a rota and couldn’t understand why her two friends had laughed so much. Since Freda had started helping out with the Girl Guides pack up at the mission hall, she was forever trying to organize them all. Fortunately, Freda had stopped mentioning working at Burndept’s factory and Sarah hoped she was happy to stay at Woolworths.

Sarah wondered what Alan was doing. He was nearing the end of his training and she’d hoped that he’d be able to come home for Christmas. She hadn’t spoken to him since he left for Scotland. Apart from postcards and a couple of letters signed by her devoted husband, she may well have been a single girl again. Perhaps he was now with his new squadron. At least with this phoney war continuing, she knew he was safe.

‘Did I tell you that Vera thought she saw some German soldiers last week?’

Sarah placed her knife and fork down on her plate. ‘Wherever did she see them?’

‘Woolwich. She’d gone up to the market and there was a couple of them getting off the London train.’

‘Oh, Nan. I know I shouldn’t laugh, but did she honestly think the Germans would invade by train?’

‘You know what Vera’s like. Once she gets a bee in her bonnet, she won’t let it alone.’

‘What happened?’

Ruby sat down and buttered her toast before continuing with the story. ‘She decided to follow them to see where they were heading. You know there are barracks in Woolwich?’

‘Yes, I know, Nan.’

‘Well, she followed them to the gates and was amazed to see the sentries let them enter, so she went up to the sentries as bold as brass and asked what they were playing at. She gave them a right tongue-lashing.’

Sarah held her breath, waiting to hear what happened next.

Ruby stopped to wipe her eyes as tears of laughter ran down her cheeks. ‘It turns out they was Canadian soldiers. The silly woman had walked all that way and the lads were on our side. I swear it was hard to keep a straight face when she told me. She was quite indignant that the sentry guards had laughed at her.’

Sarah joined in with her nan’s laughter. ‘Bless her, we shouldn’t really laugh. With a few more like Vera, we could win this war.’

‘What’s all this giggling about?’ Maisie staggered into the kitchen, her dressing gown wrapped haphazardly around her and curlers still in her hair. She stopped to kiss Sarah’s cheek. ‘Nice to ’ave you back home with us, mate. Blimey, I’ve never seen so much bacon in me life. Are we breeding pigs now, Ruby?’

‘Nan was telling me about Vera and the Germans.’

Maisie pinched a piece of bacon from Sarah’s plate. ‘Yer nan told me the other day. I thought she was ’aving me on! This bacon’s a bit of all right.’

‘I’ll throw some in the pan for you, Maisie. D’you want some eggs too?’

‘A sarnie’ll do me with a bit of brown sauce, ta, Mrs C.’

‘Here, take mine. I’m full up. Nan’s going overboard in case we never see another slice once rationing starts.’

‘You don’t wanna worry about that. My Joe’ll always be able to lay his hands on some. You know he has contacts on the docks . . .’ Maisie went quiet, realizing that Joe wasn’t working on the docks anymore; he was somewhere in France.

‘He’ll be home soon, love, and then we can have bacon every day,’ Ruby said.

Sarah hugged her friend. ‘Yes, Nan’s right. Perhaps even some more of that perfume you like.’

Maisie smiled. ‘You’re right. I’m going to try hard not to be miserable today. After all, it’s nearly Christmas and it’s our last day at work. I’d best get myself dressed. Freda said she would be here before work to drop off her suitcase and leave her bits and pieces for Christmas.’

‘Have you girls got time for another cuppa before you get to work? It’s icy cold out there, so it’ll keep you warm on the walk to Woolies,’ Ruby said as she headed for the stove, trying not to smile. ‘I heard that part of the Thames has frozen over further upriver, and it’s chilly enough for it to happen on our stretch. I’ve never known it so cold.’

‘Go on, then,’ Maisie said. ‘I might even be able to squeeze in that last rasher of bacon Sarah left on her plate. I’ll be back in a flash.’

Ruby cut the sandwich in half and left it on the table ready for Maisie, then placed the large frying pan into the stone sink to soak, pouring on hot water from the kettle. ‘I’ve been thinking, Sarah – we need to keep an eye on Maisie over Christmas. She’s missing her Joe more than is healthy for her. She puts on a brave face, but every so often it cracks and I can see a very unhappy young woman. What with Maisie and young Freda not having much in the way of close families to speak of, I’m thinking we are very fortunate.’

Sarah hugged her nan. ‘You’re right there. Thank you for caring for my friends.’

‘Well, they look out for me as well. I’ve not slept alone under my roof since you moved to Maureen’s house. Don’t think I don’t know when you’ve engineered something, my girl.’

‘Nan! I don’t know what you mean.’ Sarah tried to sound indignant. Had Nan found her out?

‘Let’s just say I enjoy the company of young people. Now, get yourself ready for work or that nice Miss Billington will be giving you what for.’

‘Phew, I’m fair whacked out.’ Maisie leant dramatically against Freda’s counter. ‘How much longer until we can go home?’

‘It’s only half past two and you’ve just come back from a late dinner hour. You’d better watch it or you’ll be in trouble if the supervisor catches you away from your counter.’

‘It’s only Sarah on duty.’

‘Only? You know she has eyes in the back of her head. It wouldn’t be fair if she had to tell you off for not doing your job. Think how it would make her feel.’

Maisie shrugged her shoulders. ‘What I meant was, she’s upstairs working with Betty, so she can’t be down here as well, can she? You’ve turned into a right goody-goody since you started helping out with the Girl Guides.’

Freda finished counting a customer’s change into her hand before turning back to Maisie with a hurt look on her face. ‘That’s not a nice thing to say, is it? What I do with the Guides has nothing to do with my job here. I’m only helping out as their regular leader has been evacuated with her class to Cornwall. It’s left Brown Owl short-handed, and as I lodge with her mother, I felt as though I should offer to help out a bit.’ Freda didn’t add that she thoroughly enjoyed herself at their meetings and doing all the war work they were involved with. Working at Woolies, she had begun to feel as though she wasn’t playing her part in the war effort, even though nothing much had happened yet. Like everyone else, she was starting to get fed up with this ‘phoney war’, as they called it, and wanted it all to end. From the bits she’d heard on the wireless and on Pathé News at the pictures, all their soldiers were safe, but some ships had been sunk. She couldn’t help wondering what had happened to the seamen on the ships and hoped they were all safe.

‘Don’t listen to me. I’m just not looking forward to Christmas much without Joe at home. It might be a bit different by next year. I reckon this lot’ll all be over and we’ll be back to normal.’

‘What, you moaning about work and skiving, you mean?’ Freda added with a laugh. ‘Get back to your crockery before the queue that’s forming starts to complain.’

‘Blooming ’eck,’ Maisie declared. ‘I ’ope they don’t all want to buy tea sets or I’ll never serve them all.’

‘I’ll send over one of the new girls to help you. There’s not a lot of call for haberdashery so close to Christmas. I’m sure if our supervisor was here, she’d say the same.’