The Woolworths Girls (28 page)

‘It’s for the day after Boxing Day. It’s half-day closing, so we can go up town and have afternoon tea at Lyons Corner House before going to the show, Nan. We’ve got tickets for Betty and Maureen as well, but they are wrapped in their Christmas boxes.’

‘What generous girls you are thinking of an old woman and including her in your outing. I’m truly blessed.’ Ruby wiped her eyes on the edge of her best pinny.

‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to come with us, Mum? I’m sure I can get another ticket. You too, Alan?’ Sarah felt as though she should include Irene in the group trip and was uncomfortable that Alan was home and she was abandoning him.

Irene Caselton waved away her daughter’s words. ‘I’m not one for comedy theatre. Besides, we will be heading back to Devon that morning.’

‘And I’ll be back on duty by then,’ Alan added.

‘So soon?’

Alan got to his feet and knocked back the whisky. ‘Some of us have a war to fight, Sarah. I don’t have time for gadding about.’ He left the room.

Sarah went to follow her husband, but Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘You stay there, love. He’ll be all right. It’s the drink talking. I need to check the spuds and call George in before he freezes to death out in the garden. The last time I looked, he was talking to Nelson.’

‘Nelson?’

‘The stray. I’ve named him Nelson and given him a new home for Christmas. He’s good company, but don’t tell your mum.’

Sarah smiled at her nan. Yet another mouth to feed. She was such a caring person. Sarah dared not speak about Alan or she knew tears would soon flow. It was Christmas and she didn’t want to spoil the day for her family. She started to flatten the paper and roll up the string and ribbon. ‘Waste not, want not. We may as well save this for another occasion.’

Freda joined in and soon the floor was clear of the mess. ‘What did you give Sarah, Maisie?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t see her opening anything.’

‘Let’s just say she had her Christmas early, shall we?’ she said, giving Sarah a large wink and a nudge with her elbow. ‘I just hope it worked its magic, eh, Sarah?’

Sarah blushed bright red. ‘It was appreciated, thank you, Maisie.’

She looked around the room at her happy friends and family. Alan’s empty glass was still balanced on the wide arm of the armchair where he had left it. She just wished she had the husband she knew back with her once more. Perhaps now he’d spent time away from his home town and the people he’d grown up with, he wasn’t happy with his lot. Maybe he’d met someone else. No, he wouldn’t have, would he? Sarah didn’t know anymore, but she tried to push the thought firmly from her mind. She just hoped that whatever had caused Alan to change wouldn’t bring a wedge between them. After all, it had only been three months since they vowed to stay together until parted by death. Perhaps they shouldn’t have married so soon. What was that saying? Marry in haste and repent at leisure? She shuddered. She’d had too many of these feelings lately.

The family and friends sat round the table, the remnants of their meal not yet cleared away, as they listened to King George address the Commonwealth on the wireless.

‘
. . . I believe from my heart that the cause which binds together my peoples and our gallant and faithful allies is the cause of Christian civilization. On no other basis can a true civilization be built. Let us remember this through the dark times ahead of us and when we are making the peace for which all men pray.

‘
A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted.

‘
In the meantime, I feel that we may all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you.

‘
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

‘
May that Almighty hand guide and uphold us all
.’

George raised his glass as the last bars of the national anthem faded on the wireless. ‘After that rousing speech, I just want to say good luck to us all and may we face with fortitude whatever the year ahead throws our way.’

The family and friends raised their glasses as one.

‘That was a grand spread, Mum,’ George said, rubbing his stomach.

‘I didn’t do it on my own, George. The girls were a great help to me. Many hands make light work, as they say,’ Ruby replied.

‘They also say that too many cooks spoil the broth, Mrs C., so thank goodness I only ’elped with peeling the veg or we’d all have stomach ache tomorrow,’ Maisie added with a grin. ‘Now, shall we clear the table and then we can play some games?’

‘You ladies stay where you are. The washing-up is man’s work today. Come on, Alan, shift yourself. I’ll wash and you dry.’

Alan managed to raise a smile as he headed to the scullery, his arms piled high with empty dinner plates.

‘That was a lovely meal, Mrs Caselton,’ Freda said. ‘I’ve never tasted turkey before.’

‘I’m glad you liked it, love. We usually have a chicken, but with more of us here this year, I thought I’d have a big bird instead. It should see us through a few meals yet and then I’ll make a stew.’

Maisie groaned. ‘Please stop talking about food. I don’t think I can eat for another week I’m so stuffed. Who fancies a walk?’

Sarah stretched her arms and yawned. ‘That is such a good idea. I’m feeling quite sleepy. How about you, Nan and Mum?’

‘Not for me, love. I’m going to have ten minutes on my own in the front room if you all don’t mind. You go and enjoy yourselves,’ Ruby said.

‘I’ll decline. I’d like to listen to a music programme on the wireless. You might remove your paper hats before you go out,’ Irene added.

‘Oh, I don’t know. I think mine’s quite fetching,’ Maisie laughed as she patted the green crown that sat on her head at a jaunty angle. ‘Come on, Freda, Sarah, let’s go get our coats before it gets too dark to see a foot in front of us out there.’

‘I’ll be with you in a minute. I just want to see if Dad and Alan want to join us.’ Sarah slipped out to where her dad was up to his elbows in pots and pans, and Alan was drying cutlery. ‘You look quite fetching in Nan’s pinny, Dad. Some of us are going for a walk. Do you want to join us?’

‘Needs must, Sarah. Your mum will kill me if I mess up my Sunday best. I think it suits me, don’t you?’ George said, spinning round with the washing-up brush in his hand. ‘I’ll be a while finishing up here. You go with the girls, Alan.’

Alan shrugged. ‘No, I’ll help you, George. You go out with your friends, Sarah.’

Sarah had been looking forward to holding her husband’s arm as they took a brisk walk through the quiet streets. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with Alan before he disappeared from her life once more. ‘Are you sure?’

Alan just nodded and turned back to the draining board and the pile of crockery.

Taking her coat and scarf from Maisie, Sarah headed to the front door. ‘Ooh, there’s a letter on the doormat. Someone must have delivered it. I wonder why they never knocked.’ She picked up the small envelope and peered at the writing. ‘It’s for you, Freda. Looks as though it was delivered to your old lodgings. The landlady must have remembered you came to live here. Why, you haven’t lived there since last Christmas.’

Freda took the envelope and slipped it into her coat pocket. Her stomach flipped as she recognized the handwriting. It belonged to her young brother, Lenny. She’d read it later when she was alone.

‘Do you remember that awful landlady and how rude she was to you?’ Sarah asked as she opened the door and the girls stepped out into the darkening afternoon.

‘And how she charged you extra for a bit of hot water and a slice of toast? Gawd, it’s a good job you’re shot of her,’ Maisie laughed. ‘Thank goodness you found Mrs White and her lovely house, even if it does resemble a wool shop. Blooming ’eck, it’s brass monkeys out here!’

The girls linked arms and carefully walked along the icy street. ‘Where shall we go?’ Sarah asked.

‘How about up Pier Road past Woolies and then down to the riverbank?’ Freda suggested.

‘Blimey, can’t you keep away from the place for one day?’ Maisie joshed the young girl.

Freda smiled but thought that Woolworths had been her saviour this past year and she had much to thank God for now that she had a regular pay packet, good friends and a happy life. If only she knew where Lenny was and if he was safe.

Maisie, too, was thinking of life since joining Woolworths. She had no idea what Joe was doing right now. He’d been her rock these past few years. She knew if it wasn’t for her mates and Woolies, she’d be back in that dark place she tried so hard to forget.

Sarah smiled. ‘Woolies and the river it is, then. Best foot forward, girls, and mind the icy patches.’ She would look at the window display that Betty had been so worried about and report back to her friend on how it looked to passers-by on the most magical day of the year. But was it as magical this year? Just one year ago she had fallen in love with Alan, the old Alan, not the silent, angry man who had returned. Was it her fault he was like this? A small shiver ran down her back. Again she felt as though something was amiss. Was it an omen?

Freda decided to make her excuses and head up to bed early. Sarah had left, hand in hand with Alan, to go back to Maureen’s house in nearby Crayford Road. Ruby, her feet propped up on the settee, looked cosy and it wouldn’t be long before she fell asleep, going by the way her eyelids were dropping. George was already snoring quietly in his armchair, his paper hat falling down over his eyes. Freda straightened his hat and picked up the book that had slipped to the floor. She was very fond of Sarah’s dad. His caring ways reminded her so much of her own dad, although she had been a mere child when he passed away.

Maisie and Irene were in the living room, listening to
A Christmas Cabaret
on the wireless, so the coast was clear for Freda to head upstairs and open up her own Christmas surprise.

Quietly closing the bedroom door, she sat on the bed and looked at the envelope that had been burning a hole in her pocket since that afternoon. It had been posted a week ago, and the postmark was smudged. Perhaps this letter would disclose where Lenny was and what he was up to. She realized then how desperate she’d been to find her brother and prayed that within the envelope her questions would be answered. Most of all, she needed to know he was well. They weren’t much of a family for writing letters, so this had to be important. She pulled the single page from the envelope and quickly read the words, her heart beating as she worried what Lenny had to say.

Dear Freda,

It’s your brother, Lenny. I know I’ve not kept in touch, but it’s been hard what with them still looking for me since I skipped out of prison. Freda, I’m not staying there when I ain’t done nothing wrong, and especially when I know it was Tommy’s gang that did the robbery and shot the night guard at the warehouse.

Freda shuddered. She could remember well the day that the police barged into their house and took Lenny away. He professed his innocence, but it was only Freda who believed him. Their stepfather didn’t want them in the house anyway, so he was glad to see her brother go to prison. It was one less mouth to feed and more money to spend in the boozer. Freda’s mother had turned away when she asked her for help to free Lenny. Even to tell a small lie and say he was home the night of the robbery. Since their stepfather had placed his foot over their threshold, no one had dared question him, and that included Freda’s mum. She sighed. Lenny was no lily-white, innocent kid, and getting in with the wrong crowd had not helped. That Tommy Whiffen was a bad lot, and once he had Lenny under his spell, throwing him a few quid to run errands and deliver knocked-off goods, he was as good as guilty.

Her silly brother had kept quiet and carried the can for what happened that night at the warehouse. He was in too deep once he was told that a man had been shot.

It’s like this, Freda. Tommy knows you’ve moved south and he thinks you know where I’m hiding. You need to move from your digs and change your job to be on the safe side. I’d say go back home, but the old man would dob you in to Tommy for the price of a pint.

I’m all right. I’m lodging with a bloke who was inside when I first got banged up and offered me a bed if I ever needed one. I’m picking up a bit of work as well, so I’m keeping me head above water. It’s best you don’t know where I am in case Tommy finds you. Once Tommy gets caught and people know the truth, then we will be safe. Until then, Freda, keep yer eyes peeled and I’ll not be far away.

Lenny

Freda folded the letter and hid it away in her handbag. She was glad that Lenny was safe, but by escaping from prison, he had made things so much worse. It was time to leave Woolworths and possibly change her lodgings so she would be safe. First, she would leave Woolworths. It was time to disappear among the hundreds of workers at Burndept’s. If she remained safe, then Lenny was safe too.

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