The Woolworths Girls (7 page)

Vera stood with her mouth opening and closing, resembling a goldfish. ‘Well, I never.’

Ruby took Vera’s arm. ‘One too many sherries, eh, Vera? I think we’d best get ourselves off to the bingo before anyone else gets upset. See you all later – and you girls have a good time.’

Ruby could be heard berating her mate even after the front door had closed behind them.

George folded his newspaper. ‘Now, you girls have a lovely time and, er . . . be careful what you drink, eh?’

Sarah hugged her dad. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?’

‘Please do, Mr Caselton. I need someone to teach me to do the waltz,’ Freda begged.

George took his daughter by the shoulders and turned her towards the door. ‘Now off you go and enjoy yourselves. Freda, there will be no end of young men waiting to lead you round the floor. You don’t need lessons. Now, be off with you before I change my mind.’

Outside, the girls linked arms. Huddling under their winter coats, they stepped carefully through the pathway the neighbours had swept through the snow-covered pavements. The night was clear and stars twinkled down on the excited trio as they walked the short distance to the Prince of Wales public house, where the party was to be held.

‘I never thought I’d see Vera so squiffy,’ Sarah said. ‘I know Nan went along to the vicar’s wife’s get-together this afternoon and Vera went with her, but even so . . .’

‘That’s probably why she took so badly after just the one glass of sherry,’ Freda added helpfully. ‘Drink can do some funny things to people. I know it did with my stepfather.’

‘I’ve got a feeling it was more than the one that loosened her tongue,’ Maisie said as they crossed the road. ‘All the same, she was blooming rude considering her own home life ain’t so clever.’

‘How did you know about her husband?’ Freda asked.

‘If anything’s worth knowing, my mother-in-law knows it. Why do you think I do so much dressmaking? With my sewing machine whirring away, it blocks out her chatter.’

Sarah chuckled at Maisie’s comment, although she was surprised at what went on behind people’s front doors. ‘Here we are. Thank goodness it wasn’t far. I’m frozen to the bone,’ Sarah said as they approached the pub, where music could be heard from the function hall behind the main bar.

‘Do we have to go in through the bar?’ Freda asked nervously.

‘No, there’s a door at the side. It says on the tickets to use that entrance.’ Sarah opened the door to the hall and the girls stepped inside, banging their feet on the floor to remove the icy snow from their smart shoes. A wall of noisy chatter and a band playing a quickstep welcomed them, along with the overpowering fug of cigarette smoke.

Sarah had only just taken off her coat when Maureen Gilbert caught up with her. ‘There you are, love; I was beginning to wonder where you were. Your dad and nan not with you? Staff can buy tickets for close family.’

‘No, Dad’s had a busy day. He doesn’t know from one day to the next if he’s working up here or back in Devon. Nan’s been out with her friends today, so I think she wants a quiet night once she’s been to bingo.’

Not that it would be quiet, with Vera the state she was in, Sarah thought to herself with a grin.

‘Well, you get your coat off and enjoy yourself. My Alan’s around somewhere. He’s been looking for you,’ Maureen said with a knowing smile as she turned to take tickets from a group of staff entering the hall.

Sarah joined Maisie and Freda after leaving her coat and checking her hair in the cloakroom. They’d found seats along with some of the other shop girls, who were exclaiming over their lovely party dresses.

Sarah was turning round, showing off her own dress, when someone touched her arm. ‘Would you care to dance?’

Sarah spun round to see Alan holding out his hand. Ignoring the giggles from younger colleagues, she slipped her hand into his and followed him onto the crowded dance floor. Alan pulled her close. The lights dimmed and the band started to play the well-known ballad ‘Isn’t It Romantic?’

Sarah closed her eyes as Alan held her tight. Couples shuffled around them, but Sarah was oblivious to everything except Alan. He was a competent dancer and appeared so much more mature than the jovial lad she knew from work, who was always up for a laugh with the other staff. She felt safe in his arms. It felt right. She could feel his hand on the lower part of her back; her skin was tingling under his touch as he held her close. Sarah ached to run her fingers through the golden hair at the nape of his neck, but instead she concentrated on keeping time to the music while breathing in his masculine smell. She could stay in his arms forever.

As the song ended, the dancers clapped politely. Alan held on to her hand, rubbing her palm with his thumb. It sent shivers of delight through her body. She could hardly bear it. Alan started to speak to her as the band burst into ‘The Hokey-Cokey’. They both grinned. The spell was broken. Alan led her back to her seat.

Alan didn’t dance with her for the rest of the evening, although Sarah dearly hoped that he would. She couldn’t forget the way he held her close and could still smell the fresh, clean tang of his shaving soap and feel the strength of his firm shoulders under her hand as they danced. It was as if time had stood still and no one else was in the room until the music ceased.

She’d still had fun, jumping up to join the girls as they danced to ‘The Lambeth Walk’, and she had also taken a spin round the floor with the shop manager, Mr Benfield, to do the Gay Gordons. They’d even won a prize in a spot waltz, much to the amusement of the revellers. The band suddenly stopped playing and declared there would be a prize for the first couple to reach the stage with a ladder. Mr Benfield looked perplexed, but Sarah grabbed his hand and ran to the front of the hall, just beating Maisie, who’d been dancing with Alan’s colleague, young Ginger. She raised the hem of her skirt and showed a small ladder in her stockings, to cheers from the other dancers. She’d been thrilled to win three pairs of new stockings and decided, straight away, to share them with her two friends. Mr Benfield was more than pleased with a pouch of tobacco.

Throughout the evening, Sarah watched Alan. He seemed to be busy all the time dancing with the older staff members and helping behind the free bar. He’d even been called upon to help Maureen when a table heavily laden with sandwiches and cakes had been uncovered. The management had certainly done the staff proud with the spread and there wasn’t an unhappy face to be seen.

Sarah checked the dainty watch round her wrist. It was almost eleven. Not a chance for another dance with Alan. Soon she’d be queuing to get her coat and then facing the cold night air to walk the short distance home with Freda, who was staying with her for the night. She thought she may as well go for her coat now to beat the rush. Taking a few steps from the table, where she was seated with her friends, being careful not to step on the toes of those seated nearby, Sarah was brought to a sudden stop by a person in front of her. Looking up, she saw it was Alan standing before her.

‘You wouldn’t deny me a last dance, would you?’

Lost for words, Sarah allowed Alan to lead her to the dance floor and to hold her close again. Around them, the party revellers were joining in with Maureen, who had jumped onto the small stage to sing along with the band.

‘
Goodnight, sweetheart, till we meet the morrow . . .
’

‘I’ve been waiting to do this all evening,’ Alan said softly to her.

Sarah felt herself tremble as his lips brushed her ear. ‘You have been busy. I didn’t expect . . .’

‘. . .
Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep will banish sorrow . . .
’

Dancers jostled close to the couple. She slid her hand to Alan’s collar. Running her fingers through his hair, she leant her head against his chest, feeling the roughness of his suit jacket. Time seemed to stand still once more.

‘. . .
Tears and parting may make us forlorn, but with the dawn, a new day is born . . .
’

‘It’s not that I didn’t want to,’ he murmured. ‘We’re together now.’

Sarah closed her eyes as they moved slowly together, feeling Alan’s touch on her lower back, the other hand holding hers, as if he never wanted to let go. She hoped he didn’t. The light dimmed and a glitter ball above their heads turned an already unforgettable night into a magical one.

As everyone around them joined in with Maureen, Sarah realized the song was coming to an end.

‘
. . . Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.
’

Alan held Sarah close until the last possible moment. ‘Can I walk you home?’

She gazed up into his eyes. ‘Yes, please.’

6

Sarah wriggled deep under the warm blankets and peered over the top of the eiderdown. From her cosy bed she could see fresh snow heaped on the window ledge through the gap in the flower-sprigged curtains. Her bedroom had an icy chill, and the stone bottle at her feet was now cold. Perhaps Nan was right. She should have worn a woolly hat to bed too. At least she didn’t have to worry about walking to work on the icy pavements until the next morning. There would be a busy few days in the lead-up to Christmas, but at least she’d get to see Alan.

Sarah hugged herself with glee at the thought of Alan, the Christmas party and the way he held her close during the last waltz. He’d walked her home too. It wasn’t as romantic as she’d imagined, because Freda was staying the night, so Alan had escorted them both the short distance to Alexandra Road, offering an arm to both girls.

Sarah could hear her nan in the kitchen below as she prepared breakfast. Sunday meant egg and bacon with fried bread. By the sound of pots and pans rattling in the room below, she’d soon have to brave the nippy room and get herself dressed. As she contemplated leaving her warm nest, there was a tap on the door and Freda crept in holding two cups of steaming tea.

‘Here you go. Ruby said breakfast will soon be ready and you’d best shake yourself or there’ll be no fried bread left. Mrs Munro popped in to borrow a cup of sugar and invited herself to breakfast as well. I don’t think she’s eaten for a week. Brr . . . it’s a bit on the cold side in here. There’s ice on the window. Budge up a bit.’

Sarah moved over so her friend could slide under the warm eiderdown. ‘Thanks. I’ll drink this and get myself dressed. I take it there was another fall of snow in the night?’

Freda’s eyes lit up. ‘I’ll say. It’s lovely out there. “
Deep and crisp and even
”, as the carol goes. The kids up the road are going to build a snowman later. Do you want to help?’

Sarah looked sideways at Freda. She was no more than a child herself. ‘Are you sure? You’ll freeze to death out there.’

Freda grinned. ‘It’ll be fun. Come on. Do say you’ll join in.’

Sarah relented. ‘OK, but only for a while. I have some presents to wrap and there won’t be much chance once we are back at work tomorrow. Two evenings working late and then it’s Christmas. We’re going to be rushed off our feet.’

‘I’m looking forward to it. I love to see everyone buying their Christmas presents and decorations and being able to help them make decisions.’ Freda plumped up the pillow behind her and snuggled down. ‘It’s such a happy time of the year. I wish it would go on forever,’ she added wistfully.

Sarah placed her cup and saucer on the bedside table. ‘Can’t you get home to see your family for a few days?’

Freda shook her head, looking fearful. ‘No. I’d rather stay in Erith. Your nan has just invited me for Christmas Day. She said I can stay over like I did last night.’ She looked at Sarah. ‘You don’t mind, do you? Please say if you do. What with you going out with Alan and all.’

‘Of course I don’t mind. Anyway, I’m not going out with Alan. He just walked us home last night.’

Freda giggled. ‘I think it was more than that. I peeped through the letter box after I left you both on the doorstep and he was kissing you.’

Sarah thumped her on the arm. Freda was just like a naughty younger sister. ‘You minx. He did kiss me, but only to say goodnight. It was nothing special.’

‘Nothing special. You were almost floating on air when you came in. Your nan had to ask you twice to get the sugar out of the cupboard and then you passed her the gravy browning.’

Sarah felt herself blush and started to rise from her bed to hide her embarrassment. It was true. She had felt as though she’d flown to heaven after Alan’s kiss. If she closed her eyes, she could feel his arms around her and his lips as they brushed against hers. She wanted to stay there on the cold doorstep, with snow swirling around them, for all eternity, but all too soon the moment was over. He’d stroked her cheek with one finger and simply said, ‘See you at work, Sixpenny,’ before striding out into the night.

She didn’t wish to tell Freda how she felt about Alan. Well, not just yet. She wanted to savour her feelings and wait and see what happened next. Perhaps it was that special Christmas magic and the wonderful music at the party. The days ahead would show whether Alan really liked her or if he was swept up in the moment.

‘That’s enough of this silly talk. I’d best get dressed or Mrs Munro will have eaten all the bacon as well.’