The Woolworths Girls Read online

  Ruby turned from placing large dumplings into the top of the bubbling gravy. ‘Why did she come all the way down south to Erith? Has she got family here?’

  Sarah frowned. ‘She said she hasn’t. She’s a funny little thing. Very shy and doesn’t look as though she’s got two halfpennies to rub together. She’s living in lodgings round here somewhere.’

  ‘Well, you just bring her home for her dinner anytime you want to. There’s always food in the cupboard. We’ll take care of the girl. What about the other one? Is she local?’

  ‘She’s been living in the East End, but her husband’s local. She didn’t get a job at Woolies, as so many people applied. They’ve just moved in with her mother-in-law. Her husband works on the docks. You might know them. The name’s Taylor.’

  Ruby thought for a moment. ‘The only Taylor I know is that nosy old cow Doreen Taylor. She lives down the bottom end of Manor Road. I think she’s got a grown-up son. Blimey, girl, your mate’ll have her hands full if that’s her family. Tell both your friends they’re welcome here anytime. This is your home now and I want you to be happy.’

  Sarah put the loaf of bread down and wrapped her arms around her nan.

  ‘Here, what’s all this in aid of? You’ll make me spill the stew if you go all silly on me.’

  Sarah grinned. Nan pretended to be hard, but Sarah could see she had tears glistening in her eyes.

  Sarah was telling Ruby about Maisie’s sewing skills when they heard the front door open.

  ‘That’ll be your dad. Go tell him his supper won’t be long. He must be tired. He was out of here at the crack of dawn. Has he said anything about his job, love?’

  Sarah wiped her hands on a towel hanging on a hook by the sink and shook her head. ‘No. I just know that he was called to come up here as he was wanted for important work. Even Mum doesn’t know what it’s all about. Do you think this has got anything to do with all the talk about a war?’

  Ruby looked worried. ‘I don’t like people talking about war. I told Vera as much just now. There’s plenty of time to talk when it happens. God help us if it does. The last one was bad enough. We lost too many friends and family. We don’t want that happening again. I’m sure your dad’ll tell us in his own good time. Now hurry up and tell him about his grub or he’ll fall asleep in the armchair like he did last night.’

  ‘Make us a cup of tea, Sarah, love.’

  Sarah looked at the worried expression on her dad’s face as he pulled off his overcoat and headed for the quiet of the front room. It was only used for high days and holidays, and housed a piano in one corner even though her grandparents had never played. Ruby hadn’t had the heart to throw it out when they moved into the house. The street was known as ‘Piano Street’ due to the many inhabitants, mostly shop owners, who kept a piano on view in the large bay window that looked out over the road. ‘Whatever’s the matter, Dad? Have you had bad news?’

  ‘No, not bad news for me, love, but your mum won’t be so happy. It looks as though my job will mean me travelling up and down from Devon for some time to come. Chances are, there’ll be a war before too long and I’m needed where I can do the best job. I’m sure your mum will understand.’

  ‘Does that mean you’ll be moving back here for good?’

  ‘I can’t see that happening at the moment, love. I don’t think she’d like it. Too set in her ways down in Devon. I’m needed at the factory in Plymouth, but meetings at Vickers mean I can see my favourite daughter more often.’

  Sarah hugged her dad and giggled. ‘I’d take that as a compliment if it wasn’t for me being an only child.’

  After telling her dad that his dinner was ready, Sarah headed to the kitchen to make the much-needed cuppa. She wasn’t so sure that her mum would see things the way her dad had said. She wasn’t sure at all. However, it meant she would enjoy her job at Woolworths more knowing she’d at least see one of her parents more often. It wasn’t likely that she’d be able to get down to Devon much with only one and a half days off each week. At least there’d be time to spend with new friends, and she might even get to see more of Alan. She hugged herself as the thought sent a shiver of excitement through her body.

  4

  Freda gazed with awe at the buff-coloured envelope. ‘Our first pay packet. I can hardly believe it.’

  ‘You’ll believe it all right when it’s empty and you ’ave to wait a week for another one,’ Maisie said as she tore open her own envelope and poured the contents into her purse.

  ‘And I still can’t believe that you ended up working here,’ Sarah exclaimed, ‘and only three days after we started. Who’d have thought that tall girl with the spectacles would have left so soon? Do you think it was because she didn’t like serving on the vegetable counter?’

  ‘I heard it was because she spent too much time chatting to the lads rather than serving the customers and someone complained.’ Freda frowned. ‘There’s a name for girls like her.’

  ‘Whatever the reason, I’m bloody glad I’m here. You could ’ave knocked me down with a feather when the letter came from Bossy Billington. I was round here like a flash, I was that surprised.’

  Sarah nodded. She too was surprised. She’d heard Maisie before she’d seen her as she’d bellowed across the shop, ‘Oi, what the ’ell do you think you’re up to, my lad?’ Sarah had turned to view Maisie in her Woolworths uniform pulling a young boy by his ear towards the front doors. ‘Now don’t you come back in ’ere till you’ve learnt some manners.’ It seemed Maisie had caught the lad rolling his wooden train across the rear end of a portly woman in a tweed coat as she bent over the haberdashery counter. Maisie had caught the lad just as the woman had shrieked in surprise.

  Maisie snapped the clasp of her purse shut. ‘Once I’ve given the mother-in-law her whack and put some away for a rainy day, I’ll still ’ave a few bob left. Thank goodness.’

  Freda nodded. ‘I have to pay my landlady for my room, and at least I can pay extra for more hot water so I can have a proper bath.’

  ‘I think she’s got a bloody cheek charging you for so many extras. Whoever heard of a landlady wanting more money for ’ot water and a slice of toast? If I was you, I’d tell her to go take a jump and find another lodging house.’

  Sarah had been as shocked as Maisie when she heard of the landlady’s demands on her young tenant. ‘I agree with Maisie. I’m sure you could find somewhere more suitable. Nan said she’d listen out for decent lodgings for you.’

  Freda tucked her pay packet away safely in the pocket of her overall. ‘It’ll do me for now. Once I know I have a permanent job, I can plan for the future. I’ll think about it more in the new year. We’d best get back to our counters or we won’t have a pay packet to collect next week. See you later, Sarah. Don’t be late.’

  Sarah watched her friends disappear back to work. She’d started her afternoon tea break later than they had. She was surprised how much Freda had blossomed in just one short week. The young girl now had colour in her cheeks and was so much happier than the day they’d first met. She finished her tea and stood to take it back to the counter in the staff canteen.

  ‘Whoa – watch it, Sixpenny. You nearly knocked me over.’

  Sarah turned to see Alan Gilbert staggering in an exaggerated way. She grinned at his antics. ‘Don’t be so daft. I didn’t even touch you.’

  Alan straightened up and grinned back as he placed his mug of tea and a sticky bun on the table that Sarah had just vacated. ‘No harm done. How’s your first week been? I’ve only seen you at a distance and not been able to stop and talk. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be glad when Christmas is over.’

  ‘I love Christmas. This year particularly, as there’s been so much doom and gloom about. At least it’s taking people’s minds off things. The snow’s helping with that as well.’

  ‘You can say that again. Mr Benfield’s had me outside clearing the pavements every half-hour so our customers don’t slip over and can still get inside to sp
end their money.’

  Sarah didn’t mention that she’d seen Alan outside and watched him as he worked. In fact, a few times she’d been so busy watching him that customers had to call her for assistance. Thank goodness Miss Billington hadn’t spotted her being slack. Alan seemed to have a word and a smile for every person who walked by. He was certainly a charming young man.

  ‘Now, Alan, don’t you go bothering this young lady; we don’t want her in trouble for getting back to her counter late,’ an unfamiliar woman’s voice said. Just then, a shrill bell echoed through the building. ‘There you go – that’s the bell for the end of this break.’

  Alan pulled a face at Sarah. ‘I can never escape this woman.’

  The older woman cuffed his ear playfully before saying to Sarah, ‘I’m Alan’s mum, Maureen. He won’t tell you, so I’d better do it myself.’

  Sarah could see a likeness between Maureen and Alan. Although Maureen’s hair was as dark as night, they shared the same sparkling eyes and warm smile.

  Maureen added thoughtfully, ‘You’re Ruby Caselton’s granddaughter, aren’t you?’

  Sarah nodded. ‘Yes, I live with Nan. I moved up from Devon.’

  ‘Then George must be your dad. I went to school with him. I even knew your mum from our days working at the Dartford Woolworths. That was a long time ago. We both worked together at one time. Give them my regards. Well, I must get back to the kitchen – there’s lots needs doing there.’

  Sarah grimaced to herself as she bade goodbye to Alan’s mum. She’d pass on the greetings to her mum when she next wrote, but she had a feeling Irene Caselton wouldn’t appreciate them. That part of her life seemed to have been wiped from her memory.

  ‘So we’re almost family, Sixpenny?’

  Sarah frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘My mum went to school with your dad and worked with your mum. That must mean something.’

  Sarah blushed and turned away quickly. She didn’t wish Alan to see that she was so flustered by his words. Was he just joshing with her? She hoped not, as she liked talking to him. ‘I have to get back to work,’ she whispered, before dashing from the canteen.

  ‘Eat up, girls. There’s plenty more where that came from,’ Ruby said as she placed plates piled high with steak-and-kidney pudding in front of Freda and Maisie.

  ‘My goodness, Mrs C., there’s enough here to feed an army,’ Maisie declared. ‘If I eat all this, I’ll fall asleep during the film.’

  ‘It’s delicious,’ Freda said in between mouthfuls.

  ‘I’ve made you up a bowl to take home with you, love. We’ve too much here and it’ll only go to waste. Sarah told me you don’t have much in the way of a kitchen where you live.’

  Sarah threw Ruby a grateful glance. She seemed to know just how to help people out without making a fuss about it. ‘You’ll be doing us a favour, Freda. Nan’ll be giving it to me for breakfast at this rate.’

  ‘Blame your mum, Sarah. If she hadn’t called your dad back to Devon for the weekend to some posh dance, I wouldn’t have so much left over. Trust him to forget to say anything.’

  Sarah giggled. ‘You always make loads of food, Nan.’

  Ruby put a steaming-hot apple pie and a jug of custard in the centre of the table. ‘I like to make people happy.’

  Maisie dipped her finger into the jug and licked it appreciatively. ‘You’ve sure made me happy, Mrs C.’

  Ruby slapped Maisie’s hand playfully. ‘Eat your dinner or you’ll miss the start of the film. What are you going to see?’

  ‘It’s a Jessie Matthews musical at the Odeon, Nan.’

  ‘Now, she is good. I could watch her all day. Such a beautiful actress, and she’s British. None of your American movie stars for me.’

  Freda glanced at Sarah, who knew only too well that she was remembering when they both thought that Maisie had been a movie star when they first met her. Only two weeks later they knew better. ‘I’ve not seen her before, Mrs Caselton. Is she a singer?’

  Ruby put down her washing-up cloth and bowed to the girls before bursting into song – ‘Over my shoulder goes one care. Over my shoulder goes two cares . . .’ – ending the rendition by throwing her leg high, but not quite as high as the popular songstress.

  Freda couldn’t believe her eyes and started to cough as she swallowed her food.

  ‘Cough up, love – it might be a gold watch,’ Maisie said as she thumped her on the back. ‘That was some performance, Mrs C. Why don’t you come with us to see the film? A night at the pictures will do you good.’

  Ruby straightened her crossover pinny and fanned herself with a tea towel. ‘Be off with you, Maisie. You don’t want an old woman coming along with you. Besides, I have the washing-up to take care of.’

  ‘Get yourself ready, Mrs C., and we’ll do the washing-up. It won’t take long. We can leave the pots to soak until we get back.’

  ‘In that case, I’ll do just that.’ Ruby turned at the kitchen door and smiled at Sarah and her friends. ‘It’s changed my life having you here, Sarah, and that’s no lie.’

  ‘She’s all right, your nan,’ Maisie said as she took a slice of the apple pie. ‘Did you give her Maureen Gilbert’s message?’

  ‘Yes, I did. She knows Maureen. I think it was my parents that the message was really for. Nan’s lovely. She’s more like a mum to me, to be honest. I’m pleased I’m living here now. I was worried at first, but with Dad travelling back and forth from Devon, it’s like I’m still living at home.’ She didn’t add that it was less stressful with a couple of hundred miles between Erith and her mum.

  ‘I’m so glad to hear that. When you told us that your mum thought your dad’s job would mean them moving to London, I was so worried you’d be moving with them.’

  ‘I thought the same as you, Freda, love. So are they still going to London, Sarah?’ Maisie asked as she passed plates to Freda to be stacked into the sink.

  ‘No, Dad’s just travelling between Devon and Vickers. Mum is really angry, as she’d taken into her head that they’d be living in London and visiting the theatres and everything, and going home to Devon at the weekends. Nan said I can live with her whatever happens. That’s why Dad’s gone back to Devon for the weekend for a dinner dance. He thought it’d cheer Mum up a bit.’

  ‘I can’t see why she wants to live out in the sticks like that. Erith has more than enough for me to enjoy, and we can get to London if we want to.’

  Sarah sighed. She didn’t know how to explain to her friends that her mum looked down her nose at everyone who lived in Erith, and that included her in-laws and friends from her past. ‘Mum’s involved in lots of clubs and things where she lives. It’s close to Plymouth, so we aren’t particularly isolated.’

  ‘Well, I’m pleased that you decided to move to Erith. We make a good team, don’t we?’ Maisie declared.

  Freda nodded enthusiastically. ‘I agree!’

  Sarah smiled. ‘Me too. I couldn’t think of nicer friends to have . . . We’d best hurry or by the time we get to the Odeon, it’ll be the interval and the usherettes will be selling ice cream. I for one haven’t got room for another mouthful. Not even a bag of chips on the way home.’

  5

  ‘If only those ruddy bells would stop ringing. I swear I ’ear them in me sleep.’ Maisie stretched her arms above her head and yawned.

  ‘Watch it or you’ll be in trouble. There are still customers in the shop,’ Sarah hissed. ‘We’ve only got another ten minutes to go. At least pretend to be doing something.’

  Maisie lazily flicked a feather duster over a pile of delicate tree baubles. She’d been moved to the seasonal counter to help out in the days leading up to Christmas Eve. ‘Why does there ’ave to be so many bells ringing all over the shop?’

  Sarah sighed. She too was tired. The girls had been working non-stop and were grateful for their short tea breaks. ‘So that we know what the time is and the customers know when the shop is closing. If there wasn’t a bell ringing, ho
w would you know you could go for a cup of tea or pack up and go home?’

  ‘You’ve got a point there, love. I’d hate to be stuck in here overnight with old Benfield.’

  Sarah giggled. It was well known that the manager, Mr Benfield, was the last to leave and the first to arrive each morning. They did wonder if he ever went home, as he seemed to be a firm fixture in the shop.

  ‘Here, which one of these calendars should I buy me mother-in-law for Christmas?’

  Sarah looked between the two that Maisie was holding up. There were so many scenes to choose from. Everyone in Erith, as well as the surrounding villages, would have a calendar from Woolworths in their stocking. Each large piece of card showed a pretty picture that would grace the walls of many a home for all of 1939. ‘I like the cottage scene, but perhaps your mother-in-law would prefer the seaside picture.’

  Maisie shrugged, her perfectly painted lips pouting despondently. ‘She’ll moan whatever one I buy. I’ll get her what I like. After all, I’ll probably ’ave to look at it for all of next year.’

  ‘No chance of you finding your own place, then?’ Sarah asked as she pulled a dust cover from under the counter as yet another bell rang to indicate that all customers had left and the staff could start to put the shop to bed for the night.

  ‘Nah – and now Joe’s talking about joining up. He reckons it’s better to jump in now before all this conscription lark starts. He says it’d be safer for me to stay with the old girl. Safe from what? I’ll go insane stuck in the house alone with that old bat.’ Maisie ran her fingers over a calendar that depicted a thatched cottage. ‘Now, if I had a place like this to live in, I’d be in heaven. I fancy ’aving a few chickens and some kiddies running around in the garden.’ She sighed wistfully.

  ‘I’ll buy the thatched-cottage calendar for my mum,’ Sarah said. ‘My parents have a lovely house, but she’s always wanted to live in a cottage with a thatched roof.’