Blue Moon (7 page)

And it was signed:
B.G. Catterns, Chief Cashier
.

Five pounds.
Five pounds!
She’d never had so much money in her life before. Five pounds was three weeks’ wages all in one go. What she could buy with five pounds. She could have a party and invite everybody she knew. She could buy brand-new clothes instead of second-hand ones. She and her mother got their dresses from the DeLux Dress agency and they were good-quality, but they were still someone else’s hand-me-downs. She could take a trip to London and see some of the sights people talked about: Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace … or perhaps the Tower of London. Ruby enjoyed a delicious little shudder as she imagined herself walking around the same cold rooms where poor Anne Boleyn had waited for her execution on the orders of King Henry VIII. What she could do with five pounds!

As she put it back into the envelope, Jim’s voice came back to her mind: ‘
every one of us gets at least one chance in life to change direction …’
Was this her moment? Yes, she could do all the things she’d imagined, but they would be over in a trice. All she would have to show for it would be a lovely memory, or a pretty dress that would eventually wear out, or she would grow bored with it.
Five pounds wouldn’t necessarily change her whole life, but it could be the start of something that might make a difference. ‘
Just be sure of what you want, and don’t let anything get in the way
.’ That’s what Jim had advised, but right now she couldn’t make up her mind
what
she wanted. She carefully put the note back in the envelope, and put the envelope in her bag. Just then, the door burst open and Edith stood in front of her.

‘Oh, Ruby,’ she cried, looking her up and down, ‘I am so sorry.’ She put her arms around a startled Ruby and pulled her close. ‘I can’t believe this has happened. How awful for you. But you mustn’t worry too much. I’m sure you’ll get another job straight away.’ When she let go and stepped back, Ruby could see that Edith had tears in her eyes.

‘Hang on a minute,’ Ruby laughed. ‘I haven’t been sacked.’

‘You haven’t?’ said Edith. ‘But I thought the fact that you’ve got your coat on …’

‘I’ve been given the rest of the day off, for saving Dr Palmer.’

Edith stared at her for a second and then beamed. ‘You jammy dog!’ she said, giving Ruby a playful slap on her arm. ‘That’s two days running.’

Embarrassed, Ruby avoided her eye.

‘Oh, go on,’ said Edith. ‘Enjoy yourself. Next week it’ll be my turn to save some poor old boy and, when I do it, I won’t stop at a measly half a day off. I shall insist that he marry me and, when I’ve got all his money, I’ll divorce him and marry the handsome chauffeur.’

The two friends laughed and, arm-in-arm, Edith escorted Ruby to the door.

As she strolled towards the beach on her own, Ruby felt a twinge of guilt that she hadn’t told Edith everything. She sat on the stones. She loved this place, with its pretty pier jutting out to sea. It had been put up in Victorian times and visitors were charged tuppence to walk along the boards from the kiosk at the entrance. The fee allowed people to listen to the orchestra, which played between spring and autumn in the Southern Pavilion. The other pavilion, on the shore side of the pier, had variety shows. There was also a souvenir shop next door. Ruby loved it all. She loved the Dome cinema opposite, the Punch-and-Judy on the beach and the deckchairs you could hire. She loved to see the tourists strolling along the promenade and to hear the cry of the gulls.

The Lyons ice-cream boy went by calling, ‘Stop me and buy one …’ and she smiled to herself. The ice creams were loaded into a big box on the front of his tricycle, and the slogan on his crossbar also said:
Stop me and buy one
. The sun was still warm and bathers splashed in the sea. The tide was coming in now, and she knew that on the beach at East Worthing her father would be preparing the boat ready for fishing. She sighed and wondered what he would say when she told him she’d been given five pounds. For a moment or two she fantasized that he would smile and tell her it was wonderful. He would give her a bear hug and kiss her roughly on the forehead, in the same way he kissed
May, and then he would grab her hands and they would dance around the kitchen, laughing and crying at the same time.

A gull landed a few feet in front of her and regarded her with its cold eye. That’s when Ruby came down to earth. Her father wouldn’t be pleased about the money, would he? He’d probably stare at her like that gull, with its cold and untrusting eye, and question her honesty. And, even if he did believe her story, it wouldn’t occur to him that she might want to do something with the money herself. She could just hear him making his own plans for a new bit of fishing gear or a couple of new lobster pots.

‘Well, you’re not having it,’ she said crossly. ‘It’s
my
money.’

Until she was sure what she wanted to do, she wouldn’t tell anyone about the five pounds. She would put the money somewhere safe – somewhere nobody could touch it – and then make up her mind. The sun came out from under a cloud and warmed her face. Ruby stood up and brushed the back of her dress down. She would go straight into town and open a Post Office savings account.

Back home, Ruby pulled the suitcase out of the scullery, where she’d left it the night before. It felt quite heavy; she was disappointed. Obviously not much had been taken out yet, and she’d thought it would be really helpful. She’d been reading an article in one of the magazines left behind by a guest. In America, the Depression had
bitten deep. Years of drought and deep ploughing had created ‘black blizzards’ as the soil, now with the consistency of dust, was carried away by the wind. The people were starving, and yet the article spoke of their resilience and how they helped each other by sharing their skills instead of paying money for services. The idea had created a strong sense of community, and it struck a chord with Ruby. The people in her own street were all going through some sort of hardship, to a lesser or greater degree. She knew, for instance, that Tilly Morgan’s girls – a couple of years younger than May – wore dresses that were far too small, and yet when her mother had offered Tilly a couple of May’s old dresses that were in perfectly good nick, Mrs Morgan had refused them. ‘Thank you very much, but I don’t take charity,’ Tilly had said stiffly.

At the time Ruby had thought it just plain stupid but, on reflection, perhaps her stubborn pride was all Tilly Morgan had left. There had to be a way of sharing things that didn’t allow pride to get in the way. It was when she saw her mother and Aunt Vinny swapping a couple of cardigans that she had the idea.

Bea gave her the old suitcase from under the bed, and Ruby put some of May’s old dresses inside. She herself had bought a frock from the second-hand shop, but when she’d got it home, she didn’t like it. That went in too; and Aunt Vinny contributed a few things, including some of Cousin Lily’s casts-offs. With a little room left in the suitcase, Ruby set out for her neighbour’s house.

‘We’ve been passing this suitcase around the neighbours,’ she’d told Thelma Brown, her first choice to try out the new scheme. ‘The idea is that you see if you’d like something from it, and put something that you don’t want in the suitcase, to replace it.’

Thelma had looked a little sceptical until she opened the case.

‘Of course, it goes without saying that whatever you put in,’ Ruby went on, as Thelma held up one of Aunt Vinny’s blouses to the light, ‘should be clean and usable, but it doesn’t matter how many things you take out, so long as you put something back in.’

Thelma looked up. ‘I’m not sure if this will fit.’

‘Try it on,’ said Ruby. ‘In fact,’ she added, as if she’d only just thought of the idea, ‘why don’t you keep the case for a day or two, and then pass it on to someone else. Tilly Morgan perhaps.’

‘I will,’ said Thelma, ‘and then I’ll bring it back to yours.’

That was a week ago, and now the suitcase was back. She undid the fasteners and lifted the lid. May’s dresses had gone, but some smaller clothes were in their place. There was a man’s pullover and a couple of skirts she didn’t recognize, but there was also a blouse she was sure she’d seen Norah Granger wearing on the day of the outing, when she’d helped Dr Palmer onto the coach. Ruby tugged at the pretty scarf, which had come from Cousin Lily. She had really liked it when she’d put it into the suitcase, but nobody had taken it out. When she’d put in the dress that she’d bought at the second-hand
shop, she hadn’t taken anything for herself, so Ruby took it for herself now. With the scarf around her neck, she closed the case. It was time to pass it on to Florrie Dart.

‘What do you mean, you were given half a day off?’ Her father was incredulous. ‘What – just for pulling that old man into the coach?’

‘And another two and sixpence in my wage packet,’ said Ruby.

Her mother gave her a hug. ‘Oh, Ruby, that’s wonderful. Well done.’

Percy clapped her on the shoulder. ‘Good on you, Sis,’ he grinned. ‘Do that a few more times and you’ll be a rich woman.’

May stayed where she was, with her elbows on the table and her head resting on her left hand. ‘Will you buy me some sweeties when you get paid?’

They had just eaten their tea. When Ruby got back from Florrie’s place, she had gone straight up to the room she shared with May. She’d put her Post Office book in the wardrobe, right at the back, in an old handbag she never used. It was her secret. She wasn’t going to tell anyone about it; but, after their meal, she had to explain why she wasn’t going back to Warnes to turn the beds down.

Her father stood up and, for one glorious moment, Ruby actually thought he was going to give her a hug, but instead he went to the hearth and picked up his
fisherman’s boots. Sitting back in his chair, he pulled them on.

‘What gets me,’ he began, ‘is that you didn’t even do it yourself. It was Cecil and Albert Longman who did all the work. Where’s their reward then, eh?’

‘Couldn’t you – just for once – say something nice to Ruby?’ Percy demanded.

‘It’s all right for you, swanning around with your extra two and sixpence and a half-day off,’ said Nelson, ignoring his son, ‘but some of us work hard for a living.’

‘I work hard too, Father,’ Ruby bristled.

Her father grunted. ‘Coming, boy?’

‘Trust you to go spoiling things,’ said Percy. ‘You miserable old devil.’

Their father leapt to his feet, his eyes blazing and his arm raised.

‘Don’t you dare lay a hand on me,’ said Percy coldly. ‘Hit me and it’ll be the last thing you do.’

‘You should learn some respect,’ Nelson spat. He began to unbuckle his trouser belt. In an attitude of defiance, Percy stood slowly to his feet, his eyes fixed on his father’s face.

Ruby pulled on her brother’s arm to stop him. ‘Percy, don’t.’

‘Respect is something you earn,’ Percy retorted.

‘Nelson, please,’ cried Bea, standing between them.

‘If he hits me again, Mother, I swear I’ll walk out of that door and never come back.’

‘Don’t tempt me,’ said Nelson, lowering his arm. ‘Get
your boots on. The tide is on the turn.’ He looked away and the atmosphere in the room became less charged.

Reluctantly Percy went to get his boots. Nelson swung round and looked at Ruby. ‘And you can give that two and sixpence to your mother,’ he said. ‘It’s about time you paid your way in this house.’

Ruby’s face flushed.

‘Be fair, Nelson,’ said Bea. ‘It’s Ruby’s money. If she hadn’t seen Dr Palmer and made Cecil stop the coach, nobody would have been any the wiser.’

‘Did anyone ask your opinion?’ Nelson demanded. Bea cowed. ‘No. Then keep your nose out of it.’

Deflated and miserable, Ruby sat back down at the table. Avoiding her daughter’s eye, Bea busied herself by stacking the dishes, ready to wash up.

‘By the way,’ Nelson said to Ruby, ‘Albert Longman stopped by to see me about you.’

Ruby frowned. ‘Albert Longman?’

‘It seems he’s sweet on you,’ said her father. He laughed sardonically. ‘Although what he sees in you, I can’t imagine. Your hair is as straight as a die and you’ve got no shape, but there it is. There’s none so blind, as they say, and he wants to court you.’

‘Albert Longman?’ said Ruby again.

‘That’s what I said, cloth ears,’ Nelson snapped. ‘Anyway, I told him it was all right.’

‘But I’m not in the least bit interested in Albert Longman,’ Ruby cried. The thought of it filled her with horror, and she could feel tears pricking the backs of
her eyes. ‘I’ve never thought of him in that way. I don’t even like him.’

‘Well, you must have encouraged him somehow, or he wouldn’t have asked me,’ said Nelson. ‘Anyway he’s coming round Sunday. Come and kiss your pa, May darlin’.’

‘Father, he’s years older than me,’ Ruby insisted. ‘I don’t want to be married to an old man.’

May climbed down from the table and Nelson picked her up. ‘Be a good girl for Pa, won’t you?’ he said, kissing her cheek and ignoring Ruby.

‘I will,’ said May and wriggled down. Stopping only to ruffle her hair, Nelson walked out of the room.

‘Father!’ cried Ruby.

Percy turned to follow him, but then turned back to kiss his mother and sister.

‘Good fishing,’ said Ruby, giving him a sad smile.

‘Well done, Sis,’ he said, lowering his voice. ‘Whatever they gave you, you deserve it.’

‘But I don’t deserve Albert flippin’ Longman.’

‘You coming, boy?’ their father shouted from the street. ‘We haven’t got all day.’

Percy patted her shoulder. ‘You’re right. You definitely don’t deserve Albert Longman.’ And they both grinned.

CHAPTER 5

The next few days were difficult for Ruby. Nothing was said, but it was clear that the events in Mr Payne’s office had for some reason annoyed Mrs Fosdyke. From her demeanour when she’d summoned her, Ruby guessed that Mrs Fosdyke had expected her to get a reprimand, or the sack. She had been as surprised as Ruby herself when she got an accolade and a reward. Ruby did her work efficiently, as usual, but the housekeeper followed close behind her, complaining about trivial things. ‘Those towels aren’t straight, Bateman.’ ‘Bateman, the curtains in room 34 weren’t pulled back far enough.’ ‘You’ve forgotten to put a serving spoon on the staff table again, and where’s the soap for the sink in room 38?’ The final straw came when Ruby returned to her perfect linen cupboard to put in some clean sheets.