A Rare Ruby by Dee Williams

mattress; instantly she was asleep.
     
    The shouting woke her.
    ‘When I let you live here I didn’t think you’d take in lodgers.’ Mr Cox’s voice was loud and booming.
    ‘She ain’t a lodger. She’s my sister’s girl and she moved here to be near the docks when her husband comes home.’
    ‘Well, tell her to keep that bloody kid quiet.’
    Ruby couldn’t believe what her mother was saying. She was telling him a lie. She waited till she heard him stomp up the stairs, his feet crashing on the bare floorboards, and then she stood up.
    ‘Mum, what’s happening?’ she asked, wandering into the kitchen.
    Her father was holding his head and rocking back and forth.
    ‘What’s wrong with Dad?’
    ‘Mr Cox came in shouting, and you know how much that upsets your father.’
    ‘It’s my fault really,’ said Beth Norton softly. ‘It seems Danny kept Mr Cox awake this afternoon.’
    Ruby put her arm round her father’s shoulder and held him close. ‘It’s all right, Dad.’ She looked up. ‘It’s taken him a long while to come down and shout about it then,’ said Ruby to her mother.
    ‘He was asleep when I took his tea up and I think he was just waiting for an excuse to come down and say something. I don’t think he likes hard roe on toast.’
    ‘I heard you tell him that Beth was your sister’s daughter. You ain’t got a sister,’ said Ruby.
    ‘I know that, but he don’t. Now, d’you fancy some roe on toast?’
    ‘Yes, please.’ This was indeed a rare treat. Perhaps things were going to work out now her mother had accepted that Beth Norton was going to stay - well, for the time being anyway.
    All the rest of the week while Ruby worked, she was pleased that Beth helped Tom collect and deliver the washing.
    On Friday night Ruby waited impatiently for her wages and to see if Mrs Watson was going to let her stay.
    ‘Ruby Jenkins,’ Mrs Watson called; her long finger beckoned her. ‘Here, just a minute.’ Mrs Watson was standing in the doorway. She wasn’t going to come in a room that was ankle deep in water.
    Slowly Ruby made her way over to her.
    ‘So, you’ve managed to stick at it then? I didn’t think you’d last a day, let alone a week.’
    Ruby managed a weak smile.
    ‘I’ll hang on to your wages till tomorrow. Just in case you don’t turn up. You finish at four tomorrow.’
    ‘Do you want me to work next week?’
    ‘Do you want to?’
    Ruby nodded.
    ‘I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’
    ‘You staying then, Ruby?’ asked Doris.
    Ruby broke into a grin. ‘Looks like it.’
    ‘Good for you, girl. Who knows, she may even give yer a better job.’
    ‘D’you think she will?’
    ‘Dunno. Wouldn’t like ter say.’
     
    On Saturday Ruby took the envelope Mrs Watson handed her.
    ‘I want you to carry on in the washroom on Monday.’
    Ruby’s heart sank. She wanted another job, but knew she couldn’t argue.
    Mrs Watson turned and walked away. ‘Have a nice weekend.’
    Ruby quickly tore open the packet. Inside was a ten-shilling note. She wanted to sing out. She had got her first week’s wages. Ten shillings.
    Even though it was cold and she had wet feet, Ruby was glowing while she waited outside for Elsie. ‘You look nice,’ said Ruby.
    ‘Always like to tart meself up a bit on me half-day. You look pleased with yourself. You staying?’
    Ruby nodded.
    ‘Good for you. Where’re you going to be next week?’
    ‘I’ve still got to stay in the washroom, but I don’t mind. I got ten shillings.’
    ‘Well, I’ll say that for old Watson, I don’t think she’s twisted you. I told you that’s the best-paid job. Nearly everybody else is on piecework.’
    ‘Are you on piecework?’
    ‘Yes. I still only get about ten bob, the same as you; sometimes I can make a bit more, but not very often. It depends on what I have to handle. Sometimes I have to hold me nose the stuff is so rotten and stinky. There’re a dirty lot of buggers about. I think some of the old women in the