A Rare Ruby by Dee Williams Page A

ironing room get a bit more than that, especially those that iron the toffs’ shirts.’
    Ruby looked at her wage packet. ‘I hope me mum’ll be pleased.’
    ‘She should be. You’ve worked bloody hard for it.’
    ‘I’m going to the market to get some new boots, can you come with me?’
    ‘Why not? I might get a better deal than you.’
    They stepped over the horse dung and pressed themselves against the arch when the horse pulling the laundry van came racing through.
    ‘You should be more careful,’ yelled Elsie. ‘That’s Frank Stone, he’s one of the boss’s sons. You wonner watch him. He’s always after the girls. He’s even got some of them the sack.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Think he was worried some of ’em might blab about what he got up to. He’s married, you see.’
    ‘That ain’t fair.’
    ‘That’s life, love. His younger brother Ben ain’t so bad.’
    ‘You know everybody.’
    ‘I make it me business - you never know if it might come in useful some day.’ Elsie pointed to the horse and cart. ‘So don’t get involved with him. He thinks he owns the place.’
    Ruby laughed.
    ‘What’s so funny?’
    ‘Well, he will own the place one day, won’t he?’
    ‘Oh, you. Come on, let’s be moving on.’ As always, Elsie tucked her arm through Ruby’s and they marched off together laughing.
     
    Wandering round the market Ruby priced up the boots on the second-hand stall. The pair she wanted was two shillings. She didn’t want to spend that much on herself. After they had been back three times, Elsie had managed to get them down to one and six.
    ‘I’m going to wear them home.’ Ruby sat on the kerb and put them on. ‘Well, what d’you think?’ She paraded up and down in front of Elsie.
    ‘They look very nice.’
    ‘They’re a bit big, but at least they ain’t squashing the chilblains on me toes, and I might even grow into them.’
    Elsie grinned. ‘You daft ’aporth.’
    ‘I feel so happy. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me.’
    Elsie looked embarrassed. ‘As I said, you’re daft. I ain’t done nothing.’
    ‘You got me the job and now the boots with a quarter knocked off. I’ll buy you a present next week.’
    Elsie stood in front of her. ‘Now you listen to me. You look after your money, you work bloody hard for it.’
    Ruby’s mouth turned down.
    Elsie grinned. ‘Tell you what, you can buy me a Christmas present.’
    ‘But that’s weeks away.’
    Elsie laughed. ‘You’ll have more time to save up and spend on me then. I’m only joking. As I said, you look after your money.’
    Ruby was so happy. She couldn’t believe her good luck: to have found work and a friend. At the flower stall Ruby couldn’t resist buying her mother some flowers. As it was the end of the day, they had been reduced to tuppence. Ruby didn’t mind that some of the petals were falling off. ‘Me mum ain’t had flowers for a long while.’
    ‘Will she mind you wasting your money on things like that?’ asked Elsie.
    ‘I hadn’t thought of that.’ Suddenly Ruby felt guilty. She should have gone home first and given all the money to her mother. ‘I don’t think she’ll mind. After all, this is the first wages I’ve ever had.’
    ‘Didn’t your mum pay you?’
    Ruby had told Elsie about how they struggled. ‘No, I couldn’t take money off her.’
     
    Ruby walked in the kitchen with the flowers behind her back. Right away her mother said, ‘New boots?’
    Ruby looked down. ‘You don’t mind, do you?’
    A smile filled her mother’s face. ‘No, course not, love. You deserve ’em.’
    ‘I’ve bought you something.’ With a flurry Ruby brought the flowers out from behind her back. Some more of the petals had gone and there were quite a few stalks.
    ‘Oh Ruby. This is so kind. They’re lovely. I’ll put ’em in water. It’ll have to be in a milk jug - ain’t got any fancy vases now. So, how much wages did you get then?’
    ‘Ten shillings.’
    ‘Ten bob?