Guilt washed over Ruby but she quashed it as soon as she could. Her family were still her family; she’d now added an extension – someone who needed a family of his own. Companionship was vital to their recovery and Ruby intended to make Fred’s last few years as comfortable as she could. The enemy hadn’t beaten them; it had given them a new path to follow.
14th February 1941
‘Ready?’ Helen asked Ruby as they stood admiring the new shop contents.
A nervous Ruby nodded her reply.
‘Let them in – most are nosey buggers’ said Fred.
‘Fred! That’s no way to talk about our customers,’ said Ruby, and flicked her hand across his ear in jest.
‘Oi. Cheeky.’
Helen held up a pair of scissors and pointed to a length of yellow ribbon across the doorway. ‘Here we go then,’ she said and pulled open the front door.
A crowd of eager faces, the majority with dark circles under their eyes, stood in eager anticipation.
‘Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming along to support Ruby today. I’m sure you’ll agree she’s shown initiative with her new business venture, and those of you who knew her family will want to wish her all the very best. It is now my great pleasure to announce Shadwell’s Buy and Sell open,’ Helen said and cut the ribbon.
In true British style, the queue moved patiently into the large room, oohing and ahhing as they browsed the items on display. Ruby stood back and watched with pride.
A large woman approached her. ‘Ruby, I noticed the tags. This was my old house; this dish was my mother’s.’
A rush of pleasure ran through Ruby’s body and she opened a large drawer in the desk now sited at the far end of the room, housing a large till Helen had purchased as a gift. Ruby pulled out her book and ran her finger down the pages until she found the code number which matched the tag.
‘Yes, here it is,’ she said and crossed out the item using a ruler and pencil. Neat and tidy was her father’s motto, and she intended to keep her books in such a way.
‘How much?’ the woman asked.
Ruby shook her head. ‘Gracious, nothing. It’s yours. I’m happy for it to be returned to its rightful owner.’
‘Well, you aren’t going to make much money doing that, duck. Let me pay you something; you had to do the dirty and dangerous bit of retrieving it for me. And all the hard work of cleaning it and storing the darn thing. It’s ugly but it was my mother’s, and we haven’t got much left to call our own.’
‘A penny. I’ll take my first penny from you,’ Ruby said, and in a louder voice she called out to the others in the room. ‘If you find your address and an item which is yours, I’ll take a penny for my efforts. If it isn’t yours and there is no label, then it is the price marked.’
A buzz of voices shared their approval.
Helen smiled at her and walked over to the desk. ‘I must go. I’ll call in at the end of the day and see how many pennies you’ve earned.’
The woman with her dish placed a penny in front of Ruby. ‘Good luck to you. I’ll be back when I get paid. I’ve a fair few things needed for my new home.’
Fred kept Ruby supplied with cups of tea and a sandwich at lunchtime. By the end of the working day, he came to her and saw the last of the customers leave. ‘I’ll pull the blinds and turn the sign. Helen will come around the back. I’ll have a sweep up and tidy whilst you count your pennies. What a turnout, and you look exhausted.’
‘Tired but happy, Fred. So many items returned to their rightful owners, and they were so thrilled to have them back. It made my heart sing whenever anyone clutched something tight to them and declared it as a family heirloom.’
Fred clicked the lock above the door and turned the key. ‘When you gave me my photograph I felt like that, Ruby; you gave me something of my past but also my future. You did the same for a lot of folk today. Well done. Now, get your books in order, for I think tomorrow will be another busy one for Shadwell’s.’
CHAPTER 10
March 1941
With her business growing and the joy of reuniting people with family items, Ruby quickly gained a reputation as someone to be trusted.
The scrapman, Bill, proved to be a friend and reliable source of trading. He’d bring her salvageable items in return for her unwanted goods. No money changed hands. Slowly, the house filled to the point of bursting.
Helen heard of a building where the owners wanted to let it out as they were leaving the city. She’d spoken on Ruby’s behalf and a peppercorn rent was agreed. The couple were impressed – and touched, by Ruby’s efforts and kindness. Another chapter in her life was about to begin, and Ruby embraced it with great enthusiasm. Her leg ached, but she struggled through the pain. Once the physical work was over, she’d have the opportunity to rest.
Bitter winds didn’t stop Ruby’s enthusiasm on moving day. Once again, Helen and her ribbon and good wishes were called upon to decree the doors of Shadwell’s open. Chamber pots, saucepans and jewellery came and went, all recorded and ninety per cent paid for this time around.
Just as Ruby went to turn the closed sign, a small voice called out, ‘Wait up missus.’
Ruby grinned back at the boy through the glass. He waved his arms and his grubby face made her heart lurch. His eyes wore a worried look and Ruby swung open the door and ushered him inside.
‘What can I do for you, young man? Are you hungry, lost, need help?’ Ruby said as she knelt down to look him in the eye. Her hand resisted the urge to sweep the curl of red-brown hair drooping over one eye, leaving the deepest chestnut one free to look back at her.
‘Me auntie’s lost everyfing ’cept this,’ he said.
‘Ah, you are selling, sir. Well, that is serious business. Let’s go to my desk and have a look at the goods,’ Ruby said, adding a teasing note to her voice.
The serious-faced child clambered onto the seat facing hers. He knelt to see over the top. Ruby guessed him to be no older than five years, and it was obvious he’d suffered during the Blitz. He had a bruised cheek and a healing cut across his eyebrow. His bottom lip sported a scab from another gash.
‘Show me. What are you selling? Your auntie’s, you say?’
The boy nodded and handed over a silver bracelet. It was a narrow band with intricate markings depicting a vine twisting its way around the bracelet. Ruby thought it beautiful.
‘It’s very pretty. Your aunt must be sad to part with it; I know I would be. I’m not sure of its value, though. I might have to get a professional to take a look and then give you the fair price.’
With a quick shake of his head, the boy reached for the bracelet. ‘She needs food today. And she’s got rent to pay. We didn’t get bombed out and the landlord wants his money,’ he said.
Ruby found him older than she’d first thought. ‘How old are you?’
‘Six,’ the boy said. Ruby hid a smile as he lisped the word. Two missing top teeth didn’t help him with pronunciation.
‘That’s a great age to be. Do you think your auntie might be better off keeping it and having a word with the landlord? It seems a shame she should sell her jewellery –’