‘– and I’d like to hear more about the world outside of Coventry. Come and visit any time.’
John reached out and lifted a small curl winding its way down the side of her face.
‘Your hair is a beautiful colour. It reminds me of the maple leaves in the fall, before they turn bright red.’
Ruby put her hand to the curl and moved his hand away from her face. She was fully aware that if Fred saw John’s attention to her he’d prevent her from seeing him again. He’d become the protective father figure and, as a minor, Ruby would be expected to comply with the rules of good behaviour.
‘Thank you. My mother and gran had the same colouring.’
An over-exaggerated cough came from the doorway, and Fred and Helen stepped into the room.
‘Helen’s going now, Ruby. I’ll see them both out,’ Fred said.
John gave a gentle nod. He’d been dismissed by a higher ranking officer; the regimental tone of Fred’s voice made it quite clear.
‘Yes, sir. My duty is done here. Maybe our paths will cross another day,’ John said, and Ruby knew full well he’d visit again.
‘Perhaps. Stay safe, soldier,’ Fred said and held out his hand.
‘Thank you for helping us, John,’ Helen said and also shook John’s hand.
After a flurry of goodbyes and handshakes, the house fell silent.
Thousands of incendiary bombs had dropped over Britain throughout April, and for three nights at the start of the month Coventry experienced another attack from the enemy. Ruby dreaded turning on the radio. London residents had also suffered huge losses, and her heart went out to them. News reporters spoke of the resilience of the British, of how they rose each day to face whatever the night raids had inflicted upon them. She thought of Tommy and his family. He’d hinted about returning to London, and she wondered if he and his mother had survived the nightly attacks.
During May a few unsettled times were endured, but by the middle of the month there were several nights where the enemy hadn’t flown over and disturbed the British people. Coventry took a deep breath, vowing to double its production of wartime supplies to support the defence. Factories whirred out sounds of reassurance that things were moving forward. People worked longer hours with a stubborn determination. A lesson had been learned, and one was to be taught. Coventry would not bend to the will of the enemy. Ruby’s household held the same view.
Beatty, now settled and recovering, busied herself each day with running the home. She’d shush Ruby when she told her to sit and let her take a turn, and barked out instructions to Fred to remove his boots and leave them by the door. A limited sense of normality returned for Ruby, giving her a sense of place. She was nearing seventeen, and still wondering where life would lead her.
Life in Garden Cottage slowly took on a routine and when the weather changed for the better they planned to enjoy the evenings outside in the hope the sky above would be free from those driven to bring them to their knees.
After flicking through a magazine gift from Helen, Ruby had taken to wearing her hair rolled in a more adult way. The new style and interest in what colours suited her made Ruby the butt of Fred’s teasing that they were for a certain soldier. Ruby enjoyed the banter, but sometimes he earned a well-humoured clipped ear from Beatty.
Since meeting John, Ruby noticed she drew attention to herself more, and her sensitivity to her limp was no longer an issue. Beatty declared Ruby to be a blossoming woman, and it described how Ruby felt. She experienced her first whistle from a group of soldiers brought in to assist with restoring the city. Ruby caught the eye of one of them and when he winked at her her stomach fluttered and she giggled. Something changed for her that day, and she looked at the world through fresh eyes. She wanted to be part of it, and to contribute to its future. To feel more alive than she’d done for months. So, when Helen mentioned that a girl, Katie, from her office had asked if Ruby would like to attend a local dance, Ruby accepted.
31st May 1941
Scrubbing the dirt from her hands, Ruby turned them over. Chipped nails and scuffed skin were not the markings of feminine hands shown in the fashion magazines. With a sigh, she scrubbed them again. Red raw was not a great look either.
‘I’ll have to wear gloves,’ she said to no one in particular. Fred was with the chickens, and Beatty sat rewinding wool from a jumper too small for her. Her skill would produce another for Ruby from the rewound skein.
‘I’d knit you a pair, but I’m afraid they won’t be ready for this evening,’ she said and laughed.
Normally, Beatty’s laugh was infectious, but today nothing made Ruby smile. Although keen to experience her first dance, nerves overpowered the excitement.
Katie had proved herself to be a good friend when she’d arrived with a dress for Ruby to wear. Helen had guessed Ruby’s wardrobe was limited to basic wear, and Katie volunteered a dress in emerald green with a full skirt, which Ruby enjoyed showing off when she gave Fred and Beatty a twirl. It was complemented by a small bolero-style cardigan gifted by Helen.
The dance was still another two hours away and Ruby ached. A busy day volunteering on the park allotments and digging out new ones in Radford was not ideal before an evening out.
‘Maybe I’ll send a message to Katie and go another time. Give my hands a chance to look less like a farmer’s,’ she moaned to Beatty.
Beatty laid down her knitting and gave such a loud sigh Ruby jumped. ‘No more excuses. You’ve seen how short life is just lately. Those service men hoping to catch a glimpse of a pretty girl are not unsavoury types – not all of them. Some are scared young men who are convinced today is their last day. And you stand there and complain about your hands?’
With a harrumph sound, Beatty left the room and went to join Fred. Ruby watched as the pair settled into a conversation, and she guessed it would be about her.
By the time they came in from the garden, Ruby was ready to meet Katie outside the aerospace factory hosting the dance.
‘Ah, changed your mind? I will say you make a pretty picture. Looks lovely, doesn’t she, Fred?’ Beatty said.
‘Scrubs up nicely,’ Fred said with a nod of agreement.
Ruby, embarrassed by the attention, fidgeted with her gloves. ‘These are no good. They make my hands itch.’
‘Then don’t wear them, but for goodness’ sake cheer up. At least look like a girl who is going to her first dance. I remember my first. I –’
Not wishing to delay meeting Katie by hearing the long version of one of Beatty’s stories of her younger years, Ruby gave them both a peck on the cheek. ‘I’ll see you in an hour,’ she said.
‘I’ll bet more on two or three,’ Beatty replied.
‘Before midnight, Cinderella,’ Fred called out.
Katie waved at Ruby and Ruby forced a smile and waved back. Halfway to the factory she’d debated returning home, but curiosity got the better of her and she decided to at least see what a wartime dance felt like. The dab of lipstick on her lips felt sticky and annoyed her, but she resisted the temptation of wiping it away.
‘Oh, Ruby, you look so pretty in that dress,’ Katie exclaimed. ‘I just knew it was the right colour and style for you.’
‘And you look like a film star!’ Ruby replied, not exaggerating.