Tommy sat amongst them; he looked so happy and comfortable. Only his accent was out of place. His bright personality bounced from one woman to another as he handed them whatever they asked for, and Ruby sensed his longing to make this a normal event. He bent over backwards to please, just to receive a small amount of praise or a thank you.
‘Tommy, if you aren’t too busy, could I have a word. I’ve something for you.’ Ruby held up the wrapped package containing the wooden plane from John.
Tommy leapt to his feet as the group around him gave shouts of encouragement.
‘Cor, Tommy, a present. Is it your birthday?’ one little boy asked.
‘Nah. What is it, Rubes?’ Tommy took the present from her.
‘You won’t know until you open it, will you?’ she teased.
Tommy’s playmate jumped up and stood beside him. It touched Ruby to see Tommy with a friend his own age, sharing an exciting moment.
‘Open it, quickly. What is it?’
Wasting no time, Tommy ripped open the paper and gasped with delight. ‘Is this mine? All mine?’ His words came tumbling out on a breathless whoosh as he swung his arm in play.
‘John, the Canadian soldier, said he was sorry he missed you last night. It is a get well gift, and a sort of farewell gift. He’s had to go away, so we probably won’t see him again, but he promised to write to us. When I have an address for him, you can write and say thank you.’
‘You’ll ’ave to ’elp me, Rubes.’
‘I will. Of course I will.’ But Ruby spoke to fresh air, as Tommy raced around the main shop floor pretending to be a fighter pilot, and three other boys his age joined in the chase. She’d never seen him so free and easy, so happy. He leapt and giggled his way around with new friends. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she knew Earl would arrive and suck the joy from the child, but whilst he was in her company Ruby set her mind to help him back into childhood, make him less fearful of the world around him. She’d speak with Earl and get his permission for him to stay at her home with one of his friends once in a while. One boy stood out as an ideal companion. His mother hadn’t survived from her injuries after the bombing; his father had left him in the care of his grandmother and returned to fight. His manners and cheerful personality matched Tommy’s and as Ruby watched them play she was determined for the friendship to blossom even further.
‘He seems happy enough. Bless his little heart, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so much,’ Beatty said as she stood beside Ruby watching the boys.
‘Yes, until Earl turns up. Talking of him, Tommy’s been here long enough.’ Ruby disliked the thought of breaking up his imaginary play, but it dawned on her he’d been in their company for several hours. ‘It won’t be long before Earl will come hunting for him, and I don’t want a repeat of yesterday. We’d best send him home,’ she said, and turned her attention back to the boy. ‘Tommy, I think it might be time for you to head home. Your mum will worry about you if you’re out for so long, and Earl will be sent to collect you.’ Ruby gave him an encouraging smile.
She still had no idea whether his mother existed, but felt the need for the constant mention of her presence in case Tommy let slip more information about her. Tommy turned to look at her and his arm dropped to his side. He let the plane fall to the floor and for a fleeting second Ruby saw an expression of anger cross his face. He poked his tongue out at his playmate, turned away from Ruby and walked to the door. Whilst the boys played, Ruby had locked it against the public, not wanting their fun to be disturbed. He pulled at the handle, but it remained in place and Ruby earned another angry glare. She felt for the keys in her pocket, hesitated about letting Tommy out, and finally chose not to unlock it until she’d spoken with him in private.
‘Tommy, don’t get mad. I need to speak with you. Come upstairs to my office. Bring your plane; I’ll keep it safe for you. If you don’t want to take it home, you can leave it here with me, if you think it will be safer,’ she said. Something told her he’d lose his new toy if he took it with him.
With another tug at the door, Tommy gave in to the realisation it wouldn’t open until he’d done as asked, and with reluctance walked to Ruby’s side. He handed her his toy, looked up at her and she pointed to the stairs. She followed him as he climbed each one and, as she did, she composed what she was going to say.
Once in her office, she stood by the door and pulled a chair beside the one she usually sat on and kneeled down and placed her hands on Tommy’s thin shoulders.
‘Sit down and don’t look so scared. You’ve done nothing wrong.’
Tommy scrambled onto the seat and looked so small against the large cushions. She wanted to scoop him up and hide him away from the horrors of the world, to make his life as happy as the few minutes he’d just spent downstairs.
‘Tommy –’ Ruby spoke in a soft voice as she clicked the door shut ‘– I’ve asked you many times about your mummy, but your uncle never tells me about her, and you seem to ignore me. I have a problem, and only you can help. I need honest answers. Understand?’
Tommy chewed on a nail, and nodded. Ruby sat on her chair and chose her words carefully.
‘The other day you were scared, beaten and exhausted. When I took you home, Beatty and I cared for you and it worried us about how you got into that state. You’d not been at school –’
‘There ain’t none,’ Tommy retorted.
‘True enough,’ Ruby said, not allowing him the opportunity to change the subject, ‘but there are a few days when you can have lessons. If your mummy needs help to find out when they are, I can ask the other mothers for her. Would you like me to do that?’ Ruby pulled her chair in front of him and sat down.
‘No point,’ Tommy said and returned his fingers to his mouth.
‘Why’s that, Tommy? Won’t your uncle let you go?’
Tommy kept chewing at his fingers.
‘Where is he today? Left, and gone to fight the war?’
Ruby knew she’d used sarcasm in her words, but Tommy wouldn’t understand the tone, simply the question.
‘Nah. ’e’s gone ta do business back ’ome – London.’
‘Ah, so it’s just you and Mummy at home then? Do you want me to walk you back? I was going to ask about you and your new friend downstairs –’
‘Douglas.’
‘Douglas, I see. Well, I was going to ask your mummy if you would like to spend a day or so at ours, and maybe Douglas too. A little holiday, and a break for mummy, as she must be tired looking after you and working all day.’
Tommy slid off the seat and walked to the door, and Ruby rose from her seat, blocking his way out.
‘Ain’t gonna ’appen. You gonna let me out?’ he shouted and kicked at the door.
With a sigh, Ruby knew she’d got as far as she could with him, and opened the door and followed Tommy downstairs.
Douglas ran to him, but Tommy pushed a grubby hand his way.
‘See ya, Dougie.’
Unlocking the front door, she watched the two friends part, and Douglas’s disappointed face summed up her feelings too. Ruby ruffled Tommy’s hair as he brushed past her and stepped outside, resisting the urge to pull him back to safety.