A Change of Fortune (13 page)

Whoever had named this street must have had a perverse sense of humour, she decided, as there wasn’t a tree in sight. The road was narrow and dingy, with the front doors right on the pavement. The paintwork on the doors and windows was peeling on most of them, revealing rotting wood underneath. Jenny began to shake. These were slum dwellings, and, from what she could see of the men and women standing on the front steps talking to each other, these people were very poor. Her step faltered. How could she ask someone she’d met only once to take her in? But she didn’t have anywhere else
to go. She would have to throw herself on Fred and Glad’s mercy. If they couldn’t help her, they might know where she could find shelter until the morning.

No. 20, not far now. She dropped her bag on the pavement outside No. 14 and let out a ragged sigh. Some effort had been made to make the front look presentable. Although a coat of fresh paint was needed, at least it wasn’t peeling off, and the step was clean enough to grace the Stannard house. Dismay tore through her when she remembered how they had treated her. They hadn’t needed any proof before calling her a thief, and to dismiss her in that way had been brutal. It would have been sensible to ask if she could stay the night and leave in the morning, but, if she’d done that, they might have insisted that she leave the dress and pendant behind. They were all she had left of value and she couldn’t risk it. She hoped she never saw any of them again – except Edna, of course. She was going to miss her very much.

A group of men turned into the street, singing at the tops of their voices and reeling about all over the place. Drunk! In panic Jenny hammered on the front door. Oh, please be in, she prayed. The men had seen her and were already calling out; from the remarks they were making, they were obviously intent on having a bit of fun. She picked up her case and glanced around for somewhere to hide, but there wasn’t anywhere. It was a narrow street of terraced houses as far as she could see, without even a small gap between them. She was just about to bolt as the door
opened. When she saw Fred’s kindly face a tear trickled down her cheek in relief.

‘I need help, please!’

Fred peered at her in the gloom.

‘I’m Jenny.’

‘Well, I’ll be blowed, so it is.’ He stepped back and opened the door wide. ‘Come in.’

She practically ran in. The front door opened straight into the living room and Glad was already on her feet.

‘My dear child, whatever’s happened to you? You’re in a right state.’

That was too much for Jenny’s frayed nerves. She stood in the middle of the room, head bowed, and sobbed her heart out. Now she was safe, the horror of what had happened this evening was too much to bear. She’d lost her job, been accused of being a thief, and had to leave Edna behind. She tried to pull herself together, being ashamed of carrying on like this in front of people she hardly knew.

Fred took the case out of her hands. ‘There, don’t take on so. You’re all right now. Put the kettle on, Glad.’

‘Come and sit down.’

A young woman took her arm and pushed her gently into a chair. It was only then that she looked around and saw that the tiny room was crowded with people. She wiped her eyes, blew her nose and gulped. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come here, but I didn’t know what else to do.’

Glad put a cup of tea in her hand. ‘We told you to come to us if you was in trouble, didn’t we?’

‘I know but it’s such an imposition.’

Fred grinned. ‘Still using those long words, are you? Drink your tea now.’

Her hands were shaking so much it was difficult to bring the cup to her lips, but she managed it without spilling too much. After a couple of mouthfuls she began to feel calmer. Fred and Glad were just as she remembered them. They wouldn’t turn her out.

‘I was going to try to sleep at Marble Arch Station,’ she told them.

Fred tutted. ‘You couldn’t do that. It’s much too dangerous for a young girl.’

‘Let’s introduce you to everyone.’ Glad smiled. ‘This is our daughter, Ivy, and her husband, Ron. Their two kids, Alice and baby Bert. And this is Fred’s brother, Stan.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you all.’ She pulled a hanky out of her pocket, blew her nose and gave a watery smile.

‘Now,’ Fred said, sitting opposite her, ‘you tell us what this is all about.’

For the next half an hour she explained what had happened since she’d met them and they’d taken her to the pawnbroker’s, and about the Stannards dismissing her because they thought she was a thief.

‘But I’m not,’ she declared stoutly. ‘Those things are mine, honest.’

Glad patted her hand. ‘We know that, my dear.’

Of course they would, Jenny thought, but it was wonderful to know that someone believed she wasn’t
lying. They’d seen the items she’d sold to the pawnbroker. ‘I had to leave at once because I was afraid they would find out who I really was.’

‘Is that man you told us about still after you?’ Fred asked.

‘Yes, and he’s offering a large reward to anyone who can tell him where I am.’ She stood up suddenly, the cup she was still holding rattling in the saucer. That kind of money was probably more than this family had ever seen in their lives. Her situation was hopeless. Why had she ever thought she could get away? But perhaps she could do something good before she condemned herself to a wretched life.

‘Sit down, Jen.’ Fred relieved her of the cup.

After sinking into the chair again, she gazed at Fred and Glad, feeling bewildered and very lost. ‘I don’t know how I can survive without a job. I can’t go back to the agency, because Mrs Dearing would never find me another place, and I don’t stand a chance without references. There’s only one thing I can do and that is go home.’ She felt like moaning at the thought but managed to keep her anguish inside her. ‘But that awful man isn’t going to get me unless he pays! If I tell you who I am, then you can claim the reward of a hundred pounds.’

Fred was immediately on his feet, an outraged expression on his face. ‘We’ll do no such thing! As far as we’re concerned, you’re a young girl by the name of Jenny who is in trouble. That’s all we need to know.’

‘Oh, I didn’t mean to insult you.’ She gazed at each
person in the room, wide-eyed with horror that her good intentions had caused such a reaction. Every one had the same disgusted look on their face.

Glad sat beside her and reached for her hand. ‘We wouldn’t turn you in, not even for the princely sum of one hundred quid.’

‘We might not have much,’ Stan said, ‘but we do have our pride. Fred told us about meeting you and how brave they thought you was.’

‘That’s right,’ Fred told her. ‘We don’t care who you are. We took a right liking to you when we showed you how to deal with the pawnbroker. Now you’ve come to us for help and we’ll give it willingly.’

‘You must be fair worn out,’ Glad said with a smile. ‘You can bunk down with our granddaughter Alice tonight. There’s room for you two little ’uns in that bed, and in the morning we’ll decide what to do, eh? Does you want something to eat?’

Jenny shook her head, tears very close to the surface again, but tears of relief this time. ‘No, thank you, I’m not hungry, just very tired.’

‘One thing’s for sure, my girl.’ Fred gave her a stern look. ‘You’re not going back to become that man’s wife if you don’t want to. Is that understood?’

She nodded again, beyond words now for the kindness they were showing to her. Then she stood on legs feeling like pieces of wet rag, and let Ivy lead her up the narrow stairs to where her daughter slept. The room was small and dark with room only for the bed and a cot in the corner, but it looked like heaven to Jenny.

‘You have a nice rest now and you’ll feel better in the morning.’ Ivy handed her the case she’d brought up with her. ‘Have you got everything you need?’

‘Oh, yes, thank you.’ Jenny trembled. ‘I thought I was going to have to sleep outside tonight.’

‘You did the right thing by coming to us. My mum and dad haven’t stopped talking about you and wondering how you was getting on. They’re right glad to see you and pleased as punch that you came to them for help.’ Then she left and went back downstairs.

I’ll never forget this, Jenny vowed as she got in the small bed. One day I’ll repay them for their kindness.

10

Exhaustion swamped Jenny as soon as she put her head on the pillow, and the next thing she knew it was morning, with five-year-old Alice sleeping peacefully beside her. She marvelled at the attitude of these people. Alice hadn’t seemed at all perturbed about sharing her bed. The cot was already empty, and she could hear the baby crying downstairs. If he had cried in the night, she hadn’t heard him, but she’d been exhausted and doubted if anything could have woken her up.

‘Ah, you’re awake.’ Glad bustled into the room. ‘Up Alice, or you’ll be late for school.’

The little girl tumbled out of bed and ran from the room with a bright smile on her face, then Glad studied Jenny carefully. ‘You look better this morning. In bad need of a good night’s kip, you was.’

Jenny sat up. ‘What time is it?’

‘Half past seven. Now why don’t you get up, have a bite to eat and we’ll talk over what’s to be done.’

Jenny swung her legs out of bed. ‘Where’s the bathroom?’

‘We ain’t got one of those, Jen. There’s a privy and outhouse by the kitchen. I’ll boil you up a drop of water so you can have a wash.’ Then she bustled out again.

Before going downstairs, Jenny glanced in the other
two rooms on this floor. Each contained a double bed and no room for anything else. She wondered where Fred’s brother, Stan, slept. There certainly wasn’t room up here, so he must sleep downstairs in the front room. The house was very small, she noticed, as she made her way down the steep stairs; you could have fitted the whole of the top floor into the bedroom she’d had at home. And even the attic room she’d shared with Edna had been bigger than these. She was going to miss Edna; they had become good friends. Jenny decided that once she’d sorted things out, she would let Edna know she was all right. It would be wrong to let her worry.

The kitchen consisted of a large white sink with one tap, an ancient gas stove, a small black leaded fire and a well-scrubbed wooden table.

Glad looked up from slicing a loaf of bread. ‘There’s a kettle of hot water on the fire, and I’ve put soap and a towel outside for you.’

‘Thank you.’ Jenny picked up the heavy black cast-iron kettle and went out to the wash-house. The rough brickwork had been given a coat of whitewash, as had the outside toilet. Conditions were primitive in Jenny’s eyes, but it was spotlessly clean. She shivered as she stripped down for a wash. Being late September, there was an early-morning nip in the air. It must be freezing out here in the winter, she thought, as she got back into her clothes as quickly as possible.

Picking up the kettle, she went back to the kitchen, a heavy weight of sadness pressing on her. Her quiet
moan was laced with fear. What was to become of her?

Her shoulders drooped as she put the kettle back on the draining board. She couldn’t stay here. Glad and Fred obviously had enough trouble caring for their own family. They didn’t have room for someone who was nothing to do with them.

‘Come and sit down,’ Glad said, placing an arm around her. ‘Fred and Stan will be back for their breakfast soon, and then we’ll sort something out for you.’

Jenny didn’t know what could be done.

Fred and Stan walked in just then, quickly followed by Ivy. They all sat round the table, and Glad put a thick slice of bread in front of each of them. It was spread with a thin scraping of butter, but it tasted good to Jenny. She was very hungry, and the tea was hot and strong.

‘Get some good stuff this morning?’ Glad asked the men.

‘Not bad, but prices is getting steep,’ Fred told her. ‘And we’ve just heard that Talbots Engineering has laid off fifty workers. Things is getting tough.’

‘I know, and I reckon it’s going to get worse.’ Glad’s usual cheery expression slipped for a moment, then brightened again. ‘At least you and Stan can’t get laid off because you work for yourselves.’

‘What about Ron?’ Stan asked Ivy. ‘Is he still all right at his factory?’

‘So far, but there’s talk about cutting the hours because of falling orders. He’s a good carpenter but
sales of furniture have dropped off. And that means a cut in pay. I don’t know how we’re ever going to be able to afford a place of our own, Mum.’

‘Don’t you worry about that.’ Glad dismissed her daughter’s worries. ‘We’re a bit cramped, but we’ll manage.’

Fred gave Jenny a wry smile. ‘When you told us that your dad had lost everything in the stock market crash, I never thought something that had happened in New York would touch us. I was wrong, though. That disaster is starting to be felt everywhere.’

Jenny was puzzled. It was understandable that as her father had been a member of the New York Stock Exchange, he had lost his money when it collapsed. But how could something like that touch the lives of ordinary people? The Templeton School had been a lovely place, but Jenny was beginning to see how little it taught them about the outside world.