Riches to Rags by Beryl Matthews

Author:Beryl Matthews
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781405941860
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2019-06-03T16:00:00+00:00

19

They were managing, but only just, and, with the cold weather nearly on them, Jenny was sick with worry. Ma was extremely frail now, but her tongue was still as sharp, which was a comfort. Ron and Jimmy had been able to find an occasional job of gardening, but there wouldn’t be much of that now until the spring. Everyone in the street was gathering together anything they could use to keep a fire going when it got really cold. Any food that wasn’t perishable was being carefully hoarded. Everyone joked that they were preparing for a siege, and that’s just what it felt like to Jenny. This winter was going to be long and hard, and they all knew it. Fred and Stan were having a tough time keeping the stall going, and more often than not didn’t earn enough to buy enough fresh goods for the next day’s trading. Unemployment was still growing, and there was no sign of things improving in the near future.

Edna had found herself a young man, and Jenny had seen her only a couple of times lately. Each time they’d met, her friend had brought her a small parcel of food from cook, and she was very grateful for their kindness. Edna had tried to persuade her to get out of Lambeth, but Jenny had firmly refused. In this humble house, in the middle of a depression, she had found kindness, affection and love. She wouldn’t leave.

A blast of cold wind whistled through the back door, and Jenny closed it quickly. A centre where people could go for help would be a good thing. Somewhere warm to sit if they couldn’t heat their own homes, a bowl of hot soup and perhaps second-hand clothes …

Ma was fast asleep, two cats wailing at each other the only sound from outside. Jenny sat at the kitchen table and closed her eyes. She had visited Lambeth Council’s offices to beg for their help, but they had so many people in need that they obviously didn’t know which way to turn. The Salvation Army had been next on her list. They had been kind and understanding, but they too were already stretched to breaking point.

Jenny stood up and walked quietly up the narrow stairs to her room. There was one other thing she could do, of course. Pride had kept her back, but in this situation there wasn’t room for pride. Tomorrow she’d make that visit!

The house in Bruton Street looked exactly the same as when Jenny had fled from it a year ago. The step was immaculate, and the brass doorknocker gleamed in the watery sun. She wondered whose job it was now.

Slipping round to the servants’ entrance, Jenny pushed a note under the door for Edna. It was just to warn her that she was here. She hadn’t mentioned this visit to her friend, and she didn’t want her to be taken by surprise. Then she went back to the front door, straightened her hat and smoothed the creases from her coat.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.