The Very Thought of You
Chapter 18
Ruby's hint about her behaviour had not been completely lost on Charlie. She had to admit that her relationship with Joey was a very unusual one. She would need to calm it down somewhat before other people started to notice. They had done nothing wrong accept get a little carried away at times. Her feelings for Joey were extraordinary to say the least. She had never had a best friend before, even when she was a young girl, but the need to have her best friend near, as often as possible, was almost incomprehensible. She felt guilty. She was aware of Joey's gender preferences, but had not treated her with the detachment which, perhaps, would have been better, under the circumstances. Instead, Charlie had formed an extraordinary attachment to the girl and was now guilt ridden.
"You ready?" Joey shouted as she looked forward to the country walk and picnic which Charlie had suggested the evening before.
"Erm, Joey. I'm really sorry, but I'm afraid I can't go now. Something's come up at work and I've got to go in." Charlie fibbed.
"Oh! Okay, can't be helped. Will I see you at lunch time?" Joey asked, hopefully.
"No...Probably not."
"Okay. I'll take myself up to the allotment. Got some tomatoes to pick. Well, have a good day!" Joey said cheerfully, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Yes, you too." Charlie felt terrible lying to her best friend. But she couldn't take the risk of allowing Joey to form any sort of attachment to her.
Charlie avoided Joey's company as much as she possible for the rest of that week. Joey was aware that something had changed and hoped she hadn't done or said anything which may have upset her friend. She tried to speak to Charlie one evening about it, but Charlie dismissed her fears as 'silly' and had escaped further interrogation by going to have a bath. Charlie saw the hurt in Joey's eyes which, she had been the cause of, but there was nothing to be done. Her own tears fell into the bath water.
It was the evening of the School Benefit Concert, in aid of Children from the East End of London who had been made homeless or orphaned during the dreadful bombing raids in that area the previous year.
Ruby and Vince had already left home earlier than the others in order to get themselves ready for their School concert.
Janet, Joey and Charlie were all to attend. Charlie could hardly avoid Joey that evening. After all, she was the one who purchased the ticket for her. Joey, Charlie noticed, had been very quiet for a couple of days and was only speaking when necessary. She wasn't moody or rude, just quiet. Charlie guessed why. The knowledge of this didn't make her feel any better.
"So, what's young Ruby doing in the concert this evening, Constable Buckton?" Colleen Smart from the bakers in the high street, asked the Policewoman.
"Oh, just some backstage stuff, I believe, Mrs. Smart. Ruby doesn't sing, dance or tell jokes!" Charlie informed her, with a smile.
"Oh! Shame," Said Colleen. "I love to see the youngsters up there giving the performance of their little lives in aid of the torment of others. It's my belief..." She was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of Martha Holden and Lieutenant Hugo Austin.
"Good evening girls!" Martha enthused. "How are we all?"
"Oh fine, just fine." Replied Mrs. Smart as she disappeared off into the crowd.
The others laughed. "Silly old bat!" Martha said. Can't believe she's a relation of mine!
"Well," said Hugo, "that explains a vast deal!"
"Oi!" Martha complained, digging Hugo in the ribs.
"So, Miss. Buckton, how are you this evening?" Hugo oiled.
"Very well, thank you." Replied Charlie, trying to look anywhere rather than at Hugo, who had moved in very close. Joey noticed this and wondered how Charlie could put up with such as obnoxious fellow as Hugo Austin around her.
"Looking forward to the show?" Charlie asked, politely.
"Indeed, especially if you will do me the honour of sitting next to me this evening?" Hugo replied with a smile.
"Well, I'm not sure of our seating arrangements at the moment." Charlie said, desperately trying to produce a feasible reason for not sitting with Hugo. She was saved by Martha who'd wandered off and found her Grandfather, Alf Stewart, who had suggested that she and Hugo sat with him.
"Saved by the bell, eh?" Joey couldn't resist putting in. Charlie glanced at her aware that these were the first words Joey had spoken to her without a prompt for some time. A tide of happy feelings flooded over her and she smiled warmly at her friend. She took her by the arm and guided her to a seat – at the opposite side to where Hugo and Martha were placed.
The lights dimmed in the School hall. Without them, the room would have been completely dark due to the blackout matter at the large windows. The stage lights were lit and the old School piano broke into a chorus of Noel Coward's 'London Pride'.
Charlie looked at Joey catching her eye and smiled. Joey returned a smile but Charlie noticed that it didn't come from her eyes.
The show had been going for an hour or so, with all the usual delights; jugglers, comic songs, short extracts from famous plays and little girls impersonating 'Shirley Temple'. Charlie was glad when the lights went up and it was time for an interval. Chair legs scraped along the polished wood floor as grateful family and friends got up to gossip with neighbours, have a cup of tea, pay a visit to the toilet or just walk about and de-numb their sleeping behinds!
Martha and Hugo drifted across to see their friends.
"Well, that's the first bit done. Just another five hours to go!" Martha quipped.
"Oh, it's wonderful!" Interrupted Colleen Smart, who just happened to be passing by. "All those little faces..."
"Charlie," smarmed Hugo, "may I have a little word?" he asked pulling her gently to one side.
"How about dinner later this week? I finish my leave soon. So you see you'll be making a lonely Sailor very happy if you will."
Charlie shifted uneasily. "Well, Hugo. It's very sweet of you to offer, but I really can't spare the time at the moment..." Suddenly, Charlie felt her arm being pulled gently in the opposite direction.
"Sorry." She called to Hugo and smiled gratefully at Joey who handed her a cup of tea.
"My God! Does he never give up?" Charlie said, quietly.
"You must be encouraging him." Joey said, looking back towards Hugo.
"I am not!" Charlie cried, trying to convince her friend that she was not at all interested in the young man and little understanding the reason why this was so important.
Joey grinned.
They were now nearing the end of the benefit concert. The music teacher and pianist, Mr. Copeland, stood up to announce the last act.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. It is now my pleasure to introduce one of our most talented pupils in the School. She is going to sing a song very close to our hearts at the moment, especially we who reside in Kent. For you this evening, unaccompanied ..."
"Oh Lord!" Charlie whispered to Joey. "This will be screams!"
"...Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome on stage, Ruby Buckton!"
Charlie began to choke and Janet and Joey patted her on the back to help her breathe again.
The lights dipped and Ruby walked onto the stage in silence. She was dressed just in School Uniform. She wore no stage make up or fancy costume but perched herself on a wooden crate. A back drop painting of some white cliffs had been draped across the piano.
Charlie stopped choking and everyone in the audience settled down. Ruby opened her mouth to sing.
"There'll be blue birds over, the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow, just you wait and see..."
The young girl sang with a voice of an angel! Charlie sat with her mouth open in utter shock. She had no idea that her little sister could sing so beautifully and with such emotion.
"There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after, tomorrow when the world is free..."
Tears fell from Charlie's eyes as she watched and listened to her little sister on stage. Their mother would have been so proud if only she could have been there. She put her hand over her mouth to try and suppress her sobs. She felt her other hand being taken and squeezed by Joey. Charlie glanced at Joey and noted she also had tears of pride in her eyes.
"The Shepherd will tend his sheep, the valley will bloom again, and Jimmy will go to sleep, in his own little room again..."
Janet handed Charlie a handkerchief to mop her tears. There were other sniffles coming from around the School hall. Obviously, Ruby's chosen song had struck a chord with many in the audience.
"There'll be blue birds over, the white cliffs of Dover, tomorrow, just you wait and see."
The song ended and the audience, not knowing if to weep or cheer, decided on the later and all stood, cheered and clapped the little figure alone on the School stage.
"My God! Charlie! Why didn't you tell me she could sing like that?" Janet shouted over the cheers for Ruby.
"I – I didn't know!" Charlie said, with a mixture of pride and guilt.
The School piano struck up once more and all the little contributors of the evening came back on stage and sang, with the help of the audience, a medley of old favourites from 'Roll Out The Barrel' to 'There'll Always Be An England'. When the singing finished everyone cheered themselves and everyone else and made ready to leave.
Charlie, Janet and Joey waited in the corridor for Vince and Ruby to re-appear. Everyone who knew Charlie was Ruby's sister congratulated her accordingly for having such a talent in the family and nearly all asked why it had been hidden away.
At last Vince and Ruby joined them. Charlie looked at Ruby with pride. She reached out for her little sister to come in for a hug, which Ruby did, with pleasure. Joey smiled at the happy scene. She thought of her brother and the lack of love they shared. Why, even in war time, did they have to fight?
They all walked home together singing and laughing and looking forward to a 'tomorrow when the world might be free'.