THE DEPRIVED...Chapter 2...Part5.

A continuation of my book.

The room upstairs was no better than any cheap hotel room with paper hanging off walls and the damp stripping the paintwork. Apart from the little dressing table minus its drawer and with a chipped mirror and the bed there was no other furniture. The bare floorboards acted as a wardrobe, the clothes scattered around. On the bed lay a dress and assorted underclothing.
“Them’s yours, dearie.” said Goldie, sitting on the end of the bed and watching as Mary stripped.
Mary felt very conscious of Goldie’s stare.
“It’s alright, dearie.” Goldie laughed. “You aint got nothing as I aint seen before.”
The clothing Mary put on was surprisingly pleasant to the eye and although giving a dash of cleavage, the blue velvet gown gave a subtle hint of sensuality.
“Let me do something to your hair.” offered Goldie, standing up and seating Mary on the bed. “See! Do it like this. If I pile the front up and pin it, well it gives an impression of thickness. You do have lovely hair, just a hint of red in the darker locks. I wish I had hair like that. Now, that’s it! Stand up and look at yourself in the mirror.” said Goldie and Mary stood up and stared at herself.
Goldie had worked on her hair and her face so that she looked more like a painted doll than the reflection she was used to.
“Come on, dearie. Let’s go downstairs. You have work to do and don’t forget, if a man offers you money then take it and hide it in your shift. Don’t give it to Danny because you won’t get anything at all. He’ll just take it!”
Mary felt herself warming to the big blowsy woman and smiled, thanking her for her help.
“Drink this.” said Goldie, pulling out a small flask from beneath her skirt.
Mary took the flask and drank, knowing she would need the fiery courage when she went downstairs. She gasped, screwing the cap back on. Goldie laughed.
“You’ll need the drink, dearie. It takes away the pain.” she said as she took back the flask and hid it once again behind the red garter.
Downstairs, the noise had livened up even more with men dancing drunkenly while the women shouted and lifted skirts. Other women sat on sailor’s laps and were kissing with total unconcern for those who meandered the floor in search of a partner. A table went over as a fight broke out and Goldie held Mary back till Henry and the other thickset man grabbed the scuffling pair and threw them out into the street. As Mary walked towards the booth a man lurched forward to confront her.
“She’s not for the likes of you, you scum!” shouted Goldie, putting a hand to the man’s face and pushing him away.
The man began to kiss Goldie and she complied, winking at Mary before pushing the man back down into a chair.
“I’ll be back for you!” she shouted as she led Mary towards the curtained booth. “Just wait there, dearie. Take a seat and I’m sure Danny will be with you soon. I have work to do with that drunken oaf.” said Goldie as she left with a wink.
Mary sat down at the table and waited.
“Someone would like to meet you.” said Danny, suddenly appearing and poking his head through the curtain.
And just as suddenly Danny’s head disappeared and the curtain dropped. Mary waited and then the curtain was pulled right back. The man who had drawn the curtain aside entered and sat opposite Mary. He was middle-aged and rather handsome, stylish in a long frockcoat and top hat with a red velvet sash to the waist.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked.
His eyes were deep blue and smiled with a roguish twinkle. Mary returned the smile.
“Shall I get you both a drink?”
Goldie had poked her head in and jollied the man along, then going to the bar to get the drinks the man had gallantly ordered.

 

Sam had waited till Beth had fallen asleep before putting on his coat and creeping out of the door. He had listened to his mother and Beth talking earlier, hearing his mother mention the Seven Bells tavern and its whereabouts and he now made his way towards the Commercial Road, asking late night strollers where the Seven Bells tavern was. He pulled the collar of his coat up against the cold night air and peered through the window of the tavern. He squinted as he peered through the smoke, his eyes searching until he saw his mother descending the stairs with Goldie. His eyes widened with surprise when he saw the way she was dressed, at first he was unsure it was her until he caught full sight of her under the gas lamp. He watched as a man made a grab for her and saw the big blowsy woman kiss the man then push him into a chair. His lips curled as his face hardened. He would say nothing but in his mind he would remember what he saw. With his hands deep in his coat pockets, he began to cry as he made his way home.