Free Anne Douglas by The Handkerchief Tree

‘Why shouldn’t you?’
    ‘Because there won’t just be me wanting to work for Maybel’s.’
    ‘Still, you had Miss Ruddick to help you apply. She’d be good. Awfully bright, they say.’
    ‘She’s much nicer than I thought, Cassie. And I was just thinking, when I looked at her, that she’s got a very kind face.’
    ‘Must’ve been very helpful, for you to say that,’ Cassie laughed. ‘When she first came all you wanted was Miss MacLaren back again!’
    ‘She was helpful,’ Shona agreed seriously. ‘And I was grateful. Now I’ve got to wait to see if Miss Bryce is helpful, too.’
    And she was. As Miss Ruddick had said she might, Miss Bryce rang the shop, discovered that the job was not yet taken, recommended Shona and posted off her application. Three days later, a letter arrived from Maybel’s Flowers, signed by Mrs May, the proprietor, inviting Shona to come for interview on the following Tuesday at 2 p.m.
    ‘Told you!’ cried Cassie.

Seventeen
    All young persons leaving Edina Lodge to begin work were able to choose some clothes from the stores to replace their orphanage uniforms. Suits, or sports jackets and trousers for the boys; costumes in tweed or serge for the girls. Nothing exciting, the girls would complain, nothing fashionable! Still, with no families to provide anything else, they couldn’t grumble, and most of them were going into service just as the boys were going into the army or navy, and would find themselves in other kinds of uniforms anyway.
    Shona’s costume, of a rather loose jacket and a longer skirt than she would have liked, was made in dark blue tweed. With it she wore a white blouse with a neat collar and pearl buttons, and a dark blue beret, and on the day of her interview thought she didn’t look too bad. Quite smart, in fact, though rather pale; she was so very nervous.
    ‘I know it’s no use telling you not to worry,’ said Miss Ruddick, accompanying her to Maybel’s as the time approached two o’clock, ‘but just try to relax and do your best. I’ve every confidence you will.’
    ‘Thing is, there’ll be plenty of others in for this job,’ Shona pointed out. ‘Maybe more suited than me.’
    ‘You will be as good as anyone, I’m sure.’
    ‘But I’ve got to be better.’
    ‘Better, then.’ Miss Ruddick placed an encouraging hand on Shona’s arm. ‘Remember that. But here we are – here’s the shop. And we’re just ten minutes early. Perfect.’
    They halted at the door to Maybel’s, open on that fine summer afternoon, though a striped awning shielded the windows from the sun. Miss Ruddick dropped her hand. ‘I’ll just take you in and introduce you before I leave you, Shona. Then I’ll look round a bit and come back later.’
    Strung up as though on wires, Shona could only nod, before following Miss Ruddick into the interior of the flower shop. Where, immediately, strangely, she felt calmed. It was all just as she remembered. Cool, shady, filled with plants and massed containers of flowers, the air moist and scented like no other air in George Street – how it took her back! Back over the years to the time when she’d left her mother and sneaked a look at the lovely shop and been so charmed. Of course, she’d had no right then to be there, whereas now she was expected. But only for an interview, which might or might not go well. Breathing fast, she stood very still, only her eyes moving everywhere.
    As soon as she spotted Shona and Miss Ruddick, a young woman with light brown hair wearing a green blouse and skirt stepped forward to ask if she could help, while at the back of the shop a blonde girl, also wearing green, was looking only at Shona. Wondering if she was a candidate, no doubt. But where were all the other people hoping for the job?
    Miss Ruddick was introducing herself, saying she was from Edina Lodge, then presenting Shona. ‘This is Shona Murray; she’s come for the interview at two o’clock.’
    ‘Oh, yes, with Mrs May.’