with perspiration as she carried yet more plates out of the kitchen. She glanced at the clock, praying the lunchtime rush was almost over. Her lips were parched, throat dry, and she felt weak with hunger, legs wobbling beneath her.
Bernie was standing at table one, talking to a huge, fair-haired, craggy-faced man who looked like he’d been in a fight. She shuddered, hating violence, but when she finished giving the customers on table seven their order, Bernie beckoned her over.
‘Pearl, this is Derek Lewis. He’s an amateur boxer and a good one. Take his order next, will you?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Blimey, girl, there’s no need to call me sir. Bernie will do.’
‘Is there any steak-and-kidney pie left?’ Derek asked.
‘No, I’m afraid not, but the liver and bacon is very tasty.’
Pearl saw that Bernie was looking at her with approval, and when Derek agreed to have the liver, Bernie positively beamed.
‘Well done, love,’ he whispered as she hurried past, slip in hand and heading for the kitchen.
When she had cleared three more tables and taken another order, the bell rang in the kitchen. Pearl went to get the order, which was the liver and bacon for table one.
‘Don’t worry, love,’ said Derek Lewis, when she brought it over. ‘Bernie tipped me the wink and I’ll have a word with the other costermongers. They’ll leave you alone in future.’
‘Oh, no, don’t do that. I don’t want them to think I’ve been complaining.’ Pearl’s eyes were wide with appeal, but then she suddenly swayed. The room dimmed, voices came as though from a distance, her knees buckled, and she knew no more.
When Pearl opened her eyes, she saw unusually pale blue ones looking back at her and it took her a moment to realise she was in Derek Lewis’s arms.
She struggled, but became still when he said softly, ‘It’s all right, pet. I’m just taking you through to the kitchen.’
‘Wh … what happened?’
‘You fainted.’
Pearl was placed on a chair and, dizzy again, she leaned forward.
‘What’s going on?’ Dolly asked sharply.
‘She passed out, Mrs D. Your old man told me to bring her in here.’
‘Yeah, well, you can go now.’
When Derek left the kitchen, Gertie hurried over. She gave Pearl a glass of water, and then asked, ‘’Ave you been sick in the mornings, love?’
‘Sick … no.’
‘So you ain’t up the duff then?’
‘Up the duff?’ Pearl parroted, her head still swimming.
‘She’s asking if you’re in the family way,’ Dolly snapped.
‘No, of course I’m not.’
‘Why did you faint? Are you ill?’
‘Oh, no. It’s just that I didn’t have any breakfast this morning and—’
Bernie stuck his head around the door. ‘How is she?’
‘She’s just hungry. Can you manage without her for a while?’
‘No, not really. There’s customers waiting to be served.’
‘I can give him a hand for a little while,’ Gertie offered.
Dolly exhaled loudly. ‘All right, go on then, but just while I give this daft cow something to eat, and then she can get back to work.’
Gertie scampered out, and as Dolly shoved a pork chop onto a plate, Pearl sat watching, mouth salivating. Her head was clearer now, but her stomach rumbled.
A dollop of mash was added, then some vegetables and thick gravy, Dolly’s voice gruff as she plonked it in front of her. ‘Right, get that down you.’
‘Thank you,’ Pearl said, and though she tried not to scoff, in a very short time the food disappeared.
‘I don’t think going without breakfast is reason enough to faint. When was the last time you had anything to eat?’
‘I … I had some soup yesterday lunchtime.’
‘Christ, will you speak up, girl?’
‘I said I had some soup yesterday.’
‘Is that all? No wonder you passed out. Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry?’
‘I didn’t like to, and as I started after ten, I didn’t think I was entitled to a break.’
‘For goodness’ sake! We aren’t bad employers and you only had to say.’
‘There’s something else, Mrs Dolby …’
Pearl paused and Dolly snapped, ‘Well, spit it out.’
‘I don’t think I’ve got enough tips to pay for this meal.’
‘Pay for it? You don’t have to pay for it! Lunch is a perk of the job.’
Pearl’s eyes lit up and, having, gulped down the glass of water, she rose to her feet. A free lunch every day would make all the difference. She would be able to manage on the wages and wouldn’t have to look for an evening job after all. Things were looking up.
‘Thank you for the meal. It was wonderful, but I’d best get back to work.’
‘Are you sure you’re feeling all right now?’
‘Oh, yes, I’m fine,’ Pearl said, still smiling as she hurried out of the kitchen. She’d been warned about Mrs Dolby, but the woman wasn’t so bad. The job was hard, but she was sure it would become easier once she got the hang of it, and if they found another waitress it could be a doddle. She would be finished at three thirty, leaving her lots of time to study, her goal now becoming a little closer.
‘Are you all right now?’
Yes, I’m fine thanks, Gertie.’
‘Right, I’ll get back to the kitchen. There’s only one more customer waiting to be served on table eight, and a few more to clear.’
‘Thanks,’ Pearl said again.
She glanced around the café, but there was no sign of Derek Lewis. Determined to thank him for his help on her way home, she later asked Bernie where she could find him.
‘He’s a costermonger selling china about halfway down the market.’
‘Why are they called costermongers?’ Pearl asked.
‘It’s
