Ruby by Heather Burnside (carter reed txt) 📗

least she knew how to command some respect from those who secretly thought they were better than her. It was Trina’s first step in learning how to use her strength of character and imposing physique to her advantage. And that knowledge would stand her in good stead in the future.

2

August 1991

It was Sunday morning. Trina groaned when she heard her mother shout from her bedroom doorway.

‘Come on, you as well. We can’t afford to be idle on the Lord’s Day.’

Trina looked at the time on the old alarm clock sitting on top of her chest of drawers. Eight o’clock. Why couldn’t her mother let her lie in on a Sunday just for once? All the other local girls got a lie in on a Sunday. In fact, some of them didn’t get up till eleven, and Trina didn’t see why she should be forced out of bed. She turned over and shut her eyes. Just as she felt herself drifting off, she heard her mother shouting again.

‘What on earth do you think you’re doing, Trina? Come on, up. Now!’

As she shouted, Daisy pulled back the bedclothes.

‘Aw, Mam,’ Trina pleaded. ‘It’s Sunday.’

‘I’m well aware of what day it is, my girl. That’s why we’ve got to be up. Now, come on. And don’t you dare take that tone with me if you know what’s good for you.’

Trina looked up at her mother who was staring intently back, her tense body language letting her daughter know that she wouldn’t stand for any arguing. When Daisy said you had to be up, you had to be up and that was that. Trina sat up in the bed and stretched till her mother left the room, satisfied that she had made a move.

When Trina got downstairs her mother was busy in the kitchen making breakfast while her brothers were in the living room getting ready.

‘Go and help Tyler with his clothes then you can get yourself dressed and eat your food,’ said Daisy.

Trina sighed and walked back towards the living room.

‘And don’t come that attitude with me,’ said Daisy.

Another hour and they were all fed and dressed, and the boys had been given a brisk wash before they were allowed to leave the house. Daisy had swapped her everyday jeans for a smart skirt and jacket, and her hair was neatly plaited. Likewise, Trina’s hair was in plaits and she wore her best dress.

The boys were also kitted out in their best clothes although the trousers were now too short for the older two and Tyler’s jacket was a bit too tight. Unfortunately, the children outgrew their clothes before Daisy could afford replacements, and the few new clothes she’d bought were in the wash. Her own clothes were old but she kept them looking good.

They caught the 192 bus near to home and within no time they had arrived at the Bethshan Tabernacle, a popular local church, with Daisy’s dire warnings to behave still ringing in the children’s ears. Trina had already picked up on the fact that it was important to her mother to create a good impression.

Daisy and her children sat amongst her group of regular friends and relatives. Trina noticed her grandmother in a tweed jacket and skirt with a matching hat, and two of her aunties and uncles. Her older cousins weren’t there, and Trina felt a touch of resentment that they always seemed to get out of going to church. She, on the other hand, had to attend every Sunday. Maybe when she was a bit older, she’d be able to get out of going to church too.

As they took their seats in the pews, Ellis and Jarell argued over who sat where and Tyler pushed noisily past people, trying to get to his grandparents. Trina noticed some of Daisy’s friends tutting and whispering amongst themselves. Her mother scolded her sons for making a noise, and Trina’s grandparents tried to calm Tyler down. She could tell her mother was stressed, glancing anxiously around as though she was bothered about the impression people had of her children.

Daisy was a single mother to four young children, alone and on benefits, and would therefore never be fully accepted by the churchgoers. Even at nine years of age, Trina was aware that these people had been far more accepting of her mother when she was still with her womanising, bully of an ex-husband. For some reason he seemed to command respect, and Trina wondered if it was because people were frightened of him. She knew that people treated her mother differently now, but she couldn’t quite understand why.

Trina also wondered about the need to go to church every Sunday. When she had asked her mother why, Daisy had grown quite cross and said, ‘May God strike you down for your blasphemy, child.’ Her words and the tone she’d used to convey them struck such fear into Trina that she hadn’t bothered asking again.

As she sat there fiddling with her hands, Trina willed the sermon to be over. The words of the sermon went straight over her head. She couldn’t relate to anything being said and her mind began to wander. Trina looked forward to the singing, especially when they had a group performing on the stage. When that happened, everyone usually danced along to the music and it was good fun. But this bit was boring. What she really looked forward to was going back home. As it was Sunday, all the chores for the week were done and she could spend the rest of the day doing what she wanted, content in the knowledge that her soul had been cleansed for the week.

*

It was the following day and Trina was keeping an eye on her brothers after school while her mother was in the kitchen at the back of the house doing some washing. When Trina heard a knock on the door she rushed to answer it, eager to alleviate her boredom.

As Trina opened