Page 8 - The Spirit of Christmas 1940
P. 8

Chapter 1

           spot since leaving school.  Not much of a career but he could
           always make up for his low wages by a few under the table deals
           from his many east end contacts.  Everybody knew that his goods
           originated ‘off the back of a lorry’ but nobody questioned it.  Even
           the local police turned a blind eye as they knew he wouldn’t
           overcharge people and he could often be a blessing at this time
           of strict rationing.  In fact, a visit by the police to the station was
           normally just an excuse for them to grab a bargain from Jimmy
           when nobody was watching.  Besides there was never any point in
           questioning Jimmy about the origin of his stock as he had the gift
           of the gab and could talk his way out of anything so to save time,
           energy and an awful lot of wasted paperwork, they just turned a
           blind eye as long as he didn’t go too far.


             Within ten minutes, his newspaper stand was set up and his
           daily act began.  “Read all abaht it, Joe Louis wins heavyweight
           title.  Get yer ‘erald ‘ere” The headlines would be screamed out
           over and over the next few hours enticing passengers to part with
           a penny for the latest edition. Just as Jimmy was about to yell out
           once again, he was stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth left open
           as if his jaw had suddenly frozen.  The reason for the shock was
           the entrance of the flower barrow being pushed onto the platform
           by Rose.

             Rose provided such a vital service to the many customers of
           Church Street station providing flowers for the reuniting husbands
           and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, mothers, daughters fathers,
           sons and of course, for the servicemen and women returning
           from the war.  Christmas, though, was a good opportunity to lift
           spirits with holly wreaths, mistletoe and all sorts of decorations
           for family Christmas trees, mantelpieces and dinner tables.  But
           although the station needed her, she also needed the station, and
           her stall.  Rose was an only child and the only source of income
           for her dad who had lost his legs during the First World War. Her
           mother had died when she was just a young girl leaving Rose to
           grow up faster than she wanted.  Still, she made ends meet and for
           the most of the time, she and her dad were ok.
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