Ruby McBride Read Free Page A

much going on to be bored. There was the procession of ships on the Ship Canal, hawkers plying their wares, selling toffee apples, monkeys on sticks and little flags to wave at the Queen. It didn’t matter to Ruby that she’d no money to buy any of these things, for there was sufficient bustle of activity amongst the patiently waiting crowds to keep her amused. Even when there was nothing much to see at all, she was content just to sit quietly, with her hands in her lap, and feel very grand in her smart new frock.
    By mid-afternoon a thin drizzle started and it was then that Molly began to cough. It made her double up with agony and she strove to stifle the sound in her pocket handkerchief, not wanting any fuss, as was her wont. Ruby cast anxious, sideways glances in her direction, then up at the obstinately grey sky. If only the sun would come out and stay out, and warm them all up! Instead, they began to shiver after the long wait on the cold cobbles. After a while Molly stood up, straining to see over heads and catch a glimpse, not of the Queen as everyone might assume, but of her absent son.
    ‘Where is our Billy? He should be back by now. Didn’t you hear the clock strike four, Ruby? I’ll swear it must be gone four.’
    ‘I think it was only three, Mam.’
    ‘He’ll be all right. He always is,’ Pearl snapped.
    ‘Don’t you give me any of your lip, girl. You know nowt about the agonies of being a mother.’
    ‘How could I? I’m only eight. Is there anything more to eat? I’m hungry.’
    ‘ Want, want, want. That’s your trouble, miss. Allus asking fer summat. Where is the little blighter? Is that him, dangling over the edge of that dry dock? Heaven help me if it is, I’ll wring his bleedin’ neck with me own fair hands.’
    For one split second Ruby thought Mam was about to launch herself through the mass of people and off the end of the quay to do just that, but suddenly a shout went up and, as one, the crowd surged to its feet and began cheering and waving flags, scarves and hats with abandon.
    The Queen and her entourage had finally appeared on the scene and there was no hope now of mother and son being reunited until the opening ceremony was finished and the crush had abated.
     
    It was all over. Queen Victoria had made her little trip in the Admiralty yacht the Enchantress, sailing a short distance down the Ship Canal from Trafford Wharf to Mode Wheel Locks. The three McBrides had caught an enticing glimpse of the royal party as they’d clattered past afterwards at a brisk pace in a stream of carriages. Now they’d disappeared completely, presumably with other duties to perform before departing from Manchester Exchange Station at about eight o’clock. The huge crowds were starting to disperse. All day they had waited and within minutes the excitement seemed to be over.
    But at least Molly had recovered her recalcitrant son. She held him now in a vice-like grip and even while showing him the full measure of her fury with a stream of verbal invective, was happily stroking his hair and checking ever limb for fractures and bruises. Satisfied that he was in no way harmed by his adventure, she gave his bottom a little smack, just to show how frightened she’d been.
    Billy opened his mouth as wide as it would go and wailed at the top of his voice, though he could hardly feel the smack through the thick fabric of his trousers. A trail of snot spurted from his nose and, unable to bear the sight of her miserable son for a second longer on this gloriously special day, Molly pulled out a clean bit of rag from her pocket and scrubbed his face till it shone as red and bright as a polished apple. Then she enveloped him in a suffocating hug and swore she would never let him out of her sight again.
    Later, this was a promise Ruby would ever remember. For now, she could only laugh at the antics of her mischievous brother, her own eves like stars as she kept repeating, ‘Eeh, weren’t that grand? Did you see