A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

Jessica asked, an impatient edge to her tone, obviously annoyed Dora had deftly changed the subject.

‘And what will you be wearin’, miss?’ Dora said. ‘Yer won’t be able to turn up in that outfit.’ She gave a snort.

Ronnie looked at Jess who rolled her eyes.

‘We’ve sorted her out,’ Jessica said. ‘May’s lent her a dress which fits perfectly. All she needs now are the shoes.’

‘And where might they be comin’ from?’ Dora demanded.

‘Maybe when we stop at Leamingon Spa Ronnie can find a pair in the market.’

Dora grunted. ‘Yer’ll have plenty to do in Leamington, it seems, that’s nothin’ ter do with workin’ the boats.’

‘We’ll do our work the same as the others,’ Ronnie said hotly.

Dora sent Ronnie a hard look.

‘Well, I’m not sayin’ no, but I’m not sayin’ yes, neither, ’til we get there.’

Ronnie was sure Dora kept her and Jess on tenterhooks on purpose.

‘We’re not going to give her the satisfaction that we’re at all worried,’ Jessica said, when Ronnie voiced her thoughts.

The two of them were in the cabin and Ronnie was helping Jessica prepare lunch while Angela was at the tiller.

‘Keep your voice down,’ Jessica said, jerking her head towards Angela’s feet, no more than eighteen inches away.

Ronnie grinned. It was just as well Jess reminded her. Not having an engine, the butty was quiet, especially without Angela’s perpetual cutting in on the conversation. This usually amounted to a ‘better’ suggestion or doing something a different way – her way – that irritated Ronnie so much.

She turned as the cabin door opened. It was Dora holding a drawstring bag.

‘Will these do yer?’ she said as she opened the bag and tipped out a pair of shoes onto the draining board.

Ronnie gasped. They were quite beautiful. White with silver sequins and high heels. She picked one up and Jessica picked up the other while Dora stood by.

‘They’re gorgeous, Dora.’ Ronnie turned to look at her. ‘Are they really yours?’

‘I were young once, believe it or not,’ Dora said, ‘and not so bad as a looker.’ She sent them a glare. ‘’Course they’re mine. I thought they’d be the right size as I were always known for havin’ small feet.’

There was a note of pride as she imparted that piece of surprising information.

‘They look the right size but I’ve never worn high heels before,’ Ronnie said. ‘I’m not sure I could walk in them.’

‘There’s only one way to find out,’ Jessica said firmly. ‘Try them on.’

Ronnie removed her boots and socks and put one on. Then the other. They were obviously good quality shoes the way her feet seemed to mould into them. She stood, but if it hadn’t been for Jessica she would have toppled over.

‘Steady,’ Jessica laughed, her hand on Ronnie’s arm. ‘If you’ve never worn heels before it takes a bit of practice and I’ll see you do that a few minutes every day.’ She turned to Dora. ‘They’ll be just the job with May’s dress, Miss Dummitt. You’ve solved the problem.’

‘Mind you take care of ’em, miss,’ Dora said to Ronnie. ‘They’re a bit special, they are.’

‘I can see,’ Ronnie said, almost lost for words that Dora should have come up with something so perfect. Who would have thought it?

‘Well, I’ll be goin’. We’ve got a way to go yet before tyin’ up.’

She disappeared through the hatch before Ronnie could even thank her.

‘Well, well, well,’ Jessica said, chuckling. ‘Wonders will never cease. In my wildest dreams I’d never have thought Deadly Dora had anything like this stored away.’

‘I can’t believe it,’ Ronnie said. ‘They seem to have a special meaning to her, yet she’s trusting me with them.’

‘Also, don’t forget, it’s her way of giving us permission to go,’ Jessica chuckled, ‘without having to actually say so.’

‘What I’d love to know more than anything,’ Ronnie said, ‘is why she bought something so glamorous in the first place. I wonder where she’d been planning to go. Wherever it was, I don’t think she got there because they look brand new.’

‘Our Dora keeps her personal life very close to her lace-clad bosom,’ Jessica said mockingly, ‘so I doubt we’ll ever know the answer to that.’

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jessica slipped May’s dress over Ronnie’s head.

‘Jess’s little compact mirror doesn’t show you how super you look, Ron,’ May said admiringly.

Ronnie had washed her hair in the hand bowl, wishing she could have a bath. It seemed ages since The Boat Inn at Stockton had let her have a bath for sixpence. The bath itself had been none too clean, the previous bather having left several grey hairs in a tangle on the bar of Lifebuoy. Now in Penelope she’d washed every inch of her body, taut and sleeker since she’d been working on the boats. Jessica had tamed her dark curls into a gleaming frame around her face, and even though Ronnie had said she absolutely didn’t want any make-up at all, her friend put a puff of Outdoor Girl powder on her nose, and a slick of lipstick on her full mouth.

‘It’s a transformation,’ May said. ‘Dora’s shoes and Jess’s swan brooch have made my dress look much more expensive than it was.’

Jessica stepped back to admire her handiwork.

‘I have to agree with May,’ she said. ‘Finally, you look like a lovely young woman.’

‘Instead of a horrible grimy youth,’ Ronnie challenged, making the others laugh.

Wearing high heels was incredible. She didn’t totter in them any more, under Jess’s reminder to practise wearing them for a few minutes every day. Even on the swaying boat she could now keep her balance. She couldn’t repress the thrill of excitement that she was going to her first dance, even though she was shaking with fear. But with Jess she somehow knew she’d be all right. But suppose someone actually asked her to dance? Her heart beat fast. She’d have to say she was sitting this one out. She wouldn’t – couldn’t admit she didn’t know the first thing about dancing.

For several long moments she wished with all her heart she