Page 56 of The Stolen Child

‘Take a seat for a moment,’ Nicola said, patting one of the salon chairs beside her. She held a folder in her lap, and her face looked deadly serious.

Sally felt a flush rise up her chest. She hadn’t messed up; she was sure of it.

‘Have I d-done something wrong?’ she stammered.

‘Oh my days, of course not,’ Nicola said. ‘You are a breath of fresh air. That’s what you are. You’ve got this place running like clockwork. Look at it.’ She waved her hands around the salon. ‘Gleaming. That’s all you.’

Sally flushed again, but this time with pride.

‘I want to offer you a formal apprenticeship. I’ve got your papers here. You’ll do day-release training at a local college every Wednesday. And, while it’s not much, I can pay you four pound fifty daily.’

Sally felt her breath leave her body, and she couldn’t speak. She wanted to gush her thanks, but she had no words. Instead, she felt hot tears sting her eyes.

‘Oh, don’t cry. This is good news,’ Nicola said, pulling Sally into her embrace. ‘There, there. You’ll get me started next. And I’m having a particularly good mascara day; it would be a shame to waste it.’

Sally giggled at this, which also set Nicola off. Sally finally found her voice and gushed, ‘I never expected this. Thank you.’

‘No thanks necessary. I’m happy to do it. Credit where credit is due. And I want you to have your qualifications. Hairdressing can take you around the world if you want it. Now, don’t get me wrong. I want you to stay here with me. But, if you decide to move on, this way you will have the papers to take with you.’

Sally could not believe her ears.

‘I would like you to give up the char work, though. You look half dead most days. I don’t know how you keep going. I’d be done in if I had two jobs on the go, like you.’

Sally couldn’t argue with that. Some days, it took all her strength to get out of bed. But every sacrifice had been worth it. She wanted to dance and sing with the pure joy of this news.

‘I’ll talk to my boss tonight at the office block. Maybe I can reduce my hours? But even with the pay from you I can’t afford to give it up.’

‘I understand. Well, you can keep your tips. I hope that helps a little too.’ Nicola glanced at the clock above the reception area. ‘You better get a move on. You’ll be late if not.’

With one last hug of gratitude, Sally left, but practically floated back to the flats, peeling her clothes off and jumping onto the bed in her underwear. She usually napped for an hour between her two jobs, but not today. She was too charged up to think about sleeping. Instead, she lay there, eyes closed, and fantasised about some day owning her salon. Hair by Sally, she would call it. Maybe she could go to America and get a job in one of the fancy salons in New York. Elsie might even come with her.

She frowned at the thought of her best friend, feeling her good mood dissipate. Elsie and Reggie were dating again. And, while Sally liked Reggie, she worried about him. He was one of life’s duckers and divers, and had told the girls that he did errands for one of the gang lords in the East End. Elsie was impressed by the cash that he flashed, but it made Sally nervous.

Elsie had always been easily led, and Sally worried Reggie might take her friend down the wrong path. But they were not kids any more. Sally had to let Elsie live her life.

Sally had to admit to something else too, even if it didn’t paint her in the best light: She was jealous. With Reggie back on the scene, Elsie was spending all her spare time with him, rather than Sally. And this only highlighted the fact that Sally was alone, never having a boyfriend of her own. She still had that same dream, of meeting a tall, dark stranger and falling in love. It felt more elusive than ever before.

Sally had never had someone who was one hundred per cent hers, who put her needs before their own, who worried about her and nobody else. She craved that blanket of security that she believed a boyfriend could give her.

But Elsie had promised that they could go to the Grove for a drink this weekend, just the two of them. Maybe Mr Right would walk into the bar, their eyes would lock across the crowded room and they would . . .

The next thing Sally knew, there was a loud banging on her door.

Elsie’s voice called in: ‘Wake up, you daft ha’p’orth. We need to get going.’

Sally sat up with a start. She’d dozed off dreaming of her handsome stranger and overslept. She rushed to open the door and pulled her char uniform over her head. ‘Sorry, Elsie,’ she said, zipping herself up as the door opened.

‘We’ve got five minutes – don’t worry,’ Elsie said, pouring a glass of water for Sally.

‘I’ve got news, Elsie,’ Sally said as she ran a brush through her hair. ‘Nicola has offered me a hairdressing apprenticeship.’

‘Well, about blooming time!’ Elsie replied with a whoop. ‘She’s got a right bobby dazzler with you.’

‘She’s going to pay me too. Four pound fifty per day.’

Elsie frowned. ‘That won’t keep the bailiff from the door. You’ll have to stay on charring.’

Sally nodded. ‘Do you think the gaffer will let me work fewer hours?’