Ruby’s New Coat by Jane Carling© 2014 Chapter One Taster – Winds of change A village on Crete 1956
Ruby flung open the blue shutters, walked on to the terrace and leaned over the rail to pluck a fresh peach from the tree just below. Juice trickled down her breast as she sucked on the ripe fruit and she wiped her skin and licked her fingertips. No matter what the time of the year, that view was magical and never failed to disappoint although Crete didn’t have real seasons, not like the ones in England and she didn’t miss those damp winters. Early morning sunshine was creeping over the mountain and apart from a tiny cloud, the sky was crystal clear. An eagle cried somewhere high above and she fixated on the dark outline contrasting against the blue sky, as the majestic bird hovered over the lush valley waiting to swoop for the kill on some unsuspecting prey. Towards the olive grove, a feral cat yowled and pounced, then slunk off with something clamped between the jaws of death. The demented cockerel was crowing as the hens shuffled around pecking at the ground. Feeding them was the one chore she dreaded and she’d have to let them out soon. But it wasn’t the hens she was scared of; she still bore the scar from the last encounter with that neurotic fowl. In the distance she could see, Aphrodite the donkey, her trusty steed, trying to pull off leaves from the mulberry tree. Ruby drank in the scenery, she could spend all day just staring at the rugged beauty, and there was always something to hold her gaze. But today was an important day in more ways than one and there was no time to linger. Tonight he would be coming home. Ruby felt a shimmer of excitement as she had missed him more than she had ever imagined. He’d been gone for over two months and they had never been apart for this long since they had been reunited after that first brief encounter. Why had she not gone with him? But she knew why. It was not just her stubborn pride over something that happened years ago, it was much more than that, she’d been too fearful. Reluctantly she pulled herself away to begin her daily duties. Firstly she’d have to wake her son Lucas and pack him off to school. He was nearly eleven now and even though Ruby longed for a brother or sister for him, it had not happened. Perhaps it was a legacy of the civil war? In those days families had been torn apart and people lived in fear of their children being taken. Crete had largely escaped most of the conflict, but at its end, alongside the relief there was still the lingering power of memory. But no, it couldn’t be that, because now children could roam freely, play wherever they wanted and Lucas could walk safely to school with his friends. They’d huddle together chatting nineteen to the dozen about whatever children find interesting and their conversation, unlike the mountain stream, never ran dry.
Ruby’s New Coat by Jane Carling© 2014 She poked her head round his bedroom door.” Come on sleepy head, time to get up. I have so much to do and your father’s coming home today.” Lucas yawned. “Just five more minutes Mum. “No! You must get up now or you’ll be late again.” There was a knock at the door. “Who’s that?” yelled Ruby. “It’s only me. I can’t wait any longer. Aren’t you ready yet?” Her mother-in-law Hannah had let herself in and was peering up the stairs. Ruby called over the bannister. “I’m just getting Lucas ready. I’ll be down in a moment and put some coffee on will you? Where’s Theo?” “He’s still in bed; I can’t wait all day for him and do hurry Ruby, anyway I thought you preferred tea in the morning?” replied Hannah. “I don’t fancy it and I need something to keep me awake. I’ve not slept a wink.” After she packed his lunch bag and waved her son off to school, Ruby gulped down the gritty coffee and rushed back upstairs to dress. Today marked a turning point in Greek history. For the first time all the eligible women of the village were supposedly being allowed to vote. This would be a first for Ruby, she’d never been old enough to vote even when she lived in London. It made her feel quite grown up and gave her sense of belonging at last, she no longer considered England to be her home anymore. Ruby tied up her sun streaked hair, tucked stray strands under her headscarf. She stared back at her reflection and grinned. A flowered headscarf! What on earth would Edie think of me? I look like more a sleepy peasant girl from a Grimm’s Fairy Tale than Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep. Oh, but she was so sophisticated and I wanted to be just like her once. Now look at me! Ruby called, “Right, I’m ready. Let’s go, although I really can't believe it and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the government doesn’t come up with another excuse or yet more complicated bureaucracy at the last minute. Didn’t they do that last time?” “Yes, they’ll do anything to keep us women in our place.” said Hannah. “As if they ever could? But let’s think positive. Now do hurry.” Ruby ran down the stairs, grabbed Hannah’s hand and like pair of excited children the two women ran off towards the village, taking a short cut the through olive grove. Outside the polling station, which was in fact some sort of makeshift screening that had been erected in the courtyard of the Kafenion, a small queue of women had already formed. By the time the doors opened, there was a much bigger queue of old and young stretching along the roadside. Horns hooted, men cheered and blew whistles as they passed by steering
Ruby’s New Coat by Jane Carling© 2014 donkey carts. Everyone seemed to be talking at once; even those who did not normally have much to say had something to talk about today. An old man pointed to the box where the women should place their ballot papers, which was different to the men’s. Ruby was not surprised but decided not to comment, especially as she was still regarded by some as a Xenos, a Foreigner. Georgios the proprietor of the village Kafenion, and also her friend, had made an exception to the rule. For this day only, he allowed the ladies to dally a while inside the male sanctuary. It was not really a place for women, but he'd had no option really, after Ireni, whose family had run the harbour Kafenion for many years, insisted that unless he agreed, she would spread the word about cockroaches being rife in his kitchen. There had only been the one, but Georgios was no fool, his little empire in the village gave him a good living these days, especially as tourists had begun to holiday there. Georgios had known Ireni since she was a young girl and he knew she was force to be reckoned with, so he bowed to pressure and duly obliged. In order to impress her further, he even went as far as to lay out a fine meze of cheeses, tomatoes, olives and bread. His little café had never been so busy and people spilled out on to the square, it was only ever this crowded on special occasions, such as birthdays and funerals. One of the regulars, an older man, sat in the corner endeavouring to perform his daily ritual of quiet contemplation, newspaper reading and coffee drinking. He looked up, clearly irritated by the cacophony of women jostling to get a taste of the free food. “Will you please be quiet, I’m trying to read!” he shouted, but to no avail. “So when is my friend back? He’s been away far too long and I miss him.” Georgios yelled above the chatter, as he placed three glasses and a small flask of his renowned Raki before Ruby, Hannah and Ireni, to whom he gave a nervous nod. “I do too. He’s going to call me but I’m hoping he will be home sometime this evening.” Ruby only took a small sip to be polite, but without a second thought, Hannah and Ireni downed theirs in one. The old man harrumphed and rose, thrusting his paper at Ruby. “That is why women should never have the vote. I’m going home for some peace and quiet.” He made for the door, pushing his way through the crowd of excited women. Ruby glanced down at the article, which he had circled in a thick black line. "Every woman is in an imbalanced and furious spiritual condition certain days per month… New and accurate surveys show that not only certain days, but during the whole month, all females are in spiritual and emotional imbalance... Consequently, women voting is a dangerous thing and so repulsive.”
Ruby’s New Coat by Jane Carling© 2014 She read it again. What was this newspaper? Nea Imera, A New Day. Looking again, she noticed that the quote had been re-printed from a 1926 edition of the paper. She felt a well of laughter from deep within and could not suppress the fit of giggles that erupted. Hannah and Ireni were puzzled by her obvious amusement and Hannah snatched the paper. “What is this?” Also intrigued by Ruby’s laughter, a group of women surrounded them wanting to see what was so funny. The article was handed around and cynical sniggers soon turned into loud guffaws. One of the women, the eldest matriarch in the village, snatched the paper and with as much energy as she could muster, strode down the street, waving her stick and hurling abuse at the old man. “Isn’t that her husband? I pity the poor soul when she gets her hands on him.” Said Ireni and called out to Georgios. “I think we need more of your fine Raki.” As he picked up the empty flask, Ruby noticed his expression. For a man who was usually the life and soul of any party, he looked uncharacteristically uneasy and Ireni had a very mischievous smile on her face. Ruby wondered if he’d regretted this bold decision, but his expression changed to one of relief, when at midday, men began to arrive and the women began to disperse. Ruby steadied Hannah as they walked back up the rocky the path. “What a day thish has been, we…we’ve made hish..er history today.” Hannah could not stop hiccupping. “I know. I’m not sure if our vote will ever be counted but I haven’t laughed so much in years,” replied Ruby. “And I think you’d better have an early siesta.” Hannah hiccupped in reply. Ruby ensured that Hannah was safely in her bed and returned home. The clock chimed twice. Damn, was that really the time? Please don’t let him have called. But he had. Sophia the new housekeeper had taken a message. There was a note beside the phone. “Will not be home, will try tomorrow.” Her heart sank. That told her nothing. Had something been lost in translation?
Ruby’s grasp of the Greek language had progressed so much further than
Sophie’s grasp of English. Later that evening after she’d finally put her son to bed, Ruby poured a large glass of water and walked out on to the terrace. After the madness of the day, all was now calm and still, the air felt hot, sultry and there was not a breath of wind, even the cicadas seemed to have opted for an early night. She watched the sun slowly disappear over the thin blue line of the Sea of Crete, as dark clouds began to roll in. Ruby’s instincts were never usually wrong. A change was coming and it was not the storm. Out of the blue she felt a wave of sadness sweep over her. Why? She had a good life
Ruby’s New Coat by Jane Carling© 2014 and no reason in the world to be unhappy…well maybe one. The scent of night jasmine grew stronger as she peered at the mountain towering over the valley like a giant cloak. Flashes of lightning lit up the sky like a massive firework display and that mad mutt, Zada ran into the house to cower beneath the sofa, but Ruby was not afraid. Large droplets of rain began to splash on to her arms and rumbles of thunder echoed off the mountains. As the booms got louder, it reminded her of London and the bombs.