Damaged Goods by Diane McNab - HTML preview

JANE'S GRANDPARENTS

ALICE'S MUM AND DAD

Agnes and Rab married on a cold winters day in Scotland. Rab placed a small argyle ring with tiny diamond chips on either side on to Agnes's finger and she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

They both decided to take the leap and emigrate to Australia, the land of milk and honey.

Rab soon procured a job in a mine in Queensland and they settled in to their small miners cottage with the arrival of Alice soon after.

Two years later there was a mining accident which ended Rab's life abruptly.

Having no miner to inhabit the cottage any more Agnes and Alice were unceremoniously booted out. However, Agnes was given a payout for the accident and with that she grabbed her Daughter and moved to Sydney believing there might be better pickings there for a Mother and young Child to get ahead in life.

Agnes hired a young girl to care for Alice while she took cleaning jobs. Some of her employers were kind enough to give her clothes they no longer wore. Agnes purchased a second hand sewing machine, remodelling the dresses for herself and out of the rest made beautiful dresses for her little angel.

One day the girl that cared for Alice rang and said she was too sick to come to work.

Agnes said “Get well soon, let me know when you are better.”

Agnes pushed the pram towards her employer Mrs. Cartwright's very large home.

When Mrs. Cartwright opened the door Agnes profusely apologised and explained the circumstances.

“She is a good sleeper and shouldn't bother you at all” said Agnes.

“How old is she?”

“Three years old” answered Agnes expecting the door to slam in her face.

“Oh don't be silly, bring her in. My Daughter is soon going to be four and I am sure her Nanny will be more than happy to have a little friend to entertain her.”

Agnes cleaned the place thoroughly, occasionally hearing laughter coming from the nursery.

When she was leaving Mrs. Cartwright asked where Agnes had bought the dress Alice was wearing.

“I made it myself” declared Agnes.

It is absoloutley gorgeous. As I told you earlier it will be my Daughter's fourth birthday in a couple of weeks, would it be possible for you to make her a party dress and perhaps a few day dresses? I am more than pleased to pay for the privilege.”

“I would be happy to, though I am not sure if my old sewing machine is up for it” said Agnes.

Mrs. Cartwright looking delighted said “I can handle that.”

Early the next morning a new sewing machine arrived on Agnes's doorstep with bales of material in an array of colours. Agnes cancelled her two jobs for that day and got down to work. She made several dresses making the party dress the outstanding piece.

When Mrs. Cartwright arrived to pick them up she exclaimed “These are exceptional, I have no words to say.” With that she handed Agnes a cheque.

Agnes looked at the cheque and handed it back saying “I can't accept this, it is far too much. After all you supplied the sewing machine and the material.”

Mrs. Cartwright looked at Agnes stoic face and realised she was standing in front of a very proud woman and said “Then please keep the sewing machine and the rest of the material, will that suffice as payment?”

A grin came to Agnes's face and she replied “More than enough, thank you.”

Thanks to Mrs. Cartwright Agnes soon had orders coming in thick and fast, enough to end her cleaning career. She decided to take the bull by the horns and leased a small shop with a living area in the back that suited her and Alice perfectly.