The Palace Of Dreams

A stunning dress, wonderful music and a magical encounter – it would be a night she’d never forget

- Kate Eastham

Miriam removed her apron, folded it neatly, and then placed it on the shelf under the counter. She disappeared into the back of the shop, and emerged moments later wearing her woollen coat and a drab, grey headscarf tied loosely beneath her chin, so it didn’t flatten her blonde, pin-curled hair.

Casting her eyes around the shop to check that all the shelves were neat and tidy, she made her way to the door with a bunch of keys in her hand. It was only the third time that she’d been trusted to close up. Mr Robinson, the shop manager, was rarely absent and she felt a little anxious as she locked the door, checking to make sure that it was secure.

Tomorrow was stocktaking so Miriam was pleased to have the keys, so she could let herself in early and make a start before Mr Robinson arrived. She’d come to feel a real affection for the soft-spoken man, a war veteran, who was always courteous and made time for every customer. And even though she knew she didn’t want to spend the rest of her working life behind a shop counter, it was heartening to know he had plans to offer her an assistant manager’s position. Now rationing was finally over and they were selling luxuries like Jaffa oranges, bananas and chocolate, they were doing a roaring trade and would need another junior assistant.

As Miriam walked across town to her lodgings, her flat, lace-up shoes beat out a steady rhythm on the pavement and she started to think, as she often did on a Wednesday evening, about what she would wear to the dance hall on Saturday night. Her best friend, Irene, who rented the room next to hers, always looked so glamorous. Miriam thought it was time she had something new to wear, too.

Irene was waiting for Miriam as she ascended the threadbare stairs to the top floor of the boarding house.