Sisters In Arms

Would Ruth's gift to this troubled little girl help to bring her out of her shell?

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The Story So Far

RUTH BARNABY is married to Gordon, whom she met whilst working as a nurse ina convalescent hospital for injured servicemen.

She now works as a district health nurse, visiting children’s homes and schools.

Through work, Ruth has met PEGGY, a four-year-old child who will not speak. Ruth wonders if she and Gordon could enrol ona programme where vulnerable children board out” with a family, giving them the attention they need.

Ruth’s sister, AMBER PETTS, and her husband, FRED, own a struggling toy business, as folk cannot afford luxury hand-crafted toys.

Both sisters are concerned about VERA, their youngest sister, who works at the cinema.

Vera wants to be an actress and is stepping out with SIDNEY, the cinema manager.

Ruth asks Gordon about Peggy staying with them, and is disappointed when he says no.

He’s involved with helping disadvantaged workers, and with a General Strike looming he claims he would be too busy to give Peggy the attention she needs.

Meanwhile, Fred has seen an advertisement in the paper calling for tradesmen and their families to emigrate to Australia.

He is enthusiastic, but Amber is horrified. There’s no way she will leave her family and friends!

FOR Ruth, it felt eerie cycling to work. Normally the streets were packed and noisy with people flying along the pavements, heads down, as if they hadn’t a moment to lose.

Today, the first day of the official strike, shops were largely boarded up, factory hooters remained silent and hardly any vehicles graced the road.

One or two paper boys were on street corners, but even they were struggling to attract customers.

Everyone already knew the headlines: General Strike. All services stopped.