Spring of 1922 was turning out to be beautiful and exciting. Over the last two years her sales had steadily increased, and her dad had told her that she was ready to start up on her own. She had enjoyed working with Mrs Law, but he was right. Her reputation as a dressmaker was growing and more people were coming to her to make clothes for their older children. To be honest, she had found all this rather frightening and was glad she had such a caring family to give her support and encouragement. Eddie and John had even made a smart notice in bright blue to go on her stall, stating ‘Dressmaker’. ‘Hello, Ruthie, there’s a dance at the church hall tonight. Want to come?’ ‘No, thanks, Dougie, I’m too busy.’ ‘Oh come on, you’ve gotta have a bit of fun. You can’t work all the time. I’ll let you pay the entrance fee.’ She laughed in exasperation. Now she was seventeen the boys were beginning to flock around her, and she found it a nuisance. Especially as they all thought she had money.
