An Incident At Foy And Gibsons
Excerpt from The Novel By Renee Dallow.
Edith and Florence were always in healthy competition. Edith was, however, very conscious, that she was the eldest and as such had a responsibility to watch over her sister. Florence was fond of teasing Edith for her serious demeanour and would always do the exact opposite of what Edith told her to do. Their brother, Vincent was very theatrical from an early age, and loved to pretend he was different characters. He loved to mimic his father while he was rehearsing. Charles had a wonderful ability to organise. This became apparent when he began lining up his brother and sisters at just five years of age. He would spin the top in their direction, aiming for in between the legs. If they didn’t duck soon enough, he would give them little tasks like running around in a circle three times, doing a handstand, or reciting a nursery rhyme backwards. This last one sent the children into fits of the giggles. Harold would be given the task of handing out prizes to the winner.
Florence and Vincent would put on little pantomimes together in which they would cast the others. The stories would be made up with invented characters and costumes from their parents wardrobe, which, invariably got dragged across the floor, as they hung around the children’s tiny frames. Mathilde and William, in fact, would have to pay to come and see their shows. Little Harold was put in charge of the tickets. The whole family seemed so happy and carefree that everyone in the neighbourhood couldn’t help but be a little jealous of them. Mostly the Catholics, as the Presbyterians and Anglian families found the Richardsons, to be much too rowdy, for their tastes.
William Albert had started giving private concerts, as he had done in England, years earlier. He was also conducting the choir at Saint Patricks Cathedral. Many of his wife’s students became part of this choir and it gave the couple an even higher standing in the community. So much so that William was able to raise quite a substantial amount for, The Ladies Benevolent Fund. This was something that even made him respectable with other denominations. Money was money, no matter what, one’s religion.
There was an incident at Foy and Gibsons which could very well have tipped the balance completely. Mathilde was taking too long in the millinery department and in girls clothing, looking for play dresses for Edith and Florence, when the boys, who had been told to stay put, had scarpered off. They’d taken themselves to the toy section and had practically destroyed a rocking horse in the display window, which, looked out onto the street. Vincent was eight at the time, but it was definitely Charles, in the lead. Grabbing two year old Harold, he made his way to the rocking horse with Vincent following along behind. Charlie had decided to give his baby brother a ride. Vincent, being the sensible one, tried to pull Harold off the horse, whilst at the same time, restraining Charles. This did not go well. Harold howled and clung to the horse’s main. Charles kicked Vincent, whereupon, Vincent smacked Charles and Harold fell off the rocking horse. All this in a display window which was the pride of the department store and extremely popular with passers by. This live display was certainly not what people expected and complaints were made. Meanwhile Mathilde, returning from the counter with her purchases, was shocked to find the boys had not stayed where they were told to, and immediately sent out a search party. Staff managers and sales people alike were sent out to find the little rebels. When finally they were discovered brawling in a heap, their whimpers now soft and low, they were hauled off to the rest room to calm down. The rocking horse was much the worse for wear too.
Bourgeoise Bloomers 