The Fall Of Lucy Smith

The birth was little relief from the seemingly endless pregnancy. Catherine had suffered for their new child as complications and illness ravaged her over the last nine months.

As she squirmed and screamed, Samuel could see the head, but he could sense his wife was struggling to push through the pain. He was sure that the amount of blood wasn't normal. It wasn't this bad with their son.

All Samuel could do was comfort his wife. The storm outside was unusually powerful and was slowing the doctor's commute to the Smith's lodgings.

Catherine had been in labour for over six hours and the exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on her.

The familiar knock on the door was a welcome sound. The doctor entered with his assistant and wasted no time in assisting the birth.

An hour later, Lucy was born. An end of a protracted pregnancy saga and a beginning of a new life.

Robert, now two years old had a new sister to protect and love.

The working class family had little in the way of money, but both Catherine and Samuel were dedicated to their growing family.

Catherine worked in a busy inn on the main road in the town. The inn was a bustling watering hole for travelling salesmen, businessmen and general travellers wishing to lay their heads in relative comfort before moving on.

The locals also liked to enjoy the good food and beer at a price that was acceptable for the modest man.

Catherine was a popular waitress and barmaid, and would always take the time to chat with the locals, share gossip and help them drink and eat away the poverty-fuelled depression that had sunk its teeth into the town over the last few years.

Samuel was a hard-working man. The factory that employed him wove wool that would be bought by other businesses to produce clothes and textiles.

The job was dangerous and he worked long hours, late into the night to earn a modest income for his family. He was naturally the breadwinner of the family, taking great pride in keeping his kids and wife happy and fed, with a modest roof over their heads.

Catherine and Samuel would enjoy spending quality time with their children. They would often play games together, draw and paint. Robert never had a natural aptitude in creativity, but Lucy, on the other hand, had a real talent, regularly taking great care in mixing paints to create the perfect tones.

Catherine would take the children to the inn and try to keep them busy with silly games for them to play. Quite often, though, Lucy would become bored and want to help her mother. When she was really young, Catherine would find that she would just get under her feet, but as she reached the age of six, she was able to help by clearing tables and mopping floors.

Patrons would take time to talk to the young helper, play games and enjoy her young humour. Some of the visitors would be gifted with paintings created by Lucy. She lifted the atmosphere in an otherwise drab environment.

As the years went by, Lucy found employment within the same establishment, and for a small wage, she would serve customers, wash the dishes, clean the rooms and greet the visitors.

As time went on, though, Lucy became disillusioned with her employment. She always felt as though her talents and creativity would serve her well through her life in a more rewarding way than this.

Things soon began to spiral in the Smith household. Samuel became ill and was forced to work part time at the inn. This was a major blow to the family financially, it was hard enough to make ends meet as it was, but the real toll was felt by Samuel himself. He was the man of the house, the breadwinner and now he had been demoted to making only half the salary of his wife. As an old fashioned man, this affected him greatly. He sank into a depression that he would find difficult to recover from.

The changing dynamic within the family would give Lucy the push that she needed to do something more, not happy being employed to make beds and peel potatoes, she had an idea.

As the summer was followed by the browns and golds of autumn, Lucy's plan was beginning to take shape. She had managed to save enough money from her humble pay to buy what she needed, but due to her father's ailing health, beginning her venture in the family home wouldn't be an option.

Her best friend, Jane Hopkins, would provide her with the answer that she looked for.

Lucy and Jane had been friends since they could both remember. They would often spend time at each other's houses and each of their parents would become like a second family to them.

Jane shared Lucy's creative talent and would regularly spend hours painting and making various objects out of used matchsticks.

Lucy loved playing in the old barn situated at the back of Jane's large field that sat at the back of the house. Although not used since the previous owner died, it was in reasonably good condition and would present a large play area for the girls.

As the great war began to rage, the men and boys set off to fight. Families were stricken with fear and grief as some of they witnessed young men returning back to England in boxes. The rate of the men going off to war was astonishing, and now Lucy's brother, Robert was at fighting age, he too went off to play his part in battling the enemy.

Catherine was devastated, her only son, going off to a foreign land, only to be placed in the fury and violence of battle. Lucy, too, would have a hard time coping with the conscription of her older brother.

Lucy, now had a place to start her business. Jane had doggedly begged her parents about letting them use the old barn at the back of their property, and eventually, after weeks of relentless badgering, they agreed under duress. Lucy and Jane would join forces working together to bring all the newly-bought ingredients together and begin the rise of the Smith Soap Company. Janes father would help them to transform the empty space into a workable environment. The young women would produce soap in all shapes and sizes, with pleasing scents and bright colours.

As the war raged abroad, Lucy split her time between her soap business, her duties at the inn and helping to care for her father who was now having trouble walking. His duties at the inn had become increasingly difficult for him to perform, so more pressure was placed on Lucy's shoulders to make her business a success.

Fears that rationing would soon be implemented, it was a very important time for the soap business. They would need to start selling as soon as possible as the price and availability of ingredients they required could soon be a sticking point.

Lucy and Jane began to canvass local shopkeepers about stocking their new products, but as the war dragged on, the idea that people would want to spend money on luxury over practicality was questioned. A small number of the shopkeepers would entertain the idea but few would agree to a trial. It was too risky for them. Everyone would soon be feeling the pinch.

Lucy knew that if she was to succeed, she would need a strategic, direct line to the public. It was at this time she discovered an unused stand at the general market in the village.

Lucy spent time and money on producing a brand sign to hang over the market stall.

Within three weeks, the two young women were set up and selling their soap to discerning customers.

After a short time, they had built up a small but enthusiastic gaggle of regular customers who found that these two young ladies were something of an inspiration, fighting against all the odds and misogynistic values that the times accepted.

Lucy's mother was elated with what she had achieved and championed her daughter's soap products at every opportunity. She had even managed to get the owner of the inn to buy some of the exclusive soap products for their more higher priced rooms.

It was one of these rooms where a salesman named Frank Oliver was staying. He would travel the country selling luxury items such as perfume, men's cologne and similar toiletries. Frank was supposed to be staying at a small hotel further down the road, but due to over-booking the rooms, they could not fulfil his lodgings. It was a sheer coincidence that he stayed at the inn.

He was impressed with the quality of the soap and would make enquiries to their manufacturer, stating that his bosses may be interested in procuring such items.