September 22nd 1910:
Oh Diary,
The worst thing has happened. The girls and I organised the strike, and it looked great. Almost all the girls agreed to stay off work, it looked like Mr Birling would have to give us more money; he wouldn’t have a choice.
But after two weeks, he still didn’t show signs of giving in. We were all getting low on money, and most of us had run out of food to eat. So, we had no choice but to return to work. Birling was happy to allow us back, and he seemed OK about it, but later that afternoon, Emily, Joan and I were called to his office. He called us the ‘ringleaders’, and sacked all three of us, for stating the strike.
Now I’m out of work, and after the strike, I have nearly no money at all. I can’t even afford to eat. I just don’t know what I’m going to do; it was all going so well and now it’s all gone so horribly wrong. I just don’t know what to do.
10th December 1910:
Dear Diary,
Finally things are starting to look up again. These past few months have been hell, but now I’ve finally got a job, and I’m back on my feet. I’m working at Milwards, the big, expensive shop in town. All the posh people from the town go there. The pay is good, the hours aren’t bad and best of all, I’m enjoying myself again.
13th February 1911:
Diary,
Once again, my life’s going downhill. I now have no job, and as I can’t afford to pay the rent, soon, I will have nowhere to sleep.
Everything was going well, I was starting to get a bit of money saved, and for the first time in months, I was happy, but now I’m back where I was five months ago. I’m out of work again, and all because of a silly customer complaint.
It started just like any other day, customers coming and going like usual. But just before lunch time, Mrs Birling came in, with her daughter. They were frequent customers, and often spent a lot of money. Lots of assistants immediately rushed to their side, looking to help them in anyway they can. They always get treated like this when they come in, because they know if they don’t they’ll go elsewhere.
Miss Birling came over to the hat section, where I was stacking shelves, and asked to try on a hat. Everyone could see that it didn’t suit her, even her mother, but she was intent on trying it on all the same. So she did, and she saw that her mother was right. She threw down the hat, and got up to leave. As she went, she passed me, and she stopped. She looked me in the eyes briefly, and then ran away in tears.
I was very confused, but got on with my work. About thirty minutes later, I was summoned to the manager’s office. I knew it wasn’t good by the way Jane avoided eye contact as she lead me into the room. There I was told I was to be released, after a complaint from a customer. He didn’t say who it was, but I knew instantly knew who it was; Sheila Birling. He said the customer in question was much too important to lose, so I would have to go.
So that was it. I was out just like that, just because some snobby, stuck-up woman didn’t like being wrong. I hate being “working class”, but at least I know I’ll never end up like her. I may be out of a job, and short on cash, but at least I’m not so blinded by wealth that I’ve turned into a selfish, toffee-nosed tart.
I just can’t take it anymore. Eva Smith has been turned away too many times. From now on, I’m not Eva Smith anymore. As far as I’m concerned Eva Smith never existed. From now, I’m gong to call my self… Daisy. Daisy Renton.
2nd March 1911:
Dear Diary,
Yesterday I met the most amazing man. His name is Gerald; he’s tall dark, and very handsome. He’s also quite wealthy. I met him at lunchtime in the Palace Bar. I was just in there for a bit of a drink, when this horrible walrus-looking man came over. He was a very ugly, sweaty man, and smelt horribly of port. He sat down with me, and started asking me questions. I didn’t want to talk to this horrid man, so I said I had to leave. As I got up to go, he got up as well, and blocked my path. He tried to make me sit back down, but I told him I had to go. He started pleading with me to stay, to have one drink with him. He sounded desperate, but I was never going to stay with that awful man.
I was getting quite distressed, when this tall, handsome man gentleman came over, and told the man, Joe Meggarty his name was, to leave. He started to protest, but Gerald, my saviour just glared at him, and he went on his way.
Gerald apologised for Meggarty, and offered me a drink, as I was a little shaken. I accepted, and we stayed and talked for a while. He told me about himself; it turns out his name is Gerald Croft, son of Lord Croft, one of the wealthy business tycoons in Brumley. He lives just outside Brumley, in an estate owned by his family. When he had finished telling me about himself, he asked me a few questions. When he had finished, he knew a lot about my current position. He knew I had no job, no home, and hadn’t eaten for the past couple of days.
He said he couldn’t bear to see a lady in that state, and insisted I stay in an apartment he is looking after for a friend of his. I refused at first, but he wouldn’t have any of it, and escorted me to the apartment when we had finished another drink.
He came inside, and showed me around, and then he went out to get some food for the cupboards. When he came back we had some supper, and talked until it was quite late. Then he said he had to go, left me with £10 and he was gone. I needed the money, and having a roof over my head again is the greatest feeling, but I still felt guilty taking this strangers money. And then again, he did insist.
He said he would be back today to see if I was settled in OK, but he hasn’t been round yet. Oh, I do hope he does, I can’t wait to see him again; he is such a kind, generous man, and I feel so comfortable around him. I feel as if I’ve known him forever, but in truth, we only met the other night.
28th May 1911:
Diary,
Changing my name to Daisy Renton must have been the best thing I have done in a very long time. Eva Smith had no money, no home, and now job, but now, Daisy Renton has a nice warm apartment to stay in, plenty of food, and a very striking young man to look after her.
Gerald is such a lovely man. He took me in, a complete stranger, and helped me get back on my feet. He has also given me enough money to keep me eating well, and I even have a little spare to buy some new clothes every now and again.
We have met up quite a lot since that evening we met, and we have grown rather close. We have gone out for meals a few times, and we sometimes go out for a drink. But we enjoy each other’s company so much that sometimes we don’t go out at all, but just sit and chat for hours, before he sets off home.
And from time to time he doesn’t go home at all, but stays with me all night. At first it was only when we had had too much to drink, but recently, it’s started being more often, and there seems to be more behind it. Before it seemed like a drunken fling, but the last few times it has been different. It almost feels like… love.
September 1911: Affair Ends. Goes away for 2 months
Time to think
November 1911: Meets Eric. Brief affair
Finds out she is pregnant
Spring 1912: Goes to Mrs. Birling’s Charity
Thinks about suicide
