The Butlins Girls

by Elaine Everest

  ‘He can come to the wedding too,’ the twins said excitedly.

  ‘He’s in heaven,’ Sally explained gently.

  ‘With Nana Kenyon?’ Avril asked.

  ‘I would think so, my love.’ She ran her finger over the image of her sister and brother-in-law. ‘If only they’d not been so stubborn and got in touch . . .’

  As much as Molly liked her aunt, she didn’t want anyone to think badly of her parents. ‘It wasn’t quite like that,’ she murmured.

  Sally sensed Molly needed to explain and called her daughters’ attention. ‘Girls, why not find your cardigans and wellies and we can show Molly the farm? Wash your faces first.’

  As the girls scampered upstairs, Sally placed the photograph on the table. ‘Can you tell me anything?’

  Molly sighed. Where should she begin? ‘I grew up an only child in Erith, Kent. It’s not far from London,’ she added.

  ‘They went south, then? I’ve often wondered,’ Sally said thoughtfully.

  ‘I never knew I had family. Dad had an ironmonger’s shop in the town and we lived nearby. After the car accident, I had to leave Erith for a while and come up this way to work at Butlins. It’s only recently I found these documents and realized I had family in the area. A friend helped me find Nan’s grave and by chance the owner of a teashop recalled the family name. She said she went to school with you.’ She passed the documents to Sally, who looked carefully at them.

  ‘But what makes you think there was more to Charlotte and Norman being unable to return?’

  ‘I found these letters as well,’ Molly said, handing them over.

  Sally read the letter her sister had sent first and smiled. ‘It must have been such a happy time for her. I wish we could have shared it.’

  ‘So do I,’ Molly agreed. ‘Our lives would have been so different. They may even have still been alive.’

  Sally then read her mother’s reply. ‘That’ll have been Dad making Mum write those words. Oh, he’s a miserable bugger,’ Sally declared, before clamping her hand over her mouth. ‘I’m sorry for my language, Molly, but your grandfather can be a most disagreeable man at times, and once he has a grudge against someone, he never changes his mind. He’s a curmudgeonly old so-and-so. I only visit out of duty so the children know who their grandfather is.’

  Molly, who had always wanted to know about her grandparents, was horrified. Whatever could have made the old man that way?

  ‘What does “cum—”, “cumudg—” What does that word mean, Mummy?’

  ‘It means little girls shouldn’t listen to adults who are having a private conversation. Now, get those wellington boots on and we can get going. I have a pair that I think will fit you, Molly. Come on – I want to know all about Butlins, as well as about that rather handsome man who dropped you off at my door.’

  Molly followed her new-found family out of the kitchen and into the boot room to change her shoes. She felt that life would never be quiet again and she looked forward to getting to know her aunt Sally and the adorable twins.

  ‘What is Butlins like, Auntie Molly?’

  ‘Molly is our cousin, Annie, not our auntie,’ Avril said with a childish superior air.

  ‘I know she is, but she’s too grown-up to be a cousin. Besides, if she was a cousin, she’d play with us.’

  Molly, who was walking between her two small cousins, laughed at the chatter. ‘I’m most definitely your cousin, and I’d love to play with you another time. Today, I want to get to know my auntie Sally and learn about my family. Do you mind?’

  Both girls hugged Molly and skipped off happily towards the barn, where their father was working. ‘You have the perfect life,’ she sighed, leaning against the wooden railings of a fence and gazing out to where cows were grazing. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining. She could smell the warm grass and feel the heat of the day returning.

  ‘I love it here, and I love my life. I can’t imagine living anywhere else,’ Sally said. ‘I’ll ask Annie’s question, as I’m curious to know. What is it like working at Butlins? I can’t conceive of being with hundreds of people every day. Do you ever get time to yourself?’

  ‘I wasn’t sure what to expect. A good friend suggested I apply for a job when I needed to get away from Erith, but I really took to the life and have made new friends. I never know what I’m doing from one day to the next. Yesterday, I helped make a bingo-queen fancy-dress outfit for a little girl, and in the evening, we had a show with comedians from a radio show. Others days, I’m organizing nature trips for the children or assembling contestants for glamorous-grannies and knobbly-knees competitions. One day is never like another. I’m busy all the time and it takes my mind off being away from home.’

  ‘That does sound fun. I’m not sure I could make fancy-dress outfits, though.’

  ‘We don’t do it all the time. It’s just when a camper has a problem I like to step in and help. Cynthia, the little girl whose costume I made yesterday, was in a fix as her mother is in a wheelchair. How could I not help? She came third. Her parents were so proud. I like to think it’s my mum’s days with the Brownies that gave me those skills.’ Molly smiled at the memory. ‘Mind you, a colleague helped a little lad with his Spitfire outfit and disaster struck when the wings fell off during the judging.’ Molly chuckled at the memory of Johnny’s embarrassment.

  Sally laughed. ‘Never a dull moment by the sound of it.’ Her face took on a serious look. ‘You say you had to leave Erith. Would you tell me why? I thought it was where you grew up and lived with Charlotte and Norman?’

  ‘It’s a long and complicated story, but I don’t mind telling you. After all, you are my family.’

  Sally thought for a moment. ‘Let me check the girls are behaving themselves and not bothering Dan. Then we can go back to the cottage for a cup of tea and you can tell me everything. That’s what family are for.’

  Molly watched as Sally walked over to her daughters to have a word. Sally reminded her so much of her mum. She was so grateful for being accepted into the family fold. A family that, for some reason, she had been denied for many years.

  ‘I’ve never heard of Harriet and Simon Missons,’ Sally said after Molly had told all that had happened since her parents’ deaths. ‘I just wish my mother had spoken more about the past. I know she always feared your grandfather’s temper, but it always struck me as strange that she didn’t share what went on with your parents. It must have been something awful for them to move away as they did.’

  ‘I’m sure they didn’t do anything wrong. I have no way of proving it, but in my heart I know they were good people. I just wish I knew. Then for Harriet and Simon to appear . . .’ She gave a shudder.

  Sally was quite indignant. ‘No, I’d never believe that my sister and Norman had done wrong. I may have been a child and not much older than Avril and Annie are now, but I know they were good people. I’d fight any man who said otherwise.’

  Looking at her aunt’s angry face, Molly knew that her own gut feeling was correct. Whatever the reason for them to flee south, they had not done wrong. ‘Do you know anything of my dad’s family?’

  ‘I’m sorry – I don’t, but I’ll certainly make some enquiries. Now, would you like another cup of tea and a teacake?’

  Molly rubbed her stomach. ‘Thank you, but I couldn’t drink another cup.’

  Sally laughed. ‘I do like a cup of tea when I’m chatting. We seemed to have chatted for an age. It’s been lovely, though. You will stay for dinner, won’t you?’

  Molly looked at the clock on the kitchen wall. ‘Oh my goodness, it’s gone five. Johnny will be waiting for me.’

  ‘Is that the handsome young man I saw when I opened the door to you?’

  ‘Yes, he’s a friend. He was the one who helped me to find you. He said he’d pick me up at five o’clock.’

  ‘Then we had better invite him in if he is waiting.’ Sally headed to the front door with Molly close behind. ‘It looks as though he has just arrived,’
she said as they heard him turn off the engine. Sally waved and headed towards the car, where she chatted to Johnny through the open window before he climbed out and followed her towards the cottage. ‘It’s all settled. Johnny is staying to dinner.’

  Molly raised her eyebrows and grinned at Johnny. ‘It seems my aunt is a force to be reckoned with,’ she said as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. Molly spotted Sally watching with interest and prayed she wasn’t a matchmaker as well.

  ‘It’s only stew and dumplings, and one of my apple pies, but we have plenty, and now we have a new member of the family, it’s only right she joins us for a meal.’

  Johnny rubbed his hands together. ‘As long as I’m not intruding, I’d be delighted to join you. Butlins may feed us well, but you can’t beat a home-cooked meal.’

  Sally showed Johnny to the front room and ushered Molly in after him before heading to the kitchen, insisting she didn’t need help to prepare vegetables when Molly offered.

  ‘You don’t mind eating with my family, do you?’ Molly asked.

  ‘Not at all. That’s if you don’t mind?’ Johnny replied as he stretched out in an overstuffed armchair. ‘I’ll take you for a meal another time if you like?’

  ‘I would like that very much. Thank you, Johnny.’

  ‘There’s no need to thank me. I enjoy taking you out and having you to myself,’ he said. He looked tired and his eyelids were starting to droop.

  ‘No, I mean thank you for helping me to find my family. I’d never have done it on my own.’

  ‘You deserve to have a nice family.’ He smiled as his eyes closed.

  Molly sat on a footstool close by. ‘Have you had a busy day?’

  ‘It was tiring. I attended a memorial service for comrades at the airbase who died during the war. Families were invited to the service, so it was rather emotional.’

  ‘I’d have helped if you’d told me. I feel awful having had a lovely day while you had such a sad one.’

  Johnny reached across and took her hand. ‘There will be other times. I want you to know your family. You can tell me all about it on the drive home.’

  The moment was lost as the twins burst into the room. They froze as soon as they spotted Johnny.

  ‘Johnny, these are my mischievous young cousins, Avril and Annie,’ Molly said as the girls stared at him.

  ‘I’m pleased to meet you both. Who is who? I can’t tell you apart.’

  ‘I’m Annie. Avril has a freckle on her cheek,’ Annie said as she approached Johnny and leaned on the arm of his chair. ‘Are you Molly’s boyfriend?’

  Johnny laughed out loud. Molly wished a hole would open up and swallow her.

  Avril joined her twin and smiled at Johnny. ‘We are going to be bridesmaids.’

  ‘Whoa there. A moment ago, I was a boyfriend and now there’s a wedding!’

  Molly felt herself blush. ‘No, Johnny, the girls don’t mean us. I mean . . .’

  Johnny gazed at Molly and gave a gentle smile that reached his eyes. ‘What’s it to be, Molly Missons, boyfriend or husband-to-be? I’m open to offers.’

  Molly couldn’t breathe. Surely he was joking with her. What should she say? Her beating heart was urging her to say, ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Would you like to play tiddlywinks with us, Johnny?’ Avril asked.

  The moment was broken. ‘I’ll help Sally while you play with the girls,’ Molly said as she escaped to the kitchen before Johnny could say another word.

  Everyone enjoyed the meal. Sally was a good cook and served fluffy dumplings on top of tender mutton, and vegetables she’d grown herself in the kitchen garden. Even the cooking apples in the pie were from their small orchard. Molly remained quiet as she ate and listened to Johnny chat to the family. Dan, Sally’s husband, was soon telling them about the farm and his work. Johnny seemed interested, and when Dan announced he had a problem with the tractor and would need to go out to work on it before they lost the light, Johnny was quick to volunteer his help.

  ‘Johnny, you’re not dressed to work on a greasy old tractor,’ Sally protested.

  ‘You have overalls, don’t you?’ he asked Dan.

  The farmer nodded. ‘And work boots. You’ll not want those ruined.’ He nodded to the polished black shoes Johnny was wearing.

  ‘Then let’s get cracking,’ he said, rolling up his sleeves and following Dan from the kitchen.

  It was late when they left Sally and Dan’s. The repair to the tractor had taken longer than expected. Molly was amused to see Johnny’s face covered in streaks of grease when he finally followed Dan into the cottage. She’d only ever seen him in smart clothes and the Butlins uniform. Sally had insisted on providing hot drinks and sandwiches after Johnny had cleaned himself up, before they bid the couple goodbye.

  ‘I like your family,’ Johnny said, as he headed the car up the dark lane and on towards Skegness. ‘You seem to get on well with them.’

  ‘I feel very fortunate to be accepted into the fold. It must have been hard for Sally to not see her sister and wonder what happened to her all these years.’

  ‘It must have been the same for your mother and father,’ Johnny suggested.

  Molly thought for a moment. ‘Yes, it must have been, but they never spoke of family matters. Whatever happened was kept locked away for over twenty years. Sally mentioned that my grandfather was inclined to be strict and rather miserable at times. Once Mum left, she was never mentioned in the house again. I hope to meet him and at least ask what happened.’

  ‘It makes one wonder what can have driven a man to turn his daughter away like that. I hope I never do such a thing,’ he said, staring ahead into the night.

  Molly could see a serious frown on Johnny’s face. ‘I don’t think you would, Johnny,’ she said. ‘From what I’ve seen, you are a fair man.’

  ‘Even when a nervous woman tips drinks over me and treads on my feet?’

  Molly smiled to herself in the darkened car. ‘Are you never going to let me forget that?’

  ‘Never,’ Johnny chuckled.

  ‘Molly, Molly!’ a voice shrieked from somewhere in the throng of campers alighting from a packed coach. It was Saturday, changeover day at Butlins, Skegness, and Molly had lost count of the number of hugs and kisses she’d received from campers leaving for their homes. Shouts of ‘Keep in touch’ and ‘See you next year’ could be heard from the parting holidaymakers. It was a special day for Molly: she was expecting George and Kath to arrive, along with her best friend, Freda, and was on tenterhooks waiting for them to appear.

  ‘If I’m not mistaken, that shout is from your friend Freda. Unless there’s someone else trying to catch your attention.’ Bunty grinned as she pointed towards the coach, where an excited Freda was hanging on to the door and waving frantically from the steps. ‘Why not go and help your friends settle in? There are plenty of us here to do the meeting and greeting. Tell Freda I’m looking forward to meeting her later.’

  ‘Thank you, Bunty. You’re a real chum.’ Molly pushed through the crowd and hugged Freda as she jumped from the bottom step of the coach and made way for George and Kath to alight.

  ‘Molly, love, you look a picture in your uniform,’ Kath said as she gave Molly a kiss. ‘Your hair looks even lovelier with it a little longer. Here, George, leave those suitcases and come and see our Molly.’

  George gripped Molly so tightly in a bear hug that she could hardly breathe. Holding her at arm’s length, he studied her face carefully. ‘I was hoping you’d be pale and wasting away so I could pick you up and take you back home to Erith, but that’s not the case. You are blooming, Molly. I can see that working here has done you the world of good. I hope this doesn’t mean we’ll never see you back with us?’

  ‘Wherever I am in the world, Erith will always be in my heart, George. Besides, where else would I go when the season ends if not home to you? That’s if you’ll have me? I can’t hide away from horrid Simon forever,’ she said, picking up the smaller of their suitcas
es. ‘Now, let’s collect the keys to your chalets and settle you in, shall we?’

  ‘This is so exciting. I can’t believe we’re going to be together for the whole week,’ Freda said, linking arms with her friend. ‘I’m going to stick by your side for the next seven days. I might even be tempted to become a redcoat.’

  ‘You mustn’t feel you have to stay with me, Freda. I do have my work, and you may want to try other activities.’

  ‘We are bound to see lots of you. How big can this place be?’ Kath said.

  Molly laughed. ‘You’d be surprised, Kath. Just wait and see. Now, here we are. Leave your cases while we get you registered.’

  18

  ‘Oh my, I haven’t laughed so much in a long time,’ Kath said, wiping her eyes on a sparkling white handkerchief. ‘I never expected to see a redcoat thrown into the swimming pool.’

  Molly had headed back to her job of greeting new campers in the reception area after seeing that George and Kath were settled in their chalet. She found them later, sitting in deckchairs by the pool, watching the fun and games as campers entered races and fooled about. ‘I’ve seen redcoats thrown into the pool on many occasions now, but it never ceases to make me laugh,’ she said.

  ‘Have you been thrown into the pool?’ Freda asked. She was stretched out on the grass, wearing the cutest shorts and matching top. Molly made a mental note to ask about the dress pattern Freda had used to make the outfit. Something similar would be ideal for her afternoons off when she headed to the beach to relax.

  ‘My goodness, no. I’m working mainly with children during the day and they don’t do such things. Many things have been thrown over me, but I’ve not yet ended up in the pool. Now, I have a half-hour break. Would you like to accompany me to the coffee bar and have an ice-cream sundae?’

  Freda jumped to her feet. ‘That would be good. I was beginning to feel quite sleepy in this sun. Are you coming, Kath, George?’

  The older woman looked at her husband, who had placed his newspaper over his face and was leaning back in his deckchair. ‘I’d prefer to stay here for a while and rest. The train and coach journey took it out of us a bit. Perhaps you could bring back a tray of tea? I see other campers have them.’