by Anne Bennett
‘I don’t see how you can say that,’ Kate said. ‘I have always found him charming and courteous. And he is very nice-looking, too.’
‘Is he?’
Kate laughed. ‘Maybe you’re a mite young to notice things like that,’ she said. ‘But take it from me, he is. We have really got on well together. In fact, he is taking me to the cinema tonight.’
That gave Meg a jolt. She didn’t realise Kate meant they were getting on that well. She could understand that Kate might find Richard Flatterly attractive, because he could turn the charm on when he wanted to, but surely Kate could see through that?
Obviously not, because she went on, ‘We’re off to the Odeon in New Street to see Wuthering Heights and I’m really looking forward to it.’
Meg smiled and managed to say that she hoped Kate had a good time, but inside she felt a little sick because she had never seen a pink blush touch Kate’s cheeks before, nor had she seen that bright light shining in her eyes, and it worried her. Surely to God, Meg thought, she had enough sense to steer away from the likes of Richard Flatterly, but then why should she when she thought him such a charming and courteous man?
They were due to part company at the Bull Ring and Meg suddenly said, ‘How will we keep in touch? We must do that, but you don’t even know where you are going and I haven’t got a full address.’
‘Oh, yes, we must write to one another,’ Kate said. ‘I would love to know how you are getting on. Tell you what,’ she said suddenly. ‘When you know your address, send it to me via Richard’s offices in the Council House.’
Meg hated the thought of Richard Flatterly having anything to do with her life at all. She didn’t answer for a moment but then finally she said, ‘Do you think it’s all right to do that?’
‘I can’t see any other way of doing it,’ Kate said. ‘Then, as soon as I know where you are, we can write direct. And remember to tell me when you finish training and are assigned a farm. I suppose that’s how it works.’
‘S’pose so,’ Meg said. ‘I haven’t a clue really. I should imagine they will tell us all this sort of stuff.’
‘Yes,’ Kate said. ‘It will be all new to you and so there will be lots to learn, but you learn quickly. I was your teacher, remember, and I know you’re not as green as you’re cabbage-looking.’
Meg laughed. ‘Thanks a lot for that back-handed compliment.’
‘My pleasure,’ Kate said. ‘Now we’d both best get on.’
And then, for the first time, Kate put her arms around Meg. ‘You’ll probably feel a little lost in the beginning,’ she said. ‘I was the same when I first went to teacher training college. But I ended up having a marvellous time, as well as learning how to teach. That is how it will be for you. This is your future, so grab it with two hands.’
Meg faced her family over the table that evening. She had given them all a lovely dinner. It was unusual to have a roast dinner in the middle of the week, but the butcher had prepared the rabbit and Meg had roasted it with potatoes all around, cabbage and carrots on the stove, and after they had done justice to that, she served apple pie and custard.
Charlie said back with a sigh of satisfaction. Rested and relaxed after his holiday and then to be served such delicious food was his idea of heaven. ‘By God, Meg, you will make a fine wife for someone.’
‘Not just yet a while.’
‘No, plenty of time for all that,’ Charlie said. ‘And now, as you have all eaten, we have something for all of you.’ He produced sticks of rock for the children, with ‘Blackpool’ written all the way through them, he said, and a box of fudge for Meg, and then of course the children wanted to hear about the holiday.
None of them had ever been to the sea and Charlie, who had not seen it before either, did his best to describe it for them. For a short while for the children it was like having their old father back as he painted pictures for them so they could see the vast sea sparkling in the sunset, the white-fringed waves lapping the shore that they both paddled in and the miles of golden sand. He told them of the gigantic fair and rides of all shape and sizes, the merry-go-round where they sat astride horses as if they were children; the ghost train where Doris screamed her head off and the waltzers where the men spun the cars to set the women squealing.
‘Oh, Dad,’ Billy said wistfully. ‘It sounds great.’
‘It sounds scary,’ Sally countered. ‘Was you scared, Dad?’
Charlie shook his head, ‘No, I loved it all but Doris wasn’t keen on the Big Wheel was you, Doris?’
‘No I wasn’t’ Doris conceded. ‘We were so high up. God, the ground looked miles away. And on the roller coaster I felt as if I had left my stomach behind.’
The children giggled at the thought and Charlie went on to describe the front and the shops selling all manner of things, and the arcades with machines to feed money into. ‘What for?’
‘To see if you can win some more.’
‘And did you?’
‘No,’ Charlie said. ‘It was the quickest way of losing money that I’ve ever known.’
He told them of the candyfloss that they’d eaten. ‘Just like clouded cotton wool on a stick,’ he said. ‘Put a great wad in your mouth and it melts away to nothing in seconds.’
‘Was it nice, though?’
‘Nice enough,’ Charlie said. ‘What would you say, Doris?’
‘It was all right,’ Doris said. ‘But I preferred the toffee apples we had.’
‘Toffee apples,’ Billy said. ‘What’s them then?’
‘Just what they’re called,’ Charlie said. ‘An apple on a stick covered with toffee.’
‘Oh, I’d like to try one of those.’
‘Maybe you will one day,’ Charlie said. ‘But Blackpool has something no other resort has, and that’s a great big high tower. You can see for miles at the top of it, though it’s really windy up there.’
‘Supposed to look the same as the one in Paris in France,’ Doris said.
‘And does it?’ Jenny asked.
‘How would we know?’ Charlie said. ‘I’ve never been to France. Never likely to go, either, unless it’s with the British Army, and then there will hardly be time to look at towers.’
It was the first time their father had said anything in front of the younger children about being called up, and it was Sally who said, ‘Why would you go to France with the army?’
‘I just might, that’s all.’
‘But why should you?’ Jenny persisted. ‘You’re not in the army.’
‘If we go to war I’ll probably be called up.’
‘Oh,’ Jenny, Sally and Billy said all together. They all fell silent, so Charlie turned his attention to Meg.
‘You’re very quiet. What’ve you been up to while we’ve been away?’
This gave Meg the lead-in she wanted. ‘Well, we all went to Cannon Hill Park yesterday,’ she said.
‘Oh, yes, that’s a hike, mind.’
‘We took a picnic and my football and everything,’ Billy said. ‘And they was digging big trenches round the park. Don’t know what for, though, and Sally didn’t either.’
Charlie looked at Meg and she shook her head slightly at him, but he thought it might be better to prepare the children and he said, ‘It’s probably because the trenches would be somewhere to hide if we were at war and the bombs come.’
‘Why would they bomb the park?’ Sally asked.
‘They can bomb anywhere once they start,’ Charlie said. ‘But you are not to worry about that because you are not going to see any bombs. You’ll be going to the countryside where you’ll be safe. That’s why I agreed to let you be evacuated.’
‘And we really are going to have a war?’ Billy asked.
Charlie nodded. ‘It’s only a matter of time now.’
‘On the wireless this morning the announcer said this will be the first war when we will all be on the front line and everyone has to do their bit,’ Meg said.
Charlie’s eyes narrowed. He’d had
the feeling since he arrived home that Meg had something on her mind and now he saw the way the conversation was leading and he snapped out, ‘Don’t you suggest working in one of those munitions factories, because I’ll never agree to it.’
‘Good job I don’t want to work in one, then,’ Meg said lightly.
‘So what is this?’
‘I’ll tell you where I do want to work,’ Meg said. ‘In fact, where I’m going to work because I’ve had the medical and interview and everything.’
‘Doing what?’
‘I’ve joined the Land Army, like Joy.’
‘Have you, by God?’
‘Yes, I have, and next week I start training in an agricultural college just outside Wolverhampton.’
Billy began to cry as he grasped what Meg had said, and her father rapped out, ‘You will be going to no college in some outlandish place. You’ll be staying at home where you belong.’
Meg remembered May telling her of the fight that her sister had had to do the same thing in the last war, and so she faced her father and said, ‘No, I’m not. It’s an army, just like any other, and I have signed up for it. How else are the farms going to manage if we don’t do this and the farmers and farm hands are called up?’
‘But, Meg,’ Jenny protested. ‘You can’t leave us here and go and live somewhere else.’
‘But if you are evacuated you won’t be here anyway,’ Meg pointed out.
‘Well, I think it’s a wonderful thing Meg is doing,’ Doris chipped in suddenly.
‘Do you?’ Charlie said. ‘I thought you’d want Meg to stay on here and help you with the children. It isn’t as if you have much experience.’
‘Oh, well,’ Doris said, ‘the children are being evacuated in the event of war, aren’t they? And I’d never have it said that I stood in Meg’s way.’
‘Did you know anything about this before?’ Charlie asked.
Meg held her breath because Doris had to pretend she knew nothing about it; if her father should get a sniff that Doris had signed the form before she was officially Mrs Hallett, then maybe he could overturn the whole thing. Fortunately Doris was no fool and she clearly wanted Meg out of her hair so she said, ‘No, Charlie, I was as surprised as you, but I think it is a very brave thing that Meg is doing and we should be pleased for her because it’s valuable work.’
‘Well, I know that,’ Charlie conceded.
‘Dad,’ Meg said, ‘I think we’ll all have to pull together in this war if we are going to win, and this is how I want to help.’
‘Well, I can’t say that I am totally happy about it,’ Charlie said. ‘But I won’t stand in your way either.’
There was a howl of distress from the children and Meg did feel a little guilty yet she knew because they were being evacuated they wouldn’t miss her so much because everything would be different for them too. Anyway, the die was cast now and she wanted the few days to speed past to Wednesday morning of the following week when she would meet Joy on the steps of the Council House where transport to the agricultural college would be arranged.
As the news filtered through the neighbourhood, there was a mixed reaction from the neighbours. Some thought Meg totally irresponsible to walk out on her brother and sisters in that way.
Only Terry fully understood. ‘Don’t let it get you down, Meg,’ he advised. ‘Why do other people’s opinions matter anyway? You and I are the only ones who know the truth. You go for it, and do what you want. That isn’t selfish, it’s just normal.’
Meg was grateful for her brother’s support but the last morning, when she said goodbye to all she held dear, she felt her heart was breaking in two. Even her father, who’d arranged to go in later to work so he was there to see her off, cried as he hugged her goodbye.
‘I’ll be back as soon as I get a spot of leave,’ Meg promised brokenly, but she knew it was poor comfort to the children and she could do nothing more to ease the parting. Tears streamed from her eyes even as she made her way down the road, and a sad little group stood out on the pavement, and waved until Meg had turned down Bristol Passage and out of sight.
PART TWO
FIFTEEN
Joy was waiting for Meg on the steps of the Council House, along with a cluster of other girls of all shapes and sizes. Though most were young, there were a few older ones amongst them. Meg’s tears were spent but her eyes remained red-rimmed and Joy examined her critically.
‘Must have been upsetting, saying goodbye to them all.’
Meg nodded. ‘I had no idea that anything could be that hard. I promised that I would write and I would be home as soon as I get leave, and to be honest as far as the children are concerned I might as well be in Outer Space .’
‘Yes,’ Joy agreed. ‘But you can write as soon as we’re settled. As for leave, I dare say we won’t get anything significant until we’ve finished our training – whenever that is.’
‘No, I don’t suppose so,’ Meg agreed.
Joy whispered, ‘Plenty of girls here. Helps a bit to know that we’re not the only idiots to join up for this little lot.’
‘I never thought we were,’ Meg said. ‘Did you?’
‘I wondered what I was doing a time or two,’ Joy confessed. ‘I mean, I don’t know one end of a cow from the other, do you?’
Meg laughed. ‘Yes, just about,’ she said. ‘But if I wasn’t sure, I think I would work it out in short order.’
Meg’s laughter had drawn some of other girls’ attention on them and the nearest one said to Meg admiringly, ‘You seem to be taking it all in your stride. I’m really nervous.’
‘I am too really,’ Meg said.
When an army truck with a canvas roof and sides stopped at the bottom of the marble steps another girl said, ‘Don’t you think our chaps were just as nervous as us? Mine was when he was called up when they took the younger ones in for training, but he still went.’
‘Yeah,’ Meg said. ‘So let’s stop moaning about our nerves. I mean, it don’t help and it seems like we’re all in the same boat anyway.’
‘That’s the spirit,’ said a voice behind Meg, and she turned to find herself looking at the driver of the truck, who was a woman. She was more than twice their age, and though she wore no makeup, her face seemed very smooth. Her brown hair was daringly cut very short and she was wearing trousers. She smiled at them all and said in a rather deep voice for a woman, ‘All right, girls, my name is Rita Partridge and I am here to look after you. We will just have a bit of a roll call and see that I’ve got everyone I should have and then we will be on our way.’
Everyone was there. Altogether there were twenty, and eighteen of those were directed to climb into the truck. Some did this with difficulty because of the unsuitable clothes they wore. But once the eighteen had clambered aboard, it was obvious there was no room for any more – as it was the girls were packed together tightly.
‘God, it’s sweltering in here,’ one of the girls protested, and others agreed as the day was really warm, and so Rita rolled up the canvas sides to let some air through.
Meanwhile Meg and Joy were standing about like spare dinners. ‘What about us?’ Joy said.
‘You’ll have to squeeze in beside me, that’s all,’ Rita said. ‘Be a bit of a squash but there you are. I did query the size of the truck but they said that’s all there was.’
‘It’ll have to do then,’ Meg said, and they both squeezed into the cab beside Rita.
She turned on the engine, swung the truck round effortlessly and it rumbled over the cobbled city streets. They were on their way and Meg felt excitement catch hold of her. Whatever lay ahead would be nothing like the life she had led this far, and that in itself was exciting.
The journey was a long one and at first there was a lot of chatter amongst so many, but gradually it quietened to a steady murmur as the city was left far behind. Fields were either side of them now, and here and there an isolated cottage. Despite the early hour, sometimes they’d see signs of activity, especially amon
gst the children. Some would watch wide-eyed as the truck rumbled past with their fingers in their mouths, while others might wave or run alongside the truck, which made them all smile.
Most of the fields were cultivated and Rita would name all the different crops to Meg and Joy. Some vegetables, such as cabbages, were obvious, and Rita pointed out the peas growing upwards supported by a frame.
Rita reminisced, ‘When I was a child, that was my job on Sunday morning, to pod enough peas for dinner, but it was never a bother for me because I used to love to do it. Anyway it was worth it, because those fresh garden peas tasted delicious.’
‘I love them,’ Meg agreed.
‘What about these fields we’re passing now?’ Joy asked. The land was furrowed and whatever was growing there was underneath the soil, for all that could be seen was a lot of greenery. ‘Potatoes,’ Rita said. ‘And beyond that is sugar beet.’ She waved to the people already working in the fields. ‘And lots of root vegetables: carrots, turnips, swedes and onions – that sort of thing … Now girls,’ she shouted into the back, ‘we’re passing by Oldbury. It’s a nice little market town but the streets are narrow, not built for trucks like these.’
Rita was right. All Meg saw was a cluster of pretty houses and shops and a church spire peeping over the roofs. ‘Now, apart from the odd hamlet, there isn’t much until we come to West Bromwich,’ Rita said when they were through the town and on the open road again. ‘We’ll pick up the Birmingham Canal there and follow it all the way to Coseley.’
‘Golly, I haven’t seen a canal in years,’ Meg said.
Joy stared at her. ‘You are joking?’
‘No.’
‘But Birmingham is threaded with canals.’
‘Not our way it isn’t,’ Meg said. ‘Dad took me and our Terry to Gas Street Basin once and we saw all those painted barges and that, but I don’t think the others have ever been. Mind you, I liked the barges, but I thought the water was really dirty and smelly.’