by Molly Green
‘I think that’s a very good idea,’ June said.
Maxine picked up the bags. ‘I’ll go and unpack these things and put them in Peter’s locker before we have dinner. Then we’re ready for the bell when it rings.’
A letter had been pushed under her bedroom door when Maxine opened it. She picked it up and was pleased to see Pearl’s familiar flamboyant writing. There wasn’t time to read it now as dinner was about to be served but she’d enjoy it after the drill, and when she’d spoken to Peter. It would be good to sit down with a cup of tea then and settle back to enjoy Pearl’s letter.
The children made the drill into a game, even though Maxine, June and the other teachers tried to keep them in order.
June clapped her hands loudly. ‘Go in pairs,’ she said, her voice loud and clear as it echoed through the Great Hall. ‘Don’t look for your friends. Just hold the hand of the child nearest to you and keep moving. No talking. And no running.’
Children grabbed each other’s hands and thundered through the hall and out of the front door, leaving Peter staring after them. Maxine immediately went to take his hand but as usual he shrugged her off.
‘I can go by myself,’ he said. ‘Anyway, it’s not real. There aren’t any real bombs.’
‘Peter, you will do what I say.’ Maxine surprised herself with how sharp her words came out. ‘It’s for your own safety. The alarm’s gone off and we should be in the shelter by now.’ She grabbed his hand and held it tightly. ‘Come on. I don’t want to hear another word.’
‘I’m staying here and you can’t make me go!’ Peter shouted, desperately trying to pull away.
She ignored him and gripped him more tightly. It didn’t matter whether he liked her or not, she was determined he was not going to get the upper hand.
Peter was nowhere to be seen when everyone trooped back into the house after the drill. Somehow he’d managed to give Maxine the slip. She realised today was not the day to try to win his trust. He wouldn’t be in the least receptive. She must think of something that would be nothing to do with orphanages, or being German. Only then would she be able to warn him of his vulnerable position at Bingham Hall where the children were concerned. If not, she could imagine him being bullied as soon as the first child discovered he was half German.
Maxine breathed a sigh of relief when she opened the door to her bedroom after dinner and saw it was empty. She reckoned she and Kathleen wouldn’t see that much of each other as they worked different shifts, and although she liked Kathleen very much, she needed time to plan how she was going to approach the problem of Peter’s background without upsetting the child any further. Her mind was spinning. She sat on her bed and removed her shoes and stockings, curling and uncurling her toes. There had been no opportunity to have a serious talk to him by the time she’d found him in the magnificent library on his own, his face only inches away from what looked like an atlas.
‘There you are, Peter,’ she’d said. ‘We’ve been looking for you.’
He looked up and saw who it was, then dropped his eyes back to the book.
‘What are you studying?’ She came closer and looked over his shoulder. It was a map of Germany.
Peter turned and glanced up at her, his eyes filled with misery. ‘Nothing.’ He snapped the book shut and stood up to leave. ‘Here.’ He held it out to her. ‘You can have it. I’ve finished with it.’
She felt a little unnerved by those blue eyes staring into hers. How was she ever going to win his trust? How would any of them?
‘What class do you have next?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Then we need to ask one of the teachers, so come with me.’
Without a word he followed her to the Great Hall where the children had gathered ready to go to the various classes. The noise was deafening. The twin girls were shouting at one another on top of all the loud chatter and pushing each other until June appeared and clapped her hands.
‘Quiet, children!’ They stopped immediately. ‘You all know where to go for your next class, except Peter. Is he here?’
‘Yes, I have him with me,’ Maxine said.
June looked at her notebook. ‘Peter is with Miss Wright. History. Room four.’ She looked round and called to a red-haired boy. His colouring reminded her of Edwin and Maxine swallowed hard. ‘Ben, please show Peter where to go,’ June went on. ‘You’re in his class, I believe.’
Ben had nodded and gestured for Peter to follow him. All Maxine could do was pray that nothing would come out about Germany or the Germans before she was able to speak to him. A history lesson could mean anything.
Now in her room she remembered Pearl’s letter, and carefully opened the envelope, relishing the chatty news from her cousin, such a contrast to her mother’s letters which were always full of how difficult it was for her to cope with Dad and when was Maxine coming to see them, and how she was sure Dad needed her more than the children at Dr Barnardo’s.
Maxine sighed and took the sheet of Basildon Bond notepaper from the envelope. How Pearl still managed to find decent stationery was a mystery to her.
Dear Max,
I rec’d your letter and am pleased you are settling in. It must be quite a shock being around all those kiddies, but at least there aren’t any babies there to remind you.
Pearl had crossed out the last part of the sentence but the reference was enough to make Maxine’s eyes smart. She hurriedly read on.
I have a much bigger part in a new show – another musical. Am not allowed to tell you anything about it now, but Liverpool will be the first to perform it before we tour the country. We’re hoping it will get to the West End. We’re just starting rehearsals and it will probably be announced by the beginning of next month. As soon as I can I’ll send you a couple of tickets in case you’ve met a nice chap in the last fortnight and you can invite him! Or you can bring a girlfriend, but I don’t think that would be half as much fun, do you? Ha ha.
In the meantime I’d love to come and see you – see where you work and say hello to the children. Maybe one afternoon when I get a few hours off?
All for now.
Much love,
Pearl XX
Maxine was pleased her cousin sounded cheerful and had been chosen for a more prominent part in the next musical. It seemed like Pearl’s dream was beginning to come true after a lot of hard work and determination. Her thoughts turned to Pearl’s past. She hadn’t had an easy time either. To have gone through something like that alone. If only Pearl had told her about the baby she would gladly have gone to look after her cousin. Maybe even persuaded her to keep it.
Tears sprang to her eyes. Pearl’s experience was far worse than her own. Her cousin had lost her baby forever. Even if Maxine never saw him again, her darling Teddy was alive and loved – oh, please God let him have loving parents. That’s all she wanted. All that was important.
She began to read the letter again, smiling now at Pearl’s allusion to a possible new chap. Her cousin would love to know about Crofton Wells, immediately weaving a romance around the story, but Maxine was glad she hadn’t mentioned him. After all, it was hardly likely she’d see him again. He’d only asked for the telephone number of Bingham Hall out of politeness, she was certain. But what if … Momentarily she closed her eyes and tried to dislodge the whisper of a dangerous question … What if his twinkling eyes … his crooked smile … were for her alone? Was she ready to take a chance with another man again?
Chapter Twenty-One
Maxine awoke with new determination. Whatever happened, she was going to have her talk with Peter. It couldn’t be put off any longer. She’d see him this morning before his first class, and be blowed if he trusted her or not. It was her duty to help him settle in properly.
Happy that she’d made her decision, she flung the bedclothes aside, had a wash, thankful that tonight was her turn for a bath. She dressed quickly in her uniform, noticing a smudge on her apron. She gave a wry smile thinking of Sister
who would have pulled her up immediately and made her change. But it would get a lot more scruffy by the end of the day.
She ran down the stairs to the floor below where the children slept. She’d got into the habit of helping Jenny, a girl from the village who came in every day to sleep in the girls’ dormitory. It wasn’t part of Maxine’s nursing duties but she was glad to help in any way she could. At the moment there were only two children in the ward and there wasn’t enough to do all day as far as nursing was concerned.
Entering the dormitory, she was surprised to find Jenny still asleep and little Betsy by her side shaking her arm. Jenny was always up early, a cheerful smile for the children as she got them dressed, calling out instructions as to what they were to wear that day and to be quiet when it became too noisy. Maxine stepped over to Jenny’s bed and Betsy looked up, her brown eyes anxious.
‘Miss Jenny won’t wake up.’
‘You go and get dressed, Betsy, and I’ll have a look at Miss Jenny. I expect she’s just tired.’
The child shot off.
‘Jenny, can you hear me?’
The figure didn’t stir.
Maxine pulled back the sheet. ‘Jenny,’ she said again, more urgently, grasping the girl’s wrist. She didn’t like the look of the young girl’s pale waxy face, the dark hair lank on the pillow.
Oh, thank God. She could feel Jenny’s pulse – rapid, but it was there.
‘Is she dead, Nurse?’ Lizzie was peering over Maxine’s shoulder.
‘No, of course not,’ Maxine said a little sharply, not wanting the younger children to panic. ‘Would you go down to the hospital ward and tell Nurse Kathleen that Miss Jenny isn’t very well and would she come upstairs straightaway with the first-aid bag.’
‘I heard Miss Jenny being sick in the night.’
‘Yes, she’s not well,’ Maxine said, ‘so we need to help her. Off you go now.’
Lizzie disappeared.
Jenny’s eyes flickered, then opened.
‘Jenny, it’s me – Nurse Taylor. Lizzie said you weren’t well in the night.’
‘I was sick twice.’ Jenny’s voice was thin.
‘How do you feel now?’
‘Not very well.’ Jenny tried to raise herself and Maxine put out a steadying hand.
‘Just lie quietly for the moment, Jenny. Have you any pain anywhere?’
‘My side hurts … and I’ve got the devil of a headache.’
‘Which side?’
‘The right. Just here.’ Jenny pointed on top of the bedclothes to a spot which looked to be just below the girl’s stomach.
Maxine gently pressed the area and Jenny gasped. Her abdomen was definitely swollen. Appendicitis. She was sure of it. And Jenny would need to get to a hospital fast if she was right. It could burst at any time, which would be highly dangerous as the poison could quickly spread through her body.
‘Here I am.’ Kathleen appeared and handed Maxine the first-aid bag. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Could be a grumbling appendix,’ Maxine said quietly. ‘I’ll take her temperature, but I suspect she’ll have a fever.’
‘Yes, she looks clammy,’ Kathleen remarked.
The two nurses gazed down at Jenny who had closed her eyes but was muttering under her breath, then suddenly groaned and drew her knees up under the bedclothes.
‘Arghh!’ Tears streamed from the girl’s eyes.
Maxine took her hand. ‘We’re here, Jenny, and we’re going to call the doctor. You’re going to be fine, don’t worry.’
‘Thank you,’ Jenny whispered. ‘Tell him to hurry. The pain’s getting worse.’
‘I’ll go and ring him straightaway.’ Kathleen dashed off.
Maxine tried to make Jenny comfortable, but by now all the children were awake and gathering round, trying to see what was the matter. Maxine was thankful that this was the girls’ dormitory and there were fewer of them. And they were quieter than the boys.
‘Pamela,’ she said, ‘as you’re the oldest, can you make sure all the girls are dressed properly and help any child who isn’t. Then take them downstairs for their breakfast. We need to keep Jenny as quiet as possible until the doctor comes.’
Maxine was relieved when all the children were shepherded out of the door, Pamela at the rear making encouraging noises that they would be first in the queue for breakfast if they hurried, and would get the biggest helping.
‘I’ve rung for the doctor,’ Kathleen said breathlessly. ‘Do you think we ought to move her to the ward?’
‘No, she’s safe here. We’ll wait and see what the doctor says.’
‘I’m afraid it’s hospital for you, lass,’ the doctor said when he’d finished examining Jenny. ‘You’ve got appendicitis and we need to get you in quickly.’ He turned to Maxine. ‘The ambulance may be some time with so few available at the moment. Does anyone—’
‘I’m sure Harold will be able to take her,’ Maxine said. ‘He’s our chauffeur.’
‘Oh, yes, I know him. Nice chap,’ Dr Stevens said. ‘But time is crucial.’
‘Am I going to die?’ Jenny struggled to sit up, her white face upturned to the doctor.
‘No, of course not.’ Dr Stevens smiled down at Jenny. ‘Strong, fit, young girl like you … I should say not.’
‘I’ll get Harold,’ Kathleen said. She shot off.
By eight o’clock, Jenny was on her way to the Royal Infirmary, Kathleen had gone back to the ward to finish the notes she’d taken on night duty ready for the handover, and Maxine was eating her porridge and listening to Betsy and Lily’s somewhat exaggerated account of poor Jenny. She noticed Pamela was sitting quietly eating her toast and not saying a word. She was looking forward to getting to know Pamela better. She might be a great help with the younger children in another year or so when she was too old to be classed as one of the orphans. But Peter first.
June was quiet when she sat with Maxine later that morning in her office. ‘You know, Maxine, we’re awfully short on staff and now we’ve lost Jenny for probably several weeks. I originally came as Matron’s assistant, so of course there were two of us running the home, and now there’s only me. I’ve been thinking – you and Kathleen have to do long shifts and when you have a day off it falls to the other to do a twenty-four-hour shift, making it impossible if either of you become sick – heaven forbid – or go on holiday. Mr Clarke has advised me to hire another nurse to fill in. But the trouble is, we’re on such a tight budget and we really need two new staff members.’
‘Could someone do a dual role? Fill in for you when you have a day off, or a few days’ holiday—’
‘I’ve forgotten what they are’ – June smiled – ‘but that might be a good idea. One-and-a-half wages instead of two.’
‘It makes sense, because although we’re very quiet in the ward at the moment it could change at any time.’ Suddenly a thought struck her. ‘June, I’m thinking out loud as it’s only just occurred to me – what would you say to me applying? I’d be able to keep up my nursing, but my other role would be to become more involved with the children’s daily lives, which is what I’d dearly love. And you could then hire another full-time nurse and Kathleen would be relieved knowing I’d fill in the gaps.’
There was a silence. Maxine shifted in her seat. Had she gone too far? Been too presumptuous? Then a smile grew on June’s face and her eyes twinkled with delight as she stood up and came round her desk, surprising Maxine by giving her a brief hug, bringing a lump to her throat as it reminded her so of Anna’s affection.
‘That’s a perfect solution, Maxine. Why didn’t I think of it? I’ll put it to Mr Clarke right away.’ She lowered her eyes, then looked up and gave a shy smile. ‘I could then go on my honeymoon knowing you were here to take care of things.’
‘I’d be honoured.’ Maxine smiled back. ‘But you haven’t mentioned any wedding date yet.’
‘We’ve not got anything definite, partly because Murray never knows when he’s going to be allowed more than on
e day’s leave, but mostly because I felt I couldn’t just go off for even a short time with no one in charge. Miss Ayles, who was one of the teachers when I first came, had that unofficial role, but now she’s retired there’s no one else. Your idea will solve several problems at once, provided we can get a good nurse, which proved difficult last time until you came along.’
‘Well, we shouldn’t start making plans until we have Dr Barnardo’s approval,’ Maxine laughed. ‘It all sounds logical to us, but they might have a very different opinion.’
‘I think Mr Clarke trusts me where the staff are concerned,’ June said, sitting down and making a few notes. ‘But yes, I’ll write to him outlining the idea.’ She beamed at Maxine. ‘You’ll be able to keep a closer eye on Peter as well.’
‘Is Jenny going to be all right?’ Kathleen asked as soon as Maxine opened the door to the ward.
‘I’m sure she is,’ Maxine said. ‘She’s in safe hands now, but she’ll have to have her appendix out.’
‘Oh, dear. That’s going to leave us short. We’ll have to get one of the other girls in the village to come up. Jenny was so marvellous.’
‘And will be again,’ Maxine said. ‘She’ll be back before we know it.’ She looked round the ward. ‘Anything to report?’
‘All very quiet. Harvey’s dressed and ready to go back upstairs, so I’ll take him with me, shall I, but Reggie’s still not well. He must have caught it from Bobby, but his throat ought to have cleared up by now. I think we should get the doctor out to him.’
Reggie was one of the older boys and at thirteen looked almost a man with his thick dark hair brushed away from his face, his well-defined features and even a hint of a shadow on his jaw. Maxine wondered fleetingly how he came to be at the orphanage. She was impatient to know how all the children had arrived at Dr Barnardo’s.
‘I’ll have a look at him, but you go now. Get some sleep.’
As soon as Kathleen and Harvey had disappeared, Maxine took Reggie’s temperature and read the figure. Nearly a hundred and one. Still too high. This infection was going on much longer than Bobby’s. She shook the thermometer and popped it in the bowl of Milton solution in the kitchen where she could still hear him coughing. She took a bottle of cough medicine from the shelf and a teaspoon.