A New Day

by Beryl Matthews

  Jane looked at the would-be gardeners. ‘Why don’t you all rinse your hands under the tap and then we can take Jack inside for a drink?’

  ‘I think that’s an excellent idea.’

  All eyes turned towards the gate, and the twins squealed in delight.

  ‘Daddy!’

  After the greetings had been made and some kind of order restored, Captain Harcourt said, ‘Now we all deserve a drink. You as well, Pete.’

  They piled into the large kitchen and Mildred Cooper set about getting the drinks, helped by Hanna. As they all settled down Jack couldn’t help noticing the dark shadows under the captain’s eyes, just like his own. The strain was showing on both of them, and Jack wondered if he had been one of the escort ships on that dreadful voyage. He’d ask him later if he got the chance to speak to him alone, but this happy family scene was no place to discuss such a horror.

  That chance came when Mrs Harcourt and Hanna were bathing the boys and getting them ready for bed. They were in the sitting room on their own.

  Captain Harcourt held up the whisky decanter. ‘Drink, Jack?’

  ‘No thanks, sir, but I’ll have a soft drink if you’ve got one.’

  ‘Orange?’

  ‘That will be fine.’

  He handed Jack the glass with a wry smile on his face. ‘I forgot you are only very young. Are you still on the North Star?’

  Jack nodded.

  ‘Glad you made it then.’

  ‘So am I.’ Jack gave the captain a studied look. ‘Were you part of our escort? The one who stopped when those survivors were picked up from the tanker?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That was a brave thing to do, sir. That sub was probably still lurking nearby.’

  ‘More than one. They are beginning to operate in packs now, and that convoy took a beating.’ The captain emptied his glass and put it on the small table beside him. ‘But we’re not the only ones facing a struggle. The RAF is also fighting a tremendous battle. Hitler can’t invade unless he knocks out our air force first.’

  ‘He can’t win. Whatever it takes we can’t let him.’

  ‘No, it’s unthinkable.’ The captain poured himself another small whisky. ‘Are you staying on the Atlantic convoys?’

  ‘As far as I know. We haven’t been told anything different.’ Jack grinned. ‘I’m hoping to get ashore in New York next time. We couldn’t this trip because the return convoy was already gathering, so we were loaded and on our way back before we had a chance to see anything.’

  ‘The Germans are going to sink as many cargo ships as they can, Jack,’ the captain told him, studying him carefully.

  ‘I know that. Thank goodness I’m a strong swimmer, eh?’

  ‘Well I’m not.’ The captain gave a dry laugh. ‘So if you see me in the water give me a hand up, will you?’

  ‘That’s a promise, sir.’

  They both laughed, relaxing for the first time in a long while.

  All the excitement had tired the boys out and they were fast asleep in no time at all. Hanna and their mother crept out of the room.

  ‘They couldn’t even stay awake to say goodnight to their father,’ Hanna said.

  ‘Yes, that’s a pity, but I didn’t want to disturb Sam. I had the feeling he wanted to have a quiet chat with Jack.’

  A worried frown crossed Hanna’s face. ‘They both look so tired, and although Jack appears the same, making quiet jokes as usual, he’s changed. Now and again there’s a look in his eyes I’ve never seen before – like sadness. I don’t know how to describe it. Neither of them have said where they’ve been or what happened on their last trip.’

  ‘And they won’t, Hanna. We mustn’t press them. They’ll talk if and when they want to. They are only home for a short time and we must make it as happy and enjoyable for them as we can.’

  Fifteen

  It had been wonderful to see Jack and the captain, and Hanna sang to herself as she dug over another piece of vegetable garden. She was getting so good at this now that Pete was allowing her to use another small plot. Much to her surprise she loved gardening, and the farm was a constant delight to her and the twins. After living all of her life in London, this place was paradise, but she couldn’t help feeling guilty about being so happy here when others were suffering. The men at sea were facing terrible dangers, and the airmen were engaged in a desperate fight in the skies. And when Alan had finished his basic training he would also be facing all kind of unthinkable dangers.

  Slamming the fork into the ground she leant on it. Was she doing enough? Should she have joined the forces, or something else? She shook her head. No, producing food was absolutely essential, and she was working very hard to do just that.

  ‘Had enough of digging?’

  She looked up and smiled. ‘No, Pete, I was just thinking. I love the farm, and growing food is vital to the war effort, but I was wondering if I should be doing more?’

  ‘That’s how I feel. I tried to join the Home Guard, but they won’t take me because I’ve only just turned fifteen. They told me that we all have a different role to play in this war, and being a farmer is very important. Still, your brother isn’t much older than me and he’s in the merchant navy bringing in needed supplies on the Atlantic convoys.’

  ‘Did he tell you that?’ She had guessed that was what he was doing, but he hadn’t said anything to her.

  Pete nodded. ‘I was telling him how frustrated I was not being allowed to fight, and he said I was already doing a great job, but it didn’t make me feel any better about it. I just wish I was a few years older.’

  ‘You mustn’t feel like that, Pete. This could be a long war and we are all going to be needed. There’s a place and a right job for all of us. We just have to find out where we fit in.’ Hanna looked around the garden that was flourishing with every kind of vegetable. ‘And I believe this is where we belong.’

  ‘You’re right, of course.’ He smiled then. ‘And the country has got to be fed. If we starve we can’t fight, can we?’

  ‘Exactly!’ The conversation with Pete had settled her own mind, and she went back to her digging with renewed energy.

  The sound of children’s voices and running feet made Hanna grin. ‘The twins are awake and need me.’

  ‘We’re going to have a party!’ They hurtled towards Hanna and Pete, shouting with one voice.

  ‘How exciting,’ Hanna laughed, catching them before they trampled all over her freshly dug ground. ‘When?’

  ‘Saturday!’

  Hanna kept the smile on her face although she felt a pang of sadness when she remembered that her brother hadn’t been much older than them when she and Jack had been put in the orphanage. But when she looked at the two identical, happy faces, it was a joy to know that these precious little boys wouldn’t have to face such an ordeal.

  ‘Mummy said we could ask the children from the village school to come.’ Andrew couldn’t stand still he was so excited.

  ‘Ah, I see they’ve told you.’ Jane joined them. ‘I was trying to keep it a secret, but I was discussing it with your grandmother, Pete, and they came into the kitchen. The little imps can move very quietly when they want to.’

  David and Andrew gave each other knowing glances, looking smug.

  ‘I’ve made an appointment to see the head teacher at the nursery school in the morning, Hanna. We’ll take the boys with us and they can meet some of the children. It’s time they had others of their own age to play with. They can start attending the school next term.’

  ‘Won’t that be lovely! You’ll make lots of new friends.’

  The twins gave each other one of those strange looks, and David said something that only Andrew understood. Then with a look of mischief on their faces they dragged Pete off to tell them why the plants were taking such a long time to grow. They expected to plant them one day and have them fully grown the next.

  Jane sighed and shook her head. ‘I wish they wouldn’t do that. I swear they can read each oth
er’s mind, and that’s why I want them to mix with other children. I thought a party might be a good way to start.’

  ‘I’m sure they’ll grow out of it, but I know what you mean. They seem quite content in each other’s company, but this is a complicated world and they’ve got to learn to live in it.’

  ‘Yes, and it isn’t a nice one at the moment. They’ve got to be able to cope with the good and the bad life will throw at them, and the sooner we start that the better. Have you heard from Alan lately?’ Jane asked, changing the subject.

  ‘I had a letter yesterday. He’s nearly finished his basic training and looking forward to coming home on leave.’

  ‘When he does, Hanna, you must go to London and spend a few days with him. You can stay at the house in Kensington while you’re there. When you came to work for me we agreed that you should have at least a day and a half off a week, but you never take it. You work so hard it’s time you had a break.’

  ‘I wouldn’t know what to do with spare time, but thank you. Alan has been asking if I could get a couple of days free, and it would be so lovely to see him again and not have to rush away.’

  ‘Then you shall go. Just let me know when he’s home,’ Jane told her. ‘And you mustn’t worry about the boys. I’ll be here and Mildred is always happy to look after them if necessary, so you go and enjoy yourself.’

  There were only ten children in the kindergarten class, and they all stared at the identical twins as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.

  ‘Children.’ Their teacher, Miss Preston, called them to order. ‘Andrew and David will be joining us next term, and they have something to ask you.’

  Hanna and their mother had briefed them on what to do, but they still looked uncertain. Jane bent down to them. ‘Ask them to come to your party on Saturday.’

  They nodded, stood shoulder to shoulder and spoke together quite clearly and in perfect unison.

  When they had issued the invitation one little girl left her desk and stood right in front of them. ‘I’ll come. What time?’

  ‘Two o’clock,’ Jane told her. ‘What is your name?’

  ‘May,’ she told them. ‘That’s when I was born. Is it a birthday party, and should we bring presents?’

  Hanna was impressed. May was certainly very mature and sensible for her age.

  ‘There is no need to bring presents or anything else,’ Jane told the class. ‘This is just a chance for you all to get to know David and Andrew.’

  May nodded her approval of this, and then turned her attention to the boys, who were watching everything very carefully. ‘You both look the same. I can’t tell who is who.’

  ‘I’m Andrew.’

  ‘And I’m David.’

  Hanna smothered a laugh and she heard Jane almost groan. That was the wrong way round, and they looked so innocent, but they were up to their old tricks again.

  ‘They’re going to have the children in a real tangle,’ Jane murmured to Hanna.

  All the children had gathered around the boys now, asking questions, but May sidled over to Hanna. ‘Do you know which one is which?’

  Hanna stooped down to the little girl. ‘Yes, it’s quite easy when you get to know them.’

  ‘How? Will you tell me?’

  ‘Well, look at them carefully. See how one of them has a small lock of hair coming down on his forehead? That’s Andrew. David’s hair always stays in place.’

  May nodded, pursing her lips in concentration. ‘That’s not what they said.’

  Oh, this was one bright little girl, Hanna thought as she shook her head. ‘They try that on everyone they meet, but they won’t be able to fool you now, will they?’

  She grinned and shook her head, then went back to join the rest of the children.

  When the teacher motioned that they should leave the room, they left together. Miss Preston said, ‘We’ll leave them alone together for a couple of minutes, Mrs Harcourt, but it looks as if they are going to get along just fine. I know you are both able to tell them apart, so would you mind telling me what to look for.’ The teacher shook her head. ‘They’re going to have me in a real mess if I don’t know which boy I’m dealing with.’

  ‘Oh, they will indeed!’ Jane laughed, and then explained the slight differences the teacher needed to look for.

  Every one of the children turned up on the Saturday, along with their mothers, and it was a blessing that the weather was good so they could be in the garden. The noise was unbelievable and for two hours Hanna never stopped running around. Jane Harcourt couldn’t have any more fears about her children fitting in, Hanna thought wryly. They were in the thick of things, though never far from each other. Still, it was good to see them laughing and playing with the other children. They had grown quite a lot in the short time she had been with them, and once they were at school she would help more in the garden, and also help George with some of the other farm work. She felt strongly that she must make more of a contribution to the war effort. She hadn’t expected the boys to be going to school for a while yet, so this would be a good opportunity to do something useful with the extra time she would have on her hands.

  Finally they waved off the last child, May, who seemed reluctant to leave the twins, and when her mother had at last persuaded her daughter the party was over, Jane and Hanna collapsed on to kitchen chairs with a sigh of relief.

  ‘I’ll give you a hand with the clearing up, Mildred,’ Hanna said as she surveyed the mountain of dishes, all empty.

  ‘You’ll do no such thing. I can soon put this place to rights again. The best thing you can do is see if the boys will sleep for an hour or so after all the excitement. That will help all of us.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Hanna dragged herself out of the chair. ‘They must be tired, but I think the party was a great success.’

  ‘I agree,’ Jane said. ‘It’s a shame Sam wasn’t here. He would have loved it.’

  ‘So would Jack.’ Hanna stretched. ‘I’ll see if I can persuade the boys to take a short nap.’

  They were still in the garden, sitting quietly on the grass, and surprisingly there wasn’t one protest from them.

  A week later, Hanna received a letter from Alan, saying he would be home on leave in two days’ time, and she went straight to see Jane Harcourt while the boys were busy in the garden with Pete. They did love getting their hands dirty and spent quite a lot of time out there.

  ‘Alan will be home on leave tomorrow and has asked if I can spend a couple of days with him, Mrs Harcourt. Will it be all right if I go to London tomorrow?’

  ‘Of course it will, Hanna. You can stay at the house, and Mrs Potter will be pleased to see you.’

  ‘Thank you so much. It will be lovely to see him again.’

  After the beauty and tranquillity of the country it was strange to be back in London again. Nearly everyone seemed to be in some kind of uniform, and the train coming up had been packed with service men and women. There had been British, French, Canadians, Australians, and others she couldn’t make out.

  The house looked just the same though, as imposing as ever, but so quiet now there was only Mrs Potter living here. She tapped on the back door, opened it, and walked in.

  ‘Hanna!’ Mrs Potter hugged her. ‘How lovely to see you. Are you staying for a while?’

  ‘Only for two days. Alan’s home on leave.’

  ‘Ah, that’s splendid.’ She took Hanna’s bag. ‘Let’s get you settled, then we’ll have something to eat before you go and see your young man. How’s that fine brother of yours?’ The elderly lady chatted away, smiling all the time, and obviously pleased to have a bit of company for a while.

  ‘His letters aren’t very regular, but the last time I heard from him he was fine.’

  ‘Good, good. Worrying times, my dear, but let’s hope it won’t last too long.’ She gave Hanna’s hand a reassuring pat. ‘We got through the last one and we’ll survive this one as well. You’ll see.’

  Hanna nodded, but after the fall o
f France she didn’t hold out much hope of a speedy end to the war. These thoughts she kept to herself though.

  Mrs Potter insisted she eat before she went out, so she did, letting the housekeeper talk away. It turned out that Mrs Potter was far from lonely, as Hanna had first thought. She had many friends, and quite a social life going on. No wonder she had refused to leave London.

  As soon as the meal was finished, Hanna went straight round to Alan’s. She had just opened the front gate when the front door crashed open, and the next instant she was swung off her feet.

  ‘You made it!’ He buried his head in her shoulder, and then rained kisses all over her face. ‘Oh, how I’ve missed you.’

  ‘I’m happy to see you as well,’ she laughed when he put her down. Stepping back, she studied him. ‘You’ve lost a bit of weight, but you look very fit.’

  ‘So I should after that training, but let’s not talk about that. It’s Saturday night, so let’s go dancing.’

  ‘Sounds like a good idea.’ Hanna couldn’t stop smiling. ‘Hadn’t I better go and say hello to your parents first?’

  ‘Be quick then. We’ve got to make the most of our time together.’

  Mr and Mrs Rogers were standing by the door, smiling. ‘Glad you could get here, Hanna.’

  ‘Mrs Harcourt insisted that I come. How are you?’

  ‘Very well,’ Mr Rogers said. ‘But you don’t want to waste your time talking to us. Off you go and enjoy yourselves. It’s only four o’clock, so you can have a nice long evening together.’

  They didn’t need any more persuading, but they had only taken a few steps up the road when the air-raid sirens sounded. Alan stopped, gazing up at the sky, and Hanna said, ‘I expect it’s just a practice.’

  ‘I don’t think so, not this time. Listen, can’t you hear the drone of planes?’

  ‘Yes . . . What was that?’ she exclaimed.

  ‘London’s being bombed.’ Alan turned her round and they went straight back to the house. ‘Where’s your nearest shelter?’ he asked his parents.