A New Day

by Beryl Matthews

  ‘The authorities seem slow to deal with these things, but you think about the amount of notifications they have to send out. You’re not the only one in this situation,’ Pat told her gently.

  ‘Pat, I’m so sorry to be making such a fuss.’ Hanna lifted her hands in exasperation. ‘Don’t take any notice of me. In my mind he’s still the little brother I’ve been looking out for since we went to the orphanage, but he’s all grown up now and out in a dangerous world. I feel so helpless, but I know he’s safe, and should be jumping for joy, instead of carrying on so.’

  ‘It’s understandable that you still feel responsible for him, but he’s decided what he wants to do with his life, and he’s a sensible and mature lad for his age. This is a difficult time for all of us, Hanna, but we’ll get through it.’

  ‘Of course we will.’ Hanna smiled at Pat, appreciating her kind words, and the reminder that she had much to be grateful for. ‘Would you and Jean like some vegetables for the weekend?’

  ‘Please.’

  ‘Right, let’s go and get them now.’

  They headed for the walled garden, and were just about to open the gate when a lorry rumbled into the yard.

  ‘That’s Royal Navy,’ Pat said, shading her eyes against the sun. ‘Wonder what they want? Let’s go and find out.’

  Hanna had only gone a few yards when she saw a familiar figure get out of the cab, and with a cry of delight ran as fast as she could to reach her brother. ‘Jack!’ She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight, and then stepped back in alarm as he swayed and she saw the stick he was holding. ‘Oh, you’re so thin, and you’re hurt!’

  ‘He’s going to be fine, Miss Foster. It’s been a tiring journey, but all he needs is rest and regular meals.’

  Hanna stared at the nurse who had just climbed out of the cab.

  ‘Let’s get Jack to his room so he can have a nice long sleep.’ The nurse took Jack’s arm. ‘Come along, young man, you can talk to your sister when you’ve had a rest. And don’t try to argue with me,’ she scolded when he looked about to protest. ‘You’ve had quite enough excitement for a while.’

  Jack winked at Hanna, and although the ordeal he’d been through was clear to see, the amused glint in his eyes was still the same.

  Taking his other arm they went into the house and straight to his room, not giving anyone a chance to say much to him. His bed was ready for him and he sat on the edge with a sigh.

  Mildred came in carrying a tray laden with tea, sandwiches and cakes. ‘Welcome home, Jack. I thought you might like something to eat and drink before you have a rest.’

  ‘Thank you.’ He reached for a sandwich immediately and smiled at Mildred when she put a cup of tea beside him on the small table.

  ‘Would you like something as well, Nurse? Your driver is in the kitchen having a snack.’

  ‘That is kind of you.’ The nurse took one of the sandwiches, and then bent down to remove Jack’s shoes. Seeing he could hardly keep his eyes open she took the cup from his hands. ‘Sleep now, young man,’ she ordered.

  ‘I am tired,’ he admitted, giving an apologetic smile, lifting his legs on to the bed and stretching out. ‘Thank you for all you have done for us, Nurse.’

  ‘It has been a pleasure, Jack, and Captain Freeman would have our hide if he thought his orders hadn’t been carried out to the letter. You rest now.’

  ‘He’s already asleep,’ Hanna whispered, and they all left the room quietly.

  Nurse collected her driver from the kitchen and Hanna went with them to the truck. Before getting in the nurse took hold of Hanna’s hand for a moment. ‘Don’t be alarmed by your brother’s appearance. A few days’ rest and he’ll be back to his usual self. He’s had an injury to his left leg, but it’s healing well and shouldn’t give any trouble. Don’t try to make him talk about it – he won’t – and don’t fuss too much over him. Treat him as you normally would, and let him heal in his own way and time. I have dealt with men who have suffered in this way. Only a few of the crew of his ship survived, so the loss is greatly felt. Give him the time he needs to come to terms with the tragedy.’

  ‘I’ll do that, Nurse, and make sure everyone else understands as well. Thank you for your advice.’

  She hesitated before climbing into the lorry. ‘Your brother won’t tell you this, but I think you ought to know. He has spent many days in an open boat with no food and precious little water. They were in a poor way by the time they were picked up. They have all made light of their ordeal, but don’t be fooled by Jack’s jokes. He’ll be hurting inside, so give him space.’

  ‘I’ll see he has all he needs.’

  The nurse nodded and climbed in the truck, then leant out of the window. ‘From what I’ve seen of Jack and his friends this will not deter them from going back to sea as soon as they can. Once fully recovered I believe they will all be anxious to get back on a ship again. I have seen it before, Miss Foster, and know the signs. You can be proud of your brother.’

  ‘Oh, I am, and always have been.’

  The nurse smiled, lifting her hand in a wave as the truck drove out of the farm.

  ‘Grandpa told me Jack’s back. How is he?’ Pete asked, coming to stand beside her.

  ‘He’s going to be fine, and is resting after his journey. We mustn’t bombard him with questions though, because he won’t want to talk about it.’

  ‘I don’t suppose he will. I knew a couple of blokes who had been at Dunkirk, and they never said a word about it, not even to their wives.’ He shrugged, and then smiled. ‘How about asking Gran for a cup of tea before you go and pick the boys up from school?’

  ‘Good idea. I’ll just peek in at Jack as well, but I think he’s going to sleep for a while. He’s very tired.’

  ‘Sleep is very healing, they say, and the farm is just the place for him to relax.’ Pete nodded thoughtfully, then grinned. ‘But knowing Jack, I expect it won’t be long before he’s looking for something to do.’

  ‘Well, there’s plenty here to keep him occupied.’

  Hanna only had time for a quick cup of tea before dashing off to collect the boys. It was a lovely day and she sang softly to herself as she walked to the village. For the moment the worry and tension had disappeared.

  The boys were the first through the door as soon as the school bell sounded, tearing towards her. ‘Careful!’ She caught hold of them before they ran into the road. They were both talking at the same time, and it was almost impossible to understand them when they did that, but they seemed to know what each other was saying without any trouble.

  Taking each one by the hand she began to walk the short distance to the farm. ‘Have you had a good day?’ she asked, and listened while they told her about the lessons they’d had. Jane had been wise to put them in the nursery school so early because they had inquisitive minds and needed the stimulation the classes gave them.

  They talked non-stop until they had almost reached the house, so Hanna stopped and bent down to them. ‘I’ve had a good day, as well. Jack’s home.’

  ‘Oh, goody!’ Their faces lit up.

  Hanna caught them before they could tear into the house to see him. ‘He’s asleep at the moment, but you will be able to see him when he wakes up.’

  ‘Is he tired then?’ Andrew asked.

  ‘Yes, sweetheart, he’s very tired, and I want you both to do something for me.’

  They waited expectantly, and she took a deep breath. The boys hadn’t been told that Jack’s ship had been sunk, but in an effort to make them understand how things were, they needed to know now. ‘Jack’s ship was sunk by the German U-boats and it was days before he and his friends were rescued. They didn’t have any food so he’s very weak, and he needs to rest. There won’t be any little presents this time because everything went down with the ship, and I’m going to ask you not to talk about this with him, no matter how much you want to. He probably doesn’t want to talk about it yet. We must give him time and treat him just like we always do
.’

  Their little faces were solemn now and Andrew’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. ‘Is he all right?’

  ‘Yes, he will be – with our help.’

  ‘What do they want to sink our ships for?’ David pulled a face. ‘It isn’t right.’

  ‘No, it isn’t, but they will be stopped.’ Then she smiled. ‘And do you know who found Jack and his friends?’

  They shook their heads in perfect unison.

  ‘Your Uncle Bill.’

  ‘Wow!’ That pleased both of them and they were smiling again when they rushed into the kitchen.

  ‘Mummy!’ David went straight to his mother who had just arrived after visiting friends. ‘Jack’s home, and Uncle Bill found him! Isn’t that terrific?’

  ‘That’s wonderful news!’ Jane smiled at Hanna. ‘How is he?’

  ‘Sleeping at the moment. All he needs is rest and plenty of good food.’

  ‘He’ll get both from us,’ Mildred said, busy chopping vegetables.

  ‘Jack’s ship was sunk, and Hanna said he won’t tell us about it.’ David looked puzzled. ‘I’d really like to know.’

  ‘I’m sure you would, darling.’ Jane sat beside the boys at the table. ‘But try to be patient. Do you remember how upset you both were when our cat, Scampy, died? It was a long time before you could talk about him, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Is that how Jack feels?’ Andrew asked, and when his mother nodded he said: ‘But we can talk about Scampy now.’

  ‘Yes, and I’m sure Jack will tell you all about his ship when he’s feeling better, but you mustn’t bother him at the moment.’

  Both boys nodded, happy with that explanation, and Hanna said a quiet thank-you to Jane. That had been the perfect example, and something they could understand because it had happened to them.

  ‘Would you boys like to go and pick me some more peas?’ Mildred asked. ‘I don’t seem to have enough for dinner tonight. Jack will need extra because I expect he’s very hungry.’

  ‘He always is,’ they laughed, already scrambling off their chairs and heading for the door. Hanna was right behind them. She certainly got plenty of exercise when the twins were around. They never seemed to do anything at normal pace.

  When dinner was almost ready, Hanna peeked into Jack’s room, but he was still fast asleep, and reluctant to wake him she went back to the kitchen. ‘Sorry, Mildred, he’s still spark out and I don’t like to disturb him.’

  ‘Best not to. Don’t worry, Hanna, the pie will keep until he’s ready.’

  When everyone was seated, Hanna helped to serve the meal, and was just about to sit down herself when the door opened and Jack came in.

  ‘Hello everyone. Sorry I’m late but I’ve only just woken up.’ He grinned at the boys who were gazing at him with huge smiles on their faces. ‘My goodness, you two are growing so fast.’

  They jumped down and gave him a hug, and then rearranged the seating so he could sit between them. ‘We’ve got steak and kidney pie. Special for you because you’re home at last.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you, Mildred, and it smells delicious.’

  She placed a generous helping in front of Jack. ‘Help yourself to vegetables, and we’ve got plenty more if you need another helping.’

  The boys began to chatter about their gardens, school and the things they had been up to, and Hanna watched and listened as the conversation flowed. George and Pete related some amusing stories about the farm, making Jack laugh. Everyone contributed to the talk, never mentioning the war once, and Hanna began to relax as she studied her brother carefully. He had lost a lot of weight, but that could soon be put right, and although he had a rather haggard look about him, he was talking and laughing. He was still the same person, and whatever horrors he had locked inside, he would deal with them. He’d always had a strong, determined character, and that would see him through this now. Of that she was very sure.

  Twenty-One

  It was only a week before Jack was playing football with the boys, digging the garden and helping generally with the farm work. Pat and Jean made a great fuss of him, pretending they needed his help, when in fact they were more than capable of tackling most of the jobs around the farm. George took him to the pub some evenings, and Hanna was grateful to everyone because all this was helping him to relax. She could sense the tension draining from him, and see the lines of strain on his face fading. He was looking better, but what horrors he was dealing with on the inside was something he kept hidden.

  It was June and the weather was good, and what more could she ask, Hanna thought, as she watched Jack working in the garden with the boys. In such a short time he had put on weight and had lost the slight limp completely. The village doctor had examined him yesterday and declared him fully recovered from his injury.

  Jane ran into the garden, calling, ‘Jack, Hanna, I’ve just heard some astounding news!’

  ‘The war’s over?’ Jack joked, striding over to them with the boys either side of him.

  ‘Not yet, but Hitler has invaded Russia.’

  There was a stunned silence before Hanna managed to say, ‘But they are allies. Didn’t they sign a non-aggression pact?’

  ‘Yes,’ Jane nodded and looked up at Jack. ‘Will this take the pressure off us, do you think?’

  ‘It could, because the German forces will now be fighting on another front.’ Jack took a deep breath. ‘I can’t believe he would do such a thing. The fool!’

  Over the next week Hanna watched her brother become increasingly restless, and knew that it wouldn’t be long before he was on his way again, so she increased her efforts to provide him with clothes. He had turned up with only the things he was wearing, and they didn’t fit properly. Fortunately he had a few clothes at the farm, but they weren’t nearly enough. Pat, Jean and Jane had given him quite a few things and Hanna was knitting every spare moment she got. At the village shop they had been able to buy him a pair of trousers and two shirts, but everything was in short supply and they had to buy what was available.

  ‘Ah, there you are.’ Jack came into the shed where they stored fruit and vegetables, carrying a bag George had given him. ‘I’m going to London for a couple of days to see Bill and find out if there is a ship for us yet.’

  ‘Oh, right.’ Hanna stopped what she was doing and stood up. She knew he had received a letter from Bill the other day, but he hadn’t said what was in it, only that Bill was all right. ‘Have you got enough money?’

  He nodded and smiled. ‘You’ve made sure of that already. There is a house by the docks for seamen so I’ll stay there overnight. It won’t cost much.’

  She had hoped he would stay at the farm for longer, but the signs were clear and she knew he wanted to be on his way again. ‘If there is a ship for you will you come back here before you sail?’

  ‘I won’t leave without coming back to see everyone.’ He smiled at his sister. ‘You’ve all been marvellous. I’ve been given money from you, clothes from the others, but most of all I’ve been given understanding. Not one of you has questioned me about the ship sinking, not even the boys, bless them, though I know they are bursting for the details. I’ve been so grateful for that, but now I need to see Bill and Frank, and get back to sea.’

  ‘Of course you do.’ She gave him a hug, smiling. ‘I want to meet your shipmates sometime.’

  ‘We’ll have to arrange it one day.’ He slung the bag over his shoulder, then bent to kiss her cheek. ‘I have to do this, Hanna.’

  ‘I know, and you have my support and blessing, Jack. You know that, don’t you?’

  ‘I do, and I love you for being so unselfish. You’ve always been there for me, and when this is over I’m going to take care of you for a change.’ He winked. ‘Unless Alan beats me to it, of course.’

  She laughed, slipping her arm through his as they walked towards the gate. ‘You trying to get me married off?’

  ‘You will one day, and I think he’s just right for you.’

  ‘I’m gl
ad you approve, but we’re not making any definite plans for the future yet.’

  George drove up in the truck. ‘I guess from the bag you’re carrying that you’re going to the station. Want a lift?’

  ‘Thanks, I’m just popping up to London for a couple of days.’

  ‘Hop in then. It’ll save you a walk.’

  Hanna waved as they left, only then allowing the smile to fade from her face. Worrying times ahead again.

  Two days later Jack strode into the yard waving to Hanna, a big smile on his face.

  ‘Did you see your friends?’ she asked as soon as she reached him.

  He nodded, clearly excited. ‘We saw the shipping owners we’ve been sailing for and they’ve got a new ship. She’s doing sea trials at the moment, but she’s a lovely vessel, and we’ve signed on for her first voyage. Every one of us from the North Star will be joining up again on her. It will be wonderful to see them all again.’

  ‘Oh, you must be so pleased about that. What is your new ship called?’

  ‘Western Star. All of the shipping line has a star name.’

  ‘Nice name.’ She rinsed her hands under the yard tap, shook them dry, and said, ‘Let’s go and see if Mildred has any tea in the pot, and then you can tell me all about it.’

  Hanna hadn’t asked the question she was anxious to know, but Mildred didn’t hesitate when she heard about the new ship. ‘And when are you leaving, young man?’

  ‘I’ve got to be back in London on Friday.’

  ‘So soon.’ Mildred shook her head. ‘You’ve hardly had time to get your strength back.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ he laughed. ‘Two weeks of your cooking was all I needed.’

  ‘Ah, well, you do have a healthy appetite. I only hope the food on your ship will be all right. Can’t be easy preparing meals on a ship rolling about all over the place.’

  ‘You don’t have to worry about that. Frank’s used to it and does marvels with food. Not as good as yours, of course,’ he added quickly, smiling at the elderly woman.