Hours later, I’m wide awake while the girls sleep, snuggled up together on a bench in the shelter. I’ve come to a conclusion. I’m here for a reason. Until I figure what it is, I can’t get back. I have to use my head and figure out why I’m here, and when I do, whatever is holding me here will let me go.
It’s as simple as that. I can’t go back yet, because it’s not finished.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
After a freezing night in the shelter, there’s a layer of frost on everything this morning, and the rain-soaked roads have turned icy. I shiver as we leave for work.
‘Cheer up, Queenie. It’s nearly Christmas,’ laughs May as she skips down the road to the bus-stop.
‘Bah, humbug,’ I say. ‘I’m too cold to care.’
‘Watch it, May,’ warns Nell. ‘You’ll come a cropper. There’s ice all over the place.’
May pulls a face. ‘Stop fussing. I’m not a kid.’
‘Could’ve fooled me,’ says Nelly. She looks as miserable as me.
May takes no notice and practically dances along the pavement. She’s almost at the bus-stop when her heel catches on a broken slab and her other foot slips from under her. She falls with a shriek.
Nelly rolls her eyes and tuts. ‘You dozy mare.’ I can’t help giggling, May looked so surprised as she went down. I offer her a hand and try to pull her up. May’s not much help, because she’s laughing too.
‘Get up, May, we’re gonna miss the bus.’
‘All right, keep your hair on.’ May struggles to get up, slipping again, and nearly pulling me down on top of her. She tries again, I’m not much help because I’m still giggling. Finally Nelly steps forward and grabs her other hand and between us we manage to pull May up. But as soon as she puts her weight on her left foot, May collapses again. ‘Ow, me ankle! Oh my God, it don’t half hurt.’
‘Stop mucking about,’ says Nelly.
‘I ain’t!’
‘I don’t think she is,’ I say. ‘Look at her foot.’ It’s swelling fast. ‘Do you think she’s broken it?’
‘I bloody hope not. That’s all we need. God, May, why can’t you be more careful?’
‘I didn’t do it on purpose,’ wails May, her face pale.
‘Should we call an ambulance?’ I ask. ‘Where’s the nearest phone?’
‘We’ll have to do something. Oh blimey, here’s the bus. We ain’t gonna get to work, are we?’ Nelly looks really worried. ‘We need to call in, or we’ll get the sack.’
The bus pulls up and Bill gets off, obviously on his way home after another night shift. He takes one look at us holding up May, her white face streaming with tears, and he turns and lets out a piercing whistle. ‘Hold up, mate!’ The bus conductor looks out of the back of the bus.
‘What’s up?’ he shouts. ‘You ladies getting on?’
‘My sister’s hurt her ankle. You couldn’t drop us off at the hospital, could you?’ Nell asks. ‘It’ll save calling out an ambulance.’
‘Yeah, ’course we can. Need any help getting her on?’
‘I’ve got her,’ says Bill, picking her up as though she weighs nothing. It’s pretty impressive. Even Nelly looks pleased that Bill has taken charge. ‘Blimey, May,’ he says. ‘There’s easier ways of getting me to sweep you off your feet, girl. You only had to ask.’
‘Be careful, it’s icy,’ I say. ‘That’s how she slipped.’
Bill grins. ‘Don’t fuss. I’ve got me army boots on. It’s them daft women’s shoes that do all the damage.’ He looks at May, who is shivering with cold and shock. ‘Let’s get you to hospital, then May. The doc’ll soon sort you out.’
We pile on to the bus, thanking the conductor for waiting. ‘I couldn’t leave you lovely girls on the pavement, now, could I?’ he winks at us. ‘I still gotta take your fares though, sorry.’
I insist on paying Bill’s fare too, while Nelly worries about what’s going to happen about work.
‘We won’t get paid if we don’t turn up. And now we’ll have to pay a doctor’s bill.’
‘I’m sorry, Nelly,’ says May, looking thoroughly miserable. ‘Maybe I should just go home and rest it. You and Rose go to work. I’ll be all right. Bill’ll help me, won’t you?’
‘You’ll need to get it checked,’ I say. ‘If it’s broken, you might make it worse.’
‘She’s right,’ sighs Nell. ‘We can’t take no chances. Dad’ll have my guts for garters if I don’t look after you right.’
‘I’ve got an idea,’ says Bill. ‘Let me pop her into the first aid station at the barracks. They’ll see to her for me, then I can get her home for you. You two don’t need to miss work. I’ll stay with her, don’t worry.’
‘But …’
‘Nell, don’t argue,’ says Bill. ‘It makes sense.’
Nelly looks shocked. I don’t think Bill’s ever spoken to her like that before.
‘I agree,’ I say. This is a perfect opportunity to give May and Bill some time together. ‘We know May’s in safe hands, Nelly. And if we can get to work it will stop you worrying about our jobs. They won’t sack May if she’s been hurt. So long as she gets a note from the doctor, they won’t have a leg to stand on.’
‘What, like me?’ says May, pointing to her swollen ankle. She’s obviously still in a lot of pain because she’s as white as a sheet and she’s hanging onto Bill for dear life. But she’s trying to smile, so that’s a good sign, isn’t it?
We all look at her and burst out laughing.
Me and Nelly leave the two of them on the bus, to go on to the barracks. We make it to work with a couple of minutes to spare.
‘I hope we’re doing the right thing,’ says Nelly as we take off our coats.
‘Stop worrying. Bill will look after her. In fact, this is perfect,’ I say, feeling smug, even though I had nothing to do with it. ‘I hope she realises Harry wouldn’t have come to the rescue like that.’
‘That puny little runt wouldn’t have had the energy or the inclination to pick her up and get her onto the bus like that,’ agrees Nelly.
She runs up to the office to report May’s accident, and I let Mrs Bloomfield know. When I get to my workstation, Esther gives me a huge smile.
‘You look like you’ve had a good weekend,’ I laugh, pleased to see Esther looking so happy. ‘Found yourself a fella?’
She shakes her head. ‘No, better than that. I have heard from my parents.’
I feel my heart miss a beat. ‘Are they OK?’
‘Yes, they are very well. They have reached Switzerland. Some friends helped them, and now they are staying with my cousins.’
I feel my knees give way and I slump into my chair. God I’m so relieved. I’m filling up. ‘That is the best news! I’m so happy for you, Esther.’
She gives me a funny look. I suppose she might think my reaction is a bit OTT, but I can’t help it.
‘Of course I am happy to have heard from them, yes. But I’m afraid this means that we are stuck in different countries and won’t meet again until the war is over.’
I hadn’t thought of that. I know exactly what it feels like to be far, far away from your parents, not knowing when you’re going to see them again. ‘Yeah, tell me about it. But trust me, Esther, it’s much better to know they’re safe and you’ll see them again one day. Some people don’t know when they’ll see their family again, if ever.’
She looks confused. ‘I’m sorry, my English … I think I understand what you say. And I am glad. I just wish I knew when this awful war will end.’
I open my mouth to tell her –.
‘Come on, girls,’ says Mrs Bloomfield. ‘We’re down another worker this morning, so we can’t afford to waste time on idle chatter. There’s a war on, don’t forget.’
With a sigh, I close my mouth. It’s probably better that I don’t say anything anyway. I smile at Esther and get on with my work.
Nell had made Bill promise to let her know what the doctor said, so by lunchtime he’d phoned the office with the news that it was just a
bad sprain.
Harry is waiting outside the factory at home time. Nell gives him the evil eye.
‘Not working today, Harry?’ she asks.
‘I’ve been hard at it, doing my bit for the war effort,’ he smiles, pulling at his cuffs.
‘You can’t have been doing much. You ain’t worked up a sweat, that’s for sure.’
‘That’s cause I work with me brain,’ he says, tapping his temple and looking far too pleased with himself. He winks at me. I just raise my eyebrows, not impressed. If he’s so smart, he’d know better than to provoke Nell.
‘Well, mind that brain don’t land you in trouble, Harry boy. I hear the recruitment sergeant went round your mum’s again last week. Funny how she never knows where you are, ain’t it? If you were doing an honest day’s work, you wouldn’t need to keep it from your own mother, would you?’
He shrugs, looking shifty. ‘It’s very hush-hush, what I do.’
Nell sneers. ‘I’ll bet it is. Don’t want the coppers finding out, eh?’
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about, Nell, so I’ll thank you to keep your mouth shut.’
‘Don’t you talk to me like that,’ snaps Nelly. ‘I’ll speak as I find.’
‘You ain’t got a clue,’ he hisses. ‘I got friends, I have.’
‘Yeah? Not what I heard.’
Harry blusters a bit. He clearly can’t think of a decent comeback. One point to Nelly, I think.
‘Look, I didn’t come here to see you. Where’s May?’
‘Coming to her senses, I hope,’ mutters Nelly.
‘What? What you saying?’
‘She’s ill,’ I say. ‘She’s got something really, really infectious. She’s covered in spots and everything.’ I shake my head. ‘It’s dead nasty. You’d better stay away, Harry, you might catch it.’
He looks gobsmacked for a minute, but I blow it because I can’t help grinning. ‘Ah, you’re having a laugh,’ he says. ‘I know you two are trying to break us up. But you ain’t going to do it. We’re going to win that dance competition, you’ll see. You tell her from me. Harry’s not going to let no one get in his way.’ He waves a fist at us. Bad mistake. Nelly steps forward. Oh my God, she’s going to slap him!
Harry – being your basic coward – legs it, nearly knocking an old lady over in his rush to escape.
‘Look at him,’ I laugh. ‘Scuttling away like a little rat.’
But Nelly isn’t amused. ‘He should have been drowned at birth, that one. Nasty little bleeder. What the blooming hell does May see in him?’
‘He never lets her see how truly slimy he is,’ I say. ‘Seriously, she thinks he’s a right charmer.’
‘Silly mare,’ says Nell. ‘She ain’t got no sense when it comes to fellas. We’ll have to be careful and make sure he don’t turn her head. He’s nothing but trouble, that one. Come on, let’s get home and see how she is. I just hope there ain’t a raid tonight. Getting her down the shelter will be a right pain.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
At the house, we find them in the parlour, both fast asleep, May stretched out on the sofa and Bill in one of the armchairs next to the fire. Ah bless!
Nell looks at the mantel clock and frowns. She shakes Bill awake. ‘You’d better get a move on,’ she says quietly. ‘You’ll be late for duty.’ May sleeps on. ‘It’s nearly six.’
He yawns and rubs a hand over his face. ‘It’s all right, Nell. I saw me sergeant and switched. One of the lads needs time off tomorrow for a funeral, so I’m doing a double shift then.’
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ says Nelly. ‘I didn’t want you getting in trouble after everything you’ve done for us today. Thanks, Bill. You’ll stay for tea, won’t you? I managed to make a lovely cottage pie with our mince ration and those spuds you brought round. It only needs heating up.’
‘I’d like that, thanks,’ he says. ‘Tell you what, Nan left some tins at hers ’cause she couldn’t carry them. She won’t mind if we have some of them. There’s tinned pears and some evaporated milk. How about I bring ’em over for pudding?’
‘That would be very nice,’ she says. ‘Are you sure Lil won’t mind?’
‘Nah, she told me to use ’em up.’
‘But they’ll keep. Why don’t she want to save them? She’ll have to something in the pantry when she comes back.’
He shakes his head. ‘You know what she’s like. She’s got some daft idea the house ain’t going to be there for her to come back to. She made me take a load of stuff round to our house ’cause she said it’ll get lost otherwise.’
‘Well, she’s always been worried about being bombed, ain’t she? I’m surprised she hung on round here as long as she did.’
‘Yeah, I suppose.’ He looks at me and away again quickly. What’s that all about? ‘Anyway, I’ll go and get those tins.’
‘I’ll go and put cottage pie in the oven,’ says Nelly.
When she’s gone, I slip into the hall and catch Bill at the door. I step outside with him so we can talk in private.
‘Is everything all right?’ I ask him. ‘What’s up with Lil?’
At first I think he’s going to deny it, but then he sighs. ‘She said you warned her to get out the house ’cause it’s going to be blown up.’
‘I never did!’ What is he on about? ‘I swear I did not say anything like that to Lil. How could I? I have no idea what’s going to happen.’
‘Don’t you? You’ve told me plenty.’
‘Not really. Hardly anything. I can’t, can I? It might change the future.’
‘Well you’re doing your best to change my future, ain’t you? I mean, I never dreamed I had a chance with May until you started going on about it.’
‘That’s different,’ I say. I don’t have a clue what he’s so upset about. ‘You and May are meant for each other.’
‘We’ll see, won’t we? In the meantime, I don’t think you should’ve got Nan all worked up like that.’
‘But I didn’t! Honestly, Bill. I never said a word. I don’t know anything about …’ Oh hell! Standing here on the pavement, looking at Lil’s house I realise that when I stand outside Gran’s house in the future, it looks different. Instead of the unbroken line of terraced houses, there’s a break. Right where Lil’s house is now, in the future there’s a couple of more modern houses in amongst the older ones. I’d totally forgotten all about that. Now it’s staring me in the face. But that doesn’t mean Lil’s house got blown up, does it? Oh crap, who am I kidding? But how could I have possibly said anything to Lil? ‘Maybe it was me in another time,’ I say, thinking aloud. ‘It definitely wasn’t me now.’
‘Bloody hell, Rosie, I don’t know what to think about all this blinking time travel lark.’
‘Tell me about it,’ I say. ‘It’s totally doing my head in. But I definitely haven’t said anything to Lil about her house. Not in this time.’
I must look really pathetic, because he pulls me into a bear hug. ‘Aw, come here. What’s done is done. For all I know, you’ve done us a favour. I’m sorry I had a go at you.’
‘That’s OK,’
He puts me away from him. ‘Time will tell, eh? I’d better get those tins.’
‘Yeah, OK. See you in a minute.’ I go back indoors and sit in the parlour with the sleeping May. I suppose I should go and see if Nelly wants some help, but I just want to be alone with my thoughts for a while.
I’m almost dozing off when May wakes up.
‘Where’s Bill?’
Well it’s got to be a good sign if he’s the first person she thinks of.
‘He’s just popped over to Lil’s to get something. He’s going to have supper with us. How do you feel?’
May sighs and raises her bandaged ankle. ‘I won’t be dancing for few days, that’s for sure. The doc strapped it up tight, and told me to stay off it. I’ve got a pair of crutches to help me get about. Bill put ’em behind the settee for me. What happened at work? I ain’t got the sack or nothing, have
I?’
‘No, don’t worry. They’re too short-staffed to get rid of you. Daisy wasn’t in either. Someone said her house was hit. She was under the stairs with the children.’
‘Oh no! Are they …?’
I shake my head. ‘No, thank goodness. They’re all alive, although Daisy’s broken some ribs, and one of the kids has a broken arm.’
‘We’ve been telling her to evacuate those littl’uns, but she’s so bleeding stubborn. Well, I hope she’s learned her lesson now, and gets the little mites out of London before they all get killed.’
‘It must be hard, though, sending your children away.’
‘Better that than seeing ’em killed, I reckon. We’re all in the same boat, missing family. I wish our Dad wasn’t away. He’s all we’ve got.’
‘He’ll be back, May. I know it.’
May sighs. ‘You keep saying things like that, Queenie, but you ain’t God. You just don’t know. None of us do.’
Not for the first time, I really wish I can tell May the truth, but don’t dare. ‘Maybe I’ve got a bit more faith than you have,’ I shrug.
There’s a knock at the door. ‘I’ll get it,’ I say. ‘That’ll be Bill.’
It’s not. It’s Harry. He’s obviously bathed in another barrel full of aftershave, his hair is extra slick, and under his arm is a box of chocolates. ‘Hallo, Queenie, love. Tell May I’m here, will you?’
I want to slam the door in his face. ‘She’s really not well, Harry,’ I say instead, giving him a totally insincere smile. ‘If those are for her, I can pass them on, and tell her you called.’
He looks at me through narrowed eyes. ‘You wouldn’t be winding me up, would you? ’Cause I don’t take kindly to being mucked about.’
‘Really, Harry,’ I say, trying to look wide-eyed and innocent. ‘Why would I do a thing like that? Shall I get Nelly? She’ll tell you the same as me, I guarantee it.’
He only just manages to hide his alarm. Then he turns all cocky.
‘Well, it’s understandable – you wanting to keep May out the way. I saw the way you was looking at me at the dance the other night.’ He smirked. ‘I ain’t daft. I could see you liked me.’
Rosie Goes to War Page 18