Together Under the Stars

by Beryl Matthews

  Jean nodded. ‘They must need a break soon, but they’d be the last to admit it.’

  ‘I know, but it takes its toll on every one of them as they face constant danger, no matter what service they are in. They are experts at hiding that fact. Dan laughed and joked, as he had always done, and you would think he was untouched by what he was doing until you looked into his eyes. I can see the same happening with the Canadians. They arrived as boys, laughing and excited, but they will leave as men. Providing they survive,’ she added softly.

  Jean sighed. ‘They’ve crawled into our hearts, haven’t they?’

  ‘And that makes us a couple of bloody stupid females, doesn’t it?’

  ‘Language,’ Jean reprimanded, linking her arm through Nancy’s. ‘Let’s stop all this worrying and get some breakfast. The weather is foul, so they might not go out tonight. If so, we’ll met them in the NAAFI and beat them at a game of darts.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Both girls were grinning at the prospect as they headed for the mess.

  The weather deteriorated even more during the afternoon and the rain was thundering down. The NAAFI was packed with airmen unwilling to get soaked going to the village.

  The moment the girls walked in Ricky’s face lit up, and he beckoned them over. Steve’s crew were all together, which was the way they lived while flying missions. They had become a close-knit bunch who relied on each other.

  The men stood up and offered seats and Luke went to get them a drink.

  ‘We heard you have the night off, so we thought we’d challenge you to a game of darts,’ Jean explained.

  ‘You’re on.’ Luke placed a beer in front of each of them. ‘Choose your opponents.’

  ‘We’ll play all of you, two at a time, and when we’ve beaten all of you, our prize will be a dinner and dance at a nice place.’

  ‘Such confidence,’ Ricky teased. ‘What will be our prize if we win?’

  ‘You won’t.’

  There were howls of protest, and others nearby who had heard the challenge joined in, urging the group to take them on. Nancy sipped her beer and tried to contain her amusement. Her friend was incorrigible, but this could be a fun evening, and that was a good thing for everyone.

  ‘Have you got steady hands, Ricky?’ Sandy called out.

  He held them up. ‘Not a tremor.’

  ‘That’s pretty good, considering someone shot at you,’ Jean remarked casually.

  Ricky was about to open his mouth to reply when the rest of the crew chorused, ‘Don’t get him started on that again. His language isn’t suitable for young ladies.’

  ‘We are quite used to bad language,’ Nancy told them.

  ‘Perhaps so, but we would rather not have to listen to his tirade again.’ Steve was shaking his head in mock dismay.

  Luke slapped Ricky on the back. ‘You were quite safe, anyway, Steve had the lucky star with him.’

  ‘What star? This is the first I’ve heard about it.’

  ‘I gave it to him to keep you all safe,’ Jean said.

  ‘Show me,’ Ricky demanded.

  Steve took it out of his top pocket and handed it over.

  ‘That’s nice.’ Ricky pouted slightly. ‘Why did you give it to him and not me?’

  ‘Because he’s the pilot. He’s the one who has to get you there and back, so he should have the star close to him.’

  ‘Ah, yes, you’re quite right.’ He handed it back to Steve. ‘Make sure you always have that with you.’

  ‘I will.’

  Ricky turned and reached out to Jean to give her a hug. ‘Thank you for thinking about us in that way. It helps, you know?’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘So, who do you want to play first?’ Steve asked, changing the subject.

  ‘You and Ricky.’

  When they began to play, everyone gathered round. The men were calling encouragement to the Allard crew, and the women present were cheering Nancy and Jean on.

  It was close. The boys were better than the girls had expected and they needed a bullseye to win the first game.

  ‘You can do it,’ Jean whispered to Nancy as she handed her the darts. ‘No one could beat you and your brother.’

  That remark brought to mind happy memories of the fun they’d had, and she took a deep breath. The dart hit the target with a thud, and the room erupted.

  Jean grinned at their opponents. ‘One game to us.’

  As the crew had an odd number, they elected Sandy to play with Andy. They turned out to be the two best players in their group and won that game, but that was the only game the girls lost.

  By the end of the evening, everyone was laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

  ‘That was brilliant,’ Nancy laughed as they walked back to their billet. ‘Good job we won, though, or else we would have had to take all of them out somewhere for a treat.’

  Her friend chuckled. ‘They are gentlemen, and I’m sure they wouldn’t have allowed us to pay for a night out.’

  ‘You’re right.’ Nancy punched Jean on the arm. ‘We wouldn’t have lost whichever way the games went.’

  ‘I was banking on it. I think I’ll sleep well tonight.’

  ‘I know I will.’

  Chapter Nine

  Luke gazed out of the window and sighed. ‘The rain is still coming down in sheets. Wonder what the weather is like over Germany?’

  ‘Let’s go and find out.’ Steve shrugged into his flying jacket. ‘There might be a window of better weather tonight.’

  ‘Hope so. I hate this hanging around,’ Ricky said. ‘Be a bit dicey taking off in torrential rain, though, Steve.’

  The three of them ran to the operations building and found it full of airmen waiting to know what the situation was.

  The commander walked in. ‘Stand down, gentlemen. We are not needed tonight, but be ready tomorrow. An extra-large strike is being planned, so go easy on the booze.’

  When the officer left, the men gathered together and Sandy wandered over.

  ‘What say we take the girls out to a dance? We might as well pay our forfeit while we have a chance.’

  ‘Good idea. I’ll go and find them.’ Ricky was gone before anyone could answer.

  Luke laughed. ‘Think he’s really fallen for Jean.’

  They continued talking, and in about fifteen minutes Ricky arrived back, a huge grin on his face. ‘They’ll be ready at seven, so it’s smart uniforms tonight, boys. We mustn’t let the girls down.’

  ‘Does that mean I’ve got to polish my shoes?’ Luke teased.

  ‘Of course. Buttons, too! Andy and the others have found themselves dates for tonight, so it will just be the four of us.’

  Steve looked out at the rain. ‘I’ll go and see if I can cadge some transport, or else we are going to get soaked.’

  ‘It will have to be big enough for the six of us,’ Sandy called to his retreating figure.

  Steve lifted his hand in acknowledgement, and was only a few steps outside the room when he met two of his ground crew.

  ‘Got an unexpected night off, sir.’

  ‘Yes, Sarge. A few of us are going into town, so do you know where I can get the loan of some transport?’

  ‘How many of you?’

  ‘Six.’

  The sergeant looked at his companion who nodded. ‘You leave that to us, sir. We’ll get you something.’

  ‘Thanks. I’ll be in the briefing room.’

  ‘Right you are.’

  He watched the men hurry away and went back to his friends.

  Sandy raised an eyebrow. ‘That was quick.’

  ‘Two of our ground crew are finding us something.’

  ‘Those men are guardian angels,’ Luke remarked. ‘They are even looking after us when we are not flying.’

  ‘They take a personal interest in their crews.’ Sandy shook his head. ‘I’ve seen how upset they are when their boys don’t come back.’

  ‘True, and we certainly couldn’t keep flying without the
ir expertise and care.’ Steve wandered over to the window and looked up at the sky. There wouldn’t be any stars visible tonight.

  The men were soon back and the sergeant handed Steve a key and winked. ‘You should be able to squeeze six of you in that, sir. It’s just outside the door.’

  ‘Thanks. We lost a darts match against two of the girls, so we have to treat them to a night out. We thought we’d take them dancing, so do you know a good place to go?’

  Both men smirked, and the sergeant asked, ‘Who did you play against, sir?’

  ‘Jean and Nancy.’

  That brought huge grins to their faces. ‘Oh dear me, you don’t want to play darts with those two. They are experts.’

  ‘So we found out,’ Steve replied. ‘Nevertheless, we have to pay our debts, so where can we take them?’

  ‘There are two places, but one of them is very expen­sive.’

  ‘That one will do. Give me instructions how to get there.’

  The sergeant wrote in his notebook, tore out the page and handed it to Steve, and they all went outside to have a look at the car.

  Steve’s mouth twitched in amusement. ‘How did you manage to get an officer’s car?’

  ‘Best not ask, sir. Just get it back here by midnight and we will return it. It is for officer use and you are technically an officer, so enjoy yourselves.’

  ‘We will, and thanks.’

  Steve got in the driver’s seat and the others all piled in, then he drove them back to their quarters where they set about smartening themselves up for the evening ahead.

  The girls were waiting for them as arranged, and Jean gave a whoop of delight when the car pulled up beside them, full of men with huge grins on their faces.

  ‘Wow!’ Nancy said as she squeezed in the back. ‘Where did you get this, Steve?’

  ‘A couple of our ground crew got it for us, but I was told not to ask where it came from.’ He turned his head and smiled at her. ‘They also told me we must return it by midnight.’

  There wasn’t any more room in the back, so Jean got in the front and was sitting on Ricky, amid much laughter and shoving. ‘Midnight. Did you bring your glass slipper with you, Nancy?’

  ‘Darn it, I forgot.’

  The Canadians laughed, and Sandy said, ‘Aren’t we lucky. We’ve got two Cinderellas to take to the dance.’

  ‘Lovely, I do enjoy a dance.’ Jean pushed Ricky’s leg out of the way. ‘Shift over, I can’t close the door.’

  After much wriggling the car door clicked shut. ‘All right, pilot, you can take off now,’ Ricky ordered. ‘I can’t navigate, though, because I can’t see a blasted thing.’

  ‘I know where there is a dance, so I can direct you.’

  ‘Thanks, Jean, but I’ve been told of a good place.’ The directions were clear enough, and in about twenty minutes he pulled up outside a large hotel. ‘This looks like it. Everybody out,’ he ordered.

  Nancy leant forward and tapped him on the shoulder. ‘You can’t take us here. It’s too expensive.’

  ‘So I’ve been told, but it looks perfect.’ There was much pushing and shoving going on in the seat beside him. ‘Will you two get out – somebody help Jean and Rick to untangle themselves so we can go and enjoy our evening.’

  It took a while, but eventually they were all out of the car and straightening their uniforms.

  ‘Glad we put our best uniforms on,’ Jean whispered to her friend. ‘I’ve always wanted to come here, but could never afford it.’

  ‘Neither could I, and the thing that’s worrying me is, can they?’

  ‘Well, they are better paid than our boys, and if we only drink beer that will keep the cost down.’

  Steve had parked the car round the side out of the way and strode back to the group. He offered Nancy his arm and led everyone inside.

  They were greeted at the door, escorted to the ballroom and given a table by the dance floor.

  ‘Wow, this is fabulous.’ Ricky gazed around the crowded room, a smile of pleasure on his face. ‘It’s so quaint.’

  ‘Pilots get the first round.’ Luke urged Steve and Sandy towards the bar.

  There were British, Americans and more Canadians who gravitated over to them, as well as many of the local girls. They danced all the time, changing partners many times, especially in the ‘excuse me’ dances.

  Towards the end of the evening, Steve managed to have a slow foxtrot with Nancy, and she said teasingly, ‘You dance very well for a farmer’s boy.’

  ‘Why, thank you,’ he replied, clearly amused.

  ‘So, why did you decide to become a pilot?’

  ‘I was put through for the training programme as soon as I joined up because I already had a private pilot’s licence.’

  She stopped dancing in surprise. ‘How long had you been flying before you joined up?’

  ‘Three years as a qualified pilot. My father took me up when I was about six, and began teaching me when I reached the age of fourteen.’

  ‘Your father is a pilot? Was he in the air force?’

  ‘No, but he is a very good pilot, and I’m sure could easily fly a Lancaster.’

  ‘What do your parents think about what you’re doing?’

  ‘They understand, and to be honest, I think Dad is quite jealous.’ He gave a quiet laugh. ‘I have to give details of what it’s like to be at the controls of such a fine plane every time I write.’

  At that moment there was a tap on his shoulder and an American claimed his partner. As he walked away, she watched him with a look of utter confusion on her face.

  ‘Lost your partner?’ Luke asked, coming to stand beside him.

  He laughed and nodded. ‘Just as well.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘She was asking a lot of questions. I told her my dad taught me to fly at a young age, and she’s wondering what a farmer’s boy is doing flying planes.’

  Luke tipped his head back and roared with laughter.

  ‘I’m only telling her the truth. I am a farmer’s boy and Dad did teach me to fly,’ he protested.

  His friend couldn’t stop laughing. ‘Ricky told Jean he works in a department store.’

  ‘And what have you said you do?’

  ‘I said I’m a toolmaker in an engineering firm.’

  They grinned at each other. ‘Well, they are all true – to a point. At least they will never be able to accuse us of bragging, or boasting about our occupations at home.’

  ‘Wonder what Sandy has told them he does?’

  ‘He’s told them he’s a history teacher,’ Steve replied. ‘Which again is basically the truth.’

  ‘Yeah, he’s in the right place because there will be plenty in this country to interest him. I’ll go and get the girls another drink before the bar closes and perhaps that’ll take their minds off trying to find out too much about us.’ Luke walked away, still chuckling quietly to himself.

  The dance finished at eleven, giving them plenty of time to get the car back before midnight.

  The sergeant appeared the moment they drove in, and once everyone had extracted themselves from the car, he took the key from Steve.

  ‘Had a good night, sir?’

  ‘Wonderful.’ He pulled a half-bottle of whisky out of his pocket and slipped it to the sergeant.

  The bottle disappeared immediately into his coat and he winked at Steve. ‘Thank you kindly, sir. If you need anything in the future, you just come to me.’

  ‘Thanks, I certainly will.’

  It had been such a fun evening that the girls couldn’t stop smiling. Jean put her head to one side and asked, ‘That was terrific, so when can we play you again? Same rules apply.’

  ‘We are not falling for that,’ Steve teased. ‘Since then, we’ve heard about your prowess with darts. We’ve been told you are practically unbeatable.’

  ‘I don’t know where you heard such tales, sir.’ Nancy feigned a shocked expression. ‘Our game is very average.’

  ‘Oh, yeah
!’ Ricky exclaimed. ‘You needed a bullseye to win and it flies straight to the target. I’d say that was way above average.’

  ‘Tell you what. Give us time to practise, and in about three months we’ll beat you.’

  ‘Sandy!’ Luke exclaimed, ‘We’d need longer than that.’

  ‘Let’s say around May, then.’

  The men all nodded.

  ‘All right, we’ll keep you to that promise.’ Jean took hold of Nancy’s arm and blew kisses at them all. ‘Night, boys, and thanks for a really lovely dance.’

  ‘Those two are really something, aren’t they?’ Ricky sighed as he watched the girls disappear.

  Nancy sat on the edge of the bed, too awake to sleep. ‘Did you know Steve could fly a plane before he joined up?’

  ‘No, but that must have helped his application to train as an air force pilot. He loves flying and is earning the respect of all of his crew. Ricky says he has a wonderful temperament at the controls. They feel safe with him.’

  ‘I’m sure he is, but I’m puzzled why he and his father are pilots. They’re farmers.’

  Jean stopped brushing her hair. ‘His father is a pilot as well?’

  Nancy nodded. ‘He taught Steve.’

  ‘Now that is interesting. His dad must be highly qualified to be able to teach someone.’ Jean sat beside her friend. ‘They say very little about their lives at home. Although we are coming to know them quite well, we haven’t much idea about their background.’

  ‘Perhaps they’re homesick and it’s too painful to talk about.’

  Jean shrugged. ‘I expect that’s why, but I can tell you they’re not ordinary boys. They’re educated, have lovely manners, and the opulence of that hotel tonight didn’t faze them at all. It was as if they are quite used to going to places like that.’

  ‘Oh, that doesn’t mean much, Jean. They go out on raids never knowing if they’ll survive the night, that’d make anyone enjoy the free time they have. After what they experience up there under the stars, nothing down here will disturb them. In their situation, why hold on to any money they have?’

  ‘Of course, you’re right. You know me; I can let my imagi­nation run away with me. They are ordinary boys doing a dangerous job. It’s just that they come from a country we know nothing about.’