The Bluebird Girls: The Forces' Sweethearts 1

by Rosie Archer

  All for one and one for all, they’d said, hadn’t they? She decided to go back to Bea and Ivy.

  Everything went dark. Rainey hoped her mother was safe. They’d been promised a Morrison shelter that would fit into their kitchen but it wasn’t going to be delivered until next March. Jo hated the Anderson: it was cold and dark.

  Bodies banged against her and, although they had been told to walk quietly to safety during raids, the workers, scared, cried out and ran into her. She could smell the fear in the air. If one bomb hit this place, she thought, there’d be nothing left.

  Heavy blackout blinds covered the windows but Rainey could make out searchlights streaming across the sky. She’d heard on the wireless that the Germans were leaving London alone to concentrate on bombing other main cities, Birmingham, Manchester, Southampton, and that meant Portsmouth as well.

  The crowds pushing to move in the other direction to her had thinned now. She was able to walk quite quickly along the passageways that, even in the dark, she knew well.

  At last she reached her workroom. The sounds coming in at her from the shelling were frightening. In the doorway she called, ‘Ivy? Bea?’

  The large room seemed to move so she grabbed hold of the doorpost to steady herself. The terrible thud surprised her, but no more than the amazing sight through the windows of a wall of water from the creek outside, rushing up into the air like some giant water spout. There was a huge sucking noise and a shower of drops cascaded down the side of the building and its windows.

  Then came the explosion. Terrified, Rainey held on to the doorpost as though it was her lifeline. She covered her eyes as glass blew inwards from the windows, but peeped through her fingers to see one of the wooden jetties suddenly jump into the air and the wood fall like a shower of straw into the creek.

  Then came a deathly silence.

  Her eyes were smarting with the chemical dust floating in the room and her ears were now filled with a ringing sound. Even so, she heard a tiny voice call, ‘Rainey?’

  She allowed herself to slide to the floor. With her arms around her knees she made herself as small as possible, willing the noise in her ears to go away and her shaking body to still.

  ‘Rainey?’

  She flinched as she felt the hand on her shoulder. When she lifted her head she saw Bea standing over her. Her arms flew around Bea’s legs. ‘I thought you were gone,’ she said. Now she was crying and she had to wipe her nose with her sleeve for the great gobs of snot that were pouring unheeded and mixing with her tears.

  And then Ivy was there, pulling Rainey to her feet.

  The three girls stood locked together. Flakes from the ceiling fell about them like snow. The ringing was lessening in Rainey’s ears and she said again, ‘I thought you were gone.’

  Ivy said, ‘We knew you’d come back for us.’

  Bea said, ‘That bloody big bomb went in the creek and blew up our landing stage.’

  Rainey began to laugh.

  Chapter Forty-three

  ‘Sounds like a herd of elephants above us,’ said Jo. She stirred her tea.

  Maud wiped her hands on her wraparound pinafore before she answered. ‘They’re overjoyed to be practising their dance steps especially as Priddy’s shut up shop for a couple of days to clear up.’ She raised her eyes towards the ceiling.

  ‘I can’t believe no one was hurt in that blast.’

  ‘Boats were smashed and there were dead fish everywhere in the water and in the yard. It stinks, I was told. They’ve got to renew the landing stage, but apart from broken windows, everything else held.’

  Maud shoved a plate towards Jo. ‘Try a sponge biscuit. I made them myself using the extra Christmas sugar I won’t be needing. I can’t believe that Madame woman has invited us all to a Christmas dinner at her place. That’s a surprise.’

  ‘You’ll come?’ Jo took a mouthful of biscuit, chewed and swallowed. ‘These are tasty,’ she said.

  ‘I can cook, you know,’ said Maud, tartly. Then she grinned. ‘Course we’ll be there. A dinner for free is not to be sniffed at.’ She pushed an escaping pin back into her hair to keep her fringe out of her eyes. ‘Granddad’s not coming.’

  Jo stared.

  Maud shook her head. ‘Now he’s properly settled in his new place he won’t be budged. That neighbour of his, that flirty Gertie, has got him enthralled! The ex-footballer brother of hers is like a magnet to Solomon and he can’t wait to see his old mate again. You know Gertie got him – Solomon, not her brother – to go on the bus to see a medium? That’s what this Helen Duncan calls herself. It was in a Spiritualist church. The place was full, Granddad said. She told him his wife was watching over him. Fair took his breath away that did. His Eileen didn’t make such a good job of watching him when she was alive. She never knew what pub he was in!’

  Jo nearly choked on her second biscuit. ‘So it’ll be you, Bea and Eddie?’ She’d taken a swallow of tea to wash it down.

  ‘Eddie’s not keen but I told him we’ve got to support the girls. Anyway, in the New Year he’ll be up to his eyes in work.’

  ‘What about them German prisoners?’

  ‘He’s got a load of them coming to work for him up at Bridgemary.’

  Jo wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

  ‘Alice Wilkes has dropped out. She’s preparing a special meal for a friend,’ Maud said. ‘It must be a really special friend an’ all for her to turn down an invitation to Madame’s, mustn’t it?’

  ‘I suppose so. I’m bringing Syd.’

  ‘I thought you and he . . .’

  ‘Madame said we can invite a close friend. I thought it might make up for the way I was short-tempered with him.’

  Maud sighed. ‘It’s up to you,’ she said. Jo thought the look on her face spoke volumes.

  Just then a car’s horn sounded out in the street. Jo ran to the bottom of the stairs and shouted, ‘Hurry up, girls. Our lift to the David Bogue Hall is here.’ She struggled into her coat in the hallway and was relieved when Ivy, Bea and Rainey came out of Bea’s bedroom and hurried down the stairs.

  Jo turned back to her friend. ‘Maud, love, thanks for the tea and biscuits. Blackie’s going to drop us off again after practice. I expect we’ll be later, though, as there’s no work tonight for the girls. Blackie said he’d have a surprise for us today. I wonder what it is.’

  It wasn’t long before the three girls were in the back of Blackie’s car and Jo sat in the front.

  She asked, ‘What’s the surprise, then?’ She could smell his spicy cologne.

  ‘Wait and see,’ he said.

  ‘Have the blue dresses arrived?’ Rainey asked.

  ‘Again, wait and see,’ Blackie said.

  He wouldn’t say anything, but whenever he caught Jo looking at him, he turned briefly to smile at her.

  Blackie pulled up outside the hall and allowed them all to get out of the car, then drove around to the back where there was a large car park.

  Ivy, Rainey and Bea crowded around Jo as he pushed open the door.

  The sound hit her straight away. In the hall there was a small band! A young man was playing the piano, a very large man tuning a trombone, another sitting at a set of drums and a tall good-looking man, with a trumpet, waving at their entrance.

  Jo and the girls were watching and listening to them running through ‘An Apple for the Teacher’ when Blackie came in, rubbing his hands because of the cold outside. ‘I see you’ve found my surprise,’ he said. He shivered. ‘Thank God it’s warmer in here.’ He nodded a hello to the band.

  Bea said, ‘Dresses? Did you bring the dresses? Were they in the car’s boot?’ She didn’t allow Blackie to speak. ‘What are they doing here?’ She looked towards the musicians.

  ‘In the kitchen,’ he said, ‘is the answer to the first question and to the second. You won’t be singing to my piano-playing when you’re onstage. You’ll have musicians, maybe these boys. I thought you needed to get used to singing with proper backing. I know
you’re not working at Priddy’s tonight, so you’ll sing along with this excellent band. But . . . you will sing until you get it right. Or they get fed up with you and decide to go home.’

  ‘When do we try the glittery dresses on?’ Bea frowned. ‘If we’re singing and singing, you might forget.’

  ‘I shall not forget, Bea, because when I think you’re all in tune with the music, I’ll have the three of you dressed, and making sure you know exactly where and how to stand. Have any of you ever sung with a band before?’

  Jo saw her three charges shake their heads.

  ‘Just as I thought,’ said Blackie. ‘Let’s get started.’

  Jo saw that the three girls were fired up with excitement. Rainey and Ivy immediately took off their coats and climbed onto the stage.

  Bea said, ‘I’m cold.’

  ‘You can’t be,’ said Jo. ‘It’s warm in here. Don’t start being a prima donna.’

  ‘What’s that?’ Bea asked, reluctantly taking off her coat to reveal a sweater tight across her ample breasts and slacks that emphasized her rounded bottom. One of the musicians gave a wolf-whistle. Mollified, Bea joined the others on the stage.

  ‘A prima donna is someone who thinks the world revolves around her! And I’m sorry, Bea, but you’re all equal in this group.’ Blackie frowned at her. Bea tossed her hair back and pouted.

  Blackie walked to the front of the stage, turned and put up a hand to stop the band playing, looked at the three girls and said, ‘You, the Bluebird Girls, open in a famous theatre in a little over a fortnight. Money and time’s been spent for your benefit. I appreciate you’ve already worked very hard, but it’s not enough! I must have one hundred per cent from all of you. Do you understand?’

  Jo bit her lip. For a moment there was silence as the girls digested his words. Then Blackie said, ‘Madame is giving you the chance of a lifetime. You can be stars! You can be shining lights in this damn war!’ He shook his head. ‘You have talent. Let me bring it out!’ There was another pause, longer this time, then the red-haired man at the drums started clapping, the rest of the band joined in and the tension was broken. Blackie looked at Jo . . . and smiled.

  Chapter Forty-four

  Della turned the slices of bacon in the big frying pan. She wore one of Bert’s ample aprons, which swamped her tiny frame. A pall of cigarette smoke hung in the air, mingling with the cooking smells.

  She looked at Bert reading the invitation card.

  ‘It says you’ve been invited for Christmas to eat with Madame, Blackie and Herbert. It says plus one, not Ivy, she’s already been invited.’

  ‘I can’t go. I’ll get Ivy to apologize . . .’

  ‘Della. You have to go. These people are reaching out the hand of friendship to family members of the Bluebird Girls. You’ll hurt Ivy’s feelings if you don’t support her.’

  Della left the bacon to pour a large mug of tea and set it on the counter in front of Bert so he could take the money from the customer who’d requested it.

  Until the postman had brought in the letter, she’d been quite content cooking and listening to the Bakelite wireless spilling out dance music. The hum of voices and the cosy atmosphere inside the café was soothing.

  Again she turned the bacon and breathed in its beguiling scent. ‘How am I supposed to get there when there’s no buses running that day? Besides, I’ve got nothing suitable to wear. And what can I talk about? I got nothing to say to posh people.’

  ‘You get on all right with Blackie, and the others are no different.’

  She forked the bacon onto a large plate and set it on the hob to keep warm. ‘You could be my plus one,’ she said.

  He turned to her. ‘I’d be like a fish out of water there.’

  Della caught sight of herself in the window. Her cheeks were rosy with the heat in the café. ‘You could wear that suit you got for your mate’s funeral. I’ll press it.’ She felt quite positive now. ‘And, really, I’ve got loads of pretty dresses.’

  ‘The ferries are running, Sunday service mind, but I could order a taxi.’

  ‘Do you really think Ivy’d want us there? I don’t want to let her down.’

  ‘Stop putting yourself down, Della. You are as good as anyone else who’ll be there. You wouldn’t have got an invite if you wasn’t.’

  Della looked at Bert and smiled.

  *

  The members of the band had congregated by the bar in the White Horse, drinking pints, smoking and eating the Spam or Bovril sandwiches Blackie had bought. Every so often the sound of laughter issued from them. Ivy, Jo, Bea and Rainey sat in an alcove. Blackie had a small whisky on the table in front of him, and Jo had half a shandy. Blackie had asked the girls what they’d like to drink, had dismissed their unsuitable requests by the time he’d reached the bar and returned with lemonades. Jo noticed Bea pull a face when she tasted her drink. On the table there were the remains of another plate of sandwiches.

  Jo stared at the green and red decorations. Some were a bit dusty, but the paperchains were obviously new for their colours were brighter. It looked very Christmassy, she thought. She’d not had time to think about decorating their house. She looked at the long pendulum wall clock. She hoped Blackie would remember that she still had to be up at the crack of dawn to take delivery of the daily papers at the Harrington’s. Already it was dark outside.

  ‘I like what you’ve done so far today, girls,’ he said. ‘When we return to the hall you can try on the blue dresses. Then –’ he smiled ‘– I’m giving you time off because it’s almost Christmas.’ Bea squealed and Ivy banged the table. Jo knew relief was written all over her face. Rainey looked at her and mouthed, ‘Thank goodness.’

  ‘I’ll see you all at Madame’s place on Christmas Day. Now, are you all sure you’ve got transport?’ Blackie asked. He was paying for another round of drinks for the musicians, who had also finished for the day.

  The girls started chattering about who they were going to Madame’s with and it became quite noisy. Jo hadn’t asked Syd yet but she knew if he accepted he’d be indignant to be offered a lift and would insist on driving himself, her and Rainey. ‘I’m sure we’re all right but if things become difficult can I beg seats in your car?’ she asked Blackie tentatively.

  ‘Just give me a ring, Jo.’ He suggested they go back to the hall across the road.

  Immediately they were inside Blackie said, ‘On the morning of the first matinee performance I want you four at the King’s Theatre for early-morning rehearsal. We’ll go through the show exactly as it will – or should – happen in the afternoon.’ Bea opened her mouth but he anticipated what she was going to say. ‘All the other acts will be there. It’s to give you a feel for the theatre.’

  Jo saw Bea close her mouth. Something inside Jo told her that if any of them was going to act up it would be Bea. She dismissed the thought. She wasn’t being fair to the girl.

  Blackie sent Jo and the girls into the kitchen. ‘The clothes are in a dress bag hanging on the back of the door,’ he said. ‘Come out when you’re ready.’

  Jo almost couldn’t believe the time would come when she would see her own daughter, Rainey, singing on the stage of one of the most famous theatres in the south of England. She was so proud of her.

  Then she chuckled: every surface in the kitchen had articles of female apparel slung haphazardly over it.

  She heard Rainey say, ‘This is so beautiful.’

  ‘Can I look?’ Jo had turned her back on them, knowing they’d prefer her not to gawp. After all, there wouldn’t be much privacy later at the side of the stage, so she’d give them what she could now.

  ‘Oh!’ The word fell from her mouth.

  Where had her charges gone? Two gorgeous young women in tight-fitting sparkly blue gowns stood in front of her. Rainey’s dress had a high neck but only one short sleeve, and below it she wore a pair of dark blue satin high heels. She was in the process of pulling on elbow-length satin gloves. Ivy’s dress was slightly more full in th
e skirt with a heart-shaped neckline and a waist that pinched to a hand-span. She had similar shoes and gloves.

  Bea was red in the face and struggling to fasten her sleeveless dress with the plunging neckline that emphasized her generous curves. Jo couldn’t help herself, ‘My God, that dress fits you like butter!’

  Bea blew out her cheeks. ‘Thank you but I’d feel better if I could do it up!’

  Jo turned her round. ‘Breathe in,’ she said, and with difficulty hooked and zipped it up. ‘I’ll send it back with a note asking the dressmaker to let it out a bit. In the meantime, between now and the New Year, don’t eat!’ Bea slipped on the high heels. ‘You all look wonderful,’ Jo said. ‘Now go out into the hall and watch the men’s jaws drop!’

  Chapter Forty-five

  Jo thought Syd looked very smart in his best suit. He caught her looking at him while he drove and smiled at her. The atmosphere was still a little strained between them but she knew he was doing his best to be extra cheerful. She was pleased because if there was one thing she couldn’t abide it was a man who sulked. She’d had too many sulky silences in the past with Alfie where she’d had to walk on eggshells.

  The weather was cold but it was dry and sunny, and Jo was happy the awful winds at the beginning of the month had dropped.

  ‘Did you bring a gift for the hostess?’ Syd asked.

  ‘We couldn’t afford to buy ourselves anything. And I certainly haven’t got a present for you, Syd. There’s nothing in the shops.’

  ‘You can share the big box of chocolates I bought from Harrington’s,’ Syd offered. ‘I’ll say it’s from all of us.’

  Jo looked at Rainey. ‘Would that be a very large and expensive box with a kitten chasing a ball of wool on it?’ Her question was directed at Syd.

  She was still looking at Rainey when Syd answered, ‘It is.’

  Jo put a hand to her mouth and whispered to her daughter, so Syd wouldn’t hear, ‘That box has been in the shop since before the war started!’

  *

  Jo had been to Madame’s studio but never to the house.

  Surprisingly, Syd had to park on the road with other cars behind and in front. Further up she spotted Eddie’s work van.