Keep the Home Fires Burning

by Anne Bennett

  Marion left her daughters behind when she went home later, having decided to have a quiet word with Peggy if she had the opportunity. When she got in, Violet and Peggy were there on their own because Sarah was at work and the boys had all gone to the park with Richard’s football.

  ‘We’re taking Sam down the Bull Ring later,’ Peggy said. ‘He said it sounded interesting and he’d like to look around the place.’

  ‘He also suggested treating us to the pictures later,’ Violet said.

  ‘That’s nice of him. You and Peggy, do you mean?’

  ‘Yeah, and Richard and Sarah if they want to come,’ Peggy told Marion.

  ‘Oh, I’m sure they will. They’ll be thrilled,’ Marion said. ‘It will be such a treat for them. What’s on?’

  ‘Well, according to the paper the Globe is showing Pinocchio and the Orient has Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator,’ Peggy said.

  Marion made a face. ‘Too close to home to be funny, judging by that title, The Great Dictator,’ she said. ‘I’m sick of hearing about dictators, to tell you the truth.’

  ‘I think it’s meant to be a comedy,’ Peggy said. ‘Or, I should say, bound to be a comedy if it has Chaplin in it.’

  ‘Even so, I shouldn’t fancy it,’ Marion said. ‘But then I’m not the one going. And isn’t the other one a cartoon made by that American Walt Disney?’

  ‘That’s the one,’ Peggy said. ‘It’s supposed to be ever so good.’

  ‘More one for the children, I’d have thought,’ Marion said. ‘You might need to go into town for a better choice.’

  ‘People say Pinocchio is very cleverly done,’ Peggy said. ‘Some of the girls at work have seen it and I wouldn’t mind giving it a go.’

  ‘Nor me,’ said Violet. ‘But I bet Richard and Sam would kick up if we suggesed it. It’s going to be Sam’s treat so I suppose he’s got to have first choice.’

  ‘I don’t see that,’ said Peggy. ‘No point in giving someone a treat if you are going to choose what they see. I bet Sarah would like to see Pinocchio.

  ‘She might,’ Violet said, and her amused eyes met those of Peggy’s as she went on, ‘but she will go with whatever Sam wants, as you well know.’

  ‘Speaking of Sarah …’ Marion began.

  But she got no further because Peggy jumped in with, ‘She thinks herself in love with Sam, doesn’t she? I wasn’t sure that you’d noticed.’

  ‘I did,’ Marion said. ‘In fact, I am a little concerned.’

  ‘No need to be,’ Peggy said. ‘I remember having similar feelings for a farm hand on a neighbouring farm when I was just a little younger than Sarah. I used to go mooning after him any chance I got. Course, he never really knew I existed and after a while I grew out of it. Sam is aware of how Sarah feels and fully understands. He knows how old she is. And from early Monday morning she’ll have to worship him from afar, anyroad, for he’s leaving to spend a couple of days at home before his medical, which I know will pass him perfectly fit to rejoin his unit.’ Peggy’s sombre eyes met those of Marion as she added, ‘And then God knows when any of us will see him again.’

  Richard was really pleased when Sam told him of the proposed trip to the cinema as they walked home from the park, but not that he was prepared to let the girls choose the film because he knew they would choose Pinocchio, which they’d been talking about for days.

  However, Sam told the girls they could go where they pleased and so that evening they made their way to the Globe. Richard couldn’t help feeling a little short-changed because he never went to the pictures, and the last thing he wanted to see on this rare visit was a tale about a puppet, especially when The Thief of Bagdad, The Grapes of Wrath and Broadway Melody were on in the town.

  Sarah was ecstatic with pleasure, though she positioned herself as far away from Sam as she could get. She wanted to enjoy the film, and Sam disturbed her so much – she had no idea why – that if he spoke to her at all she was certain that she wouldn’t be able to answer him, so it was best to keep well away.

  Even Richard was quite amazed by the cartoon, which was the first one any of them had ever seen, and they talked about it enthusiastically as they made their way home.

  Sam brushed their thanks aside. ‘It was my pleasure,’ he said. ‘It’s lovely to give a treat to people who really appreciate it.’

  ‘Nothing to stop us doing this more often now,’ Peggy said. ‘Before we came here me and Violet had never even seen a picture house ? villages don’t have them – so how about us all trying them out once a week?’

  Sarah felt excitement course through her. It would be wonderful to go to the pictures every week, and they could now money wasn’t such an issue.

  ‘Why don’t you?’ Sam said. ‘It would do you all good and there’s no harm in it.’

  He turned and smiled at Sarah as he spoke, and she felt her heart flip in a most alarming way.

  Then suddenly Richard cried, ‘There’s a queue outside the chip shop. They must have some fish in.’

  ‘Let’s join it and find out, shall we?’ Sam said. ‘That smell alone is guaranteed to make anyone hungry.’

  It took nearly half an hour, but at last their wait was rewarded and they came away with a portion each and one for Marion. She was more than glad to see the young people’s eyes dancing in excitement, and as they ate the fish and chips and drank the tea she had made they regaled her with tales of Pinocchio.

  Later, Sarah, curled in bed, thought it was the perfect end to an almost perfect day.

  The following day after dinner, Marion, Richard and Sarah set off to see Bill as usual, leaving Peggy and Violet, together with Sam, to look after Tony and the twins. Marion was delighted to find Bill out of bed and sitting beside it in a wheelchair. His injured leg was still stretched out in front of him, but it was an improvement. ‘Oh, Bill,’ she cried, ‘wait till the children see this.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Bill said. ‘I think they’ll be chucking me out before long. The doctor said I’ll have to come back for physio, but I can do that through Outpatients.’

  ‘It will be marvellous to have you home.’

  ‘It will be marvellous to be home,’ Bill said. ‘Whoever it was said that a person often doesn’t appreciate a thing till it is taken away from him knew what he was talking about.’

  ‘I think we’re all the same in that respect,’ Marion said. ‘But talking about appreciating things, Sam treated Sarah and Richard to the pictures last night. They saw a cartoon, which I thought they might find babyish, but they were full of it when they came in. Anyroad, they’ve now decided to go every week, and even Richard was all for it. I think it will be good for them.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Bill said. ‘It will. The war news is depressing enough at the moment, but no one can think of doom or gloom all the time. You’d best send the kids in and let them tell me all about this film.’

  They did tell him, and they extolled the generosity and kindness of Sam, yet Bill saw something lurking behind Richard’s eyes.

  Eventually Bill said to him, ‘All right then, son, what is it?’

  Richard took a deep breath and said, ‘I want to join the Local Defence Volunteers next week when I’m sixteen. I have looked into it because one of my mates from work does it. They meet at Sacred Heart school hall.’

  ‘Anthony Eden said in that broadcast in May that you had to be seventeen,’ Sarah reminded him.

  ‘I’m going to tell them I’m seventeen,’ Richard said.

  ‘And what about your mother?’

  ‘Mom won’t have to know,’ Richard said. ‘She didn’t listen to the broadcast, so I’ll tell her that I can join at sixteen. I’ve being thinking about it. Everyone knows invasion is very likely. I want to be there ready and waiting if that time comes.’

  ‘Oh, I wish I could do something too,’ Sarah cried. She too ached to be helping the war effort, but it would be fifteen months before she turned sixteen.

  ‘When you’re a little older, I’m sure that there will b
e some opening for you,’ Bill said consolingly.

  ‘Yeah,’ said Sarah morosely. ‘The only trouble is, Dad, growing up seems to take one hell of a long time.’ She couldn’t understand why her father laughed so loudly that Marion heard him in the visitors’ room.

  Sam left the following morning. He was ready early so he could say goodbye to his sister before she left for work. Peggy kissed him with tears in her eyes, and so did Violet, and even Richard’s voice was gruff as he shook hands with him.

  ‘Goodbye, Sam,’ he said. ‘And for God’s sake look after yourself.’

  ‘I’ll do my level best,’ Sam promised.

  The children were sad to see him leave as well. He kissed the girls on the cheek, and punched Tony lightly on the arm and told him he was a mean little footballer. Tony positively glowed with pride. He turned to shake Marion by the hand and as she faced him she glimpsed the bleak look in Sarah’s eyes and she felt so sorry for her, and also rather silly for her anxiety over the infatuation Sarah had for Sam. And that’s what it was, a childish infatuation. She was as aware as everyone else that once Sam left she might never see him again. So Marion said, ‘Goodbye, Sam. We have loved having you to stay. Please feel free to come again any time.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Sam. ‘But the army might have some say in that. Maybe I should get myself shot at more often.’

  ‘Don’t you dare,’ Marion said.

  And Sarah added, ‘Don’t even joke of such a thing.’

  Sam heard the disconsolate tone in Sarah’s voice and he took her two hands in his own. Sarah felt as if she was drowning in those dark eyes as he said, ‘That was a silly thing to say. You’re right, it’s no joking matter. But don’t worry, I’ll keep my head well down.’

  ‘See you do as well.’ Marion’s words broke the spell between them and Sam dropped Sarah’s hands.

  ‘Goodbye, Sam,’ Sarah said, and her voice was little more than a whisper.

  It was nearly lunchtime on Friday 19 July when the ambulance bringing Bill home arrived outside the front door. Marion opened it to see Bill being helped down the steps of the vehicle and onto the pavement. ‘Here y’are, missus,’ said one of the ambulance men with a cheery grin. ‘One conquering hero home again.’

  ‘Yes. Thank you.’

  ‘Do you want a hand into the house, sir?’ the same man said to Bill as he handed him the crutch that he would need for now to help him walk.

  ‘No, thank you,’ Bill said firmly enough, though through tightened lips. ‘I think I can manage.’

  ‘Right you are, then, sir,’ the man said, and to Marion: ‘They’re giving Mr Whittaker a chance to rest over the weekend, but an ambulance will be sent for him on Monday morning at about eight o’clock.’

  ‘That was explained to me,’ Marion confirmed. Bill’s leg was not completely mended and the doctor had told her he would need daily physio if he were ever to recover totally. Still, she was delighted to have him home to fuss over for a while.

  She stood back as Bill began his slow progress into the house with the ambulance man hovering behind him. Marion glanced up and down the street before following him. She knew many neighbours would be watching. Some knew Bill was returning home that day and others would be alerted by the unusual sight of an ambulance parked in the road. She knew that in Polly’s street everyone would have been out there in a public display of support, probably shouting encouraging words to them both, but in Albert Road most would be content to peer through their net curtains, though Deidre from next door would likely pop in later to see if she could do anything.

  The ambulance men took their leave when Bill reached the door at the end of the corridor. Leaning heavily on his crutch he walked through to the living room before turning to Marion and asking ‘Well? Will I do?’

  Marion’s eyes filled with tears and her throat was blocked as she said huskily, ‘Ah, Bill …’

  Bill lifted up his hand before she reached him and said, ‘If you want to hug me, and I am all in favour of that, let me sit down first? My balance is as yet quite precarious.’

  He lowered himself onto the settee and Marion sat beside him. As his arms went around her he sighed contentedly as he said, ‘I have dreamed of doing this for weeks – months, even. As I stood on that bloody pier head at Dunkirk, waiting for rescue, it was the thought of you at home waiting for me that made me determined not to give up, to get back to you if I possibly could.’

  Marion swallowed the lump in her throat and said gently, ‘I’m so glad you did, but you look so tired.’

  ‘I am,’ Bill admitted. ‘Getting up and washed early this morning absolutely exhausted me. I was done and dusted by eight o’clock, had my breakfast and everything, but then I had to wait until an available ambulance was ready to take me home, and waiting around is always tiring.’

  ‘Yes,’ Marion agreed. ‘But you must remember as well that you have been quite ill, Bill. Your body is going to take time to recover. I think that you are going to need plenty of rest and feeding up, and though the rest part will be simple, the food part will not be so easy, with rationing the way it is and general shortages on goods not on ration. But I’ll do my best to get you some decent food.’

  ‘I know how difficult things are,’ Bill said. ‘Some of the meals served up in hospital were very strange indeed.’

  ‘Well, you’ll have a casserole this evening when everyone is home,’ Marion said. ‘And the meat is rabbit, which is not on ration, though it sometimes isn’t available. They sell it on the stalls down the Bull Ring and I went yesterday to see what I could find. Thought I was out of luck too, and then I found a stall near the back of the meat market that still had some in. I bought such a lot the butcher threw me in a pot of pork dripping as well.’

  ‘Isn’t that on ration either?’

  ‘Well, fats are – butter, margarine, lard and stuff like that,’ Marion said, ‘but he said he renders his own dripping and what the authorities don’t know they won’t worry about.’

  ‘I could murder a piece of dripping toast now,’ Bill said. ‘My mouth is watering at the thought of it. And a big mug of tea. That would be just perfect.’

  ‘Then you shall have it,’ Marion said, getting to her feet. ‘And after that I should go to bed for an hour or so, if I were you. Today the schools break up for the long summer break. The children will be excited about that, and having you home as well is like the icing on the cake for them. They might kill you with their exuberance. And I shouldn’t try to manage the stairs just yet either. I have the boys’ bed made up in the parlour, which you can use for now.’

  Bill knew what Marion said made sense and so after he had eaten, he heaved himself to his feet, and using his crutch to balance on waved away her offer of help. ‘You’re not to treat me as an invalid,’ he warned. ‘Mollycoddling me is no way to help me get better.’

  Bill knew that Marion worried about him so he was heartily glad she hadn’t come down to see him in Ramsgate as she’d threatened to do before he’d been moved, because for a lot of the time there he had been raving. He did wonder at times if he was losing his mind, though the doctors had assured him that it was one of the effects of trauma or shock. And he had calmed down in the end and was able to keep his feelings in check through the day, though they continued to invade his mind at night and he would wake with a shriek or a yell and find the bedclothes tangled around him.

  He wasn’t the only serviceman to be afflicted this way, but the nurses were always there to reassure and soothe. He hadn’t had one of these terrifying nightmares for over a week, though, and was fairly certain that in the confines of his own house, and with his family around him, he would soon be back to his old self.

  The younger children were just as excited as Marion had said they would be when they came home from school and virtually launched themselves at Bill as he sat on the settee, with Marion warning them to mind his leg. The twins settled on either side of him, while Tony and Jack, who had come to see his uncle, were very impre
ssed with Bill’s crutch. They took turns trying to use it, though it was far too big for them.

  ‘It’s not to play with, you two,’ Marion chided when she saw them. ‘It isn’t a toy, and your father would rather not have to use it.’

  ‘That’s right enough,’ Bill said. ‘Nothing will give me greater pleasure than handing it back to the hospital when I no longer need it.’

  ‘Hope it’s not all that soon,’ Tony said quietly, lying the crutch down beside his father, ‘cos then you’ll have to go back, won’t you?’

  ‘Fraid so,’ Bill said. ‘So isn’t it a great thing that I’m home for now and in time to help you enjoy your holidays. I might even be able to keep you and Jack out of mischief.’

  ‘I’m not going to get into mischief, Uncle Bill,’ Jack said. ‘I won’t have time. I’m going to be a messenger when the bombs come. A kid at school was telling me his brother is training for it and they’ve given him a bike.’

  ‘They won’t have people of your age, Jack,’ Marion said. ‘You’re far too young.’

  ‘I’m eleven next month.’

  ‘That’s what I mean,’ Marion said. ‘And you can get that look off your face, Tony,’ she said, concerned with the awestruck way Tony was gazing at his cousin. ‘If the bombs fall you’re going to go down the cellar with the rest of us and there will be no argument about it. Anyway, why are we discussing something that hasn’t happened yet?’

  ‘Yes,’ Bill said. ‘Let’s just be glad that Hitler has left us alone so far. I was in Ramsgate when they started the bombardment there and it was terrifying for the ordinary people. The devastation I glimpsed from the ambulance on the way to Brum was dreadful. You have no idea. Bombs hurtling down is not exciting, believe me.’

  Marion believed him totally. She felt a frisson of apprehension trickle down her spine, and she fought to get a grip on herself. No one had any control over the future.

  When Bill was introduced to Peggy and Violet that evening he saw straight away from their firm handshakes, open faces and clear eyes that they were respectable girls, as Marion had told him they were. And they were also firm favourites with the children, if the banter between them was anything to go by, and he had felt his tense shoulders relax.