Whistling in the Dark

by Shirley Hughes

  “Oh, Ross! That’s terrible!”

  “I didn’t get their number plate. I was too busy trying to help Derek. He was really bad, crying with pain and that. I did like they tell you in the first-aid classes – didn’t try to move him, but propped his head up a bit and put my jacket over him. Then I beat it out of there as quick as I could to the call box on the main road, near the end of the track, and rang for an ambulance. They took ages – they’re short-staffed cos of the air raid and that – but they came in the end.”

  “Did you tell them that it was a hit-and-run? That someone tried to knock you down on purpose?”

  “Nah. We’re keen to keep quiet about it, Derek and me. We’ve agreed we don’t want anything to do with the cops. I told them we were riding without lights and that we never had time to get the lorry’s number plates. So they took the usual statement and told us off – and now with any luck they’ll leave us alone.”

  Joan, Ania and Doreen went to visit Derek and took him some of Ronnie’s precious chocolate biscuits, left over from Christmas. They found him remarkably cheerful. One good thing at least had come out of this accident.

  “My mum’s stopped going out in the evenings,” he told them. “She’s been staying at home with me since I had this bad shoulder. She cried when she came to see me in hospital and said she felt awful that she wasn’t there when they rang to tell her. Course, this means it’s going to be trickier for Ross and me to get out on our bicycles at night when my shoulder’s better. But it’s nice having her around, cooking my supper and all.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Soon after this disaster, a banner headline appeared in the local newspaper: BLACK MARKET SCANDAL! ILLICIT FOOD HOARD DISCOVERED!

  The front page described how, following reports of dangerous driving out by the old mill, the police had investigated the adjoining premises and found a substantial amount of illicit foodstuffs, including tea, sugar, coffee and all kinds of tinned goods, believed to be destined for the black market.

  “‘No arrests have yet been made,’” Mum read aloud to them over breakfast one morning, “‘but Detective Inspector Walker, who is in charge of the case, promises swift action.’”

  The article went on to report that this was part of a major ongoing investigation into the widespread criminality of black market trading throughout the whole of the Liverpool area.

  As a cheerless January wore on, accompanied by the relentless Blitz, it was depressingly obvious that Ronnie was becoming a more or less daily feature of the front room when he wasn’t on duty. The topic of his engagement to Mum had been tactfully sidelined for the time being, but Brian made it clear that he could not bear to be in the same room as him, and Joan turned up the radio in the back room whenever he called. Audrey retired upstairs. Only Judy, eager for sweeties, remained loyal.

  The gloom of early February was temporarily lifted by the war news that the Allies had made huge advances in the fighting in North Africa, driving Italian and German forces back westwards across the desert. Thousands had surrendered and been taken prisoner. It was a boost to public morale, but it seemed miles away from the grim immediacy of life in north-west England and the day-to-day slog of simply keeping going.

  Then, gradually and without any explanation, a change seemed to take place in the Armitage household. It was hardly noticeable at first, but it was increasingly apparent that Ronnie’s visits were becoming rather less frequent, and when he did call by, he seemed less inclined to bring gifts of food. Mum offered no explanation, except to vaguely mention how busy he was at the camp. The rest of the family – except Judy – were relieved that they didn’t have to make themselves scarce every time they heard his step in the hall, and this easily compensated for the lack of goodies.

  “Why doesn’t Ronnie come and see us any more?” Judy kept asking.

  “He’s got an awful lot of work to do at the moment,” Mum said.

  The rest of the family, who recognized a lame excuse when they heard one, tactfully kept quiet.

  The news, when it came, was like an unexploded bomb that nobody had expected to go off. It took them all completely unawares but was around the district in no time: Captain Ronnie Harper Jones, a senior officer in the Army Catering Corps, had been summoned to give evidence before a civil tribunal that had been tasked with looking into local black market activities. As yet there was no accusation against him personally, but rumours and innuendoes were rife, especially in the Bluebell Cafe. Joan heard the women gossiping when she went in there with Doreen one Saturday afternoon.

  “I always thought he was such a charming man – though you can’t always go by appearances…”

  “I know. He was terribly generous about contributing to our charity auction in aid of war orphans.”

  “Of course, I never buy anything on the black market – well, hardly ever. I mean, I’d have to be desperate! It’s just not patriotic, is it? And I’m sure Captain Harper Jones has only been asked to shed light on some of the suspicious things that have been happening locally…”

  “That awful business of all the stuff they found out at the old mill! Terrible to think that kind of thing could be happening right under our noses!”

  In public, Mum put on a brave face, but she looked very tired. She never went to the Bluebell Cafe anyway, but now avoided it like the plague.

  Joan felt helpless. She tried to avoid hearing gossip at school. Angela Travis, who was in her element with this kind of situation, went in for a great deal of whispering in corners with her friends. At home, the subject of the inquiry was still being ignored by tacit agreement.

  Mum now saw very few friends, and rarely went out except to take Judy to and from school and to do her Red Cross work. But Mrs Russell dropped in from time to time, relaxed and friendly as ever. She never gossiped or talked about the tribunal, just provided a little cheerful company and an occasional exchange of books. Doreen was equally tactful. Joan wondered how she could possibly manage to face school every day without her.

  Brian was the only member of the family who remained in excellent spirits. As far as he was concerned, the collapse of the family’s already minimal social life was a very small price to pay for not having to hear Ronnie’s braying voice in the front room every evening.

  When at last the tribunal came to an end, the findings were ambivalent. It was announced that, although there was irrefutable evidence of local black market dealings on a small scale, as yet the jury could not prove any definite connections with the criminal gangs involved with the hoard at the old mill. They were still at large and thought to be Liverpool-based. However, some charges were being made against three clerks at the town hall, who had been selling forged ration books. Captain Harper Jones of the Army Catering Corps, who had for some time been stationed locally, was to be temporarily relieved of his post, pending further investigations.

  “You could tell he was fishy a mile off,” said Brian triumphantly. “I only wish we hadn’t accepted all that stuff off him.”

  “It wasn’t much,” said Joan forlornly. “I mean, not like all that stash they found down at the old mill. I can’t believe Derek and Ross found it first. We should have told someone.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Everyone knows about it now. All the kids at school are talking about it. It’s in the papers and on the local radio.”

  The whole family tiptoed around the subject until Mum brought it up at last.

  “I know you’re all wondering about Ronnie,” she said. “About our engagement and everything. And I’ve hated you having to put up with all the gossip at school. I feel utterly responsible and miserable that any of you should have to be dragged into it. But I’ll tell you one thing, I wish with all my heart that I’d never accepted any of the food that Ronnie gave us, and if he is culpable, he’ll have to answer for it in due course. But I’m not going to completely abandon him now he’s in trouble. To be so shamed locally when he has always been popular and respected is a terrible thing to happen to anyone.”
<
br />   “Carrying loyalty a bit far, isn’t she?” Brian commented sourly after she had left the room.

  “You know Mum.” Audrey sighed.

  CHAPTER 24

  Soon after the tribunal ended, Ronnie came to the house, and he and Mum remained immersed in deep conversation in the front room for a long time. None of the family knew what was being discussed, and Mum clearly had no intention of telling them.

  “It’d be typical of Mum to stick with this wretched engagement in spite of him being in trouble,” said Audrey.

  “Even if he gets moved out of the area?” Joan asked. “They wouldn’t be able to see much of each other then.”

  “People get separated all the time these days. It doesn’t make them any less fond of each other,” Audrey said, and then added sadly, “I ought to know.”

  She had recently turned down a couple of invitations to dances from local admirers who were home on leave, even though staying in every Saturday evening, writing letters to Dai and longing for replies, was making her increasingly short-tempered with the rest of the family.

  Several weeks passed and they saw no more of Ronnie. It was Joan who inadvertently witnessed the final, totally unexpected blow that changed everything.

  She and Mum were setting out to the shops early one Saturday morning to queue for the family rations when a woman neither of them recognized planted herself firmly in their path. Joan had spotted her before, strolling up and down on the other side of the road and glancing up at their house. She was about Mum’s age, plump, carefully made-up and very smartly dressed.

  “Excuse me. You’re Mrs Armitage, I believe?”

  Mum stopped and smiled. “Yes. Have we met before?”

  “No. I’m not from this area. My house is in Aldershot. But I’ve been staying here for a few days at the Rockview, a private hotel near the promenade.” She paused. Mum waited encouragingly. “I believe you and your family have been very hospitable to my husband since he’s been stationed here,” the woman went on, looking them both carefully up and down.

  “Your husband?”

  “Yes. Ronnie. Captain Ronnie Harper Jones. I am Mrs Harper Jones.”

  There was a stunned silence. Joan tried hard to melt into the background as she watched a slow flush creeping up Mum’s neck. The woman shot a beady glance at her, then turned back to Mum.

  “Won’t you come into the house?” said Mum faintly. “A cup of coffee, perhaps?”

  “No. No, thank you. I’m just on my way back to the hotel to pack. I’m catching the train home from Liverpool this afternoon. I just wanted to thank you for the hospitality you’ve extended to Ronnie while he’s been stationed here. He and I are separated, as you know. I’m Catholic, so there has never been any question of divorce. And now, since all the recent trouble he’s had, being summoned before the tribunal and everything, I’ve decided to give our marriage another chance. His next posting will be quite near to my home, so he will be able to join me when he can at weekends. Make a fresh start, as it were.”

  She was looking hard at Mum with a fixed smile, carefully calculating the effect her words were having. Joan edged closer to Mum, wishing that the ground would open and swallow them both.

  After another long pause, Mum cleared her throat and said, “Of course. I’m sure he’ll be greatly missed here. He’s done such a lot of good work locally…” Then she faltered into silence.

  There was a gleam of triumph in the woman’s eyes. She was affable now, as though she had scored a very satisfactory goal.

  “Well, I must be on my way…”

  “Are you sure we can’t offer you—”

  “No, really. I shall miss my train if I don’t hurry. I just wanted to express my appreciation to you personally. Kindness means such a lot in these difficult times.”

  She cast one more glance at Joan, then offered her hand to Mum. “Goodbye. I’m so glad I was able to meet you.” A brief handshake, one last look, then she turned and walked briskly away, her high heels tapping on the pavement.

  For a moment, Joan thought Mum was going to faint. The flush had drained from her face and she was very pale. She took Joan’s hand and they both stood there for a while in silence.

  “Come on, Mum. Let’s go back indoors and I’ll make you a cup of tea,” Joan said. Together, arm in arm, they walked slowly back to the house.

  CHAPTER 25

  That was the end of Ronnie.

  His departure was very discreet. As soon as his transfer came through, he was replaced by a brisk younger officer, Captain Fletcher, who was reported to be taking the local black market situation very seriously indeed.

  “What bliss that we’re never going to see Ronnie again,” Audrey said when she, Brian and Joan were gathered together around the fire in the front room, revelling in having it all to themselves. “How could he possibly have thought that he could ever get away with being engaged to Mum when he had a wife already?”

  Brian was in the highest of spirits. “What a break! The best thing that’s happened since the Battle of Britain. I always knew that chap was as bogus as a soya sausage, but it never crossed my mind that he was married!”

  “Perhaps he was banking on telling Mum when she had finally accepted him,” said Audrey. “Then, when he had got the ring on her finger, he would have put her through the whole messy business of waiting for him to get unhitched from his previous missus. Poor Mum. It’s just so humiliating for her. Thank heavens nobody locally knows, so there won’t be any poisonous gossip. We mustn’t mention any of this to anyone, not even our closest friends. And we must keep it from Judy or she might go and let the cat out of the bag.”

  Mum was clearly too upset to talk about it, even to them. The one saving grace was that none of their friends, not even the Russells, seemed to have got wind of the existence of Mrs Harper Jones. It seemed that she had been tactful enough not to make her brief visit known to anyone except Mum. And having scored a bull’s-eye, she had returned to Aldershot in triumph.

  This was a great relief to Joan. The thought of such a hot item of gossip hitting the Bluebell Cafe or being circulated at school was too horrific to be contemplated.

  Joan could imagine only too well what a meal Angela Travis and her gang would make of it. But she kept remembering Mum’s words to them when she broke the news of Ronnie’s proposal – about how lonely she felt sometimes, and how much she longed for somebody to look after her. That situation looked as though it was going to be an ongoing certainty now.

  Joan was impressed by how brave Mum could be. This was borne out in the following weeks after Ronnie’s departure, when she made herself go out and about locally, chatting to neighbours and other parents at the gates of Judy’s school. The family tried to do likewise. Judy gradually got tired of asking why Ronnie didn’t come round and bring her sweets any more, and all talk of weddings faded from her mind.

  Local rumours about Ronnie and his possible connection with the black market died down surprisingly quickly after he had been transferred. In spite of the impact he had made, all the generosity, the socialising and the charity dances were soon forgotten by the ladies of the Bluebell Cafe.

  But the scandal of the black market had certainly not gone away. It was hitting the headlines of all the main newspapers. They revealed that goods were being illegally shifted on an alarming scale from several major ports, one of them being Liverpool, and being sold throughout the country at enormous profit. Joan only glanced at the headlines: STOP THIS SHAMEFUL TRADE! MAJOR CRACKDOWN PROMISED SOON!

  She found herself remembering that day when she had been waiting for Audrey near the Liverpool docks and had caught sight of Ronnie’s face in the cab of an unmarked lorry. She wondered if he had been transporting food then. If only she’d realized it at the time. But that was all over now. Ronnie had gone from their lives, and she felt it was better to let sleeping dogs lie.

  The Blitz was so intensive that even visits to the local cinema were being ruled out by parents in case the buildi
ng took a direct hit. Sitting cooped up at home every evening, waiting for the siren to go, was wearing a little at the family nerves. They were all on edge, especially Audrey, whose only escape from worrying about Dai was to have interminable telephone conversations with her friends, thus making it impossible for anyone else in the family to take a call. Sometimes during a raid, the line was cut off altogether.

  “I don’t know how much longer I can stick this,” said Doreen gloomily as she and Joan were walking home from school together. “I really wanted to see the new Rita Hayworth film, The Strawberry Blonde. You know, it’s that American comedy that has absolutely nothing to do with the war or people being heroic. But Mum doesn’t want me to go, in case the air raid starts early. It’s just so boring at home. She’s out working, driving her lorry all the time. David does endless schoolwork, and Dad is so busy we barely see him. In fact, he’s really bad-tempered these days. He snapped my head off the other day when I was playing some dance music on the radiogram. Told me to turn it off, pronto. He never used to be like that.”

  “My mum’s pretty edgy too,” said Joan. “Hardly ever laughs like she used to. She’s on her own such a lot these days, and Judy’s being an absolute pain, as usual.”

  “Let’s have a get-together after school,” said Doreen. “The whole gang – you, me, Ania, Brian, Ross and Derek, and David, if he can make it. We could scrounge some food.”

  “Great. Where could we have it?”

  “Somewhere on neutral ground. No grown-ups. What about one of the shelters on the prom?”

  “But it’d be freezing!”

  “Not too bad if we keep our coats on. We could bring hot drinks in thermos flasks.”