Minerva

by June Hirst

  We’re going to hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line

  Have you any dirty washing mother dear......

  The four air force personnel joined in enthusiastically, as they were shown to their seats, by the usherette with her torch. They snuggled down together watching the war news and the evacuees in the countryside. Propaganda was telling parents not to take their children back home, because they thought it was safe now. Parky and Victoria snuggled up together and Minerva remembered Victoria’s advice to forget Martin Moxon and that there was a war on ,so live for today and enjoy yourself. Ricky put his arm around her and she snuggled closer. They had all left their hats and great coats in the vehicle, but it was very warm in the cinema. The advertisements had finished and the lights came on. The ice-cream girl appeared.

  ‘Let’s have an ice cream while we can,’ Parky said as he jumped up and came back with a hand full of wafers and four blocks of ice cream, wrapped in papers. They assembled their ice cream and licked them. Minerva felt very cosy and content and briefly allowed herself a few moments of reflection, as they all quietly licked their ice creams contentedly. They had just finished and wiped their sticky fingers when the lights went out and the big picture began.

  Ricky skilfully undid the shiny buttons of Minerva’s tunic and cupped one breast in his hand and then moved to the other one. It was the second time that he had stroked her breasts. The hero on the screen was kissing his lover passionately. Ricky undid her shirt buttons and stroked her bare flesh gently with one finger, as he butterfly kissed her temple. Her regulation W.A.A.F. bra felt course and stiff and he longed to cup her bare breasts and trace her nipples with his finger, before he showered them with kisses. He knew that Minerva was gentle and innocent and decided to proceed with caution. Every day might be his last day, but he did not want this to be the last time he held Minerva. He withdrew his hand and turned her face to his and kissed her gently. He knew from his first encounter after the New Year’s ball that she’d never been kissed before.

  Minerva’s heart fluttered and she felt her nipples harden as Ricky stroked her. Her eyes were closed and he kissed her eye lids again and again with fluttering kisses. His manhood throbbed and strained against his trousers. He imagined the sweet delight that she could give him, if only it was possible. Minerva had never experienced such passion. She circled her arms around the back of his neck deepening their next kiss. Suddenly the usherette’s torch shone upon them. Victoria and Parky were in a passionate embrace too.

  ‘Behave yourselves you lot. This is not Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s the pictures.’ she said. The two couples laughed and the girls hastily fastened their buttons, as the usherette passed down the aisle and flashed her torch on other passionate embraces. They returned to the love story on the screen and Ricky returned his arm around Minerva, but placed his other hand on the soft warm flesh of her thigh above her stocking top. Minerva shivered at the unexpected pleasure that this gave her. Just for a moment she remembered Martin Moxon, sitting on the rock and how she had admired his bare thighs. She placed her hand on Ricky’s thigh and he contracted his thigh muscles and tried to concentrate on the film in order to control his manhood. He lit a cigarette and the smoke curled up into the overhead beams, as the projectionist projected the film onto the screen. The smoke from numerous cigarettes was swirling in the beam, reminding Minerva of the mist upon the moors. He offered her his cigarette, but she refused. She had tried one before and found it unpleasant. Victoria and Parky, heads together were sharing a cigarette and she wondered if she should try again. Cigarettes finished, the two couples had snuggled down again. When the film finished everyone stood to sing the National Anthem. The foyer was dimly lit and an usherette was guarding the blackout curtain over the door as the two couples quickly exited into the pitch black winter’s night. Their greatcoats were cold when they put them on.

  ‘Normally a snifter of whisky would warm us, but the pubs are shut, so we had better step on it to arrive back before the midnight curfew’ Parky said. They managed to find their way back to the camp and the W.A.A.F.s once more hid under the blanket, as they passed through the guarded barrier. After a quick goodnight kiss, the girls insisted on creeping back to their hut alone, not trusting the men to be quiet.

  When they were safely in bed, Minerva sleepily remembered the excitement of snuggling up with Ricky, but then she tossed and turned, as she guiltily remembered her secret love Martin Moxon. She searched her conscience, balancing her thoughts of right and wrong, telling herself that she had not been faithful to Martin, but on the other hand Ricky needed her. Every day might be his last. The other seven girls were fast asleep as she quietly reached for the photographs of her dead parents. They had expressed their love and her father would have had comforting thoughts of her mother, when he was existing in the stinking, barbaric trenches, while he waited to go over the top to certain slaughter. Tears sprang into her eyes, as she fell into a troubled sleep clutching the miniature photographs.

  Next morning Minerva had dark shadows under her eyes and she was not first to awake for once. Angela fed the stove and looked at Victoria and Minerva, jealously, as they staggered out of bed.

  ‘What time did you two sneak in, last night. You are for it, if Sergeant Benson finds out ,’ she said.

  ‘Never you mind. We obviously did not wake you and how will concrete knickers Benson find out’ Victoria replied and Minerva groaned.

  ‘Come along Minerva you’ll feel better after a wash. You’re not used to late night jollities. Wait until you have been to London with me. You’ll soon become acclimatised ,’ and she flashed a cheeky look at Angela, who was scowling at them both. Molly and Shirley were cooking breakfasts already. When Victoria and Minerva staggered across to the ablutions Vanessa, Elizabeth and Mary were already leaving.

  ‘Hurry up you two night owls, hut two will be arriving any minute. Did you have a good time,’ Vanessa asked.

  ‘We sure did, but don’t ask us about the film’ Victoria replied and Minerva blushed.

  ‘I take it that passion took over then, but was that battle axe, the usherette, flashing her torch?’ Vanessa asked .

  ‘She sure was,’ they both replied, laughing.

  After breakfast, the girls reported for duties. Vanessa had to clean the Officer’s Mess and prepare the bar. Angela and Mary went to the stores and Elizabeth to administration. Minerva and Victoria strolled across to the garage.

  ‘You are pale and quiet this morning Min. What’s the matter?’ Victoria asked.

  ‘I couldn’t sleep Vic. My conscience was troubling me. I enjoyed myself so much with Ricky and experienced the most delicious feelings, but I also felt very guilty. Victoria put her arms around Minerva and hugged her .

  ‘ Oh darling, there is a war, on as we are always being told and all is fair in love and war. What have I told you? Live for today, for tomorrow we might die.’

  ‘I know, but I can’t help thinking about Martin Moxon.’

  ‘It will be soon enough to think about him, if you meet him again and you both feel the same. Now snap out of it Sergeant Jenkins will not be pleased if we are late.’

  The Sergeant was not there and the garage was empty of personnel and wagons .Just then the Sergeant arrived and the two girls saluted.

  ‘Stand at ease ladies. Go and fetch your coats hats and gas masks. You’re going to Leeds to fetch bombs. The fleet of wagons is lined up near the gates’ he told them.

  ‘Bombs’ they both gasped.

  ‘Don’t worry they are quite safe’ Sergeant Jenkins replied. Corporal Brown is leading the convoy, so all you have to do is follow. It leaves in twenty minutes.’

  The girls ran back to the hut, grabbed their coats and hats and marched smartly to the gates, where Sergeant Benson was waiting for them. They saluted her and stood to attention.

  ‘This is your first responsible assignment, so you had better conduct yourself with dignity. You will be having lunch at the ammunition factory before you return
with your cargo. Remember W.A.A.F.s still attract a lot of attention. Here is a pair of leather gloves each, so take care of them. You are privileged. Ordinary ranks do not wear leather gloves usually.’

  ‘Thank you Sergeant Benson,’ they both replied, as they pulled them on and admired them.

  ‘Climb aboard wagons 8 and 9 so that you are ready, when the other drivers arrive’, Sergeant Benson ordered and she returned to her office.

  ‘This is exciting Victoria, I never thought six months ago, that I would drive a wagon, let alone carry bombs.’

  ‘Neither did I, but it is exciting and number ten wagon driver will make sure that we don’t get left behind .If you remember our map reading we shall pass through York and Tadcaster. Quick climb in Vic . They’re coming.’ The girls could see the eight other duty drivers marching towards them. They both looked straight ahead and gripped the wheels, both feeling nervous. The two corporals stopped by the girls’ wagons and ordered the other drivers to mount theirs. They all managed to grin at the girls, but making comments would have had them sent back to other duties.

  ‘Sergeant Jenkins assures us that you two airwomen are capable of driving to Leeds, so don’t let him down,’ Corporal Brown told them.

  ‘Right oh Corporal’ they both replied. The other corporal grinned at them as he took his place at the rear and Corporal Brown marched to the leading vehicle.

  The convoy set off passing through the camp gates and travelling along the flat plain of York, where they could see the magnificent Minster in the distance. The road took them along against the city walls and both girls marvelled at the beauty of the place. The road was narrow and the convoy passed through slowly. Minerva was remembering her first journey in a wagon, as they passed the railway station. It seemed a life time ago. The convoy trundled on towards Tadcaster, a brewery town, and she wondered how much longer beer would be brewed. It was needed to boost morale, so maybe may be they would still be provided with barley and hops.

  On and on the convoy travelled, then Corporal Brown signalled them to stop. They were on the outskirts of Leeds and now he must consult the map. The men all alighted and the girls followed suit, glad to stretch their legs. Navigation was difficult without signposts, so they consulted a large scale map. Fortunately one of the airmen was from Leeds, so he was able to point them in the right direction to the Ammunition factory. When they arrived the gates were guarded by soldiers. The yard was crowded, because it was lunchtime, so there were many appreciative whistles, as Victoria and Minerva alighted from the high wagons with a flash of grey woollen stockings, on two pairs of shapely legs. The girls ignored them and followed the men to the canteen, where Workers Playtime was blaring out on the wireless, drowning the clattering of plates and cutlery. A table had been prepared for them, so they lined up at the serving hatch to receive their hot lunch of sausage and mash with mushy peas, plus a mug of strong tea. They had caused a welcome diversion from the humdrum of the day and the mixed diners were soon calling out to them with wolf whistles from both sexes. The Air Force personnel just grinned and took their places at the table. Minerva and Victoria were quiet. They could not hear themselves speak anyway.

  Minerva was reminded of the noise in the textile mill and wondered which mills were now spinning and weaving cloth for the forces. She thought that Moxons would be. She could see that there was a friendly atmosphere amongst the workforce. They were all patriotically working for the war effort. She was very glad that she had volunteered on that day in September, which seemed a life time ago. Two women came to their table with large trays holding jam roly poly pudding and custard, to a chorus of whooping from the work force.

  ‘Take no notice of them. They have to fetch their own, but you boys in blue are special’, one of them said.

  ‘Don’t forget the girls in blue,’ the other one added. The first one just stared at the girls. She was not sure whether she approved of them or not. What were they doing with all those men?

  ‘Yes don’t forget the girls’ Corporal Brown said. ‘They can do a man’s job.’

  ‘Thanks,’ they both replied.’ Could you show us the ladies room please?’ Minerva asked. She knew that they were too full to eat the pudding, but it was soon shared out by the men. The friendly woman led them to the ladies lavatories.

  ‘Doris is a bit old fashioned. She doesn’t agree with women in uniform. She thinks that they’re up to no good, but I envy you. My name is Rita. I think that you are very smart. I wish that I was a W.A.A.F.’

  ‘Well you can join’ Minerva told her.

  ‘I can’t love I’ve got three kids, so I’m doing my bit for the war effort here’ Rita replied as she returned to her duties.’

  ‘So far so good’ Victoria remarked as they washed their hands and tidied their rolled up hair before replacing their hats.

  ‘Yes but we shall have a heavy load on the return journey though. Let’s go and see if they’ve loaded the wagons yet,’ Minerva replied. Just then the factory hooter sounded to signal the end of dinnertime, as the mid-day break was called. Minerva again remembered ‘snap time’ at the mill when they had eaten in the mill yard .She wondered if they had a canteen now and remembered how she used to talk to herself in the mirror. She would never be lonely again.

  ‘Come on daydreamer stop looking in the mirror.’ Together, the two girls returned to the yard, where they watched the bombs being loaded onto the wagons. Victoria grabbed Minerva’s arm and both girls shivered.

  ‘I’ve got goose lumps and it’s not because I’m cold. Those bombs bring home the reality of war. Every bomb will kill people,’ she said.

  ‘They are only supposed to bomb military targets and they will do the same to us remember. They look so docile though, as if they are asleep in the wagons Minerva replied.

  ‘Let’s hope that they stay asleep until we land them safely back to camp. Get in Minerva, the men are coming, so they both climbed aboard.

  ‘ We shall be driving back slowly and we shall have a police escort through Tadcaster and York to clear any traffic out of the way,’ Corporal Brown told them.

  The journey back to camp was uneventful. They drove to a large shed in the fields a mile away from the camp, where a contingent of personnel were waiting to unload the cargo. Sergeant Jenkins was in charge and he smiled at the two girls.

  ‘ Well done Wood and Jenkins- Jones. You are dismissed. You can have a lift back to your billet,’ he said.

  ‘Thank you sergeant they both replied,’ and thankfully climbed into a waiting jeep.

  ‘I hope that one of our bombs lands straight on Hitler’s head,’ Victoria shouted and they all heartily agreed. When the two tired W.A.A.F.s reached the hut the other girls were tidying their kit.

  ‘Hurry up you two Sergeant Benson is inspecting the hut before dinner and we want to pass with flying colours’ Angela announced. Victoria groaned,’ that’s all we need after the day we’ve had,’ It’s a pity she has nothing else to do but inspect our kit.’ They laid out all their kit on the beds, as they had been shown. They had just finished when the door banged open and Sergeant Benson bawled ‘Attention!’ They all stood to attention by their beds as she inspected each laid out kit. It was difficult not to giggle.

  ‘Everything seems to be in order and all the kit is present and correct. 3030 Wood and 3036 Jones, Assistant Officer Felman wishes to see you in her office at 900 hours tomorrow. Be there.’

  ‘Yes Sergeant Benson.’ they both replied, as she left the hut.

  ‘You’re summoned to the inner sanctum with the top brass. She might have discovered your illicit night out,’ Angela, gleefully, told them.

  ‘Oh shut up you jealous bitch,’ Vanessa shouted, take no notice of her. She can’t have found out unless someone told tales and if so we know who that might be and it will be God help her,’ and Vanessa grabbed Angela and twisted her arms behind her back. Angela screamed.

  ‘Let me go you Cockney urchin’

  ‘ Stop it both of you .Let her go Vanessa
’ Minerva said.’ We are at war with Germany not with each other. Angela, you have to stop forever finding fault and being spiteful. Let’s call a truce. We have just brought in ten wagons full of bombs. That is the reality of the war not petty squabbles. Please think before you open your mouth. We all joined hands and swore’ ‘All for one and one for all.’ Let’s not forget.’

  ‘You’re right, as usual Minerva. Let’s all stick together and enjoy ourselves tonight. Tomorrow is another day.’ Vanessa said.

  Chapter 8

  Next morning Victoria and Minerva were up first. In spite of reprimanding Angela, they were worried in case their escapade absent without pass had been discovered. They polished their shoes buttons and hat badges, then practised marching and saluting, with Vanessa pretending to be Section Officer Felman and imitating her so perfectly that the other girls were helpless with laughter.

  The door banged open signalling the entry of Sergeant Benson, ‘Attention,’ she bawled and all the girls obeyed.

  ‘Right Jones and Wood I’ve come to inspect you and she walked around them, but could find no fault.

  ‘Your appearance is correct. Do not forget to address Section Officer Felman as Ma’am. I hope that you have not let me down and are in some kind of trouble,’ she said.

  ‘No sergeant we have not done anything wrong they replied’ and all the girls glared at Angela who blushed.

  ‘Very well I will meet you outside her office at 0-900 hours. Stand at ease and she marched out. All the girls breathed a sigh of relief and picked up their irons. It was precious boiled eggs today and Minerva and Victoria had to be very careful, when dipping their ‘soldiers’ into the yoke, not to spill down their uniforms. They waited nervously outside the Section Officer’s door and Sergeant Benson was pleased that they were punctual. She knocked on the door.

  ‘Enter,’ Section Officer Fenton called. Sergeant Benson marched in followed by two nervous W.A.A.F.s and they all saluted.

  ‘3030 Wood and 3036 Jenkins-Jones present and correct Ma’am,’ Sergeant Benson announced, as they stood to attention.