Minerva

by June Hirst

  During dinner Peter came into the cookhouse with the rest of his crew and came over to Minerva.

  ‘Minerva everyone has heard that you are working a miracle and that Magic has spoken today. May we all hold your hands and make a wish please? We regard you as our lucky charm,’ he asked. At first Minerva was speechless, but quickly realised that she must grant their wish. She stood up and nodded, so one by one the crew held her hands and silently made their wish for safety and success.. The other W.A.A.F.s watched in astonishment. After they had left Minerva felt cold and faint and Victoria rushed to get her a mug of hot sweet tea. The tea revived Minerva and she went back to her billet to collect her civilian clothes and a comb.

  It was a cold November evening, but the sky was clear and soon the squadron would take off. The M.O. was waiting for her. She felt an expectant hush, as she passed through the silent ward.

  ‘I am confident that we are nearly there my dear. I’ll leave you, while you get changed. I have brought the wireless and the dance music has started.’ Quickly Minerva took out the regulation roll, which confined her hair and shook out her golden curls. She had already discarded her regulation bloomers for silk panties and replaced her woollen stockings with silk ones. She shed her uniform and stood in her undies holding Martin’s hand.

  ‘Oh my darling how I long for you to remove these one day,’ she whispered. She put on her white blouse and blue flowered skirt, which she had worn on that wonderful evening, when she had been dancing with Martin in Heatonfield Town Hall. The M.O. knocked on the door and came in. He gasped when he saw her beauty.

  ‘Carry on with the same treatment my dear with the music in the background. If he opens his eyes again, he will recognize you. I can see why he compared you to the Goddess Minerva. Ring the bell at once if he responds.’

  ‘Thank you doctor I will,’ Minerva replied as the doctor left. The soft dance music drifted around the room and for a while Minerva sat holding Martin’s hand while reminiscing. Dancing with Martin had been the best evening of her life. She closed her eyes and images of Heatonfield Town Hall drifted around her. He was her prince and she was Cinderella and like Cinderella, she had disappeared before midnight, back to her drab life. But now her prince was here and she was no longer the drab Cinderella. She bent over him and her beautiful golden curls framed his face like curtains. She kissed him tenderly and held his hand and body, as though they were dancing. The dance music floated around them and she hummed the tune in his ear, stopping to flutter kisses all over his face and throat. She stroked his body as before and kissed and licked his nipples and belly button. She traced a heart on his chest and inserted Minerva loves Martin, then she let her golden curls tickle him.

  ‘Martin my love we are in Heatonfield Town Hall. We are dancing, but there is a different ending. Minerva is here and she will never run away again. Can you hear me Martin? Please wake up. Feel your arm is around me. Squeeze me like you did that evening my darling.’ Her soft breast was pressed against his chest, her lips on his and her golden curls were cascading onto his shoulders. She felt his arm tighten around her. She hardly dare breathe and she dare not move.

  ‘Minerva,’ he whispered. She kissed him and this time she felt a tremor of response. She raised her face, so that she could watch his eyes. They flickered and opened. His startling blue eyes gazed into hers.

  ‘Martin my love it is Minerva.’ He stared, unbelievingly, into her eyes.

  ‘Are you real? Where have you been? Am I dreaming? His eyes closed again and his arm relaxed.

  ‘Martin can you open your eyes? I am real. You are in hospital’ and she kissed his eyelids lightly, as tears poured down her cheeks. She held both his hands taking care not to disturb the drip attached to one arm.

  ‘Martin you were badly injured when the base was bombed, but thank God you are recovering.’ Just then the deafening roar of the squadron roared over their heads as they took off on their nightly bombing raid. His eyes opened again and he raised his head.

  ‘Did I check them over,’ he murmured and closed his eyes again.

  ‘No my darling, but it was done. You have been in hospital for a week.’ She reached over and rang the bell. The Medical Officer appeared at once.

  ‘He was conscious doctor. He opened his eyes and spoke, but he was not sure whether I am real, or if he is dreaming. He heard the squadron take off and asked if he had checked them.’ The doctor checked his heart rate and blood pressure.

  ‘He is back with us my dear, but I must ask you to remain with him. He is sleeping naturally now, but when he awakes he needs to see you. We don’t know how much an unconscious person can hear, but you must have got through to him. You must be installed in his subconscious mind.’ He rang the bell and the same male nurse appeared and observed the difference.

  ‘Has he returned to us doctor?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes he has and the sergeant needs a hot drink and some food or we shall have another patient on our hands.’

  ‘I’ll see to it at once. We have some eggs. Would you like a boiled egg and some toast sergeant?’

  ‘Yes she would. She needs nourishment and put some sugar in her tea,’ the doctor replied and Minerva was glad of their concern. She must be strong and she must be there for Martin, but would he still love her.

  ‘I’m going off duty now, but Johnson is a good nurse. He is on night duty and he will inform me if I am needed. You have done well. Moxon is a lucky man. You must eat all your supper and then sleep. Johnson will make up that bed and he will be watching over both of you. Goodnight Minerva.’

  ‘Thank you doctor, goodnight.’ The news spread around the camp, like wild fire, and soon Victoria crept into the room. Minerva let go of Martin’s hand and flung her arms around Victoria and sobbed. Victoria held her and soothed her. When all her tears were spent Minerva felt refreshed.

  ‘Thank you for coming Victoria I feel better now. He woke up and recognized me and the doctor says that he is sleeping naturally now, but I have to stay here in case he awakes. Johnson is fetching me some supper. Doctor’s orders! He says that I have to eat.’ Victoria approached Martin and stood looking at him.

  ‘Well, here is your secret love. He looks very vulnerable as he sleeps. I haven’t seen a sleeping man before. I look forward to meeting him. I hope all goes well for you love.’ Minerva nodded as emotion overtook her again. Johnson came in with a tray of food and a hot drink, which he placed on the table.

  ‘Now come along sergeant. Doctor’s orders, remember. You have to eat and drink. By the way, who let you in?’

  ‘My friend needs me and I am stopping until she eats her supper, so there. They were all whispering, so that they did not disturb Martin. Nurse Johnson made up the bed for Minerva and decided to leave them together. Minerva found that she was hungry and after her supper plus the presence of Victoria she felt that she could face anything.

  ‘I’m alright now Victoria. You had better go to bed. Will you tell Sergeant Benson, that I have to stay here until the Medical Officer dismisses me, please?’

  ‘If you’re sure I’ll go then. Try and get some sleep. Goodnight my darling best friend. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘Goodnight best friend and thanks for coming I feel much better.’ The two friends hugged each other. Minerva took off her blue flowered skirt and white blouse and bent and kissed her secret love.

  ‘Goodnight my darling,’ she whispered. Martin was sleeping very deeply in a semi-conscious state. When Nurse Johnson came in to check his condition, Minerva was sleeping peacefully. He stood for a while and admired her beauty.

  ‘You are a lucky chap, Magic,’ he whispered.

  Minerva awoke while it was still dark and for a few seconds was disorientated. She stretched and sat up in bed. Martin was still sleeping. She decided to wash and put on her uniform. When the doctor came on duty, he found her sitting by his patient holding his hand.

  ‘Good morning sergeant. I am going to remove the bandage from his head and remove his drip. He
will have to stay in hospital for a while. His cuts and bruises have healed well.’ Minerva watched as the bandage was gently removed. Martin’s black hair was matted and the ugly red gashes were healing well. He moaned, opened his eyes and blinked, as though awaking from oblivion.

  ‘Where is Minerva?’ he whispered.

  ‘I’m here Martin. You are in hospital.’ Martin stared at the W..A.A.F. who was standing by his bedside. Her hair was still cascading around her face. The M.O. stood back and watched.

  ‘Is that you, Minerva, you are different,’ he whispered.

  ‘I’m still your Minerva, Martin my darling. We are both in the Air Force. You were rescued from the rubble suffering from bomb blast. You have been unconscious for a week. I am stationed here now.’

  ‘I dreamed that you had come back to me Minerva.’

  ‘It wasn’t a dream love. I’ve been talking to you for days.’

  ‘Where have you been? I tried to find you.’

  ‘It’s a long story love, but the doctor and nurse need to attend to you and I must go on duty, but I’ll come back soon.’ She bent over and kissed him. ‘When shall I come back doctor?’

  ‘Come back after lunch. We are going to wash and change him. He will be sitting up in bed this afternoon. This young lady has talked you back into consciousness Moxon.’ Minerva blushed as she remembered how she had coaxed him back to life.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Martin whispered.

  ‘It’s alright love. I’ll be back soon. Tat-ta for now as they say on I.T.M.A.’ Minerva tucked her hair under and marched smartly back to her billet, where she hung up her blue flowered skirt and white blouse and then realized that she was hungry. When she reached the cookhouse Victoria dashed across the room to meet her.

  ‘How is he?’ she asked.

  ‘He is conscious and he knows me. The doctor is pleased with his progress.’ The news spread around the room like wildfire. Minerva was known by everyone and she felt very conspicuous. The squadron had returned safely with no losses and the news had spread how they had all held Minerva’s hands for good luck. Some of the W.A.A.F.s were staring at her enviously and Victoria realized that Minerva was feeling uncomfortable.

  ‘Come on love let’s get our breakfast. A hot mug of tea will do you good. Sergeant Benson and Corporal Taylor have had their breakfast. Stop staring you lot. Finish your breakfast quickly and report for your duties,’ she ordered. ‘How do you feel Minerva? You are very pale’ Victoria asked.

  ‘I feel very happy, because Martin is recovering and I think that he still loves me. I am returning to the hospital after lunch and Martin will be sitting up. I love him so much Victoria. I feel as though I have poured all my energy into him.’

  ‘Everyone is saying that you have worked a miracle and then there was the squadron wanting to touch you for good luck. They’ll be having you walking on water, next,’ and both girls laughed and enjoyed their breakfast together, before returning to duties.

  When Minerva returned to the hospital everyone cheered, as she walked through the ward to Martin’s room. He was sitting up in bed and looked so much better. Minerva’s heart felt to be in her mouth, as she anticipated how Martin would react.

  ‘How are you feeling now Martin?’ she asked.

  ‘Much better thank you. What have you done to your beautiful hair?’

  ‘It’s fastened in a roll. We are not allowed to have our hair touching our collar,’ she replied. The atmosphere was strained. Minerva sat down on the bedside chair.

  ‘It is a miracle that you are alive, Martin. You were buried under rubble for ages. I was transferred here, because a W.A.A.F. Sergeant was killed. I had heard that you were here and I heard of your reputation. The doctor decided, that I might be able to get through to your subconscious.’

  ‘I thought that I was dreaming. I have thought about you so often. I tried to find you. Why did you run away? I thought that moment was magic and that you loved me, as much as I loved you, but obviously not.’

  ‘Oh Martin my love, when we met on the moors, it was a magic moment. I loved you so much, but I had to use my name sakes’ wisdom and disappear.

  ‘That is ridiculous Minerva, how could you love me and yet reject me and cause me so much pain?’

  ‘I sacrificed my love to protect you Martin. I was not Minerva the girl of your dreams. I was Minnie, one of your father’s employees. He would never have accepted me and your mother would have been horrified. Your friends would have despised me and laughed at you.’

  ‘Nonsense I would not have allowed them to reject you.’

  ‘Be sensible darling, you could not have stopped them. You would have been unhappy when your family and friends turned their backs on you and you would have resented me eventually.’

  ‘Never, never Minerva, I fell in love when I saw you approaching me on the moors. Dancing with you in Heatonfield Town Hall was the best evening of my life. The other girls swore that they didn’t know you.

  ‘They were very loyal to me. They knew that I would not be acceptable. You came into our weaving shed to say goodbye and you touched my shoulder, but you did not recognize me. My heart was breaking.’ Martin’s smouldering blue eyes gazed into Minerva’s and her body trembled with passion.

  ‘Come into my arms Sergeant Wood, because Sergeant Moxon wants to kiss you.’ She slid her arm around his neck and yielded to an overwhelming desire, as his lips met hers. She was drowning in her first truly passionate embrace with Martin. He pulled her into his arms and onto the bed, as he kissed her with a fierce hungry passion. She clung to him as his hands were moving down her back, arousing incredible sensations. She ran her hands over his broad muscular back and felt his response. His mouth left hers and she caught her breath, as he kissed her closed eyes, murmuring,’ I love you Minerva. Never run away again.’

  ‘I love you too with all my heart and soul my darling, but the same obstacles are still there. What will your parents say?’

  ‘We fell in love Minerva and love is all that matters. I have escaped death and we are not going to waste any more time. This is wartime and thousands have been killed already. Who knows what the future holds. My parents will love you, because I do.’ Minerva was lying on the bed beside him and could not help, but think how it would be to lie naked in his arms. She detached herself and slipped off the bed.

  ‘The doctor will be back any minute and he will not approve if your blood pressure is too high. Your heart was thudding against mine. You are still a sick man my love. We must be patient.’

  ‘How can I be patient I want to pick you up in my arms and run away to an island paradise away from war. You have brought me back to life my love and as I have said, we can’t waste any more time. I can’t get out of bed and go down on one knee, but Minerva my darling will you marry me? Minerva could hardly breathe and her soft brown eyes over brimmed with tears of happiness.

  ‘I love you so much my darling. Yes I will marry you.’

  ‘I shall be home convalescing at Christmas. We shall choose a ring and become engaged. Arrange some leave over the Christmas period my love,’ and he kissed her ring finger and kissed away her tears.

  ‘I will try. Perhaps I can get compassionate leave to visit you. Ask the Medical Officer. Look out he’s coming. I shall be dismissed.’ The M.O. came into the room,

  ‘Our patient is improving rapidly, but I must ask you to leave now sergeant. He needs to rest, he announced.

  ‘I’m just going doctor. I’ll come back later love,’ and the M.O. thought,’ With a beauty like that in attendance, it is not surprising that the patient is improving rapidly.’

  Minerva was walking on air. Martin loved her. Martin wanted to marry her and if his parents did not accept her it would no longer break her heart, because they would overcome the problem together.

  The second Christmas of the war was approaching and the W.A.A.F.s had decorated their recreation room with paper chains. Most of them had been civilians the previous Christmas, but now they all fel
t to be in the front line as the blitz of northern towns continued and rationing began to bite harder. Minerva felt detached from the preparations, as she drifted through her duties. She still had not told Victoria that Martin had asked her to marry him. She was holding the secret close to her heart, hardly daring to release it. Martin was now walking about in the hospital and the day had arrived when his father was coming to take him home. His battered bruised body was healing well and by some miracle, he was not suffering from brain damage. He had insisted that she should meet his father and nervously she crossed the camp to the medical quarters, where all the patients greeted her with appreciation. Martin was wearing his uniform and her heart missed a beat as he came towards her, arms open wide. She melted into his strong embrace and they withdrew into his room to a chorus of whistles from the ward. He pulled her into his arms and their kisses deepened as heat and need exploded in both of them.

  ‘My dearest love,’ he whispered,’ I want you so much. He kissed her again moving his mouth with slow intoxicating languor. Her legs were melting, as smouldering passion overtook her whole being. She wanted to surrender to mutual ecstasy.

  ‘Martin I love you so much,’ she whispered. Just then they heard a car door shut and voices approaching. They sprang apart and Minerva quickly adjusted her jacket buttons and tie and tucked her hair into its’ roll. When the M.O. and Joseph Moxon entered the room Minerva was sitting prim and proper in the chair and Martin was standing beside her.

  ‘Father I’m glad to see you,’ he said.

  ‘Not as glad as I am to see you on your feet. Let’s get you home quickly. You mother has prepared a feast in spite of rationing,’ and father and son embraced. Joseph noticed Minerva. ‘I think that I have met you before young lady, when you called to tell me about my famous son,’ he said.

  ‘Father, I would like to officially introduce you to Minerva Wood, my fiancé. She helped me to regain consciousness.’ Joseph Moxon stared at Minerva and she stood up and held out her hand, which Joseph took as he exclaimed,