by Dee Williams
‘I think he will.’
‘What are you going to do? Will you go along to the hospital?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I think it’s a good idea, especially if you get somewhere to live as well.’
‘I couldn’t be a nurse, that takes years of training.’
‘No. But there must be other jobs, and you are very good at taking charge of things. You can type, and you are always willing to help.’
Milly knew she had come a long way since she first walked into this office two and a half years ago.
‘You know I would be more than willing to give you a glowing reference.’
Milly smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘I would like to see you settled before I leave. I’ve always been very fond of you.’ Ada hugged her. ‘We have been through a lot together over the years.’
Milly swallowed hard. ‘Yes, we have.’
That night Milly tossed and turned. What should she do? She had to find a job and somewhere to live. Could the hospital be the answer? She would be happy helping people, she knew, but she would be near Tom, though that shouldn’t bother her as long as he was with Lizzie.
The following morning Milly told Ada that she was going along to the hospital.
‘I’m so pleased you’ve made up your mind,’ said Ada. ‘Let me type out that reference for you.’
‘I only hope they have a job for me.’
Later that morning Milly made her way nervously to the hospital.
‘Excuse me,’ she said to a young nurse sitting at a desk. ‘Could you tell me who I have to see about getting a job here?’
‘Matron.’
‘Is it possible for me to see her?’
‘Who shall I say wishes to speak to her?’
‘Millicent Ash.’
‘Take a seat and wait here. She’s ever so busy, so it might take a while.’
Milly gave her a smile. ‘That’s all right.’
The nurse came quickly from behind her desk and walked swiftly down the corridor.
When she returned, Milly stood up.
‘She’s sending her secretary along to get you.’
‘Thank you.’ Milly sat down again on the hard wooden chair.
For what seemed hours she sat and watched the comings and goings of the hospital. People with blood running down their faces, women with small children and babies crying out in pain. One man came in holding his arm and weeping. The nurse was very efficient, sending them all along to the right department. Milly thought this was something she would love to do.
When the matron’s secretary came to her, she quickly stood up.
‘Miss Millicent Ash?’
‘Yes.’
‘Follow me.’
As she walked behind the woman, she wondered whether this was going to be the beginning of another chapter in her life.
‘Please sit down,’ said Matron when Milly entered her office.
Milly did as she was told.
Matron put her hands together on top of her desk. ‘Now, Miss Ash, what can I do for you?’
Milly was very nervous. She cleared her throat. She knew she had to tell the matron about her previous employment. ‘I have a reference from the office of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, where I have been working for almost three years. Although I’m not a nurse, I am very willing to learn and do whatever you want me to. Queen Mary is asking all of us young women to help with the war effort, and Dr Walsh thought I might be of use to you.’
‘You know Dr Walsh?’
‘Only because he has been to look after some of the casualties from our campaign.’
Matron didn’t reply to that, and Milly could see from the look on her face that she didn’t approve.
Milly gathered her handbag to her. Had she said too much? Should she go?
‘If you leave your address with my secretary, I will let you know.’
‘Thank you.’ Milly stood up. Somehow she knew then that she hadn’t got a job. What should she do now?
As she sat on the bus, Milly’s thoughts were all over the place. Finding a job shouldn’t be hard, now that women were wanted in the munitions factories. Finding somewhere to live would be more difficult. The only place she could think of was back home, but would they want her? She shuddered. This wasn’t how she wanted to live. But there was a war on, and everybody had to make sacrifices and do their bit.
Chapter 32
ADA HAD DECIDED to close everything up at the end of the month.
‘I’m so sorry, Milly. What are you going to do?’
‘I expect I shall go back home.’
Ada hugged her. ‘I wish my mother had enough room for you, but her house is very small and she can be funny at times.’ She brushed away a tear. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Please don’t worry about me. It has given me so much pleasure working here. I’ll get my belongings together.’
‘We have a week to go yet before I hand the keys back to the landlord.’
‘What about Lizzie’s furniture?’
‘I’ll get in touch with her.’
They sat in silence for a moment or two, each with their own thoughts. They remembered the laughter and sadness they had shared. Now a new chapter was beginning for both of them.
A week later, on Milly’s nineteenth birthday, she received two letters. One was from Lizzie wishing her a happy birthday and asking whether she would like to meet her for tea on Saturday afternoon. The other was from the hospital asking her to come and see Matron again on Monday at nine o’clock.
Milly was shaking with excitement. ‘Do you think I’ve got a job?’ she asked Ada.
‘I would think so. Oh Milly, I’m so happy for you.’
‘What should I wear?’
‘What you wore for your interview.’
Milly gave Ada Lizzie’s card to read.
‘She wants to see you on Saturday at the Lyons Corner House.’
Milly smiled. ‘She loves to go there.’
‘You’ll be able to tell her your good news.’
‘But I won’t really know for sure.’
‘I think we can safely say that it’s all right.’
‘I hope so.’
On Saturday Lizzie was bubbling with excitement as she sat waiting eagerly for Milly to arrive. When she caught sight of her, she jumped up and hugged her. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’
‘And I’ve missed you.’
Milly sat down. ‘Now what have you been up to?’
‘Not a lot really. What about you? Found anywhere to live?’
‘No, not yet.’
The waitress came up and took their order.
‘I told you you could come and stay with me and Daddy, we have plenty of room.’
‘I know. And it’s very kind of you, but I have to stand on my own two feet.’
‘Always Miss Independent.’
‘So what’s life like at home?’
Lizzie screwed up her nose. ‘A bit boring. Daddy’s out at meetings most evenings. This blessed war is making everyone very miserable, and so many music halls have closed down.’
Milly smiled. Although she loved Lizzie, her friend only really thought about herself. ‘What should we do about the furniture at the flat?’ she asked.
‘I’ve paid the rent till Christmas, so you can still live there till then, and hopefully you should have heard from the hospital by then.’
‘So Tom told you I went for an interview?’
‘Yes, he did. Have you got a job?’
‘I don’t know. I have got to go back and see the matron on Monday.’
‘Oh Milly, I’m so pleased.’ Lizzie jumped up and ran round to Milly’s chair and hugged her.
The people round them stopped their conversations and looked. Most of them had smiles on their faces and Milly was blushing at being the centre of attention.
The waitress put the tea and cakes on the table and Milly straightened her hat, which had been knocked askew. ‘I don’t know
for sure if I have a job or not.’
‘Believe me, that matron wouldn’t call you back if it wasn’t good news.’
Milly looked at her friend. Did she know more than she was letting on? ‘Has Tom told you I’ve got the job?’
‘Yes, he has. Now come on, drink up and let’s have one of these delicious-looking cakes.’
Milly felt delighted. ‘So how’s things between you and Tom?’
‘I don’t see that much of him now. He seems to be very busy. They are getting a lot of soldiers in the hospital. I’m thinking of doing something useful to help the war effort myself.’
‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Don’t really know. I quite fancy driving a tram.’
Milly laughed. ‘Good job they’re on rails, otherwise you would be heading off with your passengers to the nearest shops.’
They laughed and giggled together until they had finished all the cakes, then Lizzie said she had to go.
As they held each other close, Milly tried hard not to shed a tear. She loved Lizzie. She was a real ray of sunshine in her life.
‘Please,’ said Lizzie. ‘Keep in touch. You have been a true friend to me.’
Milly choked back a sob. She had been called a true friend once before.
First thing Monday morning, Milly was waiting to see the matron. Somehow she didn’t feel so nervous. She was confident now that this was a day when her life would be taking a very different direction.
‘Come in,’ said Matron’s secretary. ‘Take a seat. Matron will be here in a moment or two. She has to do her tour of the wards and check that the nurses are all clean and proper.’
When the secretary had left, Milly looked around the room. There were many framed certificates on the wall. She remembered when she got her own certificate from Miss Dance. That was something she was very proud of and would treasure for ever.
The door opened and Matron walked in. Milly quickly stood up.
‘Please, Miss Ash, sit down.’
Milly did as she was told.
‘Now, as you know, the war is beginning to take its toll on the young men of this country, and we have started to get many casualties sent to us. The Red Cross is now helping out, and I have spoken to them and they are willing to teach you first aid. When you are experienced, you will be able to help my nurses. Would that be satisfactory for you?’
Milly nodded. This was far better than she’d expected.
‘You will of course be paid, though I don’t think it will be a great deal. Are you happy with that?’
‘Yes thank you.’ Milly’s brain was rushing along. She wasn’t worried about money at the moment, as she had been able to save most of her wages, except for the bits and pieces she had sent to her family. She would be living at the flat till Christmas, and then she would worry about everything.
Matron stood up. ‘If you have any questions, you can ask my secretary.’ She held out her hand and a smile lifted her stern face. ‘I think you will be among the first of the many young ladies who will be joining us as things go on.’
Milly shook her hand. ‘Thank you so much for giving me this chance.’
‘It’s hard work, but I hope you’ll be happy here.’
‘I’m sure I will.’
‘We will see you here next Monday at seven o’clock. Goodbye.’
Milly left the matron’s office and almost skipped into her secretary’s room.
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘I start work here on Monday. Perhaps you could tell me where I will have to go and what I wear.’
‘You have to meet the other Red Cross workers at reception, where you will be given your instructions. What you wear isn’t relevant as long as it’s clean; you will be given a uniform.’
‘Thank you.’
Milly was almost beside herself. There would be other girls there, so she wouldn’t be alone. This must be almost the best job in the world. She wanted to dance all the way along the corridor. This was going to be another life-changing experience for her.
Chapter 33
ALTHOUGH MILLY WAS finding the work hard, it was also fascinating and very rewarding. She was learning so much. She had finished her first-aid course and was helping out on the wards. She was only emptying bedpans and bottles and holding dishes for men to vomit into, but she felt she was really contributing to the war effort. To see some of the injuries that these brave men had sustained was heartbreaking. She had been told to be kind but firm and carry on about her business in an orderly and helpful way.
As the weeks went on, she was given more and more jobs to do. At the end of her shift she was thoroughly exhausted, as she had sometimes been on her feet all day. But she didn’t mind, she loved her job. There had been a great many casualties at Mons, and when things were very busy the workers were hardly able to pass the time of day. There was certainly no time to socialise. The only person over the weeks who seemed to be on the same shifts as her was another Red Cross girl, whose name Milly found out was June.
There had been a lull in the amount of casualties coming in, and one afternoon Milly was sitting with June rolling bandages.
‘Don’t often get a chance to sit down like this,’ said June. She was very pretty, with fair hair, blue eyes, and dimpled cheeks when she smiled. Milly had noticed how some of the young patients sat up when June came on the ward.
‘That’s true,’ Milly agreed.
‘You’re Milly, aren’t you?’
Milly nodded.
‘I’ve seen you rushing about. You’re always very willing to do any jobs.’
‘I hope so. These poor lads need all the help we can give them.’
‘That’s true. Some of them have been through such a lot.’
‘I hope this war doesn’t go on for too long,’ Milly said fervently.
‘Have you anyone close in the army?’
‘Not that I know of. My brother left home years ago and he could have joined up. He always wanted to be a soldier.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘That’s all right. It’s just that I don’t like to see all these terrible injuries on such young men.’ The thoughts that had been in Milly’s mind from the first were for Dan and Richard. What would she do if, God forbid, either one of them came into her care?
‘Have you anyone still at home?’ asked June.
‘No. I live alone.’
‘How do you manage? I’m absolutely exhausted at the end of my shift. Thank goodness I live at home and my mother feeds me and does my washing.’
‘You are very lucky.’
‘Yes, I know. Do you live far?’
‘Not really, but I shall have to look for digs or something soon.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘After Christmas the lease is up on the flat I used to share with a friend.’
‘That’s a shame. What will you do?’
‘I don’t know. Hopefully I can find somewhere cheap nearly.’
‘We don’t exactly get a fortune doing this job.’
‘I know. We could have gone into a factory, that way we would have earned a fortune.’
‘That’s if we didn’t get blown up or turn yellow.’
Milly smiled. ‘That’s true. Mind you, I love this job.’
‘What sort of accommodation are you looking for?
‘Just one room or something like that. Nothing too expensive.’
‘Look, I’ve got a lot of relatives who live round this way. If you like, I could have a word with them over Christmas see if any of them have a room you can have. It won’t be all that posh, but it’ll be a place till you find something.’
Milly wanted to jump up and kiss her. She was so lucky. She must have a guardian angel who really did look after her. ‘Thank you. That would be wonderful.’
‘Don’t get your hopes up too high; wait till I’ve seen them first.’
They put the last roll in the box and June stood up.
‘Right, that’s another batch finished. Let’s go and see if t
hey can find us something else to do.’
Milly walked out of the room a very happy person.
Although Milly would be out of her flat after Christmas, she was determined to enjoy being at work on Christmas Day. The week before, all the Red Cross girls had put up paper chains to decorate the wards. In the morning, a choir from the local church came and sang to the patients. It was very moving, and many of the young men tried to hide the tears that trickled down their faces. Milly had tears too as she remembered the wonderful midnight masses she’d shared with Jane and Richard.
Milly went up to one young man who looked distressed. ‘Can I get you anything?’ she asked.
He smiled at her and shook his head. ‘I did ask Santa for a new pair of legs, but I didn’t get ’em.’
Milly held back a sob. Some of these boys were only about the same age as her. For the past week she had been writing cards and letters for those who had bandages on their hands or found it difficult to write, and she’d found it hard putting their feelings down on paper.
‘Sorry, miss. I didn’t mean ter upset yer.’
‘That’s all right.’ She gently tapped the back of his hand. ‘I’ll bring you some extra Christmas pud.’
He gave her a thumbs-up sign.
Like the rest of the staff, Milly was wearing a red paper hat as she helped to dish up the dinners, and the laughter in the wards was wonderful. One or two of the young doctors had some mistletoe and were running after the nurses. At times the noise was unbelievable. Milly had never enjoyed herself so much. She even caught sight of Matron walking down the corridor with flushed cheeks.
She was leaning over a bed trying to straighten a patient’s bedclothes when she saw Tom striding down the ward towards her. She stood up, surprised. This wasn’t his ward.
‘Merry Christmas, Milly,’ he said softly, and plonked a kiss on her cheek.
There was a whoop from the lads near them.
Milly straightened her hat. ‘And a merry Christmas to you too, Dr Walsh.’
As he continued down the ward, Milly noticed that he kissed June as well.
She touched her own cheek. Was she reading too much into this?