by Molly Green
Iris chuckled when June had a word with her. ‘Say what you want to the old biddy,’ she said. ‘I’m here to look after the children when they get sick or have an accident – not just one child, much as I’d love to. But you could do the two things easily because Lizzie’s natural place is with the others so you wouldn’t have to split yourself in two.’
‘Thank you for that, Iris. I’ve now got to face her again. She gets so angry with me.’
‘Do you want me to come with you?’
‘That’s nice of you, but I don’t want it to look as though I can’t stand up to her.’
But June didn’t get her chance. She was just on her way to Matron’s office when she heard the crunch of bicycle tyres on the gravel path. There was a screech of brakes and a boy wearing a uniform jumped off and leaned his bicycle on the kitchen wall. Moments later Bertie came out of the kitchen.
‘Telegram for Matron,’ she said. ‘I do hope it isn’t bad news.’
‘I’m going to see Matron right now,’ June said, ‘so I can take it.’
She knocked on Matron’s door.
‘Come in.’ Matron’s voice was coated with cigarette smoke.
‘Good morning, Matron.’ June tried hard to sound pleasant. ‘The telegram boy’s just this minute delivered this. It’s for you.’
Matron took the single paper out of the envelope. Seconds later she rolled her eyes, and blew out her cheeks. Then she heaved her sturdy shoulders before letting them drop in resignation.
‘I hope there’s nothing wrong, Matron.’
The woman shook her head as though in disbelief. ‘It’s my sister. She’s always having accidents. Never looks where she’s going. She’s taken a fall down the steps outside her cottage and struck her head on the path. Says she’s got concussion. Wants me to look after her. Well, she’s written: “Please come” so that’s what I’ll have to do.’
‘I’m sorry to hear it,’ June said, and she was. She didn’t like to think of anyone who was injured or ill. But the sneaking thought came into her mind that this would be a perfect opportunity to help Lizzie.
‘I shouldn’t be away more than three or four days,’ Matron said, as she stopped June after the morning break. She was carrying a small brown suitcase and a string bag with tins of food and vegetables poking out. ‘I’ll definitely be back well before Christmas. I’d made up my mind to have Christmas here this year for a change. You know the routine now. Don’t start making new rules.’ She glared at June, a suspicious look in her eyes. ‘It’s hard enough having them obey the ones we have. Unfortunately, my sister’s not on the telephone.’
Even better, was June’s immediate uncharitable thought. Matron wouldn’t be telephoning a dozen times a day.
‘I’m sure we’ll cope, Matron,’ June said. ‘There’s no need to worry. I hope your sister will soon be on her feet again.’
‘You’re sure you’ll be all right?’
‘Yes, of course,’ June said quickly. Oh, why didn’t the woman just leave? ‘I’m not alone. The teachers are here every day and Kathleen and Iris and Cook are here at night to help. We’ll all manage perfectly.’
‘Hmm. That’s as maybe.’ Matron pursed her lips and her steel-grey eyes pierced through June. ‘Is there anything else you need to tell me before I go?’
June’s heart almost stopped. Could Matron have heard that Lizzie had been missing last night and been found in one of the barns? But surely if she had she would have sent for June immediately. June gave her a steady look.
‘I don’t think so, Matron. You really mustn’t worry about us. It’s your sister who is relying on you now.’
‘Are you ready to go, Ma’am?’ It was Harold. ‘Let me take that case.’ He took it from her. ‘I’ve brought the car round for you.’
‘Have a safe journey,’ June said, thinking if Matron had been nice like Bertie she’d have kissed her cheek. But you didn’t do that sort of thing with Matron.
With a last look round as though she was trying to catch someone out, Matron allowed herself to be led out of the front door and into the staff car, remarking as she went that her sister had been most inconsiderate to have an accident when there was so much work to be done at the orphanage, and didn’t her sister realise how busy she was. How important she was to the children. That it couldn’t possibly run properly without her.
June breathed a sigh of relief. It was as though someone had given her the best present possible, to have what she fervently hoped would be more than three or four days’ peace from Matron’s ever-watchful eye. With a bit of luck Matron wouldn’t return until after Boxing Day. Hard-hearted though Matron was, surely she wouldn’t leave her sister alone over the festive season. The children would have the best Christmas they’d ever had and just be normal children, instead of constantly hearing the words ‘orphan’ and ‘evacuee’ that Matron was so fond of using.
To June’s utter disappointment Lizzie slipped back into her curled-up position in Bertie’s kitchen that afternoon, her fingers once again in her mouth.
Poor little mite. It’s her only comfort. If only she’d trust me.
And then she had an idea.
‘Pamela,’ she called as the child hopped on one leg through the Great Hall, little Betsy laughing as she followed behind, trying to emulate the older girl, just as Clara used to do with June. Both children began to giggle when Pamela lost her balance and fell in a heap. They were already taking advantage of Matron’s absence, June thought, hiding a smile.
‘Pamela, can you go and find Alan? Tell him I’d like to see him.’
‘Yes, Miss.’ Pamela jumped up, turned, still with Betsy at her heels, and disappeared along the corridor leading from one of the classrooms.
Alan was beside her in next to no time.
‘Is Lizzie all right?’ he asked immediately.
‘Yes, Lizzie’s fine. She’s in the kitchen. You know Matron has been called away for a few days?’ Alan nodded, a big grin plastered over his face. ‘I’d like to have a word with all the teachers, so you might miss class this morning.’
‘Oh, that’s a shame, Miss.’ His grin became even wider.
‘I want to plan Christmas with them,’ June said, noticing the boy’s eyes sparkle with approval, ‘and then we’ll ask the older children, including you, to help make it the best Christmas ever.’
‘We’ll have to get a tree. A big one. Last year it was only this high.’ Alan raised one hand in the air, indicating that the tree had been only about four feet tall.
‘We’ll have a lovely big tree,’ June promised. ‘And all the children will help to decorate it.’
‘That’d be fun, Miss. It’s better here now you’ve come.’
‘That’s a bit unfair to the others who work hard to take care of you.’
‘I didn’t mean to be rude, Miss, but Matron’s always angry with us. I can’t talk to her or any of the teachers like I can you.’
‘Get away with you.’ But secretly June was pleased. ‘Anyway, enough of that. Do you think you could show Lizzie your fossil collection? Or anything you think she might like to see. I just want her to move around the house – get to know it – and I think she’d go with you.’
‘Girls aren’t ever interested,’ he grunted. ‘They’d rather play with their dolls.’
‘I’ve never seen Lizzie with a doll. I don’t even know if she has one. Why don’t you ask her if she’d like to see your fossils anyway?’
‘Okay.’ Alan thrust his hands in his pocket as he walked with her to the kitchen. Lizzie hadn’t moved.
‘Lizzie, do you want to come and look at my fossil collection?’ Lizzie shook her head at him and stared at the floor. ‘They’re very old.’ He bent down to her so he was on her level. ‘They’re little animals that were buried in stones millions of years ago and we can still see the outlines of them today.’
Lizzie looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief.
‘I think you’d like them.’ Alan nodded encouragingly and held ou
t his hand.
To June’s amazement Lizzie got to her feet and took hold of Alan’s hand. He turned and smiled triumphantly at her.
‘She’ll be safe with me, Miss. I won’t let any harm come to her.’
‘I know you won’t, Alan. You’re a good boy. Your mum and dad must be proud of you.’
At that, Alan’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I ain’t got no mum and dad.’
June’s eyes flew wide. ‘But I thought you were evacuated here. That your parents wanted to keep you safe.’
‘Nah. That’s what I tell the other evacuated kids. I can’t stand it when they talk about Mummy this and Daddy that.’ He looked down at Lizzie. ‘Come on, kid. Let’s go and see the fossils.’
June looked after their retreating backs. She kicked herself for mentioning his parents. So he was an orphan after all, and she’d made things worse talking about his mum and dad as though they were still alive. If only Matron would let her see the files. Then she wouldn’t have made such an awful mistake. But Iris had told her Matron locked the filing cabinet every time she left her office. Well, Matron wasn’t here so maybe she could take even more advantage of the woman’s absence. Have a snoop around. Perhaps she could find the key.
And then something else struck her. There was a spare bed in the girls’ dormitory.
But first she needed to talk to the teachers. She wasn’t sure she had the authority to put her plans into action but she was going to try. And she would need their agreement.
It hadn’t been as difficult as she’d imagined. That evening, when the teachers and the two nurses were settled in the common room, June explained what had happened to Lizzie, and how Alan had found her.
‘The wonderful surprise was that she spoke for the first time!’ June ended, enjoying the gasps of surprise, and catching Iris’s wink.
Miss Ayles’s main concern was that it should be reported to Matron, but everyone agreed with June that as no harm had come to Lizzie it would be better to keep quiet about it.
‘I don’t want to risk Matron punishing Lizzie now she’s broken her silence,’ June said, anxiously looking around the group. She quickly outlined her plan for Lizzie to join in with the younger children for games and drawing and ABC lessons and be treated exactly like the other children.
‘And there’s one other thing,’ June said. ‘This is our only chance to get Lizzie down from the nursery and into a bed in the girls’ dormitory. Once she gets used to it Matron can hardly make me take her to the nursery again. It would solve the problem of Hilda still being the one who is with her at night but not keeping a proper eye on her, and I think Lizzie will settle if she’s with the other children.’
There were some murmurs of agreement.
‘But June will need everyone’s support,’ Iris said. ‘Hands up if you agree to help. To stand behind her if she has any problem with Matron when she returns.’
Everyone’s hand shot up except Miss Ayles’s. There was a silence as the others looked at her, waiting for her to respond.
Miss Ayles hesitated and sniffed again. ‘I suppose I can’t refuse.’
‘Good.’ June rushed in before any of them could change their minds. ‘Alan’s made a start … he’s already shown Lizzie his fossil collection. And I’ll go up and sort Lizzie’s bed.’
June decided to spend Lizzie’s first night in the girls’ dormitory so the child wouldn’t feel too strange, but she needn’t have worried. As soon as Lizzie saw her rag doll that Pamela had given her the day before, propped up on the pillow with her nightie, she ran to the bed and looked up at June.
‘Yes, Lizzie. You’re old enough to be with the big girls. Do you think you’ll like that?’
Lizzie caught her lower lip between her teeth and vigorously nodded.
There was not a peep out of her that night.
Chapter Thirteen
The next day Lizzie seemed quite content to join the other girls in the art room. She’d been good as gold in her new bed and June was hopeful that she’d soon join in with the others’ chatter. June put her head round the door after half an hour, curious as to how her charge was getting on, and was delighted to see Lizzie dipping a brush into a little block of paint. But when she tiptoed up to the child June noticed the small piece of paper in front of her was covered in watery black swirls. She bent closer but Lizzie seemed oblivious. Then she recoiled as she saw that Lizzie had drawn a house with a chimney, and the black swirls represented black smoke. Three matchstick people were horizontal on the ground outside.
It was similar to Lizzie’s scribbled drawing on the nursery wall. That vision must be going round and round in her head, June thought, her eyes growing moist.
Barbara gestured to her to come over. ‘I’m letting her get rid of her nightmares by painting them out,’ she said, ‘to try to clear the way for her to start to speak again. But it’s also important for her to paint nice happy things. I’m going to ask her to paint some flowers next.’
‘I think that’s a good idea,’ June said, and left as quietly as she’d entered. It was going to take time, and she mustn’t rush the little girl.
‘I’m on nit duty,’ Kathleen grumbled next morning. ‘Don’t I hate that job.’
‘Would you like me to do it for a change?’ June offered.
Kathleen clapped her hands together in delight. ‘Would you?’
‘Yes, of course. It will give me a chance to keep all their names in my head.’
The children lined up, the older ones shuffling and grumbling that they didn’t need to be inspected – there was nothing wrong with their heads.
‘It’s all Jack’s fault,’ Alan told her. ‘He’s the newest. He brought them in.’
The younger ones sniffed back the tears, telling June how painful it was the last time. June had found a wraparound apron from the kitchen which swamped her, but at least she would have some protection from any of the little blighters, she thought grimly, as she nodded to the first boy, Jack, to sit on the hard chair. She took up the special nit comb and stood behind him and began.
‘I ain’t got no nits.’
‘I don’t have any nits,’ June corrected him, hiding a smile. ‘But you do, Jack. I can see two of them jumping.’
‘Jack’s got jumping nits,’ Doris sang out.
‘Shut up, you stupid girl,’ Jack said, swivelling his head round to glare at her.
‘Jack’s got stupid nits,’ Doris tormented, hopping round and round on one leg.
‘Keep your head still,’ June said, steering his head none too gently back into position. ‘And it’s very rude to call anyone stupid.’ She gave his shoulder a nudge. ‘It’s also rude to tell someone to shut up. So tell Doris you’re sorry.’
‘Shan’t.’ June raked through his hair more roughly than she would normally have done. ‘Ouch! That hurt.’
‘It will hurt more if you don’t tell her you’re sorry. And Doris’ – June twisted round – ‘stop that hopping. Stand quietly and don’t torment Jack.’
‘I wasn’t.’ Doris pouted her bottom lip. ‘He’s always horrible to me. And he’s got horrible nits.’
‘You’re next,’ June told Doris firmly. She caught the child’s arm. Doris started to cry. ‘Come on. Might as well get it over quickly.’
It took over an hour to find and kill the nits. Then she had to soak each child’s head in vinegar. Some of the bigger children helped to dry the younger ones, and for that June was grateful. The sour smell of vinegar brought back memories of Clara when she used to fall and hurt herself. It seemed she was always having accidents. Their mother swore it was the best disinfectant for injuries but now it made June’s stomach heave. A frightened little girl trying to escape a cruel father. Losing her footing … Her darling little sister with her neck at a funny angle. She forced herself to concentrate on the next child, with his thick mop of ginger hair, and took up the comb again. Poor Kathleen. She had to do this job every day. Perhaps she could relieve her once a week at least. If she could stand the
vinegar smell, that is.
Murray’s face strayed into June’s mind too often for comfort. She could picture him clearly. His dazzling blue eyes. His wide, generous mouth that looked as though it would break into a smile at any minute. The cleft in his chin. The straight nose. Strong jaw. That crooked tooth. Yes, she could see him almost as clearly as if he was standing in front of her. Now would be a good time for him to telephone her with Matron away. Maybe if she willed it hard enough it would happen. Once she even screwed up her face in concentration, wishing hard. And every time the telephone rang her heart would start thumping furiously but no one called to tell her a gentleman was asking for her. Maybe he’d been sent on a mission and hadn’t returned. A shudder ran across her shoulders. She mustn’t think like that. He’d told her he was a good pilot and intended to get through this war unscathed. But how could he know for sure? How could anyone be sure?
Every day without Matron felt like a blessing to June. She hummed as she ironed the children’s clothes, working out a story in her head for the children to learn and perform in the New Year when the excitement of Christmas was over. She worked hard to give as much attention as she could to Lizzie, but to June’s deep disappointment the little girl remained silent. It was as though Lizzie had never uttered those few precious words when she’d stolen out of the house to check on the snowman.
‘Miss, can I be in charge of the room decorations? Please, Miss.’ Bouncing up to her, his eyes alight with enthusiasm, was Alan. He’d caught her just as she was leaving the classroom where she’d helped some of the children with extra reading.
‘You can,’ said June, beaming at the excited boy. ‘Have all of you finished making the paper chains?’
‘Hours ago.’ Alan dug his hands in his pockets and gave her a sly sideways look. ‘And I’ve been helping Mr Gilbert to choose a tree. He doesn’t bother at all about the shape – only the size. But I think shape’s just as important, don’t you, Miss?’