The District Nurse

by Annie Groves

  Alice nodded. ‘Well, obviously, yes – I’m here, aren’t I?’ She paused in her teasing as a man in a tightly wrapped white apron swung by their table, carrying a notepad.

  ‘What’ll it be, Joe – the usual?’ he asked. ‘And what about your friend?’

  Joe looked queryingly at Alice.

  ‘Bacon sandwich, please,’ she said. ‘And a cup of tea.’

  ‘Two bacon sandwiches, two teas,’ the man said, writing swiftly in the book, and then disappearing back behind the steamy counter.

  ‘Good choice,’ said Joe. ‘So … I thought I’d tell you about my plans. Rather than you hearing about them second-hand from Edith and Harry, that is.’

  Alice nodded. ‘She said something about you enlisting.’

  Joe inclined his head. ‘That’s right. Harry got me thinking – you know, getting in there early before you don’t have a choice. I thought I’d sign up for somewhere that could use my skills.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said Alice. ‘What skills are those? What sort of things do postmen have to learn?’

  Joe looked puzzled. ‘Postmen?’

  ‘Yes, postmen.’ Now it was Alice’s turn to look puzzled. ‘Isn’t that what you are? A postman?’

  For a moment Joe’s expression was still one of bafflement, but then he started laughing. ‘Postman? No, no, I’m not a postman. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a postman, it’s just …’ He recovered himself. ‘No. That’s not what I do.’

  ‘Oh?’ Alice was confused. ‘But when I came to treat your colleague – what was his name? Ernest; he was a postman. And you work together, don’t you? So I just assumed you were a postman.’

  ‘Ah.’ Joe smiled as the penny dropped. ‘I see now. Of course. Yes, he’s a postman, and we are colleagues, but that’s because I work for the GPO. I’m an engineer.’

  Alice looked away, mortified. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise.’

  Joe was on the point of asking why she’d made the assumption; whether it was because she’d presumed that nobody from Jeeves Street would have managed to qualify as an engineer, but he decided that would be unfair. It was how Harry would have replied, and in truth maybe he would have done the same a few months ago. He recalled Harry’s remarks about hoity-toity nurses. But Alice had made a genuine mistake – anybody might have thought the same. Also, it hadn’t stopped her coming here today, whether or not she thought he was a postman.

  ‘Well, the thing is, I’m quite highly trained already, so I thought it might come in handy somewhere,’ he said. ‘Such as the navy. I went and spoke to someone at the recruiting office and they agreed, so that’s what I’m going to do.’

  Alice met his gaze. ‘That’s very brave, Joe.’

  Joe shrugged. ‘Thanks, but it isn’t anything special really. At least all that studying won’t have gone to waste, and I can learn new ways of using all the stuff I learnt.’

  Alice thought it was admirable how he looked on the bright side. Surely what he really wanted to do was to stay exactly as he was – he had seemed so content with his family, in his role of big brother, looking after them all. Yet that wasn’t likely to be an option. He’d made the best of the situation facing him.

  ‘I hope you do,’ she said. ‘Who knows what you’ll end up working as? Anything could happen. That’s good, isn’t it?’ She said it almost as a way of convincing herself.

  ‘Yes, a change is as good as a rest and all that.’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘Not sure how much time I’ll have for reading, though. I was wondering, do you want to take over my subscription for the lending library?’

  Alice’s expression brightened. ‘Do they let you do that? I haven’t got round to applying myself – I meant to but somehow never found the time. Yes please.’

  Joe nodded. ‘I’ll check with them. Don’t see why not. Oh look, here’s our lunch.’

  Two enormous bacon sandwiches came into view, almost obliterating the man carrying them.

  ‘See what I mean? The best in town,’ said Joe, pulling back his shirtsleeves in anticipation. ‘Here you are, mustard or HP or a bit of both.’

  For a few minutes they fell silent as each of them devoured their enormous sandwich, the meat crispy and perfect inside the big doorsteps of fresh bread. Finally Alice put down her last crust and licked her lips.

  ‘That was delicious,’ she proclaimed, delicately wiping the grease from her hands. She’d tried to be ladylike and use a knife and fork, but had given up the attempt after noticing Joe barely bothered, but simply picked up his sandwich and bit into it. ‘You were right.’

  ‘Even down to the HP?’

  ‘Maybe not that right.’

  ‘Don’t they feed you at that nurses’ home then?’ he asked. ‘You put that away with no problem. Have they been starving you or something?’

  ‘No, but they don’t give us anything like that,’ Alice admitted.

  Joe tutted. ‘That reminds me. I almost forgot. Ma asked me to tell you and Edith to come for Sunday dinner tomorrow. You’re not on duty, are you?’

  Alice laughed. ‘Tell us? What if we had a better offer?’

  Joe looked affronted. ‘That isn’t possible. Ma’s roasts are famous around here. You don’t say no – you’d be mad to.’ He grinned but seemed a little less sure of himself. ‘She wants to meet Edith, of course, as Harry’s talked of nobody else since he admitted he’d been walking out with her. Ma is keen to see what the fuss is about – that’s why he tried to keep it a secret for a few weeks, but of course she knew something was up. Then he said she’d got a friend and I said I knew you too, so she’s decided you’re both to come. If you want to, that is. Don’t you want to?’

  Alice decided to put him out of his misery. ‘Thank you. I’d love to – it’s very kind. I’m sure Edith will want to as well. She’ll have had enough of tidying and restocking the district room by then. Please thank your mother for us. Can we bring anything?’

  ‘Just yourselves,’ Joe said. ‘Come early, then you can meet everyone properly before we all sit down to eat.’

  ‘If I go to the nine o’clock service I can be there by, what, quarter to eleven,’ said Alice. ‘Edith usually goes to morning mass, so that would be perfect.’

  Joe beamed. ‘That’s that agreed, then. Now, how about some treacle sponge and custard?’

  ‘You’re on.’ And Alice found she was beaming too, though she couldn’t quite work out why.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Kathleen reached into the makeshift cot to lift Brian up and into the new pram. At least, it was new to them. She’d got it second-hand from the market, at a good price because it was so battered around the chassis, but she didn’t care. Mattie had brought round a not quite empty tin of white paint and a couple of Stan’s brushes, and the two of them had covered over the worst of the marks. The springs were still sound and that meant the little boy could be pushed around in comfort, which was all that really mattered to Kathleen. ‘Aren’t you growing big!’ she exclaimed as he opened his eyes and gave her the special smile that melted her heart every time she saw it.

  That was the other reason she had been so delighted to find the pram. Now she had the lump sum of Ray’s money, she’d been able to feed herself much better, which meant Brian was feeding better too. She’d begun trying him on a few solids. He was catching up on all the growth he’d missed in his first months and carrying him was becoming quite tricky, especially if she had heavy shopping too. He loved the pram, though, and now he waved his arms with pleasure as she put him in it. ‘Off for a ride!’ she told him. ‘Off to see Auntie Mattie and Gillian and all the family.’

  From the tiny kitchen she brought out a small sack of potatoes and carefully placed it on the wire shelf under the pram. Now that she was in a position to buy food like anyone else, she wanted to pay back the people who had looked after her when she was all but a charity case. Mattie had said they would be a big group sitting down for Sunday dinner and Kathleen was keen to contribute. ‘There we are, all rea
dy,’ she sang, as Brian wriggled around trying to see what was going on beyond the sides of his pram.

  Kathleen swung the handle and manoeuvred it through the front door, a tricky move but one she had now perfected. She felt lucky that her wrist had healed and that the bruises along her arm and face had cleared up. Nobody looking at her now would know what had happened. If her injuries had been any worse she’d have been trapped, unable to get out with her baby. There was much to be thankful for.

  She usually tried not to think about Ray and what he had done to her. Part of her still missed him and longed for him to return, but the other half was glad he wasn’t there to hurt her any more. She wanted things to go back to how they were before, when he was courting her and so charming and attentive, making her heart sing with the certainty of his love for her. She couldn’t bear the fact that those days were gone forever, and wanted so badly to be able to love him again. Yet she also feared his hostility towards his son and dreaded him trying to hurt Brian too. It was all very well for her; she’d chosen her husband and nobody had forced her to marry him – the very reverse. Brian had done nothing to hurt Ray and yet the man seemed to hate the baby, no matter what. She wondered where Ray was now. For the sake of their child’s safety, she had to hope he was nowhere nearby.

  Flo set the kettle to boil and surveyed her preparations. She’d haggled as hard as she knew how with the stallholder as he was packing up yesterday afternoon, certain that was the best time of day to secure a bargain, and had been rewarded for her perseverance with a nice big chicken. It was now in the roasting pan, surrounded by peeled vegetables. She nodded in satisfaction as she lifted it gingerly into the warmed oven. It was almost too big to fit, but a little skilled balancing and shifting saw it go in without spilling so much as a carrot.

  Next she put the marrowfat peas on to boil, having soaked them overnight. They would fill everyone up nicely. That would just about leave room for some Yorkshire puddings on the side.

  Flo was bursting with curiosity about the two new guests. Harry had tried to keep his feelings for Edith hidden, but he hadn’t managed it for long. She was used to her youngest’s successes with the opposite sex and usually turned a blind eye to what she suspected he was up to, but she had never known him to be so taken with a girlfriend. Usually he joked about it, but now he was quieter, more intense. She was dying to see what sort of woman could have this effect on her popular son.

  She was bringing her friend, the one Mattie and Kathleen had first met when Brian was sick. Flo nodded to herself. It was always handy to know a nurse or two. She was proud that she’d raised her three children relatively unscathed, tending them through the usual ailments of measles and chickenpox, but she knew her knowledge was limited. They’d all been worried for Mattie when she’d caught a bad case of flu when she was a schoolgirl. People died of it. There had been no lasting ill-effects, but Flo never forgot the fear and sense of sheer hopelessness that had invaded her before the fever broke. She fervently hoped Gillian would never cause them such worry.

  The back door banged and Mattie came in, baby on her hip. ‘Is Kath here yet?’ she asked.

  ‘Not that I know of,’ said Flo, wiping her hands on her faded apron. ‘How’s my gorgeous granddaughter?’ She bent to smile at the little girl. ‘They’re getting too big to share that cot in the corner, Mattie.’

  Mattie went across and put her daughter down in it, whereupon the baby sat up and peered through the wooden bars. ‘Brian will have to stay in his pram,’ she said. ‘It’s warm enough to put it in the back garden if we’re too crowded. Shall I fetch more chairs?’

  Flo considered their arrangements. She had opened up the drop leaves of the kitchen table and brought in the small table which usually stood beneath the window in the parlour.

  ‘You might bring down that wooden stool from your bedroom,’ she said.

  Mattie made a face. ‘I’ve got it piled up with the last lot of ironing,’ she protested.

  ‘Haven’t you put that away yet? I did that two days ago,’ Flo scolded. ‘You’ll just have to move it. We’ll need that stool. It can go on the end there. Thank you, love.’

  Mattie scowled but went off to do as she was asked.

  Harry came into the room as his sister was leaving. ‘All set?’ he asked.

  Flo laughed. ‘Since when were you so anxious about a Sunday dinner? I’ve made a few before, you know.’

  Harry grinned reluctantly. ‘I know. It’ll be a treat, as always.’

  ‘Course it will.’ Flo grew serious. ‘I won’t let you down, son. I can see how much this means to you.’

  Harry shuffled and looked away. ‘I just want her to like us. And you to like her.’

  ‘Come here.’ Flo opened her arms. ‘You aren’t too old for a hug from your old ma. Don’t you worry. Everything will be fine. I brought you up to have good taste, didn’t I? If she’s the one you’ve chosen, she’s bound to be all right.’

  ‘Well, I haven’t said that to her,’ said Harry, pulling away. ‘I haven’t known her very long.’

  Flo regarded him steadily. ‘You’ll know when she’s the right one, long time or not,’ she said. ‘You simply listen to your heart, my boy. I’m not saying you have to rush things, specially what with you enlisting. You take your time. Just don’t deceive yourself.’

  Harry nodded, embarrassed at his mother saying such things to him. ‘Thanks, Ma.’ He moved to the door. ‘Sounds like somebody now … oh, it’s Kath. Shall I help you with the pram?’ he called into the corridor.

  Flo glanced at the clock on the wall. Twenty-five to eleven. Plenty of time to get everything done. She took the teapot from the dresser shelf and poured a little warm water into it. Kath might appreciate a cup, and the nurses too, once they got here.

  Mattie reappeared with the stool, followed by Kath with the pram, which the two of them shunted out into the back garden in the early September sunshine, placing it so that they could see Brian and he could see them. Kath pulled out the potatoes and carried them over to the oven. ‘Here, Mrs Banham, I brought some extras,’ she said shyly.

  ‘Bless you, Kath, you didn’t need to do that,’ said Flo, realising the effort it would have taken the young woman to have pushed them round along with the increasingly sturdy Brian. ‘I’ve put ours in already – but it won’t hurt to have some spare just in case.’

  Kath beamed with pleasure at having been able to contribute for once.

  There was a sound from the front door but before either of them could respond they could hear swift footsteps in the corridor, which Flo guessed was Harry running to get there first. Then the kitchen door swung open as he ushered two young women into the room.

  Flo looked up and almost caught her breath at the expression on her son’s face. ‘Ma,’ he said, his eyes as bright as she had ever seen them. ‘This is Alice Lake …’ The taller of the two stepped forward and shook her hand ‘… and this is Edith Gillespie. Edie.’

  Flo immediately noticed the girl’s dark, curly hair and lively eyes as she shook her hand too. She was smartly turned out but not too showily, Flo thought approvingly, registering the neat trim of her freshly pressed dress and polished shoes, not too high-heeled, but with enough to give her a little boost – she wasn’t anywhere near as tall as her friend. ‘You’re very welcome,’ she said warmly. ‘Pleased to meet you both.’

  ‘Thank you for inviting us,’ Edie said.

  Alice produced a tin. ‘We brought an apple tart – I hope that’s all right,’ she said.

  ‘You shouldn’t have. That’s very kind.’ Flo took it from them and decided they seemed like sensible, polite young women, as might be expected if they had qualified in their chosen profession. ‘We’ll have some tea, shall we?’

  As she was busying herself with the teapot, Joe and Stan came in. Flo was about to offer them a cup each but Stan got in first.

  ‘There’s to be an important announcement on the wireless at eleven fifteen,’ he said, with a tone of authority he
rarely adopted, but which Flo knew to take seriously on the rare times she heard it.

  ‘Eleven fifteen? Then we’ve only got a few minutes,’ she said, hastily pouring the tea. ‘Here, you’d better sit down. Alice, Edie, you take the comfy seats, you’re our guests. Joe, get that wireless tuned in, will you? He’s much better at it than any of us,’ she explained to the girls as they took their places on the sofa.

  Harry stood protectively behind Edie as Joe coaxed the wireless set into action and the measured words of the newsreader boomed out. Alice found she was watching him anxiously, even as her hand gripped the fabric of the armrest. Edie cast Harry an imploring look.

  They all fell silent, even Gillian and Brian from his pram, as the prime minister began to speak. The solemnity of the occasion took their words away. Finally the waiting was over; the country was now officially at war with Germany.

  Flo found she was holding her breath. The speech confirmed all her worst fears; it was happening again. This time her two precious sons would be swept up in it, and there was little she could do to save them. They were grown men; they had to face the forthcoming dangers for themselves. She turned to Mattie, who had gone over to the cot and was gently stroking Gillian’s head. Somehow they would have to keep the youngest ones safe.

  ‘What do we do, Stan?’ she asked quietly.

  Stan came across and set his hands on her shoulders. ‘We do what we’ve been doing,’ he said steadily. ‘You’ve already made blackout blinds. I’m going to put in an Anderson shelter in our garden – we’ve got just enough space, and you boys can help me before you go to wherever you’ll be going to.’ Joe and Harry nodded, knowing it was their duty to help their parents make the family home as safe as possible. ‘Meanwhile, we aren’t going to let Hitler get in the way of one of your roast dinners. We’ll carry on as normally as we can unless we’re forced to do otherwise.’