A Wartime Christmas

by Carol Rivers

  ‘How’s Vi?’ Babs asked one afternoon the following week.

  ‘She’s resting better upstairs.’

  ‘Do you want me to collect the kids from school? Or do you fancy a breath of air? It won’t take us long to pop up the school and back.’

  ‘All right. I’ll come with you.’

  Babs levelled her umbrella. ‘You’ll need your raincoat. It’s cats and dogs out here.’

  After a few minutes, Kay joined her, wearing her mac and boots. ‘What a day! This damp don’t help Vi’s chest at all.’

  Babs pulled her close under the brolly. ‘Have you tried giving Vi peppermint and brandy in hot water? My mum used to give it to my dad when he had a cold.’

  ‘I’ve tried everything,’ Kay said with a sigh as she slipped her arm through Babs’s. ‘Lemon juice and onion, liquorice and even slippery elm. But they don’t seem to be helping.’ She glanced at Babs. ‘Heard anything from Eddie?’

  ‘Yes, I had a letter last week.’ She paused. ‘He seems to be his same old self, but did mention he would be pleased to get shot of the heat.’

  ‘The heat? Does that mean he was posted to Africa?’

  ‘Could be, as we won El Alamein in October and the wireless said recently that Monty’s troops are leaving. What about Alan?’

  ‘It’s five months now since I’ve heard from him.’

  ‘They say no news is good news, love.’

  ‘I’m banking on that.’

  As the rain dripped around them and they dodged the puddles, Babs’s voice grew low. ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about Paul and me, Kay.’

  ‘What brought that on?’

  ‘I was in the grocer’s and Alice and Jenny were there. Jenny asked me outright if I was having a fling.’

  ‘What!’

  ‘Yes, and I was with Tim too. It was lucky he was looking at the sweets. I told her it was none of her business.’ Babs took a sharp breath. ‘A pity because I’ve always got on all right with Jenny and Tom.’

  ‘Jenny can be a bit blunt,’ Kay said.

  ‘It really upset me, Kay. I felt like a loose woman.’

  Kay slowed her pace. ‘Did you really think no one would notice what you and Paul were doing?’

  Babs was silent for a moment, then shook her head. ‘I don’t know what I thought – all that was on me mind was Paul. I suppose I was fooling myself all along. But then Jenny’s attitude brought the truth home. That’s one of the reasons why—’ Her voice broke, rough with emotion, ‘Paul and me have decided to call it a day.’

  Kay stopped, staring at her friend. There were tears in Babs’s eyes. ‘Oh, Babs, I knew it would end in heartbreak.’

  ‘I suppose I did too. But I couldn’t stop meself.’

  ‘How did Paul take it?’

  ‘He don’t want us to separate. He says he loves me and wants me to write to Eddie and tell him the truth. But I couldn’t do that. What if Eddie read it and was then—’ Babs closed her eyes and shook her head. ‘I said I had reasons for ending it with Paul and that was the other. How could I possibly write Eddie a “Dear John” letter when he’s risking his life for us? That was the moment it all came clear. No, I’ll just have to grit me teeth and bear it.’

  ‘Are you in love with Paul?’

  Babs nodded, her eyes full of pain. ‘But I love Eddie too and I don’t want to hurt him.’

  After a while, they started walking again. The drip-drip of the wet from the brolly and the puddles that were now growing into small rivers gushing down the gutters seemed to echo the sadness and heartache that Kay’s friend was suffering.

  At last February arrived and Vi’s bronchitis began to improve. Kay decided to keep the sleeping arrangements as they were. The benefits were that Vi had a space all of her own, and the boys could play in the front room on cold or rainy days. Kay slept on the put-u-up in the front room. She didn’t mind. The warmth of the fire was cosy.

  Kay was waiting at the grocer’s one morning; she had decided to spend her coupons on a few rashers of bacon as she had saved her egg ration for the weekend.

  Jenny Edwards and Alice Tyler joined the queue behind her and it was Jenny who spoke first. ‘Haven’t seen much of you lately, Kay.’

  ‘No, it’s not been the weather, has it?’

  ‘Caught sight of you and Babs and the kids last Monday.’

  Kay nodded. No one in the neighbourhood had actually mentioned Sean, though Kay was certain, after Dolly’s visits, that word had got round.

  ‘Nice little lad you’ve got staying with you,’ remarked Alice.

  Kay transferred her basket to her other arm in order to look at her neighbours. ‘Yes, he is.’

  Jenny and Alice nodded. ‘Actually it was Neville who told us that you’d had an unwanted visitor. Fancy that woman dumping the boy on you. What a cheek!’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Kay, without explaining more, ‘but as you said he’s a nice little chap. And I’m happy to look after him.’

  ‘That’s very good of you, I must say.’ Jenny frowned curiously.

  Kay knew she was expected to comment on Dolly, but instead she made her way forwards in the queue. There were two more customers waiting to be served. And two rashers left in the cabinet.

  ‘Course, we don’t want to speak out of turn,’ continued Alice, tapping Kay on the shoulder, ‘but we couldn’t help noticing that Babs and Paul are getting friendly.’

  Kay glanced sharply back. ‘Paul’s decorating her house.’ She didn’t hide the annoyance in her tone.

  ‘Now, gel, don’t take us the wrong way,’ replied Alice tartly. ‘Babs was our close neighbour once too. We just don’t want to see her and Eddie split up. They’re a lovely family.’

  ‘There’s no danger of that, Alice.’

  Kay took her place at the counter and the grocer served her with the remaining rashers of bacon. When she had paid for her purchase and stored the wrapped bacon in her basket, she turned to Jenny and Alice. ‘I hope, as Babs’s friends, you both understand how much her family means to her.’

  ‘We didn’t mean to offend,’ said Alice, looking contrite. ‘You’re right, Kay, we’re her friends too.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it, Alice.’

  Jenny gave a little sigh and nodded. ‘Tell her I send me love, won’t you? And if she wants a cup of Rosie one day, me and Alice’s doors are always open. Same as they are to you, Kay.’

  Kay smiled. ‘Thanks.’

  As Kay was walking home, she tried not to feel resentment at Jenny and Alice, whom she had always considered good friends. But this morning they had disappointed her. Wasn’t it enough that they had all lived under the threat of bombing, without starting to gossip about their friends? However, Kay knew that they genuinely cared about Babs and Eddie. Indeed, it was Jenny’s remark to Babs that had finally caused her to end the affair with Paul.

  As Kay turned into Slater Street, she saw the top window of her house was open. A grey head poked out and slowly elbows emerged to lean on the windowsill. Vi turned slowly in Kay’s direction and offered a shaky wave.

  It didn’t take long for Kay’s spirits to lift as she waved back. Vi was on her feet again.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  ‘You sure you’ll be all right if I call at the shop after school?’ Kay asked Vi a week later. Vi was now sitting up in her chair in the bedroom, positioned strategically by the window to watch the world pass by. ‘Babs can’t fetch them today as she’s at work,’ continued Kay, still a little uncertain about leaving her friend alone. ‘After that school was bombed in south London last month, I don’t want the kids walking home without me or Babs.’ There had been many casualties in January as a school had been targeted by the Luftwaffe and both teachers and pupils had perished. Since then, either Kay or Babs had been certain to collect the children from school. Once again, everyone was on the alert for daylight bombings.

  ‘Don’t fret over me, flower,’ Vi assured her.

  ‘I won’t. But remember what the doc
tor said. Take the linctus instead of a smoke.’ Vi was back to her regular smoking habits. The blanket Kay had draped over her knees was dotted with grey ash that had fallen from Vi’s last roll-up.

  ‘Righto, love, you can count on me.’ After a good deal of coughing, Vi patted the turban that was once again tied around her head. She closed her eyes and let her head flop back.

  Kay smiled as she left the bedroom and went downstairs to join Alfie. She knew the minute she left the house, Vi would be lighting up again. But despite this, Vi was regaining her energy and, on her good days, had even managed to get downstairs.

  As the weeks and months had gone by, the fear of Dolly’s unexpected arrival had lessened. Kay had convinced herself that Jean’s letter had turned the tables on Dolly. And when and if Dolly showed up again, then at least they might discuss Sean’s future in a sensible manner. With the authorities involved, Dolly would have to behave herself. And this could only bode well for Sean.

  Hand-in-hand with Alfie, Kay made her way to school, reflecting on her hopes that she would soon receive a letter from Alan. What would he say when he knew about Dolly and Sean? As Jean Pearson had said, it would be a shock on his return to discover what had happened in his absence. But Kay always put this thought to the back of her mind. Instead, she dreamed of Alan’s homecoming. She imagined the day he walked down Slater Street, his long legs striding towards the house, his lovely dark hair now cut into a short back and sides in line with his army uniform. And his dark eyes, waiting to glimpse her and Alfie. His strong arms sweeping them both up against his broad chest and his lips on her mouth . . .

  ‘Gonna see Sean,’ said Alfie, tugging at her hand.

  Kay smiled as Alfie’s excited voice drew her from her thoughts. ‘Yes, and Gill and Tim too.’

  ‘Gonna play ’opscotch.’

  Kay laughed as Alfie broke away from her grasp and jumped the cracks in the pavement. Hopscotch was his favourite game and he never tired of playing it with Sean.

  Soon they arrived at Quarry Street. The school’s iron railings which had been removed for the war effort had been replaced by a flimsy wooden fence, which was now surrounded by women, prams and young children. The effect of the south London school bombing was still on everyone’s mind. Mothers, their babies and toddlers all waited, ears alert for the warning siren, and eyes were trained on the blue patches of sky in between the barrage balloons. Kay joined them, acknowledging those women she knew and passing one or two comments as she wove her way to the gate.

  Very soon she saw the tip of Gill’s head, her plaits bouncing on her shoulders. Then Tim’s sturdy figure became visible as he ran to Gill. Kay’s eyes searched for Sean in the crush around them. He was always eager to see Alfie yet slightly slower than the more confident pupils to rush across the playground. But as she studied the bobbing heads, caps and satchels, her heart gave a thud. Sean was nowhere to be seen. The playground emptied and Gill and Tim walked slowly up to the gate.

  ‘Where’s Sean?’ asked Kay.

  ‘Don’t know, Aunty Kay.’ Gill looked anxious.

  ‘Is he still in school?’

  ‘Might be in the lav,’ said Tim.

  ‘Let’s go and look.’ Together with the three children Kay made her way into the deserted school. They searched the cloakrooms and classrooms and found them empty. Mr Barnet, the head teacher, was the only member of staff left. He joined them in another search. It was with a carefully concealed panic that Kay hurried into the empty toilets, cloakrooms and classrooms again. The lead weight in the pit of her stomach slowly expanded into her chest. The blood throbbed at her temples. It was a fear that Kay, over the past months, had convinced herself was no longer warranted but now became a terrifying certainty as Sean was nowhere to be found. A voice in her head wailed that Dolly had taken him.

  It was Tuesday, the day after Sean had disappeared. Kay was at her wit’s end. After ending the search with Mr Barnet, then trawling the streets with Babs until nightfall, she hadn’t had a wink of sleep. Mr Barnet had made a report to his superiors and advised Kay that if Sean hadn’t appeared by the morning, she was to inform the police.

  Kay was the station’s first visitor. The sergeant on duty turned out to be the policeman she knew. When she had come to a breathless pause in her story, he raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Mrs Lewis, have you considered that this child might be with his mother?’

  ‘Yes, course I have.’

  ‘Well, then, I’d suggest you call on her first before making a fuss.’

  ‘I’m not making a fuss,’ Kay argued. ‘I don’t know where she lives. How many times do I have to tell you that?’

  ‘Now, now, I’m only trying to help.’

  ‘If she’s taken him without telling the teachers she can’t be called responsible, can she?’

  ‘The boy must have agreed to go with her. She couldn’t have carted him off screaming and kicking without someone noticing.’

  ‘All right then, but what if it wasn’t Dolly who took him?’ Kay asked.

  ‘And the kid is playing truant,’ the policeman said, deliberately misunderstanding. ‘Yes, now that’s far more likely.’

  ‘I didn’t say that. And anyway, Sean likes school. He’s never missed a day of term.’

  ‘So what do you want me to do?’ asked the sergeant with a frown. ‘If we went looking for every kid that skipped school for a few days, we’d have no force left to deal with crime.’

  ‘It’s your job to help find missing people, isn’t it?’

  ‘He’s only been missing one night.’

  ‘One night is too long for a six-year-old. He needs to be searched for.’

  The sergeant stroked his forehead with the back of his hand and heaved an irritated sigh. ‘Look, I’ll enter the details up and with the description you’ve given me, ask the bobby on the beat to keep his eyes open. If the boy doesn’t turn up in another, say, twenty-four hours then come back and tell us.’

  Kay stared angrily into the florid face of the burly man. ‘What will you do then?’ she demanded.

  ‘Let’s take one step at a time, shall we?’

  Kay could hardly find her way home for the anger she felt. It wouldn’t have taken much effort on the policeman’s part to put out an alarm.

  ‘There, there, flower, don’t go upsetting yerself,’ Vi said when Kay arrived back. ‘You’ve done all you can.’ Wearing her dressing gown and slippers, Vi was making tea. ‘Those coppers ain’t got no clue. They’re all a load of big Henrys.’

  There was a tap at the back door and Babs poked her head round. ‘Any news at the police station?’ she asked.

  ‘No. What about at school?’

  ‘I talked to everyone at the gate after I’d said goodbye to Gill and Tim. But nobody saw anything.’

  ‘Did you see Mr Barnet?’

  ‘He told me he was asking the children at assembly.’

  ‘Someone must have clocked Sean leaving, surely?’ said Vi, pouring hot water into the teapot.

  Babs sat by Kay at the table. ‘Where’s Alfie?’

  ‘He’s playing with his train set.’ Kay swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘Didn’t even want his breakfast. Keeps asking where Sean is. And I don’t know what to tell him.’

  ‘Last night Gill and Tim were very upset when they went to bed.’

  Kay bit down on her lip. ‘It must be Dolly. I know she’s at the bottom of this.’ It had to be Dolly. Sean wouldn’t run away from school. He loved his lessons. He had done well at reading and writing, even arithmetic.

  ‘You’ve got to tell Miss Pearson, Kay.’ Babs patted her arm. ‘She might be able to help.’

  Kay nodded, forcing back the tears.

  ‘Drink this,’ said Vi, placing a mug in front of Kay. ‘You’ve got to eat something, gel.’

  ‘I’m not hungry.’

  ‘Let’s go out and search for him again,’ suggested Babs. ‘It’s better than doing nothing.’

  ‘I’ll give an eye to Alfie,’ said Vi.


  ‘No, we’ll take Alfie with us.’ Kay didn’t want to burden Vi. She was only just recovering and needed her rest.

  ‘You won’t get very far if you do,’ pointed out Vi, folding her arms across her chest. ‘Alfie’s no trouble. We’ll just sit in the front room with his train set. I won’t be on me pins. It’ll do me nose good as well and will stop me from staring out the bedroom window.’

  Kay smiled. ‘I don’t know, Vi.’

  ‘Well, I do. Now be off with you.’

  Kay left the house to call for Babs. Now, added to her worries about Sean, she was anxious for Vi’s health and strength. Vi was always willing to do more than her share. But Kay could see that the time had come when these efforts came at a cost to her recovery.

  ‘Vi’s got a big heart,’ Babs said as they stood in the street. ‘But she looks frail.’

  ‘I was thinking the same,’ agreed Kay. ‘So I’ve decided to pack in me job at the factory.’

  ‘Can you afford to?’

  ‘I might be able to find work for just a few hours each week. It’s a step I’ve been considering since Vi got ill.’

  ‘I’ll keep my ears open for something, if you like,’ Babs offered.

  ‘Thanks.’ Kay smiled gratefully. ‘Now, where shall we look for Sean?’

  ‘Perhaps the park and then Island Gardens?’

  ‘Sean loved the river as much as Alfie,’ reasoned Kay. ‘But Dolly wouldn’t take him there. She might not even be living in the East End. Has Gill or Tim ever said that Sean has been bullied at school?’

  Instantly Babs shook her head. ‘They would have had Gill and Tim to deal with if that happened.’

  Which brought Kay’s thoughts back to Dolly again and her motives for snatching Sean.

  Kay and Babs spent the day searching. Round and round they went, through the park and under the arches of the railway line. They sat on the bench in Island Gardens and watched the smaller children at play and, giving a description of Sean and a blonde woman who might be with him, made enquiries to anyone they came across. Many knew him at the market by now, especially Lenny at the tea stall who always kept fudge in his pocket to give to the boys. The traders promised to let Kay know if there was a sighting. Finally Kay and Babs searched the streets closer to home including Crane Street. However, since there were very few houses left standing here, their search took only a few minutes. Lastly they visited the demolished houses of Slater Street, amongst them the Suttons’ and Vi’s and Amy Greenaway’s, the teacher who had perished in the Blitz. But Kay was certain that Sean wouldn’t go near these. He knew, like Alfie, that bombed sites were well out of bounds.