by Ellie Dean
Rising early, she quickly went through her usual morning routine and then telephoned her friend Claire, who was in charge of the typing pool at the Mayor’s office in the Town Hall. Claire was a war widow in her mid-forties and lived alone now her two children had been evacuated to Dorset. She and Peggy had known one another since they’d been in the same class at junior school, and although they didn’t get much chance of meeting up, when they did it was as if no time had passed at all.
‘Hello, Peggy,’ Claire said in delighted surprise. ‘My goodness, you’re an early bird. I’ve only just got into my office.’
Peggy sat on the hall chair and they settled in for a bit of a gossip, catching up on things as they hadn’t seen one another for some months.
‘It’s lovely to chat, Peg, but I really do have to get on,’ said Claire some minutes later. ‘The Mayor’s got an important council meeting later this morning.’
‘I won’t keep you then,’ said Peggy. ‘Only I was wondering if you had any secretarial jobs going?’
‘We always have vacancies with so many young ones joining up, but I thought you were happy at Solly’s factory?’
‘It’s not for me,’ Peggy said hurriedly. ‘I can’t type for toffee.’
‘Who is it, then? One of your chicks?’ Claire asked with warm amusement.
Peggy gripped the receiver. ‘Actually, it’s for my sister Doris,’ she confessed.
There was a long silence, and Peggy wondered if they’d been cut off, but as she was about to speak again, Claire came back on. ‘I’m sorry, Peggy. I’m afraid I can’t help.’
‘But I thought you said you had vacancies, and Doris is a fully qualified secretary – in fact she once worked as private secretary to the chairman of the board of a large bank in London.’ Peggy realised she was gabbling, and shut up.
‘I’m sure she’s most efficient,’ said Claire rather coolly, ‘but as much as I’d love to help you, Peggy, I simply can’t take your sister on.’
‘But why?’
Claire gave a short sigh. ‘There have been issues in the past between her and at least three women in my typing pool,’ she said reluctantly. ‘If I brought Doris in I’d have a mutiny on my hands.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said a perplexed Peggy. ‘How could Doris have upset women in a typing pool?’
‘They volunteer for the WVS at weekends and evenings,’ said Claire. ‘I’m so sorry, Peggy, but I simply can’t afford to rock the boat as we’re so short-staffed already.’
‘Oh, dear,’ sighed Peggy. ‘This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought, is it?’
‘Doris is her own worst enemy, Peggy, and although there is some sympathy for her losing her home like that, she’s too stuck up and overbearing for most people, and, I’m sorry to say, not well liked.’
‘Thanks for being so frank with me,’ said Peggy sadly. ‘I’m sorry, but I had to ask. I don’t suppose you know of anywhere else she might find something?’
‘Not offhand, but if I do hear of anything, I’ll let you know.’
Peggy thanked her again, disconnected the call and then asked her one-time evacuee April, who was working on the telephone exchange, to put her through to the local bank where she knew the manager. That was no-go either and five similarly distressing calls later, Peggy realised that her sister’s snooty, bossy reputation had spiked any chance of her being taken on, even as an office junior typist at the billeting office – which Peggy suspected she’d turn down flat anyway. Doris might be willing to work and might have changed her way of thinking, but Peggy knew her well enough to realise she still had some pride.
Peggy lit a cigarette and sat deep in troubled thought for a while and then reluctantly asked April to put her through to the labour exchange. Her friend there probably wouldn’t take Doris on either after they’d fallen out over poor Ivy, who’d been made utterly miserable by Doris in Havelock Road – but she might know of an office job elsewhere in the town.
Peggy was proved right, for Betty Miller swiftly rejected any idea of Doris working at the labour exchange, but something had come in late last night which might suit her, as she would be working alone with the administrator of the factory estate. The fact that the man was a retired colonel was all to the good, for it would appeal to Doris’s sense of self-importance.
‘Now you’re just being catty,’ muttered Peggy.
‘Sorry, Peg, but she winds me up with her snooty ways,’ Betty replied. ‘I’ll arrange an appointment for her anyway. It’s the best I can offer her.’
Peggy thanked her, replaced the receiver and stubbed out her cigarette. ‘It’s a start, I suppose, but, oh, Doris, you really don’t make life any easier, do you?’ she sighed.
The letters clattered into the wire basket and she hurried across the hall to see who’d written. It was quite a bonanza this morning, with three for Fran, an airmail for Sarah as well as two for Ivy, one for Doris, two for Cordelia, and one for Rita. And joy of joys, there were letters for her and Ron from Jim. She shoved hers into her apron pocket and took the rest into the kitchen where she dumped them on the table.
With cries of delight, Cordelia, Ivy, Sarah and Fran grabbed them and silence fell as they all became engrossed in news from their loved ones.
‘To be sure, that’s a fine collection this morning,’ said Ron, who was trying to clean Daisy’s face of jam and margarine and not having much success as the toddler was wriggling so much.
‘We’ve got two each from Jim,’ said Peggy. ‘But I’ll read mine later. I need to make sure Doris is up.’
‘Ach, leave her be, wee girl. After what you told us last night, she needs a lie-in, so she does.’
Peggy shook her head. ‘Betty at the labour exchange is arranging a job interview with a Colonel White up at the factory estate at eleven this morning. If she doesn’t get a move on, she’ll be late, and that won’t go down too well with a military man, I’m sure.’
‘Oh aye?’ Ron’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I’ve met the Colonel – good sort of man, so he is – helped poor old Stan out of a very sticky situation when Ethel got arrested for stealing from the Red Cross. Very fair he was with Stan.’
‘Then let’s hope he and Doris get on,’ said Peggy. ‘I’m rapidly running out of ideas of where to try next.’ She quickly left the kitchen and ran upstairs, meeting Rita slowly making her way down from the top floor on her crutches. ‘There’s a letter from your dad in the kitchen,’ she said, ‘but don’t rush. I don’t want you going headlong down these stairs.’
Rita grinned back at her and swung along the landing before bumping down the stairs on her bottom like a two-year-old. Peggy rolled her eyes and tutted before knocking on Doris’s door.
‘Good morning,’ said Doris who was already dressed for the day in a tweed skirt and plain white blouse. ‘It looks like it’s going to be nice weather for once,’ she added, glancing out of the window.
‘I spoke to my friend at the council offices, but she couldn’t help,’ said Peggy, cutting to the chase. ‘But Betty at the labour exchange is arranging an interview at eleven for you up at the factory estate.’
Doris sniffed with disdain. ‘I’m not working up there,’ she said firmly. ‘I might be in a bind, but I’m not that desperate.’
‘It’s in an office, not a factory,’ said Peggy evenly, and went on to explain about the Colonel needing a personal secretary to help him with all the paperwork involved in administering the estate and its security.
Doris broke into a smile. ‘Then I’d better polish my shoes and make sure I get there on time.’ She clasped Peggy’s hand. ‘Thank you for arranging it, Peggy.’
‘It was no bother,’ she fibbed quickly. ‘Breakfast is ready, by the way. It’ll do you no good going to an interview on an empty stomach.’ She hurried out of the bedroom and back downstairs. The time was racing by, and she wanted to make sure Sarah was given a proper send-off on her first day in her new job.
Sarah had finished reading her mother’s letter and
Peggy noticed that she was looking a little pale. ‘You’re not nervous about this new job, are you?’ she asked.
Sarah shook her head and put on a brave smile. ‘It’s just Mother’s letters I’m finding hard to take,’ she admitted. ‘She keeps going on about my wedding to Philip and all the plans she has for my future as well as Jane’s – and to be frank, Aunt Peggy, it’s all getting a bit much. She seems to have completely lost sight of the fact that we’re grown up and might have other ideas.’
‘Oh dear,’ sighed Peggy. ‘But it’s good that she’s looking on the bright side of things, don’t you think?’
Sarah shook her head. ‘Jane and I are worried about her. She’s being too positive – too set on believing Pops and Philip will come through unscathed and ready to carry on as if nothing had happened. And if they don’t, there’s no telling how it will affect her.’
‘It will affect all of you,’ said Peggy, laying a gentle hand on her arm. ‘One way or another, it will be you who has to make a terrible sacrifice,’ she murmured beneath the other girls’ chatter.
‘Delaney understands why I’m doing it,’ Sarah replied quietly and firmly. ‘And my mind is made up, Aunt Peg.’ She tucked the letters into her handbag. ‘By the way,’ she said with a forced brightness, ‘Jane has an admirer, and I think she’s in love.’
‘Oh, how lovely,’ breathed Peggy. ‘Who is he? Where did they meet? What does he do?’
Sarah’s laugh was genuine. ‘You are an incorrigible romantic, Peggy. They met at work, so I have no idea what he does as Jane is so secretive about everything. His mother’s French and his father’s English, and his name is Jeremy Curtis. Jane’s being quite coy about him, so there’s no more I can tell you.’
She looked at the mantel clock and gathered up her things. ‘I’d better get going. Don’t want to be late on my first day.’
Peggy admired the sprigged cotton frock, white sandals, pale pink cardigan and matching ribbon in her fair hair. ‘You look lovely, dear,’ she said, giving her a hug. ‘Good luck.’
Ivy was the next to leave, shouldering her bag and gas-mask box and hitching up her oversized dungarees as she kissed Peggy and Cordelia goodbye and plodded out in her heavy boots. Rita rushed off after her on her crutches, eager to do some welding at the fire station, and Fran followed shortly afterwards, looking very purposeful and neat in her nurse’s uniform.
Peggy gave a happy sigh. Love was all around her, glowing in Fran, bright in Ivy’s eyes and warm in the convivial atmosphere of her kitchen. She poured a second cup of tea, the images of weddings drifting through her thoughts.
‘Well, I’ll be off to walk the dogs and exercise me ferrets,’ said Ron, stuffing his pipe into his mouth and his greasy old cap on his head. ‘And then Rosie’s taking me shopping.’
Peggy and Cordelia looked at him in disbelief. ‘Shopping? You?’ they chorused.
‘Aye. She seems to think I need smartening up.’
‘And she’d be right,’ said Cordelia, eyeing the old corduroy trousers held up by garden twine, and the battered poacher’s coat. ‘You look like a tramp most of the time.’
‘Ach, to be sure, Cordelia, I’m trying me best, but ’tis awful difficult when I’ve got animals to tend and things to do about the house,’ he said gloomily before turning to Peggy. ‘Would you be after knowing where me clothing coupons are, wee girl? I seem to have mislaid them.’
‘That’s hardly surprising as you’ve barely used any since the war started,’ said Peggy, hunting them out of the dresser drawer and handing them over. ‘There’s a whole year’s worth there, and don’t forget your wallet. Clothes don’t come cheap – even with coupons,’ she warned.
‘Aye,’ he said, his brows drooping. ‘I was afraid of that.’ He stomped off with Harvey at his heels, and Peggy was only just in time to slam the kitchen door before the cat followed him. ‘I don’t think Rosie would appreciate him having the cat in his pocket in the middle of Plummer’s,’ she said to Cordelia with a chuckle.
Cordelia laughed. ‘As long as he remembers to drop the ferrets off and get changed before he goes shopping, he should survive the day.’
‘It’s good to see you back to your old self,’ said Peggy warmly. ‘But I want you to promise not to overdo things whilst we’re all out.’
‘If it’s nice I’ll sit in the garden,’ Cordelia reassured her. ‘If not, I’ll read my library book or get on with my knitting by the fire.’
‘You could always telephone Bertie and ask him to come and keep you company,’ said Peggy as she rounded up Daisy and wrestled to get her coat and hat on.
‘He’s probably playing golf,’ Cordelia said dismissively. ‘And I’m quite happy with my own company.’ She reached out to Daisy, who immediately flew into her arms for a hug. ‘Be a good girl for Gan Gan,’ she said, ‘and you can tell me all about what you and Chloe have been up to when you come home.’
Daisy gave her a kiss and a hug and submitted quite calmly to having her bonnet tied under her chin.
‘Where on earth is Doris?’ said Peggy impatiently.
‘I’m here,’ said Doris, stepping into the kitchen looking very smart and efficient, her hair and make-up immaculate, her low-heeled shoes shining.
‘You look marvellous,’ said Peggy, reaching for her coat and gas-mask box. ‘I’m sorry I can’t hang about, but I wanted to take Daisy to the park for a bit before work.’
She carefully gave Doris a hug, fearful of crushing the crisp white blouse. ‘Good luck, Doris – although I’m sure you won’t need it. The Colonel sounds a very nice man.’ She wanted to tell her not to get snooty, or put on that silly false voice – but she was probably nervous enough already without being given unwanted advice.
With a wave of her hand, she left the kitchen, almost tripping over Queenie, who darted between her feet to get outside and jump up onto the back garden wall, where she sat mewing piteously for Ron and Harvey. Peggy could only hope they were too far away to hear her, for one answering bark from Harvey and she’d be off after them.
Doris had deliberately taken her time to come downstairs, aware that Peggy had told everyone of her straitened circumstances and reluctant to have to face them all. She loathed the thought of Ivy and Rita smirking at her misfortune, and of Ron making tactless remarks about her going for a job interview.
She realised she had a tough time ahead of her if she was to convince these people she really had turned over a new leaf, but despite all her good intentions, she still felt horribly awkward in their presence. They were united, having lived together for so long and shared so much, and if she was to become part of this household, then she’d have to put all her prejudices aside and really work at it.
She endured Cordelia’s withering glances and long silences as she ate some toast for breakfast and smoked a cigarette with her cup of tea whilst she read the letter from Anthony, which had been written before he’d learnt of his father’s death. Her son was such a dear boy, so caring and kind, and quite distraught about the situation she’d found herself in. But they’d had a long, reassuring chat on the telephone the previous night, and she’d gone to bed later and slept right through for the first time since the V-1 destroyed her home.
Now she was feeling horribly nervous, and wishing she’d been nicer to Cordelia in the past, for she could have done with some light conversation to take her mind off the coming interview. When it became clear that Cordelia had turned off her hearing aid and was fully engrossed in the newspaper crossword, Doris left her to it and went upstairs.
She eyed her reflection in the mirror, making sure she looked the part, and then sat down to practise her shorthand on some scrap paper. She was a bit rusty, for it had been years since she’d taken dictation, and she could only hope the Colonel wasn’t an impatient man like her previous boss, who’d marched back and forth as he dictated and then suddenly leant over her shoulder and jabbed at an outline demanding what it meant, which she’d found most unnerving.
When the time
came for her to leave for the long walk to the factory estate, she put on her hat, powdered her nose and nodded to her reflection. Her eyes looked tired and there were lines around her mouth she could have sworn hadn’t been there a week ago, but she was as ready as she’d ever be, fully determined to make the very best of this new phase in her life.
She went downstairs and out of the front door. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and apart from the noise of the planes thundering overhead, it was a pleasant morning. She set off with purpose, determined to quell the butterflies in her stomach and do the best she could to secure this job, for it sounded ideal.
It felt rather strange to be walking up the High Street, for she usually drove everywhere, and by the time she’d crossed the railway bridge and was tackling the steep hill that led to the dairy and the factory estate, she was perspiring and out of breath. Knowing it wouldn’t do at all to appear flustered, she paused by the high wire fence surrounding the huge estate, checked her appearance again in her compact mirror and waited until she’d caught her breath.
Approaching the young man on guard duty, she explained who she was and why she’d come. She showed him her identity card and he opened the gate, giving her a cheeky wink, which made her both cross and rather flattered. She hadn’t been winked at since she was a girl, but he had a bit of a cheek doing it to someone who was probably old enough to be his mother.
She kept his instructions in her head as she walked through the vast collection of corrugated iron buildings which were buzzing and clanking with machinery, the sound of music coming from multiple wirelesses. She’d never been up here before, and had never planned to either, but it was interesting to see what Ivy and her evacuees had talked about when she’d been forced to take them in and put up with their common chatter.
That was all behind her now, though, she sternly reminded herself. Her future had been shaped by outside influences over which she’d had no control, and it was time to face this new beginning with fortitude and determination whilst hopefully remembering the lessons from her past.
