by Rosie Clarke
‘Thanks, Ellie,’ Irene said and took the ration card Ellie gave her. ‘I’ll be back in time to rinse the perm if you like.’
‘This one has to be done very carefully.’ Ellie gave her a little push. ‘Don’t stand talking too long.’
*
Irene almost ran the few steps to the grocer’s at the end of the lane. It was called Jackson’s even though Maureen Hart owned and ran it these days. She didn’t often serve in the shop, but she went in and out a few times a week and everyone knew it was hers now. Mr Jackson’s second wife had thought it would be hers, but she’d had her nose put out of joint when she was told the premises had never belonged to her husband.
Tom Barton was attending to a man in uniform when Irene entered. He was tall and had broad shoulders and his skin looked as if he’d been serving somewhere hot.
‘Is that all, Mr Ross?’ Tom said when he’d assembled the soldier’s goods on the counter.
‘Yes, thanks, Tom,’ the man said and smiled. ‘Anne asked me if I’d do the shopping for her to save time when she gets home from school this afternoon. We’re off to the sea for a couple of weeks so this is for Mavis – she gave us a good breakfast and supper last night, so Anne wanted to give her a few bits to thank her.’
‘I bet you’re glad to be home, sir.’
‘Yeah, I couldn’t wait to see my wife,’ Kirk Ross answered with a grin. ‘But I like the life in the Army, Tom.’
‘I wanted to join, but they won’t take me until I’m eighteen,’ Tom said. ‘It’s only a few months to go and I reckon I could fight as well as most men…’
Kirk smiled and then inclined his head. ‘I reckon you could too, Tom – but I’ve seen some of the young recruits in tears when we’re under fire. They don’t realise what hell is like until they’re in the thick of it. Best you wait a bit longer.’
‘You reckon I’ll get a chance at them then?’
‘I don’t think it’s anywhere near over yet…’ Kirk said, picked up his goods and left, nodding to Irene.
‘Is he Anne Ross’s husband?’ Irene asked Tom when the door had closed behind him. ‘She’s lucky – he’s so good-looking!’
‘Is he? – Yeah, I suppose so,’ Tom agreed. ‘Are you busy this morning? I’ve had customers in non-stop ever since I opened.’
‘I set my mum’s hair and Ellie is in the middle of a perm – we need sugar and some biscuits. And I’d like a Cadbury’s milk chocolate flake – if you’ve got any…’
‘Sorry, Irene. I haven’t seen any of those for months,’ Tom told her. ‘I’ve got some Rich Tea biscuits and also some bourbon creams…’
‘We’ll have the bourbons,’ Irene said, ‘and a pound of sugar please. Ellie said I could have a bar of chocolate – if you’ve got any?’
‘I’ve got these…’ Tom showed her a box of Fry’s chocolate cream bars. ‘If you’ve got the coupons…’
‘They’re Ellie’s, but she lets me have something sometimes, because she doesn’t bother with sweets much, and she knows I’ve got a sweet tooth.’
‘Right, they’ll be OK, because I know you, though you’re not supposed to use other people’s coupons unless it has been pre-arranged – they could be stolen, you see. There’s a lot of that going on, and forged coupons too…’ He inspected the coupons Irene offered and nodded. ‘Yes, these are all right.’
‘I didn’t know people forged ration books,’ Irene said, looking at him in awe. ‘You must be clever to run this shop and do all the other things you do, Tom…’
‘I’m just doing a job,’ he said and handed the book over after marking the necessary coupons with his blue pencil to show they’d been used. Tom hesitated for a minute and then said, ‘Do you like goin’ to the flicks?’
‘Yeah, I love it,’ she said. ‘Especially if it’s a nice story…’
Tom hesitated. Irene was younger and he hadn’t taken much notice of her until now, but Rose’s mocking smiles had left his confidence a bit bruised.
‘I think there’s a film with Cary Grant on at the Gaumont at the moment – would you like to come with me?’
‘Yes, please,’ Irene answered a little too quickly, but she really liked him and had been hoping he might ask her out one day. ‘When?’
‘This evening – or tomorrow?’
‘I could go tonight…’
‘All right. I’ll meet you after work – about six-thirty and we’ll catch a bus up town…’
‘Thanks…’ Irene blushed. ‘I’ll see you later then…’
Gathering up her things, she bolted before he changed his mind. If she asked Ellie to let her go a bit early, she could pop home and change her clothes and be back for six-thirty.
Chapter 5
Rose finished making scones and started on the custard to go with the rhubarb crumble Peggy had made earlier. Peggy used a packet of custard powder these days for quickness and because it wasn’t possible to buy all the ingredients for what Rose thought of as a proper custard. Grandmother had taught her how to make it, and the day she’d produced a flawless, free-of-lumps custard, at the first attempt, was the only time she remembered her grandmother smiling at her as if she were proud of her.
‘The scones look lovely,’ Peggy said as she poured the custard into a jug. ‘I think people liked that Bakewell tart you made yesterday. I’ve had a dozen customers ask me for it this morning…’
‘Would you like me to make one now?’
‘No, but you can make another tomorrow. As long as the almonds and the essence last out, we’ll keep offering it on the menu.’ Peggy smiled at her. ‘I was lucky to get you, Rose. You’re not just a cook; you’re a very good one. I should think you could get a job in a really decent restaurant – but I hope you won’t leave me just yet.’
‘I’ve no intention of leaving,’ Rose said and looked at Nellie as she entered the kitchen. ‘I’ve got the kettle on, Nellie – are you ready for a cup of tea and a bun? I made some almond muffins for us.’
‘You’ll spoil us,’ Peggy said. ‘I’d better get back to the bar. Maureen is holding the fort at the moment. She popped in for a chat but she can’t stop long and I’ll need you in the bar as soon as you’ve had your break, Rose.’
‘Why don’t I take over in the bar while you and Nellie sit and have a chat for five minutes?’ Rose said. ‘I had a cup of tea while I was waiting for the scones to cook…’
‘Go on through,’ Peggy said, looking pleased. ‘It’s ages since Nellie and I got a chance to sit down together’
Rose left them to it. It was amazing how easily she’d settled into the life here and she was beginning to feel better as the shadow that had hung over her since the deaths of those she’d loved began to lighten a little.
She could see at once that the bar was twice as busy as it had been recently and she was asked for a half of pale ale and a cheese scone immediately. Maureen was serving too and she kept at it until the little queue had been dealt with and then smiled at Rose.
‘We haven’t seen a rush in here like that for a while. I think there must be a lot of troops on the move. Half of them are soldiers I’ve never seen before – some of them American or Canadian.’
‘They’ve probably been sent here from their base as part of a new initiative,’ Rose said. ‘I haven’t read anything in the papers and no one has said anything, but I suppose it is all hush-hush as usual…’
‘Yes, I expect so,’ Maureen sighed. ‘I keep hoping something will happen – we’ll have a big victory and the war will end.’
‘No hope of that yet, missus…’ a soldier had returned to the bar to ask for another drink. ‘We’re all off in two days. All we know is they’re bringing us in from all over the show…’
Rose took his order and he pushed the money across the counter to her, his hand catching her wrist as she moved to take it.
‘How about coming to the flicks with me tonight?’
‘I’m sorry, I’m working,’ Rose said and tried to remove her hand. He held on to
it, his eyes narrowed and fixed, as if he thought he could bully her into submission. ‘Please let go…’
‘Not until you promise to meet me – ask for a night off…’
‘I can’t – we’re busy…’ Rose wouldn’t have gone out with him if it had been her evening off because she sensed he was a bully, but his grip tightened. ‘Please let me go.’
‘You heard what the lady said, Private Thompson,’ a man wearing the stripes of a sergeant commanded and the soldier glared at him but let her hand go. ‘I’m sorry about that, miss. Some of the men get a little overexcited when they have leave – especially after a few drinks.’
‘It’s all right – but thank you for the intervention,’ Rose said. ‘I expect it makes the men nervous not knowing where they’re being sent next.’
‘That is no excuse for trying to force yourself on a respectable young lady,’ the soldier said and smiled. ‘I’m Sergeant Jimmy Morgan – I’d have liked to take you out myself, but I heard you tell Thompson that you couldn’t get the night off…’
Rose might have asked Peggy for some time off if he’d asked first, but she wouldn’t go back on what she’d said. ‘I get a few hours to myself in the afternoon…’ she said without thinking and then blushed. He was tall, dark-haired and spoke in a pleasant English accent.
‘Rose… I think your friend called you Rose…’ Sergeant Morgan smiled at her. ‘Will you think I’m as bad as Thompson if I ask you if we could go out to tea – somewhere up the West End? I’d have you back for when you open…’
‘Oh…’ Rose hesitated, because it was a long time since she’d gone out with anyone. ‘Well, we close at two – and I needn’t get back until seven…’ Her blush deepened as he grinned in delight. ‘Yes, I should like to have tea with you, sergeant.’
‘Great. I’ll hang around until closing time and then we’ll go. I’ll have some of that rhubarb crumble and custard while I’m waiting please.’
Rose served him and he carried his food away to one of the tables, joining some other soldiers. She didn’t have time to wonder if she’d done the right thing, because Maureen had to leave and Rose was kept busy serving various customers until Peggy came through to help with the lunchtime rush.
‘It’s almost like old times,’ Peggy said when there was a lull at last. ‘We used to be like this every day before the war started. Nowadays, it’s up and down. Some days we’re busy and others it’s quiet, but we manage to keep goin’.’
‘We always had our regulars at home, though since the war started all the young men left to join up,’ Rose responded with a smile. ‘And then, of course, the Brewery asked me to leave. I’d had to close down until things settled after the funerals and they wouldn’t let me have the licence…’
‘Probably considered you too young,’ Peggy remarked. ‘Their loss is my gain.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘It’s a quarter to two, Rose. I’m going to ring the bell for last orders in a minute – and you can leave as soon as we finish serving.’
‘Is it all right if I don’t get back until seven?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Peggy said. ‘Nellie will help me until you get back – are you going somewhere?’
‘I’ve been asked out to tea by Sergeant Morgan,’ Rose said and her gaze moved in the direction of the sergeant. He was wearing his Army uniform but managed to look more interesting than most of the other soldiers who had been in for drinks. As he glanced her way, she realised how blue his eyes were and noticed the tiny scar at his temple.
‘Do you know him?’ Peggy looked a little surprised as Rose shook her head.
‘No, but he seems nice, a gentleman, and he stopped another soldier annoying me, so I thought why not? Having tea isn’t going to cause me any harm, is it?’ She looked at Peggy anxiously. ‘If you think I shouldn’t…’
‘No. I was just surprised. I know several of the customers have asked you out but you always say no…’
‘They always ask me out at night, but tea is different…’ Rose looked at her, searching for approval. ‘If you think I shouldn’t go…’
‘I think you should go and enjoy yourself,’ Peggy said. ‘As you say, having tea isn’t going to get you into trouble, Rose. It’s time you had a little fun, my dear.’
Rose smiled. ‘Yes, it’s my first date for years. My father frightened all the local men away so I never went out… not after I left school. I did have a boyfriend at school, but when he went away to work, he never wrote, even though he promised he would.’
‘Men aren’t much good at writing letters as a rule,’ Peggy said, ‘though Maureen’s husband is the exception. She says he writes her wonderful letters – the bits the censors leave anyway.’
Rose laughed. Peggy rang the bell and for a couple of minutes they were busy serving last drinks, but the pub was gradually emptying, until only Sergeant Morgan was left. He brought his empty glass and dish up to the bar.
‘Shall I wait outside?’
‘No,’ Peggy said. ‘Come through to the kitchen, Sergeant Morgan, while Rose pops upstairs to change her dress. You can tell me all about yourself and I’ll give you a cup of tea while you wait.’
*
‘Did Peggy give you the third degree?’ Rose asked, laughing up at her companion as they boarded the underground train that would take them to the West End. ‘I think she wanted to make sure you weren’t going to kidnap me…’
Jimmy laughed at her saucy remark. ‘Your employer thinks highly of you, Rose. Some of the men that drink in her pub aren’t to be trusted – and I’m glad you’ve got someone like her to look after you.’
‘I’m not sure I need to be looked after,’ Rose said as Jimmy took out his cigarettes and offered them. ‘I am grateful to her for taking me in and giving me a job and a home, of course.’
‘Where do you come from, Rose? I’m from Cambridge myself. I was at university when the war broke out and I decided to finish my course, and I got a first class degree, so I was a few months late joining up – but it paid off, because they made me a sergeant straight away. Apparently, I’m officer material and can expect to make my way up the ranks.’
‘We lived in Suffolk,’ Rose said. She wondered briefly what he would think if he knew her history and felt nervous, because she didn’t like to deceive him but was afraid he might look at her differently once he knew. ‘My family had a pub – but I’m on my own now. That’s why Peggy thinks I need looking after.’
‘She’s only being motherly and that’s her nature I guess,’ Jimmy said. ‘I want to be an architect when all this nonsense is over.’
‘I was never allowed to think about the future. My life was the pub and that was it – I suppose that’s why I chose to try for work at another pub when I came to London.’
‘Well, I’m told you’re a wonderful cook,’ Jimmy said and grinned. ‘You should think about running a tea shop of your own one day…’
‘Oh, one day,’ Rose said vaguely. ‘When the war is over – that’s all everyone says these days, isn’t it? It’s as if all our lives are on hold… as if we’re just waiting for permission to live again.’
‘I shouldn’t wait for permission if I were you,’ Jimmy told her, serious now. ‘Make the most of your life, Rose. I intend to, because every time we start a new tour of duty the odds get shorter…’
‘That sounds cynical?’
‘I’ve seen too many mates die,’ Jimmy admitted. ‘It either makes you bitter, mad or cynical. I think I’d rather take the detached view and if that sounds cynical, so be it.’
‘We don’t really understand what you have to go through out there,’ Rose said and the laughter had gone now. ‘We see wounded soldiers once they’ve been patched up, but we never see the hardship or the horror that you men have to endure.’
‘I thank God for it,’ Jimmy said. ‘That’s why we fight. Our women: mothers, girlfriends, sisters, families… you are all the reason we go through it again and again, because we know that unless we stand up to be counted when needed,
the Germans will sweep into this country and everything will change. There will be no freedom if we let them walk over us. I’m fighting to keep things the way I like them… sleepy villages and cows in the fields and no jackboots or guns.’
Rose felt her throat tighten with emotion. She’d never really thought about it from the men’s point of view before; they were called up and they went, whether they liked it or not – but what kept them on their feet when things were so bad that it was almost unbearable? It could only be love of home and family, of course.
‘Have you got a girl who writes to you?’ she asked impulsively.
‘No, I’ve never had a girl for more than a few dates… none of them ever made me want to settle down and I didn’t want to break hearts.’
‘Would you like me to write – just as a friend? No ties on either side… just friendship.’
‘I would like that very much. You’re a lovely person, Rose,’ Jimmy said. ‘My mother writes occasionally, and my brother sends me a card now and then – he’s still at school and itching to leave and join up.’
‘What about your father?’
‘He was killed on night-watch,’ Jimmy said and pain flickered in his eyes. ‘He worked at a factory making munitions as the watchman and they bombed the place to smithereens.’ He hesitated, and then smiled at her: ‘So friendship and letters then – no broken hearts if a German bullet has my name on it?’
‘Cross my heart,’ Rose said and laughed at him. ‘If I’d had an older brother I should have liked him to be just like you, Jimmy.’
‘Yeah? Well, I’m not sure I want to be your brother, Rose – but I’d like to be your friend, and I’ll write to you, if you write to me…’
‘That’s a deal,’ Rose said as the train pulled into their station. ‘Come on, I’m looking forward to my tea. Where are you going to take me?’
‘Nothing less than The Savoy lounge will do for a girl like you,’ Jimmy said and laughed as her eyes widened in shock. ‘We’re going to spoil ourselves, Rose – after all, this is a treat, so we might as well go the whole way.’
