by Rosie Clarke
‘Since my little brother Robin died of the chickenpox,’ Shirley said. ‘It was very virulent that year and several young children died in our area. I blamed myself, but it wasn’t my fault – or my mum’s. She thought it was her fault, but it wasn’t. Sometimes, it can turn nasty and children die of it, though most recover. It was just unfortunate, but it made me want to save lives.’
‘Yes, I can see how you would,’ Keith replied, nodding wisely. He was thoughtful for a moment as they strolled in the sunshine. ‘I’m going to be a career soldier. I’m not just in for a short time. The Army gives you a trade – I’m learning to be an engineer. We build bridges and stuff to keep troops on the move. If I ever decide to leave, I’ll have a trade, but it means I could be sent overseas or anywhere. It might be Korea or it could be Germany, just depends where I’m needed. I’m only home on leave for three weeks and then we’re off – anywhere we’re told…’
Shirley nodded. ‘I know Germany was in a terrible state after the war – all that devastation from the bombing and so much killing. How are things now, do you know?’
‘I haven’t been out yet, but I think they’re getting back on their feet. German efficiency and all that,’ Keith admitted, ‘but some of the chaps said it was dreadful for a while after the war – young kids on the streets, either stealing or offering themselves for sale to buy food. My mate, Jimbo used to give them chocolate and a couple of shillings and tell them to behave themselves. They lived in bombed-out ruins – he was in Berlin and he said it was worse than here in London. However, I think the rebuilding is going on all the time.’ He shook his head. ‘Some of our chaps have been helping with a project to rebuild certain things – Jimbo worked on an orphanage, repairing it and putting in the plumbing. Sounds daft, doesn’t it? We knock the whole lot down and then help them build it up…’
‘Yes, but it wasn’t the ordinary German people we were fighting,’ Shirley said seriously. ‘The women and children didn’t want a war any more than we did here – it was that Hitler and his Nazi party that caused all that bother.’
‘Yeah, you’re probably right,’ Keith said. ‘I’ve been concerned with building some shelters for displaced kids over here and in Poland.’ He saw the surprise in her eyes and grinned. ‘I’m not just a pretty face. There are still thousands of displaced people, especially kids, who have no homes and nowhere to go in Europe. This charity sends some of the kids over here and where I was stationed some of us blokes did what we do best and built them prefab homes. The charity is building a new home, but they wanted temporary accommodation so we helped out.’
Shirley nodded, looking at him with respect. He was nice-looking, young and eager, and she hadn’t dreamed he had this serious side to him. Feeling a surge of warmth, she tucked her arm into his. ‘I think what you’ve been doing is far more interesting than my summer job. Please, tell me as much as you can about all this, because I didn’t know much about the displaced people. I knew a bit, but you clearly know much more…’
Keith smiled at her. ‘My elder brother Ron was killed clearing up the mess for this country. But before he died, he told me about some orphaned children he found starving where he was stationed in Poland. I never forgot that – and when he was killed clearing unexploded bombs, I decided I would do something in his memory. I was fifteen then, too young to join up, but I joined the minute I could and I’ve been doing what I can ever since.’
Shirley hung on his every word as they strolled at a leisurely pace along the street. In the lane, folk called out greetings, asking after Janet and Shirley’s family, but by the time they left the lanes and reached the Commercial Road, they were in a little world of their own, and remained there as they ordered and ate tea and then strolled back home, still talking, still laughing, sharing a common interest.
‘Well, I have to look after my brothers now,’ Shirley said as she saw Dot approaching with the two small boys. ‘I’ve really enjoyed talking to you, Keith, and I hope one day you get to set up that centre in memory of your brother.’
‘If I do, I’ll need a doctor,’ Keith said and looked at her. ‘Pass those exams, Shirley, and maybe it will be you.’ His smile was warm and caressing.
‘Yes, perhaps it will…’ Shirley hesitated, then, ‘Shall I see you again before you’re posted?’
‘I’ll come tomorrow,’ he said and grinned. ‘It’s my last day – where shall we go?’
‘You choose,’ she said and gave him her hand. Instead of shaking it, he bent his head and dropped a kiss on the back, which made her blush at this old-fashioned courtesy.
‘I’ll take you to lunch somewhere,’ he said, ‘and perhaps the cinema in the afternoon – if you’d like?’
‘That sounds lovely,’ Shirley agreed. ‘Thank you, Keith. I’ve really enjoyed myself.’
He smiled, ruffled the boys’ hair and then turned and marched away. Shirley smiled, liking the way he held himself and walked off smartly, every inch a soldier. He was friendly and pleasant and there was far more to him than she would have guessed at their first meeting, but for the moment there were no thoughts of anything but friendship in her mind.
She put her arms about Gordy and Matty, thanked Dot for looking after them and took them inside the house. Dot had given them tea, but as she prepared their father’s tea, they asked for biscuits and milk and she obliged. Her father came home, asked after her mother and ate the pork chop, mashed potatoes and buttered cabbage and carrots she’d prepared for him, garnished with Maureen’s apple sauce with every sign of pleasure.
Her father played with his sons for half an hour after his meal, then carried them upstairs and Shirley put them to bed. She made a cup of tea and her father was about to go round to Peggy’s to ask how things were when the door opened and Maureen entered, looking a bit tired but happy.
‘Is everything all right, love?’ Shirley’s father asked and she smiled.
‘Janet has what she wanted and Ryan too if his yell of joy was anything to go by when I rang him,’ Maureen said. ‘She’s got a lovely little boy – all fingers and toes and bawling his head off when I left.’
‘That’s good,’ Gordon said. ‘Do you want a cup of tea, love?’
‘I had one with Janet and Peggy,’ Maureen told them. The doctor was there when I left and Peggy is over the moon. Able thanked me and said he owes me more than he can ever repay.’ She smiled at Shirley. ‘Did you have a good afternoon, love?’
‘Yes, I did, Mum.’ Shirley said and smiled. ‘Keith was telling me all about the work his brother did – he was killed making unexploded bombs safe overseas – and Keith helps charities with building orphanages when he isn’t working, but he’s being posted overseas soon…’
‘Oh,’ Maureen looked at her in surprise. ‘You did learn a lot today, Shirley.’
‘Yes, I did, Mum,’ Shirley said and smiled. ‘I want to be a doctor more than ever now, Mum. I knew about the poverty in the East End of London and I’ve seen how easy it is for children here to die – but Keith says it is far worse in many other countries. He was telling me the way some of the children lived like rats after the war and what he hopes to do. He is learning all the time and when he can he wants to build a place for disadvantaged children and name it for his brother Ron.’
‘Well,’ Maureen said and sat down, her eyes never leaving Shirley’s face. ‘I like the sound of that. I should like to meet this young man, if he has time.’
‘He is calling for me around lunchtime. It is his last day before he leaves for his new posting, so we’re going to lunch and then the cinema – and I’ll bring him in for a cup of tea when he walks me home.’
‘Yes, you do that,’ Maureen said and smiled. ‘Do you know, I think I should like another cup of tea after all.’
23
Peggy looked at the beautiful little boy in his crib next to Janet’s bed and smiled. Janet was sleeping, exhausted by the trial of childbirth, which had been harder for her than it had been for Sheila, despite all their fears for P
ip’s wife. However, with Maureen’s skill and the midwife, who had arrived in the nick of time, they’d got her through it. Little Ryan had needed turning apparently and Peggy was glad she’d had two experts on hand to do it.
Janet opened her eyes sleepily and looked at Peggy, then, smiling, ‘He’s beautiful, isn’t he, Mum?’
‘Yes, darling, wonderful. You were very brave and good and you need rest now.’
‘I’m all right,’ Janet said. ‘Ryan will be here tomorrow. I thought I could hang on until he came, because he wanted to be here for the birth, but I think it was probably the journey to see Pip and the shock of seeing him lying there – then the sheer joy of him waking up. I nearly drove poor Able mad all the way home with my moaning…’
Peggy smiled and shook her head. ‘Able was just concerned for you. He wanted to get you home before the baby came – but if he’d had to get you to hospital instead, he would have. He always copes.’
‘You’re lucky to have him, Mum – but he is luckier to have you.’
Peggy laughed. ‘You, my darling, are exhausted and talking nonsense, lovely nonsense, but just the same, it’s time to go to sleep and be ready for when Ryan gets here.’
‘Yes…’ Janet closed her eyes.
Peggy bent over her and kissed her forehead. She murmured something but was suddenly deeply asleep. Smiling, Peggy left her to rest, and, after one more peep at her precious new grandchild, she went downstairs. Able, Alice and the children were sitting at the kitchen table eating some delicious pancakes Able had cooked and they all looked quite content.
‘She is sleeping now,’ she told them and glanced at the kitchen clock. ‘It is eight o’clock and it’s time you four were in bed. Finish those pancakes and off you go.’
‘Yes, Mum,’ Freddie said and swallowed the last delicious morsel as Fay said, ‘Can I go skating tomorrow, Mum?’
‘Yes, of course you can go, love – Freddie or your dad will take you in before school.’
Fay scrambled down and embraced her with a kiss that tasted of blackberries and cream, before racing off and arguing with her brother as she went.
‘Granny Peggy—’ Chris said, getting down from his chair. ‘Will my mum be home soon?’
‘I’m not sure, darling,’ Peggy said. ‘Your mum needs to be with your dad for a while, but he may be moved nearer London soon and I’m sure she’ll come back to you as soon as she can.’
Chris looked a bit unhappy and uncertain.
She reached out and pulled him on to her knee. ‘Tell me what is bothering you – have the twins or Maggie been teasing you?’
He shook his head, a single tear rolling down his cheek. ‘She took the new baby, but she didn’t take me…’ he sniffed and Peggy nodded her understanding, drawing him into a loving hug.
‘That’s because the baby needs feeding, love,’ she told him. ‘You’re bigger and you can feed yourself and be sensible. Your mum loves you just as much as always, darling. She will be home soon – you’ll see.’
‘She still loves me?’ the dawning of hope was both funny and sad.
Peggy enveloped him in another loving hug. ‘Everyone still loves you, Chris. Your mum needs to be with Dad because he’s not well, but he is getting better and they will all be home soon – and in the meantime you have us to love you.’
‘I love you, Granny Peggy,’ he said, ‘and Grandad Able.’
‘Come on, old fellow,’ Able said. ‘How about I tuck you up in bed? You can show me your latest model.’
Chris nodded, gave Peggy a quick hug and let Able lead him away. Peggy heard him laugh a minute or two later and smiled. It must seem that his parents had deserted him now he had a little sister and for all his talents with maths and his musical abilities, he was still only a little boy.
The phone rang at ten thirty the next morning and Able answered it. It was Sergeant Poole and his news was sad. Gillian had died without recovering consciousness.
‘We shan’t let this case rest, sir,’ the police officer assured Able. ‘I intend to get to the bottom of what happened – and I’ll keep you informed when I have more to tell you.’
‘We should appreciate that,’ Able said. ‘Peggy will be upset I know. She felt responsible for the girl, even after the way she behaved, because, as she says, Gillian, as we called her, had been let down by everyone and badly treated. Not in our house, but by others. In my own way, I feel I let her down too. I wanted her gone when she stole from us – but instead of thinking like that, I should have fetched a doctor and got the help she needed.’
‘Now that’s plain daft,’ Sergeant Poole said. ‘Neither you nor Mrs Ronoscki could have known or guessed what would happen. The girl needed police protection, but she never came to us; if she had, we would have sent her to a secure hospital to be treated.’
Able made a non-committal sound and replaced the receiver. Gillian had needed love and understanding and she’d come closer to getting what she needed from Peggy than in a mental hospital. It wasn’t her fault or Peggy’s, or his come to that, but the people who had ill-treated her for years were to blame, and they needed to be brought to justice. Whether the police would ever find them was another matter – but nothing would save the unhappy girl now and Peggy was going to be upset.
He turned and saw his wife sitting halfway up the stairs, her face pale.
‘She died then?’ she said and he nodded, moving to take her hand and bring her to her feet and close to him. ‘It was such a waste, Able. If only she’d been happy just to stay here and help instead of turning against us…’
‘It wasn’t your fault – it was whoever taught her to fear and hate,’ Able said. ‘When she attacked you, she had no idea it was you, Peggy love. Her mind was so muddled up that she might have attacked anyone who happened to be there that night.’
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Peggy said and tears were in her eyes. ‘I think a part of her knew she could trust me, but the fear was too deeply embedded.’
‘Yes.’ Able smiled and kissed her. ‘Feel sad for her, Peggy, and then let her go. You have a family that loves you – and a brand-new grandson upstairs.’
‘Yes, I’m lucky,’ Peggy agreed. ‘Come on, Able, let’s go up
Maggie, Chris and the twins met the new edition to the family after school that afternoon. Freddie sat down on Janet’s bed and asked to have a closer look; Fay took one glance and asked when she could go skating; and Chris hung back until encouraged by Janet to touch her son’s hand. Maggie inched closer jealously and looked as if she couldn’t decide whether she was pleased at having a brother or not.
As Chris touched the baby’s hand, his blue eyes opened and then little Ryan smiled – at least Chris thought it was a smile intended for him and he grinned and stroked his cousin’s hand. ‘He’s lovely,’ he said and looked at Janet. For a moment he hesitated and then glanced at Maggie. ‘Will you still love Maggie just as much as him?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Janet said and held out her hand to her daughter. ‘Maggie knows she’s my special girl, don’t you, darling?’
The doubt and uncertainty cleared from Maggie’s young face and she smiled. ‘Yes, Mum,’ she said. ‘Little Ryan is lovely. Can I hold him?’
‘Yes, if you sit on the bed close to me and support his head like this.’ Janet showed her and then placed her precious son in his sister’s arms.
Maggie giggled as he burped and held him tenderly. Then she looked up at Chris and it seemed as if there was suddenly a new bond between them.
‘Your mum will love you as much as mine loves me,’ she said with a new maturity. ‘I’m going to look after Ryan as much as I can, because he’s my brother and special to me – you should look after your sister just the same, shouldn’t he, Mum?’
‘Yes, darling,’ Janet agreed. ‘Well, I think perhaps Ryan will need a feed soon, so you should all go off and play for a while before bed.’
Maggie returned the baby to her mother, kissed both him and Janet and then went off. Chris followed and
then Fay.
Freddie lingered for a moment and then smiled as he left. ‘I like Maggie more now than I used to,’ he said and went out.
Janet looked at her mother and saw that Peggy’s eyes were bright with laughter she was struggling to keep inside.
‘I think Maggie is growing up at last,’ Janet said. ‘I feel proud of her – and I think she owes a lot of it to Freddie. The more time she spends around him, the better she behaves. I’ve noticed a difference these past days.’
‘Freddie has his father’s temperament,’ Peggy replied. ‘How are you feeling now, my love?’
‘Still a bit tired and sore, but otherwise fine,’ Janet replied. ‘I can’t wait for Ryan to get here.’
‘No, it is a shame he wasn’t here,’ Peggy agreed. ‘You couldn’t have known you would give birth more than a week before you were due.’
‘I was even earlier with Maggie.’
‘Yes, but you’d had a terrible shock,’ Peggy said. ‘I wasn’t there when Maggie was born, but I’m glad I was with you this time.’
‘So am I.’ Janet looked at her earnestly. ‘I shut you out for so long, Mum. It became a habit and I did it with Ryan too – but I won’t let it happen again.’
‘I hope not, darling,’ Peggy said and bent to kiss her. ‘I’ll leave you to feed Ryan and bring you up some toast and tea in about half an hour – but if you need me before, just ring your bell.’
‘I’m all right, Mum. Some women give birth in the fields and then go on working the next day.’
‘Rubbish,’ Peggy said. ‘No sensible woman does any such thing – it is tradition. You have a good rest after giving birth and save your strength. Once this one starts to grow a bit, you’ll have your work cut out – and Maggie may not be as grown-up or as reasonable every day.’
